FairyTail Fleet Oneshot Collection

Workaholic- JudexLayla

Layla's POV

I'm sitting at home alone. Again. I just got off the phone with Jude, who told me he's going to be late getting home from the office.

Again.

It's getting to the point that I just assume that he'll be home late. I mean it has only happened every night this week. And the week before. He was on timeish a night or two a couple weeks ago, but that was the only time. It was a few weeks before that that this trouble started.

I don't know. Maybe it wouldn't bother me so much if when he was home, he was all mine. But that was almost never the case. I know that tonight he'll come in, arms full of folders, peck me on the lips with a sad, apologetic look in his eyes, then disappear into the study. He'll stay in there for another to or three hours, and then slip into the bed, trying not to wake me. But I want him to.

I keep trying to tell him that. That I like for him to hold me, tell me how his day went, and be able to tell him about mine, but his response is always the same:

"Sorry, Sweet heart. I keep forgetting. I don't mean to. I'll remember next time." And he does make the effort to remember the next time, but then he's right back to forgetting again.

I am milling around the house as I think this, and presently find myself in front of my dresser, staring at the calendar that sits on top. Friday.

"Well that is just insulting!" I whisper to myself. You see, before the whole issue at jude's work, (Whatever it is... He won't say...) this would have been out date night, like every Friday. Jude would have been home early, taken a shower, and we would have gone out to dinner. If not dinner, we would have at least gone for a walk around the property, or had a movie night at home with ice cream and popcorn and all the other foods that make your day and get your doctor mad at you. But not anymore.

I hear the sound of Jude's tires in the driveway and look at the alarm clock. 10:00pm.

Have I really been stewing about it that long?

Virgo's heels click on the hallway floor as she rushes to answer the door. I leave our room and head for the stairs.

"Raywa! Rime mome!" Ah. That would be the sound of him carrying either another folder or the newspaper in his mouth. Great. One of those nights.

As I round the corner and begin to descend, I see that Virgo has already taken her leave. Then, I notice that my husband's arms are not full of papers, as I'd expected. True, he does have one folder under his left arm, but it is practically empty. In his right arm is a great big over-stuffed white bear. And instead of the newspaper, in his mouth is the reddest, most beautiful rose I've ever seen.

As I reach the foot of the stairs, my open-mouthed shock turns to a broad grin.

"Hi there, stranger." I say as calmly as I can as I cross the entry hall. I take the rose from my wonderful husband's mouth and kiss him, wrapping my arms as far around both his and the bear's necks as I can. As we pull away, Virgo reenters with a vase.

"Ah. Thank you Virgo. Would you do me a favor and take this upstairs and set it on my dresser?" I say, slipping the flower into the long-necked frosted glass.

"Yes of course, ma'am." She replies, then heads clicking up the stairs.

I turn to Jude and gesture to his load. "What's all this?"

"Heh, that's funny," says Jude. "You'd think more people would know a big fluffy teddy bear when they saw one."

I smile. "You know what I mean..." I reply with a mock indignant whine, putting my hands on my hips.

He chuckles. "Yeah, I know. It's just that I haven't been home as much as I should. I just wanted to tell you that I' sorry and that I love you. And that I'm going to be home on time a lot more now."

"Why the-" I start, but Virgo enters, asking if she may retire for the evening. I grant this, wishing her a good night. She wishes me the same, and leaves again, begging our pardon for the interruption.

"Why the change?" I ask. "What happened?"

"I just got through finalizing a huge deal. Everything is in order now. All I have to do is sign a few more papers and bring them in on Monday."

I just grin. "That's great, honey!"

"I'm glad you think so. So the bear is just my way of thanking you for just rolling with all this for the last few weeks."

"Aw! Thank you, Baby!" I take the bear from him.

"I hope you don't mind me asking that you don't drag him into the bed with us..."

I let the toy drop to the floor and swat his arm playfully. "Shut up and kiss me." I demand. Jude drops the folder into the bear's lap and wraps his arms snuggly around my waist. He trails kisses up one side of my neck. His mustache tickles and I squirm and giggle like a little school girl. As I'm in mid-giggle, he seals his lips over mine. I let myself fall into him as I smile against our kiss.

Yes, he does tend to be a workaholic, but he does have his moments.

_______________________________________________________________

I LOVE ALL YA'LL! PLEASE REVIEW, IT MAKES MY DAY!