Work Text:
Jack watches you from the living room as you make lunch.
You’ve made the last four years of his life nothing short of amazing. He really couldn’t imagine a day without you so he guaranteed a forever with you.
He can see the engagement ring from where he is. The look on your face when he got on one knee was something he’ll remember for a lifetime.
It felt like a while ago even though it had only been two months.
He sighs as he turns back to the tv.
So, what’s changed for you in that short period of time?
Over the last 3 weeks you’ve been acting weird.
You’re on your phone a lot more and keeping your distance when you do. Almost as if you’re hiding something from him.
He hates to even think about it but are you seeing someone else? What is it?
The thought makes him sick at the idea of not only you leaving him but that you’d do something like that to him.
Jack decides to not think the worst just yet.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
The next day you’re on your laptop sitting on the floor with your back against the couch.
Jack walks in the front door from a grocery run.
“Hey sweetheart.” he greets as he passes you to the kitchen.
“Hey baby,” you lean your head back to try and look at him “Did you find everyhtng on the list?”
He smiles as he empties the bags
“Sure did honey.”
You smile back before looking on your laptop again.
Once he puts everything away Jack walks over and sits on the couch behind you, your back leaning against his legs.
He leans his head on top of yours, hands on your shoulders.
“Whatcha doing down here sweetheart”
You lift the laptop a little so he can see better.
“You said to look at houses so we could hopefully get one before the wedding next year. Well, I finally got the time and I really like this one.”
He looks at the one you’re pointing to.
“It’s got the in-home gym you like, this gorgeous sunroom, the high ceiling design in the living room, fenced in front and back yard..”
He scrunches his eyes as he reads the descriptions.
“Sweetheart, there’s five bedrooms. We don’t need all of that space.”
You grab one of his hands over your shoulder and cuddle back against him.
“Well,” you start “There’s a room for us, one or two for whatever we want, and then I was thinking…one or two for some mini Abbots.”
Jack’s heart feels like it could burst with love and joy.
He leans forward and wraps his arms around you.
“Mini Abbots, huh?”
You can feel his smile as he kisses your cheek.
“Just a few.” you say while playing with his hand.
“I’d love that sweetheart.”
He really meant it too.
Jack would love to have kids with you.
This also gave him relief after the past few weeks.
You wouldn’t be seeing someone else if you were picking a house and talking about kids with him, right?
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A few days later is when things come to a head.
You and Jack had come back from a date night and ended up tangled in the sheets to end an amazing night.
You have your head on his chest as you both catch your breath.
“Fuck..” you get out between breaths
He has one arm wrapped around you and the other holding your leg across his hip.
“I’ll take that as high praise sweetheart.” he laughs
You pat his chest teasingly “Yeah, you’ve still got it old man.”
“You little shit,” he grins and tickles your sides “I more than still have it by the way you were scr–”
His words are interrupted by your phone chiming with a notification.
You get up and straddle his waist to lean over him, looking at your phone.
With you on top of him Jack can't see your phone from his position.
“What is it babe?” he tries leaning up to look over.
You lay a hand on his chest as you quickly type something.
“I uh, nothing J. Just an email from work.”
His heart races. He has a feeling it isn’t work and now the relief he had felt a couple days ago is gone.
Now he’s afraid it's true.
You’re seeing someone else.
He’s losing you.
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Jack didn’t confront you right away.
He sat on the idea and his feelings for a few days. The longer he sat on it, the quicker it turned from feeling only upset to adding in anger.
It’s Saturday, Jack’s day off, when he decides he's going to say something.
You left the house early to run some errands but he's convinced that ‘errands’ is the one you’re seeing behind his back.
It’s around 11 a.m. when you come back with a smile on your face.
“Hey babe!” echoes in the kitchen as you set some bags down.
Jack can’t even bring himself to greet you back.
Grabbing a small box from your bag, you listen for him.
You're confused at the silence and find him standing in the living room with his arms crossed and a frown on his face.
“J, is everything okay?” you ask hesitantly
He shakes his head as he huffs “How long?”
What?
“How long what, Jack?”
He lets out a small laugh that lacks any humor.
“Don’t play fucking dumb with me.”
The words feel like a physical blow, making you step back slightly.
What the hell is wrong with him?
“I-I’m a little lost here Jack. I’m not playing anything.”
“Okay, I'll humor you. Who the fuck have you been cheating on me with huh?”
Your eyes widen at the accusation.
“Jack, I would never do that to you or anyone. Where is this co–”
“You’re still playing dumb!”
You can see the anger roll through him as he grips his hair tight and then run his hands over his face.
Tears start to fill your eyes
You’re lost for words.
You said yes to marrying him. You guys are buying a house soon. You said you wanted kids with him.
So why would you ever look in anyone else’s direction?
“You could just admit it instead of acting oblivious. You’ve been on your phone nonstop the last month, hiding it from me, lying to me. We were literally having sex one minute and then after you’re answering the phone, to whom I assume is that jackass.”
Your chest is so full of emotion and hurt at his words.
“Jack, I” you take a breath as the tears start falling “I’m not ch–”
He interrupts you “Why not just let me go and then fuck around?! Why d–”
“Jack” you try to butt in but he keeps rambling on.
“I asked you to marry me for god's sake!”
“Jack!” you try a little louder
“I wanted forever with y–”
“JACK!”
He turns to face you “WHAT?”
He sees you holding a small box about the size of a softball.
You silently hold it out to him.
He eyes it as if it’s a ridiculous offer “What’s this?”
“Just open it…” you say in a whisper, tears still falling.
Jack takes it hesitantly and lifts the lid off. His eyes widen as all the air leaves his lungs.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
You and Jack had gone to a festival event in Philadelphia for a week several months ago.
Somehow during the activities and chaos down there, his dog tags had gone missing. He couldn’t remember where he had sat them or if the chain broke and they fell, or what could’ve happened.
You both eventually had to go home without the tags, having searched all over for them.
“𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘑, 𝘸𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.”
On the drive back to Pittsburgh you posted a picture of Jack’s tags from a selfie you took with him weeks ago on all the social media you had. You asked that if anyone found them to contact your number or social media.
Sadly several months had passed and no one had responded to your posts.
Jack was upset with the outcome but tried to not let it show how much.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
He takes a deep breath as guilt floods his chest.
“My…my dog tags. Wh-Where did you find them?”
How could he have said all these things and accused you of cheating when you did this for him?
You sniffle as you wring your fingers.
“Some guy had posted them in a facebook group to sell and I recognized them. So I sent him a message and told him what happened and he said he’d meet me to return them. He, uh, had been out of the state so we had been messaging to set a meetup to get the tags. I wanted to surprise you…”
Jack’s heart fills with so much more love for you but sinks at the same time with how he handled things.
“Sweetheart, I-I can’t begin to say how sor-”
You wave a hand gently to stop him.
“It’s okay J. I’m realizing how it all must have looked and how that made you feel. So, I’m sorry for that but do you realize how much I love you? Do you understand that?”
He nods because he does know. He’s never doubted your love before because you gave more than anyone ever did.
How could he do this to you and you’re still so understanding of him and his feelings?
“I’m so sorry sweetheart, I know you love me, more than I deserve. I’m so fucking sorry…” a few tears slip down his cheek and you’re quick to move in front of him and wipe them away.
“Hey, J, it’s okay. We’re okay. Yeah your words hurt but I get it. And I love you. I forgive you baby.” you kiss him briefly.
His body trembles on the verge of sobs.
“I-I don’t d-deserve you.” he gets out between breaths.
You chuckle a little as you rub his back.
“Baby, you deserve everything. And I already agreed to marry you so you’re not getting rid of me that easily.” You hear him laugh a little through his tears.
“You promise?”
Pulling back slightly with a lovesick grin.
“Oh I promise, J.”