Lahote's presence in the area only seems to make the Chief more adamant that locking the three of them away is the answer. Jacob's not complaining, but he'd love to take a step aside, drive to the diner, take a sip of coffee that isn't from the pot downstairs, observe the locals, head into work and listen to his team bumble about what they'd managed to get into over the weekend. He'd love to listen to Edward's brother's debate over whatever has come across their desk, even misses the speculation over their relationship. Which is probably brewing over at this point. He wants to be out in the field, trying to solve a mystery that isn't how all of the forks in the house seemed to have disappeared. Something fresh and new.
Jacob can map out Edward's movements before he makes them. For instance, he knows that as soon as they step out of the bathroom and the steam follows them into the bedroom, Edward's going to make a b-line straight for the dresser. He's going to grab a shirt first and then he's going to drop his towel and grab for a pair of boxers. It's this mapping of his behavior that informs Jacob that he has a good ten second window to just look. Nothing to distract him, no steam, no touching. Just Edward standing in enough light for Jacob to really take note of the little changes without Edward getting all shy.
He's lost a good bit of muscle definition and that's leant itself to a softer look. His stomach is less marble and more clay, abdominal muscles becoming more and more subtle by the day. His skin doesn't seem as sallow. He's still pale, but he has this slight hint of a flush over his skin. His hair is half an inch longer and, by the time it's dry, will be just as disheveled as it's been since they'd stopped going into the station.
Edward doesn't comment on the changes, but Jacob knows he can see them, knows that means something. His brothers don't age, don't change. Even with the girlfriends that Edward so flippantly mentions, they stay the same, like statues marking an era. Edward, on the other hand, has stubble he's been procrastinating shaving.
"Ya gonna keep stealing my clothes or finally admit that you need new ones?" He quips as he watches Edward's hips sway and his brow furrow.
He's looking for something in particular. He's so focused on finding it, that his face doesn't even register that he's heard Jacob.
He lets out a sigh when his question goes unanswered, reaching over into Edward's corner of the bed to pull out one of the shirts that he's become attached to. There's nothing particularly special about it. It's an old FPD t-shirt that he'd gotten when he'd first joined the Force, but Edward seems to have developed some kind of attachment to it.
"Looking for this?" He calls and watches as Edward whips around, eyes immediately landing on the piece of fabric dangling from Jacob's hand.
He reaches for it, only to have it yanked back by Jacob.
"How about you get something out of your suitcase?" Jacob suggests and watches as Edward frowns, once again lunging for the shirt only to have it yanked out of his grasp.
He can see the frown becoming deeper as Edward's eyes finally leave the shirt to focus on him.
"You don't like me wearing your clothes?" The somberness in his voice is thick, like it's just dawned on him that this particular gesture may not be welcome.
He pulls back and stands up straight like he's suddenly remembered himself, completely thrown out of his ritual.
"No, I enjoy it thoroughly. I just wanna see what you got in there." He offers, nodding towards the zipped up suitcase.
It's barely an excuse. He has to admit that he is curious after the last boxer debacle.
Jacob can't help but take some sort of personal pleasure in these changes. He can't help it. He can't help but get a small bit of satisfaction from knowing his partner is well taken care of. It's one of those instincts that he's accepted.
Edward lets out a sigh, rolling his eyes once he realizes Jacob's true intentions before whipping around to pop open the suitcase. Most of the clothes are still neatly folded and packed inside. He moves his work attire to the side and underneath lies a couple of pairs of pajama pants and gray and white t-shirts. He sighs, takes out a shirt, slips it over his head and Jacob watches the way it clings instead of draping over Edward's torso.
"Happy?" Edward mumbles, pout in place as he saunters back over to Jacob.
Jacob just lets out a low hum.
"You might wanna grab some pants, Leah may have let slip that Darlene and Bailey might be making a quick visit."
They were supposed to be on lockdown according to the Chief and spending time together according to Leah, but he's not at all surprised that both had crumbled under Darlene's stare when she demanded she see them.
Edward lets out a sigh that stretches the limits of his shirt as he turns back around to find some pants.
When they do arrive, Edward's tucked in his corner sucking on a straw in a styrofoam cup as he watches some cop show that Jacob's tuned out. Bailey's the first to pop her head in, eyes peering around as if to assess if it's safe, despite her hearing clearly telling her that they've settled down for the time being. She slips in, followed by Darlene, who's got a plate in her hand that smells eerily like Jacob's lunch order he gets every day from the diner. She doesn't say anything when she sits it down on his lap, just sits his drink on the nightstand and gives him that proud smile that he tries his best to ignore. Bailey leans over Jacob and hands Edward a thermos with that same expression on her face as she catches a glimpse of the bite. Jacob can smell, even with the lid still on, that it's that tea that Edward pretends to sip on when he's trying to placate the two. Bear reaches for it as soon as it's in his hand, patting at the lid as if that'll open it.
"So, how've you been spending your time off?" Bailey finally speaks and Jacob takes the question as he unwraps the plate.
He gives simple, straightforward answers, hoping to keep this visit brief and pleasant. For the first five minutes, everything is fine. That is until Edward reaches over to his plate and grabs a fry off the edge. It's nothing to Jacob. He's seen the man nibble at human food before. So have they. Edward's gotten pretty good at it as of late, despite the side effects it may have. However, by the fifth fry, he's caught the attention of both Darlene and Bailey, who are pretending to listen to Jacob's answers as they watch Edward cuddle up further into Jacob's side and snag yet another fry off of his plate. Bear lays on his chest, watching as he raises each fry up to his lips, her own mouth opening as she mimics him.
Jacob watches as Darlene looks over at Bailey with a look that Jacob recognizes all too well.
They've already come up with some kind of theory to explain the man's appetite and this new information only seems to feed into it.
Edward seems none the wiser as he takes yet another fry, eyes glued to whatever the hell is happening on the TV as Bear mimics his chewing.
Jacob turns back to look at the two ladies to see that their eyes have found a new target. He follows their line of sight and finds himself looking at the too-little shirt that's risen a bit higher since Edward had made himself comfortable in the nest. His stomach was partially out and it was just as bloated as it usually was when he ate something he wasn't supposed to.
Jacob clears his throat, drawing their attention back to him.
"So, how's your neck healing?"
Edward falls asleep at some point and the nice discussions about Jacob's wellbeing and Bear's apparent growth come to an abrupt halt as his head hits the pillow.
"How's the poor boy doing?" Bailey loudly whispers as she leans over to get a good look at Edward.
"He's fine." Jacob answers, trying not to sigh audibly as he watched them visibly worry over him.
"Leah mentioned he was having some bad separation anxiety," Darlene says with a frown, "had a fit when she tried to take Bear so you two could have some alone time."
Of course, she had. Jacob assumes that her guilt from that morning was so palpable that there was no way that Darlene wouldn't have wrung the information out of her as soon as she'd heard Leah's guilt-ridden voice.
"He's doing better now." Jacob informs them and watches as Bailey nods.
"Most couples wait until after the bite to have their first born because of those feelings. Eventually, he'll get used to it. It'll make it easier for any babies that come after." She rambles, eyes finding Bear, who's snuggled up into Edward's armpit and fallen asleep.
Right.
"This, being at home with his pup, suits him a lot better than going into that dreadful station anyway." Darlene huffs in her version of subtlety.
"Yeah, he looks a lot happier, a lot healthier." Bailey adds.
"Raises the chances of another pregnancy." Darlene mutters as she pretends to look at some old photograph of Jacob and his dad on his desk.
It seems like a good time to break the facade, to come clean about the fact that he's been lying, at least, about Edward's ability to have a baby. Though, there's something about the hopeful look in their eyes that has him biting his tongue.
Unfortunately, the dead air leaves space for other more difficult questions.
"Where's his ring?" Darlene asks and it catches Jacob as off-guard as it was supposed to, completely taking him out of his own head.
"Hm?"
He's never worn a ring. Jacob's never mentioned a ring. Neither one of them has ever even had a tan line on their ring finger. That must dawn on Darlene as she looks over the two. Technically, Jacob had prepared for this. He'd never thought he'd have to actually present a ring considering he thought this case would be over in a month tops, but here they were.
"Wedding ring?" She clarifies and he knows that he needs to find a way to alleviate some of the weight of the lies he's told.
He opens the nightstand, pulls out his mother's wedding ring that dangles on a necklace his father had given him as a gift. He gently clasps it around Edward's neck before turning back to the two women, who have looks in their eyes like they aren't going to hear the next words that come out of his mouth. Their faces are all soft like they're seeing something significant.
"Bear likes to put it in her mouth so he put it away," he explains away the reason it was sitting in the drawer, "It's more of an engagement ring. We haven't really had time for a wedding."
He knows he shouldn't lie, but it seemed easier and safer than blurting out the truth.
"So, how often is he eating these days?" Bailey pivots.
It's a question where Jacob doesn't have to lie. He doesn't have to think so hard about what's coming out of his mouth. Though, he finds himself really analyzing it because he's noticed that he's been eating human food quite a bit. Everyone in the house knows his secret and yet Jacob finds Edward nibbling at something off of his plate more times than he doesn't.
"A lot more than he used to." He answers truthfully and ignores the way they glance at one another.
He'd mentioned it to Edward one day and watched as he'd looked at Jacob with the same look he always had when he was caught doing something that he had no answer for. He'd just said that he was "still hungry after the cups" and mentioned that he was craving human food sometimes. Jacob hadn't really thought about how Darlene and Bailey would take this and run with it, but he could already tell by the looks on their faces that there was no stopping them now.
"Well, we're gonna let you get back to your mate, but as soon as you're able to, come by the diner." Darlene demands as she turns to head for the door.
They're almost in the clear when Leah throws it open from the other side. Her eyes look a little wild, but she seems to be forcing herself to stay calm as she eyes Jacob. She's about to speak when she realizes that Darlene and Bailey are standing just off to the side, their eyes on whatever she's gripping in her hand. She snaps her mouth shut, but the damage seems to already have been done as they all stare down at the pregnancy test and ultrasound in her hand.
Bailey looks about ready to congratulate her, smile in place, but then Leah glances over to Jacob again.
Jacob's not sure how long he stares, but the only thing that breaks him out of the trance he's in is a quiet "Oh" as all eyes find themselves on them.