Interlude 3: New Orleans
The large plantation house made him think of JJ's house on a larger scale with warmer weather though not by much. He was surprised by how he just seemed to fall into the family the same way he'd clicked with JJ.
He hadn't been this happy at Christmas in years but what surprised him was that JJ was happy to have an open relationship, something he was use to from his days in the marines apparently.
David had hooked up with this little cute blond but a such as he enjoyed it all it really did was make him want his lover more.
Right now it was the twenty seventh and he was stood in his room in just a pair of jeans, a good glass of whisky in his hand.
He wasn't surprised when the door opened and the younger detective slid up behind him, strong arms circling his waist, pulling him tight to that chisled body.
Soft, chapped lips slid over his neck, kissing behind his ear.
"I love you." David wasn't sure weather it knocked the breathe out of him or made him take it in and for a split second everything stood still.
He turned in the red-head's arm.
"Sorry Babe, I didn't hear that, mind saying it again?" He was surprised it sounded composed as JJ let out a chuckle, masking the nerves crawling beneath his skin.
"I love you." His southern drawl was thicker than ever and it made the shorter shiver.
"I love you too JJ." And brought their lips together in a deep lingering kiss that made his toes curl. They moaned into each other's mouths and never noticed someone open the door.
They snuck around and then the camera clicked and flashed twice.
Lisa grinned at them before bolting for the door, Nick and Eli following from their place in the door way.
JJ bolted after them, shouting in French as they laughed while David followed at a slower place. Watching as the camera was thrown back and forth between the siblings like a game of piggie in the middle with added furniture hopping.
He chuckled, leaning on the banister at the top of the stairs and took another sip as the clank of crutches reached him, Nana Emily reaching his side.
"You know David, the last time I saw James this happy he was nineteen and fresh out of the academy, ready to take on the world as a marine." The sweet, silver haired woman sighed softly. "Being a solider was everything he needed, everything he was but it left a cloud of darkness around him, the same that Rixton carries. It's only with you when that cloud lifts entirely." Jones shifted slightly, uncomfortable with the observation but not unhappy.
He still found it odd, how easily they'd clicked with each other. The nights when he went home alone he felt cold and vulnerable, like someone or something was just around the corner waiting for him. It was a feeling he'd had since becoming a detective, the paranoia the last straw that drove Charlotte away.
Every time he thought about it he felt something curl in his gut, it was like some lie, that they were to perfect, this was real life not some trashy romance novel. No matter how good things were there was that little pessimistic part of him that said it was all going to come crashing down.
"It's natural to have doubts child, that's the way of life." Nana Emily soothed, a small smile painting her lined face. "But every now and again something to good to be true will come along and be real. After all here in New Orleans magic is as real as you or I and James will tell you just the same." She smiled at him and he smiled back, taking another gulp of his drink and looking bellow the twins were trying to fight Rix, Brandon and Liza evading JJ.
"I will give you the same advice that has been past through my family through the centuries." And something in the way she said it made him latch on, listening as if it were the only thing important in the world.
"This world is never what we expect, forever changing and throwing things in our path. We will see and experience things that can not be explained but that makes them no less real than you or I. Life is full of hard ships but every once in a while it will give you the greatest blessing but it is up to you and you alone to make it worth something." Her smile was still in place and he fully understood what JJ meant when he said she could lead an army with a smile.
"I believe that you an JJ are each others blessings and what happens next is up to you." She finished and made her way back to he room, leaving the detective to muse over her words and he found himself feeling lighter, happier, that niggling doubt sliding away and leaving him feeling completely whole.
