Christmas was over. Well, in theory, anyway. There were still leftovers to eat, still decorations hanging up, still unopened presents to enjoy. Still the lingering weight of a two-day hangover to handle. Ashlyn loved her family, but between the Old Man's liquor cabinet on Christmas Eve and the sheer amount of alcohol she'd managed to put away while helping her mother and Elle cook the dinner on Christmas Day, she was feeling decidedly ropey come St. Stephen's Day. Ropey enough that James had the quiet amusement of watching her stagger to the bathroom when she finally woke up, eyes closed, leaning on everything she passed. He also got to hear her groan as she groped around to turn the festive lights on, leaving the curtains drawn, and finally got to feel her cuddle close as she crawled back underneath the covers with him. "I'm never drinking again," she muttered to him, knowing full well it was an empty promise.
James wasn't looking or feeling much better than Ashlyn, though he seemed able to handle his liquor better than most men. Perhaps it was because he was a pirate, or perhaps it was just good breeding. He'd visited the bathroom twice already, and was at least no longer looking an odd shade of green. Was it any wonder some people referred to this time of year as the holidaze" He winced a little at the sight of blinking lights, but was glad she'd at least left the curtains drawn. He snorted at her remark, very familiar with that empty promise as he'd made it himself countless times over the years. "Never say never, lass. It will always come back around to prove you wrong."
"Did I really play Twister with my brother last night?" she groaned softly. She'd noticed a few bruises, which usually meant she and Dom had been so far gone in drink that they'd fallen over a few times together. Hopefully they hadn't disturbed Daisy too much.
"You did," he confirmed, a smirk on his face at the memory of it. She'd looked pretty cute bent over and twisted up like a pretzel. "If it wasn't for your brother, I might have taken advantage." Or for Daisy either. Despite their rocky first meeting at the theater, he wasn't having too much trouble fitting in with her family, though he was still wary of her brother. He and Elle, at least, seemed to have a few things in common, considering one was a thief and the other a pirate.
Ash groaned quietly, rolling her eyes with the exaggerated care of someone who isn't entirely sure she'll be able to see when she's done. "At least he'll be aching more than me today," she offered as proof of her own consolation. "You can take advantage just as soon as my head stops hurting." Smiling, she brushed a kiss to his shoulder. "You survived the Granger Christmas. I feel like I should give you a medal or something."
"Or something," he replied with a smirk, his mind turning to all things sexual. "I haven't had my Christmas goose yet. Perhaps you'd like to give me that." He touched an affectionate kiss to her head before rolling over and swinging his legs off the bed. "There are two cures for a hangover, neither of which you'll find in bed."
"Later," she grinned, and abruptly whined as he sat up and swung his legs out of bed, leaving her to roll into the warm indent left by his body. "Where are you going" I was comfortable there." "Two cures, lass ....Hair of the dog or a strong cup of coffee. Pick your poison," he said, snagging the bathrobe she'd given him and tossing it over his shoulders, leaving it hanging loosely around him, a poor substitute for a buccaneer's coat.
Whimpering dramatically, she pulled the quilt over her head, leaving nothing visible but her toes as she muttered something about torture, torment, and never getting out of bed again. Given that her toenails had been decorated by Daisy the day before with snowman faces, it wasn't the most obtuse of sights. "Fine," the lump under the covers conceded. "Coffee."
Despite the throbbing pain of his own hangover, he couldn't help but chuckle a little at the sight of her buried in the covers and whimpering like a puppy. He also couldn't resist the temptation to tickle her toes before heading for the door to put a pot of coffee on, though he thankfully left the curtains drawn. He was heard thumping his way down the stairs singing "Let It Snow", leaving her behind snuggled up in bed. Tempting as it was to remain there with her, he knew from experience that hiding beneath the covers would do nothing for their hangovers.
Left in the bed and knowing full well that they would have the house to themselves for at least another hour or so, Ash sighed, huffing her way out from under the covers to shrug into her favorite cardigan and shuffle down the stairs after James, still looking at the world through half-lidded eyes. She appeared in the kitchen doorway, rubbing a hand through her tousled hair. "Look, I got up. What do I get for it?"
"Breakfast ....If you've got the stomach for it," he added, with a glance her way, as he busied himself frying up some bacon. The coffee was on and percolating away as he shuffled barefoot about the kitchen gathering breakfast fixings. "I'll make it up to you later. Promise."
"Can I help?" she offered, making the effort to at least seem enthusiastic about the day when what she was really doing was enjoying the view he presented to her. He hadn't been all that enthusiastic about the dressing gown when she'd given it to him, but she had to admit, she did like the way he wore it. Easy access, as it were.
To be fair, he was wearing a pair of boxers and a t-shirt beneath the robe, the ever-present cross pendant resting against his chest. His hair was properly mussed from sleeping, but his eyes were blue and bright, despite the hangover. "Aye, by sitting down and staying out of the way. I've got this, lass. I didn't spend two hundred years marooned in Neverland without looking out to cook." Even though he'd theoretically had a ship's cook to do it for him.
She snorted with laughter, doing exactly as she was told. They might not have been living together for very long, but they'd discovered very quickly that unless she was sober and caffeinated, her attempts at breakfast were verging on inedible. Dinner, she was much better at. Tucking herself onto a stool at the counter, she leaned onto her arms to watch him cook. "So what do you think of the Grangers now you've seen them drunk?" she asked him curiously. He'd had something of a misconception before Christmas Eve, thanks to GrangerGuild's looming presence on the Docks.
"Not as snooty as I expected them to be. It's helpful to know your brother is engaged to a reformed thief. It bodes well for me anyway," he said, as he broke a few eggs into the frying pan. "What of this other sister of yours ....Isabelle, is it?"
Ash sighed softly, her face forming a small frown. "Yeah, Isabelle," she nodded slowly. "I haven't actually seen her in over a year. She calls, every now and then, but ....I don't know. She had a huge falling out with Caroline years ago, and since then, she won't spend time with anyone who is in any way friendly with Caro. Means she hasn't even spoken to Dom in years. The only person I know she spends time with his Mom, and even then, I get advance notice so I don't show up unexpectedly and mess it up for them."
"Life is too short for grudges," he said, though he was kind of calling the kettle black on that one. There was only one person he held a grudge against and that was Pan. "What kind of falling out?" he asked curiously, as he let the eggs and bacon fry on their own while he poured them each a cup of strong, black coffee. He didn't even hold a grudge against his father, despite the man's harsh treatment of his only son. What was the point' The man had been dead for over two centuries.
"I don't know," she shrugged. "Neither of them will talk about it. It wouldn't be so bad if Belle could just let it go and only avoid Caro, but she's holding it over all of us. I don't want to have to choose between my sister and my cousin. It's wrong."
"Blood is thicker than water, lass," said the man who had no siblings, but always wished he had. "Here's a thought ....Invite them both over for dinner, but don't tell either the other one is coming, and don't let them leave until they hash it out." He handed her the cup of coffee, along with a couple of aspirin he'd found in the cupboard. "Try this. It will help with the pounding."
She raised a brow, pretty sure that if she tried his suggestion, he'd be caring for her bruised and battered body for a couple of weeks afterward. But then, she was Isabelle's baby sister, and Caroline was pretty easy-going these days ...."I'll think about it," was all she would say, taking the cup and the pills from him with a faint smile. "It'll have to wait until March sometime, though. Hopefully before Dom's wedding. It'd be nice to get Belle there, even if she only pops in and out."
"Don't think about it too long," he warned, leaning over to touch another kiss to her brow before turning his attention back to cooking. He was tempted to suggest tying them to a chair until they both apologized, but he had a feeling that wouldn't endear him anyone. Then again, what did he care" He had a reputation for being a ruthless pirate, so maybe he should just start acting like one. "Being angry with your cousin is no reason to alienate the rest of the family."
"The research trip is setting off on the 15th," she reminded him, though she'd been trying not to talk about it. The thought of being apart from him for four to six weeks was becoming physically painful to consider, especially now she'd admitted how she felt. "We'll see. I don't want to try something, go away, and come back to see it worse than ever."
He had to turn his back to her when she mentioned the trip or she'd know he was up to something from the look on his face. He had no intentions of being left behind, while she went to sea without him. He hadn't captained his own ship for nothing - he was a seaman, born and bred. It was in his blood, just as it was in hers. He hoped she wouldn't be angry with him when she found out he'd been keeping it a secret from her all this time. "It will have to wait 'til for your return then," he said as he tended to breakfast.
She smiled as he seemed to concede to her thoughts on the subject, the pounding in her head receding as the aspirin got to work with the caffeine. "You know, I have a very serious question to ask you," she told him with teasing solemnity.
"Are you going to get down on one knee?" he teased, his voice light with amusement, as he buttered the toast. Times had certainly changed, and he wouldn't put it past her if she turned the tables on him and beat him to the punch. Though neither of them was quite ready for marriage yet, they'd easily settled into a comfortable routine once he'd agreed to move in.
She snickered softly, rolling her eyes at his tease. "If I thought I could do it without falling over, I might," she countered warmly. "You might be disappointed with the question if I did, though." Lowering her cup, she watched him a moment longer before continuing. "No, I was going to ask you ....do you want to stay here, or go home tonight?"
He shrugged, not really disappointed in the question. He had expected as much, knowing it would be better to wait for her brother to get married first before he popped the question himself. "It's up to you really. I suppose it depends on whether you'd like our privacy back." He didn't really mind staying here with her mother, though it was cramping his style a bit. They weren't as free to take advantage of each other anytime and anywhere they liked while they were here, and there was some question as to how long he could continue to be on his best behavior.
James wasn't looking or feeling much better than Ashlyn, though he seemed able to handle his liquor better than most men. Perhaps it was because he was a pirate, or perhaps it was just good breeding. He'd visited the bathroom twice already, and was at least no longer looking an odd shade of green. Was it any wonder some people referred to this time of year as the holidaze" He winced a little at the sight of blinking lights, but was glad she'd at least left the curtains drawn. He snorted at her remark, very familiar with that empty promise as he'd made it himself countless times over the years. "Never say never, lass. It will always come back around to prove you wrong."
"Did I really play Twister with my brother last night?" she groaned softly. She'd noticed a few bruises, which usually meant she and Dom had been so far gone in drink that they'd fallen over a few times together. Hopefully they hadn't disturbed Daisy too much.
"You did," he confirmed, a smirk on his face at the memory of it. She'd looked pretty cute bent over and twisted up like a pretzel. "If it wasn't for your brother, I might have taken advantage." Or for Daisy either. Despite their rocky first meeting at the theater, he wasn't having too much trouble fitting in with her family, though he was still wary of her brother. He and Elle, at least, seemed to have a few things in common, considering one was a thief and the other a pirate.
Ash groaned quietly, rolling her eyes with the exaggerated care of someone who isn't entirely sure she'll be able to see when she's done. "At least he'll be aching more than me today," she offered as proof of her own consolation. "You can take advantage just as soon as my head stops hurting." Smiling, she brushed a kiss to his shoulder. "You survived the Granger Christmas. I feel like I should give you a medal or something."
"Or something," he replied with a smirk, his mind turning to all things sexual. "I haven't had my Christmas goose yet. Perhaps you'd like to give me that." He touched an affectionate kiss to her head before rolling over and swinging his legs off the bed. "There are two cures for a hangover, neither of which you'll find in bed."
"Later," she grinned, and abruptly whined as he sat up and swung his legs out of bed, leaving her to roll into the warm indent left by his body. "Where are you going" I was comfortable there." "Two cures, lass ....Hair of the dog or a strong cup of coffee. Pick your poison," he said, snagging the bathrobe she'd given him and tossing it over his shoulders, leaving it hanging loosely around him, a poor substitute for a buccaneer's coat.
Whimpering dramatically, she pulled the quilt over her head, leaving nothing visible but her toes as she muttered something about torture, torment, and never getting out of bed again. Given that her toenails had been decorated by Daisy the day before with snowman faces, it wasn't the most obtuse of sights. "Fine," the lump under the covers conceded. "Coffee."
Despite the throbbing pain of his own hangover, he couldn't help but chuckle a little at the sight of her buried in the covers and whimpering like a puppy. He also couldn't resist the temptation to tickle her toes before heading for the door to put a pot of coffee on, though he thankfully left the curtains drawn. He was heard thumping his way down the stairs singing "Let It Snow", leaving her behind snuggled up in bed. Tempting as it was to remain there with her, he knew from experience that hiding beneath the covers would do nothing for their hangovers.
Left in the bed and knowing full well that they would have the house to themselves for at least another hour or so, Ash sighed, huffing her way out from under the covers to shrug into her favorite cardigan and shuffle down the stairs after James, still looking at the world through half-lidded eyes. She appeared in the kitchen doorway, rubbing a hand through her tousled hair. "Look, I got up. What do I get for it?"
"Breakfast ....If you've got the stomach for it," he added, with a glance her way, as he busied himself frying up some bacon. The coffee was on and percolating away as he shuffled barefoot about the kitchen gathering breakfast fixings. "I'll make it up to you later. Promise."
"Can I help?" she offered, making the effort to at least seem enthusiastic about the day when what she was really doing was enjoying the view he presented to her. He hadn't been all that enthusiastic about the dressing gown when she'd given it to him, but she had to admit, she did like the way he wore it. Easy access, as it were.
To be fair, he was wearing a pair of boxers and a t-shirt beneath the robe, the ever-present cross pendant resting against his chest. His hair was properly mussed from sleeping, but his eyes were blue and bright, despite the hangover. "Aye, by sitting down and staying out of the way. I've got this, lass. I didn't spend two hundred years marooned in Neverland without looking out to cook." Even though he'd theoretically had a ship's cook to do it for him.
She snorted with laughter, doing exactly as she was told. They might not have been living together for very long, but they'd discovered very quickly that unless she was sober and caffeinated, her attempts at breakfast were verging on inedible. Dinner, she was much better at. Tucking herself onto a stool at the counter, she leaned onto her arms to watch him cook. "So what do you think of the Grangers now you've seen them drunk?" she asked him curiously. He'd had something of a misconception before Christmas Eve, thanks to GrangerGuild's looming presence on the Docks.
"Not as snooty as I expected them to be. It's helpful to know your brother is engaged to a reformed thief. It bodes well for me anyway," he said, as he broke a few eggs into the frying pan. "What of this other sister of yours ....Isabelle, is it?"
Ash sighed softly, her face forming a small frown. "Yeah, Isabelle," she nodded slowly. "I haven't actually seen her in over a year. She calls, every now and then, but ....I don't know. She had a huge falling out with Caroline years ago, and since then, she won't spend time with anyone who is in any way friendly with Caro. Means she hasn't even spoken to Dom in years. The only person I know she spends time with his Mom, and even then, I get advance notice so I don't show up unexpectedly and mess it up for them."
"Life is too short for grudges," he said, though he was kind of calling the kettle black on that one. There was only one person he held a grudge against and that was Pan. "What kind of falling out?" he asked curiously, as he let the eggs and bacon fry on their own while he poured them each a cup of strong, black coffee. He didn't even hold a grudge against his father, despite the man's harsh treatment of his only son. What was the point' The man had been dead for over two centuries.
"I don't know," she shrugged. "Neither of them will talk about it. It wouldn't be so bad if Belle could just let it go and only avoid Caro, but she's holding it over all of us. I don't want to have to choose between my sister and my cousin. It's wrong."
"Blood is thicker than water, lass," said the man who had no siblings, but always wished he had. "Here's a thought ....Invite them both over for dinner, but don't tell either the other one is coming, and don't let them leave until they hash it out." He handed her the cup of coffee, along with a couple of aspirin he'd found in the cupboard. "Try this. It will help with the pounding."
She raised a brow, pretty sure that if she tried his suggestion, he'd be caring for her bruised and battered body for a couple of weeks afterward. But then, she was Isabelle's baby sister, and Caroline was pretty easy-going these days ...."I'll think about it," was all she would say, taking the cup and the pills from him with a faint smile. "It'll have to wait until March sometime, though. Hopefully before Dom's wedding. It'd be nice to get Belle there, even if she only pops in and out."
"Don't think about it too long," he warned, leaning over to touch another kiss to her brow before turning his attention back to cooking. He was tempted to suggest tying them to a chair until they both apologized, but he had a feeling that wouldn't endear him anyone. Then again, what did he care" He had a reputation for being a ruthless pirate, so maybe he should just start acting like one. "Being angry with your cousin is no reason to alienate the rest of the family."
"The research trip is setting off on the 15th," she reminded him, though she'd been trying not to talk about it. The thought of being apart from him for four to six weeks was becoming physically painful to consider, especially now she'd admitted how she felt. "We'll see. I don't want to try something, go away, and come back to see it worse than ever."
He had to turn his back to her when she mentioned the trip or she'd know he was up to something from the look on his face. He had no intentions of being left behind, while she went to sea without him. He hadn't captained his own ship for nothing - he was a seaman, born and bred. It was in his blood, just as it was in hers. He hoped she wouldn't be angry with him when she found out he'd been keeping it a secret from her all this time. "It will have to wait 'til for your return then," he said as he tended to breakfast.
She smiled as he seemed to concede to her thoughts on the subject, the pounding in her head receding as the aspirin got to work with the caffeine. "You know, I have a very serious question to ask you," she told him with teasing solemnity.
"Are you going to get down on one knee?" he teased, his voice light with amusement, as he buttered the toast. Times had certainly changed, and he wouldn't put it past her if she turned the tables on him and beat him to the punch. Though neither of them was quite ready for marriage yet, they'd easily settled into a comfortable routine once he'd agreed to move in.
She snickered softly, rolling her eyes at his tease. "If I thought I could do it without falling over, I might," she countered warmly. "You might be disappointed with the question if I did, though." Lowering her cup, she watched him a moment longer before continuing. "No, I was going to ask you ....do you want to stay here, or go home tonight?"
He shrugged, not really disappointed in the question. He had expected as much, knowing it would be better to wait for her brother to get married first before he popped the question himself. "It's up to you really. I suppose it depends on whether you'd like our privacy back." He didn't really mind staying here with her mother, though it was cramping his style a bit. They weren't as free to take advantage of each other anytime and anywhere they liked while they were here, and there was some question as to how long he could continue to be on his best behavior.