Work Text:
January 2017.
When Anne returned home from riding with Savannah and Isla, she did not expect the scene they would find.
Tim and Anne had offered to take all the grandkids for the weekend before school started so their parents could arrange all the last-minute school related details and to give Mike and Zara some alone time after the tragedy that struck them in December. They needed time to process their loss and doing so with an almost three-year-old around was not the easiest.
As per usual, Savannah had been insistent on going out riding and Isla, following her big sisters’ footsteps, had joined in her pleas. The weather had finally allowed them their wish on Sunday morning, so Anne had taken her two oldest granddaughters’ while Tim stayed with the youngest, preparing snacks and hot chocolate for when they returned.
They had finished preparing the snacks and left the chocolate to heat for when the riders came back home. Knowing they still had some time left, he decided to take Mia over to the stables to entertain her and so she could pet the animals, lately she had a certain obsession with the cows.
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Not even an hour later, Tim was sat in the sofa, with a crying Mia on his lap. With one hand he held a now almost red kitchen towel to his head while with the other he rubbed Mia’s back, all the while assuring her that he was ok. That was the scene Anne walked into.
“Oh my God, are you ok?” As she said it, she was already rushing over to check over both. Upon seeing the blood on her grandkid’s shirt, she did not waste a minute in taking her in her arms to check her over, looking for where the blood had come from.
“She is fine, had a bit of a fright but the blood is mine, don’t worry”. The reassurance from her husband did little to calm her nerves. With Mia still in her arms, her cries having turned to sniffles, she turned to check on him. There was blood over half his face and on his shirt, the rag was covered in blood and his gaze was a bit unfocused. He certainly painted a ghastly picture.
Seeing the panicky face of his wife Tim stood and went to her, being mindful of the blood covering him. With his free arm, he gave his wife and grandchild a one-armed hug. Feeling her husband there, in one piece, reassured her more than any words he could come up with.
Finding strength within her husband’s arm, she evaluated the situation: Mia needed a change of clothes, and so did her husband. Making him sit again, she inspected the cut: it seemed quite profound although it was just a couple of inches; it would probably need a couple of stiches. As if reading her mind, Tim told her he had already called the doctor, and that it would arrive in a little over half an hour.
Deciding she did not want her husband to go up the stairs, she waited till Savannah and Isla appeared, and after explaining the situation, left them happily questioning their grandpapa while she took Mia upstairs in search of clean clothes. With Mia newly dressed and a button shirt for Tim, she went downstairs to find both girls interrogating her husband about his injury. Seeing her husband well calmed her, she always tended to think the worst of things, being the pessimist one out of the two of them. Feeling his wife, Tim looked up and smiled at her in silence reassurance.
Once the doctor arrived, he examined Tim’s head and after cleaning it, concluded that while it was deep it was nothing that required the hospital, a couple of stiches would solve the problem.
Even though Anne had tried to distract the girls with the hot chocolate during her husband’s examination, she had been unsuccessful. They did not want to leave their grandpapa to face the needle and doctor alone. With each girl holding one of Tim’s hands and Anne behind soothingly rubbing his shoulder, the doctor set to give the four stiches’ necessaries to close the wound. After administering a low dose of pain medication and instructing to take another in 6 hours, the doctor left.
As the rest of the day passed, Anne observed her husband trying to mask the tiredness and headache he felt. Not wanting him alone and knowing it was not the best idea to go exploring outside, she had suggested table games, and after much negotiation they had finally decided on one and settled on the couch.
By the time Peter and Zara came for their kids Mia had spent an hour asleep in Tim’s arms, and he had not been that far behind himself. The last half an hour had just been Anne with the two oldest playing, and she had managed to snap a couple of pictures of the adorable scene in front of her.
With the chatting that preceded the sibling’s entrance, the slept ones awakened.
Seeing their parents there, the girls quicky went over to fill them in on everything that had happened. With everyone talking at the same time, they only managed to catch some words. They understood what had happened after seeing Tim’s head.After making sure he was ok, they decided not to overstay, knowing they were probably tired and needing to decompress and relax.
Finally alone, Anne could see more clearly what her husband had been trying to hide (unsuccessfully from her) all evening. She saw how groggy he really was and after a bit of prodding, he confessed about the headache. Knowing they would have an early night, she sent him for a quick shower while she prepared some light dinner.
Much to her surprise, upon suggesting going to bed after dinner, he had seemed reluctant. However, he had readily agreed once she reassured him she would be going with him, the thought of taking her eyes off him not agreeing with her. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was sleep. While preparing for bed, Anne realized she still did not know how her husband had injured himself, so she made a mental note to ask about it.
Closing her laptop, she looked over where her husband was sleeping, and tears filled her eyes. She was incredibly glad that he was ok, she did not know what she would do if something where to happen to him. Since he had entered her life, he had rocked her world; shown her a love she had not previously experienced and opened the door to an intimacy she had not known herself capable of possessing. Running her fingers through his hair, she kissed his forehead and cuddled to him.
Without waking he turned to her, taking her in his arms. Basking in the safety he provided her, and with the knowledge that he would be fine, she fell sleep.
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The following day, when he woke, he had found Anne sitting against the headboard of the bed, giving the last touches to the speeches of that week. Looking at the time, he realized he had slept longer than usual. Once she realized he was awake, Anne started playing with her husband’s hair. Feeling comfortable, they started idle chatting, about the plans for the day and meetings of the week. After reviewing the plan for that years London’s boat show a comfortable silence set in.
“I still don’t know what happened yesterday for you to end with another scar you know?” Anne could no longer contain her curiosity. It had taken him a bit getting used to certain ceilings of Gatcombe after first moving in, but it had been years since he had had an encounter with a low ceiling at home.
“It was a silly thing, really” A blush spread on his cheeks and an embarrassed look took over his face. With sleep still clouding his eyes, he looked kinda cute in Anne’s opinion.
“Oh really? Do tell.”
“Ok, so I took Mia to see the cows. Well, I was kneeling pointing things at her and lost my balance, with the good luck that my head collided with the edge of the fence. I am afraid I gave Mia quite the scare”.
“Why is that darling?” Stroking her hand through his hair, she was paying full attention to his story, and thinking of maybe changing those offensive fences.
“Well, I did not realize I was bleeding at first and when I touched it, I managed to spread the blood all over my face and in addition, I covered my eye. Seeing all the blood, she started crying so I picked her up and came to the house took the towel, called the doctor and went to the sofa. And after that, my princess in shining armour arrived and saved the day.”
“You really frightened me, when I heard Mia crying and then saw all the blood…” Anne trailed off. “I’m just glad you are ok and, in the future mister, include pointy fences to things your head should remain away from”.
“Yes dear”. Giving her a soft smile, he rose and knelt in front of her. Leaning over, he looked into her eyer before leaning over and, after nuzzling her nose, giving her a gentle and reassuring kiss.