Gary and Libby - Take Two

Chapter Thirty Five

I lie under a blanket on the settee, my body cocooned against Garys as he wraps his arms around me, his chin resting gently on the top of my head as his eyes remain transfixed to the TV screen. I giggle quietly, and immediately capture his attention.
"What?" He smirks shlys, pulling away a little.
"Nothing." I whisper with a smile, shaking my head and replacing my head against the warmth of his chest.
"No." Garys hands move to my shoulders, pushing me away so i have no choice but to look at him.
"Tell me."
I shake my head again and shrug slightly. "Just you."
"Me?" He giggles again and it pulls at my heart strings.
"Yes.." My fingers reach forward to play with the buttons at the top of his polo shirt. "You're cute.." Gary exhales a delicate laugh and gazes down at my fingers.
"Not as cute as you though.."
"Well no..." I twist my lips to the right to stop myself from smiling. "But some things really are impossible.."
"Oi you cheeky beggar!" Garys face splits into a toothy cackle as he throws my body away from his, landing me the opposite end of the settee. I have just about enough time to adjust to the surroundings before Garys body comes crashing onto mine, his dexterous fingers heading straight to my waist where he tickles me mercilessly until im gasping and choking for air.
"Gary!" I squeal, but he doesnt ease up. "Gary stop!"
"No!" He laughs back a simply sinister laugh, moving his fingers to my ribcage. I splutter and writhe beneath him once more, kicking my legs and flinging my arms around as if i were trying to stay afloat somewhere.

Thankfully, Garys merciless assault comes to a halt when the baby monitor crackles into life and the sound of Ethans heavy whimper is now the predominant sound throughout the room.
"Ill go.." Gary exhales his words as he lifts his body from mine, standing straight and flattening down his pyjama bottoms with the palms of his hands before heading out of the room. I half listen as his recognisable footsteps fade up the stairs and onto the landing.

What feels like only a moment later, the living room door swings open once more to reveal Gary, standing with a chubby, red faced toddler struggling in his hold.
"Alright Ethe.. Alright.." I hear him coo softly, running his large hand over the top of Ethans copper blonde hair as he continues to fight for his freedom.
"Down 'addy down!" Huge tears roll down his ever brightening cheeks as he flings his arms about, swatting away Garys hand. "Mumma Mumma!" Ethan half wails when he catches me sat on the settee.
"Hey.." I rise quickly, padding over to the clearly worked up child. "Hey come here baby, whats wrong eh?"
The hysterical sobbing subsides rapidly as Gary places Ethan into my arms.
"Mumma!" Ethan sniffles a small sniffle, wrapping two small arms around my neck as he nuzzles my collarbone.
Gary exhales a gentle laugh placing a hand on my lower back and guiding me back to our spot on the settee. "I think he had a nightmare.. although, I can't get much sense out of him myself."
"Oh dear!" I gasp, exaggerating a little. "Hey Ethe!" I peel the toddler away from me a little, allowing me to gaze into his wide green eyes. Jesus he looks like Gary. "It's all gone now baby.." I continue to explain, brushing the stray strands of his fringe out of the way of his eye. Ethan meerly whimpers in response, catching my fingers with both of his tiny hands and pressing them to his hot cheek as, what I can only presume is a form of comfort.
"Ethan." I breathe out a little laugh, bending forwards to pick up the blanket which has fallen to the floor. "Ethan look," The palm of my hand makes contact with the small space of the settee between Gary and myself. "Look, come on, sit here between me and daddy, eh?"
Ethan's little neck turns as he gazes, first at the space on the settee, and then up at Gary, before he shakes his head viciously and the grip of his small hands tighten around my fingers.

Both Gary and I laugh simultaneously, and I pull Ethan further onto my lap, moving my lips to his ear.
"I think you'll upset daddy if you don't sit next to him Ethey..." I stage whisper, and Gary's lips are pulled into a humoured smile as I speak. Almost immediately, Ethan's prior nightmare is forgotten, and a childish and carefree giggle erupts from his small frame, causing both Gary and I to beam madly down at him.
"Go on!" I urge again. "Go and sit by daddy, eh?"
Suddenly, the toddler clambers uneasily to his feet, balancing precariously on the squishy cushion of the settee, before he drops, rather conveniently into the small space between our bodies. I go to open my mouth, but before I can, Ethan has already wrapped his short arms around Gary's forearm, hugging it tightly.
"Eh monster!" Gary chuckles in response, swinging Ethan effortlessly round onto his lap. "No more tears okay?!"
Ethan's shakes his head with a toothy smile in response. "No more 'addy!"
Gary smiles again, pulling Ethan's cuddly body against his chest and blowing a kiss against his forehead, only extracting a small screech of delight from the toddler. "Good lad."

What feels like hours, but in actual fact must only be twenty or so minutes later, the three of us are curled around one another on the settee. I dip in and out ofconsciousness as the gentle buzz of the movie on the TV creates a warming background noise.
"Tired?" I hear rather than see the smile as my eyes flutter shut for the seventeens time.
"Hmm." Is the only response I have the energy to give, along with a small smile. I peel my eyes open just enough to gaze across at Gary, a sleeping Ethan between our bodies catches my eye and I sigh a perfectly content sigh. When did you get so lucky Libby?
"You know.." Gary begins again, shifting slightly so his elbows rests on the back of the settee, his fingers coming down to caress the side of my face, as I move to face him. "There was a time when I thought you were going to leave me.." Gary's tone drops as if it's paining him to speak.
The only response I can offer is a weak giggle of disbelief. "It would take a strong woman to leave you, Gary Barlow.."
Gary sighs again, but I notice a small smile playing on his lips, as his fingers continue to draw soothing circles against my temple. "Maybe.. maybe.. But it would take an even stronger one to stay."