I'll Know When I Get There
Summary: One phone call was all it took to rip Ryan Sloane's life apart (Parrish/OC)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Teen Wolf, Ryan however is all mine.
Chapter 11:
After switching out Jordan's car for Ryan's, which was already good to go with Kylie's car seat set up in the back seat, the three of them were off, heading right for the park where they'd hopefully enjoy a picnic, although the sky above seemed to threaten their good time.
The clouds overhead hadn't started out that dark but Ryan had been watching them growing more and more ominous with each passing second. Rain had been in the forecast but Ryan wasn't about to forfeit a prime opportunity to get to know Jordan and watch exactly how he'd interact with her daughter in a slightly more private scene. Rain or no rain, it was picnic time.
The idea of Jordan Parrish winning over Kylie had been floating around in Ryan's head since they had arranged the entire picnic, but she also knew how fussy Kylie could be if she was in one of her foul moods. The little girl, at least so far that day, had been behaving rather decently, something for which Ryan was thankful for, but that didn't mean Kylie wouldn't change gears. She was unpredictable and that was something that Ryan was a little anxious about.
As she drove the car, Jordan sitting casually in the passenger seat, she couldn't help but feel that the future of their relationship, whether it be just friendly or held the potential for something more, hinged on this picnic. He glanced over at her and threw her a smile before turning all the way around and looking at Kylie, who was securely sitting in the backseat. The picnic, as well as a small bag of toys, resided in the trunk of the car and the closer they got to the park, the more excited Jordan seemed to get.
"Thanks." Ryan broke the silence and Jordan twisted back around to face the front before looking at Ryan with a confused expression on his face.
"For what?"
She hesitated and peered into the rear-view mirror, watching for a split second as Kylie wiggled her stuffed monkey in the air, "for the picnic. It's been quite a while since we've had anyone other than my dad hang out with us."
Jordan nodded his head in understanding, "how long is 'quite a while'?"
Ryan sucked in an anxious breath and considered his question. Even before Cole had died, it wasn't like they had done a lot of stuff together, Ryan had always been working when Cole was off and Cole had worked a lot of them time when Ryan was off, which didn't leave a lot of time off for them to be together as a family.
"More than six months ago." Ryan confessed and stole another look at Kylie in the mirror. The little girl seemed oblivious to the conversation going on in the front seat, which was just the way Ryan preferred it. The less Kylie paid attention to serious conversations such as the one she was currently having, the happier the little girl would be. One day Ryan would talk to her daughter about Cole but for right now, the less he was brought up, the easier Ryan found it for herself.
"Oh wow." Jordan remarked and looked out the window, watching as Ryan turned into the small parking lot to the park, which was near a little pond, benches and picnic tables were scattered about and there was a pavilion built up in the edge of the trees that Ryan figured was used for special events, it was currently unused though and she didn't imagined that anyone would be coming for it today, not with the looming black clouds above.
She pulled the car to a stop in the spot nearest the playground area and put the gearshift into park. Once the car was turned off, she was out the door and working on getting Kylie out of her car seat. Jordan hesitated in the front before following her lead, except he bypassed the back door and went right for the trunk, which Ryan had popped with her key fob before starting in on the task of freeing her daughter.
He hauled the picnic basket out of the trunk and grabbed the plastic bag, lifting the handles onto his wrist. Yes, this was his secret weapon, this was his ticket to getting Kylie to like him. Inside the bag was a small teddy bear, which he had gone out and bought shortly after they had planned out the picnic. He had also grabbed a half-sized foam football and a little soccer ball that the three of them could all play with, well that was his hope anyways.
The sky had already gotten twice as dark as it had been when they set out but at Ryan's nonchalant attitude towards the potential rain storm, Jordan decided to follow her lead. If it rained, it rained, he couldn't do anything to stop it and the pavilion would make a great shelter if they didn't have the picnic finished.
"Where do you want to set up?" Jordan asked, lifting his one hand up and closing the trunk. He grabbed the picnic basket with both hands and wandered around to the side of the car where Ryan was busy freeing Kylie, her body bent into the backseat. Seconds later, she lifted Kylie out of her seat, set the monkey down in the car and propped her against her hip. Jordan stepped up to the door and nudged the door with his hip, shutting it for Ryan as she held Kylie against her.
"Thanks. What if we take that table by the playground, then Kylie can play." Ryan suggested and Jordan nodded before using his head to motion towards the table in question. Jordan took up walking behind her, Kylie glancing over Ryan's shoulder and staring at him, her eyes wide and a curious expression on her face.
Jordan smiled back at her and Kylie turned away from him, glancing at the side of Ryan's head before peeking back at him. He made a funny face at her, sticking his tongue out, and she giggled. Jordan made another face, eliciting more giggling from the girl, repeating the process until Ryan was standing at the head of the table.
She turned towards Jordan and gave her a disbelieving look before setting Kylie on the edge of the top of the table, her little legs hanging over the edge and swinging back and forth wildly.
"Mommy, is this guy going to be my new daddy?" Kylie waved her arms out towards Jordan and Ryan visibly tensed at the kid's question. Before Ryan had a chance to answer, or not answer, Jordan set the picnic basket down on the seat of the table and opened the plastic bag, pulling the little teddy bear out and offering it to Kylie.
Ryan watched carefully as her little girl's eyes lit up at the little brown teddy bear adorning a tiny white t-shirt. A big red heart was stitched across the front of the t-shirt and when Kylie took hold of the bear, she clutched it against her chest, swinging her shoulders back and forth.
"I didn't get you a teddy bear." Jordan teased and looked over at Ryan, who seemed stunned by the situation. "I can though, if you want one?"
Ryan shook her head and stepped around the end of the table, taking a seat on the opposite side from the basket. She slid Kylie along the edge of the table and situated her so that she was sitting directly in front of her mother, still hugging the bear tight against her chest.
"Mommy look!" Kylie exclaimed and finally loosened her hold on the bear, holding it out to Ryan and waving the teddy bear in her face. "See what the nice man got me?"
"Ky, his name's Jordan." Ryan replied with a laugh of her own. She gently took hold of the bear and studied it but she never took it out of Kylie's hands. Jordan smiled at the two of them and when Ryan let go of the bear, letting Kylie hug it against her chest again, she looked up at Jordan and felt her cheeks blushing the slightest bit.
So far he was doing really well, he had brought the picnic, he had picked her up on time and now Kylie was sitting on the table grinning as she continued to squeeze her new teddy bear tight.
"Jordie!" Kylie laughed and kissed the top of the teddy bear's head.
"I'm glad you like your bear." Jordan chuckled and made quick work of flipping the top of the picnic basket open.
Kylie twisted her head around and watched him with a smile as he pulled Tupperware containers out of the basket. Ryan followed Kylie's lead but she grabbed hold of the little girl under the armpits and moved her from the top of the table down to her lap, where Kylie immediately shifted her butt against her mother's thighs in an attempt to get comfortable.
"I went to the grocery store and bought a bunch of food." Jordan explained simply and Ryan reached her arms out, one on either side of Kylie, and took hold of the first container before popping the lid off revealing macaroni salad. Kylie tucked her bear under her arm and reached out too.
"What is it?" Kylie questioned and Jordan quickly pulled out a plastic spoon, offering it to Ryan who scooped out a little bit of the macaroni salad and held it up to Kylie's mouth. She opened wide and took the noodles off the spoon, chewing loudly and swallowing it when she was ready. She looked up at Jordan and waved frantically at the container, "more!"
"More what Ky?" Ryan asked and leaned her head down closer to Kylie's ear.
"More please!"
Jordan chuckled at the little girl and watched as Ryan spooned out a few more noodles, Kylie taking them into her mouth eagerly.
Before anyone said anything more, he produced more containers only this time he took the liberty of taking the lids off and sliding them towards Ryan. One of the containers held chicken fingers, another one held potato wedges and yet another container held a small chocolate cheesecake, as per Ryan's request.
"Ketchup Jordie?" Kylie looked up at him with what Jordan could only call puppy dog eyes. Jordan held up his finger and seconds later, he pulled out a small, plastic bottle of ketchup, handing it over to Kylie. Ryan intercepted it and held it just out of the little girl's reach.
"Do you have something I can put the ketchup on?" Ryan asked softly and Jordan quickly slid one of the container lids over towards her. Ryan flipped the lid back on the ketchup and squirted some onto the lid before moving it within Kylie's reach. She then grabbed a handful of the potato wedges and set them on the lid beside the ketchup.
"Mommy, can you put my bear somewhere safe?" Kylie turned her head to the side and looked up at Ryan with pleading eyes. Ryan set the ketchup on the table and took hold of the teddy bear, shoving the bears legs into the front pocket on her jeans.
"I can put it in the basket if you want?" Jordan offered and Kylie's eyes lit up.
"Yeah mommy! Put him in the basket!" Kylie squealed and Ryan looked down at her daughter, who quickly added, "please?"
Jordan took the bear once Ryan handed it to him and set it in the basket before pulling out some juice boxes and closing the lid. Kylie beamed up at him, grabbed hold of a potato wedge, jammed it into the ketchup and proceeded to bite the end off of it. Jordan couldn't help but return her smile as he sat down across from them, sliding the juice boxes to the middle of the table.
"I got fruit punch, I hope that's okay." Jordan remarked.
"Fruit punch is her favourite." Ryan said with a smile. "And props for the chicken fingers and potato wedges, simple yet effective."
"Thanks." Jordan smiled and reached out, grabbing a potato wedge and dipping it into Kylie's ketchup. Once she saw him dip his potato, she looked up at him and giggled. "I have sauces for the chicken in the basket too if you want it."
Ryan shook her head no with a smile and helped herself to one of the chicken fingers, biting off the end before offering it to Kylie, who took it in her little hand and jammed the end into the ketchup. Jordan met Ryan's eyes and couldn't help but feel like maybe this would turn out well for the both of them. He was already getting along with Kylie and from what he could gather, the kid liked him too. Now he just had to make sure the rest of the picnic went on without incident.
"So, this is pretty nice." Ryan said in a soft voice, Kylie oblivious to her speaking at all. The little girl was way too into eating the chicken finger and potato wedges to notice her mother and Jordan interacting.
"Except for the dark grey sky." Jordan joked and looked up, Ryan following his gaze.
"Well, as long as the rain stays away, then it's all good." She countered, bringing her eyes down, glancing at Kylie. There was ketchup all over the girl's hands and when Ryan leaned over her shoulder, the red sauce was streaked across her cheeks too. "On second thought, rain might be just the thing Kylie needs when she's done eating."
Jordan let out a laugh at Ryan's words and took hold of a chicken finger, biting off the end without any sauce at all. He looked at Ryan and studied her face for a few seconds, taking in the lingering sadness in her eyes. He knew that her husband had died in the sheriff's station massacre just over six months ago, he knew that she was afraid of losing anyone else and he couldn't blame her. If he was in her position, he'd be terrified to let anyone important walk out the door without telling them how much he cared about them.
"I brought a football and a soccer ball we can play with after." Jordan announced and let his attention wander to the playground nearby. He wasn't going to admit it out loud but the idea of playing on the equipment with Kylie and Ryan was rather exciting.
"You've clearly underestimated how uncoordinated we Sloanes really are." Ryan chuckled. "My dad's the athlete in the family."
"Well to be fair, the football's made of foam and the soccer ball is pint sized." Jordan pointed out and nabbed a potato wedge from the container. "Although I don't know about Kylie here, but I've been eyeing up that swing set since we pulled in."
"She's probably more interested in the slide." Ryan smirked and nudged Kylie in the side, drawing the little girl's attention away from the food. "What do you say munchkin, have you been looking at that curly slide at all?"
"Oh yes! I want to slide!" Kylie grinned and moved her hands down, making an attempt to wipe her hands on her pants. Ryan intercepted her hands and motioned at Jordan, who immediately pulled a few napkins out of the picnic basket and handed them to Ryan. Kylie's hands were wiped nearly clean and Ryan banded her arm around the little girl's tummy, lifting her up and off her lap.
Kylie wiggled but Ryan promptly set her on the grass. Kylie jumped in place and Ryan grinned at Jordan before climbing off the seat and taking her hand.
"Come on, let's go slide before the rain come." Ryan called out to him and took off in a jog with her little girl.
Jordan hung back for a few seconds and watched Kylie head for the chain ladder on the side of the playground. Ryan grabbed her under her arm pits and helped her up the chains, letting go only when Kylie was securely on the platform.
Ryan took a step back, tossed a glance over her shoulder and raised her eyebrows at Jordan, who nearly jumped off the seat and dashed over towards the girls. He took up a stance next to Ryan and watched Kylie as she paused at a little game along the walkway of the playground.
"So, how am I doing so far?" Jordan asked and nudged her shoulder with his own.
"You're doing pretty good." Ryan answered but her eyes never left Kylie as the tot continued to play with the game on the walkway. "Good choice of food, great thinking on the bear and thanks for saving me from having to answer if you're going to be her new dad."
"Well, we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves." Jordan smiled and Ryan scoffed at him.
"Not yet." Ryan shook her head. "Thanks for the picnic, seriously. This is really nice."
"It's no big deal."
"Maybe not to you but even on my time off I rarely get a chance to just hang out and have fun with Kylie. I'm always busy trying to get the house cleaned up or stressing over her babysitter or work."
"Why?"
"Well see there's this deputy who keeps showing up at the hospital…" She trailed off and tossed him a knowing look. "I just get anxious at the thought of him randomly showing up."
"Oh man, you should give me his name and badge number and I'll have a little talk with him." Jordan teased right back, knowing full well that she was referring to him. "I'd hate for some other lawman to steal your attention away from me."
"It's not the lawman you should be worrying about, it's that little girl over there." Ryan let out a laugh and crossed her arms over her chest. Kylie moved away from the game on the walkway and moseyed on over towards the curly slide. Ryan uncrossed her arms, took a gentle hold of Jordan's hand and tugged him along behind her as she made her way over to the bottom of the slide, ready to catch her little girl once she slid down.
"Watch me mommy!" Kylie laughed and Ryan crouched down in front of the end of the slide.
"I'm watching!" Ryan called back and Kylie sat down on the slide at the top before letting go of the sides and moving down to the bottom.
Ryan caught her before she hit the ground and hauled her up onto her hip. Kylie wrapped her arms around Ryan's neck and held on tight as Ryan headed over to the table. Jordan followed their lead but this time he sat down next to them, Kylie right back on Ryan's lap. He glanced up at the sky and watched as the dark clouds rolled towards them, stopping above them.
"Jordie," Kylie spoke up and turned to face Jordan while Ryan grabbed a potato wedge and handed it to Kylie, "who's your favourite Disney princess?"
"I'm rather partial to Cinderella, what about you?" Jordan answered with ease, keeping his sole focus on Kylie.
"Ariel, duh!" She laughed and leaned back against Ryan's chest. "What about your favourite colour?"
"Blue." Jordan nodded with a smile. "You?"
"I like purple and pink." Kylie grinned up at him. "Mommy's favourite is purple."
"Purple's good." Jordan reached his hand out and nabbed a chicken finger from the container, ripping it in half and handing Kylie one part while he kept the second. "What's your favourite animal?"
Kylie brought her hand up to her cheek and considered his question, "monkeys!"
"Do you have a favourite movie?"
"The Lion King, oh and The Little Mermaid!" Kylie squealed in delight. "Mommy loves The Lion King, I think it's because of Timone and Pumbaa, they're funny."
"Hakuna Matata, right?" Jordan looked at Kylie, who's eyes widened at the infamous words. She stared at him, apparently shocked that someone else, outside of their family, knew what those particular words meant.
"No worries, no worries!" Kylie chanted and Ryan couldn't help but snicker at her baby girl. "You're funny Jordie!"
Ryan remained quiet as she watched her daughter and Jordan interact. There hadn't been too many people, aside from the parents of the other kids at the babysitter's, that got a chance to interact with Kylie and so far, Ryan was pulling for the deputy to win her over. It seemed like he was well on his way, now all she had to hope for was that he didn't suddenly say the wrong thing and throw everything off course.
When the first raindrop hit Ryan on the forehead, she stiffened up and waited for the downpour to start. Before the rain had a chance to really ruin their picnic, Jordan leapt to his feet, gathered up all the food and stuffed it into the basket once the lids were on, even the one covered in ketchup. He grabbed the picnic basket and the bag with the toys in it and motioned for the two girls to follow his lead.
Ryan lifted Kylie up and hugged her against her chest, the two of them getting sprinkled with rain. Once they were under the roof of the pavilion, Ryan dropped down onto the end of the picnic table and set Kylie on the concrete slab the pavilion had been built on, but the little girl quickly climbed up onto the bench seat and flopped down.
"I want dessert." Kylie whined and Jordan set the picnic basket on the table before pulling the chocolate cheesecake out of it. He then produced three plastic plates and three plastic forks.
When he pulled a plastic knife out of the basket, he popped the lid off the cake container and began cutting it into slices, offering Kylie the first piece once it was on the plate. Kylie didn't even bother with a fork, instead, she jammed her fingers into the creamy cake and licked the mess off her fingers.
Ryan received the second slice and she sat down next to Kylie, taking hold of a fork and taking a piece of the delectable dessert into her mouth. Jordan cut himself a slice and sat down on the opposite side, diving into his own cake.
"I was hoping it'd hold off on the rain." Ryan said softly and glanced down at Kylie, who was now covered in chocolate cheesecake. "But I guess we can't be too picky, it was going pretty good for the most part."
"We'll just have to have another picnic when it's nicer out." Jordan pointed out and Kylie paused in eating her cake before shaking her head yes furiously. She was clearly excited for yet another outing with Jordan and if Ryan let him, he'd love to take Kylie on as many picnics as she wanted.
"Sounds like a plan." Ryan said with a small smile. "I think picnics are a great idea."
"Good." Jordan nodded. "What should we have to eat next time then, pizza?"
"Yes please!" Kylie piped up and slammed her fingers back into the cake. "I love pizza Jordie!"
"Then all we have to do is set a date." Jordan looked at Ryan and smirked. "When's a good time for you?"
"I don't know." Ryan shrugged. "I'll have to see when my next days off are."
"I can wait as long as it takes." Jordan bowed his head. "Now, if you two don't mind, I think I might go play in the rain."
Kylie froze and slowly brought her eyes towards Jordan. She broke out into a smile and scampered to her feet on the seat, waving her hands out towards him. Ryan motioned for a napkin and Jordan handed her one, which was then used to wipe the little girl's hands off yet again. Ryan dropped the napkin against the surface of the table and helped Kylie to the ground.
Jordan wandered around the end of the table, offered the little girl his hand and when she took it, he headed right for the edge of the pavilion. The two of them paused, looked back at Ryan with devilish grins and before she could object, they jumped out into the muddy grass, letting the rain fall on them, soaking their clothes through.
Ryan leaned back on her seat and watched the two of them dancing around and laughing. She felt her heart swelling at the joy filled laughter that her daughter was producing and when her eyes landed on Jordan, who was lifting the little girl off the ground, Ryan couldn't help but feel her cheeks going warm.
Kylie held on to him tightly as he began spinning them around faster and faster. Ryan was getting slightly dizzy just watching them and right before Jordan lost his footing, Ryan leapt to her feet.
She stopped dead in her tracks, watching in horror as the two of them tumbled to the ground. Jordan twisted his body though and his back hit the ground first, his body breaking Kylie's fall as he hugged her against his chest. The little girl erupted into squeals of laughter and Jordan, who was now lying in a mud puddle, joined her.
Ryan shook her head at the two of them, broke out into a run and came to a skidding stop just a few feet away from her fallen comrade. She extended her hand to Jordan but he grinned at her, maneuvered his way to his feet and rose up, Kylie still clutched against his chest.
"Dance with us mommy!" Kylie screeched and threw her hands into the air in excitement.
Ryan caught the sparkle in Jordan's eyes and shied away from his gaze. Kylie reached out for her and Ryan stepped closer to them. Jordan took off in a run just as Ryan got within reach and as Kylie's laughter filled the air, Ryan felt herself relaxing with a man, who wasn't her father, for the first time since Cole had passed away.
Boy had she missed that feeling.
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Ah yes, Jordan and Kylie finally interacting, how are you guys feeling about the two of them?
Thank you so much to those that reviewed, followed and favourited, I love hearing from you guys so please keep it up! How are you enjoying the story so far?
A: Ooooh awesome! Again, I'm glad that you liked the realism. Here's the date, was it as good as you were hoping? Thanks so much for the review!
poorxbrokexcollegexkid: Exceeding expectations is what I like to try to do :) thanks so much for the review!
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