When Erin joined him in the living room a few nights after they had returned from their honeymoon, he knew that there was something on her mind, based on the pensive look she was giving him. Setting aside the file he was working on, he patted the seat next to him, and she nodded before sitting down, a short exhale of breath escaping her lips as she ran her hands down her thighs. "What's troubling you?"
"I would not classify this as being troubled, Aaron. It's something that Penelope has put in my head, and I have to admit that I am intrigued, but don't know if it's the right step to take in my life."
He contorted his body so that he could look at her, seeing that she was holding onto her tablet. "What has Penelope suggested that you do?"
"I was telling her that I was a bit bored when you're not here, and Jack's in school, even if it's just preschool for right now, and she suggested that I look into furthering my own education. I think that I want to do that, and Penelope said that there is a distinct possibility that if we write my application the correct way, I stand a good chance of getting into a college. It wouldn't be lying, I told her that I couldn't do that, but we came up with a story about my leaving a community that hadn't encouraged me to pursue education beyond high school, and now that I was separated from that way of life, I wanted to see what I could learn. Do, do you think that's a stupid idea?"
He immediately shook his head, giving her a wide smile. "I think that that is a wonderful idea, Erin. What college were you thinking about applying to?"
The smile on her face took his breath away, as if she had anticipated him telling her no. "Penelope suggested that I look at Georgetown University? Apparently, she and Doctor Reid have a few connections there who can help with the admissions process, and perhaps help get me in. I, I have to figure out how to fill out the application, which is why I have the tablet."
"I think that it would be easier on my laptop, actually. The screen is larger, and it's easier to type on a keyboard rather directly on the screen." She nodded and he leaned over, kissing her cheek before getting to his feet and grabbing the laptop from his bag before bringing to over to her, plugging it in before powering it up for her. "All right, I'm assuming that Penelope has also shown you a little of what you have to do?"
"Yes. But you'll help me if I have trouble, right?"
"That's what I'm here for."
Erin let out a little sigh as she began to henpeck at the keyboard. It was painful to watch, but he knew that she was still learning, so he didn't say anything, knowing that it would be better if she learned on her own how to get better at typing, since she would be doing a lot of it when she got into college. Nudging her shoulder a little, he picked up the file he was working on and went back into it, finding something soothing about the way that they worked together. He could almost imagine that in another life, they had worked together, though maybe not always as harmoniously as right this minute.
Eventually, he figured that she had finished most of the application, since she set the laptop on the coffee table and curled her feet beneath her as she watched him continue to work. Erin was quiet, seemingly content to just be in his presence. "If I get in, we can do work together at night. I'm assuming that I am going to have a lot to catch up on, since I'm fairly certain that academic standards have changed since I was in school." Her voice was so quiet that it took him an extra moment to register her words, and then he was nodding as he set the completed file on the coffee table next to the laptop before putting his arm around her shoulders, tugging her closer to his side.
"Well, the great thing about playing catch up is that you'll learn a lot. And given how quickly you've been able to adjust to our time, I don't think that you have anything to worry about. Even getting your vaccines was a breeze."
"I lost a child to measles, Aaron. When Jessica told me about Jack's need for vaccines, and what they were for, I knew that I had to get them as well. If that had been available to me then, I might have had four children to live on through the ages." He nodded before bending his head and kissing her hair. "I don't relish learning how to drive, though."
"We'll figure something out when the time comes, darling."
"I know, I just like to make plans and plans for my plans. You know that." He chuckled as he nodded. "All right, I need to talk to Penelope for the rest, and that will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon. She's stopping by around lunch, with food, and then will help with some of the finer details. Would you like to head up to bed with me?"
"Well, seeing as how I just finished the last file I needed to work on this weekend, I think that we can steal away to bed." She turned her head and pressed her lips to his in a quick kiss before getting to her feet and holding her hand out to him. He clasped it as he got to his feet and then they were heading upstairs to their bedroom. "Let me check in on Jack. I'll be right there."
She nodded before stepping into the bathroom. Once he heard the water turn on, he knew that she was brushing her teeth and getting ready for bed. Smiling, he crossed the hall to peep his head inside Jack's door, seeing that his son was cuddling his teddy bear tightly to his chest as he slept. Heading inside, he crossed over to his son's bed and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead before pulling the covers up a little higher on his body. Exiting the room, he quietly closed the door before heading over to the master bedroom.
Erin was already in her nightgown, brushing out her hair as she hummed lowly beneath her breath. "May I?" he asked as he went to her side and tapped the brush. She nodded and handed it over to him, still humming as he finished brushing her hair, taking care not to rip through any snarls that he found. When that was taken care of, he divided the tresses into two hanks and then quickly braided each hank before wrapping a hair tie around the ends.
"To bed, husband?"
"Yes, wife." He leaned over her shoulder and kissed her cheek before running his hand down her arm to take hold of her hand, letting her guide him to their bed. "I do so love nights like this."
"Even if we're not going to have sex tonight?"
"I'm fine with that. I need to catch up on some sleep, since that last case was a bit brutal."
She nodded as she pulled back the covers and climbed into the bed, scooting across the mattress so that he could join her. "I've noticed that your sleep has been restless lately, and I'm assuming that you're having nightmares of some sort. You need to talk to me, darling, to get it out."
"I don't want to burden you with all the gory details that run around in my brain. I want to protect you from that."
"I'm stronger than I look, Aaron. Just, keep in mind that your beloved wife is always here to listen to you. All right?" She reached out and stroked his cheek gently as she yawned. He nodded and then let his head come to rest against her forehead as he pulled the covers up around them. "I love you, and I just want you to know that I'm here for you."
"I know, Erin," he murmured as he kissed her softly, and they fell asleep together, his arm slung around her waist and holding her close as sleep claimed them.
