La Fée

Moi aussi j'ai une fée chez moi

I have a fairy in my house too

Depuis mes étagères elle regarde en l'air

She’s looking up from my shelf

La télévision en pensant que dehors c'est la guerre

At the TV, thinking that there is war outside

Elle lit des périodiques divers

She reads various periodicals

Et reste à la maison

And stays at home

A la fenêtre, comptant les heures

At the window, counting the hours

A la fenêtre, comptant les heures

At the window, counting the hours

“I’m home.”

“In here!”

You toss your shoes next to Tobin’s; after all these years you’ve learned that there is no point in trying to make her putting them away. Now there are many pairs of shoes and flip flops pilling up in you hallway, you think it gives your house a certain charm.

Entering the living room you immediately spot the small silhouette wrapped in a blanket. You tip-toe to the coffee table and grab the remote control, reducing the volume of the cartoon playing on your flat screen.

“Hey I’m watching this.”

The quiet whisper coming from behind you makes you jump and you almost drop the remote control. You turn around to find your wife sitting on one of the shelf fixed on the wall behind the couch.

“Tobs, you scared the shit out of me.” You whisper-shout, your hand over your pounding heart.

Tobin snaps her finger and points at little body resting on your couch.

“Language.” She simply says, her eyes still glued to the TV.

You roll your eyes before kneeling next to the couch. Lifting the blanket you meet your son’s peaceful face and can’t help but place a small kiss on his nose.

“Don’t wake him, he’s just fallen asleep. He wanted to wait for you and struggled to stay awake for about an hour but our lil’ man’s exhausted.”

“I wasn’t going to wake him.” You murmur, walking towards your wife. “One day this shelf is going to break you know.” You kiss her temple when you finally reach her.

“Ew Alex you’re all sweaty. And no, it’s not; this thing is unbreakable, I’ve been sitting here for years now.” Tobin pushes you away, the playful spark in her eyes shining in the dark room.

“You usually like when I’m sweaty.” You try to stifle your laugh when Tobin scrunches her nose.

“But you smell. I don’t like when you smell.” She pokes her tongue out childishly and you chuckle.

“Okay, so I skip shower after practice in order to come home as fast as possible and that’s how you welcome me?”

Tobin simply lifts one eyebrow, her eyes focus on the TV again

“Fine I’ll go shower.” You surrender and she offers you her biggest grin.

“I’ll heat up your diner for you.” She quickly pecks your lips.

“Thanks babe.”

When you enter the living room again, still drying your hair with a towel, Tobin is sitting on the couch, your son’s head on her lap, and a steamy plate is waiting for you on the coffee table.

You take a seat on the other side of the couch and smile when tiny feet huddle up under your legs, unconsciously seeking warmth.

“Why were you so late?” Tobin asks as you grab your fork and plate.

“Coach made me stay later than the others. We needed to discuss some tactic changes and he wanted my opinion on a new player he wants to sign next season.” You answer between two bites.

“Captain duty.” Tobin resumes and you just nod. “How was practice?”

“Good. We miss you though; Ashlyn can’t stop complaining. It’s been almost seven months since you’ve stopped coming and she’s still not over it.” You sigh and shake your head while Tobin quietly laughs.

“I know, she reminds me every time we see each other how much she misses me on the field.”

“I miss you on the field too.” You pout and your wife extends her hand over the tiny laying body to hold yours.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“I know.”

“So who’s that player Coach wants to bring to the Pride?” She wonders, her eyes drifting back on the TV which is now diffusing the news.

“Can’t say.” You mumble, your mouth full of food.

“Why?”

“Professional secret.” You try to sound stern, putting your now empty plate down.

Tobin snorts loudly and you send her a death glare when Mark shifts.

“Come on Alex you always tell me everything that is going on with the team, why wouldn’t you tell me this time?” She murmurs.

“Because, I don’t want you to get your hopes up ,if it doesn’t happen you’d be too upset. I want to be sure if her team will allow her to sign or not before I tell you.”

“Okay so it’s someone we know. And if you say I’d be upset it must be someone we know very well so someone on the national team. Am I right so far? You’re frowning so I’m right.” She says, a smirk dancing on her lips.

“I’m not saying anything.” You cross your arms, looking up at the TV because you know that if you start looking into her brown eyes you’ll give in.

“So who would want to come but is too important for her team. Let me think… Kelley could want to come here for beach and surfing but she hasn’t talk about wanting to move. Allie said she’d like to come closer to us but I don’t think she’s ready to leave the Thorns yet. The only person who truly wants to come here is Ali, but the Spirits would neve- oh shit it’s Ali!”

You jump when Tobin raises her voice in excitement.

“Lower your voice. And I didn’t say anything, why would you freak out like that?” You ask, eyeing your son who is now starting to slowly wake up after his mother’s outburst.

“Because you bit your bottom lip when I said her name, and you only do that when you’re nervous, turn on or trying to hide something. You can’t lie Lex’ I know how to read you.”

“Mama, stop moving.”

“Sorry buddy. I’m going to put you in bed.” Tobin voice immediately shifts from totally excited to her soothing one as she runs her hand in Mark’s hair.

“But I want to wait for Mommy.” He pouts while rubbing is eyes.

“She’s here baby.”

Mark immediately sits up and your eyes plunge into their flawless replicas.

“Mommy!” He jumps on his feet, latching his arms around your neck.

“Hey baby! I missed you today.” You kiss his cheek and smiles back at the toothy grin he offers you.

“I missed you too! Guess what?” He asks while looking at his mother who winks at him, her eyes filled with adoration.

“What?” You wonder and Mark starts to jump excitedly on your lap.

“We played soccer and I nutmeged the cat that much!” He holds three of his tiny fingers in front of your face before frowning slightly and lowering his thumb.

“Wow, I’m so proud of you baby! You’re going to be the next Messi.” You grab his hand and peck his two little fingers.

“Who Messi? I don’t want to be him. I want to be like you and Mama.” He tilts his head on the side and you glance at Tobin who’s smiling proudly.

“I’m sure you’ll be better than us buddy.” Your wife holds her hand up and Mark happily high fives her.

“But if you want to be a champion you’ve got to have a good night of sleep.” You stand up and Mark snuggles in your arms with a yawn.

“I’m not tired.” He pouts and looks at his mother, hoping she’ll let him stay up a little longer.

“We’ll play again tomorrow buddy, I promise.” Tobin rises on her feet and kisses his forehead.

“Okay…”

“Goodnight baby, I love you.” Your wife kisses his cheek this time and your son pecks her nose, earning a laugh from the both of his mothers.

“Night night Mama.” Mark waves as you start to walk towards his room.

By the time you open his door your son is already asleep and you wonder why you’re the only one in this house who can’t fall asleep quickly.

You lay him down under his comforter and kiss the crown of his head.

“I love you baby, sleep tight.”

Making your way back to Tobin, you waste no time and cuddle on her side.

“What did I say about nutmeging Brooklyn?”

Your wife lets out a laugh and wraps her arm around your shoulders.

“We’re playing with a hack sack. It’s not going to hurt him.”

“Maybe, but I’m not sure he likes Mark running after him all day very much.”

Tobin laughs again and this time you join her.

“He’ll live.”

“My poor little cat.”

“So Ali’s joining the Pride?” Tobin changes the subject quickly, catching you out of guard.

You sigh loudly, knowing there is no point in lying to her.

“Don’t tell Ashlyn. Ali wants to be sure the Spirits are going to let her go.”

Tobin fist bumps the air and you chuckle at her antics.

“I won’t tell Ash anything. But she’s going to murder us when she finds out we knew about it.”

“Nah, she’ll be too happy. She won’t even care for us anymore.”

Tobin chuckles before bringing you closer.

“I missed you today, I’ve been counting the hours since you left.” She murmurs.

“I missed you too. But I’m sure Mark entertained you, scaring the cat.” You smirk and Tobin kisses your hair.

“It was fun… But not as fun as when you run after Mark who’s running after the cat.”

You roll your eyes hearing the smile in her voice before focusing on the news.

Tobin stays silent for a moment, listening to the reporter too, before breaking the silence.

“Do you ever think that it’s selfish to have kids?”

Frowning, you sit up to look into her concerned eyes.

“Why?”

“You know, with all the wars, murders… The terror there is outside. They could be victims.” She shrugs and you feel your stomach clench at the fear in her eyes.

“Don’t think like that babe.”

“But it’s the reality.” She points at the TV.

“It is. But we can’t let it stop our lives. We have to fight to change it. And help our kids grow with a strong moral and good values can contribute in that fight.” You gently caress her thigh.

“You’re probably right… I’m sorry, it’s just that I have a lot of time to think when you’re not here and sometimes my thoughts are being a little cray-cray.”

You lean in a slowly peck her lips.

“It’s okay; you can blame it on the hormones.” You wink and Tobin shakes her head.

“Did the baby kicked today?” You wonder, placing your hand on Tobin’s stomach.

“Not really, they’ve been pretty calm. Except when you came home; from the moment you talked they started a dancing party in there. They’ve calmed down though.” Tobin responds with a smile.

“I guess she missed me too.” You happily say, kissing Tobin’s belly.

“She?” Tobin chuckles, an eyebrow raised.

“I don’t know why, but I think it’s a girl. I can feel it.” You whisper and your wife tilts her head, like your four years old did previously, her eyes shining with love and adoration.

“We’ll see.”

“One week babe.” You grin.

“Unless our baby decides to come early, or to be late like Mommy.”

“I’m very punctual.”

“You’re not love.”