Work Text:
Placing the bags down on the counter, you release a deep sigh. Grabbing the glass milk bottle to put in the fridge, but it slips out of your hands and smashes to the floor.
"Shi-, I mean, bother. Ugh, " your hand rests on your temple.
Reaching down to collect the broken glass in your hand before the children or dog for that matter can come in and hurt themselves. Now to mop up.
"I heard a crash? Everything okay my love?" Your husband, Erwin, calls from his office in the next room. You neglect an answer because you're actually very upset with him. He obviously doesn't know why (yet.)
You've cut your hand on small shard and quickly wash it under the sink. A warm hand guilds underneath yours and presses a towel to your wound. You look up and meet ocean blue eyes and see them filled with concern. "You're ignoring me, what's the matter?" He says wrapping a plaster round your finger before giving it a kiss. You sigh, "I saw your boss at the shop today - he said to tell you he's still waiting for the last few signatures before processing your promotion? The promotion you neglected to tell me about.."
His Adams apple bobs with a gulp. "I was waiting for the righ-" you cut him off with a chuckle pressing your fingers to your mouth to stop yourself. "Right time?! You PROMISED me no more hours Erwin!"
"My love, please listen to me, let me explain." He tries to pull you into an embrace but you push him away. "No, NO, you listen to me now. You missed both the girls births because you were working, you missed Scouts first two birthdays, because you were at work... and now Zoë is asking if you'll be at her school show next week or and I quote, our 7 year old "will daddy be to busy for us" because... where were you, Erwin? " You gesture to him.
The upset on his face was plain as day. How long had you been holding onto these feelings? Was he really as absent as you're saying?
"I was at work, providing for our family, paying for piano lessons and the food in our fridge and keeping horrible, awful people locked up away from my girls." He pulls you into his chest. This time, you don't push away.
"Erwin, please, I am begging you. Don't take this promotion. I need you home, I can't keep feeling like a part-time wife." He feels you shaking in his arms. He turns into you, his hand on the other side of your head. He kisses your hair and rests his chin on the top of your head.
"You are not, have not, and will never be a part-time wife."
Your eyes filled with tears, your cheeks are flushed pink.
"I'll talk to Pyxs in the morning. No more hours, no more late nights or missed birthdays. I promise my love."
Wrapping your arms round to his back. Taking a deep breath in. "You promised last time, and here we are having the same conversation, I mean it, Erwin, I can't keep feeling like me, and the girls are second best."
His embrace tightens, like if he let's go, you'll be gone. If he let's go, he'll wake up in his worst nightmare. Scarier than any criminal he's put away, darkness that's stronger than any crime scene he's been to. He would be alone.
"My dearest, I promise." His hands move your face to meet his gaze. "No more, this is where I want to be."
He kisses your lips, salty and wet from your tears. You nod and dry your cheeks with your sleeve.
"I need to make the girls some lunch and get the laundry put away before Levi and his family come this evening..."
"No, I'll make the girls a picnic and join them in the garden. Go and run yourself a hot bath and grab your book. I've already signed off for the day."
"Wait, really? I might be a while, I've gotten to a great chapter.."
He kisses your hand again before reaching the shopping for the bar of chocolate you buy yourself when you do the big food shop. After breaking a piece off with his teeth, he leans forward to bite the other half off.
"Go, take as long as you need and join us when you're ready."
You begin to walk away but turn back, feeling uncontrollable amount of mum guilt.
"Remember to cut the crusts.."
"Off Zoë's and give them to Scout, I know. I also know to give Scout apples and not bananas because she's worried the monkeys won't have enough if she eats them. Now go."