stay close to the people who feel like sunshine
The attitude of "doesn't Jee deserve grandparents" in 6x10 kind of rubbed me the wrong way, so... here, Grandpa Bobby!!!! Set during the winter hiatus.
"So, even though the recipe only calls for two sticks of butter, you use three?"
Bobby grins at Buck and nods as the younger firefighter unwraps the butter and drops it into the pot. "Baking, you have to be exact. But cooking, all you need to worry about is the flavors."
"And also heart disease," Chimney jabs, leaning over the island and picking at the charcuterie board May and Bobby had arranged earlier. Bobby had provided the materials, but May definitely has more of a knack for the artistry. He's just glad she wants to take part in something as routine as helping him in the kitchen-- and the same goes for Buck.
"Doubtful that I'll make it that far," Buck says with a laugh, but Bobby watches him silently for a moment, remembering too well how that attitude feels. Not wanting to drag the mood down, he laughs as well.
"I have to agree with Buck, heart disease is one of the better options in our line of work."
"Stop being macabre," May calls, entering the room. "Look-- cute baby! No more dark humor." She holds up Jee-Yun, who giggles and waves.
Chimney stands up with a bright smile for his daughter, but Jee seems happy in May's arms for the moment. She makes the motion of blowing a kiss, and Bobby can't help but move across the kitchen to watch the scene closer.
"Hi Daddy, love you!" Jee says to Chimney, blowing him a kiss. Maddie is taking pictures of May with the baby, and Jee-Yun waves to her next. "Hi Mama, love you!" And then May steps into the kitchen, and Bobby expects Jee to call out for her Uncle Buck, but two tiny hands reach for him instead. "Grandpa Bobby! Love you!"
Bobby freezes, staring in shock at the toddler. Jee is still reaching for him, and May's face is the picture of delighted shock, and other than that he kind of has tunnel vision. In spite of his surprise, he takes the baby reflexively, holding her to his chest. She smells like baby powder and a warmth he hasn't felt in a long time, and he rocks her gently as she giggles and tugs at the neck of his apron.
Chimney is standing behind May now, looking a little more concerned. "Bobby? Is that okay? I don't know... I don't know where that came from."
Bobby starts to smile-- who wouldn't, holding Jee-Yun-- and pushes away the thoughts in his head that had, for a long time, abandoned hope of being a grandfather. "Don't worry, Chim. This is totally great."
"Only problem is, we're too young to be grandparents," Athena jokes, raising her glass of wine from where she sits in her armchair.
"Well, I think you guys are perfect grandparents," Maddie pronounces, moving into the kitchen and kissing Bobby on the cheek as she strokes Jee-Yun's hair. "Jee certainly needs those." She purses her lips, staring at the wall, and Bobby removes a hand from the baby to squeeze her shoulder.
"This is kind of crazy, though," Chim points out. "I had to coach her every day when we were getting her to say Uncle Buck-- where would she have picked this up?"
Suddenly suspicious, Bobby glances over his shoulder at Buck, who's still stirring the simmering pot. The younger Buckley shrugs innocently.
"I dunno, guys... why are you looking at me?"
And then he winks, and Bobby decides that maybe the kid has enough between his ears to handle cooking by himself.
He'll just go sit down for a little bit with his granddaughter.
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A special kind of intimacy between characters
[Not restricted to romantic dynamics!]
- I tear bread into smaller pieces to feed them to you, as if I am Jesus, or a mother bird. You may view me as a savior but I would kill for you
- Being there for the other person when they're sick - In a gross, disgusting way. Holding them unwaveringly through the wretched and repulsive, unflinchingly. Don't apologise, just survive. I'd do it again.
- You're scary, but I'm scarier. You don't know that yet, but I hope you won't fear me when you do.
- You're scary, and thank God for that. I'm more than happy to close my eyes when you use it on others. I am a coward.
- One character knowing exactly what the other one would really like to ask for, but is too self conscious or selfless to. Thus, they do it and provide, without the other person needing to outright request it. The self conscious character always makes sure the other one knows it's not obligated and they're always free to decline, and the other one nods firmly, knowing that, and still doing it.
- Sitting next to each other at the end of the world. Because it won't be okay. But they've accepted that
- "You destroyed the thing I love and I can't forgive you for it." "I can't forgive myself either." "I still can't hate you despite that." "I can."
- "Please hate me" "No."
- One character understanding when the other is in too low of a state to act like a decent person currently, and so they don't step over those lines that they'd normally tolerate. The first character holds the other one responsible for things later nonetheless, when they're able to actually carry it
- Two characters sharing the negative perceptions and opinions they've had of each other over the years. This can either lead to a realization that, respectfully, out of deep understanding of each other, they decide to not stay in touch with each other again from now on. Or, it can lead to a realization that thanks to this understanding they now have, they're more ready to become closer and have managed to clear the air with this conversation
- Characters of notably different ages talk and reflect on time that has passed between them. They feel a connection over how different their circumstances were. The younger one audibly wishes they could've done or changed something significant, to which the older character pointedly and gently tells them it wasn't their place to. Let us old crooks handle the tough things. (It wasn't your fault you spent formative years like this. I'm sorry you had to)
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