milliways_sawyer | (no subject)

"One of 'em, I didn't even bother picking up an application. Damn place didn't look nothin' like the pictures." He tosses the papers on the table and pulls out a chair. "These ones looked the best. I got applications and floor plans so we could look 'em over."

She emerges from the kitchen a few seconds later with two glasses of iced tea. Hers has a sprig of mint in it, in yet another attempt to convince her tastebuds that cold tea is drinkable. She sets the glasses on the table and pulls a chair close to him.

"We need at least two bedrooms, but I'd prefer to have three if we can swing it."

He slides a couple of papers toward her. "Got floor plans for both. I'm smart that way."

He gets an actual kiss on the lips this time for being responsible and thinking ahead. She's big on positive reinforcement.

But it's a brief kiss because she doesn't want to get too distracted. She picks up a few of the amenities lists and bites her lips as she preuses them.

"Bloody hell, this is a lot of money. I mean, I know we can afford it right now, but. . ."

"It ain't cheap to live 'round here, angel. That's about as low as it gets without puttin' us in the ghetto."

"I know," she sighs. "I'm just not used to spending money on things like this. It's a little weird."

She leans against him a little to check out a floor plan in front of him. "I don't like that one. It puts the babies' rooms too far away from us."

"It's just a few feet further away, sweetheart."

"The longer it takes me to get to their rooms, the longer they'll be crying in the middle of the night."

"Fair enough. This one's out."

He pushes that floor plan away and looks at another. "What about this one? It's got a balcony and a fireplace."

"Ooh," she pulls it closer and checks the price. "I have enough in savings to pay that deposit. And they allow pets."

Which is good since Peony's already found her way into Claire's lap and is settling down for a nap.

"Alright, that goes into the 'Possible' pile." He hands over another. "This one don't have either of those things, but it's a lot bigger."

"Put it in the maybe pile," she nods. "Space is good."

She holds up another plan and pats his arm excitedly. "This has nothing useful at all in the way of raising a family, but it does have a jacuzzi."

Okay, so maybe she won't be as good at this as she should be.

"Yeah, 'cept you don't know how many other people's been in that jacuzzi doin'... what folks do in jacuzzis." Sawyer's chooses odd times to be squicked out by things like that, but this is one of those things that get him.

"We'd clean it first!"

He still wrinkles his nose. "Maybe pile it.

She puts it at the bottom of the pile.

"This one looks nice, and it's close to both our jobs."

She turns the paper over to read the other side. "And it has a community pool on the roof."

He glances over the paper. "Looks good to me. You like it better than the place with the balcony or worse?"

"I don't know," she frowns. "I really like the balcony. But the kids would like the pool. . .if we're still there in a few years. Which do you like better?"

He shrugs. "We can always go to the pool at the Y or somethin'; they don't have balconies there, though."

"Mmm, the balcony one is better then. And it looks like it's off the master bedroom."

She smiles as she lays her head on his shoulder. "That would be nice."

He nods and leans his head against hers. "Want to go with that one, then?"

"Yes, I like that one. It seems more 'homey' somehow."

She takes a sip of her tea and manages only a small grimace this time.

"I can go at lunch tomorrow to sign the lease. Is that good for you?"

A pause and then says carefully. "We didn't ever really discuss that. Do you even want to be on the lease?"

He thinks for a moment. "We're more likely to get it if we have both incomes to show, so I think I ought to be on the lease. Just..."

She squeezes his thigh. "Just. . .?"

He glances down at the stack of applications. "Just... make sure you put me down as 'James', okay? This whole life we're plannin'... I don't particularly feel like startin' this off usin' his name."