- Book: Open Heart (pre-series)
- Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x MC (Casey MacTavish)
- Rating: General
- Category: Fluff/ Series (1/6)
- Summary: Starting in childhood, Casey & Ethan’s paths crossed six times before the “first time” they met.
- Warnings: Mention of a parent leaving.
- Words: 1300
- A/N: I am participating in this week’s @wackydrabbles. This week’s prompt is below in bold.
- A/N 1: Since this is some fluffy, fluff, and it’s @liaromancewriter ‘s tumblrversary… I’m dedicating this to Mal. 😊Let’s see if I can turn over a new leaf. (Not happening, but enjoy.)
CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY STUDIOS
Though he was a kindhearted man, Alan Ramsey still felt a sense of dread wash over him when the young couple boarding the plane smiled pleasantly, then took their seats directly in front of him. The woman handed their adorable toddler to her husband as he took his seat.
“Great,” his son moaned, “now we can listen to a baby scream the whole way too.”
Alan put his arm around his boy, but he shrugged it away. They were on their way to spend the holidays with Alan’s family in Florida, and Ethan wasn’t pleased about it at all. Then again, he wasn’t happy about much these days. Since his wife walked out on them months before, Alan wondered if he’d ever get his happy-go-lucky boy back again.
The trip was a sacrifice for a man struggling to make ends meet, but he didn’t think spending the holidays at home, just the two of them, would be a good idea. But now, he had to wonder. Since leaving home earlier that morning, Ethan was more unhappy than usual. He complained about being unable to see his friends over break. He didn’t want to fly, and he was confident he wouldn’t be able to study properly with his annoying younger cousins around. So, as they sat on board the plane as it made its stopover in Philadelphia International, Ethan was less than pleased to see another rug rat boarding.
“Hi, I’m Rose,” her mother said to Alan as she went into the overhead bin to retrieve a stuffed toy for her daughter. “I want to apologize in advance. We’ve never flown with her before. But my husband’s father is having surgery, and we really have no choice.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear. And over the holidays, too, that’s terrible. I’m sure she’ll be no bother,” Alan smiled.
“I wish I had your confidence,” the young mother grinned. “Is this your son?”
“Yes, this is my Ethan. Ethan, say hello.”
The twelve-year-old barely turned his head toward the two adults, muttering “Hello,” under his breath.
“You have a toddler,” Alan whispered, “I have a pre-teen.”
“I have to be honest; I am not willing to trade,” Rose laughed. “Just rest assured, her dad and I will do all that we can to make sure she doesn’t bother anyone too much.”
Ethan rolled his eyes. As if. Didn’t she know she had little control over the situation? If the little ankle-biter started crying, what was she going to do? Parachute out of the tin can they were traveling in? As he listened to the little girl cooing and laughing on her father’s lap, he rolled his eyes. This was going to be a long flight. A tuft of blonde curls appeared over the seat first, then a pair of bright blue eyes, followed by two chubby cheeks.
“Hello!” The little girl yelled, waving her little stuffed lamb over her head.
“Why, hello there, young lady!” Alan replied.
“Dad! Do you have to encourage her?”
“Oh, Ethan, be nice. Look how cute she is! She’s just trying to make friends.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t have the need to be friends with a two-year-old!”
“No!” she answered defiantly, “I dis many!” She said, holding up four fingers.
Her mom laughed, pulling her back down, into the seat.
“She’s actually three. We’re still working on it.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I bet she’s the smartest little girl in her preschool class!”
“Actually, she is,” her dad said. “I’m David, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, David!”
Ethan rolled his eyes. What was this, a social hour? Could they just get there in peace?
“… yeah, Casey is way ahead of all of the other toddlers in her class. She certainly didn’t get that from me.”
“Oh, I know that feeling. My son here is a genius, and he must have….”
“Got it because I study a lot. All the time, as a matter of fact. If I want to get into an Ivy and get out of Providence, then that’s what I have to do.”
“Oh, those are lofty goals, young man. I hope them come true.”
David and Rose both turned around as the flight began to taxi, and it was impossible for them not to notice in Alan’s eyes. They looked at each other and smiled grimly, sensing there was more to the story. But little Casey remained undeterred. She stared Ethan down over her dad’s shoulder.
“Come on, sweet pea,” he said, “that’s enough for you. We have to buckle you in your seat.”
She slid down into the seat between her parents, but not before sticking her tongue out at the older boy. Ethan rolled his eyes. She is going to be a colossal pain in the ass.
Ethan tapped his son’s knee as they took off.
“Why don’t you put your reading away and rest, son?”
“I have homework to do on the trip, Dad. I’m not wasting the flight sleeping.”
“Ah, you should worry about that tomorrow.”
“If I wait until tomorrow….”
He was interrupted when a stuffed lamb came hurling over the seat, hitting square in the head. The little girl’s delightful chuckles only added insult to injury.
“I’m sorry about that,” her dad said, red-faced as he turned around to retrieve his daughter’s toy.
“She is a colossal pain in the ass,” he said under his breath.
“SON!”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I’m going to read.”
But reading wasn’t going to happen. Once they reached cruising altitude, Casey began screaming. Her poor parents attempted everything they could to quiet her but to no avail. Ethan wasn’t concerned about the child nor her weary, exasperated parents. He would have given anything to be back home, and it was the first time he had thought that since his mother left.
As they got off the plane, little Casey stood holding her father’s leg. She tried to hide behind her blonde curls, but you could still see her tear-stained cheeks. No matter how much she annoyed people on the flight, one look at her, and all was forgiven. She was simply adorable. But that had no impact on Ethan.
“Are you feeling better little lady?” Alan asked as they stepped out of the plane.
“No.”
Ethan rolled his eyes. “Sure, now she’s quiet.”
Alan turned red. “I apologize for my son,” he said, “I need to teach him….”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Rose smiled. “Remember, I said I wouldn’t trade my toddler for your pre-teen.”
Ethan and Casey were staring each other down, looking like neither would give in when her lip started quivering.
“My ear huwts,” she began to cry.
Ethan’s rigid stance softened a bit. “The pressure in the plane was probably making her ears hurt, and that’s probably why she was crying so much.”
He looked at her parents, and the obnoxious pre-teen was gone, “You know when you fly home, make sure she drinks plenty of fluids beforehand. If your doctor says it’s OK, you should give her some acetaminophen before the flight and, if she can chew gum, keep some handy. It could help her on the flight.”
“Are you sure he’s twelve?” David asked.
Alan chuckled, “He wants to be a doctor.”
Ethan looked at the little girl once more, now feeling just a little guilty for being so mean. He took something out of his pocket and showed her mother.
“Is it OK if I give her this?”
“Well, you can,” Rose smiled, “but I have to warn you, you give her that, and she will love you forever.”
Casey grabbed the candy bar out of his hands and smiled. “Thank yew,” she grinned.
Ethan shook his head as he stood up.
“I’ll take my chances,” he chuckled. “Besides, I’ll never see her again, so I’m safe.”