Wisdom and Pillows (Joe, Julian)
Mar. 10th, 2008 03:45 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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darker_londonJulian wandered into the living room, where Joe was sitting on the sofa, had at work doing something involving lots of maths. Ick. Julian sort of hovered in the archway until Joe looked up and then a smile appeared on his face because he was always happy to see Julian. "Jules! Everything okay?"
Julian bit his lip and he nodded. "Yes. No. Yes. Maybe?"
Joe blinked and he put his laptop on the coffeetable in front of him because that sounded serious. "Well do you want to talk about what's yes no yes maybe?"
"Er." Julian sort of shook his way into a seat beside his father and he stared down at his hands. "Dad. How did you know Mum was the one for you. And really, you don't have to be graphic there..." His parents had one of the most solid relationships around and they had for nearly 20 years. And Joe hadn't even had an example of a relationship to give him an idea of what to look for because his own father had run out on his family, which made his relationship with Jordan all the more impressive.
Joe laughed and he turned to face Julian better, and he smiled to think of Jordan. "Well, I thought long and hard about if she was the right one for me, and then I she informed me she was, and let's face it, the woman is always right." Joe winked. "It's a process, you know? It doesn't happen right away and anyone that says it does is either deluded, or still in that puppylove stage and they have a lot of learning to go. I didn't ask her to marry me until I was sure. And how was I sure. I suppose...she knew the things I needed her to do without me having to ask. Her bad habits didn't clash horribly with mine, and everyone has bad habits too, trust me. She was kind and thoughtful and she had a killer sense of humour. And then we got married and she gave me you. I haven't regretted it for a moment."
"And you...you haven't ever wanted anyone else?" Julian asked, turning a deep shade of crimson.
"Well, there are always people you're going to be attracted to. There was a client at work a few years back. She was gorgeous and she always smelled like...I dunno, a meadow or daffodils or springtime or something, I'm a guy. Anyway, I fancied her."
"But...what...what did you do?" Julian was fascinated now, because he'd never heard of his father doing something like this before...
"I came home and told your mother there was a sexy bird at work and your mother asked if she had a fine arse. And then it became a game. Whenever I saw her, I told your mother what she was wearing and Jordan assessed her outfit." Julian blinked. "Telling your mother took the shame out of it. Your mother knows I think she's the most beautiful woman in the world. And I tell her often enough to keep the knowledge current. Being attracted to someone else because they have good fake pheromones doesn't change that. And if I didn't have to feel like I was doing something wrong, that changes the entire dynamic of the thing. You can never help attraction. We're human and it happens. But I love your mother. And no, I've never regretted marrying her, nor have I ever wanted to be with anyone else since then. Springy Scent woman might be the world's most evil harpy for all I know! I have my perfect woman, I don't need to go looking for anyone else. What's this about, Jules? Not that I mind talking about it! I certainly don't."
"Damon." Julian admitted, crossing his arms across his stomach.
"Ah."
"I haven't heard from him, and I thought...maybe he thought better of it, you know?"
"Jules..." Joe reached out for Julian's hand and he gave it a little squeeze. "He has a lot to deal with right now, in London. And you know...if he doesn't end up coming here, I'll be very sorry. But you shouldn't let that diminish what you had."
"What, three weeks and a kiss?!" Julian asked, feeling quite incredulous.
"He helped out find your way out of a very dark place, Julian. I will always be grateful to him for that, even if that's as far as it goes. I think that's something you should treasure too, if you can. If Damon hadn't been there, the road would have been longer. And I do hope he'll join you again, but if it's time to go your separate ways...you should at least rest easy in the knowledge that the journey you took while together was a good one."
Julian just gaped at his father for a moment, and then he raised his eyebrows. "Holy crap! How did you get all...wise and guru-like." He still missed Damon. But what Joe said made sense. He couldn't really be angry with Damon since Damon had pretty much saved his life. He could do that being grateful thing. It might take work not to feel abandoned sometimes, but surely there were extenuating circumstances for being human.
"Near-death experiences can do that to a man." Joe said sagely.
"Hey, I had one of those and I didn't get all wise!"
"That's because you were on drugs at the time, so your wisdom got lost in the post. It's okay, you can borrow mine if you want. But I need it from 9 to 5 on weekdays." Joe grinned and Julian hit him with a pillow.
Julian bit his lip and he nodded. "Yes. No. Yes. Maybe?"
Joe blinked and he put his laptop on the coffeetable in front of him because that sounded serious. "Well do you want to talk about what's yes no yes maybe?"
"Er." Julian sort of shook his way into a seat beside his father and he stared down at his hands. "Dad. How did you know Mum was the one for you. And really, you don't have to be graphic there..." His parents had one of the most solid relationships around and they had for nearly 20 years. And Joe hadn't even had an example of a relationship to give him an idea of what to look for because his own father had run out on his family, which made his relationship with Jordan all the more impressive.
Joe laughed and he turned to face Julian better, and he smiled to think of Jordan. "Well, I thought long and hard about if she was the right one for me, and then I she informed me she was, and let's face it, the woman is always right." Joe winked. "It's a process, you know? It doesn't happen right away and anyone that says it does is either deluded, or still in that puppylove stage and they have a lot of learning to go. I didn't ask her to marry me until I was sure. And how was I sure. I suppose...she knew the things I needed her to do without me having to ask. Her bad habits didn't clash horribly with mine, and everyone has bad habits too, trust me. She was kind and thoughtful and she had a killer sense of humour. And then we got married and she gave me you. I haven't regretted it for a moment."
"And you...you haven't ever wanted anyone else?" Julian asked, turning a deep shade of crimson.
"Well, there are always people you're going to be attracted to. There was a client at work a few years back. She was gorgeous and she always smelled like...I dunno, a meadow or daffodils or springtime or something, I'm a guy. Anyway, I fancied her."
"But...what...what did you do?" Julian was fascinated now, because he'd never heard of his father doing something like this before...
"I came home and told your mother there was a sexy bird at work and your mother asked if she had a fine arse. And then it became a game. Whenever I saw her, I told your mother what she was wearing and Jordan assessed her outfit." Julian blinked. "Telling your mother took the shame out of it. Your mother knows I think she's the most beautiful woman in the world. And I tell her often enough to keep the knowledge current. Being attracted to someone else because they have good fake pheromones doesn't change that. And if I didn't have to feel like I was doing something wrong, that changes the entire dynamic of the thing. You can never help attraction. We're human and it happens. But I love your mother. And no, I've never regretted marrying her, nor have I ever wanted to be with anyone else since then. Springy Scent woman might be the world's most evil harpy for all I know! I have my perfect woman, I don't need to go looking for anyone else. What's this about, Jules? Not that I mind talking about it! I certainly don't."
"Damon." Julian admitted, crossing his arms across his stomach.
"Ah."
"I haven't heard from him, and I thought...maybe he thought better of it, you know?"
"Jules..." Joe reached out for Julian's hand and he gave it a little squeeze. "He has a lot to deal with right now, in London. And you know...if he doesn't end up coming here, I'll be very sorry. But you shouldn't let that diminish what you had."
"What, three weeks and a kiss?!" Julian asked, feeling quite incredulous.
"He helped out find your way out of a very dark place, Julian. I will always be grateful to him for that, even if that's as far as it goes. I think that's something you should treasure too, if you can. If Damon hadn't been there, the road would have been longer. And I do hope he'll join you again, but if it's time to go your separate ways...you should at least rest easy in the knowledge that the journey you took while together was a good one."
Julian just gaped at his father for a moment, and then he raised his eyebrows. "Holy crap! How did you get all...wise and guru-like." He still missed Damon. But what Joe said made sense. He couldn't really be angry with Damon since Damon had pretty much saved his life. He could do that being grateful thing. It might take work not to feel abandoned sometimes, but surely there were extenuating circumstances for being human.
"Near-death experiences can do that to a man." Joe said sagely.
"Hey, I had one of those and I didn't get all wise!"
"That's because you were on drugs at the time, so your wisdom got lost in the post. It's okay, you can borrow mine if you want. But I need it from 9 to 5 on weekdays." Joe grinned and Julian hit him with a pillow.
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