will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

He smiled down at her, wanting to wrap his arm around her but she was holding it so he couldn’t do that. All he could do was lean into her gently, keeping pace with her as they walked together.

“Really now…” she’s told him this before, but it’s still amazing to hear. That someone as weak and shy as he had once been could have caught her attention so easily was amazing. Jack laughs, and sighs, as they continue walking, Missy trailing ahead of them as far as she could before being gently tugged back before she got too far ahead. 

This is what he had been hoping for all those years ago. A life with her. A chance to grow old with her, to hold her hand at least once every day, to tell her how much he loved and adored her every single day without fail. They had achieved it, together, and had faced so much. They had raised a beautiful daughter who was already engaged, set to be wed, but had focused on her studies first to become a doctor. 

Jack didn’t know what he had done to achieve such a life but whatever it was he thanked it.

She giggled. “Yes really, you know this of course but I love telling you every time,” she replies softly, thinking back to everything they had faced together. “The wonderful shy painter who captured my heart like a prince in a fairy tale and someday when Gail has kids I can tell them the story of how we met and hope that they find love like this..”

Oh how she hoped they did.

“And what pulled you to me I wonder~?” she continued to tease. “Surely it wasn’t my looks since I was such a little wallflower.”

“I’ve told you this, dear.” Jack said softly as they crossed the street together, Missy in tow as always. “Your photography caught my eye first. I was looking for references to places in Metro City and I found your blog. All these… lovely photographs and I read your posts about your days, your friends. It sounded so… distant, and far, for me. Like a world away even if you were in the same city.” he laughed, slightly, and shook his head as he looked around.

“I was so blind back then. I was so afraid but just… something beautiful about this girl with long hair and a shy demeanor had me going outside for her. A wonder, to be sure.”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“What do I want?” he asked, sounding insulted. “My dear lady, can’t a man compliment his beautiful wife without being accused of wanting something?”

Oh how Jack had grown since she first met him. He could still be sweet, and sometimes shy, but he was so much more bolder than all those years ago. He no longer stammered, nor double guessed himself either. His hand squeezed hers back affectionately, and smiled at her in a triumphant way.

“I was just telling you how gorgeous you are, and how I’ve felt that way ever since I first met you.”

Still blushing, she hooked her arms through his, snuggling into his side as they walked, keeping her cheek pressed into his arm. “You’re still such a flatterer, love,” she sighed happily, enjoying the closeness and the warmth of being by his side that spread out from her heart like a flower.

“I’m really glad though..that you had the courage to talk to me. You were so shy when I first met you but you had this wonderful, shy smile I couldn’t resist and combined with your green eyes…I think I was hook, line and sinker since that moment and I didn’t even know it.”

Missy tugged them a little but Katelynn kept her at bay, not wishing to separate from her husband during such a romantic moment.

He smiled down at her, wanting to wrap his arm around her but she was holding it so he couldn’t do that. All he could do was lean into her gently, keeping pace with her as they walked together.

“Really now…” she’s told him this before, but it’s still amazing to hear. That someone as weak and shy as he had once been could have caught her attention so easily was amazing. Jack laughs, and sighs, as they continue walking, Missy trailing ahead of them as far as she could before being gently tugged back before she got too far ahead. 

This is what he had been hoping for all those years ago. A life with her. A chance to grow old with her, to hold her hand at least once every day, to tell her how much he loved and adored her every single day without fail. They had achieved it, together, and had faced so much. They had raised a beautiful daughter who was already engaged, set to be wed, but had focused on her studies first to become a doctor. 

Jack didn’t know what he had done to achieve such a life but whatever it was he thanked it.

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Missy was already excited, even before anyone attached the leash to her collar. Jack, of course, took his wife’s hand into his own. He still had to smile, now and then, when he saw the engagement, wedding, and eternity rings that Katelynn wore proudly on her ring finger. The engagement ring was so small and pathetic, at least that’s how he had felt when he had bought it. She deserved diamonds and jewels but with his salary he hadn’t been able to afford anything too amazing. But to her, on that night, she had been blown away and he could remember her tears of joy as she had said yes, again and again and thrown her arms around him.

The wedding day had been full of joyful tears as well.

At least, now, he no longer had to see her crying out of fear, or worry, or sadness any more. Those days were long behind them. 

He squeezed her hand gently in his own as they walked down the sidewalk, Missy trotting ahead of them, sniffing at everything.

“How is it,” Jack started, “that you continue to be as beautiful, if not more so, like you were on the day I first met you?” he glanced at her, smiling softly.

Compliments still made her blush though she gave a little turn of her nose at them sometimes, just to tease him. There was a very visible smile on her face however. “Okay mister, what did you do this time?”

Oh how Katelynn loved to tease her husband any opportunity she could, though sometimes it seemed to backfire but in the end they would still laugh together about it. She loved how they could joke with each other and just have fun despite their age. Who said old people couldn’t act young?

She turned a loving smile to him, squeezing his hand gently.

“What do I want?” he asked, sounding insulted. “My dear lady, can’t a man compliment his beautiful wife without being accused of wanting something?”

Oh how Jack had grown since she first met him. He could still be sweet, and sometimes shy, but he was so much more bolder than all those years ago. He no longer stammered, nor double guessed himself either. His hand squeezed hers back affectionately, and smiled at her in a triumphant way.

“I was just telling you how gorgeous you are, and how I’ve felt that way ever since I first met you.”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

It takes around ten minutes before Jack emerges from the bedroom after finishing his shower in the bathroom and made his way through to get dressed. Of course he’s wearing a turtleneck. It’s navy blue, and with that he’s got some black trousers and white shoes on. He’s also already pulling a jacket on, and a hat sits atop his head. Looped in the pocket of the jacket is his scarf.

“All ready?” he asked as he approached his wife, pausing to grip the back of the chair she was sitting at, before peering down at the news. “Hmm?”

She turned to look at him, smiling. “All ready to go,” she replied, standing up carefully and went to grab Missy’s leash, leaving the newspaper open.

“We’re going on our walk Missy, come on~” she cheered at her, tying her up and petting her. “Daddy wants to go for a walk, isn’t that great?”

She led her to the door, giggling at how it perked up their dog because anytime they walked to the door she always figured it was to go for a walk. Sometimes it was hard to go out for groceries because of it.

She turned to Jack and held her hand out for him, a smile on her face.

Missy was already excited, even before anyone attached the leash to her collar. Jack, of course, took his wife’s hand into his own. He still had to smile, now and then, when he saw the engagement, wedding, and eternity rings that Katelynn wore proudly on her ring finger. The engagement ring was so small and pathetic, at least that’s how he had felt when he had bought it. She deserved diamonds and jewels but with his salary he hadn’t been able to afford anything too amazing. But to her, on that night, she had been blown away and he could remember her tears of joy as she had said yes, again and again and thrown her arms around him.

The wedding day had been full of joyful tears as well.

At least, now, he no longer had to see her crying out of fear, or worry, or sadness any more. Those days were long behind them. 

He squeezed her hand gently in his own as they walked down the sidewalk, Missy trotting ahead of them, sniffing at everything.

“How is it,” Jack started, “that you continue to be as beautiful, if not more so, like you were on the day I first met you?” he glanced at her, smiling softly.

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

But that went for the two of them. Sometimes Jack didn’t feel his age, he didn’t feel the ache in his back, or the slight tremor his wrists had been picking up lately. He felt young, he felt half his age when he first met Katelynn. How beautiful she was, then, and now. The only thing he regretted was it had taken them until they were almost thirty years old before they finally found each other. All those lost years together.

But they had made up for it, oh my word had they.

He frowned over the news, and pulled away from the table. “I’m just having a quick shower.” he called, before making his way into the bathroom to do just that.

“Okay,” she called gently, kissing him on the way as she walked out back to the kitchen, wishing to see the paper. Despite almost reaching retirement from her job, she still had the same curiosity to see what was going on in the news. It would probably last long into her older age when she could barely move or whatever awaited her when she was 80 and beyond.

She reached up for the headlines and read them, frowning down at the crimes in the city. Things were still as bad as ever, though definitely nothing like how they had been when the Doom Syndicate had terrorized the poor city.

And they had Metro Man and the rest to thank for that.

Missy came over to put her head in her lap and Katelynn petted her as she continued reading, waiting for Jack.

“We’ll be leaving soon, girl,” she said to the poodle. “I know how much you love your walks.”

It takes around ten minutes before Jack emerges from the bedroom after finishing his shower in the bathroom and made his way through to get dressed. Of course he’s wearing a turtleneck. It’s navy blue, and with that he’s got some black trousers and white shoes on. He’s also already pulling a jacket on, and a hat sits atop his head. Looped in the pocket of the jacket is his scarf.

“All ready?” he asked as he approached his wife, pausing to grip the back of the chair she was sitting at, before peering down at the news. “Hmm?”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“My little habits huh?” Jack asked on a smirk as he made his way to the kitchen table, removing the band from the paper, and sat down before spreading it out on the table. “You two… still make me feel like I’m a kid sometimes. Which, ultimately, is a good thing.”

“Oh of course,” she said with a giggle, buttoning up her shirt and looking around for her jacket. “It’s always good to feel young. Gail even tells me sometimes we’re like a couple of kids~”

Katelynn definitely didn’t like acting her age. She wanted to act like how she felt and she still felt like she did when Gail was young and she could run. Sometimes she had her days where she couldn’t move well with her old bones but other times she woke up fine.

But that went for the two of them. Sometimes Jack didn’t feel his age, he didn’t feel the ache in his back, or the slight tremor his wrists had been picking up lately. He felt young, he felt half his age when he first met Katelynn. How beautiful she was, then, and now. The only thing he regretted was it had taken them until they were almost thirty years old before they finally found each other. All those lost years together.

But they had made up for it, oh my word had they.

He frowned over the news, and pulled away from the table. “I’m just having a quick shower.” he called, before making his way into the bathroom to do just that.

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Jack was moving across to the kitchen door that led to the backyard, opening the door. They lived in the suburbia, now. Metro City was looming in the far distance, where it belonged now. In their house, the corner on the block, the newspaper was always delivered into the backyard, and Jack saw it from here by the pavement that led to the garden outside.

“I think my mother’ll forgive you if you don’t call her today dear.” Jack said as he quickly stepped outside and picked up the newspaper before Missy could get her teeth on it, and returned inside.

Drying her hands on the dish towel, Katelynn moved back into their bedroom to change into something warmer so they could go out. “Oh but you know me, your mom is such a sweetheart and I love talking to her,” she replied, taking a warm outfit and changing out of her nightgown.

“Last time I talked to her she asked about your little habits again,” she giggled.

“My little habits huh?” Jack asked on a smirk as he made his way to the kitchen table, removing the band from the paper, and sat down before spreading it out on the table. “You two… still make me feel like I’m a kid sometimes. Which, ultimately, is a good thing.”

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

He smiled at her faintly and, in a gesture he’d been doing for almost 34 years now, he approached her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. His lanky arms wrapped around her middle and he rested his cheek against the back of her head, allowing his eyes to slip shut a moment.

“Hmmm I keep telling you, I’d be more than happy to do more for you…” he said before pulling away from her and plucked a towel from where it hung over the oven’s door rack. “My parents didn’t raise a pig who lets his wife do all the cleaning. Remember?” he asked, as he began to dry a plate.

“I know,” she said softly, putting another plate on the rack. “But I was the one who made the breakfast so I had to clean it up and I thought you’d like to lay in bed a bit longer like you usually do.”

The last dish was done and she unplugged the water to let it drain, her fingers wrinkling up worse thanks to the water.

“Speaking of your parent’s, I hope those two are doing well right now. I need to give them a call since I haven’t talked to them since yesterday,” she said softly, knowing old age didn’t slow those two down.

Jack was moving across to the kitchen door that led to the backyard, opening the door. They lived in the suburbia, now. Metro City was looming in the far distance, where it belonged now. In their house, the corner on the block, the newspaper was always delivered into the backyard, and Jack saw it from here by the pavement that led to the garden outside.

“I think my mother’ll forgive you if you don’t call her today dear.” Jack said as he quickly stepped outside and picked up the newspaper before Missy could get her teeth on it, and returned inside.

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“Hey, I’m not an invilid…!” Jack called out to her, pushing the blanket down just a Missy was approaching him to probably plop down over his lap as she was often to do. He swung his legs out of the bed and eased his sockless feet into the slippers tucked by the bed. He pulled himself to his feet, huffing a breath as he does and grabs his dressing gown that hung by the door.

“Katelynn, come on… let me help you.” he said as he followed her through into the kitchen.

Behind him, Missy leaped down off of the bed with a grunt, and hurriedly followed him.

Her hands were already elbow deep in the seek, washing the dishes as soap bubbles popped around her. “I’m not treating you like an invalid, love,” she told him gently, bringing a dish up and washing the soap off before putting it on the drying rack. “I just wanted to relax is all. You know I love spoiling you.”

There had been many incidents of this when Katelynn would try to get him his favorite food, bring him home some extra paints when she noticed he needed more, cleaned up after him after he had gone to bed, knowing what was okay to move and what he needed where he had left it. Little gestures like this were the least she could do and she hardly even thought about anymore, doing it out of love for him.

“But I guess if you want to help you can dry them?” she asked, giving him a smile while washing a stubborn stain off the pan as best she could.

Missy went to settle on her dog bed, watching them.

He smiled at her faintly and, in a gesture he’d been doing for almost 34 years now, he approached her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. His lanky arms wrapped around her middle and he rested his cheek against the back of her head, allowing his eyes to slip shut a moment.

“Hmmm I keep telling you, I’d be more than happy to do more for you…” he said before pulling away from her and plucked a towel from where it hung over the oven’s door rack. “My parents didn’t raise a pig who lets his wife do all the cleaning. Remember?” he asked, as he began to dry a plate.

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“I’m not, I’m not.” Jack said as he eyed Missy, whose brown eyes were now trained on his plate of breakfast with a hungry leer. “No, Missy. Not for you.” he told her gently, as the poodle’s long undocked tail wagged at being paid attention to. That normally meant food scraps.

“And of course it’s right,” he teased his wife back, “My knee’s very good at weather forecasts. It’s better then the people on the weather channels, I’ll tell you that much.” Jack chuckled before eating the last bit of toast, before sighing, and eyed his water and medicine.

He picked up the three tablets in one hand, and his glass of water in the other.

“I hate taking these.” he muttered quietly before popping them in and swallowed them dryly, before taking some water.

She turned her head to him, giving him a soft smile and leaned over to nuzzle her nose against his jaw. “I know you don’t but it’s doctor’s orders for your health. I want to make sure you live to be 200.”

His breakfast done, Katelynn reached over for the tray and food, scooting off the bed and groaning when a bone popped. “I’ll go wash the dishes really quick and then we can get ready to take Missy out for a walk. You rest up in bed okay?”

She leaned down to kiss his head again before moving for the kitchen.

“Hey, I’m not an invilid…!” Jack called out to her, pushing the blanket down just a Missy was approaching him to probably plop down over his lap as she was often to do. He swung his legs out of the bed and eased his sockless feet into the slippers tucked by the bed. He pulled himself to his feet, huffing a breath as he does and grabs his dressing gown that hung by the door.

“Katelynn, come on… let me help you.” he said as he followed her through into the kitchen.

Behind him, Missy leaped down off of the bed with a grunt, and hurriedly followed him.