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I.
Two weeks ago, if you’d told Ezekiel Jones he’d be actively training, physically training, to work with a team he would have laughed in your face.
Then again, two weeks ago magic hadn’t been real, and he hadn’t met the most terrifyingly competent woman on the face of the planet. And, y’know, the other Librarians were alright. Maybe not strictly necessary, but they’d done passable work together so far.
If passable work together meant releasing magic back into the world, begging to be allowed to investigate Clipping’s Book cases, and generally failing to actually function as a team. And there was that weirdness between Stone and Cassandra… So maybe not so passable.
But never let it be said that Ezekiel Jones was a quitter.
“Jones, are you even listening?” Colonel Baird snapped.
Ezekiel blinked, trying not to show that she’d startled him. “Uh, yes, obviously I’m listening. Wait five minutes for you to get in position. Make it to the exit, don’t get caught, Stone’s in charge. Which, might I point out, is obviously a mistake. I am a much better choice for team leader. World Class Thief, remember? Not getting caught is practically the job description.”
“And how many times has not getting caught included managing other people?” Colonel Baird arched an eyebrow at him. She didn’t even seem to be phased to learn that he had, in fact, been paying attention. And now she looked way too smug.
Ezekiel made a face.
“Right. So, Stone is in charge,” Colonel Baird repeated.
Ezekiel rolled his eyes, plastering on his most obnoxious smile, “Whatever you say Mum.”
Colonel Baird’s eyebrows shot up, and she shifted her stance to face him more fully, “You want to try that again?”
Ezekiel hummed. To his left he could see Cassandra staring at him with wide eyes. “Nope, don’t think so. Still pretty sure you’re making a mistake putting Stone in charge.”
The man in question flung his hands in the air.
Colonel Baird put a hand on Stone’s shoulder, “Well, good news, you guys do this right and you’ll have a chance to prove me wrong. Now, I’d suggest you all find a different starting point.” The other two nodded and moved off. Ezekiel turned slowly after them, shoving his hands in his pockets and slouching as he began to meander after the others. “And Jones?” When he turned back Colonel Baird had a particularly unimpressed look on her face, “Can it with the nicknames or you’ll be without your phone so long you’ll have forgotten what it looks like by the time I even consider giving it back.”
“Sure Colonel,” Ezekiel smirked.
II.
Okay, so he knew it would take her time to get all the paperwork and things sorted, but five hours in county lockup was beyond excessive. Ezekiel’d managed to shoot off a text to Baird to come pick him up before his phone was taken. Which meant she should’ve been expecting the phone call from what’s his name—Pointe?—about posting his bail. Which meant that she was letting him languish in here just for the hell of it.
Alright, probably not really. Baird was too much of a good guy for that. But still, they’d taken his phone. And his Gameboy. And his wallet. And his snacks. They even took his hat. Which, really? The hat? Even Ezekiel Jones didn’t hide pick in his hat.
Although, that wasn’t a bad idea.
Still, five hours spent in Sonora County Lockup with absolutely no way to distract himself was boring.
So, really, the voices he heard just starting down the hall could not have been better timed.
“I’m sorry to call you down here, ma’am. We had a bit of a dust up with some local gang trying to cause trouble at the doctor’s office. Your boy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“I’m sure he was,” the dry voice that responded to the officer was unmistakably Colonel Baird’s.
They rounded the corner a moment later and Ezekiel stood from the bench with a grin, “Hey Mum. Thanks for coming to pick me up.”
Baird rolled her eyes, giving him a quick once over. Satisfied that he was in one piece she stepped back to let Officer—yup, it was Pointe—open the door. “Where’d you pick him up?” she asked the officer.
“Found him cutting through the back lots of the strip, headed towards the park. He set off the alarm at the 7-11 going out the back door instead of the front. Like I said, wrong place, wrong time. Responding officers caught him when they went to check the alarms. They found the break in at the doctor’s same time, brought him in as a possible accessory.”
Colonel Baird sighed, giving Ezekiel a look when he just continued to linger by the bench, grinning, regardless of the now open cell door. “Let’s go Jones,” she snapped.
When he ambled close enough her hand flashed out to grip him by the back of the collar, hauling him the rest of the way from the cell. “Hey, hey, this is a new shirt!” Her only response was to arch an eyebrow at him, Ezekiel huffed and slumped into her. Colonel Baird just rolled her eyes and pushed him off. “Did you at least get my things?”
Baird patted her bag in answer, already steering him down the hall. Glancing back, she smiled tightly at the officer, “Thank you for your assistance, Officer Pointe, I’ll get him home now.”
Pointe tipped an imaginary cap to her, “Pleasure to have been of service, ma’am.”
Ezekiel glanced back, sharing an affronted look with Baird before the woman tossed another strained smile over her shoulder. When she looked back at Ezekiel she rolled her eyes, “Go.”
Ezekiel snickered, but waited until they were at least almost out the police station doors before he asked, “Not a fan of small town cops?”
“I’m not the one who just got arrested for shoplifting a 7-11.”
“Hey, I paid for those snacks!”
Baird rolled her eyes, catching him by the shirt collar again, whipping open the door right next to the station and shoving him through. “Seriously Jones?” she released him once they were secure in the Annex, doors closing behind them.
“Hey, you heard the man, they wouldn’t have caught those thieves without me. I practically did a good deed.”
“Uh huh. And did your good deed gain you any other souvenirs?”
Ezekiel scoffed, “Too easy.”
Colonel Baird rolled her eyes, pulling a large Ziploc from her purse, which she tossed to Ezekiel, “Get out of here Jones, I’ve got work to do.”
“Right, I’ll make sure to clear it with your schedule next time.”
“Better not be a next time. Now get moving before I ground you.”
Ezekiel made a face but hustled out the door anyways. He glanced back once, to see Baird shuffling through papers on her desk and immediately had to shove away the warmth that bloomed when he realized he really had interrupted her work, and she’s dropped everything to come get him anyway.
(She did ground him about three months later when the arresting officer flirted with her so overtly Ezekiel had to bring up Flynn. But that was maybe fair, so he let her have it.)
III.
Ezekiel hadn’t expected to find Baird still at her desk when he wandered back into the Annex later that evening.
She looked up from her work, eyeing the apple he tossed in the air. “That better not be—”
“Relax Colonel,” Ezekiel rolled his eyes, catching the apple and taking a bite, “Besides, you’ve got nothing to worry about, remember? You said it yourself, already the worst version of myself. Which, thanks for that by the way, definitely what every young boy wants his mother to think of him.”
Baird sighed, putting her pen down to give him her full attention, “First off, I’m your Guardian, not your mother. But you’re right, that wasn’t fair, and I’m sorry.”
Ezekiel blinked, that hadn’t been the reaction he’d been expecting. “Well, you should be, after all, I’m way too awesome to be the worst.”
Baird rolled her eyes. “You’re something alright.” Ezekiel just smirked at her, something warm settling in his chest as he continued to linger. “I’m a little jealous,” she admitted eventually.
Okay, that really hadn’t been what he was expecting. This woman, this woman, jealous of Ezekiel Jones? Please.
Something must have shown on his face, because Baird waved a dismissive hand, even as she elaborated, “When Stone had the Apple he threw a fit over art, Cassandra tried to blow up all of Europe. I punched Flynn in the face and then held him at gunpoint. But you, even in your worst moment you still did the right thing, for us, for the Library, for the world.”
“Does nobody listen to me when I—wait, you punched Flynn?”
Her cheeks colored and Baird ducked her head, “There might have also been something about ditching the kids to get a penthouse and take over the world,” she mumbled.
Ezekiel laughed. That, honestly, doesn’t even really surprise him. She’d probably be pretty good at it too. Even though it’d also probably be the most boring world ever once she’d finished putting in all kinds of bloody “safety measures.” Not that he was about to tell her that. “Ditching the kids? Thought you weren’t my mother, Colonel.”
“I’m your Guardian, Jones,” she growled.
Ezekiel snickered, “That’s starting to sound suspiciously like the same thing.” When Baird only rolled her eyes he took pity on her, taking a moment to scan the Annex. “Where is Flynn, anyway?”
Eve shrugged, turning her attention back to her work, “He left.”
“He what?” Ezekiel yelped.
Eve started, jerking almost out of her chair, eyes darting around the room before settling on him. “His mission is to find the Library, but, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, he hasn’t found it yet.”
“So he just left?”
“No, I sent him back out. This is something he needs to finish.”
Ezekiel made a face, “Seriously?”
“Seriously, what?”
“This! You stay, he goes and you’re just—You are staying, right?”
Baird looked a little taken aback by the sudden shift in his tone. Which, fair, that might have come out a little more panicky than he liked. Still, Baird took it in stride, nodding and shuffling through some of the papers stacked on her desk. Finding what she was looking for she held a couple out to him, “I’m staying. Got my transfer papers and everything.”
Ezekiel took them hesitantly, doing his best to ignore the sudden apprehension twisting in his gut. It was just paper. He’d been lifting more valuable items in grade school. He read through them quickly, feeling some knot in his chest unbind. “How’d you get transfer papers for the Library, anyways?” he asked, returning them to her.
Eve shrugged, putting them away, “No idea, Flynn gave them to me.” When Ezekiel continued to hover, she turned concerned eyes on him, “Everything okay Jones?”
“Just, you’re really alright with it?” At her look her elaborated, “With Flynn leaving?”
Her expression softened, “I’m not thrilled, but I’m also the one who sent him away, so I’ll live with it.” Ezekiel made a face and Eve smiled, “You sticking around?”
Ezekiel did his best to ignore the double meaning to her question, “Still waiting on my pizza.”
Eve chuckled, waving him off.
IV.
He can still smell her blood.
None had actually gotten on him, thank God, but he can still smell it. And he feels almost sticky, like maybe he’d been drenched and hadn’t noticed.
She’s fine now, he reminds himself, Mum is fine. Flynn fixed her. She’s perfectly fine.
Which was, of course, arguably the worst moment imaginable to stumble across Eve slumped down against a bookcase. She was sitting, technically. Well, sitting for anyone who didn’t regularly maintain her perfect posture, so slouching really. She had a book open in her lap, but her head was leaned back against the shelf, eyes closed.
Ezekiel could only stare, feet stuck to the floor, chilly fear dripping down his spine as he waited for any indication that she was still alive. Her chest rose as she inhaled and Ezekiel found himself moving, falling, lunging toward her even as the world spun. The cry of “Mum!” tore from his chest without conscious awareness.
Eve startled, eyes snapping open, book falling to the floor as she reached up to catch Ezekiel barreling toward her.
He didn’t fully register that she’d caught him. Instead, checking her over frantically, hands and eyes skimming over arms, stomach, chest. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did something happen? I’ll get Flynn, he—”
She caught his hands, giving them a little tug, and Ezekiel froze, half kneeling over her, half already turned away to run back down the aisle. “Ezekiel,” she said, firm and gentle. She gave his hands another tug and he settled next to her. Eve reached up with one hand to cup his cheek, brushing away tears he hadn’t noticed shedding, “I’m okay.” He bit his lip, trying to hold back a whimper. “Really,” she tugged him down again, and folded him into her arms when he collapsed against her, “I’m alright. Just resting. Turns out nearly dying takes a lot out of you.”
Ezekiel sniffed, curling closer to her, “Did.”
“Hmm?” Eve ran her fingers through his hair.
He pulled away slightly, looking up at her, “You did die Mum.”
Eve’s eyes widened. She scanned his expression and something in her softened. Gentle fingers reached up to wipe away the tears he hadn’t yet quite managed to stop. “I’m sorry Ezekiel, it wasn’t my intention.” She petted his cheek, leaning in to press a kiss to his forehead.
Ezekiel sniffed again, rubbing his sleeve under his eyes, “But you can’t promise it won’t happen again.”
She shook her head, “I’m so sorry.”
He flopped onto her, draping himself across her, “No.”
Fingers carded through his hair. “You know you can’t keep me here forever?” He smiled at the slight laugh in her voice.
“Yes I can. I’m Ezekiel Jones. I can do whatever I want.”
This time she did laugh, “Never change Jones.”
“Why would I,” he sniffed, “I’m awesome.”
He snuggled down into her. She laughed again, “You’re something alright.” But she didn’t move him, letting him soak up all the contact he wanted. She didn’t speak again until he’d relaxed, “I can’t promise you everything, but I can promise to do my best not to die anytime soon, okay?”
Ezekiel shifted to sit next to her, leaning into her side. “Well, I suppose we can’t all be untouchable. What are you reading, anyway?”
Eve rolled her eyes, pulling Ezekiel closer with one arm while she reached down to grab her book with the other.
V.
Ezekiel peered over the balcony. Eve puttered about the Annex below. She’d changed her clothing since being de-statued, it made the experience of seeing her here both more and less jarring.
With the others gone, Ezekiel pasted on a carefree smile and nearly skipped down the stairs. Eve had gathered up quite the stack of books in her arms, and far be it for Ezekiel to pass up such a golden opportunity, “Y’know you should probably be careful with that, a fall at your age could be quite dangerous.”
Eve dropped the books on the main table and turned back to him, eyebrows furrowed, “At my age?”
“Well, you know,” Ezekiel shrugged, “Over four hundred years and all…” Eve’s eyebrows rose. “Not- not that you look a day over one sixty.”
She smirked, “Nice try there Jones. Seeing as how I spent all that time as a statue here, in the Library, I’m really not sure that counts.”
An odd thought occurred to Ezekiel, “Does that make you an artifact?”
That same odd expression crossed Eve’s face. She paused, opened her mouth to respond, snapped it shut, stared at Ezekiel a moment. “You know what?” she finally managed, “I don’t think I want to know the answer to that question.”
Ezekiel nodded a touch frantically, mind scrambling for a way to change the subject, “So, uh, I noticed you didn’t leave me anything shiny.”
Eve rolled her eyes, “Really? World ending, time travel, four hundred years as a statue and you’re worried I didn’t leave you something shiny?”
He shrugged, “Aren’t parents supposed to leave something for their children in their will?”
“Considering that stealing is enough to get your kids taken away from you, I’m going to go with not this way, no.”
“Wait, really?”
Eve grabbed a couple more books as they spoke and she dropped them into her bag, eyeing Ezekiel oddly. “Theft is a crime Jones. Getting arrested will get your children taken away, if you have any. And since you were asking me to steal something just so that you can steal it later… I’m pretty sure that’s considered bordering on, if not actually, child abuse in most countries.”
Something in Ezekiel dropped.
“Jones?” Eve rounded her desk, reaching out to guide him onto a stool under a nearby shelf, “Hey, Ezekiel, you okay?”
“You’re not an abusive parent.”
“I… thanks?” she pushed him more firmly into the stool, one hand reaching up to press to his forehead. “I wasn’t particularly worried?”
Ezekiel bated her hand from his forehead, but caught it as she straightened and kept tight hold of it. “You…” his voice caught and he swallowed convulsively. He shoved away his uncertainty, wrapped it up in ball and tossed it into the very very back of his ‘never to think of again’ mental closet. “You still should have left me something.”
Eve dipped her head to meet his eyes, the hand he still held squeezing gently, her other hand coming up to cup his cheek. He did his best to project nonchalance. Pasting a smile on his face he hoped wasn’t nearly as sickly as it felt. Evidently whatever she saw was enough, for after long minutes of observation she leaned in to press a kiss to his forehead. “I’m sorry we didn’t have any way to tell you for certain we were coming back.”
He blinked furiously, turning his face away so she wouldn’t see the tears that had suddenly welled up. With one last squeeze of his hand, Eve stepped away, giving him space as she went back to her packing.
“You need a ride home?”
Ezekiel swallowed, looking up, “No. I’ve got some a—got some stuff still to do here.”
Eve frowned a little, “Okay… but don’t stay too late. If I get a call from Jenkins telling me you’ve been sneaking into the Large Collections Annex again y—”
“Large Collections Annex? I haven’t tried there yet. Thanks Colonel!”
Eve rolled her eyes, turning to leave. Ezekiel turned his attention to his phone. “Oh, Jones.” When he looked up, Eve tossed him a small package. The smile she sent him when he caught it was sad, “Felt too much like giving up.” And with that cryptic remark she left.
Ezekiel blinked down at the, surprisingly shinny, package in his hands. It took him a moment to realize that whatever it was had been wrapped in especially gaudy silver wrapping paper. Brow furrowed, he peeled away the paper to reveal a slightly less gaudy velvet pouch. Inside of that he found a signet ring and a small note.
As he read the note a smile spread across his face. She hadn’t stashed him something to steal. She’d set him up a four hundred year old scavenger hunt across the Library, contingent upon her being around to give it to him.
“Thanks mum,” he whispered to the silent Annex.
He heard her footsteps pick up once more, and warmth suffused him as he realized she’d wanted him to know she was keeping an eye on him just a little longer.
+ I.
“Mum!”
A wall of savage, mindless people between them. Bodies piling up on her. Struggling, struggling.
Her son beside her, bandaging the second degree burns on his hand, wincing whenever he did.
“How many times?”
Swinging a massive wrench at a mindless beast wrapped in human form, wearing a general’s uniform.
Red lights flashing.
“I like the way you look at me when you tell it.”
A door. A platform. A grid.
Ezekiel jumping off the ledge.
Eve gasped for breath as she woke. Coughing, she hauled herself upright. In bed beside her, Flynn rolled toward her, reaching out even before the man woke properly.
She caught the reaching hand, forcing her breathing to calm. “It’s okay,” she pressed a kiss to Flynn’s fingers, “Just a bad dream. Go back to sleep. I’m gonna go get some water.”
Flynn mumbled, but settled when she folded his hand back under the covers.
Grabbing a sweatshirt to ward off the nighttime chill, Eve padded out to the kitchen. There she filled a glass from the tap and sagged against the sink. She scrubbed a hand across her face, fighting back a sob. Not even another four hundred years would be enough to sort through this. Remembering that last loop—Ezekiel throwing himself off the ledge—had been bad enough. These little scraps of other moments appearing in her dream were more than she thought she could handle.
A faint scratching noise drew her attention to the front of the apartment. She slipped a knife from the block as she made her way from the kitchen to the front door. She arrived just in time to see the door open to reveal a miserable, pajama clad Ezekiel Jones.
Dropping her knife on the entryway table, Eve hurried forward, “Jones? Everything alright?”
Ezekiel didn’t answer, didn’t look up, only stumbled forward two steps, and collapsed. It was only by her quick reflexes that she even caught him. “Mum,” he sobbed.
Oh. Oh, this was worse than she’d thought. Ezekiel hadn’t called her mum to her face in nearly a year.
Hushing him, Eve managed to close the door and maneuver them over to the couch. Where Ezekiel draped himself across her without a second thought.
“There were too many. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t save you,” he mumbled.
Scratch that. This was worse than the worst-case scenario.
“You remember?” she choked out.
The dreams. Those awful dreams about the DARPA facility. One of the ways she’d been able to get through them was by reminding herself that her boy was home, that he was safe and whole and didn’t remember.
To discover that she was wrong…
Movement caught her eye and Eve glanced up to see Flynn creeping into the living rom. He peered over at them, meeting her eyes with concern at the sight of Ezekiel sprawled across her. She shook her head and he nodded, slipping over to the front door to flip the lock rather than disturb them.
The lock clicked and Ezekiel jerked, “Wha’ wazzat?”
“Shh,” Eve petted his hair, watching Flynn slip back to their room, “Just Flynn. We’re safe, don’t worry.”
Ezekiel settled, and for several long moments they cuddled in silence.
“I didn’t lie,” he muttered eventually. Shifting so he was leaning against Eve rather than on top of her. “I didn’t remember at first. I still don’t, really. But… I keep having these dreams…”
When he remained silent for a while Eve nodded, “Red lights flashing, sirens blaring—” she rolled her eyes “—rage people.”
Ezekiel leaned back. To look up at her, “I thought you guys said the game was crashing in the last loop. That we didn’t actually run into anybody.”
She sighed, “We didn’t. But you’re not the only one having dreams.”
Panic swept across Ezekiel’s face and he leapt to his feet, beginning to pace, “But then Stone a-a-and Cassandra—”
Eve jumped up as well, catching and stilling her boy’s frantic pacing, “Ezekiel.” When he didn’t respond, looking away from her and practically vibrating with anxiety, she ducked her head to catch his eye. “Ezekiel.” When he finally met her eyes she smiled faintly, “Hey. We have no reason to believe either of the others remember. Okay?”
He nodded, jerkily, “But then why do you remember?”
Eve sighed, drawing him back down to the couch, “Best guess? Probably the same reason I’m the only one who can remember jumping multiple timelines. To borrow Jenkins’ idea, my mind has already shattered across all of time and space. What’s a little Atlantean fueled time loop?”
There were also those four hundred years spent as a statue in the Library. Centuries spent in the most magical place in the universe under a spell—or curse? Didn’t matter—was a long time to be steeped in that much magic. And she wasn’t exactly sure she’d come out the same as she’d gone in.
Not that this was the right time for that conversation.
“I’m sorry,” Ezekiel muttered.
“For what?”
“I-I couldn’t—” Ezekiel choked, folding over, and dropping his head into his hands.
“Hey,” Eve rubbed his back, “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Ezekiel, you spent who even knows how long learning and growing, doing everything in your power to keep us safe. To get us out. And you did exactly that.”
“I didn’t. Not really. I mean, I got you out, ‘cause obviously. I mean, I’m Ezekiel Jones. I just… I didn’t do everything I could. There were loops where I just let you all go off to die. And I didn’t even get you out properly… I cheated.”
“I know.” He glanced at her, askance. It pulled a chuckle from her despite the circumstances. “I know you, remember? Ezekiel, no one could expect you to go through all that again and again and not need a break. Even soldiers go on leave.”
“But when soldiers go on leave their family doesn’t die.”
“You seem pretty sure of yourself.”
“Well I—” Ezekiel stopped, turning wide eyes on her.
Eve did her best to smile at him, to push away the tightness in her chest. “Not every soldier goes on leave at the same time.”
Ezekiel swallowed hard, “I’m sorry.”
“I know. I’m not mad.” It was a little easier to smile at him when she tried again, “I’m glad you’re here.”
He turned away again, “Y-your memories…?”
“It’s not really anything coherent for me.” She sighed, leaning back into the couch and coaxing Ezekiel to do the same. He pressed himself into her side, refusing to look at her. “Just flashes. Bits of fighting. Little snippets of conversation.” She reached down to wrap his right hand in both of hers, “Bandaging your hand.”
“I’m sorry,” Ezekiel said again.
Eve shook her head. Raising his hand to press a kiss to his palm, “The only thing you need to be sorry for is not bringing enough grenades to get yourself to safety in that last loop.”
Ezekiel flashed her a weak smirk, “Yeah, I guess that would’ve been pretty hard for you, being my Guardian and all.”
Eve rolled her eyes, “Hard as your Guardian,” she agreed, taking a deep breath, “Harder as your mother.”
Ezekiel’s eyes went wide. “I, um,” he ducked his head, “hadn’t actually considered that.”
“Yeah, kinda figured. How about you promise to never make me watch you die again?”
“I… think I can do that.”
“Good,” Eve hauled him closer, wrapping her arms tight around him, “’Cause you try anything like that again and I’ll kill you myself.”
“Pretty sure that would defeat the—”
“Can it.”
Ezekiel chuckled pressing his head against her shoulder.
She let him rest there for a moment before jostling him, “C’mon, let’s go to bed. You can bunk with me.”
“But Flynn’s in there,” Ezekiel grumbled. But he let her pull him up, and towards her door, so Eve didn’t put much stock in it. “I’m not cuddling with him.”
That made her laugh, “I wouldn’t ask you to. You can sleep on my side.”
He hesitated just outside the bedroom door, “Seriously, Colonel, I can just sleep on the couch.”
“What, too old to climb in bed with your parents?”
Ezekiel’s mouth dropped open, “He’s not my dad.”
“I can kick him out.” Eve shrugged at the astonished look on his face, “Seriously. Flynn won’t mind.” Ezekiel only continued to gape at her, and Eve deflated. “I’m sorry, you’re right, this is inappropriate. I’m just,” she sighed, glancing away, “I’m not going to be able to sleep if you’re even just in another room. I’ll end up coming back out just to watch you breath like some kind of creeper. But that doesn’t excuse me pressuring you into something you’re not comfortable with.”
Ezekiel’s eyes dropped to the floor, “It-it’s not… It wouldn’t be weird?”
She shrugged, “Maybe? I haven’t actually climbed into bed with my parents since the night before I left for WestPoint.” She pointed a finger at him when he smirked, “You tell anyone and they’ll never find your body.”
“Didn’t you just yell at me about not dying?” he snickered.
“Yeah yeah, laugh it up Jones,” Eve rolled her eyes, but bit back a smile of her own, glad he was relaxing.
Ezekiel glanced back to the bedroom door, “I’ve never actually done this before.”
“Shared a bed with your parents?” Ezekiel nodded without looking her way and Eve felt something in her chest crack. Forcing her tone to remain level she shrugged, “Can’t say I’ve ever been the parent a kid is climbing in with. So I guess it’ll be a first time for both of us.”
Evidently, she’d made the right choice, leveled the playing field just enough, because Ezekiel only smiled faintly and nodded.
She led him into the room, climbing into bed and pressing herself against Flynn. The man’s fingers danced across her hip as she settled, but he remained otherwise still. Ezekiel hovered uncomfortably beside the bed until she lifted the sheet in invitation. The boy was careful climbing in, making sure not to touch, but settling on his side facing her.
“Close your eyes,” she murmured, reaching one hand out to brush over his head. He obeyed and a surprisingly short time later his body slackened, the tension seeping away as he fell asleep.
Eve watched him for a long while; petting a hand across his hair, content to watch the rise and fall of his chest.
Eventually, Flynn shifted behind her, hooking his chin over her shoulder to gaze down at the boy. “He asleep?” Flynn whispered. She hummed an affirmative. Flynn lay back down, cuddling closer and wrapping his arms around her. “Everything okay?” he asked into the back of her neck.
She sighed, pulling his arms even tighter around her, “No. But he’s talking. That’s something.”
“True. And he’s not alone.”
“No, he’s not. Thank you for this.”
“Of course,” he pressed a kiss to her hair, “All things considered, I expected one of them soon, honestly, I’m just grateful it’s not Stone.” She slapped ineffectually at his shoulder and he snickered, “Shh. You’ll wake the baby.” She smacked him again and he pressed so close she could feel the ear-to-ear grin he wore.
She reached back toward Ezekiel and Flynn caught her hand before she could make contact. “You’ll wake hi,” Flynn whispered, entwining their fingers and pressing their hands to her chest. She sighed, he was right, she knew better. “Go to sleep, Guardian. Your boy is safe. He’ll still be here in the morning.”
Knowing Flynn was right she snuggled down further into his arms, closing her eyes to let sleep take her.
-
Ezekiel stayed just long enough the following morning to promise he’d be at the Annex later; sneaking out before Flynn woke up.
So when they arrived at work an hour or so later, she wasn’t all that surprised to see Ezekiel sitting on her desk.
“We have chairs, you know,” Flynn said.
Ezekiel scoffed, “I know.”
Eve’s hand flashed up to cover Flynn’s mouth, hoping to forestall an argument. “Did you eat?” she asked Ezekiel.
He rolled his eyes, “Yes Mum.” He picked a folder off her desk, looking away, “I, uh, I’ve been working on a new alias, y’know, in case something comes up. Thought I’d, ah, get your approval.”
Eve’s eyebrows furrowed, that was new. “Okay,” she accepted the folder from him and stepped back to give him some room when he hopped off the desk.
“I’m still not calling you dad,” Ezekiel informed Flynn as he passed the older man.
“Wasn’t asking you to,” Flynn promised.
With a flippant wave, Ezekiel slipped through to the Library proper.
Flynn stepped up behind Eve to glance over her shoulder. “Okay, that was weird, right?” She nodded. “Does he usually…”
“Ask me to check his aliases? No.” She glanced at the folder she’d been given, then at Flynn. Her partner shrugged and gestured for her to open it. So, with a shrug of her own, Eve did just that.
And immediately lost her breath.
First and foremost, in the folder was a birth certificate. A birth certificate for one Ezekiel Jones Baird, with her name under mother.
“Aww, look,” Flynn pointed to the line for father where his own name had been very lightly penciled. She could only smile, blinking away the tears that had suddenly welled up. “Looks like congratulations are in order,” Flynn whispered, wrapping his arms around her middle and pressing a kiss to her temple.