New Beginnings
For @doomfox
Happy (belated) birthday! <3
This follows An Evening Yule Remember. Not officially 'canon', as I have a different way for them to come together in my verse, but I love the moments leading up to that first hint of romance so any excuse to write Callie x Wade!
~~~~~
The night was quiet. The Christmas tree lights twinkled in the corner, as a light snow fell outside. New Year’s Eve had rolled around once again, and this year was a special one for the head librarian of Green Hills public library.
Because this year, Callie MacPherson wasn’t spending it all alone, as she had for so many years past. This year, she had two sons and a best friend to ring in the new year with.
At least, that was the plan.
“You people celebrate your planet completing a full rotation around your sun?” Eclipse had said when she had told him and Silver about New Year’s Eve. The darkling lifted an eyebrow ridge, his muzzle twisted in confusion. “That’s dumb. Why do you do that? What’s the big deal? It’s dumb.”
“I think it sounds like fun!” Silver said, bringing his fists to his chest to give an excited shake. “Is there special food? Presents? Oh, are we gonna decorate??”
Callie shook her head. “No special food, no presents, and no decorating necessary, really.”
Eclipse scoffed. “Then what do you do on this holiday?”
“Stay up until midnight and make loud noise to ring in the new year.”
“I’m in.”
That had been a few days ago. All day today the boys had both been so excited, planning to stay up as late as they wanted and blow their little noisemakers Callie had (regretfully) bought them. They had blown them constantly until she made a rule that they could only do it once an hour. She’d never seen Eclipse so focused on the time before.
Wade had arrived a little after six. They shared an easy supper, and played a few card games as the last few hours of the year ticked away.
Now it was a little after eleven, a movie on the TV as Callie and Wade sat on the couch. Both boys were passed out in their laps—Silver in hers, Eclipse in his.
“So much for staying up all night,” she said with a smile. Her hands moved through Silver’s quills in slow strokes. “Best laid plans and all that.”
“They lasted longer than I thought they would,” Wade said, readjusting Eclipse against him. “They were so excited. I thought the adrenaline would carry them longer.”
She gave a little laugh. “Kids are just like that. Silver once fell asleep in the middle of a story he was telling me on the way home from the grocery store.”
“Wow.”
“They play hard, they crash hard.” She sighed, leaning her head back against the couch. “Couldn’t handle the absolute whirlwind of a party I throw here at the ol’ MacPherson house.”
Wade snickered. “The neighbors probably called the station about the noise when Eclipse won that round of Exploding Kittens.”
Callie snorted out a laugh, before clapping a hand over her mouth. She didn’t want to wake her boys. “God, that kid’s got a set of lungs on him.”
“Silver was so mad.”
“He got him back in Uno.”
Wade nodded, a smile on his lips. “He did.” He quieted for a moment. “You’ve got some good kids, Cal.”
Callie nodded, reaching over to run her knuckle over Eclipse’s muzzle. “Yeah. I do.” She smirked. “At least they give me a reason to stay up for New Year’s. Usually I’m in bed by now.”
“You never went out or anything?”
“Nah,” she said, shaking her head. “Was never close to anyone. Never wanted to be. Fine on my own and all that.”
He watched her, his brow furrowing slightly. “Sounds kinda lonely.”
She shrugged. She never really thought about it. It was just the way things were for her. Every day was like the last, and the next would be just the same. She was alone, but that’s what she wanted. Because she was scared of letting people get close.
And then Silver had literally crash landed in her life, which brought Wade in. Eclipse came a few months later, and now she had a family. Now she wasn’t alone.
But that didn’t mean she didn’t sometimes still feel like she was. Late at night, when both boys were in bed and the house was quiet, it was too easy to imagine herself all alone again. It was better when Wade was here, and she tried so hard to tell herself it was because he was distracting her from the quiet. Giving her another adult to chat with while the boys were off doing their kid thing.
Because she really didn’t want to think about the fact that there may be something more at play than simple companionship. That was a road she was terrified to go down.
Wade was her friend. Friendship was easy.
She didn’t want to complicate matters.
“What about you?” she asked, in a not so casual attempt to change the subject. “Any exciting stories from New Year’s Eves past?”
He gave a little laugh that was more sad than jovial. “Nah. I was usually in bed too, unless I was working.” He paused, sitting back to avert his gaze from hers. “Tom and Maddie would invite me over, but . . .” He shrugged. “Sometimes I felt really third wheelish.” He pulled his lips tight. “And no one wants to date the town idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot.” It came out immediately, no hesitation. “You’re not.”
Wade shrugged. “I know what people see when they look at me.”
“That’s not what I see when I look at you.”
A silent beat, and when Wade spoke next his voice was soft. “What do you see?”
Callie chewed her cheek. She didn’t want to say things that would sound overly generic as a kind of ‘cheer up, you’re great!’ kind of pick-me-up. He didn’t need cheering up, he needed honesty. He needed a boost to his confidence and to know that he wasn’t the village idiot that so many people—himself included—seemed to see him as.
“I see,” she started, and turned to look at him with narrowed eyes, as though she were truly examining him. “A man who tries his hardest, even though he feels anxious sometimes. I see a man who just wants to help others. Someone who wants to see the good in people, regardless of how they treat him. You are kind, and sweet, and honest, and would give a stranger the shirt off your back if they asked for it.”
She paused, locking eyes with him.
“No, you may not know everything. You may be confused about what’s going on sometimes. But if people look at you and just see that, then they’re the ones who are idiots. Because you, Wade Whipple, are so much more.”
A heavy silence descended over the two then, and they sat on the couch, gaze locked. Callie’s heart pounded in her chest, worrying she’d said too much, or made things really awkward between them now. Was that over the top? Had she gotten too serious? Broken the light mood they usually shared?
She was about to say something snarky to break this awkward silence when he spoke.
“Know what I see when I look at you?”
Her heart raced faster. “What?”
“I see someone who’s braver than she thinks. Someone who claimed she was fine by herself and didn’t need anyone, but took in two lost alien kids and love them like they were her own. Someone who’s kind, and smart, and caring, but takes no bull. You stand up for what’s right, you defend those who are in trouble, and would put yourself in harm’s way to keep others safe.”
He swallowed hard, pulling his lips tight as though wondering if he should continue.
“I see someone who tries to pretend she’s fine. That she doesn’t need help. But she does. I see how she struggles sometimes. I see the hair pulling and how she sometimes just stares off into space when she’s stressed. And I want to help. All she has to do is ask. Because she is so amazing, and she could do anything. And I want her to see that, too.”
Callie’s brain stopped functioning. His words were so heartfelt, his tone so genuine, she couldn’t come up with any kind of response that seemed appropriate. Her knee-jerk reaction was to make a joke, likely a self-depreciating one, or throw out some snark to shift the mood. But she resisted. It didn’t seem right to respond to what he’d said with humor.
But oh how her heart pounded.
They sat there, eyes locked, for a long moment, before an odd look passed over Wade’s face.
“Eclipse is drooling on me.”
It took a moment for the words to sink into Callie’s brain, and when they finally did she blinked, giving him a shocked look.
“Oh! Oh, okay. Let’s get these boogers to bed, huh?”
The two shifted to lift their respective child and headed upstairs to the bedrooms. Callie heaved a tension-relieving sigh. Leave it to Eclipse to break up an awkward moment, even while asleep.
~X~X~X~
Wade followed behind as Callie tucked her boys in, one by one. She settled them into their beds—or hammock, for Eclipse—and kissed their foreheads before tiptoeing out.
Once the boys were snuggled in, the two went back downstairs, and fetched a few drinks from the fridge. Callie kept his favorite beer on hand, and handed him a bottle as she pulled a wine cooler out for herself.
Wade had to admit, he was a little disappointed their conversation had been interrupted. It felt . . . important somehow. Like they were being real with each other. Not that they ever weren’t, but tonight just felt . . . different.
The atmosphere from their previous conversation broken, they chatted about this and that as they settled back on the couch. The TV was turned low, tuned to one of those “Rockin’ New Year’s Eve” countdowns that showed a huge crowed of people in Times Square.
“Now that,” Callie said, pointing with the top of her bottle, “is my idea of hell. All those people, all that noise? No thanks.”
Wade chuckled with a nod. “That’s a lot of people in one place. What if you’re in the middle of that crowd and have to go to the bathroom?”
“Right? No one thinks of those things,” she said, taking a sip. “Not that I understand the desire to go and be in a crowd like that. Just not my thing.”
“Me neither. I like smaller groups better. I don’t think there are that many people even living in Green Hills. I couldn’t imagine being responsible for that many people.”
Callie turned to him, her eyes narrowed slightly. “Did you always want to be a cop?” she asked, her voice light. “Little Wade Whipple, running around with his little Cracker Jack badge and writing parking tickets for the neighborhood?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “No, nothing like that. I . . .” He shrugged. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I was a kid. I just knew I wanted to help people. When Tom said he was going to become a police officer, I just kinda followed.”
“Is there anything else you would want to do now? If you were gonna start all over?”
Wade gave that some thought. In all honesty, he couldn’t imagine himself doing anything else. At least right now. He shook his head.
“Nope. I like where I am. I like helping people. And putting on the uniform helps me feel like I’m not just Wade. I’m Deputy Wade. And it makes me feel good.”
“You look damn good in uniform too, if I’m being honest.”
Wade looked over at her with wide eyes, and found her frozen, her eyes just as wide. She had apparently not realized what she said was out loud. A blush burned her cheeks, and she flicked her eyes from his to the drink in her hand.
“Hoo boy,” she said, a little nervous laugh in her voice. “I’m such a lightweight! Half a wine cooler in and it’s already gone to my head!” She laughed slightly, before clearing her throat into her fist. “You hungry? I’m hungry. I’m gonna grab some food.”
She was up before he responded, heading for the kitchen where he heard her pour some chips in a bowl. Her comment rang in his ears. Was that . . . ? Did she . . . ?
Wade wasn’t good with subtlety. It seemed like maybe there was something more in what she’d said, but it could have also been his imagination. People sometimes just blurted things out without thinking. Inappropriate things, snarky comebacks that are meant as jokes, that kinda stuff. And Callie was pretty snarky normally, so . . .
He tried to just ignore it.
“So what about you?” he asked as she came back in with the bowl. He snagged a few chips when she sat back down. “Did you always want to be a librarian?”
A little amused smile curled her lips, but he noted that the blush was still there. “While I’ve always loved books and learning and such, being a librarian wasn’t what I dreamt about when I was a little girl. This just kinda fell in my lap. It plays to my highly organized mind, and lets me help people in a more casual way than some official position.”
“So what did you dream about as a little girl?”
The blush on her cheeks burned hotter. “You’ll laugh.”
He smiled. “Promise I won’t.”
She flicked her eyes to his, before uttering a soft sigh. “I always wanted to be a dancer.”
Wade’s smile softened. “A dancer?”
She nodded, and when she spoke next her voice was soft. “I would see women on TV dancing, and always thought they looked so graceful. Ballet, jazz, tap, whatever. They moved their bodies so smoothly and beautifully. I always wanted to learn to do that, too.”
“Why didn’t you?”
A smirk pulled Callie’s lips and she gave a little laugh. “The unfortunate affliction known as ‘two left feet’. I don’t know what it is but I can’t dance to save my life. I trip and stagger and just make a fool of myself.”
He smiled and shrugged. “I can teach you.”
She gave him a look. “Doubtful. I am unteachable.”
“Nah, I don’t believe that.” Wade pulled out his phone and pulled up a slow tempo song, before placing it on the table and pushing himself to his feet. He held his hand out to her. “C’mon. It’s not that hard.”
“You’re serious.”
He nodded. “I’m serious. C’mon. Dance with me.”
Her blush flared hotter. Flicking her eyes between his offered hand and his face, Callie slowly reached up and placed her hand in his. Wade pulled her to her feet, pulling her gently in to lay a hand on her back.
A blush rushed to his face at the proximity, the closeness and feel of her against him. He cleared his throat, his voice soft. “Just listen to the music, and follow my lead.”
She nodded, and that blush never left her cheeks. It made her eyes look especially pretty, and Wade stumbled for a step or two before finding the right rhythm as he led her in a slow waltz.
He had to admit, she was right. She couldn’t dance. She tripped over her own feet, stepped on his, and nearly made them both topple over when she stepped the wrong way in a turn.
But they were both laughing.
They played through the song three times, and each time she seemed to get worse.
“Are you being this bad on purpose?” he laughed after the third try. “You only have two feet, you know. It’s not that hard to keep track of them!”
Callie responded with a laugh and little slap to his shoulder. “I told you! Woefully uncoordinated, that’s me. Hopeless lost cause. Quit while you still have feeling in your toes.”
Feeling confident, Wade pulled her back to him, a little smirk on his lips. “Never! I will teach you to dance, or die trying!”
She snorted out a laugh, bringing a hand to her forehead in a dramatic flare. “Oh, poor Wade Whipple! Done in by his own stubborn insistence to teach the waltz to someone with the grace of a drunken ostrich. Oh, he will be missed.”
Wade laughed with her, but tightened his arm around her. “Seriously, you’re overthinking this.”
She gave him a look. “I’m sorry, have you met me? Overthinking is practically my middle name.”
He shook his head, still smiling. “Well, tell your brain to take the night off. Listen to the music. Feel the rhythm. And for crying out loud, let me lead! You’re fighting me and making things worse.”
“Ugh! Fine.” She gave herself a little shake and blew out a sigh. “Okay. One more time.”
~X~X~X~
They quieted, letting the music fill the living room, flowing over them in smooth tones. Wade pulled her close again, his hand resting on the middle of her back. His hand around hers was so warm and soft.
She closed her eyes, focusing on the music. On the rhythm. As she did, something seemed to slip into place in her mind. They were no longer separate notes, they merged together to form a line. A path. She stepped on his toes twice, but then found her footing so to speak, and moved and swayed with him as he guided them along.
This was nice. Feeling his arm around her. His breath on her neck. The heat of his body as they danced. Although she received plenty of hugs from her boys, this was different. This made her feel . . . safe. Comfortable.
Callie opened her eyes and looked up at him. He caught her gaze, the two were frozen in time, in this moment. The hand on her back slipped lower, coming to rest above her waist. A little pressure and she was pulled closer to him, their bodies touching.
A blush ran up his neck, warming his face and ears. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Behind them on the TV, the crowd in Times Square were counting down.
10!
Their feet slowed.
9!
Wade turned them, so that the light from the Christmas tree caught in her eyes.
8!
She swallowed. Hard.
7!
The hand holding hers tightened slightly.
6!
Her free hand slid from his arm to his waist.
5!
He licked his lips.
4!
Her lips parted.
3!
He leaned forward.
2!
She tilted her head to the side.
1!
Happy New Year!
Their eyes closed.
Their lips met.
They were both trembling. Callie’s heart beat a manic pace in her chest, and she felt as though it were trying to burst through her rib cage and escape. Wade pulled her closer, and she felt his pounding just as hard.
But they did not pull away.
The world welcomed the new year in around them, and Wade and Callie stayed locked in their embrace. In their kiss. Their first kiss.
It was awkward and wonderful and terrifying and so, so gentle.
When they pulled back, they held each other to combat the tremble that still shook them both. Their eyes locked, and Callie opened her mouth to say something.
And that’s when an ear-piercing sound split the air.
“Happy New Year!” Eclipse called as he and Silver bounded down the stairs. Each held their noise makers and blew them as they rushed toward the couple.
Wade and Callie quickly released each other, stepping back just as each was hit with one alien child.
“You almost let us sleep through it!” Silver said, giving Callie a hug around the neck. “We almost missed it!”
“Yeah,” she said, her mind still not fully functioning. “S-sorry. You guys fell asleep.”
“Good thing I woke up!” Eclipse laughed, blowing his noisemaker again. “Nice job going around the sun, Earth!”
“Yeah, nice job!” Silver echoed.
“I wonder what will happen this year,” Eclipse said, hanging off of Wade’s shoulders. “Something exciting, I hope!”
Silver shrugged. “Last year I came to Earth and found a new family. Maybe this year will be even better!”
Callie and Wade exchanged a glance over the boys’ heads. The ghost of their blushes still warmed their cheeks, and they shared a small smile.
“Yeah,” Callie said, her blush warming again. “Maybe it will be.”
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I fixed it for you and them (and me) 😘
—————
They were all tucked in. Stories read, teeth brushed, stuffed animals found and snuggled in with them. Blankets pulled up around chins and the house was blessedly quiet.
She plopped down on the couch set in front of the fire and propped her tired feet up on the coffee table. She sighed as she closed her eyes and smiled. She was exhausted but happy. So very happy.
Her smiled lengthened as she felt him settle in beside her with a kiss to her cheek before she heard the telltale pop of a cork.
“What is this?” she asked as he handed her a glass and settled back against her.
“The finest bottle of wine a man can steal,” he smirked and clinked their glasses together.
“So Maiele sent it,” she gave him a pointed look with a knowing smile.
“No,” he said incredulously.
She raised her eyebrow at him.
“He let me steal it,” Mal smirked and raised his glass to her.
“Ah, he let you steal it.”
She giggled at his grin before he turn serious.
“Daenarya, things may not have turned out exactly how we planned. We may not have run away after saving the world but we are still able to disappear amongst the chaos of all those crazy kids.”
“And steal the best wine,” she interjected.
“And steal the heart of the best girl anyone could ask for. Thank you for running away with me on this crazy adventure. Here’s to you and me. Always.”
sdkljflj THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER!!!! 😍😍😍😭😭😭😭
They were all tucked in. Stories read, teeth brushed, stuffed animals found and snuggled in with them. Blankets pulled up around chins and the house was blessedly quiet.
This is their happy! That is all they want. They can help save the realm by saving the future.
“The finest bottle of wine a man can steal,” he smirked and clinked their glasses together.
“So Maiele sent it,” she gave him a pointed look with a knowing smile.
heheh I love them so much!
“He let me steal it,” Mal smirked and raised his glass to her.
“Ah, he let you steal it.”
Gahhh why are they the best!!! Maiele is the best!!! Letting Mal "steal" the wine hehe they're so cute! I just love these two families together so so much! They are the very best!
“Daenarya, things may not have turned out exactly how we planned. We may not have run away after saving the world but we are still able to disappear amongst the chaos of all those crazy kids.”
But somehow this is so much better! And something tells me they'll find plenty of ways to sneak away without running away. They'll be hide and seek champions 😏
“And steal the heart of the best girl anyone could ask for. Thank you for running away with me on this crazy adventure. Here’s to you and me. Always.”
🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭😭
I love him and this and them and you!!!
gahh this is so much better than anything we've been getting, especially for Mal.
This is the life he deserves and one I think he'd do so well in. Those kids adore him! And he adores them! Mal would NEVER turn his back on them, because he knows what its like to have people turn their back on him and he would never. Those children became his priority. Yes, he'd leave to save the realm but he'd be thinking about them every day!
Thank you for this! It is the loveliest surprise and it is so so perfect for them! I love it and you so so much! 💖💖💖💖
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Hope you don't mind, but I did another little snippet.
Callie stood up from the couch and disappeared into her bedroom. Silver watched her go, feeling a little nervous about what might be coming next. He had only been with Callie for a short time, but he had already learned that surprises could be both good and bad.
When Callie returned, she was holding a small plush animal in her hands. It was a fluffy brown bear, with soft fur and a cute little smile.
"Silver, I have something for you," Callie said, holding out the plush bear. "It's not much, but I thought you might like it."
Silver stared at the bear for a moment, unsure what to do. He had never owned a toy before, and he wasn't sure if it was okay to accept one.
But as he looked closer at the bear, he found himself drawn to it. The soft fur looked like it would be comforting to hold, and the little smile on its face made him feel a little happier.
Without another word, Silver reached out and took the bear from Callie's hands. He held it close to his chest, feeling the soft fur against his own.
"Thank you," he said quietly, surprised at how much the toy made him feel better. It was a small thing, but it made him feel a little less alone.
Callie smiled, pleased to see Silver enjoying his new toy. She knew that it wasn't a cure-all for the trauma he had experienced, but she hoped that it would provide him with some comfort.
"I'm glad you like it, Silver," she said, sitting down next to him on the couch. "You can hold onto it as long as you want."
Silver hugged the bear tighter, feeling a little more secure in his new home. He knew that there were still going to be difficult times ahead, but he was starting to feel like maybe, just maybe, things might turn out okay in the end.
As Silver held onto the plush bear, Callie noticed how his head quills were still standing up straight. She knew that this was a sign of his anxiety and stress, and she wanted to do something to help him relax.
Gently, she reached out and stroked his head quills with her fingertips. Silver flinched at first, not used to being touched, but then he relaxed into her touch.
"It's okay, Silver," Callie said softly. "I just want to help you feel more comfortable here."
Silver closed his eyes, feeling the gentle touch of Callie's fingers on his head. It was a strange sensation, but it was also soothing.
As Callie continued to stroke his head quills, Silver felt himself starting to calm down. He didn't know why, but her touch made him feel safe and cared for.
"Thank you," he whispered, not opening his eyes.
Callie smiled, glad to see Silver starting to relax. She knew that it was going to take time for him to fully settle into his new home, but she was determined to do everything she could to make him feel comfortable and loved.
"You're welcome, Silver," she said, continuing to stroke his head quills. "We'll take things one day at a time, okay?"
Silver nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Callie. He knew that he still had a long way to go before he would feel completely at home, but for now, her gentle touch and the soft fur of the bear were enough to make him feel a little more secure.
OMG this is so adorable. MY HEART!
Thank you!!
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