I Didn't Think It Would Happen Like This

[Tree]

Ansel blinked, a bit puzzled by the sight of the bath. Then he turned right around, kissing her as he went past to grab an outfit of his own and change in the room.

He intended to just casually use one of the other showers until later. He was rubbing his eyes as he made his way to lounge in the livingroom and watch Rosie play with her peg people. He should probably have had the "toys in the playroom" thing... but instead he just watched his daughter, casually scooting about a bit to hold Nora as she opted for his lap.

[Sushi]

Nora draped her arms around his neck.

"So are you going to tell me what all of that was about?"

[Tree]

Ansel pulled her to kiss him, smiling as he held her close.

"What all what was about? "

He asked, not entirely sure what she was referring to.

[Sushi]

"you randomly dropping off the face of the planet in the middle of the night with the problem child?"

[Tree]

Ansel chuckled. Ah, that.

"We were given some counciling to help our marriage. We took the advice. I might have been a bit .... swift in utilizing it. Sorry, my love. "

He purred, kissing at her softly

[Sushi]

"okay," she allowed slowly.

"Did it say least work? Is she still going be... You know?"

Nora opted for that because she couldn't think of a nice way to phrase the issue and didn't want to upset Ansel.

[Tree]

"She's still my wife, and she's still Willow. She's been through a bunch, it'll take time. But it has helped us."

He shared with affectionate little kisses.

[Sushi]

Nora made a face.

"Everyone goes through stuff. I think she's had plenty of time."

[Tree]

"Nora love, please.. .. she's this way from my mistakes.... give her patience, please? "

He asked if his lover, happy to have her with him.

[Sushi]

"I don't think that's why she's this way, but fine."

She grumbled wordlessly, shaking her head.

"You really got marriage advice to find your wife a boyfriend? That sounds quacky."

[Tree]

Ansel looked at Nora and couldn't help but grin.

"Not exactly. You'll understand in a few days. Taylor is actually a pretty nice person. You should give them a chance, you might find them company you'd appreciate having around."

[Sushi]

"I haven't made a decision about him... Them? Yet. I didn't have a problem with the hanging around."

[Tree]

"I like them so far. They're light and a bit spicy. Right up your alley. "

He shared, pulling Nora to kiss him.

/ But I am a tiny bit offended you're more worried over the new cock in the house. /

[Sushi]

/don't be. He's a little too... Pretty for my tastes./

She turned a little, slipping a hand between them slyly.

/This is a much better package./

[Tree]

/ Good god, he is though, isn't he? Too bad he's not a chic. Imagine the fun we could all have. /

He chuckled, both hands cupping her ass and pulling her tight to him.

/ Careful my lovely little vixen. /

[Sushi]

/or maybe it's better he isn't. maybe I want you all for myself./

Nora was, in fact, not being careful at all.

[Tree]

/Mmmmhmmm, greedy are we? Did my lover miss me? /

He teased, fingers teasing at the hem of her dress. Maybe he'd let Rosie peg people solo for a minute.

[Sushi]

/what if I did?/

She batted doe eyes at him.

/You left me here to be all cold and alone./

[Tree]

/Oh, we can't let that continue, can we? /

It was at this point he ducked out with his lady to her room. He was not about to miss out on that sort of offer, after all.

[Sushi]

Nora was perfectly pleased with the situation.

When he was done with snuggles and got up to walk around, he got a small little voice interjecting.

/Ansel?/ his wife called unprompted

[Tree]

Ansel blinked. Oh crap.

/ Yes? /

He asked, kind of worried how this was going to go down. He hadn't exactly thought about this decision from that perspective. It was Nora, they were in a solid, committed relationship, so.... crap

[Sushi]

/am I okay? To you, I mean? Right now?/

Don't mistake. Despite the small words, this was important enough to her to reach out to him instead of just waiting for wherever he came around.

/Or am I... Bothering you?/

[Tree]

/ Yes? Are you alright? /

He asked, barely restraining himself from reaching towards her fill tilt. There's no way that'd plan out positively.

[Sushi]

/unharmed,/ she echoed faintly.

Willow let the conversation drop. She was mostly confused and a little embarrassed, her body feeling a little flushed but not painfully lusty or anything. She was literally doing absolutely nothing, just sitting on the floor of the closet and staring at her legs like she'd never seen them before.

[Tree]

Ansel still let Nora rest and was looking for his wife, finding her sitting there....

/ Unharmed doesn't mean alright...../

He pointed out with a little look at her in concern.

[Sushi]

Willow's face went beet red when he poked his head in.

/I... I'm not not-alright?/

She looked down at herself.

/I just... Don't know what I'm supposed to feel./

[Tree]

Ansel smiled a tiny bit, moving to kiss her.

/ Well considering what I was doing.... I'm gonna say being a bit steamy beneath the collar is the minimum expectations...../

[Sushi]

Willow ducked her head away before he could kiss her. It wasn't that she didn't want the kiss. She was just too embarrassed to handle it.

/If you're okay with it, then I'm okay. It was just... It was the first time, so I'm sure next time won't be as... I was just surprised so.../

She tugged the bottom hem of her shorts down as though covering that extra quarter inch of her thighs would solve her problem.

[Tree]

Ansel backed up, looking a bit confused and hurt.

"I'm sorry.... She just missed me and....."

[Sushi]

She reached out to grasp his pant legs in front of her so he couldn't back up that far.

"no, wait. Don't be sorry! I didn't mean..."

[Tree]

Ansel stilled, watching her and staying as she held him.

/ didn't mean? /

What? Cause he felt real guilty about not thinking his choices through. He was worried about his wife, too. What if she needed. .. .

/ You could always go to Taylor of you're lonely, too./

Lonely seemed nicer than horny?

[Sushi]

"I didn't mean to make you feel bad. You didn't do anything wrong. I just wasn't sure what was okay. I wanted to make sure I hadn't messed anything up for you or that I wasn't being weird or..."

Willow released her grasp as though burned at his suggestion. He might as well have slapped her and dumped a bucket of ice water over her head at the same time. She instantly shut down, likely to avoid feeling anything more than that first shock of hurt.

"No, I'm fine. Sorry for bothering you."

She was even cured of any of her own bother and embarrassment.

[Tree]

Ansel flinched at her reaction to his words, watching her a minute.

/I wasn't meaning to do that.....I just....I didn't understand why you pulled away and the only reason that made sense was me.... so I was just trying to say I was ok if you didn't want me. /

Ansel explained with a downcast look..

/ You didn't do anything weird or hinder any experiences. I'm sorry./

Even bound he was an idiot.

[Sushi]

/I was just embarrassed./

Willow stood up and brushed by him to go take a shower. This time she actually WAS avoiding him.

[Tree]

/.... why? /

Her embarrassment hadn't even registered and he didn't get it.

[Sushi]

/it doesn't matter. I'm just a moron./

She stood under the cold spray, staring at her toes. She didn't want to talk anymore.

[Tree]

Ansel flinched, catching the push back from her.

/ I'm sorry.... you aren't a moron but I'll give you your space for this moment.... may we talk about this after a bit? /

[Sushi]

/You don't need to do that. It's settled./

Willow waited to let her inside thaw until he'd left and turned his attention to something else. She went through a few different phases of processing on her own that took a couple hours. At first it was mostly disgust. That ebbed into regret, and eventually she was just left with a calm, aching disappointment. By that point she was curled up in a ball on the bed, cuddling donut cat and generally being absolutely no problem for Ansel.

[Tree]

Ansel felt his heart sink a tiny bit at how she was handling it, but also understood that she was hurt. Eventually he'd come to her side, looking at her with a pitiful look.

/My darling wife..... /

He looked so unsure.

/ This isn't OK.... I want to do better moving forward.. /

[Sushi]

Willow buried her face into her plushie, not making eye contact.

/I can't do better. This was my best./

She wasn't upset right now, for whatever that was worth.

/But next time will go much better. I know what to expect now, and I won't bother you./