![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Fic title: "Wherein Jensen tries to survive meeting the parents (not that he is freaking out or anything)"
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
the_milky_way
Genre: RPS, College!AU
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: R
Word Count: 6.613
Warnings/Spoilers: none
Beta: Many thanks toyume_odori
Disclaimer: This story is fictional (not real, didn't happen). Not true in any way. I don't own anything.
Summary: The prospect of spending Thanksgiving with Jared is nice. Very nice. The prospect of spending it with Jared and both their families makes Jensen incredibly nervous.
Notes: This was written for the November prompt at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
notjustroomates.
It is also the another part of the "Wherein Verse" but can be read as a standalone.
Things haven’t been going exactly the way he had planned them to. At least not during the last few days. Sure, his plans aren’t as elaborate and fine tuned as Jared’s, but it still would be nice of them to work out at times. At least he isn’t to blame for any of the things that went wrong.
Because messing up an entire apartment block and forcing over 30 people to find somewhere to live within a few days and that before Thanksgiving, really isn’t something Jensen wants to be responsible for. That it is Jared’s best friend who is now bounty hunted on campus is just a sad fact of life. Jensen doesn’t try to think about it.
So there he is now, not even two months after he finally got settled into his own small but nice apartment, that incidentally isn’t all that far away from Josh’s and therefore Jared’s house, and which is now completely flooded. Jensen doesn’t even have time to process the fact that almost all his things are either drenched or completely irrecoverable and that he is sort of homeless, too, because Josh is there talking about Jensen moving in with them.
Okay, so Jared’s puppy eyes are the major reason for Jensen to agree. He never thought he’d be moving in with his boyfriend of merely three and a half months. Jensen really had tried to be all good and gentleman-like, but fate apparently didn’t like him this way. When he had started Grad school, things with Jared were still so fresh that he hadn’t even dared to think about moving in with them, even though there was still one room unoccupied.
But then Katie and Gen remind him that the only open room close to Jared is in their apartment where Chad is currently residing on the couch. No way is he going to live with that chaotic idiot. He actually moves in with his boyfriend whom he hasn’t really seen in two weeks due to study trips, lab research and other varied things that had kept them apart and which coincidentally all where called either Mike or Chad.
The latter, though, might actually be the one giving him more time with his boyfriend now by accidentally setting his place in fire thus managing to send Jensen running for his life and Jared sort of hysterically running around.
So he moves into Josh’s house, preparing himself to deal with Mike’s constant pranks, with Josh’s constant one night flings - be it with his fiancé or with the ever present bottle of José - , with Jeff’s new addiction to playing drums and Jared’s.. well to deal with Jared.
Jensen wonders if Jared will ever be able to speak complete sentence around him again though. It is sort of fun to see him trying to come up with words when Jensen is standing in the hallway between the upstairs bathroom and his room in nothing but a towel. It is also sorts of fun to see how high Jared can squeak when Jensen oh so accidentally walks in on him in the bathroom.
It’s also pure torture.
They haven’t crossed that line yet, but Jensen thinks he’ll have a hard time holding back.
***
Life is unfair.
Jensen had planned to spend the day before going home for Thanksgiving with Jared. Things are still rather new, nothing much happening other than heated kisses, cuddling and dates spread through the free time they could shuffle around each other’s schedules. He wants to spend more time with Jared and often curses school in general for keeping them apart or fate in person for not helping them. Jensen sometimes thinks he should keep his thoughts to himself.
It is a good plan, the one he has for the day before Thanksgiving, up until the second Josh storms into the room that is now Jensen’s, and Jensen knows he probably won’t have to go looking for a new place to stay and if he does he will risk Jared’s eternal wrath since Jared seems oddly fond of the fact that his boyfriend is now living with him even though he still blushes deeply every time Jensen catches him in only a towel or boxers.
He is trying to cram one last study session into his already packed schedule, before he finally starts packing for going home. When Josh crashes into his room and bangs the door so hard that some of the unpacked boxes, that are the woeful remains of his apartment, tumble to the floor and make Jensen jump and curse at the same time.
Jensen actually drops his heavy anatomy book when his door crashes open. He is about to curse some more when the heavy tome actually lands on his naked foot. He yelps, and that rather loudly. He expects Josh’s roaring laughter. He is used to it after all.
What he doesn’t expect though is Jared flying up the stairs and mowing Josh down just to get into the room. Just the sight of Josh’s stunned face when he looks up from where he is sprawled out on the floor makes Jensen feel a hundred times better. Jared’s sheepish, and apologetic smile though makes his heart melt. He also shouldn’t find Jared’s protectiveness as hot as he does.
“You okay Jen?”
Yeah, so Jared is the only one getting away with calling him that. Jensen wonders how much that makes him a love sick teenager. And yes, he has given up denying that he is in love, at least to himself.
“I am good Jared. Just dropped the book because my idiot of a brother thought it was a good idea to crash the door open like that.”
“Hey, I paid for that. Being mowed down by him because he wants to check on your boo boo is punishment enough. Good, you two are disgustingly sweet. Our mom’s will love it.”
Jensen just blinks because his foot is still throbbing and Jared’s tousled hair is distracting him a little. When the words finally make it through to him, Jensen just blinks again. What have their mothers to do with anything?
It’s Jared who asks.
“Uhm.. what?”
“That’s why I came up here. To tell you the awesome news. Just got off the phone with Jeff, he is home already and has talked to his parents. Since our parents have known each other for a while now and since Jeff and I are best friends anyway, they decided to have a joined Thanksgiving. This year we are all going to San Antonio. Isn’t that cool? You guys can spend the time together and neither of you will have to mope and therefore won’t have to answer stupid questions from the parenting units and attached family.”
Jensen gapes now. Gapes and blinks. Jensen decides he needs a new reaction program because this one is getting old.
Josh looks entirely too smug and Jared looks terrified. Jensen is immediately on high alert because when Jared looks like he is about to pass out from shock there is either a major panic attack on the way or Jared’s brain isn’t shutting up. Jensen’s doesn’t really know which one it is right now but both are hard to deal with or you know, hard to bring Jared out of.
It takes a second for Josh’s smile to falter and for confusing to set in. He actually drops down on Jensen’s new chair and looks from Jensen to Jared and back again. Jensen doesn’t think Josh will figure it out on his own so he opens his mouth to explain only to have Jared drop on to his bed where Jensen is currently sitting and to burry his face in Jensen’s neck. In this situation he shouldn’t be so turned on by Jared’s lips moving against his skin. Jensen’s feels slightly dirty.
“Damn.”
Yeah, Jensen totally agrees. This is not what he had planned, not the way he wanted to spend Thanksgiving. Not that he has anything against spending it with Jared, but there is a small problem with that scenario.
Josh starts to look uncomfortable and a lot more confused by every second ticking by without either Jared or Jensen reacting in a way he had so clearly anticipated. He shifts on the chair, poised to spring up any second and yell at them, wouldn’t be the first time. But then he looks at Jared all curled around Jensen, face hidden and sighs.
“Okay. What’s up? I thought y’all would be overjoyed about not being apart and being able to spend the holidays together and with your families. I was expecting Jared to do his bouncy and blushing thingy. And you Jensen? You usually just wring your hands, grin like a loon and look basically like a demented chipmunk when you can be with him. You both look like you have seen a ghost. What’s wrong?”
Sometimes Jensen couldn’t believe how unknowing Josh is when it comes to Jensen’s life. One look at Jared, who is sitting up again, and Jensen knows he is thinking the same. Jared still looks rather pale but has somewhat regained his bouncy spirit. He is at least smiling a little at Jensen.
“Well you know… they kind of don’t really know about us.. yet. Not to mention about living together.” Jensen feels like this is going way too fast and things are happening way too soon. He and Jared… well they haven’t even talked about meeting the parents yet. And now they both suddenly have to deal with the prospect of telling both sets of parents that they are boyfriends and sort of living together already. Yeah, Jensen can see that going down well, especially with all the attached family members present.
“Dude. You don’t have to tell them. Not now. Just you know.. be together without being too obvious. I know you guys can hold back for a few days. It’s not like they need to know right away. “
The snort that comes form the doorway makes even Jensen flinch. Jared just blushes deep red again and there Jensen thought Jared might be on the way to getting used to being teased about them. Sometimes Jared is way too adorable for his own good. Not that Jensen would ever use such a word.
“Josh is right guys. No need to blurt your epic gay love all out. It is, to use Jared’s words to you during one of your endless phone sex marathons, for forever. So enough time to shock the parents, no need to do it when you don’t feel ready.”
Of course it is Mike that is leaning against the door frame looking at them like they are the most stupid people in the world. Jensen, in his head, curses Mike seven ways to hell. The thing that makes Jensen grumble is that Mike is partially right. Jensen hates that little fact.
When he looks at Jared, Jensen just wants to throw everyone out and cuddle the guy for hours. And he wants to tape Mike’s mouth shut. He draws him close and softly kisses Jared’s down turned lips. There is a sigh that Jensen is sure is both of them, Mike so ruins it all by cat calling. Josh though proves what an awesome big brother he can be. The smacking sound echoes loudly in the room.
“Hey! Ass. I was just saying you were right. Will never do that again. Douche. They’ll get into trouble anyway. You are aware that Jared hasn’t slept in his own room the last few days yeah? Jay-bear isn’t exactly stealthy.”
This right there is one the things Jensen still has to get used to. Not Mike being a total ass but Jared sneaking into his room every night and Jensen actually waiting for him. Just one night sleeping with Jared in his arms and Jensen can’t even imagine sleep without him anymore. It is going way too fast, but Jensen doesn’t really mind.
“Yes Mike. I am very aware of it. I'm not stupid and his room is right next to mine. And could we please not speak about the sex life of my baby brother? Yes? Thank you. Oh, Jared? If you knock over the key table one more time in the middle of the night I am going to slowly kill you and will blame sleep deprivation. Understood?”
Okay, so now even Jensen is blushing. It’s like the Inquisition and Jensen doesn’t like being put into the spotlight but he hates it when someone else does it to Jared. But this time Jared just grins sheepishly again and nods.
“With that settled, I can go and pack now.”
Jensen is eternally grateful that Josh drags a leering Mike out of the room and closes the door behind them. Josh deserves something special for Christmas.
They sit there for a minute, neither saying a word and Jensen knows they both processing what Josh just told them. It’s a lot to take in. Jensen can almost see Jared’s brain smoking and coming up with the most embarrassing scenarios that there can be.
Then he just tugs Jared close and kisses him. He hasn’t done that in a few days and is amazed that in the second their lips meet again he knows how much he has missed it. It’s slow, just reassuring that they are there, that they are together. Jensen winds his hands in Jared’s soft hair and doesn’t let go for a while.
He missed this. He missed just being with Jared, holding him close and kissing him. He hates how much school takes away from them, but then he also actually loves his new courses. Jared shifts slightly and they are moving even closer. Jensen still can’t believe how almost every aspect of Jared is so very addictive.
They end up curled together on Jensen’s new bed, which basically is just some sort of camping cot, but surprisingly comfortable. It’s still not really made for two tall men; it’s not really made for just one tall man either, but Jensen is just happy that he actually has a place to sleep at, so he doesn’t complain.
Jared is clinging to him in a way he never has before and Jensen just knows he is dwelling, what might happen in the next few days. Jensen has come to recognize the signs when Jared’s brain is in overactive drive. Sure, they haven’t been together all that long, but maybe long enough to tell people, well other people than just their brothers and roommates slash crazy friends.
They keep on kissing slowly, sucking on soft lips, clinging to smooth skin. Jared tilts his head back a little, his way of telling Jensen where to nip and lick. Jensen chuckles against Jared’s skin. How he can never say no to Jared isn’t such a miracle, but that he enjoys never doing so surprises Jensen from time to time.
He loves kissing Jared.
He loves the simplicity of it, because their lives are complicated and stressed enough as it is. He loves the feeling of Jared surrendering, but not because it gives him power, but because he knows he is the one giving Jared what he is looking for. He loves making Jared feel good, loves to know that Jared is happy.
He loves the fact that it didn’t take him long to completely fall head over heels for Jared.
He loves Jared.
It doesn’t shock him, this thought that is suddenly there, but it makes him stop his exploration of Jared’s neck and draw away. Jared looks confused for a second before Jensen just leans in again and kisses Jared so softly that they are barely touching.
Jared’s eyes are open, surprisingly alert and for a second Jensen thinks Jared can read his mind. There is something hidden in between this multitude of colors that Jensen gasps a little. If he was ever unsure about it, all in this moment he knows with a scaring clarity that he isn’t alone in this, isn’t alone with his jumbled thoughts and skipping heart. Jared is right there with him.
He takes a deep breath, kisses Jared softly again and smiles when dimples appear. Yeah, he knows how to get Jared out of his own head and Jensen is pretty sure that’s where Jared has been the last few minutes.
They lie there, facing each other and eventually Jensen feels like he can think again, can speak again without having to fear to blurt out his innermost feelings. Jared has that effect on him. Ever since that first phone call.
“You know that we don’t heave to tell them. We…. Just be friends and be happy to be together.”
Jared nods, kisses Jensen again and just sighs against Jensen’s lips. So Jensen had been right and that is what Jared is thinking about. But then it is what Jensen is thinking about and he wants to know how they will approach the next five days.
“I don’t want to lie to my parents.” Jared’s voice is so quiet that Jensen thinks for a second he imagined that. But then Jared looks up, right into Jensen's eyes and Jensen knows Jared means every word of it. “I never lied to them in my life. Was going to tell them anyway. They know anyway, just not…not about us. Yours know… about… you… right?”
“Yeah. They know and are okay with it. Not happily joining PFLAG or something, but they aren’t disowning me either. They know I am living here now, but not so much about my huge and very embarrassing crush on Jeff’s little brother.”
Jared actually laughs at that. The shine in his eyes makes Jensen’s heart skip again. He sometimes doesn’t know how to deal with the fact that he can make another human being so happy. He always thought it was beyond his abilities, considering his last relationships.
“Embarrassing huh? Nice, Ackles.”
“What can I say? You make me feel like a teenager.”
“That isn’t so bad. You very well know that you make me feel and act like one as well. And be happy we didn’t start this when you where still at college. I was actually a teenager back then.”
This time Jensen snorts and seriously tries not think about a sixteen year old Jared starting college and being is genius self. He really, really doesn’t need to think about that and how it makes him feel like a pervert. Because really, this mental image is sort of hot.
“God, I sometimes forget how young you still are.”
Jared smiles against his lips. Nibbles at them and lets his hands wander under Jensen’s t-shirt. They don’t have time for that because Mike actually invited people over and Jensen knows from experience that he will do everything to cock-block everyone until he has the chance to get laid. And the prospect of Mike either storming on or pounding at the door when Jensen has Jared all moaning and pliant isn’t doing anything for him.
Not that they have reached the highest level yet, but Jensen loves to just explore Jared with his hands and mouth. Jensen moans at his own thoughts but draws away. They do have to pack, too. Jensen just knows that Josh will drag them out of the house at five in the morning tomorrow.
“How are we going to do it, Jay? I am more than happy to spend the holidays with you. And really, no need to do anything, but be with our families.”
The late evening sun is filtering through the drapes, drapes Jensen doesn’t even know where in the room until Jared one morning detangled himself from Jensen, got up, yanked them close and crawled back into bed. There are just some rays falling in, but Jared is lying right in their way. His hair is surrounded by a halo of gold and Jensen doesn’t even care how mushy it sounds but thinks Jared looks almost ethereal.
And then he smiles. Yeah, Jensen is definitely gone.
“Let’s just.. I don’t know… see what happens? Tell them when the time is right? I don’t know Jen but if they ask I will not lie. I just want to have some good days with you and with my family. We have Jeff and Josh on our sides anyway, we are not alone. So yeah.. I am actually happy now. Thanksgiving with you…. Feels like a big step, you know.”
“I know. Let’s just see what happens then. Take it when it is there.” Jensen never doubts that Jared is the brain in this relationship. Jensen is kind of glad that they are doing this at Jared’s place. It is familiar ground for Jared and Jensen rather has that, then Jared needing to get away and not having the chance.
They stay wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing slowly until Mike does actually storm into the room. The flash of the camera shouldn’t be a surprise to Jensen, he still throws one of this running sneakers lying on the floor and feels immensely gleeful when it connects with Mike’s head.
***
Jensen feels stuffed like he hasn’t in years. His stomach actually growls at the thought of moving. Not that Jensen has any inclination of doing so for the next hundred years even if Jared actually makes true on his threat of dowsing him in cold water. Jensen cannot even think about moving without feeling sick.
The thing is Jensen knows he’ll eventually have to move and say goodbye to his parents. The families, most of them anyway, are still assembled around the Padalecki living room, treating stories and being one giant mess of family feelings. The extended families, though, have left already; either went home or retreated to their respective hotels. So it’s really just Jared’s parents, grandparents, his siblings as well as Jensen’s parents and siblings left.
So Jensen knows he’ll have to move and feel sick for a few minutes once his parents decide to leave. But it’s still early and Jensen knows he has some time to digest so that he won’t have to fear to lose all the delicious food over Sherri’s carpet. Jared had laughed when Jensen told him how sick he actually felt.
And it is Jared’s fault that he is feeling this way anyway, looking at Jensen like he did during the meal. His smouldering, hungry looks that made Jensen just shovel food without really looking what and how much he was eating. That’s at least what Jensen tries to tell himself because every other reason for him zoning out are sort of pathetic.
He still can’t believe how smooth everything actually went. He is waiting for the other shoe to drop and the anticipation is making him tense. He is so tense that he can feel his shoulders crack when he moves on the bed to find a better position. Everything feels sort of unreal, because he never really thought it might go down this way.
On the way to San Antonio, with Josh behind wheel and Jared curled up against him sleeping, Jensen’s mind had finally caught with what it meant to meet Jared’s parents. Even if it wouldn’t come up, this still meant a lot and Jensen actually wanted to make a good impression. So he had spent most of the two hour drive tense and locked in his own head, and yes the one additional hour was due to Josh and Jared insisting on a stop at the best breakfast joint in the whole of Texas for pancakes and bacon.
He had almost refused to leave the car when they had arrived. His nerves were just making themselves known when the front door opened and everything was too late. Josh had laughed and Jared had just dragged him out.
And then everything was kind of anticlimactic. Because when they had stepped up to Jared’s mother, who was standing at the door and smiling widely at them, Jared didn’t let go of Jensen’s hand. Jensen was sweating, trembling a little and couldn’t help but duck his head as they stood there in front of Jared’s family. He felt a little embarrassed for his nerves showing so much, but then it were Jared’s parents and Jensen didn’t really know what to expect.
He was really and truly nervous. Nervous like he wasn’t even before exams or life changing decisions. Jared’s parents made him nervous and Jared could feel it all through the hand that was still firmly attached to his.
And then Sherri went and hugged Jensen. She hugged him, told him welcome to the family and ushered them all into the house with a rather devious smile on her face. Jensen was scared, but didn’t have the chance to actually really fell it because then he was standing in front of Jared’s dad. Hand still in Jared’s, still sweating and still feeling really, really nervous.
Jeff was there, as was Megan. Josh had flopped down next to Jeff and they all were watching the scene playing out in front of them. Jensen suspected they all saw this as some kind of entertainment. Would be typical for their big brothers.
Gerry’s raised eyebrow made Jensen gulp and actually choke on his own saliva. Talk about embarrassing. He coughed hard and only then did Jared let go his hand, only to pat him on the back, making soothing motions and even more soothing sounds. Yeah, very embarrassing indeed.
He felt like a complete idiot and that he might have destroyed the only chance to make a good impression on Jared’s parents. Even if this wasn’t the meeting the parents day and even if this wasn’t planned at all, Jensen still thought he might try to impress his boyfriend’s family.
But there he was, sweating like this was in the middle of summer instead of the end of November, blushing like he hadn’t in years and not able to directly look people in the eye. The moment stretched out, seconds ticked away and Jared slipped his hand into Jensen’s again while they stood and waited on the verdict. Yes, Jensen felt like he was being judged without actually knowing the accusations.
Then Gerry put his hand on Jensen’s shoulder, squeezed it and smiled a smile that Jensen took as very genuine and then Gerry had welcomed him into the family as well. Just like that.
He had left a very red Jared and Jensen standing there gaping and joined his wife in the kitchen. Jeff cracked up and Josh looked as confused as Jensen felt. This was so not the way he had imagined things to go or what he had planned to say. But then his plans never really worked out.
Anticlimactic much?
Jensen thinks so now. He is still lying on Jared’s bed, in Jared’s room and all still feels rather surreal. He thinks back on how Jeff had just laughed at their faces and at how Jared had tried to figure out what was going on. They had sat there, being stunned and sort of worried when Sherri had come back in with coffee and rests of breakfast.
Jensen smiles when he sees them in his mind, sitting there not really knowing what to say or how to ask how they knew. Sherri, being a very observant mother just had smiled then, patted Jared gently on the head and had said “Well, Jared can’t stop talking about you. Hasn’t been able to for quite some time. It’s not really rocket science to figure out that he is in love. Also? I do have yes and he literally dragged you in here. It’s quite nice to meet my son’s boyfriend and his family at the same time.”
Jensen smiles even wider as he remembers Jared’s stunned look and deep blush, and he is sure he didn’t look any better. Jeff had been in stitches by then and even Megan and Josh were laughing. It went smoother and totally different than Jensen had expected.
His parents though might have been a different story.
His stomach grumbles, complains about all the work Jensen heaved upon it and he moves to readjust his jeans and pops open the top button. It’s quiet. He can only occasionally hear laughter waving in from downstairs, knows that Jared is deep in conversation with Jensen’s father about God knows what. Or has been when Jensen left to lie down. He suddenly feels pathetic and old but his stomach thanks him for the down time anyway.
The room is now what he had imagined Jared’s childhood room to be. He knows what Jared’s room in Austin looks like, all tidy and cluttered with books as well as with posters about numerical and periodic systems. This room here is one of a teenager engrossed in sports, movies and famous bands. It has the flair of being left behind when the person owning grew up, but still has a lot of Jared in it.
The drapes are open and Jensen can see the stars sparkling through the window. He sees trees moving slightly in the breeze that is going on outside, sees some dark clouds moving across the evening sky. The room itself isn’t all that big, but maybe it seems smaller because the owner isn’t a child or teenager anymore. The bookshelves are half empty but Jensen knows where those books are, he stumbled over them enough times already. The high school pictures and trophies remind him of his own room at his parents’ place.
It’s a trip down memory lane but so different from the times he did that in his own room. This is a life he has not many ideas about and he wonders why he never really asked Jared about it. They have been so busy and occupied lately that there hadn’t been much time. Jensen wants to know more about Jared, wants to know who this boy was that lived here, wants to know how this boy became the man Jensen is in love with.
This is Jared’s room at home, the place Jared grew up in and Jensen is in it. Jensen is allowed to see it and it makes him feel warm. It makes him feel welcomed, which also has a lot to do with the way Jared’s family has been treating him today. Him and his family.
After the small shock of Jared’s parents being so blasé about it all, Jensen had been slightly worried about his own parents, including the extended family. Josh, ever being the caring big brother had told him that only Jensen’s grandparents would be coming down anyway, everyone else was occupied with own family obligations. It didn’t make Jensen feel less nervous but it made him feel better about the amount of drama that might go down. Lesser people, less ways of freaking someone out.
Thinking back on it Jensen can only snort at himself. He should have known that he was as bad as Jared when it came to hiding his feelings or his state of mind. Of course, Josh hadn’t said a single word about how obvious Jensen actually was. No, it was Jensen’s dad that did that the second he stepped into the house.
If Jensen had ever thought about how his parents would meet Jared it wouldn’t have been attached to the words “So son, where is this boy of yours you can’t shut up about?” The words themselves were actually rather harmless; it was Jared’s choking on his sweet tea that send everyone into action. Jensen almost tripped over himself to get to Jared, their big brothers cracked up simultaneously, their sisters were already deep in conversation about whatever teenaged girls talk about these days and their parents where just looking on, amused and rather smug.
Jensen still has the slight feeling that this had been all planned. He can get over the fact that everyone already seemed to know about him and Jared. Not that he minded them being cool with it, far from that. But there is something not quite right with it. Jensen mentally shrugs, he’ll probably never find out about it all anyway. All his thoughts and worries seem like some sort of overreaction now and he wonders when the other shoe will drop. It went too smooth.
Jensen is frowning at himself, wonders why he actually wants something to go wrong, some drama to happen. Maybe he had been so set on it, that things going so well were never part of the plan. It throws him a little. It’s something new for him, to really contemplate what others might think of him and not for himself but for someone else. He wants Jared’s parents to like him so that Jared can be happy. He wants his own parents to like Jared for the same reason.
“You okay here?”
Jensen smiles at the voice but doesn’t open his eyes. Only now does he realised that he had dozed off, wonders how long he had been sleeping.
“Yeah. Am good.”
He grunts, tries to role away from the weight suddenly crashing down on him and tries not to puke up one of the best Thanksgiving meals he has ever had. Seriously, his mom’s and Jared’s mom’s cooking skills combined are a weapon to reckon with. Jared shifts his weight off of Jensen and they settle into a comfortable embrace. That’s something new, too. Jensen had never been one to cuddle when it wasn’t connected to post coital bliss. With Jared he can’t get enough of it.
Jensen grunts even more when Jared’s hands seek out his skin under the dress shirt he has been wearing for dinner and accidentally bump into his stomach.
“Sorry.” Jared sounds anything but.
Jared snuggles up to him even more, hands tucked under Jensen’s shirt, flat against his skin, head place on his shoulder. Jensen’s arms wrapped around the body slotted against him and Jensen sighs contently. This is the perfect way to spend a day like this.
“Your parents love me. They totally want to adopt me now.” Jensen chuckles at the words and at the buff of air tickling against his neck. He’d somehow hoped for this. For Jared to be accepted and for himself to be welcomed into their families. It’s surreal on the one hand and on the other absolutely great.
“Well, then it is good that your mom loves me and I won’t have to be without a family.”
“Pssh, only because you helped in the kitchen and sucked up to her. Once she gets to know your sloppy self, she’ll beg for me to come back.” Jared doesn’t give him a chance for a comeback; he just tilts his head up and brings their lips together.
They kiss slowly, just enjoying being together, being with each other. Jensen still can’t believe that they really can do that. Here, with their parents around and everyone knowing about them. He had planned for a few days of hiding, of just being Jared’s friend but this is so much better.
Jensen still has the arguments in his head, the ones he would have used if it hadn’t gone the way it did. About how he loves Jared, how he knows how special Jared is and that the age difference isn’t that big. There are arguments about how they aren’t really living together but are mere roommates. But it never really mattered because no one actually said anything. Jensen thinks he has to thank Josh and Jeff for it all. No one actually said it out loud but he somehow knows that their big brothers had a few good words in for them.
Jensen wonders if his bank account is big enough for Christmas present for both of them and their parents. He already has everything he wished for last year. Jared moves against him, brings him back to the here and now and makes him moan out loud.
“Stop thinking Jen. Everything is fine.”
“Who are you? And what have you done with Jared? Did you really just tell me to stop thinking?”
“I guess?”
They don’t talk for a while after that. They just kiss, cuddle and lie in each other’s arms. Jensen doesn’t know when he falls asleep but when he wakes up Jared is still curled against him and the only real light is coming from the hallway through the open door. He doesn’t jolt or flinch when he sees his mother standing there looking at them, he just tucks Jared closer and smiles sleepily at her.
She comes in then, bents down and drops a small kiss on his forehead.
“Just wanted to say Goodbye. We are leaving now. Sherri said you are very welcome to stay here. Call me tomorrow, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
She nods, smiles down on them and drops another kiss on his cheek and then does the same to Jared, who just sighs and sleeps on. Jensen feels like crying a little at the look of love and happiness his momma gives them both.
This is what he is thankful for this year. Not the crap about new friends and having found a good Grad school like he said during dinner with his eyes never leaving Jared’s. No, this year he is thankful for having Jared, for their parents loving them and for being happy.
She closes the door behind her, leaving only the moon outside to give light. Jensen is about to fall back asleep when Jared kisses his neck and moves his hand under the shirt to lay flat across his heart.
“I love them.”
It’s whispered against his ear and it means the world to Jensen.
“They love you.”
“You, too.”
“Yeah. This… this went so different from what I expected. Not that I expected anything bad, but this was so….”
“Smooth?”
“Yes. And I think we have to thank Jeff and Josh for it. Partially at least. No idea what they did or said but I think it sort of built the way for us.”
He feels Jared nodding against his shoulder, feels Jared’s fingers drawing circles on his skin and he feels arousal surge through his body. This is nothing sexual, just the knowledge that Jared is there, is touching him. He knows they won’t do anything here but it’s good enough already to just lie there and have Jared touching him like this. Lovingly and soothing.
“Are you waiting for the hitch Jen? ‘Cause I am. But I know there won’t be one because your mother just came in and kissed me on the cheek to say goodbye and I have only known her for a few hours. There is no hitch because this is happiness and I’ll refuse to look for any kind of bad thing about it. I am thankful for it. I am thankful for you.”
Jensen knows what Jared is saying and he knows it might be way too soon to let it all out. But in this moment he also knows that this is it. That this is what he wants, has hoped for and will fight to keep no matter what.
“I love you.” It’s the only answer he can give Jared. And Jensen is surprised that it is so easy to say it and that he isn’t expecting anything back. He knows Jared loves him with such clarity that it almost hurts to think about it. He doesn’t need to hear it to know.
“I love you, too.”
It’s still the best thing someone has ever said to him.
TBC
Previous: "Wherein Jared’s brain doesn’t shut up…" & "Wherein Jensen doesn’t really know what’s going on…" & "Wherein Jared tries to figure what is appropriate for a first date"
Author:
the_milky_wayGenre: RPS, College!AU
Pairing: Jared/Jensen
Rating: R
Word Count: 6.613
Warnings/Spoilers: none
Beta: Many thanks to
yume_odoriDisclaimer: This story is fictional (not real, didn't happen). Not true in any way. I don't own anything.
Summary: The prospect of spending Thanksgiving with Jared is nice. Very nice. The prospect of spending it with Jared and both their families makes Jensen incredibly nervous.
Notes: This was written for the November prompt at
notjustroomates.It is also the another part of the "Wherein Verse" but can be read as a standalone.
Things haven’t been going exactly the way he had planned them to. At least not during the last few days. Sure, his plans aren’t as elaborate and fine tuned as Jared’s, but it still would be nice of them to work out at times. At least he isn’t to blame for any of the things that went wrong.
Because messing up an entire apartment block and forcing over 30 people to find somewhere to live within a few days and that before Thanksgiving, really isn’t something Jensen wants to be responsible for. That it is Jared’s best friend who is now bounty hunted on campus is just a sad fact of life. Jensen doesn’t try to think about it.
So there he is now, not even two months after he finally got settled into his own small but nice apartment, that incidentally isn’t all that far away from Josh’s and therefore Jared’s house, and which is now completely flooded. Jensen doesn’t even have time to process the fact that almost all his things are either drenched or completely irrecoverable and that he is sort of homeless, too, because Josh is there talking about Jensen moving in with them.
Okay, so Jared’s puppy eyes are the major reason for Jensen to agree. He never thought he’d be moving in with his boyfriend of merely three and a half months. Jensen really had tried to be all good and gentleman-like, but fate apparently didn’t like him this way. When he had started Grad school, things with Jared were still so fresh that he hadn’t even dared to think about moving in with them, even though there was still one room unoccupied.
But then Katie and Gen remind him that the only open room close to Jared is in their apartment where Chad is currently residing on the couch. No way is he going to live with that chaotic idiot. He actually moves in with his boyfriend whom he hasn’t really seen in two weeks due to study trips, lab research and other varied things that had kept them apart and which coincidentally all where called either Mike or Chad.
The latter, though, might actually be the one giving him more time with his boyfriend now by accidentally setting his place in fire thus managing to send Jensen running for his life and Jared sort of hysterically running around.
So he moves into Josh’s house, preparing himself to deal with Mike’s constant pranks, with Josh’s constant one night flings - be it with his fiancé or with the ever present bottle of José - , with Jeff’s new addiction to playing drums and Jared’s.. well to deal with Jared.
Jensen wonders if Jared will ever be able to speak complete sentence around him again though. It is sort of fun to see him trying to come up with words when Jensen is standing in the hallway between the upstairs bathroom and his room in nothing but a towel. It is also sorts of fun to see how high Jared can squeak when Jensen oh so accidentally walks in on him in the bathroom.
It’s also pure torture.
They haven’t crossed that line yet, but Jensen thinks he’ll have a hard time holding back.
***
Life is unfair.
Jensen had planned to spend the day before going home for Thanksgiving with Jared. Things are still rather new, nothing much happening other than heated kisses, cuddling and dates spread through the free time they could shuffle around each other’s schedules. He wants to spend more time with Jared and often curses school in general for keeping them apart or fate in person for not helping them. Jensen sometimes thinks he should keep his thoughts to himself.
It is a good plan, the one he has for the day before Thanksgiving, up until the second Josh storms into the room that is now Jensen’s, and Jensen knows he probably won’t have to go looking for a new place to stay and if he does he will risk Jared’s eternal wrath since Jared seems oddly fond of the fact that his boyfriend is now living with him even though he still blushes deeply every time Jensen catches him in only a towel or boxers.
He is trying to cram one last study session into his already packed schedule, before he finally starts packing for going home. When Josh crashes into his room and bangs the door so hard that some of the unpacked boxes, that are the woeful remains of his apartment, tumble to the floor and make Jensen jump and curse at the same time.
Jensen actually drops his heavy anatomy book when his door crashes open. He is about to curse some more when the heavy tome actually lands on his naked foot. He yelps, and that rather loudly. He expects Josh’s roaring laughter. He is used to it after all.
What he doesn’t expect though is Jared flying up the stairs and mowing Josh down just to get into the room. Just the sight of Josh’s stunned face when he looks up from where he is sprawled out on the floor makes Jensen feel a hundred times better. Jared’s sheepish, and apologetic smile though makes his heart melt. He also shouldn’t find Jared’s protectiveness as hot as he does.
“You okay Jen?”
Yeah, so Jared is the only one getting away with calling him that. Jensen wonders how much that makes him a love sick teenager. And yes, he has given up denying that he is in love, at least to himself.
“I am good Jared. Just dropped the book because my idiot of a brother thought it was a good idea to crash the door open like that.”
“Hey, I paid for that. Being mowed down by him because he wants to check on your boo boo is punishment enough. Good, you two are disgustingly sweet. Our mom’s will love it.”
Jensen just blinks because his foot is still throbbing and Jared’s tousled hair is distracting him a little. When the words finally make it through to him, Jensen just blinks again. What have their mothers to do with anything?
It’s Jared who asks.
“Uhm.. what?”
“That’s why I came up here. To tell you the awesome news. Just got off the phone with Jeff, he is home already and has talked to his parents. Since our parents have known each other for a while now and since Jeff and I are best friends anyway, they decided to have a joined Thanksgiving. This year we are all going to San Antonio. Isn’t that cool? You guys can spend the time together and neither of you will have to mope and therefore won’t have to answer stupid questions from the parenting units and attached family.”
Jensen gapes now. Gapes and blinks. Jensen decides he needs a new reaction program because this one is getting old.
Josh looks entirely too smug and Jared looks terrified. Jensen is immediately on high alert because when Jared looks like he is about to pass out from shock there is either a major panic attack on the way or Jared’s brain isn’t shutting up. Jensen’s doesn’t really know which one it is right now but both are hard to deal with or you know, hard to bring Jared out of.
It takes a second for Josh’s smile to falter and for confusing to set in. He actually drops down on Jensen’s new chair and looks from Jensen to Jared and back again. Jensen doesn’t think Josh will figure it out on his own so he opens his mouth to explain only to have Jared drop on to his bed where Jensen is currently sitting and to burry his face in Jensen’s neck. In this situation he shouldn’t be so turned on by Jared’s lips moving against his skin. Jensen’s feels slightly dirty.
“Damn.”
Yeah, Jensen totally agrees. This is not what he had planned, not the way he wanted to spend Thanksgiving. Not that he has anything against spending it with Jared, but there is a small problem with that scenario.
Josh starts to look uncomfortable and a lot more confused by every second ticking by without either Jared or Jensen reacting in a way he had so clearly anticipated. He shifts on the chair, poised to spring up any second and yell at them, wouldn’t be the first time. But then he looks at Jared all curled around Jensen, face hidden and sighs.
“Okay. What’s up? I thought y’all would be overjoyed about not being apart and being able to spend the holidays together and with your families. I was expecting Jared to do his bouncy and blushing thingy. And you Jensen? You usually just wring your hands, grin like a loon and look basically like a demented chipmunk when you can be with him. You both look like you have seen a ghost. What’s wrong?”
Sometimes Jensen couldn’t believe how unknowing Josh is when it comes to Jensen’s life. One look at Jared, who is sitting up again, and Jensen knows he is thinking the same. Jared still looks rather pale but has somewhat regained his bouncy spirit. He is at least smiling a little at Jensen.
“Well you know… they kind of don’t really know about us.. yet. Not to mention about living together.” Jensen feels like this is going way too fast and things are happening way too soon. He and Jared… well they haven’t even talked about meeting the parents yet. And now they both suddenly have to deal with the prospect of telling both sets of parents that they are boyfriends and sort of living together already. Yeah, Jensen can see that going down well, especially with all the attached family members present.
“Dude. You don’t have to tell them. Not now. Just you know.. be together without being too obvious. I know you guys can hold back for a few days. It’s not like they need to know right away. “
The snort that comes form the doorway makes even Jensen flinch. Jared just blushes deep red again and there Jensen thought Jared might be on the way to getting used to being teased about them. Sometimes Jared is way too adorable for his own good. Not that Jensen would ever use such a word.
“Josh is right guys. No need to blurt your epic gay love all out. It is, to use Jared’s words to you during one of your endless phone sex marathons, for forever. So enough time to shock the parents, no need to do it when you don’t feel ready.”
Of course it is Mike that is leaning against the door frame looking at them like they are the most stupid people in the world. Jensen, in his head, curses Mike seven ways to hell. The thing that makes Jensen grumble is that Mike is partially right. Jensen hates that little fact.
When he looks at Jared, Jensen just wants to throw everyone out and cuddle the guy for hours. And he wants to tape Mike’s mouth shut. He draws him close and softly kisses Jared’s down turned lips. There is a sigh that Jensen is sure is both of them, Mike so ruins it all by cat calling. Josh though proves what an awesome big brother he can be. The smacking sound echoes loudly in the room.
“Hey! Ass. I was just saying you were right. Will never do that again. Douche. They’ll get into trouble anyway. You are aware that Jared hasn’t slept in his own room the last few days yeah? Jay-bear isn’t exactly stealthy.”
This right there is one the things Jensen still has to get used to. Not Mike being a total ass but Jared sneaking into his room every night and Jensen actually waiting for him. Just one night sleeping with Jared in his arms and Jensen can’t even imagine sleep without him anymore. It is going way too fast, but Jensen doesn’t really mind.
“Yes Mike. I am very aware of it. I'm not stupid and his room is right next to mine. And could we please not speak about the sex life of my baby brother? Yes? Thank you. Oh, Jared? If you knock over the key table one more time in the middle of the night I am going to slowly kill you and will blame sleep deprivation. Understood?”
Okay, so now even Jensen is blushing. It’s like the Inquisition and Jensen doesn’t like being put into the spotlight but he hates it when someone else does it to Jared. But this time Jared just grins sheepishly again and nods.
“With that settled, I can go and pack now.”
Jensen is eternally grateful that Josh drags a leering Mike out of the room and closes the door behind them. Josh deserves something special for Christmas.
They sit there for a minute, neither saying a word and Jensen knows they both processing what Josh just told them. It’s a lot to take in. Jensen can almost see Jared’s brain smoking and coming up with the most embarrassing scenarios that there can be.
Then he just tugs Jared close and kisses him. He hasn’t done that in a few days and is amazed that in the second their lips meet again he knows how much he has missed it. It’s slow, just reassuring that they are there, that they are together. Jensen winds his hands in Jared’s soft hair and doesn’t let go for a while.
He missed this. He missed just being with Jared, holding him close and kissing him. He hates how much school takes away from them, but then he also actually loves his new courses. Jared shifts slightly and they are moving even closer. Jensen still can’t believe how almost every aspect of Jared is so very addictive.
They end up curled together on Jensen’s new bed, which basically is just some sort of camping cot, but surprisingly comfortable. It’s still not really made for two tall men; it’s not really made for just one tall man either, but Jensen is just happy that he actually has a place to sleep at, so he doesn’t complain.
Jared is clinging to him in a way he never has before and Jensen just knows he is dwelling, what might happen in the next few days. Jensen has come to recognize the signs when Jared’s brain is in overactive drive. Sure, they haven’t been together all that long, but maybe long enough to tell people, well other people than just their brothers and roommates slash crazy friends.
They keep on kissing slowly, sucking on soft lips, clinging to smooth skin. Jared tilts his head back a little, his way of telling Jensen where to nip and lick. Jensen chuckles against Jared’s skin. How he can never say no to Jared isn’t such a miracle, but that he enjoys never doing so surprises Jensen from time to time.
He loves kissing Jared.
He loves the simplicity of it, because their lives are complicated and stressed enough as it is. He loves the feeling of Jared surrendering, but not because it gives him power, but because he knows he is the one giving Jared what he is looking for. He loves making Jared feel good, loves to know that Jared is happy.
He loves the fact that it didn’t take him long to completely fall head over heels for Jared.
He loves Jared.
It doesn’t shock him, this thought that is suddenly there, but it makes him stop his exploration of Jared’s neck and draw away. Jared looks confused for a second before Jensen just leans in again and kisses Jared so softly that they are barely touching.
Jared’s eyes are open, surprisingly alert and for a second Jensen thinks Jared can read his mind. There is something hidden in between this multitude of colors that Jensen gasps a little. If he was ever unsure about it, all in this moment he knows with a scaring clarity that he isn’t alone in this, isn’t alone with his jumbled thoughts and skipping heart. Jared is right there with him.
He takes a deep breath, kisses Jared softly again and smiles when dimples appear. Yeah, he knows how to get Jared out of his own head and Jensen is pretty sure that’s where Jared has been the last few minutes.
They lie there, facing each other and eventually Jensen feels like he can think again, can speak again without having to fear to blurt out his innermost feelings. Jared has that effect on him. Ever since that first phone call.
“You know that we don’t heave to tell them. We…. Just be friends and be happy to be together.”
Jared nods, kisses Jensen again and just sighs against Jensen’s lips. So Jensen had been right and that is what Jared is thinking about. But then it is what Jensen is thinking about and he wants to know how they will approach the next five days.
“I don’t want to lie to my parents.” Jared’s voice is so quiet that Jensen thinks for a second he imagined that. But then Jared looks up, right into Jensen's eyes and Jensen knows Jared means every word of it. “I never lied to them in my life. Was going to tell them anyway. They know anyway, just not…not about us. Yours know… about… you… right?”
“Yeah. They know and are okay with it. Not happily joining PFLAG or something, but they aren’t disowning me either. They know I am living here now, but not so much about my huge and very embarrassing crush on Jeff’s little brother.”
Jared actually laughs at that. The shine in his eyes makes Jensen’s heart skip again. He sometimes doesn’t know how to deal with the fact that he can make another human being so happy. He always thought it was beyond his abilities, considering his last relationships.
“Embarrassing huh? Nice, Ackles.”
“What can I say? You make me feel like a teenager.”
“That isn’t so bad. You very well know that you make me feel and act like one as well. And be happy we didn’t start this when you where still at college. I was actually a teenager back then.”
This time Jensen snorts and seriously tries not think about a sixteen year old Jared starting college and being is genius self. He really, really doesn’t need to think about that and how it makes him feel like a pervert. Because really, this mental image is sort of hot.
“God, I sometimes forget how young you still are.”
Jared smiles against his lips. Nibbles at them and lets his hands wander under Jensen’s t-shirt. They don’t have time for that because Mike actually invited people over and Jensen knows from experience that he will do everything to cock-block everyone until he has the chance to get laid. And the prospect of Mike either storming on or pounding at the door when Jensen has Jared all moaning and pliant isn’t doing anything for him.
Not that they have reached the highest level yet, but Jensen loves to just explore Jared with his hands and mouth. Jensen moans at his own thoughts but draws away. They do have to pack, too. Jensen just knows that Josh will drag them out of the house at five in the morning tomorrow.
“How are we going to do it, Jay? I am more than happy to spend the holidays with you. And really, no need to do anything, but be with our families.”
The late evening sun is filtering through the drapes, drapes Jensen doesn’t even know where in the room until Jared one morning detangled himself from Jensen, got up, yanked them close and crawled back into bed. There are just some rays falling in, but Jared is lying right in their way. His hair is surrounded by a halo of gold and Jensen doesn’t even care how mushy it sounds but thinks Jared looks almost ethereal.
And then he smiles. Yeah, Jensen is definitely gone.
“Let’s just.. I don’t know… see what happens? Tell them when the time is right? I don’t know Jen but if they ask I will not lie. I just want to have some good days with you and with my family. We have Jeff and Josh on our sides anyway, we are not alone. So yeah.. I am actually happy now. Thanksgiving with you…. Feels like a big step, you know.”
“I know. Let’s just see what happens then. Take it when it is there.” Jensen never doubts that Jared is the brain in this relationship. Jensen is kind of glad that they are doing this at Jared’s place. It is familiar ground for Jared and Jensen rather has that, then Jared needing to get away and not having the chance.
They stay wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing slowly until Mike does actually storm into the room. The flash of the camera shouldn’t be a surprise to Jensen, he still throws one of this running sneakers lying on the floor and feels immensely gleeful when it connects with Mike’s head.
***
Jensen feels stuffed like he hasn’t in years. His stomach actually growls at the thought of moving. Not that Jensen has any inclination of doing so for the next hundred years even if Jared actually makes true on his threat of dowsing him in cold water. Jensen cannot even think about moving without feeling sick.
The thing is Jensen knows he’ll eventually have to move and say goodbye to his parents. The families, most of them anyway, are still assembled around the Padalecki living room, treating stories and being one giant mess of family feelings. The extended families, though, have left already; either went home or retreated to their respective hotels. So it’s really just Jared’s parents, grandparents, his siblings as well as Jensen’s parents and siblings left.
So Jensen knows he’ll have to move and feel sick for a few minutes once his parents decide to leave. But it’s still early and Jensen knows he has some time to digest so that he won’t have to fear to lose all the delicious food over Sherri’s carpet. Jared had laughed when Jensen told him how sick he actually felt.
And it is Jared’s fault that he is feeling this way anyway, looking at Jensen like he did during the meal. His smouldering, hungry looks that made Jensen just shovel food without really looking what and how much he was eating. That’s at least what Jensen tries to tell himself because every other reason for him zoning out are sort of pathetic.
He still can’t believe how smooth everything actually went. He is waiting for the other shoe to drop and the anticipation is making him tense. He is so tense that he can feel his shoulders crack when he moves on the bed to find a better position. Everything feels sort of unreal, because he never really thought it might go down this way.
On the way to San Antonio, with Josh behind wheel and Jared curled up against him sleeping, Jensen’s mind had finally caught with what it meant to meet Jared’s parents. Even if it wouldn’t come up, this still meant a lot and Jensen actually wanted to make a good impression. So he had spent most of the two hour drive tense and locked in his own head, and yes the one additional hour was due to Josh and Jared insisting on a stop at the best breakfast joint in the whole of Texas for pancakes and bacon.
He had almost refused to leave the car when they had arrived. His nerves were just making themselves known when the front door opened and everything was too late. Josh had laughed and Jared had just dragged him out.
And then everything was kind of anticlimactic. Because when they had stepped up to Jared’s mother, who was standing at the door and smiling widely at them, Jared didn’t let go of Jensen’s hand. Jensen was sweating, trembling a little and couldn’t help but duck his head as they stood there in front of Jared’s family. He felt a little embarrassed for his nerves showing so much, but then it were Jared’s parents and Jensen didn’t really know what to expect.
He was really and truly nervous. Nervous like he wasn’t even before exams or life changing decisions. Jared’s parents made him nervous and Jared could feel it all through the hand that was still firmly attached to his.
And then Sherri went and hugged Jensen. She hugged him, told him welcome to the family and ushered them all into the house with a rather devious smile on her face. Jensen was scared, but didn’t have the chance to actually really fell it because then he was standing in front of Jared’s dad. Hand still in Jared’s, still sweating and still feeling really, really nervous.
Jeff was there, as was Megan. Josh had flopped down next to Jeff and they all were watching the scene playing out in front of them. Jensen suspected they all saw this as some kind of entertainment. Would be typical for their big brothers.
Gerry’s raised eyebrow made Jensen gulp and actually choke on his own saliva. Talk about embarrassing. He coughed hard and only then did Jared let go his hand, only to pat him on the back, making soothing motions and even more soothing sounds. Yeah, very embarrassing indeed.
He felt like a complete idiot and that he might have destroyed the only chance to make a good impression on Jared’s parents. Even if this wasn’t the meeting the parents day and even if this wasn’t planned at all, Jensen still thought he might try to impress his boyfriend’s family.
But there he was, sweating like this was in the middle of summer instead of the end of November, blushing like he hadn’t in years and not able to directly look people in the eye. The moment stretched out, seconds ticked away and Jared slipped his hand into Jensen’s again while they stood and waited on the verdict. Yes, Jensen felt like he was being judged without actually knowing the accusations.
Then Gerry put his hand on Jensen’s shoulder, squeezed it and smiled a smile that Jensen took as very genuine and then Gerry had welcomed him into the family as well. Just like that.
He had left a very red Jared and Jensen standing there gaping and joined his wife in the kitchen. Jeff cracked up and Josh looked as confused as Jensen felt. This was so not the way he had imagined things to go or what he had planned to say. But then his plans never really worked out.
Anticlimactic much?
Jensen thinks so now. He is still lying on Jared’s bed, in Jared’s room and all still feels rather surreal. He thinks back on how Jeff had just laughed at their faces and at how Jared had tried to figure out what was going on. They had sat there, being stunned and sort of worried when Sherri had come back in with coffee and rests of breakfast.
Jensen smiles when he sees them in his mind, sitting there not really knowing what to say or how to ask how they knew. Sherri, being a very observant mother just had smiled then, patted Jared gently on the head and had said “Well, Jared can’t stop talking about you. Hasn’t been able to for quite some time. It’s not really rocket science to figure out that he is in love. Also? I do have yes and he literally dragged you in here. It’s quite nice to meet my son’s boyfriend and his family at the same time.”
Jensen smiles even wider as he remembers Jared’s stunned look and deep blush, and he is sure he didn’t look any better. Jeff had been in stitches by then and even Megan and Josh were laughing. It went smoother and totally different than Jensen had expected.
His parents though might have been a different story.
His stomach grumbles, complains about all the work Jensen heaved upon it and he moves to readjust his jeans and pops open the top button. It’s quiet. He can only occasionally hear laughter waving in from downstairs, knows that Jared is deep in conversation with Jensen’s father about God knows what. Or has been when Jensen left to lie down. He suddenly feels pathetic and old but his stomach thanks him for the down time anyway.
The room is now what he had imagined Jared’s childhood room to be. He knows what Jared’s room in Austin looks like, all tidy and cluttered with books as well as with posters about numerical and periodic systems. This room here is one of a teenager engrossed in sports, movies and famous bands. It has the flair of being left behind when the person owning grew up, but still has a lot of Jared in it.
The drapes are open and Jensen can see the stars sparkling through the window. He sees trees moving slightly in the breeze that is going on outside, sees some dark clouds moving across the evening sky. The room itself isn’t all that big, but maybe it seems smaller because the owner isn’t a child or teenager anymore. The bookshelves are half empty but Jensen knows where those books are, he stumbled over them enough times already. The high school pictures and trophies remind him of his own room at his parents’ place.
It’s a trip down memory lane but so different from the times he did that in his own room. This is a life he has not many ideas about and he wonders why he never really asked Jared about it. They have been so busy and occupied lately that there hadn’t been much time. Jensen wants to know more about Jared, wants to know who this boy was that lived here, wants to know how this boy became the man Jensen is in love with.
This is Jared’s room at home, the place Jared grew up in and Jensen is in it. Jensen is allowed to see it and it makes him feel warm. It makes him feel welcomed, which also has a lot to do with the way Jared’s family has been treating him today. Him and his family.
After the small shock of Jared’s parents being so blasé about it all, Jensen had been slightly worried about his own parents, including the extended family. Josh, ever being the caring big brother had told him that only Jensen’s grandparents would be coming down anyway, everyone else was occupied with own family obligations. It didn’t make Jensen feel less nervous but it made him feel better about the amount of drama that might go down. Lesser people, less ways of freaking someone out.
Thinking back on it Jensen can only snort at himself. He should have known that he was as bad as Jared when it came to hiding his feelings or his state of mind. Of course, Josh hadn’t said a single word about how obvious Jensen actually was. No, it was Jensen’s dad that did that the second he stepped into the house.
If Jensen had ever thought about how his parents would meet Jared it wouldn’t have been attached to the words “So son, where is this boy of yours you can’t shut up about?” The words themselves were actually rather harmless; it was Jared’s choking on his sweet tea that send everyone into action. Jensen almost tripped over himself to get to Jared, their big brothers cracked up simultaneously, their sisters were already deep in conversation about whatever teenaged girls talk about these days and their parents where just looking on, amused and rather smug.
Jensen still has the slight feeling that this had been all planned. He can get over the fact that everyone already seemed to know about him and Jared. Not that he minded them being cool with it, far from that. But there is something not quite right with it. Jensen mentally shrugs, he’ll probably never find out about it all anyway. All his thoughts and worries seem like some sort of overreaction now and he wonders when the other shoe will drop. It went too smooth.
Jensen is frowning at himself, wonders why he actually wants something to go wrong, some drama to happen. Maybe he had been so set on it, that things going so well were never part of the plan. It throws him a little. It’s something new for him, to really contemplate what others might think of him and not for himself but for someone else. He wants Jared’s parents to like him so that Jared can be happy. He wants his own parents to like Jared for the same reason.
“You okay here?”
Jensen smiles at the voice but doesn’t open his eyes. Only now does he realised that he had dozed off, wonders how long he had been sleeping.
“Yeah. Am good.”
He grunts, tries to role away from the weight suddenly crashing down on him and tries not to puke up one of the best Thanksgiving meals he has ever had. Seriously, his mom’s and Jared’s mom’s cooking skills combined are a weapon to reckon with. Jared shifts his weight off of Jensen and they settle into a comfortable embrace. That’s something new, too. Jensen had never been one to cuddle when it wasn’t connected to post coital bliss. With Jared he can’t get enough of it.
Jensen grunts even more when Jared’s hands seek out his skin under the dress shirt he has been wearing for dinner and accidentally bump into his stomach.
“Sorry.” Jared sounds anything but.
Jared snuggles up to him even more, hands tucked under Jensen’s shirt, flat against his skin, head place on his shoulder. Jensen’s arms wrapped around the body slotted against him and Jensen sighs contently. This is the perfect way to spend a day like this.
“Your parents love me. They totally want to adopt me now.” Jensen chuckles at the words and at the buff of air tickling against his neck. He’d somehow hoped for this. For Jared to be accepted and for himself to be welcomed into their families. It’s surreal on the one hand and on the other absolutely great.
“Well, then it is good that your mom loves me and I won’t have to be without a family.”
“Pssh, only because you helped in the kitchen and sucked up to her. Once she gets to know your sloppy self, she’ll beg for me to come back.” Jared doesn’t give him a chance for a comeback; he just tilts his head up and brings their lips together.
They kiss slowly, just enjoying being together, being with each other. Jensen still can’t believe that they really can do that. Here, with their parents around and everyone knowing about them. He had planned for a few days of hiding, of just being Jared’s friend but this is so much better.
Jensen still has the arguments in his head, the ones he would have used if it hadn’t gone the way it did. About how he loves Jared, how he knows how special Jared is and that the age difference isn’t that big. There are arguments about how they aren’t really living together but are mere roommates. But it never really mattered because no one actually said anything. Jensen thinks he has to thank Josh and Jeff for it all. No one actually said it out loud but he somehow knows that their big brothers had a few good words in for them.
Jensen wonders if his bank account is big enough for Christmas present for both of them and their parents. He already has everything he wished for last year. Jared moves against him, brings him back to the here and now and makes him moan out loud.
“Stop thinking Jen. Everything is fine.”
“Who are you? And what have you done with Jared? Did you really just tell me to stop thinking?”
“I guess?”
They don’t talk for a while after that. They just kiss, cuddle and lie in each other’s arms. Jensen doesn’t know when he falls asleep but when he wakes up Jared is still curled against him and the only real light is coming from the hallway through the open door. He doesn’t jolt or flinch when he sees his mother standing there looking at them, he just tucks Jared closer and smiles sleepily at her.
She comes in then, bents down and drops a small kiss on his forehead.
“Just wanted to say Goodbye. We are leaving now. Sherri said you are very welcome to stay here. Call me tomorrow, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
She nods, smiles down on them and drops another kiss on his cheek and then does the same to Jared, who just sighs and sleeps on. Jensen feels like crying a little at the look of love and happiness his momma gives them both.
This is what he is thankful for this year. Not the crap about new friends and having found a good Grad school like he said during dinner with his eyes never leaving Jared’s. No, this year he is thankful for having Jared, for their parents loving them and for being happy.
She closes the door behind her, leaving only the moon outside to give light. Jensen is about to fall back asleep when Jared kisses his neck and moves his hand under the shirt to lay flat across his heart.
“I love them.”
It’s whispered against his ear and it means the world to Jensen.
“They love you.”
“You, too.”
“Yeah. This… this went so different from what I expected. Not that I expected anything bad, but this was so….”
“Smooth?”
“Yes. And I think we have to thank Jeff and Josh for it. Partially at least. No idea what they did or said but I think it sort of built the way for us.”
He feels Jared nodding against his shoulder, feels Jared’s fingers drawing circles on his skin and he feels arousal surge through his body. This is nothing sexual, just the knowledge that Jared is there, is touching him. He knows they won’t do anything here but it’s good enough already to just lie there and have Jared touching him like this. Lovingly and soothing.
“Are you waiting for the hitch Jen? ‘Cause I am. But I know there won’t be one because your mother just came in and kissed me on the cheek to say goodbye and I have only known her for a few hours. There is no hitch because this is happiness and I’ll refuse to look for any kind of bad thing about it. I am thankful for it. I am thankful for you.”
Jensen knows what Jared is saying and he knows it might be way too soon to let it all out. But in this moment he also knows that this is it. That this is what he wants, has hoped for and will fight to keep no matter what.
“I love you.” It’s the only answer he can give Jared. And Jensen is surprised that it is so easy to say it and that he isn’t expecting anything back. He knows Jared loves him with such clarity that it almost hurts to think about it. He doesn’t need to hear it to know.
“I love you, too.”
It’s still the best thing someone has ever said to him.
TBC
Previous: "Wherein Jared’s brain doesn’t shut up…" & "Wherein Jensen doesn’t really know what’s going on…" & "Wherein Jared tries to figure what is appropriate for a first date"
