Thanks for the reviews. :) Since the general consensus is that most people want more bonding chapters, I'm going to hold off on the mythology for a while... ;)
Chapter 20. One Day
"I noticed you didn't bring much stuff for J.J.," Jack said without glancing up as they packed the blocks back into their container, but while the comment itself was innocent enough, Kate couldn't wondering what he was really asking.
"That's because he doesn't have much," she explained before he could get it into his head that she was only planning on staying for a couple of days. "He grows so fast… It makes more sense for me to keep washing what he has while it fits – that way I can afford to buy him new clothes when he needs them."
She said it matter-of-factly, but watching him slide the last block from between J.J.'s gums, she could see his sorrow at the thought of him growing up like that when could give him a more comfortable life. Both of them.
"That might've worked back home, but if he's gonna stay with us, he's gonna need a few more things, in case we can't get to a washing machine for a while," he insisted, and she assumed it was his roundabout way of offering to help her until he went on, "Let me take him out shopping, okay? You too."
She knew she should be grateful that he was determined to do the right thing by them, but somehow, she couldn't help feeling offended by his assumption that could provide for their child better than she could. "You don't have to do that," she told him, hoping he would back down, but he didn't.
"Yes, I do," he argued, locking eyes with her.
"Jack…" she said, deciding to try a different tactic. They shouldn't be out in public together anyway. It was too dangerous. "After what happened in Berlin, I just think we should lay low – stick close to the apartment."
She realised it was the wrong thing to say when he jumped to his feet. "I'm sick of all this spy crap," he cried, cringing when J.J. let out a soft whimper. "I just wanna take my son out."
Glancing through into the kitchen, where Sun was showing Ji Yeon how to make cookies, she saw that her friend has stopped what she was doing to watch them, turning away quickly when she caught Kate's eyes.
"And you will," Kate assured him, lowering her voice as she stood, lifting J.J. onto her hip, "Just as soon as it's safe."
She expected him to launch into another tirade, but to her surprise, he held his arms out for their son. She wasn't sure what he wanted her to do, so she handed him over, watching as he brought him to his shoulder, rocking them gently, an affectionate smile alighting his features as they both began to settle.
He looked like he'd forgotten that she was still there; it was such an intimate moment between them that she almost felt guilty for witnessing it.
"Please, Kate," he said once J.J. was drowsing against him, sounding almost desperate as he met her eyes again. "Just let me have this one day."
"Okay," she agreed softly, unable to stand his pain. "Sure. Just let me get my purse."
When they went into the kitchen to fill her in on their plans, Sun gave them directions to Dongdaemun, the largest shopping district in Seoul, and Korea. There, she explained, they would find Western-style malls, department stores and specialty shops, selling everything from clothes to electronics, as well as more traditional markets.
In spite of his assurances that their son would be safe, Jack insisted on keeping him close, so Sun gave them her old baby carrier, and with J.J. strapped securely to his chest, they set off into the city on foot.
"You realise we never had that date I promised you in Scotland?" he pointed out as they walked hand in hand along the busy street, which would have reminded her of New York, if it wasn't for the centuries old temples and pagodas tucked between high rises.
"I guess we're having it now – even if we had to go all the way to Asia to do it," she agreed with a grin, amused by the thought of taking their six-month-old son along on their first real date.
"You ever think about how strange our lives are compared to most people's?" she asked him, and he laughed, letting go of her hand to slide his arm around her.
"All the time. But at least we get to see the world – that's something," he told her as she settled in closer, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah. A couple of years ago, I was sure I was never leaving Iowa – now I've been to seven countries on four different continents, and that's not even counting the island."
She still wasn't comfortable with the idea of Jack buying her anything, so they spent what was left of the morning picking out clothing for J.J., coaxing him into holding still long enough for them to try them on. Most of these were practical items: t-shirts and jeans and overalls, but she couldn't resist getting him fitted out for one of the traditional outfits they were selling at the markets as a souvenir of his first overseas vacation.
"You realise he's gonna hate you for that one day?" Jack said, laughing, when she whipped her phone out to take a picture of him.
He didn't put up a protest, but she could see that he was getting grouchy, as if knew that it was an affront to his dignity.
"Only when I show it to all his girlfriends," she agreed happily as she put the phone away, and kissed the top of his head.
They celebrated their first meal together by eating lunch at a traditional restaurant, then, after buying J.J. a few small toys (including some blocks of his own) from the toy store, so that he would have something to share with Ji Yeon, they took him to the park.
Sitting on a bench with the bags, watching Jack mess around with him in the sandbox, showing him how to scoop the sand up, and let it trickle back out through his fingers, Kate couldn't help feeling like he really was trying to pack everything into one day, in case he never got another. It was all too idyllic, too perfect.
Sun was on her way out when they met her at the door, shepherding Ji Yeon into the hall, both of them dressed up for the evening. "We're having dinner with my parents tonight, so you'll have the apartment to yourselves," she explained with a pleasant smile, waiting until Jack took J.J. and the bags into the bedroom to add, "You can pay me back by babysitting tomorrow night. Jin and I hardly ever get any time alone – you'll see."
"I don't think I've ever told you what a great friend you are," Kate said by way of a thank you, grinning as she watched them get into the lift, before closing the door.
Next chapter: A night alone, and Coming Up: Babysitting... ;)