2020-05-16 Ship to Shore - Owen, Slaine, Liam, Vincent and Father O'Keeffe

Owen waits with Vincent at the docks by the clinic where Slaine and Liam’s ship was set to arrive. He was wearing his usual trashed old jeans and  his Paws mockery of Jaws baseball shirt with black and white trainers. He had the forethought to borrow the little wagon from the Reinhardt garage in case they needed to load it up. He had no idea how much luggage they’d be bringing. He also didn't care. He'll make 20 trips if he has to to get them living here on the island. He had set up the little apartment with as much as he could gather. The furniture was old and mismatched but everyone had a place to sleep. With his work discount he had consulted with Slaine and sticked them up with two weeks of groceries. And he was taking two weeks off to quarantine with Slaine and Liam. Paul had almost cried when he asked for it but he was also very supportive. Ziggy was willing to take all the deliveries so it helped. So now, Owen stood nervously, just waiting in the midday sun with the ocean spray licking at his plain white face mask.

Because of the quarantine factor the rest of the family couldn’t come yet and he practically had to beat them with Seamus’s hockey stick to stop them from watching from a distance. He just didn’t want to overwhelm little Liam who had already been through so much. Baby steps...and eventually baby.

Vincent got to come along because the yacht bringing his new family was being sailed by a one Father O’Keefe; Veincet’s family priest. Plus Vincent offering to report back to the family seemed to chill them out a bit.

Vincent stood beside Owen .. well not so much beside as the new ‘beside’ which was roughly 2 meters apart from him.  He watches as the yacht approaches and looks at Owen.  “Don’t jump in and swim.”  he teases.  He was glad to be along.  Partly … perhaps mostly … he was the Reinhardt Family Spokesman.  Meeting Slane as she moved in.  Then he could report back … after meeting with Father O’Keeffe, of course, who he hadn’t seen in many years … since before he moved to Alexandra from Toronto.  But the boat was docking and Owen wasn’t the only one excited.  He kept it casual in blue jeans and a Breakfast Nook tee.  His black face mask was more of a yoga scarf he took from Fiona.  Meeting mainlanders meant protection.

Father Liam O’Keeffe maneuvered the boat perfectly, then quickly moved to place the steep staircase to the dock below.  On the other side was a houseboat that looked like a two flat apartment.  He offered his hand to his passenger, a lovely young Thai woman who he’d gotten to know as named Slaine Indi.  She and her son, who Liam had warmed up to using their shared first names, were moving to this little island to be with one of the two young men waiting for the boat.  It was the redhead, he knew, as the dark haired young man was Vincent D’Antoni … Reinhardt, Liam corrector himself, as the boy had legally changed his name effective only a couple of days ago.  He wasn’t dressed ‘like a priest’.  He was in jeans and a green tshirt that matched his green eyes.  On his face was a fashionable mask, also eye matching green with a Celtic cross over his mouth.

Slaine had nearly bitten her lip off during the sail from Vancouver to Alexandra.  The priest was wonderful for distracting them, telling him about his life as a priest to the Italian community.  And they had a good time too, as both the priest and her son had the same first name.  When Father O’Keeffe offered his hand, she took it and notes that it did not shake with his decades.  She hed Liam down the steep stair and led him as a walk to Owen.  then she let go of Liam’s little hand and, her voice shaking, simply said “We’re home…”  she hogged Owen as if she might never let him go.  She was in her usual … baggy jeans, a tank and a white button down business looking shirt.  Over her face was a mask that looked quite simple.  Brown with a hwite pattern of vines across it.

Once Slaine and Liam were clear, Father O’Keeffe grabbed two large army duffel bags and, very carefully, made his way down the steel stairs, not setting them down until he was a few feet from Vincent.  He resisted the habit of hugging that he had picked up from the Italians and simply beamed.  “Well look who grew into a man on me.  I must truly be old.  Hello, Vincent.”

Owen swallowed hard as the ship came into view. This was it. There they were….he laughed nervously at Vincent “Don’t tempt me…..” The docking was smooth he could see but way way too slow for him. When they finally came to him and Slaine hugged him he dropped the handle of the wagon and picked her right up off the ground and slowly spun her, holding her so tightly and then sliding her gently to the ground and then pulling down his face mask and hers he bends his face to hers to give her a long but lingering peck. He would have been more passionate but he was being respectful of the kid and Vincent’s priest watching them. He slowly let her go and then leans down to greet Liam, unsure of how the kid would take all this “He Liam...” he offered sweetly, letting the kid take the lead.

Liam was all eyes in every direction for the boat ride. He liked the funny priest with the same name as him. He was a nice man and he made his mommy laugh. When they got off the boat he saw Owen and another man with dark hair. He watched Owen pick up his mom and spin her around and kiss her and gave them a little smile. Then when Owen leaned down to him he lifted up his arms and said “Spin me too!” And then to his delight, Owen did. Liam had on a spiderman face mask to match his spiderman shirt and his little red sweatpants.

Slaine knew nothing for a moment.  Only Owen’s arms around her and the vague knowledge that he was spinning her.  When he set her down, she also looked at Liam and when he asked for a spin also, she nearly cried, but avoided it Because of the strangers around them

Vincent watches them and thinks that they look good together.  Like they’ve been together for a long time.  Plus, the kid took to him fast as well.  A good sign.  He looks at Father O’Keeffe and laughs, even though he knows he’s blushing.  “Hello, Father,  Welcome to Alexandra.”  they dont hug, which is how the world used to work.  He looks at the two duffel bags.  “It that ..”  he juts his head towards Owen and his new family.  “Theirs?”

Father O’Keeffe also watches this newly minted family, remembering how, when he was their age, such a meeting would never have been possible,  but times changed and it was a wonderful thing.  He smiles at Vincent and nods.  “Yes. That’s theirs.”  he points back to the boat.  “I’ll be isolated on the boat offshore until the quarantine is over.  By then I’m sure I’ll have found a nice small place somewhere.  I’ll be getting in touch with Slaime’s landlord to see if he can help.  I don’t need much more than the like of a rectory cell.”  he winks.  Then he gets serious.  “Then we can see about a graveside service.  I know you wanted one .. and Vincent did also .. so we’ll make that happen.”  He isn't trying to be rude and ignore the young family.  Let them have some time to say hello.

Owen sets Liam down. He had given him a bigger spin than Slaine being more careful with her because of the pregnancy of course. Now he sets Liam down and smiled so hugely that his face was bursting. He almost reaches out to shake the priests hand and then stops himself “Sorry….and hello. We’ve gotten a bit less strict here so I’m already forgetting. Thank you Father O’Keefe...thank you for bringing Slaine and Liam.” Now he reaches to pick up one of the duffle bags and put it on the wagon after overhearing.

Liam took his mother’s hand and pointed at the priest “He’s Liam too!” Little Liam gives Vincent a curious stare.

Owen notices and then looks embarrassed “Sorry Slaine, Liam...this is Vincent. He’s….well he’s basically my brother in law…” He grins at Vincent “Pending one document and Halloween wedding.”

Vincent nods at Father O’Keefe.  “Yea.  Let’s make that happen.”  then the hugging and spinning is finished and he waves at both Slaine and little Liam.  “Yea, I’m already Vincent Reinhardt now…”  he shrugs.  “Easier than starting school with the other name.”  he looks at Father O’Keeffe.  “And he’s the priest I grew up with.  He’s officiating at my wedding.”

Slane is put down and is only slightly dizzy.  She turns to face Vincent and almost reaches out for the handshake, which moves her button down shirt with help from the islands wind.  Owen may catch a glimpse of rounded belly that wasn’t there the last time he saw her.  “Yea… handshaking .. who knew it would be so hard not to do it.”  she giggles and reaches for her son.  She looks at the bags.  “Well, those are ours….  Thank you, Father Liam.”  she almost reaches out to shake hands and again checks the motion.  “Please keep in touch.  I know you’ll be living here but .. we do like you.”

Father O’Keeffe smiles all around and looks at Vincent.  “And you wanted shut of the D’Antoni name .. and no one blames you.”  he laughs.  “It means I am not the only one around without an Italian name.”  he glances at Owen.  “If you young men need my help….”  he offers..

Owen listens to the conversation and nods along. When Slaine’s shirt shift reveals her belly his heart soars and he has to strongly resist the urge to wrap his arms right back around her and run his hands over the baby bump...their baby bump. With a sigh he goes to put the duffle bag into the wagon instead “Well then extra nice to meet you Father O’Keefe. And we can manage these. He grabs for the other bag..

Liam finds a little space in the wagon that’s not occupied by bag and stuffs himself in looking very proud.

“Oh I see how it is….” Owen says jovially to Liam as he reaches for Slaine’s hand. He grins at Vincent “A chosen Reinhardt. I know you know what you’re in for…” he teases.

Father O’Keeffe sees that these young men have the situation well in hand.  “Good luck kids.”  he doesn’t tell them ‘god bless’ which may seem a bit odd.  He waves at Vincent.  “Give me a call.  I’ll be right offshore.”  and he heads back to the yacht.

Vincent laughs.  “I’ve had four years of Fiona.”  he reminds his bestie.  “The rest of you don’t scare me.”  He watches the kid and his mother and he grins.  “Can I at least help you up to the sidewalk?”  he offers.  “It's on my way home, anyway.”  he winks and reaches for the other duffel.  “I go tit, Owen.”

Slaine waves goodbye to Father O’Keeffe, and then giggles as Liam sits in the wagon, then she smiles at Vincent.  “Thank you, Vincent.”

Owen smiles at the priest “thank you Father.” Then he nods at Vincent about the other bag and laughs about the Fiona comment “ Yes please. Seems we have a passenger.” He winks at Liam. If he can. Owen will pull the wagon with one hand and hold Slaine’s with the other as they walk to the new apartment,

Liam holds onto the side of the wagon after waving at the big Liam and theh shyly at Vincent. He looks content to ride and smiles at Owen.

Vincent hikes the duffel bag onto his shoulder, then lifts the back of the wagon as they climb up the incline to the sidewalk that leads to the pharmacy parking lot.  Then he lowers it and walks with them to Water street, turning right towards the clinic, where they can see the apartment building at a dead in at the end of the next block.  He walks past the clinic and crosses the street to the Greybar building, watching Slaine and Liam and gauging their first glimpse of Alexandra.

Slaine looks at what almost seems to be woods and a few houses as they climb an incline.  Then they are in a parking lot.  She sees graffiti, but its like art.  When they get to the street, she looks both ways but turns right with Vincent and Owen.  “It’s … better than on Skype.”  she breathes, crossing the street to a skyscraper she only knows is being deconstructed because of Owen.  When she turns left and even walks backwards a little to look catty corner and into a big beautiful park.  Staring, her feet get tangled in each other and she stumbles.

Owen walks along feeling more whole than he has in months. He’s still stunned this woman wants him, moved here with Liam and they’re having a baby. It’s beautiful and surreal. He watches Slaine take in his town, her town, theirs now and smiles. “Well better graphics…” He jokes. As she stumbles Owen grabs tighter hold of her hand “You ok…” He tries to steady her.

Liam is all eyes still, he notices things the grown ups wouldn’t. He likes the painting on some of the buildings. He sees a whole herd of cats run by and squeals with delight. His mom stumbles and he doesn’t notice. He’s used to that.

Vincent is further back with Liam and sees a bunch of cats run by.  He leans down a little.  “I know some of them.  That one there that looks like it has a mask on?  She’s a Siamese cat named April.  She’s pretty nice.  They live all over town.  April belongs to Mrs … well one of the Mrs Reinhardts.  She’s the older one.”  But to Liam’s young eyes Vincent could be ancient.  “That black one .. chasing the others is Voldemort.”

Slaine nearly falls into Owen’s arms.  “Sorry.  I’m clumsy.”  but Owen should remember that.  Falling into his arms began the process of getting the one she was knitting now.  She hears Vincent and blinks.  “Voldemort?”  she hikes her computer bag more securely onto her shoulder.

Owen catches her and grins “I remember…..” He blushes a little and then laughs about the cats “Don’t worry not like the wizard...although he’s got a swipe on him...that cat does.” He looks around and gives a little cold stare at the wooded area further beyond before smiling at Slaine and Liam as he sees Liam interact with Vincent.

Liam now engages with Vincent “Are you friends with all the cats? Can you pick them up?” This town was great already. With the promise of ice cream, lego and now so many furry creatures.

Vincent grins.  “Voldemort was misnamed.”  he explains.  “No one knew until Voldemort Had  Kittens.”  he looks down at Liam.  “I wouldn’t say friends, but I like them fine.  There's also some dogs around too.  Kester is really friendly .. and you see Henry around a lot.”  he grins.  “He lives at the firehouse and I bet you can visit him once you’re out and about again.”

Slaine hugs Owen’s arm, even as he warns about the evilly named cat.  Then Vincent speaks and she turns to look at him.  “Voldemort.  Had.  Kittens?” and she can’t help but to giggle until they come to the marrow three flat apartment building.  “This is it, Liam.  Up on the top floor…”

Owen nods along with Vincent. If Liam loved animals this was a good home for him. He cracks up and confirms the misgender of the cat who should not be named “Yep Voldemort had kittens.” Then he stands and looks at the building and smiles. This was really it.

Liam thinks about all these cats and dogs and then they’re at his new home and he looks around at all the adults “It’s tall. Does it have any animals in it?”

Vincent looked up at the building then opened the outer door.  “No animals, but the man who lives here is named Mr Katz .. that’s with a K and a z.”  if Owen heads up the stairs he’ll suddenly stop him.  “We should go up the back.  That top landing is really small.  Like Addy’s.” and back out of the building to go up the back way.  There, he will notice a small for rent sign on the first floor rear apartment and make a mental note to tell Father O’Keeffe.

Slaine is almost through the door when Vincent reverses their course.  “Even people with animal names?”  she giggles.  She is eager to see their new home.  Eager to start her new life.  And hiding it so as not to worry Liam.

Owen had started for the front stairs and stopped, turning “Oh...ok thanks…yes the other Katz….” He chimes back at Vincent and then heads and leads to the back. He stops and looks at Liam as he has to unload the wagon “Ride’s over Liam…..but we can go for another one tomorrow..” He reaches down not sure if he should lift him or if Liam will be insulted because he's not  a toddler.  He’s glad he didn't just grab him when Liam leaps out confidently.

Liam lands steadily on the pavement and then bolts for the door eagerly. He’s not clumsy like his mother but more like a sturdy little creature himself.

Owen shoulders the duffle bag and leaves the little wagon outside. He fishes for his keys and opens the door for everyone and then follows the line up the many many stairs. Once at the top, he sneaks by and unlocks the door and steps in “Welcome home….” It’s a mish mash of furniture, still with a  few boxes around. There’s an old retro kitchen table and chairs and the living room stuff is sort of an orange brown. But beside the coffee table is  a big box that says Lego on the side of it.

As Liam walks around, Owen casually opens the top of it, waiting for him to notice. Then he goes to step out of his shoes and put the duffle bag down. He chuckles to himself and Slaine and Vincent as Liam hasn't noticed yet.

Slaine watches Liam race up the stairs as he adults follow.  Once the door is open she looks around also and smiles.  She loves the mishmash put together style of the place.  She also notices the Lago box and smirks.  There’s so much to look at.  She slips out of her shoes and stands admiring.

Vncent enters and sets the duffel down.  He looks at the Lego box then at Owen and Slaine.  He wonders if he should bring attention to the box and decides not to.  “Hey Owen.  This is where I get off.  Slaine, it's good to meet you.  I’ll see you when the family converges I’m sure.”  he calls out.  “See you Liam.  Take care of these two for me.”  and he’ll leave if nothing happens to stop him.

Owen watches Slaine and Liam walk around and then hears Vincent “Thank so much man…” He claps Vincent on the shoulder before he’s gone “And I will.” It’s making him crazy that Liam hasn’t seen the lego box and he stands beside it to draw attention. It’s not new lego but a box of bricks from his house and some offerings from the Alvin house but here are some really cool, old ones in the mix.

Liam goes to every room systematically. He jumps on the small bed in his room and then runs to what will be Slaine and Owen’s room and tries to jump on the futon but it doesn’t bounce, then he runs back to the livingroom and jumps his way across the couch on each cushion before vaulting to the chair and jumping. Finally he sees inside the lego box and lands beside Owen like a wild cat coming down from a tree “Lego!!!” He shouts and dives in. He pulls the box beside the coffee table, sits on the table and just starts building like a little fiend.

Owen head juts at him and then grins at Slaine “Finally...oh my god he’s just like Shay at his age….”

Slaine watches her son explore the house and finally notice the Lego.  She beams as he almost literally dives into the box.  Then she turns to Owen when the comparison is made.  “Knowing what you told me about your brother, I’m not sure how to take that.”  she giggles a little bit, letting her computer bag slip to the floor.  She looks around and  takes a deep breath.  “I’d better get started….”  and she heads into the room that will be Liam’s, dragging the bag that was in the wagon with her.

Owen smirks “There’s only one Shay...don't worry he broke the mold.” He sees her start to head off with the bag “Do you want help? Or I can make us some lunch?”

Liam is fully immersed in his own world now and completely content with the clicking of little things together with his little fingers. Slowly a scene begins to emerge around him in all directions accompanied by little explosion noises and what could be construction machine noises?

Slaine giggles.  “Thank goodness?”  she looks at him.  “Actually … you can come and at least see where everything goes .. in case i need help with the laundry?”  It is far more of a question than statement.  She doesn't really expect him to help if he doesn’t want to.  She sheds her outer shirt and is in only her tank.  Yes, her belly is rounded .. not by too much … or maybe by more than usual.

Owen is hesitant to disrupt Slaine’s get down to work plan. He knows they need to set things up for all of them. But when she takes off her shirt to the tank top and he can see the bump again he caves.”You’re showing…” He almost whispers and walks over to her and now he does what he had been wishing to at the docks and pulls her into his arms letting on hand caress her belly, their baby…

Slane bites her lip as Owen pulls her into his arms and caresses her belly.  “Yea ..  I noticed that too.”  she whispers and looks up at him.  “I didn't show this soon with Liam.”  and she giggles.  “A big Reinhardt baby, eh?”

He wrinkles his nose and smiles big “Yeah sorry genetics….god I missed you…” Now he starts kissing her properly, away from priests and Liam and Vincent. He’s both passionate and tender holding her even more tightly as he goes.

Slaine kisses him back, the handle of the duffel dropping.  She moves closer and presses into him, but then backs away.  Panting slightly, she looks up at him.  He is a big guy to her tininess.  “Welcome to parenthood.”  she bites her lip.  “Heavy petting after dark.”  she winks at him.  “Bedtime is around eight …” the words hold a hint of promise.  “If you’re … interested ….”

Owen grunts a little as she presses into him and then looks a little taken aback when she pulls away. He blows out a breath and shifts a bit letting what could have been a semi calm down. Biting his lip at her words it’s back again instantly “I’m interested…” He laughs a bit at himself. “Guess I have some learning to do about the whole kid thing..” He admits.

Slaine beans when he expresses interest.  Then she chuckles.  “Times like this is the best time to do something without having the baby get underfoot or try and ‘help’.”  she tells him.  “Because a lot of time helping only makes more work.”  she takes both of his hands and lifts them to her lips.  “But after bedtime … if he hasn’t sucked all of our energy out…”  she kisses his thumb and then turns his hand around, cupping her face within his palm.  “There may be time for love…”  she looks up at him, allowing her longing to show.  “Until then … we get to know each other and live our lives.”  she sighs and steps away, leaning over and opening the duffel.  “Alright …  underwear in the top drawer, shirts under that, pants under that and toys under that … when he has more.  Dress clothes in the closet on hangers … if there are any.  If not they can hang .. someplace.”  and she begins to unpack and put Liam’s clothes away.

Owen gazes at her adoringly while she takes his hands, lifts, kisses and cips. He caresses the side of her face with his thumb when his hand is cupping her face “After bedtime..” He says back with a low voice. He nods at her shifting with her to the tasks that need doing and listens to where things go. It does dawn on him Slaine might get a little annoyed at home about his natural states of chaos “Slaine are you like...one of those neat people all the time? “ He asks carefully.

Slaine puts the clothes in the drawers in a relatively neat manner.  Then he speaks and she turns to him with a smile.  “In my deepest imagination.”  she admits. And bites her lip.  “I know where things go … but …”  she looks down.  “I get distracted .. and … and Liam is just a little boy.”  she is almost pleading.  “I can’t keep the place super neat.  Like some .. kind of … model apartment.”  she blinks and clears her throat, walking over to him and resting her forehead on his chest.  “But I’ll try.  I really will.  I swear.”  she seems almost to be pleading.

Owen looks relieved but then her behaviour changes like she thinks he’s demanding neatness from her and he’s mad about it. He puts his arms around her “Slaine...that’s not what I meant at all...and Jesus that wouldn’t be on you. Honestly, I’m a little messy and I was worried that it would get on your nerves….”He hugs her tightly and rocks her a little side to side “Hey….I’m not upset with you...Slaine? Are you ok?”

Slaine looks up when he starts talking and looks relieved.  She hugs him back, tightly.  “I’m sorry, Owen.  Just …”  she blows out a breath.  “He’s dead, but its like I have all these scars.  He was very controlling when I was with him.  I wanted to be free of him but …”  she blows out a breath.  She’s told him the story.  How controlling Xavier was and how when she had her most independent moments .. First he got her pregnant and then took away that baby.

Owen rubs her back “I know. I’m sorry. I promise you I’m not controlling...if anything I can be a bit of a wus..” He admits, but it was frequently true. He can hear Liam’s lego still clicking away and the little noises he’s making in the game of his own imagining. “Slaine, you’re safe here. I understand scars...please tell me if I’m pushing buttons the wrong way….I love you.”

Slaine hugs him tight.  “I love you, too.  And I’m sorry if my scars get in the way.  I don’t like showing weakness, especially around Liam.”  she blows out a breath.  “Come on, let’s finish this unpacking.”  She puts the clothes away quickly and relatively neatly.  Then she takes the duffel in one hand and Owen's hand in the other.  At the back door she drops the empty duffee and drags the other one into their bedroom.  As she opens it, she looks at the bathroom door.  “Two bathrooms.”  she sighs almostin bliss.  “Liam will have a place for all those bathroom toys he loves. And I can maybe take a bath without ducks, ships and frogs….”

Owen lets her lead and set the pace of the day and unpacking and smiles about her bathroom comment. “And we have a little privacy…” He smirks “I’ve never shared a bathroom with only one person ever...I’ll try to keep my mess in check.” He offers. Owen’s already unpacked his own stuff and for now it’s neat. There's a  futon and two dressers and two bedside tables plus a small old wooden  desk. The cover on the futon is dark grey and the sheets are  lighter grey. They’re Owen’s old sheets and covers from at home and she might recognize them from their nightly Skypes. “I took the dresser on the far side. I hope that’s ok...I don’t have too much for the closet. Not really a suit kinda guy…” He jokes. There’s nothing on the walls yet “I don’t want to make any poster choices or paintings or whatever without you.”

Slaine tears her eyes away from the ensuite bathroom and looks around the room.  Wall to wall closets and the dressers inside of the closets leaves plenty of room.  “Privacy is important.”  she agrees.  She sits on the bed and runs her hands over the sheets.  “Oh don’t worry.  Mine is mostly jeans, tanks and shirts.  I have a suit for online business meetings and formal occasions.”  She is still looking at the sheets.  “And … I like that .. decorating together.”  she smiles and looks at him and then at the sheets.  “I’ve been wanting to sleep under these sheets for a long time now…..”  she murmurs and looks oddly shy for a pregnant woman sitting on a bed with the father of her child.

Owen sort of drinks her in with his eyes at the thought of sharing the bed later “Me too...me too…” He also gets a little shy about it and looks down. They’d only ever been intimate the one time. What if it didn’t go so well a second or seventeenth? He wished right now he had Shay’s confidence.”I’m not super fussy about pictures or art but I might like a few of my family...and us...and Liam of course….because we’re a family now.”

Shaine nods.  “Family….”  she savors the word.  After a minute she shakes herself.  “Unpack, Slaine.”  She chides herself and does just that.  Besides the clothes there are a couple of Thai cookbooks.  Then she drags her laptop bag in and opens it.  She has two laptops and several packets of seeds.  “You said a lot of people grow things here.  I’d like to try.  Maybe on the back porch?”  She liked the story of everyone gardening.  It certainly sounded easy enough.

Owen watches her and her collection of things like he’s her personal anthropologist. Seh simply fascinated him. He nodded at the seeds and the gardening “Yeah it’s huge here. We can get some containers. People use everything here from coffee cans to kiddie pools.”

Slane smiled and tucked the packages back into the bag.  “OK, I’ll give it a try.”  she looked around and then gave Owen an intense look.  “I love you, Owen.  I was scared … am still scared .. but I’m a coward.”  she sits beside him.  “But I’m giving this my all.  I promise.”

Owen smiles at her with love in his eyes and puts his arm around her “I am too. Scared and giving it my all. Slaine, I love you so much. We can be scared together and still do this…” He looks really hopeful about it all.

Slane beams at him.  “Alright then …  Owen.”  she takes his hand.  “Let's see about our first dinner in Alexandra.  Let’s not cook.  It’s a special occasion and I want Liam to remember it as wonderful.  Should we ask him what he wants for dinner?”  she giggles.  “And then should we let him have it, regardless of what he chooses?”

Owen laughs and then muses “Well ok….do you do this a lot? What if he asks for something we can’t make?” He looks open to but concerned.

Slaine gives him a crooked grin.  “Oh he will, believe me.”  she warns him.  “He’ll probably want ice cream or cake or .. both…”  she giggles a little bit.  “I’ve never done this before, but he was up early, then entertained by a giant priest who knows how to steer a yacht.”  She guesses Father O’Keeffe had to be six foot seven, easy, but he was so cheerful he was never scary.  “Came to live on the island of ice cream, cake and cats AND got a whole box of Lego.”  she snorts a laugh.  “A sugar crash may be the only way he’ll get to sleep tonight.”

Owen looks encouraged by this “Well believe it or not I bought both ice cream and cake mixes in the groceries we have...so it’s doable. It is a magical island.” He admits “OK, let’s go see what he suggests.” He stands and walks to the living room where Liam is sitting within columns and walls and towers of lego. “Hey Liam..” He’ll look back for Slaine “If you could have anything for dinner you want,  what would it be?”

Liam’s little face pokes up from behind the bricks “Cake and ice cream please!”

Owen now just folds his arms and turns to Slaine, laughing.

Slaine laughs.  “Well .. it’s a special occasion ….”  she looks at Owen and winks.  “How about the ice cream we have here but … a cake from the bakery?”  she looks at Owen,her eyes twinking.  “It’s your fault, really.  You told us about Earthcakes … and it IS a special occasion.”  she looks at her son.  “How about we save the ice cream parlor for when we can all go out again?  We’ll go as a family?”

Owen agrees “I can order something online. You did want cupcakes?” He offers and then pulls out his phone and taps in the search to find their online menu “Here, you choose the flavours...it’s a better deal if we get a dozen…”

From the coffee table Liam makes the sound of an engine running and  a little plane he built crashes spectacularly into some of the columns sending all the lego pieces flying in all directions with his own homemade explosion sound to back it up.

Slaine hugs his arm as he orders. “Cupcakes sound perfect.”  She selects 2 plain vanilla with vanilla icing, the 2 chocolate with chocolate icing.  Then one chai flavored one with coffee icing.  She makes other choices, all a bit different, but stops around 8 cupcakes.  “You pick the rest.  A dozen.”  she shudders into his arm.  “Yum I love you.”  she states in plain hearing of her son … and not for the first time.”

Owen adds on more of what she’s already chosen to complete the twelve, inputs the address and says “Yum I love you.” without thinking of the impact on Liam.

Liam just rolls with it all but two of his little lego people get held up and start talking to one another “Yum I love you… Yum I love you.” And then he makes them kiss and starts giggling maniacally knocking down more columns.

Slaine laughs as her son makes love connections.  “So that’s what Lego Love is all about.  Total and complete destruction.”  she scoffs and folds her arms over her tiny chest.  “Boys.”  she mock huffs and stomps one of her tiny feet.

Liam looks like he’s fueled by his mom’s stomp and then stands on the coffee table and does his own and all the columns fall and so unfortunately does Liam, head first into the box of lego. It tips and becomes a river as Liam begins to just wail.

Owen is at Liam’s side in two long steps, picking him up and checking him over as he gives him a little hug “You ok Liam?”

Slaine giggles until Liam falls and she is right beside Owen, looking at him.  “Liam?”

Liam cries for a while but is easily comforted by both of them. Just as he’s at his last little whimpers and sniffles the door buzzes.

Owen smiles at Liam “Hey...cupcakes….that’ll make you feel better.” Owen gently shifts Liam to Slaine and goes to collect the treats.

As the door closes behind him Liam looks up at Slaine and says “Owen is nicer than Daddy.”

Slaine looks relieved when the crying stops and shifts Liam to her lap.  Then the cupcakes arrive.  Hen Liam says that Owen is nicer than Daddy, Slaine nods.  “I think so, too.  I really love him.”  she tells him.  “And he’s given us a new member of the family.  Your brother or sister.”  she places a hand on her belly.  “Do you want to say hello again?”  she’s been having him talk to the baby, thinking it might help with bonding.

Liam nods. But he has trouble speaking quietly to the baby and shouts into his mother’s belly again “Hello baby! We have cupcakes!”

Owen comes back in with them while Liam is belly shouting and looks both amused and a little worried. The poor baby. He sets the cupcakes down and then goes to wash his hands.

Slaine is always amused by the yelling.  “You don't have to shout you know.”  she also knows he probably won't stop.  He seems to have convinced himself that the baby is way inside like in a room or something.  She stands.  “Let's go in your bathroom and wash your hands..  And it is mostly yours.  You have to share it with guests when they need it.”

Liam thinks about the word guests as he gets taken to the bathroom “Can we invite all the cats?” He has a cheeky grin to show he might be hamming it up.

Owen has the cupcake box open for when they come back and has to practically sit on his hands not to eat one.

Slaine takes him into the bathroom and looks around.  “Owen, remind me to order a foldable step stoop for Liam, please.” she calls out as she turns on the water and lifts him up to wash his hands.  When he is done, she sets him down.  “Go on, I’ll be there in a minute.” she tells him and washes her hands, taking a good thirty seconds.  Then she joins the guys.

By the time she comes back they both have icing one their faces but have hidden their cupcakes behind their backs to pretend they didn’t start without her. Thick as thieves and twice as sticky.

Slaine just shakes her head at them both.  “Boys.  I’m surrounded by boys.”  she rubs her belly.  “Will you be a cupcake stealing boy, too?”  she asks her lump.  “Well let me give you one now.”  and she takes the chai and nibbles at it.

Owen now stops hiding his and winks at Liam. He eats the rest and wiggles his eyebrows at Slaine “We're all cupcake stealing boys here…”

Liam likes the secret and the fact that Owen is silly with him and he starts giggling and then can't stop.

It’s contagious and Owen starts laughing too, harder even when icing comes out of Liam’s nose.

Slaine giggles too, her nibbling keeping her from spitting crumbs everywhere.  But she goes to cover her mouth and icing sticks to the tip of her nose.

Owen cracks up again at the icing on Slaine’s nose. He walks over to her “Yr got a little something right there..” He says and tries to lick it off her nose.

Liam howls with laughter now and has cupcake coming out of his mouth and down his shirt.

Slaine giggled and enjoyed her new home.  Once ‘dinner’ was over, she spent a long time staring out of the front windows.  She could see all the way down water to the ferry dock.  It was familiar and not, as Owen had described so much to her.  But no, he was bonding with Liam .. something the adored.  Liam had an adult male in his life that was not annoyed by his very existence.

Owen was trying to clean up the lego all over the floor while Liam still played a bit. It was getting close to bedtime and Owen was looking forward to the part that came after. He and Slaine had their first night in their own bed...together. He smiled to himself as he picked up a tower off the floor and started to break it apart and put the pieces in the box.

All of a sudden Liam screamed at him “Why did you break my tower? That was the best one!”

Owen looked at the blocks and  a now furious Liam “Oh hey I’m sorry...I didn’t know…” He looks around and sees another tower on the other side of the box “Hey Liam how about that one?” He points.

Liam starts to wail and picks up the one he pointed to and smashes it over Owen’s head as he scales into a  full sugar meltdown flailing fit.

“Whoah ow...hey...stop that….Liam’ Owen looks at the flailing mass helplessly.

Slaine’s head turns immediately at the sound of screeching.  As she takes a step in the direction of the angry toddler, he picks up a tower and breaks it over Owen’s head.  Wincing she moves and picks Liam up.

The pitch of Liam’s screaming immediately rose to an ear piercing screech as he tried to hit, kick and bite, not knowing or caring who he was hurting.

Slaine moved backwards and sat on the couch.  “Liam, you know not to throw things or hit people.  Especially with your toys.”  her voice was calm, as if she was not physically wrestling with an angry child.

Liam continued to scream, flail and cry for all he was worth.

Slaine began to rock back and forth, holding Liam across her legs.  Her head canted to the left, where liam’s top half was.  He’s grabbed a handful of her long black hair and was pulling as he kicked the couch.  “Liam, it’s not nice to pull my hair.”  Her voice is tight, but her tone is almost sing song.  And then she does begin to sing.  The tune is hard to make out, because Liam is screeching over it, still kicking and pulling his mother’s hair with both little fists.

Owen looks relieved when Slaine swoops in but then a little freaked out by how far the kid’s fit goes. Should he step in? She seemed to have a plan...but her hair. Oh god. He doesn’t remember he and his siblings being like this. They could have well been but it wasn’t in his awareness. He kept watching from a safe distance. Children were vicious.

While Liam screamed, flailed and pulled, Slaine sang.  And in about five minutes, Liam began to calm a bit.  Only to start and start anew again.  He bent and bit into Slaine’s side.  She winced, but kept rocking, still singing softly.  Again Liam drifted, only to start and flail anew.  But then there were longer times between his starting to awake.  But then his fit would be even worse.  It takes about half an hour before Liam goes limp across Slaine’s lap … she continues to sing softly and rock, but at around thirty three minutes, she leans back on the couch, looking like a woman who's just gone through an earthquake while having a grand mal seizure.

Owen blows out a breath and slowly approaches “That was intense..” He whispers and then offers “Do you want me to carry him to bed?” The kid looks really out for the night.

Slaine looks doubtful, but she also wants to support Owen if he wants to parent, because she needs that.  “You can try ….”

Owen takes a big breath. He had to practice. After all there would be two of them soon and he needed to know this stuff. He smiles at Slaine and wiggles his brows “I got this…” He whispers and then carefully slides his hands under Liam’s back and legs. The kid didn’t stir. So far so good. He lifts him gently off Slaine and starts walking to Liam’s bedroom ready to lay him in his little bed. As he’s leaning over and carefully easing him down Liam begins to wriggle and then whimper “Shhhh…” Owen tries to calm him but the kid wakes fully and immediately and the wailing and flailing starts up. Liam kicks Owen full on in the face and he grunts in pain “Ah fuck…” Owen mutters. Now Liam is standing on the bed in a little fighter stance almost howling like a little banshee. Owen just steps back, unsure what to do.

Slaine started moving when she heard Liam begin to whimper.  The door of the apartment thwarted her.  She forgot they were accordion and struggled, losing precious seconds.  She made it through the door just in time to hear the sound of toddler feet on parental unit flash.  Fresh meat, indeed.  As Owen steps back. Slaine moves in, taking Liam and sort of swinging him like a fun game, but it is a practiced move … allowing her to sit and lay Liam in her lap in one smooth movement.  Liam doesn’t grab her hair this time, he grabs her tank top, pulling at it and trying to sit up.  His screams are now in the smaller, more confined bedroom and may feel louder to sensitive ears.  Liam’s feet find the wall and he alternates between kicking it and bracing and trying to push himself off of his mother.  Slane rocks back and forth, looking a little shell shocked as Liam pulls at  her clothes.  The time is the same … thirty long loud minutes before Liam is out again.

Slaine remains seated and slowly looks up at Owen.  “I’m sorry.”  she half whispers, half whimpers in fear.  “Most of the time he’ll just play and literally fall asleep.  But other times ….”  she is still rocking Liam.

Owen watches and looks worried for Slaine, and the baby. Liam is so strong for his size. She looks so tired from the second round. Finally the kid is out again and he hears her apologize like she’s been pinching the kid to cry “Slaine…” He whispers “It’s ok. I was worried you were going to get hurt...how can I help with this?”

Slaine smiled tiredly at him.  “Right now … nothing.  Just .. stay with me?”  she continues to rock him.  “I don’t know where the CD’s are.  Music helps.  I may have left them in Vancouver.”  she almost cries.  “I’ll order more … I put aside funds for mail order.”  She is rambling a bit.

Owen sees her stress and leans down and kisses the top of her head, rubbing her back “It’s ok….maybe I can get something on my phone….” He steps back and pulls it out “What do you put on for him?” Owen clicks his Spotify app.


Slaine replies immediately.  “Castle of Dromore.”  she blows out a breath, but doesn’t stop rocking.  “And John O’Dreams.  One after the other … four times should do it.”  she nods to herself, as if this is a dosage of medication she's given her son before.


Owen searches for the song titles on spotify and frowns, not finding them. Then he goes to YouTube and has success. He feels his anxiety come down as the first song plays. It’s Celtic, melodic and soothing. He sighs. Did she say four times? Does she mean for both? That’s basically 8 songs. The reality of parenting is beginning to weigh on him a bit. What if he couldn’t cut it? He didn't want to let down Slaine. She’d had nothing but pain and disappointment with Xavier. He was determined to be the better man.


Slane reacts to hearing the first song as if Jesus Christ himself had come in singing.  Liam, however, wakes and redoubles his screaming and reacts as if every last Hound of Hell was in his room.  On good nights, the song soothes him and he loves them.  Tonight … it’s all the nopes.  But Slaine was prepared.  She just rocks.  The first pair of songs is bad … the second … not so much.  But Liam is asleep again for the third pair and by the end of the fourth, SLaine has moved him into his new bad, tucked him in and kissed his forehead.  Then she turns and leaves the room as if Owen isn’t even there.  She walks into her new room and deadfalls into her own new bed.  Not asleep, just drained.


Owen just watched all this and tried to not let his anxiety surface on his face. As Slaine walked past him he was trying to catch her eye and give her something, a loving look, a little flirt even but he was suddenly invisible. Owen blacked slowly from the room watching Liam as if he was potentially rabid and would wake to attack. He made it to the bedroom he now shared with Slaine and lay down beside her, almost afraid to reach out. Was she mad at him because he was so useless with her kid? There should be courses for this! Shay had mentioned colours of shit in diapers. He would take all the colours over that emotional shit storm. He was beginning to have a whole new level of respect for his parents. They did this 4 times...4 times. Timidly he rolled towards Slaine and slid an arm around her “I’m so sorry...I’ll learn how to do all this…”


Slaine tried to tunnel into Owen the moment he touched her.  With a derisive laugh, she replies to him.  “If you figure it out, let me know.  That's how I handle him when we’re alone.  With Xavier…”  she shudders in his arms.  “He’d just lock him in there until he wore himself out.  Wherever he landed was where he slept.  And I only think he did that because I told him I’d call the police if he beat him.”  she lows out a long breath.  “Welcome to parenting, Owen.  The turbulence is a nightmare and the flotation devices are filled with toys, none of which actually float….”  and she cuddles into him, physically relaxing now she is sure Liam is asleep.

Owen smiles at her, glad she struggles in a way so he’s not just a total moron. Parenting was just hard. His jaw tightens when she talks about Xavier’s approach “Motherfucker...that’s still abuse even if he didn’t beat the kid. How often did he put Liam through that? Because honestly I’d take a million kicks in the face and never lock him in a room….” He cuddles her back and chuckles at the disclaimer “I’ll try my best to be a good co-pilot.”

Slaine tries to relax, but that isn’t happening.  Instead she lay beside him.  “Too many times … but he’s dead now, so ….”  she tries to get in a snuggling position and sighs just in the pleasure of being in his arms again.  Then it hits her.  “We never really got to do this … before ….”  she giggles a little.  “Our first time was so awkward .. but ended so beautifully.”

Owen adjusts his body to accommodate how Slaine is moving and wraps his arms tighter around her “No we didn’t. And I’m sorry for the awkward….I think there might be more of that with me...just be patient while I work though it ok? I love you…” He looks melancholy and leans in to kiss her lightly.


Slaine nods and kisses him softly.  “I love you too and I think I’m pretty patient.”  she caresses his face with the slightest of frowns.  “Work through it?”  She asks.  “What do you need to work through?”  the look on his face is a little out of place and she doesn’t understand, exactly.  But the apartment is quiet and it is Adult Talk Time.  “You mean about your sexual assault?”

Owen’s jaw tightens again and he swallows and just manages one word in reply “Yep.” He was retreating into himself in a way that was noticeable, visceral even.


Slaine rubs at his face, and props herself up on one elbow.  “Talk to me?”  she requests.  “Please … don’t run away from me.  I need you…”

Owen looks at Slaine with love and pain “Ok…” He closes his eyes for a long time. Then he blows out a breath and begins “It was this guy I used to work with, Jack Rose. He trained me at Thriftys actually. Older than me...cool guy I used to look up to back in school because he was a kick ass skater. He hit on me at work. It was both unnerving and kind of flattering. I should have probably mentioned that I’m not exactly straight….not really sure how to classify it. Anyways Jack wanted to walk home with me one night. He was really flirty that day. I agreed and in the beginning I was kind of into it. We kissed...that part was well at the time it was nice...now it makes me feel like throwing up.” He breaks off as he has to get to the tougher part to talk about and just presses his face into Slaine’s shoulder, shaking a bit.

Slaine listens, and gives him time.  She strokes his hair, playin with it a bit, but for now doesn’t encourage him to speak, hoping he’ll do it unprompted.

Owen is comforted by Slaine’s touch and eventually lifts his head up and leans back so he can go on. He starts crying as he speaks,pretty much immediately and then tells her the story almost exactly the way he told Seamus “His hands started roaming....so I got caught up in it and let mine....he was very aggressive. I didn't really want to undress. We were outside. Not to be that guy but I worried some homophobic freakshow would spot us and beat the living hell out of us. Jack wanted more....he wanted to fuck. He kept trying to turn me around...get behind me...." His voice was strained but he just had to get it all out” He managed to get my pants undone and started going down on me......shoving his finger in my ass.....I pushed him off and he tried to pin me from behind again....Finally I wrestled with him and went down on him...just to get him to stop on me. I didn't know what the hell I was doing and he thought it was shit so he shoved me off him and told me I was a fuckin loser and took off. I didn't know who to tell so I didn't. A week later he was fired from Thrifty's and then it turned out he had previously raped 2 of my coworkers, one male and one female. The male pressed charges…was pressing charges….but Jack died..” He stops crying a bit “Days ago…Jack died…he was murdered…his whole family…there was  a fire after..” Owen’s making a bit less sense and clearly still coming to terms with the death of Jack Rose. It’s a relief, but it’s also a lot to process. He looks like he’s been emptied after he says it all and a  bit numb.


Slaine’s jaw tightens as he tells his tale, but she lets him go on.  She keeps playing with his hair and doing a bit of processing of her own.  But it makes sense in parts.  She’d tried a little anal play and he didn’t like it.  That part was a relief to her.  He was also a little odd, in her experience, on the matter of blo jobs, but that was also alright by her.  She wanted the man and   was alright with what he most preferred.  And now her man needed her.  Kissing his forehead she asked him.  “Was it some kind of bonfire celebration?”  she wonders.  “Because that sounds fitting.”

Owen looks confused by the bonfire question “Celebration? As in celebrating he was dead? He chuckles sardonically “Maybe some would...but no the fire was a house fire. But from what I heard on the radio the family was dead before it burned…it’s a bit surreal..”

Slaine nods a bit.  “Yea.  I mean .. death is not always a sad thing.”  she kisses his forehead again.  “I bet.  This is such a small town.  Like in the movies, and from what you told me, everyone knows everything.  People will talk.”  she runs her fingers through his now shorter hair.  “Are you afraid people will find out?”  she wonders.  “I’d protect you … well .. as best I can being so small and pregnant to boot.”  she pauses.  “But Liam would help me .. despite tonight he adores you, Owen.”

Owen smiles a bit at the offer of sweet tiny Slaine and Liam being his protectors. He chuckles “Thank you. And thank you for listening to all that…” He sniffs “I told my family. And I’m going to get some counselling. I don’t know if I’m afraid of people knowing. I’m not his only victim. I actually worked with two others and some of the people at work know about them I’m sure...especially Brayden because I heard his mom came storming in for a meeting and brought the cops….and there was this stuff on the radio about a woman ...I don’t know if I have it right...they thought she killed them all so maybe...oh fuck Slaine I don’t know. He’s gone, and that helps.”


Slaine nods.  “I love you, Owen and listening is the least I could do after you being so wonderful about my Zavier baggage and … you know … getting a little tipsy and falling into bed and getting knocked up amd ....  listening to you is barely the beginning.”   she listens to the story of the mother storming in with the cops.  “Well of course she did.  If it were Liam … the cops would definitely get involved.”  her eyes become fierce for a minute.  “I guess most mother’s would.”  she pauses.  “You know I could probably use therapy too.  Father Liam mentioned that he does … and I wouldn’t even have to go to church.” she nods.  “Maybe for Liam, too … they seem to really like each other.”

Owen looks at Slaine with absolute love “Look at us adulting and taking charge of our mental health…” He laughs “It’s good. Father O’Keeffe seems like a nice man. I think Liam should talk to someone after what Xavier did to him. My Grandpa was an abusive ass it turned out and my Dad didn't get help until he was an adult. I think it’s part of the reason my parents separated for a while. Kinda why I’m trying to get on top of it. I want us to be solid Slaine...and good together. Liam too.” He kisses her hair and hugs her.

Slaine nods.  “Then we’ll do all we can to be solid .. a really tight family.”  she gives him a mock fierce look.  “And I’ll even be … relatively nice .. when the old lovers show up trying to tell me how to treat you in bed.” she teases.


Now Owen just starts to laugh, hard “Well I hope you feel like having a conversation with yourself then….because you’re the only person I’ve ever slept with. I dated in high school….a bi-gender person named L...we made out but never went further...and I had a sort of fling after but didn’t go all the way. And all that shit with Jack that I didn’t choose…..and then you. So you’re it. No pressure.”


Slaine looks a little surprised.  Not upset, just surprised.  “No pressure?”  she laughs.  “You’re going to have to tamp down my ego.  I’m the best lover you’ve ever had.”  she giggles.  “And even though it was a bit fumbly and tipsy ..  I seem to remember having a pretty good time myself.”  she winks at him, kisses his lips quickly and lays her head down looking at him.


Owen grins at her “You are definitely the best lover I’ve had and will have Slaine.” He sees her wink, kisses her back and then looks a bit sadly at her “I really want to make love...but I don’t know if I can go there tonight after telling you all that stuff. But I want you to know I want to….” his eyes fill with tears “Even if I can’t right now….”


Slane scoffs.  “It’s okay, Owen.  I’m not up to it after dealing with my beloved son, who tonight was a walking, hitting, biting screaming poster child for hysterectomies.”  then she smiles.  “Welcome to Parenthood.  It’s a good thing we are already pregnant … because with Liam around … we might not have a chance to make love until he can take the baby to the park for the afternoon.”  she moves closer to him.  “Let's just cuddle because we need it.”

Owen now finds the humour in the kid fit. He slides his hand over Slaine’s baby bump belly as she talks about being already pregnant and chuckles at her suggestion about Liam. When she moves in he settles around her feeling the weight of the day sink him and them into the futon. “We do need it…” He admits. He was still raw from the conversation but he felt safe with her, whole, loved.