Current timeline
<Jessica> Jess sat in the car just staring at the building for a long time after she'd turned the engine off. Everything was different now and she wasn't sure if she wanted to go inside.
<Shaw> He'd sat still with her, his hand resting on her thigh, for some time. Finally, he shifted, looking over at her. "Jessica, love?"
<Jessica> "Mmm?" She answered distractedly, eyes still on the building even as her head turned towards him.
<Shaw> "Would you like to go in? If not, I suppose we could go to the cafe around the corner." The drive home from the hospital had been tense, but only due to her tension while she steered his Aston through the city traffic.
<Jessica> She shook her head. She really didn't want to go to a cafe or anywhere where she'd have to take off her hat and see people looking at her. "I'm working on it... give me a minute..."
<Shaw> "Of course." He gave her leg a squeeze and unlatched his seat belt, letting her feel his reassurance through the link.
<Jessica> After another long silence stretched between them, Jess blew out a breath slowly before shifting to get out of her seat. It was now or never, really.
<Shaw> They'd waited so long he was surprised when she finally moved for the door. He practically leaped from the car and rounded it quickly to open her door.
<Jessica> She flashed him a small smile as she got out of the car after reaching into the passenger footwell for her backpack. She held it close to her chest as she made the short trip from the car to the front door.
<Shaw> His arm immediately moved around her shoulders to escort her to the door.
<Jessica> Taking another fortifying breath of the chilly spring air, Jess opened the door at last and stepped inside their house, being careful not to look in the direction of the mirror in the hallway.
<Shaw> Recalling her last reaction at a mirror, he moved his body between her and the offending reflective surface and let her get through the foyer. Where was that blasted and conveniently distracting pet of hers when you wanted him?
<Jessica> Sharky had heard the door, though he had been in the kitchen trying to get into the fridge so it took him some time to get down all the stairs between him and his mistress. Once he made it, however, he ran yapping at her feet. "Sharky!" Jess managed more of a smile as she scooped up her pet and cuddled him.
<Shaw> "I told you he was well," he said, checking the security of the door and following her up to sets of stairs to a thankfully mirror-free room. "Bored, but well." Sebastian leaned somewhat to peek on the way up to see if there had been a repeat performance of the mess Paige had described.
<Jessica> Her eyes went to the door of the nursery as they passed the floor the bedrooms were on and up towards the kitchen. "Poor little guy with no one to play with..." she cuddled him some more. Sharky appreciated this and cooed.
<Shaw> "Drake and Paige paid him a few visits, and I did as well," he said, distracted checking the kitchen before she could see it. Other than a few things out of place, it seemed fine.
<Shaw> Satisfied, he rejoined her and reached over to give the pet a stroke. "I see he's quite content to ignore me now that you're home," he chuckled.
<Jessica> "Did you miss me?" Jess asked the silver creature as she petted his tummy. "Don't worry, I'll be here a lot now."
<Shaw> Meaning he would be as well, per his promise. Sebastian just smiled slightly and petted Sharky as well, though his main intent was to stay close to Jessica.
<Jessica> She moved over to the fridge to feed the overexcited creature, setting him down on the counter to free up her hands and giggling as he tried to get into the fridge ahead of her. At least he was a good distraction.
<Shaw> Realizing that he was extraneous at the moment, he slid his hands into his pockets and wandered from the kitchen and through the still-empty dining room to a window to look outside.
<Jessica> Jess fed Sharky and watched him until he'd finished eating before he pattered back over to her, tail wagging, for more cuddles. She gladly scooped him back up again and held him while she considered the merits of a decent cup of tea. The pond water they'd tried to feed her in the hospital was horrendous.
<Shaw> From his place at the window, he listened to her fuss with the pet.
<Jessica> She decided she would have tea and coaxed Sharky up to sit on her shoulder (for which he took the shape of a squirrel monkey) so that she could rinse out the teapot, mug and kettle - after all, they hadn't been used in almost a week two were dusty and one was probably full of stagnant water. Ew.
<Shaw> It occurred to him that should things have progressed normally, her low cooing and chatter would have been of an entirely different nature and to a very different creature. The thought was sudden and unwelcome and made a lump form in his throat even as he cursed it.
<Jessica> Jess, for her part, was just glad to be with something that was happy to see her and wasn't asking her how she was or saying how sorry they were for her loss. It was much easier this way. And there was good tea.
<Shaw> He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the cool glass of the window.
<Jessica> Tea in hand, Jess left the kitchen with Sharky still perched on her shoulder, his tiny hands holding onto her hat for security. "Sebastian...?"
<Shaw> "Yes, Jess love?" He cleared his throat, half turning to look at her.
<Jessica> "If... if you have things to do... don't think you need to be here all the time, okay? I don't want to get in the way... and I'm home now... I'll be alright..."
<Shaw> "No, it's fine. I have no pressing business, not at the moment. Not today, at any rate." After taking a moment more to ensure he was in control, he faced her and gave her a careful hug.
<Jessica> Sharky patted Sebastian on the head. "Okay..." she returned the hug just as carefully, "Just so long as I'm not interfering too much."
<Shaw> "No," he assured her, kissing her temple and smirking at Sharky. "Unless, of course, you would like some time alone."
<Jessica> She shook her head, "No... not... not today... maybe tomorrow...." Sharky gave Sebastian an impish grin before hopping down to the floor and scampering off towards the stairs. "I need to get settled in all over again...."
<Shaw> He bared his teeth at the pet in a playful snarl, hoping to lighten the mood though it was hardly his forte.
<Jessica> Jess watched him run off, wondering idly where he was going, before she turned her attention back to Sebastian and took a small sip of her tea.
<Shaw> releasing her from the embrace, he took her free hand and led her to the study above their bedroom and a comfortable sofa.
<Jessica> Jess went with him willingly, though she was a little concerned that they were now going to have a conversation - something she'd been largely avoiding since their talk about what to do next in the hospital. She sat down, wrapping her hands around her mug and focusing her attention on that.
<Shaw> For the time being, he wasn't interested in a conversation since the last they'd had were far from relaxing and he sensed she needed some time. So, instead, he sat in the corner of the sofa and urged her onto his lap.
<Jessica> Jess set her tea down somewhere she would still be able to reach it and crawled into his lap, curling up and nestling her head against his shoulder. "It's good to be home..."
<Shaw> "Yes, and it's good to have you back where you belong." He closed his eyes and held her.
<Jessica> "When do you think I should go back to classes? Has someone been feeding the frogs for me?"
<Shaw> "When you're ready." He frowned momentarily. "I'm fairly certain Drake has been caring for them."
<Jessica> "How am I supposed to know when I'm ready?"
<Shaw> "I don't know," he admitted with a sigh.
<Jessica> "I think it'd be easier if I knew no one was going to ask me about how I am..."
<Shaw> "Yes, I can understand how that's just a reminder, even though it is simply done from concern." He toyed with a bit of her hair not hidden by the hat.
<Jessica> "I'm just so tired of repeating myself...." She cringed a little as he played with her hair, that was another painful topic that she had no idea what to do about.
<Shaw> "Well, I suppose there could be a memo." He smirked a tad at that thought, but noticed her reaction and reached to remove her hat.
<Jessica> Jess put both hands on top of the hat and shook her head. "Don't..."
<Shaw> "It's just me and you, love," he said with a frown.
<Jessica> "I know... I just... I'm not ready for that... I know you've already seen but it's different now...."
<Shaw> "I know you're uncomfortable with it, but surely you don't feel the need to hide from me."
<Jessica> "I'm hiding it from myself even... it surprises you that I'm still not really that comfortable with other people seeing what state they left me in?"
<Shaw> As he'd seen her state from before she'd even awoken it did, just a tad. "All right, love." He left it alone and moved to cuddle her again.
<Jessica> She cuddled against him, "I'm sorry... it's nothing personal..."
<Shaw> "I know that," he said, kissing her cheek.
<Jessica> She nodded, "Okay... good..." she gave him a smile and nuzzled his shoulder. "Because I love you."
<Shaw> Closing his eyes, he shared his feelings with her, and the contentment to be home finally.
<Jessica> She shared her own feelings with him, the love she had for him and the fact she was also glad to be home but mingled with the sadness of all the reminders that they'd been preparing to welcome a child that they wouldn't have.
<Shaw> "I know," he whispered. "I've had everything packed up, for now."
<Jessica> She swallowed, "Wh-where is it now?"
<Shaw> "At the school." He stroked his hands up and down her arms and side to soothe her.
<Jessica> "Okay..." hopefully not somewhere she'd run across it unexpectedly.
<Shaw> "Paige and Drake did it for us, so I'm certain they were quite respectful," he assured her, sensing she was still uncomfortable.
<Jessica> "Okay... thank you.... I'm sure they were..." she curled up a little tighter.
<Shaw> At that, he was silent and happy just to hold her.