Homeplot: On a Jet Plane

[missingthekeep]

Sean's not sure what to think. Since waking up in their Washington hotel room yet again that morning, he's been in a perpetual state of unease that has nothing to do with the absolute reaming that is no doubt in store for him in London. He's half-tempted to suggest just going on the lam with Meredith for however much longer this lasts, but for now, he spends his time fidgeting in his cramped economy seat on the plane (maybe he'd been on something of a spending spree, but the tickets had been booked on their behalf), playing with a tiny, empty scotch bottle.

"Least all yer paperwork went through without a hitch," he says, looking over at Meredith with a cheerfulness that, vague unease aside, remains pretty genuine after the events of the last day. Maybe they should have gone back by now, maybe there's more to this than they initially thought, but whatever they're facing, they're still facing it together.

Comments

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Nonsense," Sean says, dismissive yet fond. She can look good in anything, he's sure. "But fine, I've been warned. An' I still dinnae see the harm in hewin' to the odd tradition."

[drownondryland]

"There isn't any harm," Meredith says, shaking her head. "But there's no reason we have to do things just because they're tradition either. Does it really matter? I'll wear the white, I have the ring on, I am actually thinking about changing — or adjusting — my name. What have you done to me?" Even a year ago, the idea would have seemed crazy — even just one of those things — and now here she is.

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Nothin' bad, I hope," Sean says, bowing his head slightly but still smiling. He has to admit that, for her, those things are pretty big deals. Even for all the misfortune that seems to follow him, he still has plenty of reasons to call himself unbelievably lucky, and this right here counts for several. "What sort o' things d'ye want in a weddin', anyhow?"

[drownondryland]

It seems like such a silly question, Meredith almost laughs, even though it's not one she's given that much thought to. "To marry you," she says. "And a cake, I mean, I think we definitely at least get a cake out of the deal." What else is she supposed to want? All the frilly, girly nonsense about dresses and bridal showers and bouquets and being given away and having bridesmaids and the like has always seemed to go right over her head.

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

Sean finds himself at once both pleased and exasperated by that, and his smile reflects as much as he shifts himself a little closer, right to the edge of his seat. "Aye, those're me main priorities, too, but surely an' ye've got some preferences?"

[drownondryland]

Meredith shakes her head slightly, gaze drifting to the side as she considers it. "I don't know," she says. "Something small. I don't need a lot of people I only sort of know and half a dozen bridesmaids. I don't even know enough women for that anyway. And you know my conditions for the dress. I don't really know about the location, I'm not really much for churches but we barely have one anyway, so... That's pretty much it. As long as there's cake and we wind up married, I don't think I'm gonna complain."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

Sean nods, glad for at least some input, though he gets a little hung up on part of it. "Have ta say, I'd prefer the chapel meself, but I dinnae e'en think there's a proper priest around either way. Somethin' small, though... I like that."

[drownondryland]

"Well, there's no reason we can't have someone from the Council do it there," Meredith says, shrugging. "I mean, it might not be my thing, no, but where else would we have it, the beach? We'll just get sand in everything."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Right," Sean says, laughing quietly as he fervently ignores how the mention of the Council reminds him of Theresa and how she likely won't be present. It isn't right. "We c'n get it all fixed up f'r the occasion, sounds good ta me." He'd prefer a priest, of course, but short of hoping a suitable one drops out of the sky in the next few weeks, there's not much that they can do about that.

[drownondryland]

See?" Meredith grins, flourishing a hand. "That's half the thing planned right there. I don't know why anyone thinks they need a whole year for this." It's even harder to understand on the island, where people disappear with so little warning. There's no guarantee both halves of a couple will still be around in a week, let alone a year.

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Nor do I," Sean agrees, nodding. With his mind still on Theresa, the answer that immediately springs to mind is that maybe some people just know they shouldn't be wed, but hadn't Ellie and Devon waited? Meredith likely wouldn't agree with that assessment. "'Less ye want ta wait f'r winter an' get married in the snow," he adds with a grin.

[drownondryland]

Meredith makes a face. "What is that, nine months?" she asks, shaking her head. "When have I ever been that patient?" So she waited this long for anything to happen at all; that doesn't mean she was patient about it.

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure I c'n think of a few times," Sean says, huffing out a quiet laugh. Having her wait for him is nothing new to their relationship. "But seein' as I'm in no mood ta wait, either, I guess there's no harm done."

[drownondryland]

"I think this is a little different," Meredith agrees. Any examples he might come up with, she probably doesn't want to think about. There've been more than a couple rough patches. "And we know what we're doing for once, we should take advantage of that."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Enjoy it while it lasts, ye mean," Sean wryly says, though he doesn't really mean it. For once, for maybe the first time since before Christmas brought all his assurances down around his ears, he feels like they're on top of things, not just in the process of fighting to get there. Maybe they'll slip again in the future, but this moment proves that they can always recover.

[drownondryland]

"That's sort of what I meant," Meredith says, grinning, because how often is it true that they're both sure at the same time? She means to embrace that, enjoy what they've got while they have it. "But I think this one'll last."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

It feels a bit too much like tempting fate to agree outright, but Sean smiles and nods nonetheless before replying with a simple "Stranger things've happened." They've lasted, after all.

[drownondryland]

"Stranger things," Meredith echoes, mock-disbelieving. "What happened to telling me I won't be bad at this?" She still isn't convinced, all jokes aside; she's most just stopped caring. They'll figure it out.

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Thought ye'd realized what malarkey 'twas when ye said yes," Sean says, still as convinced as ever. As always, the only person in the room he's left doubting is himself. "I've ne'er known ye ta take on somethin' wi' the intention o' doin' it badly. But if ye like, I c'n keep on tellin' ye anyway."

[drownondryland]

"I never intended to do it badly," Meredith says, brow raising. He's right, really, she never means to be bad at anything. Her competitiveness won't let her. "I intend to be very good at. Wife of the year. But my best intentions tend to go south."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Nae when it comes ta me," Sean points out plainly, beaming stupidly at her. She's pretty much always done right by him.

[drownondryland]

Meredith considers that for a few moments, though it's difficult to stay serious when he's got that smile on his face. "Not when it comes to you," she agrees, though she's had her doubts even on that score, certain she's screwed up more than a few times. They're still here, though. "Then there shouldn't be anything strange about it."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"I s'pose nae," Sean says, not about to derail such a perfect sentiment with talk of how there are still plenty of problems that could arise from his side of things. While he has to believe that things will be different with Meredith, he was never husband of the year. "It's jus'... right."

[drownondryland]

"That's more like it," Meredith says airily. She could easily sink into being sentimental with talk like this, but she just shakes her head, grinning. "Much better than stranger things or whatever. I need encouragement. Praise, even."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Ye're amazin'," Sean says, without missing a beat. "Ye're perfection. An' ye're makin' me the happiest man alive. How's that fer a start?"