Title: The Swear Jar 5/X
Author: Romantique
Email: dolph1n
Classification: Raylan/Winona Family/General
Rating: T for language (but no worse than the show)
Summary: Raylan is a new dad. This one is a stand-alone, not a sequel to 'A Change of Scenery.'
Disclaimer: It's 'Justified' hiatus time, and I'm bored. This fic is based on nothing but my imagination and takes place sometime after the end of Season 3.
Legal: These characters do not belong to me. I'm just a fan and have not made a dime. Please email me to obtain permission to post.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Once back at the Lexington office, Raylan and Tim ran into Art as soon as they stepped off the elevator.
"I understand you transported your father with the baby in the car," Art glared at Raylan.
Art had been waiting for them. The shock on Raylan's face instantly turned into narrowing eyes of anger directed towards Tim.
"Oh, Tim didn't say anything," Art immediately set Raylan straight. "I have eyes in the back of my head at that prison, even when I'm not there."
The equally dumbfounded look on Tim's face confirmed his innocence.
"Well, Art," Raylan began with a huff. "It wasn't my idea to come into the office this mornin'. You told me to bring Caitlyn in, and we'd figure somethin' out."
He lifted the baby's carrier with his hand for emphasis, and then, continued. "But, that didn't exactly happen. I had to find a sitter at the last minute; and then suddenly, the sitter wasn't available anymore. I did the best I could in the situation we were in."
Tim chimed in. "He's telling the truth, Boss. The Troopers had to leave us for a higher priority call. You and Rachael were already at Trumbull. Raylan asked me if I could see any other options, and I could not. So, if Raylan's in trouble, I guess I am, too."
There, Tim laid himself out there to show Raylan he did not snitch.
Before, Art could even open his mouth, Raylan continued. "I'm scheduled off this whole week on vacation. I don't care if it's a paid time off or not ... I need to take care of my baby, and I'm the only parent she has in town. With all due respect, Art, I need to get goin'. Can't we deal with this childcare issue over the phone? I mean, it's not like Winona and her sister are typically out of town ... ever. They both just happen to be gone this week."
"Gee, Raylan," Art put his hands defiantly on his hips. "I do believe you're finally growin' up."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Back at Gayle's house, Raylan packed up some more of the baby's things and some clothes for himself and loaded everything into the trunk of the car. He then went up the street to gas up and called Winona, again.
"Raylan? What's wrong?" she asked upon answering her cell phone.
"Nothin's wrong," he said. "Cait's fine. I just wanted to give you a heads up. We're comin' out there to see you for a few days."
"What? Why?" she asked. "What's wrong? And don't tell me nothing, Raylan. I know you," she warned.
"Honestly?" he asked, "Art's tryin' to get me to come into work."
He figured at least this story had a kernel of truth in it.
"The only way I can justify not going in ... is to not be here, at all," he explained.
It was very convincing because Winona bought it.
"We'll be there in a couple of hours," he said.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
After her last seminar of the afternoon, Winona strolled out into the hotel lobby where she found Raylan and Cait in a seating area off the Front Desk.
A big smile came over Winona's face when she saw her baby, and she immediately went in for a hug.
"Has she been fed recently?" she asked, "because I just pumped."
"It's about that time, again," he said, handing her baby up to her.
Winona took the seat beside him, pulled out the bottle, and began feeding Caitlyn.
"I've got good news and bad news," Winona said to him after getting the baby settled in. "Which do you want to hear first?" she asked.
"How about we start with the good," Raylan took off his hat and raked his fingers through his hair.
"The good news is I was able to get a crib for Cait," she said. "Bad news is the hotel is full. No more rooms. I've got the Concierge looking for a room for you at another hotel."
"I'm sure they'll find me somethin'," he said, unconcerned. "Hey, have you had dinner yet, because I didn't have lunch, and I'm starved."
"I could eat something," she said. "There's a Chinese restaurant around the corner. I'm hearing it's very good."
"Maybe they even have that Green Tea Ice Cream?" he reminisced. "I like that."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
After a very nice dinner with no arguments, Winona and Raylan and baby in tow passed by the Front Desk of Winona's hotel to find out how the search for a room for Raylan was going. The Concierge Desk appeared to be closed, and the Concierge had not called Winona on her cell phone, as she promised she would do.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Hawkins," the Front Desk Clerk said. "But there aren't any vacancies within 30 miles of here. There are several conventions going on, in addition to yours. That's probably why the Concierge didn't call."
"Well," she sounded disappointed. "Thanks anyway for checking."
She then turned to Raylan. "You'll stay in my room. It's not like we haven't slept in the same room before."
Carrying their baby up to the elevator, the irony of her statement was not lost on him.
"Are you sure it's okay?" he asked, as they entered the elevator car. "I can sleep in my car."
She pressed the 3rd floor button.
"Don't be silly," she said. "You were thoughtful enough to bring Cait to me. I really was missing her."
"Yeah?" he smiled, glad to hear he'd done something right for a change.
"Yeah," she smiled, exiting the elevator on the 3rd floor, "and besides, your neck will get all in a crick."
She did know him, much as he knew her.
Raylan followed her to her room, where she pulled out her card key and opened the door.
She put her purse and the diaper bag on the dresser, and promptly dug in to retrieve a diaper and the wipes, while he placed the extra milk from the same diaper bag into the mini fridge. Then, she asked Raylan for the baby, and she proceeded to sit on edge of the bed. Raylan took a seat in the nearby chair.
While changing the baby on the bed, Winona asked, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," he answered, removing his hat for the night and placing it upside down on a nearby table.
"How long has it been since you've had sex?" she asked.
Caught a little off guard by the directness of her question, he missed a beat and then, admitted, "Too long. Why are you askin'?"
"Because it's been too long for me, too," she honestly answered his question, "and I've got no prospects in sight."
"You mean you didn't leave me for another man?" he teased.
She laughed a little, keeping her attention on the task at hand. "No. As I recall, I left you ... in haste, barefoot and pregnant."
Once finished, she handed Cait to Raylan for a minute while she went to the bathroom to toss the diaper in the trash and wash her hands.
"Are you still seein' that bartender?" she poked her head around the doorway, from the sink.
"Lindsey?" he asked. "No. She met someone a lot younger and with a lot more money."
"That's what I aspire to do," she said, drying her hands. "Meet someone younger with a lot more money."
She came back into the room and took Cait back into her arms, and she sat back into bed, leaning against the headboard.
"I came to your bar and saw that bartender once because I was curious," she went on. "She's very sexy."
"Not as sexy as you," he said, watching as she nursed their baby in front of him for the first time.
He was somewhat flattered to know she had been checking up on him. It showed either she cared or was jealous.
"I don't know if that's true anymore," she lamented, looking lovingly into the eyes of her babe. "I mean, I just had a baby. I have a few stretch marks. It's gonna take a while before I get my body back. And I'm not sure it will ever be the same as it was."
Cait was suckling at a pretty good clip, making tiny little noises. With her free hand, Winona grabbed for the pillow that was beside her and placed it under the baby to give her more support.
"It was my doing that you moved and met the bartender," she said.
After a few more minutes, she switched Caitlyn to her other breast. Raylan watched closely, as Winona gently rubbed the sleepy baby's cheek with her finger. Almost by reflex with her eyes closed, Caitlyn opened her mouth and latched onto the other breast and began to nurse again.
"You really know what you're doin' there," he said very softly. "You're a natural."
Winona laughed a little. "Not me. Cait was born knowing exactly what to do. But yeah, it's been good for me and my recovery. The pediatrician says it's definitely good for her."
He continued to watch, absolutely fascinated. Mother and daughter were a beautiful sight.
"We did somethin' good, didn't we?" Raylan asked.
Winona looked over and smiled at him. "Best thing we ever did."
After Caitlyn was sound to sleep, Winona began to walk over towards the portable crib.
"Would you hold her while I get her blanket?" she asked.
"Sure," he said, and took Cait into his arms.
Winona laid out the blanket on the bed, and Raylan came over and placed Cait on top of it. After Winona had her properly swaddled, Raylan took her, gently kissed the top of her head, and lowered her down into the crib. It felt good for them to work as a team.
Winona dimmed the lights by the dimmer switch near the door. Then, she walked over to Raylan and took his hands into hers.
"Winona, I, uh," he stammered.
"Do you still love me?" she asked. "After everything I've put you through?"
"You're the mother of my baby," he said, gazing deeply into her eyes and reaching up with one hand and pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Of course I love you. I'm always gonna love you."
She pulled him towards her and could feel his fervent desire pressing against her. They're mouths met, lips and tongues hungry for the other. Their breathing became rapid and heavy, heartbeats were racing, and clothing and shoes and boots began to come, flying off.
Then, Raylan deliberately slowed everything down. She had just delivered his baby. He would be tender, tonight. And she responded in kind.
He had prayed to be with her again, to have the chance to make sweet, tender love to her just one more time. And here they were, lying in bed, skin on skin, mouth to mouth, breathing, and writhing in a familiar dance they both thought was forever gone.
His release immediately followed hers, and she began to softly sob.
"Hey, now," he whispered from on top of her. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
And he tenderly wiped the tears on her face with his thumbs.
She shook her head.
"No, nothing like that," she said. "It's just that I've missed you so much."
Raylan didn't know what to say. He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead, her eyes, and her temples. And when he got to her mouth, she returned his kiss, long and deep. In a matter of moments, he was ready to go again, and she clung to him from underneath him with all her might. He had missed her so much, too. His prayers were answered.
(To be continued ...)