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Dessie was the one in the pool this time, playing with Sarah… correction, ‘teaching’ Sarah to swim. Nate really wasn’t entirely sure if the toddler, who was just over one, was really picking up much when it came to the water but she was definitely more at ease then she had been even a few months ago. These swim lessons really were a good thing, for both his daughter and his… Dessie.
The young man sighed as he watched Dessie and Sarah in the water. The long weekend had been wonderful, just the two of them since Sarah had stayed here with Xander, but it wasn’t the romantic weekend he was really hoping for. They had just fallen into a contented existence. Cooking and relaxing together, talking and laughing and watching tv. But no real candles and flowers. No fireworks or stars. Just knowing that if he turned around she would be there. He tried to ‘wine and dine’ her as it were but she just laughed. He told her he loved her but she only smiled and changed the topic.
Nate didn’t want to push her. He really didn’t. But he wanted to live with her. He wanted to be the person she relied on. He hated this half existence he had with her but he also knew that forcing Dessie to do anything would only result in nothing good so he put up with it. No matter how much it sometimes made his heart ache.
The young man sighed as he watched Dessie and Sarah in the water. The long weekend had been wonderful, just the two of them since Sarah had stayed here with Xander, but it wasn’t the romantic weekend he was really hoping for. They had just fallen into a contented existence. Cooking and relaxing together, talking and laughing and watching tv. But no real candles and flowers. No fireworks or stars. Just knowing that if he turned around she would be there. He tried to ‘wine and dine’ her as it were but she just laughed. He told her he loved her but she only smiled and changed the topic.
Nate didn’t want to push her. He really didn’t. But he wanted to live with her. He wanted to be the person she relied on. He hated this half existence he had with her but he also knew that forcing Dessie to do anything would only result in nothing good so he put up with it. No matter how much it sometimes made his heart ache.
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Rose wasn’t in the water today, even if she had a swimsuit on under her sweatpants. Damien was helping with the littlest ones today and the older ones were pretty good at swimming at this point, having been learning since they were a few months old. For them it was just a fun time, building stamina and improving their abilities. Lyle was just rearing to go every Sunday for swim lessons.
Rose didn't even understand when her brother found the time to get a certification for this, but he assured them he had taken classes teaching infants and toddlers the rescue method. All the kids could at least avoid drowning if they fell into the blue, so long as they didn't panic too much.
She made her way over to Nate and sat down across from him. “You're going to go gray thinking that heard… you look like a storm cloud.”
Rose didn't even understand when her brother found the time to get a certification for this, but he assured them he had taken classes teaching infants and toddlers the rescue method. All the kids could at least avoid drowning if they fell into the blue, so long as they didn't panic too much.
She made her way over to Nate and sat down across from him. “You're going to go gray thinking that heard… you look like a storm cloud.”
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“What?” Nate was so lost in his own thoughts that Rose’s approach was completely missed, at least until she started to talk to him. “Oh, ah… yes.” He verbally stumbled as her comments registered. “I was just thinking. Work you know,” He shrugged before going back to watching the lessons in the pool. He didn’t want to admit that his turbulent thoughts all revolved around the blonde currently swimming with their daughter.
After a moment or two of silence he asked, “Can I get your opinion?” Rose was happily married, had two children, and was as grounded as any adult could be in this city. If anyone could help him puzzle out Dessie’s inner workings it would be one of her family. “I’ve got a client I really want to impress,” Not that he would come right out and say that they were having ‘difficulties’. “I want to be a permanent part of the team but I am just a freelancer to them, if that. How do I get her,” He corrected himself, “Them, to see me as a reliable partner?”
Oh who was he kidding. “Bloody hell,” He quietly cursed, scrubbing his face with his hands. It wasn’t like his desires weren't known by the family. “Rose, what am I missing with Dessie? How do I get her to see me as a man? To see me as more than just some college friend?” Green eyes shifted from Dessie to Rose, almost pleading for the older woman to show him mercy and grant him the secrets to a woman’s heart.
After a moment or two of silence he asked, “Can I get your opinion?” Rose was happily married, had two children, and was as grounded as any adult could be in this city. If anyone could help him puzzle out Dessie’s inner workings it would be one of her family. “I’ve got a client I really want to impress,” Not that he would come right out and say that they were having ‘difficulties’. “I want to be a permanent part of the team but I am just a freelancer to them, if that. How do I get her,” He corrected himself, “Them, to see me as a reliable partner?”
Oh who was he kidding. “Bloody hell,” He quietly cursed, scrubbing his face with his hands. It wasn’t like his desires weren't known by the family. “Rose, what am I missing with Dessie? How do I get her to see me as a man? To see me as more than just some college friend?” Green eyes shifted from Dessie to Rose, almost pleading for the older woman to show him mercy and grant him the secrets to a woman’s heart.
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Rose was curious to see where he was going with all this. She didn't believe for one minute the thing about the business partner and while she and Lily ran Phina Fiona’s, Cass, Dmitry or Damien would be more helpful with the hypothetical he was posing. She let him pose his scenario and smirked when he came clean barely a moment later.
“I couldn’t tell you what you're missing and I'm sure you know that, but I can tell you Dessie’s been through a lot and patience is probably your best weapon at the moment. That and persistence, show up, just keep showing up.”
“Show up everyday for her and Sarah and she’ll come around Nate.” She waved at her ever energetic son who wanted her to watch him jump. The older boys were all little fish at this point, after 3 to 4 years of swim lesson with Xander, Cass and Damien.
“I couldn’t tell you what you're missing and I'm sure you know that, but I can tell you Dessie’s been through a lot and patience is probably your best weapon at the moment. That and persistence, show up, just keep showing up.”
“Show up everyday for her and Sarah and she’ll come around Nate.” She waved at her ever energetic son who wanted her to watch him jump. The older boys were all little fish at this point, after 3 to 4 years of swim lesson with Xander, Cass and Damien.
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Nate sighed, he knew that Rose’s comments were valid and more than accurate. At least from the little bit that had been explained to him by Dessie. She hadn’t shared alot but it was enough to know that her childhood had been massively ******** up. “I am trying. I really am. I’m there as often as I can and as frequently as Dessie will allow.” He shrugged but still smiled as the older kids called out for them to watch them play in the water. “Sometimes though, I feel more like a roommate rather than her lover.”
He thought about it, really thought about it, and figured that a lot of his current feelings of inadequacy stemmed from that ‘cohabiting’ but not really in a relationship they seemed to be in. What if she never felt the same way he did? Or worse, fell in love with someone else. It would break him. He knew that it would break him. It was hard enough to see her nearly every day but not really be able to touch her. To hold her. Nate knew that that would never really happen, not with Dessie. Not with her past but still, one day he really did hope she would trust him enough to be ok with a hug or a kiss.
“I guess I just thought I was past the friend zone only to end up back in it and that's what hurts the most.”
He thought about it, really thought about it, and figured that a lot of his current feelings of inadequacy stemmed from that ‘cohabiting’ but not really in a relationship they seemed to be in. What if she never felt the same way he did? Or worse, fell in love with someone else. It would break him. He knew that it would break him. It was hard enough to see her nearly every day but not really be able to touch her. To hold her. Nate knew that that would never really happen, not with Dessie. Not with her past but still, one day he really did hope she would trust him enough to be ok with a hug or a kiss.
“I guess I just thought I was past the friend zone only to end up back in it and that's what hurts the most.”
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Rose shook her head and sighed slightly, “you're overthinking it. I dont think you realize the fact that you live together, are raising Sarah together and your even friends are big. Dessie doesn’t do anything she doesn't want to and Xander made certain she knows that she doesn't have too. Have you been honest and up front about what you want?”
Rose didn't think she could give good advice or be all that helpful, with missing information. She wanted to help her niece and Nate. He seemed like he was a good guy and seemed if nothing else dedicated to Dessie and Sarah.
Rose didn't think she could give good advice or be all that helpful, with missing information. She wanted to help her niece and Nate. He seemed like he was a good guy and seemed if nothing else dedicated to Dessie and Sarah.
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“Well, I mean I’ve asked her to marry me and I do tell her that I love her but I don’t want to push her so…” Nate shrugged. He tried to think about his normal interactions with Dessie, sans Sarah, and realized that he could actually do a bit more to ‘romance’ her. Yes he tried to bring her flowers randomly, or little things that he figured she would like, but other than that… It was mostly assisting around the house or with Sarah. Their ‘date’-nights that they had done before Sarah was born had kind of faded into the background of parenthood and knighthood.
What free time he did have, if it wasn’t already spent taking care of Sarah, was training and general body fitness. He still helped around the apartment, still cooked and cleaned, was still there but it wasn’t really…. About just Dessie anymore. “I guess we need to talk. If only to see where we want to go and how we are going to get there.”
What free time he did have, if it wasn’t already spent taking care of Sarah, was training and general body fitness. He still helped around the apartment, still cooked and cleaned, was still there but it wasn’t really…. About just Dessie anymore. “I guess we need to talk. If only to see where we want to go and how we are going to get there.”
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Rose raised an eyebrow when Nate said he’d asked Dessie to marry him and frowned slightly. Dessie was anything, but a traditionalist and Rose was left wondering if Dessie brushed the proposal off. She almost asked if Dessie took him seriously, but also wondered when this happened and if it seemed like a duty thing.
“You definitely need to talk and make your intentions very clear, but also honestly just being there is a good start. Keep doing what you're doing. Showing up and being someone she can depend on and walking life with her. You seem like the patient type and if you're truly serious, don't rush it. It won't benefit you.”
Liam toddled over rubbing his eyes and whining, “соска,” and holding his hands out for Rose to pick him up. She did so finishing out the binky he was whining for and rocking her sleepy son. “Someone’s going to sleep good tonight,” she said with a chuckle.
“You definitely need to talk and make your intentions very clear, but also honestly just being there is a good start. Keep doing what you're doing. Showing up and being someone she can depend on and walking life with her. You seem like the patient type and if you're truly serious, don't rush it. It won't benefit you.”
Liam toddled over rubbing his eyes and whining, “соска,” and holding his hands out for Rose to pick him up. She did so finishing out the binky he was whining for and rocking her sleepy son. “Someone’s going to sleep good tonight,” she said with a chuckle.
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“But-” He started but trailed off since Rose was right. As much as he wanted to proclaim to god and country that Dessie was his wife… it really was pretty much a formality at this point. Nate just wanted… more… he mentally guessed. Besides, he honestly wasn’t sure if Dessie would even want to be married. She had turned him down cold when he asked. Granted it was when he found her after those many months.
It was entirely possible she was thinking it was asked just out of obligation and not adoration. He had asked a few times since then but as he thought back even Nate could note that each time wasn’t exactly romantic or anything. Rose was right, he really did need to make his intentions clear. He had to make time for just them.
Really woo Dessie. Once again his gaze drifted over to the woman in question even as the toddler Liam demanded something from his mom. Nate wasn’t entirely sure if it was another language or child speak, he was working on understanding little’s language but it was slow going that was for sure.
“I won’t give up,” he muttered quietly, fairly sure Rose wasn’t really paying much attention to him anymore now that she was cuddling her son. I just need to change tactics. Go more romance and flowers. Nate mentally noted. Spring was here so no better time than the present, once he got everything planned out that is.
It was entirely possible she was thinking it was asked just out of obligation and not adoration. He had asked a few times since then but as he thought back even Nate could note that each time wasn’t exactly romantic or anything. Rose was right, he really did need to make his intentions clear. He had to make time for just them.
Really woo Dessie. Once again his gaze drifted over to the woman in question even as the toddler Liam demanded something from his mom. Nate wasn’t entirely sure if it was another language or child speak, he was working on understanding little’s language but it was slow going that was for sure.
“I won’t give up,” he muttered quietly, fairly sure Rose wasn’t really paying much attention to him anymore now that she was cuddling her son. I just need to change tactics. Go more romance and flowers. Nate mentally noted. Spring was here so no better time than the present, once he got everything planned out that is.
