Under Different Circumstances

Fatherly

Largely inspired by a little fact I found out about Québec, and also part of my headcanon.

Rating for this chapter: T-

Under Different Circumstances

Fatherly

Vincent was on a quest. No, a mission. It had been a while now, about a month or so, that his brother turned lover was keeping something from him. Every Saturday, Jean-Pierre would leave the house at around nine in the morning, shortly after breakfast and head out until Monday. He had no idea where his boyfriend went and every time he asked, the older man told him it was none of his business.

Because he was a curious man and because it was his business where Jean-Pierre went, Vincent decided he would do what any worried and not jealous person would do. Follow Jean-Pierre, of course! Once breakfast was done, the elder of the two kissed him good-bye, before heading out the door. Vincent counted to fifteen before running out of the house and jumping in his car.

He was lucky enough to be able to catch up to him, without having Jean-Pierre see him. He kept a good distance between the two of them and made sure he always had an eye on the other man's car. Once or twice, Vincent was sure Jean-Pierre saw him, but he was quick to lose some distance.

Vincent wondered where Jean-Pierre was heading and for a split second, he envisioned him locking himself in some shack, up in the mountains, with some girl and spending the entire weekend making hot, passionate, love to her. The simple thought sent a wave of rage coursing through his body and he sped up just a tad more.

He had no idea where Jean-Pierre was driving to and he was expecting anything from a bar, to his house, to a strip joint, to his friend's house, to anywhere, but a little nondescript white building off the road. Vincent was definitively intrigued now. He stayed in his car and watched Jean-Pierre walk up the stairs and knock at the heavy looking oak door. He fidgeted from one foot to the other, until the door opened and a woman's eyes widened in pleasant surprise.

Vincent was about to jump out of his car and slap him silly, when he saw Jean-Pierre take this stranger's hand and give it a tender kiss, but what happened next had him rooted to the spot. A child, with wild sandy blonde hair, came running from inside the building and launched himself at the older man. Jean-Pierre caught the child with ease and lifted him up in the air. The boy shrieked with glee and Vincent watched as a look of pure adoration came to his lover's face.

He couldn't believe what Jean-Pierre had done behind his back and had a child with a common woman no less. Obviously, he knew this was the only explanation as to why Jean-Pierre came to visit this place. His mistress probably worked here and because Jean-Pierre was busy screwing other people around (in this case, him), he was never around to take care of his child, so she had to bring their bastard kid to work with her.

In retrospect, it didn't surprise him. It was a low thing to do, but Jean-Pierre was known for doing low things and being down right cruel when he wanted to. Except, this time, Vincent seriously thought Jean-Pierre changed for him. Apparently not. He was about to pull out and head back home, but then a little girl came out and hugged Jean-Pierre around his knees.

Jean-Pierre put the little boy down and took each of the children's hands, before following the woman inside the strange building. It was time for Vincent to put his spying skills to the test and put James Bond to shame. He pulled out his sunglasses and a hat from the glove compartment and stepped out of his car. He made sure to hide behind the trees, as he walked towards the building. He was extra cautious to be discreet and placed himself by the first window he saw.

He peered inside and saw Jean-Pierre in a room that looked like a classroom. There were many more children in it and now, Vincent was confused. Just what was this place? Luckily, the window was open and he could hear the exchange between the adults.

"Je suis heureuse de vous revoir, M. Tremblay. Les enfants apprécient beaucoup votre compagnie et ils parlent toujours en bien de vous."/ "I'm pleased to see you again, Mr. Tremblay. The children really appreciate your company and they always speak fondly of you."

"Ça me fait plaisir. C'est la moindre des choses que je peux faire."/ "It's not a problem. It's the least I can do." Vincent watched him play with the children. He helped a little boy build a tall tower of blocks and praised a little girl's drawing. He let another little girl play with his hair and serve him make believe tea and cookies and Vincent thought it was the most adorable thing ever. He didn't expect Jean-Pierre to let himself get pulled into their little games, but he was patient with all of them and played with each child in turn.

WhenJean-Pierre left the room with the woman, the children all came to hug him. He said good-bye and then seemed to look in his general direction, before shrugging it off and following the other adult out of the room. Vincent walked to the other window, convinced he was expertly camouflaged, and came across a plaque that read "L'orphelinat de la petite enfance de Sacré Coeur." Somehow, everything made more sense now.

This other room had mostly young toddlers and infants and Vincent watched his boyfriend coo over them. And here Jean-Pierre told him he only cooed over Nyla. That was obviously a lie, seeing how he looked just as happy. Again, Jean-Pierre glanced in his direction and Vincent ducked as low as he could. He heard him walk towards the window, babe in arm. Jean-Pierre stopped for a moment before turning back. Vincent let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and took his previous spot.

"Vous avez un don spécial avec les enfants, M. Tremblay. Vous ferriez un excellent père, un jour."/ "You have a special gift with children, Mr. Tremblay. You would make an excellent father, someday." Vincent saw him blush slightly at the praise and it warmed his heart.

"Merci, Thérèse, mais j'pense pas qu'ça va arriver…"/ "Thank you, Thérèse, but I don't think it's going to happen…" She looked just as shocked as he felt.

"Et pourquoi pas?"/ "And why not?" Jean-Pierre hesitated.

"Votre copine n'en veux pas?"/ "Your girlfriend doesn't want any?"

"Ben, y'a pas vraiment de copine… c'est plutôt un copain."/ "Well, there isn't really a girlfriend… it's more like a boyfriend." Vincent let out a gasp that thankfully the other two did not hear. It was the very first time Jean-Pierre acknowledged their relationship to anyone else and the younger man felt like running to him and kissing him senseless. He listened closely to see what would happen next.

"Ah, vous voulez dire le jeune homme qui nous écoutes à la fenêtre depuis votre arrivé?"/ "Ah, you mean the young man that has been listening at the window, since you've arrived?" Thérèse laughed lightly as Jean-Pierre turned around so quickly he didn't have time to hide again, but he did so anyway. He heard Jean-Pierre walk to the windowsill, once more, and knew his charade was up and James Bond would laugh at him, until his death.

"Vincent, je sais qu'té là. Allez, rentre dont à l'intérieur comme un humain civilisé, au lieu d'agir comme un clown."/ "Vincent, I know you're there. Come inside like a civilized human being instead of acting like a clown." Jean-Pierre told him, even though he wasn't looking at him. His boyfriend let him regain a bit of his pride by walking away from the window, but then he paused for a second. Vincent could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

"En passant, tu enlèveras tes lunettes et ton chapeau. T'as l'air d'un vrai idiot."/ "By the ways, you could remove your glasses and your hat. You look like a real idiot." Jean-Pierre laughed, as he turned various shades of red.

Vincent quickly removed his disguise, before walking to the front door where he found Jean-Pierre and Thérèse waiting for him. The two of them exchanged small smiles, before he introduced himself to the woman. While they talked, Jean-Pierre excused him to say good-bye to the children and him and Thérèse watched Jean-Pierre leave.

"Il n'y a pas beaucoup de personnes comme lui sur cette terre. Je ne connais pas beaucoup d'hommes qui vont à un orphelinat pour dévouer leur fin de semaine pour ces enfants. Il a son cœur à la bonne place. Si seulement il pouvait réaliser le potentiel qu'il a."/ "There aren't many people like him on this planet. I don't know many men who go to the orphanage to dedicate their weekend for these kids. He has his heart in the right place. If only he could realise all the potential he has." The woman started.

"Vous avez raison. Il a des bonnes qualités. Si seulement il se donnait la chance."/ "You're right. He has a lot of good qualities. If only he would give himself a chance." They were silent for a moment, as Jean-Pierre walked back towards them and put his arm casually around his waist.

"Bon, je vous laisse y aller. J'imagine que vous allez revenir demain, M. Tremblay?"/ "Well, I'll let you leave. I imagine you will come back tomorrow, Mr. Tremblay?" She asked with a fond smile.

"Toujours. Merci pour tout, Thérèse."/ "Always. Thanks for everything, Thérèse." Jean-Pierre told her gently.

"Y'a pas de quoi. Et vous pouvez venir aussi, M. Lambert."/ "It's nothing. And you can come as well, Mr. Lambert." Vincent nodded and they waved, as they made their way out. Once outside, Jean-Pierre brought his arm up to rest on his shoulders and pulled him closer.

"Me semblais que j't'avais dit de t'mêler de tes propres affaires."/ "I thought I told you to keep your nose out of my things." Jean-Pierre whispered in his ear.

"Mais j'voulais juste savoir ou t'allais…"/ "But I just wanted to know where you were going…" He tried to defend himself.

"Espèce de jaloux. Quéssé m'a faire avec toi?"/ "You little jealous you. Whatever am I going to do with you?" Jean-Pierre told him with a teasing smile, kissing the side of his face.

"Drive to your place so you could make sweet love to me in your bedroom?" Jean-Pierre chuckled even louder and pulled him closer still.

"Té impossible, Vincent, mais bien sûr, allez, suis moi."/ "You're impossible, Vincent, but sure, c'mon, follow me." Jean-Pierre walked to his own car and stepped in, while he went back to his. Vincent followed him to his house and as he drove, he couldn't help but think back to the words Thérèse said and to what he saw. Jean-Pierre really did have a gift and it was a shame he didn't allow himself to show it off more often. But, perhaps, if he helped him, Jean-Pierre would realise there was more to him that met the eye.

For now however, Vincent would concentrate on the man who was waiting for him at the door, hand extended in a welcoming invite. He would take that hand and allow Jean-Pierre to lead him to the bedroom, where he would gently lay him down on the soft mattress, before proceeding to kiss every available surface of his face. And then, the two of them would become an entanglement of limbs, as Jean-Pierre would love and promise to cherish every inch of him. For now, he wouldn't ask for more.

OWARI 3

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Started writing: June 1st 2010, 10:31pm

Finished writing: June 2nd 2010, 3:45pm

Started typing: June 5th 2010, 12:03pm

Finished typing: June 5th 2010, 1:10pm