You and Me
"Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do, nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you"
Lifehouse~ You And Me
Jack sighed. Peering out the window of the plane, he watched as the bright lights of Toronto got closer before the wheels finally touched down.
He'd spent the last two weeks overseeing the opening of a new youth centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. The hours had been long and he couldn't deny that he was glad it was over. He loved his job as a youth worker for the Guardian corporation, but the work was exhausting and at times it left him physically and emotionally drained. He spent his days working with at-risk families and youths and at times he struggled to leave that work at the office. There had been many times when he'd been exposed to some truly horrid cases and had faced abuse, yet had been expected to leave it at the office when he returned to his own family. Still, despite the fact that the work could be troubling, he truly loved his colleagues and found his work to be rewarding. The fact that it enabled him to provide a comfortable life for his own family was an added bonus.
This particular trip had been marred by the fight that he'd had with his wife, Elsa, before he'd left. It had been a long night and after a bit of opposition they had finally managed to convince their two-year-old son, Lucas, to go to bed. After kissing the small boy's head they had retired to their bedroom where Jack had proceeded to start packing for his trip.
He had not failed to notice that Elsa had remained strangely quiet while he packed. Neither of them liked to be apart from each other at the best of times. Still, when her small voice had broken the silence to inform him that she didn't want him to go he'd crumbled.
Turning around, he had dropped the pants he'd been holding and had gone to her side. Leaning down, he'd pressed a small kiss to her forehead and had stroked her hair in what he hoped would provide her with some comfort. He knew that they would get through it. After all, it wasn't the first time that he'd left her at home to travel for work. The last time he'd been sent away had been just over two years earlier when his work had sent him to Edmonton, Alberta. Elsa had been heavily pregnant at the time and had opted to stay home where she could apply the final touches to the nursery in their home in suburban Toronto.
However, things were different this time. A disgruntled father, by the name of Mitch Black, had made a threat against all members of Jack's office after they had assisted his battered ex-wife to obtain a custody order. The court approved order prevented the violent man from having access to his two children and his ex. The enraged man had stormed into the Guardian's head office a week ago where he had made a direct threat to Jack, his loved ones and all who had worked on the case.
Fearing for his family, Jack had purchased and installed security cameras at his home and had organised for his sister-in-law, Anna, and her burly fiance, Kristoff, to spend the fortnight in their guest room. He hoped that their presence would help keep Elsa's mind at ease as well as providing an extra pair of hands to help her with Lucas.
Evidently, it hadn't worked and no sooner had he returned to packing when Elsa had raised her voice again.
"You're telling me that this guy has got you scared enough to install security cameras and to impose on Anna and Kristoff's lives, but not scared enough for you to cancel your trip?" she'd asked, while furrowing her brows.
Jack had gulped and had turned to face her nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "El, you know it's not like that. I have to go on this trip. Besides, for all we know, Mitch Black could have just been talking out of his ass, but seeing as his last words were 'You will pay for this,' we have to take it seriously" he had replied.
Apparently this wasn't the correct answer and his wife had risen to her feet to stare him down.
"So, what you're saying is that this guy, who had no issues in beating his own wife and children, has threatened you as well as made an indirect threat to Lucas and I, and yet you are still going to leave us?" she'd countered.
"Elsa," he'd sighed."It's not like I have a choice. I'm the only one who can handle this particular opening. North, Sandy, Aster and the rest of the gang are all too busy with their own cases," he'd then reached out his hand to try and bring Elsa to rest against his chest, but she had brushed past him.
"So in other words this guy is scary, but you are totally fine with leaving your family to help set up some stupid centre on the other side of the country," she'd spat. "Nice to know where your priorities lie."
Frustrated, he had watched her as she had stormed from the room. After he finished packing, he had moved his suitcase to the front door ready for his 6am taxi. He'd then made his way through the quiet house to switch off all the lights before going to check on Lucas.
It had come as no surprise when he had found Elsa curled up asleep on their son's bed. He had known that she would go there. The small boy had a calming influence on both of them and helped remind them of what truly mattered.
He had felt a rush of warmth overcome him as he had taken in the sight of the two most precious people in his life curled up asleep together. Silently, he had tip-toed into the room and had leant down to press a kiss on his son's head. His eyes had glanced over Elsa's sleeping form before he'd sighed. Leaning down, he had carefully scooped her into his arms and carried her back to their bedroom. Her eyes had been stained with tears and he knew that it was because of him.
The sound of the pilot's voice travelling through the plane jolted Jack from his thoughts. Grinning, he removed his seatbelt and stretched his arms. He waited impatiently while the pilot went through the stock-standard spiel, welcoming passengers to the city and thanking them for flying with the airline.
Standing to his feet, he silently willed the passengers ahead of him to hurry up. He always hated leaving planes. It always seemed that no matter how long they had spent cooped up on the aircraft, there was always that one passenger who would take far too long to retrieve their bag from the overhead compartment and would hold everyone else up. Ordinarily, Jack was a patient man. However, this time was different and the faster he departed, the better.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and fumbled while he switched it on. To his disappointment, there was only one message- from Aster and even then it was simply to say that he was waiting in the arrivals lounge and to not be late.
Jack groaned. The message had been sent forty minutes ago which meant that his colleague, Aster 'Bunny' Bunnymund had already spent at the very least, fifty minutes in the airport. His Australian-born colleague was a known grump, especially when it came to time and money. He could already imagine the spiel he would get about the cost of airport parking, especially when combined with the cost of petrol. Thankfully, Jack had come prepared and had already set aside some money to cover fuel and parking fees. He figured that waving a $50 in Bunny's face and telling him to keep the change should be enough to shut him up.
Still, he couldn't really complain about Bunny. He knew that Aster and his wife, Tia, had taken it upon themselves to go and spend some time with Elsa and Lucas over the past two weeks. According to Elsa they had visited on a nightly basis and had shared a drink with her before heading home. When he had rung Bunny to thank him, he had been brushed off. Instead, he'd simply pointed out that it was 'what friends did' before elaborating to say that he had realised Jack was concerned for his family and wanted to help ease his mind.
Glancing at his watch, Jack noticed that it was 7:30pm local time and smiled. Right at this moment, Elsa would be locked in a nightly battle to convince Lucas to go to bed. For some reason, their normally agreeable son had become a terror when it came time for bed. He'd been refusing to go down to sleep for the last six weeks and had pushed his frustrated parents to their wits end.
Elsa wrung her hands nervously. The last two weeks without Jack at home had been hell. She missed him at the best of times, but this particular trip had been made worse by the threat that had been made towards him and the fight that she'd had with him the night before he left.
She had spent most of the past fortnight wracked with guilt over the fight. The words she had said to him, accusing him of caring more for his job than he did for her and Lucas, had hurt him and she knew it. What made it worse was the fact that they both knew it wasn't true.
Jack had never failed to put her first. From the moment they had begun dating, seven years ago, he had always made her his number-one priority. Everything he did was for her. When Lucas had been born he had extended that care to include him. There was nobody in this world who Jack cared for more than her or their son and she knew it.
She hadn't meant to snap at him that night. She knew that he didn't want to leave her or Lucas, not with the threat from Black. However, he had not had a choice. He had been telling the truth when he had told her that he was the only one who could handle the job. Still, despite his fear, he had done his best to ensure that she and Lucas were safe.
She had tried to apologise to him during their daily conversations, but it had been difficult. Jack had been busy with work and the three-hour time difference between Ontario and British Columbia, made it more challenging. Jack would ring her in the morning and they would manage a quick word of greeting before she would pass the phone to Lucas so that he could have a word to his father. By the time she managed to pry the phone back from Lucas it was too late and Jack had to leave for work. Their nightly calls were no better with Jack ringing her just before 10pm her time, by which point she was exhausted.
Aster had rung her the night before to inform her that he was going to collect Jack from the airport and she was welcome to tag along if he wanted. She had accepted his offer graciously after checking with Anna and Kristoff that they could stay a bit later to watch Lucas.
A loud shriek broke her from her thought. Looking up, she watched as a young couple reunited at the arrival gate next to Jack's and smiled. The man had come armed with a bouquet of flowers for the woman, who smiled and took them from him before pressing a kiss to his lips.
Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to her hands. She felt like she was a bundle of nerves. The knowledge that Jack was now home coupled with the emotions she had felt over the last two weeks and the news she had learned earlier that morning. As a result, she was an emotional ticking time-bomb and had no idea if she would cry or shriek upon seeing her husband.
"Oi, there's your boy," Aster's voice broke out, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Raising her head, she followed the direction in which Aster was pointing. Her eyes settled on a familiar head of silver- white hair hidden behind a tall man, the very same hair that her beloved son had inherited and she felt her breath hitch. She watched as Jack stepped into view to meet her gaze.
Suddenly their parting fight was all but forgotten. Her husband was back, he was home safe and sound. She could feel the tears falling down her face as she slowly moved forward. Her eyes fixed onto his while she broke into a light run, dodging people left and right as she made her way to Jack.
Jack searched the large waiting area as he looked for his friend. Fortunately, the Australian's height and burly frame meant that he stood out from the crowd and it hadn't taken Jack long to spot him. Jack groaned as he noticed the smirk on his friend's face. He had no doubt that the man was already planning to let fly with a smart-assed comment.
Suddenly, Jack's eyes fell on the slender woman standing beside Aster. Her platinum- blonde hair had been tied into a loose ponytail. He felt his mouth pulling into a grin as he met his wife's gaze. Grinning, he tightened his hold on his backpack as he broke into a light run. The crowd around him seemed to blur as he dodged people right and left to reach Elsa.
They collided in the middle. He let out a small sigh as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to pepper her face with kisses.
"I'm sorry," they blurted in unison before breaking into a fit of laughter.
"You first," he said, placing a kiss on Elsa's cheek.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I missed you so much. I love you," Elsa murmured, as she snuggled closer to him and bunched her fingers in the fabric of his hoodie.
Jack sighed. "I'm sorry too, baby. I love you and Lucas so much. You know I'd never do anything to cause you pain," he said, cupping her cheek to stroke the tears that fell from her face.
A broad Australian accent spoke up and snapped him from his momentary trance. "Hate to break up the show, but we best be getting you two home," Aster smirked "Although I still haven't gotten my kiss from you, Frosty."
"Shuddup, Rabbit," Jack smirked, reaching out to playfully smack his friend before placing his arm securely around Elsa's waist.
The drive home from the airport to the Frost's home had been uneventful. Jack had opted to sit in the back seat where he had kept his arms wrapped firmly around Elsa. Along the way, Aster had filled him in on the news of Mitch Black's arrest earlier that day. He'd waited for Jack to react before he'd explained how the violent man had been discovered by police and had been apprehended following a warrant for his arrest from his native United States and would be extradited to his home state of Colorado within the next twenty-four hours.
Once home, Jack had carried his suitcase in before bidding farewell to Anna and Kristoff. He'd ducked in for a quick shower while Elsa sorted through his suitcase. After stepping out of the shower, he had ducked in to Lucas' room to press a kiss on the sleeping boy's head before he had headed to the lounge room.
A few minutes later, Elsa had joined him on the couch. Grinning, he had pulled her to sit on his lap. His mind was filled with determination to catch up on the kisses he had missed over the last two weeks.
"Jack," Elsa whispered, snapping him from his thoughts.
"Mmm," he murmured, burying his head into the crook of her neck. "What's up, baby?"
"How do you think Lucas will adapt to being a big brother?" she asked
He felt his breath hitch as the words sunk in. Pulling his head back, he watched as Elsa tilted her head to face him, a wide smile playing on her lips. "Are you? Are we..?" he sputtered
Elsa chuckled and moved his hand to place it on her stomach. "I'm eight weeks pregnant," she confirmed. "I found out earlier this morning."
He let out a loud whoop. "Elsa!" he shrieked, leaning in to place a kiss on her lips. "This is amazing. No, this is more than amazing. This is the best news I've heard all day! We have to celebrate."
"Shh," Elsa warned, smiling at him. "I'm happy you're excited. I'm even more happy that you are home, but you have to keep your voice down. I don't want you to wake Luc-"
"Daddy?!"
Jack looked to the doorway to where his small son stood wiping his eyes and grinned. He heard Elsa let out an exasperated groan before she mumbled something about 'too late' and smirked. Getting to his feet, he moved over to where his beloved boy stood. Leaning down, he scooped the boy into his arms and smothered him with kisses. "Your mum's going to kill me for waking you. Still, I don't mind. I've missed you so much, little man," he cooed.
He watched as Elsa rolled her eyes before leaning down to press a kiss on their son's forehead. Her eyes glanced up to look at him and he noticed the small smile that was tugging on her lips. "Have fun getting him back to sleep," she chided, brushing past him.
Thirty minutes later, Jack had climbed into bed after convincing Lucas to go back down to sleep. He let out a loud yawn as he pulled Elsa to rest against his chest. He heard her let out a content sigh and smiled. Leaning over, he pressed a kiss to her forehead before moving his hand down to her stomach. His fingers splayed over the spot where their second child was growing, ready to join their happy family.
A/N- This is another request, this time for Jelsa4Life who gave me 2 song suggestions.
