Houses Galore
-A Dynasty ONESHOT-
"Why are you fighting me on this, Fallon?" Liam asked his wife of two years, rather annoyedly.
"Because it's in my nature, Liam. Nothing's ever easy with me, you should know that after two years of marriage." Fallon responded, vague and as Fallon-like as ever.
"I thought you wanted a house, Fallon. You're the one who first brought it up six months ago. What happened between then and now?"
"I thought I wanted a house, but I was wrong."
"Fallon, you know I love your family. I do, really, but we've been living here at the Manor for almost three years."
"And what's wrong with the Manor? We're on the opposite side of Blake and Cristal. Adam and Kirby are closer to them than we are. We're happy here. So what's wrong with the Manor?"
"There's nothing wrong with the Manor, per se, but we're married, Fallon. Aren't married couples supposed to at least try and find houses for themselves?"
"There's not a rule book for marriage. Most married couples choose to buy a house together, but we're not most married couples. We first married each other for nothing more than a business deal. We were two points in a love triangle. We chose to date. I proposed to you, and less than 24 hours later you almost died. You had amnesia for months. We dated again, and you proposed to me. We're not a normal couple."
"I don't understand why you're suddenly against buying a house."
"Because there's no point in us wasting millions on a building, when we're living in a perfectly good one right now."
"I don't want to live with your father and stepmother forever, Fallon. I love your family, but I want us to finally start our lives together."
"Is that not what we did when we said our I do's?"
"We did, but it's just not the same."
"I don't want a house. Period."
"Why won't you tell me why? You keep avoiding the question by using stupid answers."
"Why do you need an answer? I shouldn't have to give you an answer for why I don't want a house. We live in a perfectly good house. We are perfectly happy where we are right now."
"I'm not happy, Fallon. That's why I'm bringing this up. I think it's time that we move out of the Manor."
"And I don't."
"We had this conversation two years ago. You don't get to make all of the decisions in our relationship. On the little stuff, I don't care, but on the big stuff, I do. Where we live, when we have kids, those are big things that I do get a say in."
"I know, Liam. We can't seem to come up with a compromise, so maybe I stay here and you go somewhere else. Maybe we just need some time apart."
"Why won't you just tell me what the hell is wrong? I'm your husband. You can tell me anything."
"I don't want to tell you, Liam. Ok? I don't like talking everything out like you do. I love that you like to talk things out, but I don't. I don't know why I need to explain to you why I don't want a house."
"Because maybe I'd understand you a little bit more. Right now, I have no idea what the hell happened within the last six months to make you realize you don't want a house with me. I would really appreciate it if you could enlighten me."
"It's almost one in the morning. We both have work tomorrow."
"If you don't tell me what's wrong, then I'm not staying here tonight, or tomorrow, or any other night until you decide you're ready to tell me."
"You're being ridiculous, Liam."
"No, what's ridiculous is you not telling me what the hell is wrong."
"I'm not ready, ok? I'm not ready to buy a house."
"Why aren't you ready?"
"Because I'm not, Liam!" Fallon was starting to get agitated. She hated this conversation.
"Why not?" Liam matched Fallon's volume and tone. He was beyond frustrated. He loved his wife more than life itself, but she was nothing if not difficult.
"I'm done with this conversation. Just go or don't. I don't care anymore." Fallon was exhausted.
"Fallon, I can't do this forever. We can't keep having unresolved arguments. The little things are fine, but the life-changing ones can't just be ignored."
"Why do you always have to keep bringing them up at ridiculous times of day?"
"Because that's the only alone time we get. You're always working, or I'm always away on a retreat, or you're at a business meeting. I know how important your job is to you, and you know how important my job is to me. We both understand that, but it's not ok that the only alone time we get is in the middle of the night."
"I'm sorry, ok? I am. Maybe we should take a vacation."
"What, so we can just come back to this after a few weeks of bliss? I'd rather just stay in this mess."
"And you really think us buying a stupid house would solve all of our problems?"
"I don't think it would make things worse."
"Well, I do. Buying a house is a lot of work. Work that I don't feel like doing."
"And I do feel like doing it. What if I buy us a house? You wouldn't have to do anything."
"Liam, I don't want a house. Period. End of story."
"Just tell me why, Fallon. Please. I never ask you for anything. I always do everything you want. I let you take the reins in our relationship. Just, for once, please do this for me. Tell me why you don't want a house."
Fallon sighed deeply and flopped down on the bench at the foot of the bed. She rubbed her hands over her face and through her hair; a sheer sign of anxiety.
"I don't want a house because a house is one step closer to a baby. I'm not ready for a baby. I do want one, eventually, but not yet. Adam and Kirby having Callum made me realize how not ready I am for a baby. A house is one step too close to a baby."
"All of this because you're not ready to have a baby? Really?" Liam asked, as if Fallon's confession had been some kind of joke.
"This is why I didn't want to tell you. I know how ridiculous it sounds."
"Babe, I'm nowhere near ready to have a baby. I love you, and I love the idea of us having something that's half you and half me, but not yet. You said it yourself, we're not a normal couple. A house for us can just be a house. It doesn't have to automatically mean we're gonna expand our family."
"Are you sure a house won't mean a baby?"
"I'm sure. We're both not ready for a baby. Your IUD will stay in, and we'll keep using condoms. If a mistake happens, then we'll handle it then, but for now, we're not gonna have a baby. Maybe we should get a pet, but not a baby yet. A house will just be a house. A means to an end, not the end. Ok?"
Fallon took in a deep breath. "Ok. Let's buy a house." For the first time that night, Fallon allowed a smile to grace her face.
"Now, unless there's something else you wanna talk about, I think it's time for us to put this behind us and go to bed. What do you say?"
"I say that you're right. I'm exhausted."
"Good." Liam reached for Fallon's hand and pulled her up from the bench. "Now, let's go to bed." He pulled her to the bed.
Only a few shorts minutes later, the couple was asleep, dreaming of their dream home.