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jack abbot who loves watching his girl getting ready. she'll be sitting up in her vanity — that he built it himself, thank you very much —, getting all dolled up for their bi-weekly date night. jack's sitting at the foot of the bed, just watching. quietly in awe of her. wondering, how the hell did he manage to pull *that* for himself. he thinks, if there is a god out there and it does reward good behavior, then he must've done something really good. he's not sure, so he'll take the quiet moments, and be so grateful for them.
sometimes he asks her to explain what she's doing while putting on makeup. it makes no sense in his old, fried brain. it's a lot of steps for routine. she's perfect, just the way she is first in the morning, no makeup and sleepy. he likes that. but she insists on putting on makeup and getting all pretty, even more so, and he'll just enjoy. she's his princess and she deserves feeling her best all the time.
it's in these moments, the really quiet, slow moments, jack's heart lurches in his chest, constricted with so much love. so, so much love and gratitude, because he has a chance, again. life rewarded him with love, again. he wasn't looking for it; that's what makes it so special. because jack was fully prepared to spend the rest of his life alone, working until he's exhausted so he doesn't have to come back to an empty house. and then... she happened, and turned his plans all upside down. now he gets to come home to her, right back to her arms and warmth.