Sam dashed about the apartment, shoving homeless objects in random places as she attempted to 'tidy' her home. She'd been looking forward to a long weekend, having Monday and tuesday off work, and being able to tidy at a leisurely pace before Jason and Aidan arrived. However, things never panned out as she hoped, and she'd had an urgent owl asking if she could come in to work and cover for someone who had owled in sick. Reluctantly, Sam had agreed. She had a good reputation at Amortentia, and it was partially because she could be relied upon. Relied upon or walked upon, it was anyone's guess.

Either way, she had worked. So instead of spending her relaxing Monday cleaning her apartment, she'd asked Ellie to look after Lewis for the day (which of course she hadn't minded one bit), and went to work. Just like any other Monday. Except when she finished, she had to pick Lewis up and get home as fast as she could to give the place a quick once over. And a quick once over was all it got, in the short hour she had. She hadn't even started cooking yet, and they were going to be at the front door soon!

"Lewis! No, Lewis! Put the paints away! I told you, not tonight. Aidan's coming round to play with you, and I need you to be clean." She picked the paints up off the floor just before the little boy stuck his paws in the pot. "I said no." she chastised, wagging her finger at him and tapping his nose gently. The little boy giggled and sufficed with picking up his toy dragons.

He’d picked up Aidan after working all weekend. Other than a slight uncomfortable air at the office, things had started to go back to some sense of ‘normality.’ Not that he felt as if things would ever feel like they used to. Not for a long time, anyway. And even then… Well, he’d finished work, and gone home. He was questioning what he was doing, why he was even a healer, why he didn’t try something else for a change. But he had Aidan to think about, and now Sam and Lewis, if only for some stability.

What would he do anyway? Sure, he had experience, but there wasn’t another big magical hospital in the country. And he was kind of burned out of the hospital environment anyway. But perhaps… perhaps he just needed time with everything. Maybe he was just being bitter right then. He did feel stuck in his job, though. Maybe he would talk to Sam about it…

Jason had taken a shower once home, and then gotten Aidan and himself dressed. The little boy had contented himself with going through Jason’s closet while he packed an overnight bag. Before he knew it, all his ties were on the floor, and Aidan had started testing his ability to make a mess. Which Jason didn’t need examples of, really. So after a scolding of “Aidan! Leave daddy’s ties alone,” along with a pluck up out of the midst (a couple trailing behind as Jason walked him out of the room), Aidan was content to get into his toys in the living room.

Finally Jason pulled on his jacket and shoes, hoisting the small bag to his shoulder and Aidan to the other side, Jason pulled his wand out. “Hold on to your dragon, mate.” Aidan clutched it to his side and picked up his juice, taking a gulp before then clutching that against his dad’s back.

A few moments later, and they were near Sam’s apartment. Aidan’s head spun a little, obviously dizzy and disorientated from the apparition. Jason made sure everything was in place, and that Aidan wasn’t going to throw up on him (he’d gotten used to it lately), before heading up the stairs to her apartment. Once there, he knocked on the door, winking at Aidan as his son lifted his dragon, smashing it against Jason’s face. Groaning, partially in mild and mostly in mock pain, he bent at the knees and squatted just slightly, tipping back and then forward to give the boy a little shake up.

Sam looked up like a startled animal in wandlight as she heard a knock at the door. Now? They were here now? But...they were early! She hadn't even had a chance to change. She looked down at her clothes and immediately regretted the decision to wear the hooded sweatshirt and jeans that Jason had left behind the other day. She twisted her face, but decided it was too late to do anything remotely significant about it.

Sighing, she ran her fingers through her hair, warned Lewis to stay playing with his dragons and made her way to the door. She opened it slowly, and as she saw Jason and Aidan she couldn't help but let a grin spread across her face. "Hey." she said as she leant against the doorframe, one slippered foot crossed over the other. "You're early."

He'd definitely been happier since getting back with Sam. Even if he had had to work at getting back to where they'd been pre-article. And Jason was doing a better job of keeping his brother informed; he'd talked to him about getting together for a double date. Sam seemed to like her cousin... and so did his brother. So Jason could deal with her for a short time.

“Hey.”

Jason perked up as the door opened, and he squeezed Aidan gently before looking to Sam. Then Jason looked over her and his eyebrows rose, an amused expression coming to his face. “That’s where my clothes went.” He finally looked back to her face, shifting Aidan just slightly. She looked amazing, even in his clothes. Maybe more adorable because she was in his too big for her hoodie and jeans. He bit his lower lip and chuckled.

“You’re early.”

Stepping to her, he kissed her lips gently. “I couldn’t wait to see you?” He bent down and set Aidan down, letting the little guy walk past Sam, grasping the jeans she was wearing before pushing off of them and into the apartment that was quickly becoming familiar to the little boy. Taking the bag off his shoulder, Jason stepped into the doorway, facing her as he set it just inside to the side of the door, pressing up against her and kissing her a little deeper.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him before he pulled back, chuckling. “You definitely wear my jeans better than me.” Tugging gently on them by the belt loop, he pulled back and stepped in, pulling her after him. “Play nice, Aidan…” He saw the little boy sitting down next to the older one, eyeing his dragon.

Finally he glanced back to Sam, gently rubbing her back. "What have you been up to then?"

“That’s where my clothes went.”

Sam blushed slightly and looked down. Damn her weakness for men's clothes. Jason had gone straight to work from her apartment a few days ago, but hadn't packed his clothes from the night before in his bag - luckily for Sam, who loved wearing men's clothes. She just felt more comfortable wearing baggy jeans and sweatshirts than wearing the tight and revealing things her cousin would be more likely to be seen in.

“I couldn’t wait to see you?”

She smiled as he pressed his lips up against hers. "Well dinner isn't ready yet." she stated as a warning as Aidan toddled off to see Lewis, and Jason stepped in. He moved up against her and kissed her again a little less gently than before. She felt the butterflies flutter in her stomach and she took in a broken breath as his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. "I haven't even started it..." she confessed as he pulled away gently. She swallowed and tried to regain some of her composure as he commented on how well she wore his jeans. She smirked slightly. "I've got the arse for them." she flashed a grin and turned to close the door, coincidentally showing him her behind at the same time.

In the living room, Aidan had already plonked himself down next to Lewis. Sam smiled at how well-mannered her son was, offering the younger boy one of his dragons to play with.

"What have you been up to then?"

"I got asked to go into work today." she twisted her face slightly. "But, I told them they would have to find someone else to go in tomorrow." She turned back to him with a sly smile, lifted her hands up to near his neck and took hold of his collar at either side, pulling him in a little towards her. "Because I-" she kissed him on the lips gently. Pulling away slowly, she ran her tongue over her lips. "-Am spending the day with a very sexy man."

“Well dinner isn’t ready yet.”

Chuckling at that, he shrugged a little. “We had a late lunch…” And an afternoon snack. Just after Aidan woke up from his midday nap. It was a pleasant change of things, when Sam could cook. Jason was used to either cooking all meals or ordering take away. There were some things Fiona had been good at. Cooking was not her forte though.

“I haven’t even started it…”

Jason smirked and licked his lips. “Tsk, tsk…” Then he gently caressed her side. “I’ll help you.” What else was he going to do? Keep the boys company? They seemed to get along pretty well as it was, without Jason’s involvement.

“I’ve got the arse for them.”

His eyes moved down her body to the said body part, grinning to himself as she showed it off. “Oh, that you do.” Stepping up behind her, he placed his hands on either back pocket, playfully squeezing before his hands moved to her waist, kissing what he could find of her neck. “Though I bet it looks better without them.” Shrugging as innocently as he could, he pulled back and took her hand, grinning as they moved farther into the apartment.

“I got asked to go into work today… But, I told them they would have to find someone else to go in tomorrow.”

He mirrored her face; Jason went in on occasion to help out if they were short at the hospital, but he didn’t prefer that unless something was bothering him. Like when he’d been down after his divorce, in between women, and having enough drama to last him a long, long time. Then he felt like throwing himself into work. Now… now, he just couldn’t wait to get done with work so he could see when Sam wanted to get together.

“Because I-”

Jason’s eyebrows rose in mild shock as she became very friendly, and he grinned as he easily wrapped his arms around her waist, his hands lazily hanging on to her famed arse. She could pull at his collar all she wanted… Kissing her back, attempting to keep it going, leaning forward into her lips until she got too far, Jason finally allowed her time to breathe, his eyes opening so he could look at her.

“-Am Spending the day with a very sexy man.”

“You told them that?” An amused expression on his face, Jason tried to calm himself down; she was good at getting him excited, and she knew it. “Well. I’m glad you shot them down for me.” One hand stayed against her lower back, fingers moved under the jeans and underwear to hold her steadily against him, the other now up to her cheek, gently caressing it before his fingertips marked their way slowly down to the hoodie. “Aren’t you hot?” Then he realized the double meaning, and he laughed. “I mean, just seems a bit… stuffy…” Jason licked his lips before pulling back, hearing one of the boys asking something.

“What?” Finally he glanced over his shoulder at them, pulling away quickly as he saw them playing tug o war with one of the dragons. “Boys, come on.” He squeezed Sam’s hand, giving her a quick look over his shoulder with a look that said ‘we’ll continue with that later,’ finally moving to sit on the couch. “Show me your dragon, Lewis. Is it new?”

“You told them that?”

"Well...maybe not that exactly." she grinned at him. "But they won't be disturbing us, so..." she trailed off as his fingers gently moved under the material of her (his?) jeans and underwear at the base of her back, steadying her up against him. His other hand came up and brushed her cheek before his fingers found their way down her neck inside the hoodie. She bit her lip gently, forgetting for a moment that their kids were right there in front of them. Not that either of them were old enough to know what was going on, of course.

“Aren’t you hot?”

She stopped and eyed him suspiciously. Then he laughed, having realised what he'd said, and she joined in. He went on to justify himself stating that it was stuffy. It was getting a little stuffy, but she was rather attached to the hoodie and was reluctant to part with it. It smelled like him. "I'm ok." she smiled just as the boys started tugging at the same toy. Jason squeezed her hand and shot her an extremely inviting look that made her heart pound slightly in her chest. How early could they pack the kids off to bed?

She shook her head slightly as Jason sat on the sofa and asked Lewis about his toy. "Lewis has lots of toys, and he knows he should be sharing." she said, casting her son a reproachful look. The boy looked sheepishly down at his toys and pushed one in Aidan's direction as Sam sat on the arm of the sofa next to Jason, leaning against him very sligtly. "Good boy." she smiled at Lewis, who beamed at being told he'd done something good. "Now play nice. I'm going to cook dinner, ok?" Lewis nodded  and carried on playing with Aidan quite happily now they'd established some ground rules regarding which dragon belonged to which boy.

"Come and help." she said to Jason, taking hold of his hand and pulling him towards the kitchen with a flirtatious smile playing on her lips. She was sure that, together, they would be able to cook something good up.

She was more than ok… she was smoking. Jason had enough of a hard time concentrating on conversation, let alone being distracted by a couple of toddlers. However… he couldn’t just lift her up against the wall right there; they were both old enough to talk about what they saw, and that was the last thing he needed Fiona to accidentally hear. Or for either of the boys to repeat to anyone else outside of the room.

So he took a nice, slow breath, glanced her over, and smirked as he nodded in agreement. Then it was over to the boys, forcing his presence on them whether they liked it or not. Glancing to Sam as she spoke, he chuckled and raised an eyebrow. Poor Lewis, having to be scolded by his mum in front of guests. Well… kind of guests. Jason had been around quite often as of late. And before the article as well.

“Good boy.”

Resting his head against Sam, Jason closed his eyes as the boys started to get along, smiling to himself. He wouldn’t mind hearing ‘good boy’ from Sam… come to think of it, he wondered why he hadn’t. Jason had been a good boy! Lately… And on some level, Jason worried for himself for having that desire for recognition from Sam.

“Come and help.”

Her hand pulled his mind from the two boys who, for the moment, seemed to be getting along. Glancing up to her, his shock melted into amusement as he allowed her to easily pull him up, trailing after her with a widening smile. Playfully he tugged on her hand, trying to get her closer to him. Once in the kitchen, he pressed her up against the counter, his body against the back of hers. Jason’s hands trailed over the hoodie, under the hoodie, admiring the warmth it provided.

He buried his head in her neck, nuzzling through her hair until his roaming lips found her neck. Finally he pulled back long enough to chuckle and move his fingers down to the jeans, unzipping them slowly. “You should just wear an apron…” He allowed his fingers to trail in the open denim area, the tips curling and playfully enticing her. “You’re sexy however you dress, but… just an apron…” He leaned back long enough to get a look at her backside, he let out a soft, appreciative whistle.

It didn't take much for Jason to follow her. It also didn't take much for him to have her pushed up against the counter, allowing his hands to roam wherever they pleased. Well, it was []his[/i] clothes she was wearing, so she couldn't really deny him the right to touch them as he liked. And again, as he unzipped the jeans, she grinned slightly, aware that they were his property to do with as he willed.

"Just an apron, eh?" she asked, an amused tone to her voice. "I think our sons would be a little psychologically scarred if they saw that, at such a young and impressionable age." His fingers teased her skin down into the open jeans, and she playfully slapped at his hand and moved away. "This," she started in a mock-stern voice, "Does not constitute 'cooking'."

All seemed peaceful on the western front still, and she could hear the small roars from both the figurines and from the two boys playing. They got along so well already, which was helped by the fact that they were so close in age. She fastened the jeans back up then moved to the sink and started washing her hands. "I extended Lewis' bed, so it'll fit two of them now." She smiled as she massaged the soap into her hands. "And I put bars up too. I know Aidan hasn't earned his off yet, so I'm sure Lewis can deal with them again for a night."

“Just an apron, eh?”

Nodding slowly, he closed his eyes as he pressed up against her, enjoying the tickling sensation of her hair on his nose. “Just.” The image was enough, and surely she could tell that. Of course, being so close to her helped… and moving his hands over her curves doubly so.

“I think our sons would be a little psychologically scarred if they saw that, at such a young and impressionable age.”

For a moment, his body tensed up as her words made a different type of sense to him than she’d meant. Their sons? As in she was clumping them together as theirs? Or did she mean… and then he considered the other possibility, a generalization rather than a clumping makeshift family. His heart thumped against his chest as he wondered at the slight twist in his chest; why did it matter one way or another? Finally he shook his head in disagreement. “I don’t think they’d know what they were seeing.” And his hands renewed their exploration.

“This… Does not constitute ‘cooking’.”

He pouted playfully at the slap, sighing wistfully as she pulled away, but allowing her to as he smirked, leaning a hand against the counter now that his leaning post was gone. “Oh I don’t know. I’m sure I could find a way. You were lighting my fire.” Winking at her, he finally leaned his hip against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. He too could hear the boys in the living room, and all seemed fine for now. Then again, he believed in boys being let to figure out their issues versus solving it for them. So he would try to stand back if they went to fighting.

It had helped his brothers and himself get along just fine as children. A few punches made you a little closer to your siblings. At least for boys… he wasn’t sure how it was for girls. Maybe he should ask Sam… Who was currently doing up the jeans again, making his pout renewed.

“I extended Lewis’ bed, so it’ll fit two of them now.”

Jason raised an eyebrow; he’d just settled Lewis into the extra bedlike contraption he had in Lewis’ room, versus forcing the two to share the same bed. But perhaps Sam knew better spells; how had she extended the bed? He merely smirked and moved over to where she was, pumping some soap into his palms before wetting them, slowly rubbing it in to his skin. Not that his hands weren’t clean… but they were about to start preparation for food. Might as well.

“And I put bars up too. I know Aidan hasn’t earned his off yet, so I’m sure Lewis can deal with them again for a night.”

Grinning, he leaned over and kissed her cheek before standing back up. “So thoughtful.” He playfully bumped against her shoulder with his arm, finally washing the soap off of his hands under the warm water. Pulling back, he flicked some water at her before drying them off with a nearby dishtowel. “And what about my bed? Have I earned my bars off?” He bit his lip and watched her face, handing over the towel for her to dry her hands off with.

She completely missed the importance of what she had just said. Had she thought about it a little longer before speaking, she may have realised that to someone else (in particular, Jason) it may have sounded as though she was referring to the boys as 'their sons', as opposed to meaning 'her son and his son'. She also missed him tensing up, because within a few short moments he had continued allowing his hands to wander.

With that moment and Jason's apparent awkwardness having passed, they both ended up at the sink washing their hands, and Jason leaned down to plant a kiss on her cheek as she mentioned the sleeping arrangement for 'their sons'.

“So thoughtful.”

He nudged her shoulder with his and she grinned - until he flicked water at her. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a little 'o' shape as she feigned shock. That could have quite easily started a war, but she decided now was not the time for them to have a wet-tee-shirt competition. Besides, she would have won hands-down.

He asked if he had earned the bars off his bed as he dried his hands off with a towel. She took the towel from him and dried her own, pursing her lips to the side slightly and furrowing her brow as though in thought. "I'm not sure yet." she offered, narrowing her eyes at him slightly as though scrutinising him. She took a couple of steps closer to him, looking up at him mere inches away from his face. "What would you exchange for having them taken off?"

He saw that look of mild surprise and indignation filter across her face, and he smirked, tensing up in preparation if she did the same back. But she didn’t… and he raised an eyebrow. Good… she knew she’d lose. Licking his lips, he focused on the towel for a moment or two, finally allowing her to have it. If she didn’t wipe her hands off, she might attack him with her wet, and now chilly, hands.

Jason did watch her face though, suddenly unsure of his question. Maybe he should have just assumed, not gone so far as to bring it up and see whether he was still in the dog house. Then maybe he wouldn’t have to be waiting to hear her verdict. Still… it was better to know one way or another, right? And he’d slipped it in rather well…

“I’m not sure yet.”

His face did fall slightly, though he tried to hide it behind a suddenly thoughtful expression, glancing down between them. Then she moved closer to him, and he took in a breath, glancing up at her before moving his head slowly back up. He ran a tongue over his lips; he liked looking at her. She made his breath come a little quicker with just a look. Or sometimes it was just her being close to him, allowing him to reminisce. They hadn’t been together long, but it had been enough to make some fun memories.

“What would you exchange for having them taken off?”

His eyebrows rose as he looked over her face, his eyes moving a little farther down before he gave her a lazy grin. “Anything.” It must be a Marren boy trait to give full reign to the woman directing them around… “I mean…” Then he realized he’d let his desire take off with him and he frowned a little, rubbing his eyes and chuckling. Making a face, he realized his dilemma. “What do you want?” Then he let his hand drop and reached for hers, biting his lower lip as he looked up at her eyes, holding her gaze.

Aw, bless him. He looked a little cut up at the fact she hadn't decided yet. He looked down and she could see the disappointment in his face. But then he realised what she'd said after, and he perked up a little. She raised an eyebrow and tried to stop a smirk from settling across her lips as he rushed into an answer. Then attempted to backtrack. Though, after a  moment he must have realised it was no use. He had just offered 'anything' to a St.James girl.

She sighed as he took her hand and bit his lip. "It is so lucky for you that I'm nothing like Charlotte." She flashed him a grin. "Besides, some people would argue I have everything." She pursed her lips to the side and taped her chin thoughtfully with her forefinger. "What do I want? What do I want?" she asked herself. "Such a hard decision. I'll think about it and get back to you by the end of the night." She stated brightly, planting a kiss on his cheek and letting go of his hand to go fetch the ingredients for the dinner.

“It is so lucky for you that I’m nothing like Charlotte.”

He cringed slightly. Yes… he was glad for that. He didn’t care much for her younger, naïve cousin. No matter how much his brother might. She had been fun to flirt with now and again, sure, but beyond that… she was hard to trust. And perhaps it was her age… and perhaps it wasn’t. Regardless, he hadn’t felt quite the same about that St. James since she skipped herself merely to Edward’s ear.

“Besides, some people would argue I have everything.”

Raising an eyebrow at that bold statement, he smirked a little. He wondered who ‘some people’ were, and what they considered ‘everything.’ Jason felt as if he had just about everything he wanted, minus the tarnished reputation. It was bearable, though, with Sam willing to at least accept it and allow him back in her life. Then he watched as she considered the question, suddenly uncertain again about what he had offered.

“Such a hard decision. I’ll think about it and get back to you by the end of the night.”

He had a slight shocked expression as she kissed his cheek, his mouth open partly when she pulled away. Then he smirked and rolled his eyes, following close behind, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her close as he kissed the top of her head. “Better to go with your gut, Sami.” Pulling back, he gave her a wink before pulling out a pot. After she told him what they were making, he sent the vegetables to be cut; his charm for that wasn’t the best, but it would do.

Then he helped get the meat ready. That was the manly part of cooking, wasn’t it? When it was all cooking, he washed his hands off and dried them before leaning against the counter, waiting for her with his ankles crossed, hand on either side gripping the edge. “Aidan didn’t get a nap today.” He smirked a little at that, glancing down guiltily at his feet. The boy would be ready to pass out before too long, and no doubt a meal would do him in. Jason had just kept playing with him, offering juice and snacks, trying to tempt him into being a good sleeper. Not that he wasn’t all ready, but…

Lack of a nap helped.

“Better to go with your gut, Sami.”

"You think?" Her gut instinct had been...well, it had been a little wrong. No, she couldn't expect that of him. Could she? She shook her head slightly as Jason started with the cutting of the vegetables. As they cooked the meal together, she thought about it more and more. It was possible. Dangerous, yes. But possible. And the thrill of it all would be exhilerating. She'd never done anything like it before, and most likely never would again. If they got caught- well, they'd be in serious trouble. More than Sam cared to imagine. But maybe it was worth the try.

“Aidan didn’t get a nap today.”

She was snapped out of her daydream, and looked up at Jason just as he looked at the floor sheepishly. "Oh?" she asked, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "That's a coincidence, because Lewis didn't either..." Lewis' lack of nap was all planned, of course. The less he slept during the day, the more likely he was to sleep that night. And an early night for the boys meant an early night for Sam and Jason.

Though Jason had stayed over a couple of nights since their relationship got back on track, they hadn't...what's the word...consumated that stage of it. The plan was that tonight would be the night when she would finally 'take the bars off Jason's bed' and let him back into the extra-satisfactory part of their relationship.

"I've been thinking..." she started slowly, before pausing and biting her lower lip. She pushed away from the bench and moved slowly over to where Jason was. "You said I should go with my gut instinct, right?" She paused in front of him, her legs either side of his as he leaned against the counter. "I will then." She took a deep breath. "My parents have friends over every Friday night for dinner. So, this Friday night, we're going to their house. Uninvited, of course. And - hopefully - unnoticed." She smirked slightly as she watched his expression. "I want you to really make it up to me."