regency au } { of considering the future and sleepy wives

[impetere]

Cora: [after one nap, she'll wander out to find him] Did I fall asleep on you again?

Stiles: [looks up from his desk and smiles] You did. But lucky for you I think you're beautiful when you sleep so I enjoy the view.

Cora: [and that makes her smile, even if she is frustrated with herself] I'm sorry. I didn't intend to.

Stiles: You are caring for a very rambunctious toddler. I would be tired too.

Cora: Is it sad that I miss the days when he wouldn't sleep through the night, because at least then I didn't have to chase him?

Stiles: No. I miss those days too. We used to be able to sit as a family and read back then.

Cora: I think his patience for that will come back again once the novelty of being able to wander where he pleases wears off.

Stiles: I hope so. Otherwise we are going to go through a lot of tutors.

Cora: I'm sure that will get frustrating sooner rather than later.

Stiles: Oh, I'm sure. [he pushed his chair back and waved for Cora to come over to him] Is there anything I can do to help?

Cora: [makes her way closer and shrugs] I'm not sure. I wouldn't want to interfere with your duties here. [and right now the only thing she could think of is taking a few hours with their son so she can sleep and not interfere with their time alone later]

Stiles: My duties here aren't as important as my family. But I could also hire you someone to help?

Cora: [she exhales slowly] I'm not sure I want that either. [your wife is going to struggle with this, sorry, Stiles] I should be able to handle him myself.

Stiles: Yes, but if you find yourself pregnant with another one, that could make it harder than it is now, and I don't want you stressing over not being an Olympian mother.

Cora: [sighs] Well, I'm not pregnant yet. So ... let's cross that bridge when we come to it.

Stiles: Okay. But if you are in need of a break, you can send him to me and I will care for him while you rest.

Cora: [she nods] That seems like an adequate compromise for now. [not that she can promise she'll take him up on it, but it's better than her asking for it?]

Stiles: So tell me how your day was, beyond exhausting.

Cora: Good, otherwise. The harvest seems to have pleased cook at least. Plenty for her to work with.

Stiles: That's good. With the castle expanding with all the little ones, we're going to need it.

Cora: Indeed. Ben also spent some time with Elena and the girls today, and he and Talia are thick as thieves already.

Stiles: Well, that's good at least. He's not going to lack for cousins.

Cora: No, he won't. Especially not if Derek and Elena keep going as they have.

Stiles: [laughs] And maybe eventually they will have a boy.

Cora: [smirks] Maybe. Though I feel like all these daughters are Derek's penance for his cavalier youth.

Stiles: [laughs] Yes, it probably is.

Cora: I do hope they have a boy eventually. I know Elena wants to give him a son, even if it's beyond her control.

Stiles: It would be nice, but he is completely in love with his little ladies.

Cora: He is. It's very sweet.

Stiles: And to think, Malia is only a few years away from starting her own family as well.

Cora: Don't tell Peter that.

Stiles: I do value my life, my love. [smiles]

Cora: Good, because if you were to take that risk, you would surely lose it.

Stiles: My lips are sealed.

Cora: Good. [and she'll lean in to kiss him softly]

Stiles: [kisses her back] So, are you still tired?

Cora: [she shakes her head] Not yet.

Stiles: Well, I am at a good stopping point for the night. Perhaps we can take advantage of this downtime?

Cora: I think that would be lovely.

Stiles: [and he will then stand up and take her hand, leading her to their bed]

Cora: [and she will follow his lead, staying close]

Stiles: [and when they are there, he will take his overshirt off and then sit on the edge of the bed, guiding her to sit next to him as he kisses her again]

Cora: [leans in and kisses him back, reaching back behind her to tug on the laces of her dress to get them undone]

Stiles: [and they can quickly help each other disrobe before sliding further back into bed and enjoying their familiar making out.]

Cora: [yep, and she will eventually slide under him, letting her fingers run over the skin of his back gently]

Stiles: [and he will take his time worshiping her body with his hands and lips as he leaves her lips to go to her breasts, then down her stomach to kissing her sex]

Cora: [and there's a breath that gets sucked in as she tips her head back, relaxing under him]

Stiles: [and once she is ready for him, he will kiss his way back up, guiding her leg around his hip as he presses inside of her]

Cora: [she moans softly, her fingers gripping against his shoulders as her hips lift to meet him]

Stiles: [and he will kiss her deeply as he makes love to his wife, knowing how to please her. They have come so far from their first time and her fears of intimacy like this.]

Cora: [Yep, and she definitely enjoys it, given that Stiles knows her so well at this point. In fact, it doesn't take her long at all to tense up under him, heading towards the peak]

Stiles: [and he is getting close as well, and he will shift to aim for that spot she needs to get there, his hips rubbing against her nub with each thrust]

Cora: [and after that, it doesn't take much longer before she's falling over the edge, giving a soft cry of pleasure in response]

Stiles: [and he will join her, thrusting in deep as he releases his seed deep inside of her as he holds her tightly, keeping her close as he kisses her in the afterglow]

Cora: [sighs softly as she comes down, curling into him]

Stiles: [and he will kiss her forehead after a bit] I am still so much in love with you, Cora.

Cora: [and that makes her smile] I love you too.

Stiles: [and he will rub her back gently, staring at the headboard a moment in thought]

Cora: [notices that and looks up at him] What's on your mind?

Stiles: Just thinking about the future again.

Cora: What about it?

Stiles: That we're at a fork in the road, so to speak. We could take one path, the road that we're on when we are here, and that can be our life forever. Or we can take the road we're on when we are in Austria and make that our life when the time comes. [he looked down at her] More and more, I have to wonder what I get out of being the Lord of the Manor. I won't have nearly as much time with you or Ben, you'll have to deal with running the entire manor as well as dealing with my cousins. It just feels as if I'm fulfilling an obligation, but not something I truly need.

Cora: [pauses for a moment] Whereas when you're here?

Stiles: When I'm here... if I give the heirship to my cousin's child... then I would no longer have any obligations except to you. No title, no inheritance beyond what my uncle may deem me as a nephew...in a way it scares me to go back to being a nobody again. But at the same time, I think our family would have the biggest benefit from it if not monetarily, but in love.

Cora: [sighs softly before shifting so that she's more at eye level with him] You were never a nobody, Stiles. And even if you did forgo your claim as your uncle's heir, you are still the husband of a lady of Hale manor. That is not a "nobody."

Stiles: I just don't want to tarnish the family name. We saw how much Lord Parrish had to work to earn the trust of the people in the village. And I don't want it to give our children problems when they go to court.

Cora: Then my recommendation is not to treat the responsibility as something you don't want. Responsibility is part of any life - I'm sure if your uncle could afford to spend all of his time with his daughters, he would. Wait until we know if Olivia's child is truly a son, and then you can gracefully concede the title and land to a true heir. I'm also sure that Parrish can find ways for you to help him in managing the manor. Derek is good as the captain of the guard, but Parrish could likely use more of an advisory role at his side. That way it is not as though you are resigning your title for destitution.

Stiles: [nods, licking his lips] You're right, as always.

Cora: [smiles softly] I'm not saying that I wouldn't love to have you all to myself all the time. But the only lords who do not work hard are the ones who do not care about their people. How is it fair to them if you take advantage of the wealth they've helped you earn? If you want the respect of the people and the court, you need to at least move into something.

Stiles: True. I guess if and when we know Oliva's child is a boy, I will talk with Parrish and Laura about their thoughts on this.

Cora: [she nods] I'm sure we'll be able to arrange something.

Stiles: And you'll be happy here, if this is our life? [he knows she will, but he does his best to make sure her feelings are always accounted for now]

Cora: Of course I will. [she smiles] You know I was dreading having to leave here for good.

Stiles: [nods, and then kisses her. He has a gameplan now, and that helps him a lot]

Cora: [kisses him back, brushing her hand against his face gently]

Stiles: [and he will kiss her back until he jaw points out he's tired by making him yawn mid-kiss]

Cora: [she laughs a bit at that] Perhaps we should get some sleep before our son decides we can't.

Stiles: That is a good idea. Let us do that.

Cora: [nods and curls up onto her side, letting him curl up behind her as she closes her eyes]

Stiles: [and off to bed, and if they are lucky he may try and make love again to his wife before Ben demands her attention]

Cora: [the dice roll was a seven so ... probably not]

Stiles: [damnit Ben]

Cora: [look, Dad you already made him a sibling, you don't need to do it again for a while]

Stiles: [Oh son, one day you will know how wrong that statement is]

Cora: [whatever.]

Stiles: [so no morning lovemaking. So instead he will go get ready for the day while Cora deals with Ben]

Cora: [yep and they will go back to being parents with the rest of the manor]

Stiles: [yay parental responsibilities]

Cora: [yep]