What a healthy marriage looks like

Campin'

After they got what they needed, they all headed out in Dorthy's teal CJ-5 Jeep. She drove them out into the country and once they found a good spot they got out and started making camp. Caroline was trying to help Mick set up his tent, but she had no clue what to do. She was trying to fit two of the tent poles together and Mick mused, "Right. You've never actually been campin' before, have you love?", "You've taken me a couple times...", "I'd hardly call that camping." He said, gently taking one of the poles from her and handing her the correct one, "This ain't like sleepin' in my Landrover." From where they were getting stuff from the jeep, his dad asked, "You still livin' in that camper van, son?" Mick looked toward him, "Uh, kinda?", "What does kinda mean?" Caroline clicked the poles together and replied, "We have an apartment together." Mick corrected, "No, Caroline has an apartment and she lets me stay when I'm not on a job." Caroline replied, "I mean, we are married now. Legally all our assets are combined so technically it's yours too.", "But that would only apply if you got it after we were married. Right now, you're the only one on the lease, so it's still just yours.", "...I guess you're right... But now that we are married, when my lease is up in a couple months we'll have to add your name to it.", "Unless we wanna get a house?" She paused, "A house?" He focused on putting up the tent, avoiding her eyes, "Uh, yeah. If you want to.", "You don't like my apartment?", "I mean, I do. It's nice for us, but I was just thinkin'...", "... What?" Mick shook his head, "Nevermind. You're apartment's nice.", "No, tell me." He flicked a glance at his parents who were trying very hard to seem like they weren't listening, but they clearly were. He finished the tent and kissed Caroline's temple, "Later." She glanced at his parents, then him, and nodded. They got their scorpion-free sleeping bags and a few blankets from the car as Mick's parents finished their own tent far away from them. After they had put their stuff away, Mick and Caroline joined his parents by the fire pit. Dorthy said to them, "By the time we finish building up the fire it'll be gettin' dark, so we'll just stay here for the night. Go out tomorrow morning." They nodded and while Johnathan started building up the start of a fire, Dorthy asked Caroline, "I know you haven't been here long, but what do you think of Australia so far?" Caroline looked around at the landscape, "It's kind of similar to New Mexico.", "Really?", "Kinda. The heat's the same." Mick scoffed, "No it ain't.", "Well, I mean- New Mexico is all- You know, desert-y and here it's pretty..." She had another look around at where they were, but it was more prairie like then shrub-land, "...It's pretty- It's pretty." She left it at that. Mick shook his head, "New Mexico is very... Temperate in comparison, love. Besides, this is winter.", "This is winter?!" He laughed, "The seasons are flipped on the other side of the world.", "Oh, wow..." It hadn't been hot, but it had gotten up to shorts weather. She looked at the ground and said "Well, I guess you'd know better than me then." He touched her hand, "I didn't mean to put you down, darlin'." She laced her fingers with his, "I know. I'm not upset, I meant that genuinely. You do have a better base of comparison than I do. The only other place I've been to outside of New Mexico was Mexico-Mexico for my aunt's second wedding and I barely remember that." His mom chimed in, "Oh! I didn't know you had an aunt! How's she?" Mick and Caroline looked between each other before she responded, "Um... She died last year." Dorthy gasped, "I'm so sorry, dear!", "It's alright. It happens.", "I knew your parents had passed, but I didn't know- I didn't know if you had any other family." Mick squeezed Caroline's hand and she took a breath, shaking her head, "Nope, not anymore. It's just me." Mick's mom gave her a pat on the shoulder, "Well, I know we're not much, but we'd be happy to be your family- if you'd like, that is." Caroline nodded, touched, "I really appreciate that... Thank you." Dorthy smiled back as Johnathan got the fire burning to a nice place and he rubbed his hands together, "Alright! Now we're cookin'! What'd you say I fix up a quick dinner?" Dorthy countered, "We just ate but not a few hours ago, unless-" She turned to Caroline, "Are you hungry, dear?" Caroline shook her head, "I'm fine, thank you.", "Are you sure? We really don't mind." Caroline looked at Mick like a deer in the headlights, and he squeezed her hand again before declaring, "Well I'm hungry.", "Oh, I know you are." His mother teased before conceding, "Alright, fine. Let's do something small, though. I don't want to have to clean up a bunch right before bed." Johnathan suggested "Kababs, then?" and she shrugged, "I suppose that works." He got up, moving to the jeep and returning with a small cooler and a few long metal sticks with wooden handles. One for each of them. He distributed the sticks and sat down before opening up the cooler to reveal some prepared veggies, chopped, seasoned, coated in a little oil, and ready for roasting. They all grabbed something, Mick skewered a mushroom, then got a little broccoli floret and handed it to Caroline. She said, "Thank you." and put it on her stick, holding it over the fire with the rest of them. She rotated it, making sure it didn't catch on fire or burn, then she took it off the heat and blew gently, waiting for it to cool down. Mick, on the other hand, was trying to coat his whole mushroom in a nice layer of char. His mother swatted him, "Quit that.", "I like the crunch.", "You ain't gonna have nothin' but crunch at that rate." He smiled at her, but took his flaming, burnt, mushroom off the fire and blew it out, letting it cool for a second before eating it off the stick, wincing slightly, "Hot-", "and you're always on me about patience..." Caroline mused, taking the broccoli floret off her stick and popping it in her mouth. She nodded to herself, savoring the flavors before saying, "This is really good, what spices did you use, Mr. Mundy?" Mick's dad grinned, "Just a blend I had ready. Mostly curry powder and a bit of turmeric." Mick mused, "You used the curry powder? I didn't notice." His dad raised an eyebrow at him as his son burnt another mushroom to char, "I wonder why." Caroline looked over at the cooler and asked, "Do you have any peppers?" and Mick groaned, "Not with the peppers again." His dad said, "I've got some capsicum." and Caroline drew her eyebrows together. She looked at Mick and before she could even ask, he answered her, "It's bell pepper.", "Ah." She nodded, "That's fine then." Johnathan handed her a few of the red bell pepper slices and she put them on her stick, letting them roast. His mom nodded, "Yep, we like a bit of spice now and again." and Caroline but her tongue. Mick, however, did not. He said, "No mum. Not like Lynn." His mom said, "I don't know, I've been known to have a pretty good taste for spice-", "No mum. She straight up eats chili peppers." Caroline blushed as he continued, "One time, she made salsa so hot she sent her and her friend to the hospital." Caroline mumbled, "That was more of a precautionary measure. We were fine.", "I'm surprised you still have any taste buds left, Lynn.", "Says you." Caroline inclined her head to the ball of charcoal at the end of his stick that used to be a mushroom. He laughed, "I mean, I don't have a problem with it, as long as it wears off before I kiss you." Caroline ducked her head, "Yeah, sorry about that." He laughed and his mom asked, "What happened?" Mick looked at Caroline for confirmation and she sighed, nodding for him to go on. He started, "It wasn't bad or anything. She made a batch of these jalapeño things, what are they called?", "Jalapeño poppers.", "Yeah, those things. It's like- You take a jalapeño and pull out the middle- a jalapeño is a pepper, yeah? About this big, super spicy-" Caroline snorted, but he continued, "Anyway, you take out the center part with all the seeds, then fill it back with a mix of cream cheese and cumin and other spices and bake it for a while- it's actually really good. Well anyway, that's how other people make it, Caroline likes to put the seeds back in with the mix to keep it super spicy. So, one day she takes these things to a party and when she comes back I kiss her- then suddenly my mouth is on fire!" Caroline hid her giggles behind a hand and his parents laughed too. His mom said, "Just be glad you caught it before you did anything else-", "MUM!" She laughed, "Too much? Sorry- but now that you're married it's important you know-", "No, no, no-" Mick held his hands up, "I don't wanna hear nothin' more about that, thank you very much, mother." She laughed and pat his arm, "I'm just trying tell you-." Mick stood up suddenly, "I ain't hearin' no more of that, thank you!" She giggled, "I didn't mean to embarrass you, Mickie, I just-", "Nope, I'm out. Night mum, night dad. Wife, you comin'?" Caroline quirked a brow at him and ate her bell pepper slices, "Did you just call me 'wife'?" He amended himself, "Caroline? My darlin', my love? Are you comin' with me?" She nodded and stood up, giving her stick back to Mick's father saying, "Thank you." before moving to catch up with Mick. She took his hand and as they walked out of the radiant warmth of the campfire, she shivered. "You cold?" He asked her and she nodded, "A little bit.", "Well then, when we get to the tent, why don't we get you all warmed up? Hm?" He winked at her and she asked, "Was that supposed to be a come-on?", "You with the dirty mind, I swear...", "Well, was it?", "...Maybe." She laughed, "Then maybe.", "Wait, what- really?" He paused at the tent and Caroline looked back at where his parents were still at the fire, quite a bit away from them. She shrugged, "I mean, it's not your parents house." He laughed and pulled her in by her waist, "You always make excellent observations, my love.", "Shut up." She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. He leaned down and caught her mouth with his, and she deepened the kiss, tasting the burnt mushroom on his tongue. Not her favorite flavor, but in the moment it was incredibly erodic. He pulled back to fan himself and she asked, "What's wrong?", "That pepper you ate- fuckin' hell, I can feel it-" Her eye twitched, "...Mick, that was a bell pepper. You'd better be fu-freaking joking." He laughed at her strong reaction, "I am, darlin', don't worry. I didn't realize that was such a touchy subject for you.", "Oh, I'll show you fuckin' touchy..." She unzipped the tent, and pointed into it demandingly. He chuckled, "Ah, return of Mrs. Bossy- bot, I see.", "Get your ass in there so I can make out with you.", "Don't have to tell me twice." He grinned at her before stepping in the tent and she followed, zipping it up behind her. He sat down and pulled her into his lap, and she kissed him, moving her mouth over his. She forced him backwards and he fell with an, "Oh, shit-" before she sat on top of him. He held her waist as she worked on the buttons of his shirt and he said, "Slow down, girl. We've got all night...", "You may have all night, but I'm trying to get some dick now." He laughed, then flipped them so he was over her, "That so?", "Wait, I want to be on top.", "It's alright, darlin'. I got it.", "No, I want to take care of you tonight.", "... I appreciate that, Lynn, but you know I like it more gentle.", "I can be gentle." He raised an eyebrow at her and she scoffed indignantly, "I can!", "I know you can darlin', but I can also see you're excited right now.", "Are you not?", "I am. Just not as- you know, excited- excited." Her face fell and he amended, "I didn't mean it like that, I meant-" He stopped digging his hole deeper and leaned down to kiss her. She pushed him back and asked, "Meant what?" He sighed, "I meant... I don't know...", "No, tell me." He sat up and she followed, settling herself in his lap again, but much more gently this time. She brushed her fingers over his face and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get all- all excited-excited on you-", "No, no, no- Don't apologize for that, you're fine darlin'. It's just- We got different needs, yeah? I know you like it more rough, and I can do that for you, but I don't particularly like it myself." She blinked at him, surprised, and asked slowly, "... You don't like it?", "Not for me, no." Caroline was horrified, "You- you really don't like it?" He brushed a hand over her cheek and she turned away, chin trembling. He cupped her face, "Lynn, What's wrong?", "I've been making you do that for me for a whole year and you're just telling me now?", "Darlin', you didn't make me do nothin'. I love makin' you feel good.", "But if you don't like it-", "Caroline, listen to what I'm saying. I- personally- don't like it rough, but I know you do and I'm happy to do that for you.", "But- but you don't enjoy being rough with me?", "What? Of course I do!", "But you just said-", "Let me clarify... I don't like being choked or pinned or overpowered, but I know you do, and I like makin' you feel good- and yes, I do enjoy doin' that to you so long as you're enjoyin' it yourself. For me though, I prefer when you're gentle with me. Like... I like it- I-I like it w-when you give me those little kisses, or massages or- or when you run your hands through my hair and tell me how much you love me... Th-that kind of stuff." She looked up at him softly and he looked away, scratching his neck, "Like I said, different needs." She straddled his lap and held his face in her hands, "So, I haven't been torturing you for a year?" He barked a laugh, "No. No, darlin', you haven't been torturin' me. Believe it or not, I do actually enjoy making love to you... Or fuckin' your brains out, both is good." She giggled and hooked her arms around his neck, "Well, good. That's- That's good to hear.", "Sorry for not communicating that very well. I kinda figured that when I made love to you it implied- well it implied that I enjoyed making love to you." She laughed, "No, you're fine. I'm sorry... I just got insecure again.", "Only because I didn't speak clearly enough.", "Only because I was expecting something bad.", "Only because you just went through something traumatic-", "Alright, let's not go down that road again. We're just going in circles.", "and here I thought you liked a chase?" He grinned, brushing his knuckles over her jaw. She shivered and he asked, "You still cold?" She shimmied her hips tauntingly, "Maybe a little..." He nodded, oblivious, "Well then... You... You just wanna get under the blankets and cuddle up?" She paused, "...Is that what you wanna do?", "I wanna do whatever makes you happy-", "No, no! Don't say that shit, you know it's not helpful. What do you really want?" He opened his mouth to protest, then closed it, genuinely thinking about it. Then after a moment, he hesitantly leaned forward and kissed her. She smiled into the kiss and ran her hands up into his hair. Feeling like he had something to prove now, Mick started kissing down her jaw and neck, and at that, she held him at arm's length, "Didn't you hear me before? I'm taking care of you tonight.", "Well, I think you're mistaken, missy." He went to pin her to the pallet of blankets, but she used his momentum against him to sweep his legs from under him before quickly reversing their positions and sitting on top of him, "No, I think you're mistaken, sir." He was a bit stunned at that move, then a bit weary as he looked up at her through the dim light. She smiled softly at her husband and leaned down, missing his mouth to press a light kiss to his jaw, "I'm calm now, trust me. I'll be gentle with you..." She left a trail of kisses down his neck to his collarbone and his breath caught, "Of course I- of course I trust you." She kissed back up his throat and stopped at his mouth, "I'm sorry I was so rough with you earlier.", "Lynn, it's alright. I know you just got caught up in the moment." She sighed and held his face, rubbing idly on his cheekbones, "That's no excuse. I know what you like, and I didn't think about it." He smiled sincerity up at her and brushed some hair out of her face as she continued, "You mean everything to me, Micky, you have my whole heart- and I know I have yours. I need to be more aware of that... I'm sorry." She pressed a soft kiss to his forehead and tears pricked at his eyes. Her own eyes widened, "A-are you crying? Did I make you cry? I'm so sorry-" He pulled her down into him and crushed her in an embrace. She hugged him back asking, "Are you okay, Micky?" He just nodded, burying his face in her shoulder to mumble something she couldn't hear. "What?" She asked and he pulled back, easily flipping their positions again, "If it's alright with you, darlin', I'd like to make love to you now." She blushed, "So forward.", "I'd rather not have another miscommunication. Can I make love to you now?" She laughed, pulling off her shirt, "I really must have said something right, huh?" She took off her bra too and Mick rested his head on her chest, "You say everything right...", "I don't know about everything." She mused, running her fingers through his hair. He could have stayed there like that forever, but instead he sat up a bit, just enough to lick her. A little moan escaped her and she bit her lip. He licked her nipple again and took it in his mouth. She arched her back and whined, "I'm already wet, you can skip the foreplay.", "You sure?" He asked, catching it between his teeth and teasing gently. "F-fuuck-" She whimpered, biting down on her forearm to muffle herself. He chuckled, giving the other some attention too before moving down. She squirmed under his touch and begged, "Just- just fuck me already, please...", "You don't want me to get you off first?", "Please, Micky..." How could he refuse a request like that? He quickly stripped, giving her the opportunity to finish stripping, and then he was on her, lining himself up at her entrance. Suddenly, Caroline exclaimed, "Shit! I forgot to take my pill... Whatever, it was the placebo anyway. Go ahead." He didn't know how, but he felt himself get harder. So hard, it was starting to hurt. He pushed into her and she let out a half-moan, half-whimper, holding onto his back for support. He started thrusting into her and she closed her eyes, tilting her head back. He took the opportunity to lean forward and kiss her neck, and she let out a laugh, thoroughly enjoying the whole experience. He kept up his pace, already feeling himself getting close when Caroline begged, "Harder, please, please, please, please-", "I'm- fuck- I'm gettin' fuckin' close... I won't last if I go harder...", "That's fine. Cum inside me, I don't care." That sent him over the edge. He grit his teeth, "F-fuck!" and came, hard, imagining for a moment that she wasn't on birth control. He bit his lip as he rode his orgasm, collapsing on top of his wife unceremoniously, "F-fuck, I'm sorry.", "You're fine." Caroline breathed, running her hands through his sweaty hair. He mumbled, "I just- You just say all the right things.", "I don't know what I said, but cool... I guess?" He pulled out of her, rolling off to one side, and pulling her into him. He skimmed a hand between her thighs and her breathing hitched as he said in a gravelly voice, "You say everything right..." He found her entrance and she gasped as he stuck two fingers in, pulling them against the top, rougher wall of her vagina. She practically doubled forward, opening up her legs to give him better access. As he was doing this, he kissed her shoulder and murmured, "I fuckin' love you, Caroline. I love you so fuckin' much- you don't even know." She arched her back against him panting out, "M-micky~", "I'd do anything for you, Lynn- fuckin' anything.", "F-fuck! Fuck! Fuck! C-clit- clit please!" He moved his fingers to circle her clit and she whimpered, "Micky- Mick, I'm gonna c-cum-", "I wanna put a baby in you." She didn't have time to process that as he sent her over the edge and she shuddered as her orgasm hit her like a fucking train. She moaned out his name as he kept going, milking out her euphoria until she called it, "Ow, f-fuck- Stop!" He stopped, moving his hand away from her sex to just hold her. She closed her eyes and breathed for a long moment, just riding out her orgasm... Until she fully processed what he had said, "Wait- what?", "... What?", "You want to put a baby in me?" He flushed, "Uh- Maybe?" She flipped around to face him, but he just buried his face in her stomach. She pet his hair gently, "You wanna- You wanna elaborate on that?" He shook his head and she mused, "That's probably something we should talk about, Micky." He squeezed her tighter and she said, "What happened to, 'Making it easier to talk about the hard things' hm?" He mumbled something into her stomach and she replied, "Can't hear you, babe." He lifted his head up, "I said, 'I just hope I haven't scare you off.'", "Oh, Micky- my husband- No..." She hugged him and he held her tighter. She ran her hands through his hair and cooed, "No, you didn't scare me off. I may have been surprised, but I just want to talk about it. You really wanna have kids right now?" He shrugged, then after a moment of thought he nodded. She nodded too, "I'm not opposed to the idea, we just haven't really talked about it. I mean, you think we'd be any good as parents?" Mick nodded sincerely, rubbing her hips, "Oh yeah, you'd be a fantastic mother." Mother. That word stabbed through her like ice, "I-I don't know about that...", "Oh, you would be. You're kind, and loving, and fuckin- stubborn as all get out.", "I'm just- I'm not great with kids.", "That's one of those things you just get better at with time, besides it's different when it's your own..." He ran a hand over her stomach and she flinched. He winced, "Sorry." and she flipped the other way. He back peddled, "Wait, Lynn, I'm sorry-", "You're fine, I'm just thinking... I don't know if I'd make a good- m-make a good m-mom, but... But I also don't have a great field of comparison." He sat up on an elbow and pulled her hair back from her face, "Right, your mum died when you were-", "When I was a baby, and my aunt was... Well, my aunt. Not exactly the best examples..." She sighed, "I just don't know if I'm ready to have kids right now...", "You don't think you'd be a great mom?", "I wouldn't know where to start.", "Well, we wouldn't be alone." She laid back on her back to look at him as he elaborated, "My parents would certainly help." She took pause, "You don't just want kids because of your parents, right?", "What? No, I just- I just... I don't know, I just feel ready.", "Well I don't. I mean, we don't even have jobs anymore.", "I can find work easily. Don't you worry.", "I'm not worried, I'm just saying I don't think we're in the best place for a baby right now." He felt like he'd been slapped in the face. He nodded hesitantly, "You're- you're probably right... S-sorry. Forget I said anything-" She pulled him down into her and he rested his head on her chest as she amended, "I'm not saying I never want kids, I'm just saying let's figure out our current situation first." He mumbled, "Do you actually want children or are you just sayin' that cuz of me?" She raised her eyebrows, "Micky, is that... Are you insecure?" He buried his face in her chest and she smiled knowingly, "It's alright. I get it. Is this really about kids?" He looked at her for a moment, then looked away with a shrug. She pet his hair soothingly, "But if it's not about kids, what are you really afraid of?", "I ain't afraid, I... I guess I- I guess I just- fuck!" He growled to himself, frustrated. She skimmed her nails gently across his back, "Take your time." He sighed, "I'm not afraid. I guess I'm just worried you're gonna want to leave now, which is dumb- not dumb. I know my feelin's ain't dumb, and also I know you won't leave for that, but I guess..." He hugged her closer, "I guess I am a little afraid..." She nodded and said simply, "'Your feelings are not a reflection of your environment, but a reflection of you.'", "Mm. Fuckin'- somatic, bullshit. Or whatever." She laughed and he smiled, relaxing a little. She kept running her nails over him as she said, "No, Micky, I'm not scared off by you wanting kids- and I do want kids someday, just... Not right now." He nodded, "I understand... and I'm patient. I can wait.", "I know..." She mused, feeling her eyes getting heavy. They laid there for a long time, and then she yawned, "Hey, Micky?", "Yeah?", "I love you." He smiled, kissing her sternum, "I love you too, Lynn." and without meaning to, they fell asleep.