Au Contraire, Au Pair

So, y'all WOULD let me know if things sucked, right? Like, the cook was coming off Lucky Charms? Boring sex scenes? Not enough Carnies? Huh, huh?
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Chapter 12

August was drawing to a close which meant two things: James had a birthday coming up, and kindergarten was about to begin. Buffy made herself busy over the next few days making arrangements for the entertainment and checking back on RSVPs. James wanted to have all of the children from his new class come, so they were expecting the house and yard to be overrun with over twenty children.

As the day neared, Cook began working at a frenzied pace to ensure enough goodies for everyone, and she planned on making a large chocolate cake in the shape of a “5" for her special boy. Buffy and William decided to keep their relationship private to just their household, so she would play the part of the nanny to avoid any discussion of their relationship during the party.

August 20th was finally here. At lunchtime, the party guests and their parents began filling up the driveway. Balloons lined the side way iay indicating to the guest to come around to the back. As the entered through the side gate and passed the shade gardens, the walkway opened onto the back decks. Buffy had gotten up very early to tie balloons into an archway and hung streamers and small lights from the trees. To avoid any misunderstandings, they had filled the pool with balloons and large, inableable balls, so much so that no water could be seen. Most of the children went straight for the bounce house that was beckoning in the play yard.

William shook hands with the parents he knew, and introduced himself to those he didn’t. He noticed several of the dads checking out Buffy as she carried presents over to a cloth draped table and felt a frown cross his face. *Maybe keeping things quiet isn’t the best of plans.*

Buffy chose to stay in the background, helping where she was needed with taking purses, presents and showing guests to the facilities. She overheard a group of mothers talking about William.

“So handsome - did you see those blue eyes?. “

“I heard his wife left him.”

“What? Left HIM? Gay.”

“I bet this last year has made him lonely. Wonder if he needs any company. Bill travels an awful lot....”

*Fat chance, dye job.* Buffy frowned at their backs when they left the restroom laughing. She looked up trying to catch a glimpse of William. She found him across the deck talking with some of the men. He looked up, gave her the tiniest of winks, and continued his conversation. She felt a tug on her leg.

“Buffy, come jump with us! It’s fun!” James took her hand and began dragging her to the bounce house. She laughed and tried to back off, but a few of the other kids started chiming in. She laughed and threw her hands up. “I give up! Alright.”

She took off her sandals, climbed in and started jumping with James holding her hands. She taught the kids how to jump, drop to their seats, then bounce back up to their feet. When she felt that she was breaking a sweat, she decided to be dignified and leave the kids their fun. She kissed James’ head and climbed back out to put her shoes on.

“Your nanny is the best! Mine is old and mean and always tells me to leave her alone. She never plays with me.”

“I wish I had a nanny. My grandma stays with me.”

“Buffy not my nanny anymore. She’s going to be my mom.”

Buffy froze. She finished sliding on her shoe, looked up and caught James smiling at her. She pointed a finger at him, blew him a kiss, then went off in search of Cook and the pizzas she was making.

Cook had snuck wheat flour into the pizza dough she made earlier. Upon closer inspection Buffy noticed a few other “healthy additions” to the menu.

“Hey - I thought that was pepperoni. Those are just tomato slices with the seeds out! And, did you put spinach underneath the sauce?”

“Oh, there’s so much cheese here, they’ll never know the difference. Is there anymore broccoli on the trays outside? I can fill them up with more, if it’s needed. I made some beet sticks, too.”

“You do realize this is a party for 5 year olds, right? I don’t think any of them are on the South Beach diet. Broccoli is still all there, but the chips I put out are gone!” She smiled and prepared to leave with the first batch of *ahem* pizzas.

“Fine. Poison yourselves with that wretch, but you mark my words: it’ll be naught but salads and porridge for the next week to undo the damage of this day.” She went back to her ovens muttering about “growing boys” and “what would me mam think of me,” shaking her head in her shame the whole time.

Buffy used her foot to open the door and was trying to juggle a few platters at the table when she felt someone whisper in her ear, “let me help you with those busy hands.”

She grinned and turned ready to sneak a quick peck from William when she saw it wasn’t William who was getting fresh. She quickly erased the smile from her face and took several steps back. “Oh, sorry - excuse me,” she stammered, trying to control her confusion.

Buffy decided to stay away from the guests after that. She stayed in the background keeping the party rolling. William called all of the kids together to open presents and sing Happy Birthday. Cook walked outside with a huge platter on which was the cake and five candles. James squinched up his eyes, thought hard and blew out the candles.

Buffy whispered out of the corner of her mouth to Cook, “you did use actual sugar, right?” Cook just looked at her scandalized. “It IS a birthday cake after all. Besides, I hope to sneak a taste later.” Grinning, she scooted back off to the kitchen to make treat bags for the children to take home.

After the presents were opened, the trash cleared, and people began drifting to their cars, William and James came back inside to unwind after a long day. They found Buffy in the kitchen helping Cook put away the last of the dishes. William walked up to her and put his arms around her waist.

“Turned out well, wouldn’t you say, love?” Cook swatted at the two of them with a towel, took James by the hand and told him, “I saved a little something for you. Come with Cook, laddie, and let’s find out what it is, aye?”

“Eww, Dad! Kissing is gross.” James was smiling, however.

“You keep those eyes in your head and follow me, my boy. There’s one gift you haven’t opened yet.” They walked back to her quarters.

“Do you think James liked his party? The other kids seemed to think it was fun.”

“Buffy, I wished you hadn’t stayed away so much. I definitely did NOT like being restricted from you today. I believe this will be the last time we impose such a foolish rule.”

She smiled up at him and gave him a kiss, then rest her head on his chest and let him slowly rock her from side to side. James came back in waving a new box of Legos that Cook had given him. He grabbed the two around their legs and pressed his face into Buffy’s leg. “This was the best party ever,” he yawned.

“I think it timr yor you to go to bed, son. We’ve had a big day, haven’t we?” William swung his son up and over his shoulder and started to carry him up the stairs.

“Buffy!” he giggled, “help me!” Buffy laughed and followed them to James’ room. After getting him dressed, washed and tucked in, James held his arms out for his hug and kiss from Buffy.

“Wanna know what I wished for?”

“What’s that, sweets?”

“That we’d be a real family. Just you and me and Dad. That would be great, huh?”

Buffy smiled at him and leaned to kiss his cheek. “That would be perfect,” she whispered in his ear. “Love you, bud. Happy Birthday.”

They both called out goodnight and walked out of the room, hand-in-hand. When they got to William’s sitting room he turned to her. “I saw that one man coming on to you. I didn’t like it.”

“Well, neither did I. What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying I didn’t like it is all.” He leaned his body against her and began kissing her neck roughly. “I don’t like them not knowing to whom you belong. Your mine.”

She brought her hands up and under his shirt feeling his hard muscles. He pulled back to look at her, his eyes half-lidded with the wanting of her. “Mine.”

He took her hands in his, raised them over her head against the wall. He pressed his whole body against hers, letting her know in no uncertain terms what he intended to do with her. His body rubbed up and down against hers causing her shirt to raise up slightly. He let go of one hand to explore the soft skin now sed.sed. “Do you want me, Buffy?”

She opened her eyes to look into his. He wasn’t just referring to right now. “Always. I want nothing but this - all of it - for always.” He looked at her for a moment longer, then seized her face in his hands and kissed her with all the passion he felt in his heart. She grabbed onto him never wanting him to stop touching her.

Somehow they ended back into his bedroom, unnecessary clothing discarded. They made love fiercely as if this was the last chance they would ever have. “I can’t help it, love. I have to feel you. I’ll take my time next, but I .. Oh, god , you are so sweet.”

She opened her eyes and looked at him. She began to rock under him, fingernails dragging down his chest. “William, don’t close your eyes. Look at me.” He did as he was told, never ceasing the rhythm he had set. “I love you.”

They had both said it at the same time. The comfort in knowing they each felt the same brought them both to their climax together. William lay his entire weight against her, blindly kissing whatever he could find with his mouth. She came, sobbing “I love you” over and over into his shoulder. He rolled to his back, taking her with him.

She lay so her mouth could reach his ear and whispered, “I love you. I love you both.” His hands never ceased in their gentle stroking of her hair, the soft skin of her back, the delicate skin of her cheek. “You are my love. My sweet. Stith ith us. I want us to be a family.”

They fell asleep, their hands never leaving each other.


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