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Post by Jack King on Jul 7, 2014 1:16:14 GMT -5
This was it.
The King took a deep breath of air and summed up his courage. All he had to do was bring it up. Heck, Hotaru was great with the kids she taught at dance, this wasn't going to be all that different, right? Right! He just had to bring it up to her. Tell her right out he wanted to discuss the possibility of kids... or...
Shit, was that too domineering? Or too much like a business proposal?
He padded down the hall in barefeet, trying to figure it out as he walked down the stairs towards the sitting room where he was sure Hotaru was. Whether it was TV or she was reading or what he wasn't sure... But he did need to bring it up. Maybe he could just wing it? Or put it off for another few days? Or tell Tekka he was thinking of asking Ruru about it and-
Well no, that wouldn't work... He hadn't seen the Tora around much these days. Letting Tekka just 'let it slip' to Ruru wasn't an options. Besides, it was a dick move to let your wife find out through somebody else other than yourself.
Jack spotted Hotaru and headed over, making sure she could hear his footsteps as he headed over and leaned over the back of the couch. "Hey Ruru," He said with a kiss to her cheek. "Mind if we talk about something?" That was a good start... That could work.
Just ask, that's all he could do.
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Post by Hotaru King on Jul 7, 2014 11:01:16 GMT -5
Hotaru had been caught between watching tv and dozing off before Jack had come up behind the couch. She smiled and twisted a little to look at him better. The redhead leaned up to return the kiss and tugged his arm to sit with her. "Sure, sit down with me first though." Whatever it was Jack wanted to talk about, it kinda sounded serious, and those talks were always better sitting down. Still, she hoped everything was okay...
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Post by Jack King on Jul 7, 2014 14:34:36 GMT -5
He headed around and sat down next to Hotaru, settling down onto the comfort of the couch as he summoned up words. "You don't have to answer yes or no right off the bat or anything," he prefaced, wanting to be certain she knew he wasn't expecting a definite response right away. "It's sort of a big thing, but I figure we've been together for a while now and... I thought I should bring it up."
That was enough beating around the bush, he figured, time to dive in. "Would you ever want to have kids?" Jack asked.
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Post by Hotaru King on Jul 7, 2014 15:11:25 GMT -5
Hotaru's first reaction was just… silence. She sat there, blinking quickly a few times before shifting her eyes down to her lap. Kids? Her? Did she just hear him right? She knew the topic would come up eventually, but she hadn't prepared for it. He wouldn't be bringing it up unless he wanted to, but…
"I've never really thought about it." she muttered with a shrug. That… wasn't exactly a lie, she avoided the thought of it at all cost. The whole idea of being a mother was, well, terrifying. She wasn't sure if she'd have it in her. She pushed that thought out for the moment and managed to look up at Jack again. "I mean, do you…?" Stupid question, she knew, but she needed to get the attention off of her at least for a small moment.
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Post by Jack King on Jul 7, 2014 16:08:11 GMT -5
Jack had a feeling that maybe this hadn't been a good thing to bring up, but he needed to know one way or another. "Well," he started to say, hand moving to twine hi fingers with Hotaru. "Yeah, I do. I'd like to have a kid with you." It wasn't like they weren't financially stable, and they had a good network of people around them that could help if they needed it. They were still a bit young, but they were married and happy together. There probably wouldn't be a better time.
But at the end of the day, Ruru would be the one putting the most effort into it. He might argue his case a little and try and persuade her, but if she was staunchly against it then that was that. "I think we'd be pretty good parents... We at least know what not to do, right?" He gave a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
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Post by Hotaru King on Jul 7, 2014 16:30:45 GMT -5
Hotaru tried to smile a little, but it came out more nervous than anything and fell rather quickly. She squeezed his hand a little and shook her head. "I don't think I'd be good at that Jack…" God she couldn't even bring herself to say the word, how stupid was that? She did her best to stay calm though, part of getting older meant she was supposed to have adult conversations without going off the deep end. She was able to keep herself calm a lot easier these days, but this topic wasn't really something she'd seen coming so soon.
Back to the subject at hand though. Jack would make a great dad, she didn't even have to think too much to be able to see that. Her on the other hand, not so much.
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Post by Jack King on Jul 7, 2014 16:36:37 GMT -5
"Are you kidding me? You'd be great at it," Jack said with a reassuring smile. "I know you handle the older kids at the dance studio, but you've had to cover for Kris before, and you do great with them. And when you and I babysit Anya or the twins you're good with them too..." There was proof that Hotaru wouldn't be as terrible as she thought she'd be, at least. Jack was grateful enough for that.
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Post by Hotaru King on Jul 7, 2014 16:53:23 GMT -5
"That's different though." She told him. "That's only for a few hours at a time, and what happens after I see them has nothing to do with me." It would be completely different having a child of her own. It'd be taking care of them 24/7, and making sure they didn't get hurt, and if she fucked up even a LITTLE it could still really do something to the kid one way or another and what if she slipped up and HURT THEM and-
Hotaru had to stop her thoughts there and reminded herself to breathe. She started shaking her head again. "I couldn't- I mean I just- I-I'd hurt the kid one way or another, I know I would." Physically, emotionally, mentally, it would just be a matter of time. She didn't know what she did something like that.
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Post by Jack King on Jul 7, 2014 17:12:13 GMT -5
"You wouldn't, Ruru," Jack soothed, moving to give his wife a hug. Because dammit, she was starting to freak out. He hadn't wanted to have the conversation trigger something like this... And yet, here it was. "You'd love the kid too much to do anything but the best for him or her, I know you."
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Post by Hotaru King on Jul 7, 2014 17:31:11 GMT -5
Hotaru would hit herself right then if she could, she was getting worked up again when she SHOULDN'T dammit she was supposed to have better control of herself. If anything though this should of been even MORE proof that she couldn't handle a kid.
She waited to respond until she was absolutely sure she was calm. Hotaru leaned into the hug and sighed. "Yeah, and I'm sure that's what my dad thought when me and Matsu were little." She had only spoken to him once or twice since he started working with Jack. She still wasn't on the best terms with him, but even she had to admit he'd never actually intended on hurting his kids the way he had, and as much as she hated to admit it they were a lot alike.
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Post by Jack King on Jul 7, 2014 17:46:51 GMT -5
"You are not your father," Jack said, voice serious. "You're much better than he was, and you know first hand how bad that messed kids up. You're scared it'll happen, but even just being scared of it is more caution than your dad had..." Hotaru was at least aware. She knew what could happen and that in and of itself was proof that she wasn't like her father. At least not like he was. "And you won't be in it alone. You and I are a team."
If nothing else, Jack was going to keep an eye out for her. "You've got me to help, and we've got Keis, Aiden and Eva, and Chika and Mini too." All of them had wound up helping to raise each others' kids in one big group... There was not doubt in his mind that their kid would be assimilated into the group without an issue. "That's more checks and balances than any of us had growing up, and Anya's not a mass murderer yet so I'd say it works pretty well..."
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Post by Hotaru King on Jul 7, 2014 18:06:14 GMT -5
Hotaru actually laughed at that. He did have a point, she supposed. They all had a pretty safe support system with each other, more than any of them really had when they were younger… and she would be a little more aware of what she was going due to past experiences… but…
"I'm still scared." She mumbled out quietly. It was just such a big decision, and once she got pregnant there wouldn't be any going back. It really was a hell of a lot to think about all of a sudden. She buried her face into his shoulder. She wanted to say yes, but there was still some fear there that'd she'd screw up.
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Post by Jack King on Jul 7, 2014 18:09:04 GMT -5
"Well it's a big decision, it'd be stupid to not be scared..." Jack admitted. "I'm a little nervous thinking about it too... But I know it'll be worth it in the end." They'd have a little kid, a little kid of equal measures Ruru and Jack... That was something he couldn't help but want. "It'd be a damn good thing to put into the world."
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Post by Hotaru King on Jul 7, 2014 18:25:04 GMT -5
Hotaru smiled a little at that. That would be pretty nice, wouldn't it? The more she thought about it, she guessed it didn't sound too bad… Either way though, she didn't want to make any sudden decisions, at least not on this. Definitely not this. She took a deep breath. "I'd still have to think about it, is that okay?" She'd need some time to think about it on her own.
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Post by Jack King on Jul 7, 2014 18:41:48 GMT -5
"Of course," Jack said, giving her a quick kiss. "Like I said, you don't have to answer now. And if you say no I'll respect that, you're the one that has to deal with being pregnant for nine months if you decide to do it after all." He'd be a little disappointed if she said no, but he would do his best to deal with it. This was something Ruru had more right to decide on than anyone else.
[TIMESKIP]
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