Aaron watched as Spencer shouldered the backpack and gathered all the bags. Jack was yawning and starting to droop. It was time to get the child to bed.
"Hey, buddy?"
"Yeah, Daddy?"
"Think you can make it up to the room."
"Yep, I can make it."
Jack swayed as he stood. Aaron grabbed Jack's bag and then lifted the child into his arms. Jack nuzzled his chin down into Aaron's collarbone and he could feel his son's breath even out in sleep.
For the life of him, though, he couldn't feel like a bad parent for keeping him up late. The last few hours had been worth their length in gold, silver and titanium all together. Jack had been happy and bright eyed and so joy filled. The laughter was sweet and pure and not held back. He'd been missing that.
Carrying his child through the hotel even as late as it was garnered no negative looks, just fond smiles. Aaron was in a good mood when he slid the key and opened the door - A good mood that lasted all of about ten milliseconds from the first step into the room.
Beth was leaning against the door to her bedroom, wearing a sexy nighty and a very unsexy scowl. The lights were off in the main room, however the lights in his and Jack's bedroom were on as was a lamp in Beth's bedroom. The light from their room kept Beth visible as Aaron shut the hotel room's door.
"Where were you?" She asked. She tried to stand taller but swayed and leaned back against the door.
"I joined Spencer and Jack for the show Fantasmic after I was done with the conference."
"Why would you do that? Hello? You had already told the freak that he could keep the boy at the park till closing; you had no obligations to either of them at all. You should have been just itching to come back to this." She pointed to herself.
"They asked?" Aaron said. Jack squirmed and started to wake.
"Let me go put Jack to bed." Aaron continued.
"Just set him down and come to me, he'll be fine just there in that chair."
"I'll put him in bed, where he belongs."
"No! Just put him down now! I needed you Aaron and you've made me wait. You've been a very bad boy."
Aaron rolled his eyes and walked by. The bag swung as Aaron passed.
"What is that?" Beth hissed.
"Birthday presents and mementos of Jack and Spencer day. It is Jack's Birthday, you know. Spencer bought his presents today since he won't be there to do so tomorrow."
"You should see if you can return them. That child doesn't need anything else; he's already been ridiculously spoiled."
"How do you figure? I'll be right back to hear this."
Aaron went to the other bedroom and put Jack into bed, pulling off his shoes and socks and removing his bag. He set the gifts in his suitcase and zipped it up, locking it. Then he went back to the main room and closed the door so their voices wouldn't wake Jack, as long as they weren't screaming. The only light was now from Beth's room and not very strong.
"Well, the child's in bed. Come here now!" Beth demanded when he reached where the couch was sitting. He went to turn on the light. "Don't, the brightness is annoying."
"No, I'm not letting you distract me this time. I want to know your answer. How is Jack ridiculously spoiled?"
"Are you kidding me? You want to talk about the boy now? When you could be with me? I'm all dressed for you; I've been waiting for you. You were supposed to come running right to me the moment that stupid conference was over so you could spend the rest of your child free night focusing on what you should have been spending this whole trip focusing on in the first place!"
"And what is that?"
"Me, Aaron. Me! Not the walking computer with the social skills of a baboon and not your spoiled brat of a child, Me!"
"Really?" Aaron asked, a bit stunned.
"How did you not know this?" Beth asked. Aaron had trouble reading her expressions really well until she leaned against the other side of her bedroom door. He slid open the drapes to give a bit more light into the room but the room was still mostly dark. At least he was no longer feeling trapped in a cave.
"How was I supposed to know this? I am positively certain that I'm not here on a couple's retreat, in which case your idea of what the purpose of the vacation would make sense. I am pretty darn certain that I'm here to work and have a FAMILY vacation around that. I thought you realized that as well."
"And I thought you loved me and would treat me accordingly. Don't you love me, Aaron?"
Aaron stopped himself from the automatic response he'd been given for months every time she used those words and that tone and looked hard at Beth. She was wearing the same puppy eye face that Reid used to beg cookies from Garcia and Emily had used to get Reid to do case files for her and that Morgan used to talk Reid into going out bar hopping with him. It wasn't real; it was there only for manipulative purposes. He stopped himself there because he didn't want to consider how long he'd been letting himself get played by it.
"What do you even mean by that?" Aaron said.
Beth's face turned into a scowl.
"You get this opportunity to take a week and do pretty much nothing, and what do you choose? Nothing right, that's for sure. You should have told Miss Garcia to a) keep her nose in her own business and b) that you and I would be traveling here, together, alone. End of story. Because that is what you do with a girlfriend. You take her places and do things with her. But no, she gets you the jobs down here and says 'You should spend time with your son' and did you tell her no? No! Did you tell her 'I should spend that time with my girlfriend, like a good significant other would do'? No! You said. 'Oh, that would be wonderful!' and then you said 'Oh, maybe we should invite Beth.' Like I was an afterthought! The woman in your life should always be your first thought, not an afterthought. Always! And then we ended up with the oddest person in your whole work team, the weird one. But I know he is this over achiever do-gooder annoying person who would walk through fire for your approval, so I though…hey, I could make this work. I could salvage this trip and turn it into what you should have wanted in the first place! And will you just go with the flow and let it happen? No! Because we are here with the freak, who doesn't think I should be most important thing in your existence. And because your spoiled brat always comes first and even when I can make you forget about him in order to teach him the true and real way of life the freak goes and reminds you of your spoiled brat and you go off running like a fool and idiot! And the stupid job always comes first and the freak won't just be a good subordinate and take on your duties, oh no, again with the reminding you that he wasn't the one asked and all…and where is that putting me, who you are supposed to be thinking about and worshiping? Maybe a distant third! Which is stupid of you, he's not going to give you want you need. He can't give you hot sex and people looking at you like you must be wonderful because you have someone like me by your side, so I don't get why you bother to listen to him at all. I'm the only one who should count because I'm where you're going to find your pleasure and feed your rampaging urges." By the time she was half way through the rant; Aaron noticed her slightly slurred speech and could smell the alcohol in the room.
He decided to keep her talking though. He'd had enough of being confused, made in this state she'd shed some light on things. Not that she really was, because much of what she was saying wasn't making a whole lot of sense. And what he was she talking about anyway? Jack was who she'd listed as him putting ahead of her, but it sounded more like she was talking about maybe...Reid? Heaven's all mighty! It was too late at night for this! Especially after a whole day of being ranted at.
"But you agreed to come?" Aaron pointed out.
"Of course. Why would I not? I'm in sunny California and Hollywood and top notch shopping is right here. Not to mention this is home of all the beautiful people."
"And you agreed to how we set up the days."
"I might have agreed, but I didn't plan on sticking to it. I was absolutely certain you'd see things my way and I'd get my vacation. I always get you to see things my way."
"But I never even knew you weren't happy with how things were planned out." Aaron said.
"How could you not know? I just don't understand how someone with the kind of job you have can be so stupid. It's very simple. If you love me, then you should know when you get the chance it should be about making me happy! Giving me what I want. Seeing things my way and having it be my way and never questioning what I say as being the correct version."
Aaron looked at Beth. He thought about the whole day of listening to rants. "Does it work both ways?"
Beth stopped and looked at Aaron as if he's sprouted a new head. "What do you mean?"
"If you love me, should it ever be about what I want and like and about making me happy?"
"Aaron, men are only truly happy when the women they love are happy… and they are getting sex. As long as I adore you, and praise you in public and tell you how strong and handsome and wonderful you are, you should be content. When I offer my body to you for sex you should be positively giddy. That together is all any real male needs. Your happiness comes in making me happy, spending money on me, showing others how rich and powerful you are by how well I look and how well I charm important people."
"You've been drinking, haven't you?" Aaron asked.
"Well, I had to spend my time in some way. I thought that stupid conference would be over at like nine. If you really loved me, of course, you would have skipped the whole thing, made the nerd do it. But I thought about it and what I like most about you comes from you having the kind of job that makes you important enough to speak at conferences where really important people might see you. I was certain you'd be back though, how could you not have been thinking that tonight would be the best night to have sex with me? That should have been all you thought about all week."
"Why?"
"Hello? You've been sleeping next door to this," Beth said, once again waving her hands down her body, "and not been able to do anything due to your brat being too close and you being all 'oh can't do it with Jack here'. Of course all you've been thinking about is when you could have sex with me. I even provided you with more opportunities to think about it yesterday with the massage. Don't try to tell me you didn't think the whole time about having sex with me right there? And today, when we were shopping? Watching me try on shoes and waiting while I was stripping in dressing rooms? Watching my legs lift and shoes slide on? Of course you were thinking the whole time of sex. You always are thinking about how you want this, how you can't wait to get this. How much you are just aching for sex, with me of course."
Aaron just looked at her. He hadn't actually thought about sex once at any of those times. Well, he thought about having an inappropriate erection while getting the massage, but never sex with Beth. He sighed. The conversation was getting more and more, well odd, and he was really too tired to deal with it.
"Beth, I'm going to bed. We do have Jack's Birthday Lunch to get to, at the park at about 11:30. Do try to think about something to get Jack for his birthday."
"Finally, I've been waiting and waiting! Well, get a move on it, strip off."
"Um, no. I'm going to my bed. Good night!"
Beth's screech of fury made Aaron consider that had she been able to stand straight, she'd have been throwing things and chased after him. He shut the door to his and Jack's room and locked it for the night.
Aaron awoke the next morning to Jack trying to figure out why the door didn't open right up. Aaron looked at the clock and realized it was seven-thirty and right around Jack's preferred wakeup time.
"Hey Buddy!" Aaron said, sitting up.
"Daddy, it's my birthday! I want to watch cartoons until we're ready to go to breakfast. And I want pancakes for breakfast, with blueberries. When are we getting breakfast?"
"I'll figure out that out right quick. Let me get the TV ready." Aaron got out of bed and unlocked to the door, looked at the main room and then turned back to Jack.
"How about you wash up first? You can take a bath. It would great to have a clean birthday boy, wouldn't it?" Aaron asked. Luckily Jack agreed. Aaron made sure the connecting door to Beth's bedroom was closed and locked and filled the tub up for Jack while Jack got together his clothing for the day.
The moment Jack was splashing and having fun in the tub, Aaron went to deal with the so not pleasant surprise he'd found in the front room. Of all the irresponsible and ridiculous behavior he'd seen the night before, this was making him angry. He remembered Beth saying not to turn on the light and he suspected it was more for the reasons he saw now and less about how the light would annoy her. Although, given the mass amount of empty and spilled little bottles of alcohol of various descriptions, maybe the light would have hurt as well. He quickly put all the bottles in the trash, and cracked open the window to start trying to air out the room. He turned on the TV and the quickly turned it right back off, when it popped up to porn. Anger was now an understatement for what he was feeling. He found the remote and turned down the volume and then set to work getting the TV back to children's programing and off what seemed to be paid porn. He so wasn't looking forward to trying to explain that to Garcia.
When he finally had the room to where Jack could enter it without scarring him for life, even though it still smelled to high heavens, he turned and looked towards Beth's bedroom, where she was passed out draped across the bed with her nighty twisted up past her waist and her rear end hanging out of tiny undies, snoring so loudly he was certain they could not only hear her in the rooms on either side, but in those below and above them and across the hall. His answer to that was to shut her bedroom door. As he did so, he saw an empty Champaign bottle and a single glass. Apparently, he was supposed to have found it sexy to share, go figure. What on earth had the woman been thinking when she left things like this?
Jack came out and sat in front of the TV. "Are we going to breakfast soon?"
"As soon as Daddy washes up, we'll go to breakfast."
"All right," Jack said, turning his focus to the TV. "Daddy, why does it smell funny in here?"
"I'll find out the full reason later, don't worry about it. You watch the pirate show and I'll be ready before it's over."
Aaron let the heat of his shower melt away at the anger he felt, leaving it a nice simmering irritation. He'd been hoping for a good fun filled day all together and it wasn't the best start. He briefly wondered if at least Reid was having a good day. He hadn't been able to tell if Reid was looking forward to being back on his old campus, or not. He couldn't wait to go home and tell Garcia that she'd been so very wrong when she'd guessed Reid had never been Disneyland. Aaron left the shower much less stressed than he started and quickly dressed and joined Jack to finish watching the pirate show.
He woke Beth up long enough to inform her they were heading down to breakfast and would be back in about a half hour to forty minutes and so she should be ready to go then and ask her if she wanted them to bring her anything. When Jack asked if she wanted anything for breakfast Aaron answered that she said no. Actually she answered to get the hell out of the room and she didn't want to deal with anything yet, she wasn't feeling good at all, but Aaron chose not to repeat that to Jack.
They found Jack's pancakes and Jack told his daddy all about what he wanted to do for the day, where he wanted to go and what he wanted to ride on. They agreed to hit Toontown and then over to the California Adventure park for rides there. Aaron promised to get Jack to his special lunch and to find him a Birthday Badge. They stretched out breakfast for an hour and then headed up to the room again to get their gear ready to go to Disneyland.
Beth was up, and covered in a long silk robe which Aaron didn't remember seeing before, when they got back.
"Why aren't you ready to go to the park, Beth?" Jack asked.
"Stop screaming!" Beth hissed. "God, can't you people be quiet? Show a little respect for those suffering pain and torment."
"Are you sick?" Jack whispered.
"I said shut up!" she screamed, and then whimpered. "Aaron, remove your demon from my sight, now!"
Aaron was feeling a bit…well… he could only call it pissy. "I will when I'm ready to, but we haven't even got our stuff together yet. You'll just have to deal with it, Beth." Aaron said in a normal voice.
Beth groaned. "Why are you being so mean to me?" She whined. Jack just started at her, looking a bit worried before running into the room Aaron had gone into to get their stuff together for Disneyland.
"Is she sick, Daddy?" Jack asked.
"Not really. Furthermore what she is is her fault. She engaged in activities last night that were not good for her, and because of that she is reaping the consequences this morning." Aaron explained.
"Is it kind of like two Halloweens ago when I ate all my candy in one day and was icky the next day?" Jack asked.
"It is."
Jack checked his bag, and found his jacket. He watched his dad check his suitcase, pulling out a small backpack which he put his camera in and bottled water and snacks, and then made sure everything was in it, and then lock it tight again. His dad checked Jack's suitcase as well and then locked it. Aaron sent Jack into the other room and then set his suitcase in the closet with Jack's set diagonally on top of it, the locks resting right near each other and Jack's tag tucked so the words were face out. He joined Jack outside the room and then shut the door tight. The light being on the night before was bugging him still.
"We are going now. Lunch is at 11:30 at the Plaza Inn. Do not miss it."
"Aaron, aren't you going to stay here and make me feel better?" Beth whined.
"No, I'm taking my son and we are having family day at the park. It is my son's birthday today, remember? Since you chose to behave in a manner that brought this on, not only am I not going to stay here and baby you, especially when it would be a detriment to my son; I'm not going to feel bad at all for not being here." Aaron told her.
"I was right, you don't love me. You only love him." Beth started sniffling.
"You had better hope that this is just the hangover talking, Beth." Aaron said. "Now, we'd like to have you join us before lunch. Give me a call when you get to the parks and I'll tell you where we are at."
"I can't believe your leaving me like this!" Beth shouted.
"See you later, Beth. 11:30, oh and remember, it is a Birthday Party."
Aaron took Jack's hand and they left. As they entered the park, Aaron asked one of the Disney workers where he could get one of the Birthday badges, and one was procured for Jack. He had his dad pin it on his lanyard. They headed to Toontown via the train, and Aaron helped Jack try and take pictures of the Dinosaurs. Aaron rode on the Roger Rabbit ride and the go coasters with Jack. They rode Autopia, the monorail and the submarines again. Jack couldn't find blood anywhere near the railing in the submarine line, much to Aaron's delight. Jack took his Dad on Star Tours and they caught part of the Jedi Training show. They stopped in stores a few times, where Jack's dad made purchases while Jack was distracted by someone else somewhere else. Disney Cast Members were very understanding. They walked through the Castle and then caught the omnibus to ride to the end of Main Street and they got off and took pictures of the Mickey pumpkin. They rode the fire engine up Main Street. They got off at the Partners statue, and Jack took pictures of Walt and Mickey, and then of all the little statues and all the pumpkins. By then it was near enough time for Jack's lunch that they went to the Plaza Inn. Their wait was not for their time to be seated, but for Beth to get there.
She arrived at 11:45 and she was in a mood. Jack saw her first and raised his eyebrows in a mix of confusion and disbelief. Aaron looked to see what he was making such a face at and his face was one of exasperation. She was dressed up, heals and make-up done more along the lines of a night on the town or off to a fancy restaurant. She was wearing a skirt that was clearly tailored to be tight and sophisticated, but didn't match with the top which was obviously meant more for seduction. The whole outfit was not meant for a day at the park. She had a purse, but no gift that Aaron could see.
"Glad you could join us," Aaron said.
"Oh, Aaron," she simpered, "of course I wouldn't miss this for the world. I can't believe you started without me here, though."
"I told you 11:30. It's all right though, you haven't missed cake and Mickey and Minnie."
"Oh." Beth sounded highly disappointed.
"And I haven't opened presents yet!" Jack said excitedly.
Beth turned and glared at Aaron. "You got him more presents?"
Aaron rolled his eyes. "Of course I did."
"I know what stores they came from, but I don't know what they are yet! Daddy bought them without me seeing!"
Aaron smiled. "Would you like me to order you something to eat, Beth?"
"Oh, no. Not right now. You can get me something later."
"Well then, I guess it is time for cake."
Jack enjoyed the rest of his Birthday Lunch, with his hat and cake and getting pictures with Mickey and Minnie and his dad. There were candles to blow out and finally his dad pulled out his presents. There was a new jacket, just the one he had wanted and his dad had found him a Buzz Lightyear T-shirt and bought him a Bullseye pillow pet and a Buzz Lightyear potato head. He also produced a pin of Mickey in a Birthday hat. Aaron and Jack had stopped at the star wars store, but Aaron figured he'd better talk to Spencer before buying anything in there.
"We'll look later as well, I want to go to that Muppet store you found." Aaron told Jack. Jack beamed and gave his dad huge hugs.
Aaron looked at Beth, but she was busy glaring at Jack.
The rest of the cake was boxed up and Aaron gathered the presents into a large bag and put the cake in the bottom.
"Are we going to take that back to the hotel, Dad? I don't think we could take it on rides with us." Jack asked. "Then we could just go straight to the other park from there."
"Sounds like a plan, buddy. Then Beth could get dressed to come with us to the park."
"But we aren't going to the park, Aaron. I checked and we could get into one of those 'tour of the stars homes' this afternoon. We are going on that. I am sure you remember me telling you about wanting to do that." Beth said.
"I am not and you did not. Furthermore, it wouldn't have mattered if you did. I finally get a birthday to spend with my son for the most part and there is no way I am not taking the opportunity and making the most I can out of it. Don't even start."
"Aaron," Beth started sniffling. "You don't want to do this here, now do you?"
"There's nothing to do, Beth. Jack, let's go."
Jack left and Beth stood as well, waiting till Aaron had almost reached the door before wailing. "I knew you would never keep your promises to me, tossing me to the side for your son each time."
Dumbfounded, Aaron looked her way. Her face was very tragic looking and she seemed near tears, holding her purse near her heart. However as soon as he seemed to look away, she allowed a smirk to pass over her expression, a very self-satisfied smirk. Aaron saw what Spencer had told him about, the glory in being mean and how purposefully it was done. Wednesday, or the day before even, Aaron probably would have fallen for it and given in so not to make a scene. But Beth neglected to understand how important getting to spend Jack's birthday with him was to Aaron.
"Beth, you agreed months ago, at the start of planning this vacation, that you would join me and my son at the parks today for his birthday and that together we would make it a great birthday for him. You said it would be a joy, as you so want to learn to be a mother to him. You then proceeded to not join us today at all, show up late to his special lunch and show up without a birthday present. We won't mention this morning's issues since we are in public and I know you wouldn't want people to know of that, now would you? Besides, what type of father would I be if I didn't take the chance I was given to spend my son's birthday with him?"
"Are you calling me a liar, Aaron?" Beth hissed.
"Do you want me to actually spell it that far out for you? I will if you really want me to. I will see you back at the hotel."
Aaron swept out of the restaurant and met Jack, who was waiting patiently.
"Let's go get the rest of the day started." Aaron tells Jack.
"You really didn't know about going anywhere else this afternoon, Dad?" Jack asks as they head back to the hotel.
"I promise you, I never heard a thing about it."
"You said yesterday you were ignoring her some of the time, though."
"I suppose I ought to have phrased that better, and not said it to Reid while you could hear. I was listening, hearing what she said the whole time she was talking, whining, ranting or even cussing at me yesterday, I just chose not to respond to it. I didn't let my body respond much and definitely had stopped letting my face respond."
"Oh. Do you ever do that with me?" Jack asked his dad.
"No. And I don't do that with Jessica, or even Garcia, Morgan, JJ or Rossi. And I only do that with Reid when he gets into one of those rambles where he forgets the rest of us aren't as smart as he is and I no long can understand three fourths his words."
Jack giggled. "He gets a look when he starts to get that way, you know? Patrick nudged him and Spencer snapped out and turned the information to Jack terms."
"He does?" Aaron asked.
Jack laughed. "Daddy, you need to pay better attention."
They tucked the cake into the small fridge, and Aaron sent Jack to set the bag in the bedroom.
"Dad? Were you needing something from my sock and swimsuit pocket?"
Aaron swept into the bedroom, and sure enough the suitcases weren't how he'd stacked them.
"This pair of socks was on the floor." Jack said, tossing the socks to his dad.
Aaron glared and then took Jack's suitcase off the top of his, unlocking and placing the new bag in with the old one. He resettled them, putting Jack's socks away while he did.
"Maybe they fell out when you got this morning's socks out." Jack said. "Oh, that's what I want! Socks! Disney socks and we should get Spencer some. He'd love Disney socks!"
Aaron laughed. Jack was right.
"You almost ready?" Aaron asked.
"I want to get a new water bottle. Mine is almost done." Jack said.
Aaron refit Jack's bag with water bottles and snacks, and refit his own pack with water. Beth came in just before they were going to leave.
"Where are you going? I told you, we are heading off for a tour of the stars homes." Beth said.
"And I told you, Jack and I are heading to the California Adventure Park. You can join us, or you can go do your tour. However, this is non-negotiable and not up for discussion at all. You are the babysitter tonight, and that I do actually have in writing, remember? Might not be an honest to goodness contract, but it would hold up in court, so you will call me by 3:30 and be wherever we are by 4. You will mind Jack tonight while Reid and I are working."
"Aaron," Beth whined. "If you…
"Don't even start. We are adults, Beth. We are supposed to have moved beyond those games and frankly, I've become not so fond of them."
"You know, it wouldn't be that bad if you did what I want. We could drop the child with the geek on that campus. I know campuses have daycare programs, I'm sure he'd have fun."
"No. Would you like us to wait for you so you could join us at the park?"
Beth sat on the couch and turned her head away from them.
"I'll call you and remind you and see you at four then. Bye." Aaron said and walked out.
Jack pulled his dad's sleeve as they exited the hotel. "Do all girls act like that?" he asked.
"Good Lord," Aaron moaned. "I hope not. And I am hoping this is just an aberration and things go back to normal once we are all back home."
Jack stopped walking and just looked at his dad with a 'you've got to be kidding me face'.
"You don't think it is then, either?" Aaron asked Jack.
Jack shook his head. Aaron sighed.
"Worry about it later, Dad. We've got a birthday to celebrate!" Jack said, smiling.
Jack pulled his daddy to all the rides in the California Adventure Park that he'd circled. They hit the Toy Story and Mickey Wheel first, Toy story again and the carousel and Goofy's flight school, and then they decided to do get fast passes for the river run and the tower and enjoyed the Animation building and Muppets and Monsters Inc. again while waiting for their fast passes times. Then they did the river run, and went to the store where Jack found the Muppet stuff the day before and Aaron bought himself some Muppet items, and Jack some more items and Jack uncovered a Muppets Star Wars set which Aaron agreed they had to buy for Reid and then Aaron bought Reid an Animal figurine, in honor of all the interesting things he'd learned about Reid over the vacation. Hotch discussed with Jack what he should get everyone for his team as souvenirs, and Jack suggested small stuff critters. Jack said he wanted to get everyone on the team a souvenir too and had been thinking that he could get them coffee cups, since they'd use them all the time. Aaron thought it was a wonderful idea. They picked up a stuffed Kermit and Scooter for Henry, and a stuffed Sully holding Boo for JJ and a stuffed Mike for Will. Aaron also picked up a stuffed Beaker, but he wasn't sure that it would go to Reid yet or not. Jack picked some other Vinylmation boxes out for more of his birthday, and Aaron also bought him some stuffed Muppets for his birthday. They also started their 'socks from Disneyland' collection for Reid. Aaron called to remind Beth she was supposed to call him by three thirty, they rode the Tower of Terror and then Aaron called her again while they stood in line to ride the tower again. After riding the Tower of Terror the second time, they wandered through Bug's life waiting for Beth to call them. They even rode on two rides as they waited. Beth called at 3:35 and Aaron told her to meet them by Ariel's ride, but she said she wanted to meet in Disneyland on Main Street.
She was waiting for them by the ice cream shop and Aaron had high hopes that she was willing to take the rest of the evening seriously. She was dressed in sensible shoes and jeans and t-shirt. Aaron checked his watch and they decided they had enough time to hit the big store before they went and find Jack's socks. Beth refused to go in. They bought socks for Jack and Reid (and two pairs for Henry so he and Jack and Spencer could all have matching socks, and wasn't the excitement in Jack's face when he thought about that something to behold) there and then Aaron left Jack his ticket, zipping it into the pouch on his lanyard along with a wad of cash.
Beth was waiting outside the store, glaring.
"I've got to go now, you take care and be good and stay safe and try to have fun." Aaron told Jack, kissing his cheek.
"Beth, try to have fun with him, it is his birthday. And remember to feed him," Aaron said handing Beth two twenties, "and have a good evening." He kissed Beth on the cheek, which made her preen even while she glared at Jack, which Aaron still saw.
Aaron took all the shopping bags with him and headed back to the hotel to get dressed for giving his lecture and make it to where he needed to be on time, although someone was picking him up at 4:45 so if he was late it wasn't his fault. It wasn't until he'd entered his hotel room, locked his packages in the suitcase again and was in the shower that he realized Beth never actually asked for Jack's ticket and also didn't know Jack had it. He shrugged. It was a perfect excuse for a first call.
He and his ride hit the front of the hotel at the same time and Aaron called Beth from the car.
"Oh, Aaron," Beth answered. "I didn't expect to hear from you. Have you left yet? I just can't figure out what to feed Jack. He has to eat properly, you know."
"That terraced area by the Space Mountain ride serves burgers. Can I talk to Jack quick?"
"Why would you want to do that?" Beth asked.
"Because I forgot to tell him something."
"Oh, well then, here."
"Hi, Dad." Jack said. Aaron was very glad he'd taught Jack how to talk on cell phones.
"Hey buddy, how are things?"
"Not too bad, we are just wandering about and Beth won't let me use my camera. She made me zip it tight in my bag. She said we might go on the Snow White ride, and Pinocchio's ride and the toad ride."
"Those would be good rides to go on with her."
"They would be fun."
"Now, when she goes looking for your ticket later tell her you have it, because she forgot to ask for it. You can carry it though, and use it yourself, she doesn't need it. She just needs to know you have when she asks."
"All right, Dad, love you and miss you."
"Love you too, Jack. Give the phone back to Beth now."
"Beth here. Why was he talking about rides?"
"He said you thought of taking him on those."
"Oh, yeah. I think we will go on those."
"That would be good. You haven't been on them yet."
"True, this section was too crowded when we went through it on Monday."
"But we had a good time on the canal boats and It's a Small World Monday." Aaron said.
"I suppose. Anyway, do you have any idea how long you'll be gone for?"
"I just left, Beth. The seminar starts at 6pm and is slated to run till 9pm."
"Can't you explain to them that you need it shorter?"
"Why do I need it shorter?"
"Because you are supposed to be doing stuff with Me tonight!"
"No, I'm supposed to be working tonight. There were never plans to do anything with you this evening."
"Aaron," Beth whined over the phone. "You just don't lo…"
"Beth, I don't have time to listen to this right now. Go, have fun and stop pouting that you didn't get your way. You know it was not going to ever happen tonight and that tonight was about working, now you're just making a fuss to make one. I've got to go over my notes. I'll talk to you later."
"Don't you dismiss me like that!" Beth snarled loud enough to be heard by the guy driving Aaron. "I'm the one who is hanging up, see!"
The phone went dead.
"Wife?" The man driving asked.
"Not yet, but she says she wants to be." Aaron answered.
"My advice? Don't go there man. This is one you need to cut loose. My first wife, she was like that from about six months after we started dating, except only around some people. People she thought would keep her with me she was angelic to. She couldn't handle my job at all though. We divorced about three years later, and she didn't even want the kids. Left me a single dad with a toddler and baby. However, the right girl came along after a few more close calls. She adores my kids; she is supportive of my job and all those I work with. Anyone of my team mates gets hurt, she's there asking what she can do, making sure their families are supported. She is wonderful."
"You are a lucky man."
"I had to wake up a bit, though. She wasn't this great beauty, you see. Not ugly, but kind of plain and sort of fades into the background look wise. A friend of a friend. I'd seen her and even talked to her several times, just not paying attention. But she helped me out of a bind and I took her out to dinner to thank her and we actually spoke to each other without being surrounded by all sorts of other people and it was relaxed and fun and when I went home that night I realized I felt like I was walking on air and worth a million dollars and I wanted to feel like that again."
"I certainly never come out of an encounter with this one feeling that way lately."
"I could tell."
Aaron pulled out his notes and thought about what the man had said, and hoped Jack was having a decent time with Beth. At least Spencer would be calling in about a half hour.
AN/ I seriously considered toning down Beth, however, as I was writing this I was subjected to my little sister's husband's sister and mother...of which some of the ranting sounds just like, and both my brothers' wives...who account for much of it as well. I am not kidding. Some of the more ..odd... theories are almost direct from one or another horses' mouths. As direct as it could get and still work in the story. So Beth, as outragous as she feels at times in this story, gets to stay.