spamalot } { of returned fathers and sloppy joes

[wildkingdom]

Malia: [glances up with a frown, moving Cameron to his playpen before making her way to the door. As she does the scent hits her first and she tries not to freeze and make it seems like she recognizes him before he actually introduces himself. It's like Isaac, but not and she doesn't want to jump to the wrong conclusions] Can I help you?

Lahey: Yes, hello. [he gives her a hesitent smile.] I'm look for Isaac Lahey. Is he home?

Malia: [pauses before shaking her head] No, sorry. He's at work. Is there something I can help you with?

Lahey: [lowers his head a moment, very solemn. Sad.] No... well, yes. I was hoping to talk with him. You must be his wife, Malia?

Malia: [nods slowly, giving him a small smile] Yes. That's me.

Lahey: It's a pleasure to meet you, my dear. I'm Wesley Lahey, his father.

Malia: [yeah, she was worried about that. She straightens a bit, the smile fading] Then I guess you can understand why the feeling isn't mutual.

Lahey: Yes, I can. And I'm sorry for that. I was hoping to at least be able to apologize to him first before meeting you.

Malia: Well, he's not here. [and she's praying that Cameron keeps quiet so that this can go smoothly and he will go away] So I guess you'll have to try again later.

Lahey: [nods, then reaches into his pocket and holds out an envelope] Will you at least give this to him? It has my contact information, as well as the mission that I am staying at until I'm able to get housing through the Holy Union of Brothers Mission.

Malia: [her eyebrows go up a bit but she nods and takes it] Sure. I can do that.

Lahey: Thank you. I know he may not want to see me, and I will understand. I have done much wrong by him, and I have spent many years praying that he has found some peace from all I've done. I'm happy to see he has been blessed with that at least.

Malia: [nods and there are some cranky noises from the direction of the living room and she sighs, glancing back towards Cameron before looking back at him] We do our best. But if there's nothing else, I was in the middle of something.

Lahey: [hearing the noise, tries to look past her into the home, a small smile to his lips] Is that... a baby?

Malia: [not like she can lie about it] Yes.

Lahey: That is wonderful. God has given Isaac many blessings. He deserves them all.

Malia: He does. Now if you don't mind?

Lahey: Yes, yes. My apologies. [he nods, and turns to go]

Malia: [watches him until he's gone before closing the door behind her and exhaling slowly. The fingers that were gripped tightly against the doorjamb come away with splinters and she picks them out slowly before making her way back to the living room. She drops the envelope down on the coffee table before scooping up Cameron, waiting for Isaac to come home]

Isaac: [and he was technically not due home for another two hours, but he had a feeling someone was wrong at home, and after talking to Stilinski and Parrish, they were both okay with him leaving early. He made his way up to the apartment and let himself in. There was a strange scent lingering at the doorway, something clawing at the back of his head, but he was more concerned for his family inside] Malia? Malia, I'm home...

Malia: [she's sitting with Cameron on the floor, him on his stomach and grabbing at his toys, when she looks up at him, she gives a bit of a relieved smile] Hey. What are you doing here? I thought you weren't going to be home for a while.

Isaac: [he relaxes, seeing them both safe and normal on the floor, and only then does he take off his gun belt and jacket, putting them in the safe drawer and locking it, putting the key on top of the doorframe] I had a bad feeling something was wrong, so Sheriff let me go home early. Is everything okay?

Malia: [her lips press together a bit before she sits up more, glancing towards the envelope on the table] Your dad was here.

Isaac: [stills a moment, looking towards the door] That's the scent I picked up outside.

Malia: [she nods] He wanted to talk to you. He left you that. [she tips her head towards the envelope]

Isaac: Parrish has been helping me avoid him. He stops by the station every day, and he and I have a code system set up so I can be out of the office when he's there.

Malia: Well, I guess he decided to take a more direct approach.

Isaac: I'm sorry. I just... I haven't been ready yet. [he goes to pick up the envelope, his fingers playing over it]

Malia: [looks up at him, before holding one hand out for him] Hey. Come here.

Isaac: [looks up and gives her a small smile, and then goes to sit down next to her] What was he like?

Malia: [takes his hand in hers, giving it a soft squeeze] Polite. He was happy for you.

Isaac: Do you think he really was?

Malia: I don't know. He was talking about God a lot and the super religious tend to make my skin crawl, but for the most part they're usually sincere.

Isaac: Well, maybe if he actually found God in prison, he won't be as bad. [he went to open the letter, reading it.]

Malia: [nods a bit, shifting to rest her head on his shoulder a bit as he does]

Isaac: [finishes it and sighs, leaning his head against hers] He wants to see me to apologize for his sins against me.

Malia: [stays close, glancing up at him as she does] Do you want to?

Isaac: I don't know.

Malia: You don't have to if you don't want to.

Isaac: [he looked down at Cameron, reaching over to play with his hand] I know. And I know he can't hurt me anymore. I should at least let him make his peace.

Malia: [Cameron grabs hold of that finger, holding on as tightly as he can as he shakes the finger back and forth happily. Malia nods in agreement] So long as that's what you want. You don't owe him anything.

Isaac: No, I don't. But my mother would want me to. So would my brother. [he smiles down at Cameron, not trying to get free, but acting like it.]

Malia: [no no no don't do that. That's not allowed. You gave it to him so it belongs to him now] Okay.

Isaac: I'll meet him. I'll ask Sheriff if I can use one of the offices though. That way if I need to leave, Parrish can fake an emergency.

Malia: [nods, pressing a kiss to his cheek] Whatever happens, I've got your back.

Isaac: You better. It's too late now to go changing sides on me. [grins and turns to kiss her, and then to look over at Cameron, moving his hand a bit] So beyond that, how was your day?

Malia: [smiles into the kiss before nodding] Good. Got some work done, got in some mom time. It was nice.

Isaac: Well, tomorrow is my day off. So if you want to get some time on your own, escape the apartment - best time to do it.

Malia: [she nods] I should go into the office for a bit. Show my face, make sure Sam knows I'm not disappearing entirely into a mom bubble.

Isaac: I'm sure Sam would love to see you.

Malia: And maybe this weekend, we can let my dad get some grandpa time and we can have some you and me time?

Isaac: I think that's the best plan.

Malia: Good. I'll call him tomorrow.

Isaac: Has Nadia drove him insane yet?

Malia: I think he's counting down the days. Pregnancy doesn't really agree with her.

Isaac: Well, once the baby is here, he can watch both babies at once and we can be free.

Malia: I'm sure he'll love that.

Isaac: [leans close and kisses her cheek] And we could think about maybe giving him another grandkid to fuss over...

Malia: [laughs a bit] I'd be okay with that. But maybe we should let the first one grow up a bit first.

Isaac: Well, let's ask him. Cam, do you want a little brother or sister? [makes a nodding motion at the baby]

Cameron: [looks up at the sound of his name before shoving Isaac's finger in his mouth]

Malia: [laughs] I think he's hungry.

Isaac: You're supposed to support me here, buddy. [goes to pick his son up, holding him above him in the air] Remember, guy power?

Cameron: [giggles, hands flapping as flies through the air]

Malia: It's easier when he can talk.

Isaac: We'll keep working on it. Here, go to mommy, she has your dinner. [and he hands the baby over]

Malia: [yep she will take him easily and go off to feed him]

Isaac: I'm going to go change while you two bond. [deep breaths, picking up the letter a moment, then just shaking his head and getting up to put it on the front table where all the mail went before going to change out of his uniform]

Malia: [and she will make her way back out to the kitchen, putting Cameron in his high chair as she starts making dinner] What're you in the mood for?

Isaac: Will I sound like I'm 12 if I ask for sloppy joe's?

Malia: [laughs] If we have it, I will not deny you.

Isaac: [reaches up into the cabinet and pulls a can of manwich mix down] I always keep an emergency can.

Malia: Then your wish is my command.

Isaac: And this is why I love you. [kisses her, wrapping his arms around her from behind]

Malia: [smiles into the kiss, before taking the can and going to rifle for the other ingredients]

Isaac: [goes to sit with Cam while Malia cooks] You know, back when I was sixteen, I didn't think I wanted this.

Malia: [glances back over her shoulder] Why not?

Isaac: When you lived with my dad, how he treated me... I didn't want to ever have kids. I thought that was what happened to kids who were bad and I didn't want to do that to anyone.

Malia: [her face softens a bit] You weren't bad, Isaac.

Isaac: Oh, I know now. Trust me, Cora finding me was the best thing that happened. Your dad really helped me realize how the world really worked.

Malia: Good. [the food is ready to simmer so she just moves over and slides into his lap] Because you're going to be a great dad.

Isaac: Well, you help make it easy. You're already an amazing mother.

Malia: I wouldn't be able to do it without you.

Isaac: Good thing we make a good team. [kisses her]

Malia: [sighs a bit as she kisses him] That we do.

Isaac: [and nope, just going to sit there are kiss his wife while Cam watches]

Malia: [yep. she'll be good with doing just that until the sloppy joes are ready and she goes to get them off the stove.]