Marjoreece - Written In The Stars

Making Plans

Reece was already at home when he heard the key in the door to signal Marjories return with the twins. He stood up to go and meet her and help her in with them. Just before he reached the front door, he heard her sigh. "You OK gorgeous?" He asked as she backed through the door, manoeuvring the pram through after her. 

"Yeah, fine. Just yet another late collection. Then they acted like it was OK because they weren't the last to collect as these two were still there." She said as she passed Amy over to Reece and turned back to pick up Aiden. 

"Did you tell them they don't have much choice? Unless they've managed to become adults in the last 9 hours, they can't leave until you do?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "No, but I did make it clear why they were still there and, in turn, why me and Carly were too." As she followed Reece into the kitchen, she saw he already had everything prepared for the twins and their dinner. She settled Aiden in his highchair next to Amy, turning around to see Reece standing behind them with a slightly nervous look on his face. She walked over to him and pulled him into a hug. "Stop feeling bad about last night. We both handled it badly. I shouldn't have kept pushing you and known when I was going too far. Besides, we both know that the bit that made it worse was the door being locked, and that's down to my clumsiness." She said, leaning up to kiss him. 

He smiled slightly as she pulled away. "How is your back?" He asked, his hands moving down to rest on her hips.

"Sore." She said, spinning around and lifting her top up so he could see the bruise. She turned back to look at him and could see the questions forming before he'd even opened his mouth. "Yes, I put ice on it, no, not arnica. I couldn't reach." She said sheepishly. He let go of her without a word and walked over to the fridge, pulling out the bottle of arnica gel she always kept in there. He put some in his hand as he walked back as she turned away again, allowing him to gently apply it to the bruise, the coolness soothing the pain. She turned back into his embrace as she pulled her shirt back down. Reece placed a soft kiss on the top of her head as she rested it on his chest. 

"Marj, I'm so sorry, gorgeous. I shouldn't have overreacted, and I definitely shouldn't have walked out. I promise I'll make it up to you."

"Darling, you don't have to make it up to me. You're entitled to some time on your own to clear your head if you need it. Just talk to me next time. Even if it's just to say you need some space. I know I worried about where you were right up until you turned up at the nursery and I'm betting you didn't actually sleep while you were in your office because you were too busy worrying about the door being locked and what that meant for us and if I was OK." He didn't reply, but she felt him nod his head from where she was cuddled into him. "I thought so. We can both be hot-headed and overreact, my love. We need to make sure that if that starts building, we just take a step back." She squeezed his body a little tighter as she finished speaking and took a deep breath, relaxing as she inhaled the familiar scent of him and feeling the warmth of his hug.

The couple parted and continued on with their evening. A family dinner, followed by some time playing with the twins before they took them both upstairs for a bath and then bed. Reece returned downstairs first to tidy up the kitchen while Marjorie got changed. When she came back down to join him, he was sat on the sofa playing with his phone. He was so engrossed that he didn't notice her reappear in the room until she leant against his chest, drawing his free arm around her shoulders. He jumped slightly and quickly cleared his screen, placing the phone down on the arm of the sofa and pulling her in closer. "What were you looking at, my love?" She asked as she nestled further into his arms.

"Me? Nothing." He replied, his voice cracking slightly as he panicked about what she may have seen on his screen. She pulled away slightly, looking up at him with her eyes narrowed. 

"What are you up to?" She asked, one hand playing with the neckline on his jumper.

"Nothing." She continued to watch him as he shifted slightly. "OK, so I was looking at a way to make up for being such an idiot last night."

"Reece, I've already told you. You don't have to make anything up to me." She threaded one hand through his hair and pulled him in for a kiss. She smirked at him as she pulled away. "Just don't do it again." She said with a wink as he rolled his eyes. 

The next morning, Reece dropped his family off at the nursery, taking the twins in with Marjorie. Just as they were leaving the room, Marjorie was stopped by a parent. Reece took the opportunity to continue down to the office without her to speak to Autumn alone. He knocked before opening the door and walking in before Autumn could respond. 

"I should have known. Who else would knock but enter before waiting for a reply."

"Good morning to you as well, Aut." She rolled her eyes at him. "I need to speak to you quickly before Marj comes in. I need a favour."

She glared at him across her desk. "Why would I do a favour for you? Especially after your behaviour the other night."

"OK, well, consider it a favour for your favourite niece and nephew."

She narrowed her eyes as she watched him. "How?"

"I want to take Marjorie away for the weekend. An attempt to make up for the fact I acted like a complete moron. I was hoping you and Winter could maybe look after the twins so we could go away just the two of us." He stifled a laugh at the disgusted look now on his sisters face.

"You do realise that it will take more than a dirty weekend to make up for it, don't you?"

"Aut! I'm not thinking dirty weekend, OK? Although I wouldn't complain." He heard her groan at his last comment. "I want to spoil her. I want to give her the chance to relax without worrying about getting up in the middle of the night for feeds. Take her out somewhere nice, make sure she knows exactly how much she's appreciated and loved."

Her eyes searched his for a second. "What were you thinking?"

"You remember Liz, who me and Mia went to Uni with? She has this amazing cabin out in the woods. Completely secluded, hot tub, swimming pool. The village it's just outside of has a couple of really nice restaurants, there's a spa nearby, good shopping, even an outdoor ice rink in the winter. I want to make this right, Aut."

"You can't buy your way out of this. You know that, right?"

"I do. This isn't about buying my way out of anything. I want her to feel special. I want her to know how important she is to me. I want her to know that I may mess up again at some point, but I will never stop trying to make sure she always knows exactly what she means to me. That I'd be nothing without her."

"You're nothing with her either." Autumn said with a smirk. "Fine. Winter and I will stay at yours so the twins have all their home comforts. We can't do this weekend, though. We can come over next Friday after work? If you wanted to leave before then, we can take them home from nursery."

"Aut, I could hug you. I won't because I value my life and actually do want to make it to that weekend. I'll speak to Liz again and get it booked. I really appreciate this Aut."

"I'm not doing it for you. I'm doing it for time with Amy and Aidey."

Reece rolled his eyes as he turned to leave. "Oh yeah, Aut? Don't say anything to Marj. I haven't said anything to her yet, and I don't want to until it's all sorted. I don't want to get her hopes up."

"I don't care, big brother," She said, looking back to her computer and carrying on with her work as he turned to leave.

"Alright, my love? What are you still doing here? Morning Autumn." Marjorie said as she entered the office. Pulling Reece into a hug, much to Autumns disgust. 

"Just came in to say hi. Anyway, I need to get back to my nursery. I'll see you tonight." He bent down slightly to kiss her. "Love you." He finished with a wink as he turned to walk away.

"I love you too." Marjorie replied with a smile before turning to walk to her desk. She stopped short when she saw the look on Autumns face. 

"You two are disgusting."