Nathan, Paige and the airplane

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Nathan and Paige on the airplane, while Angelo is sleeping. They bring up how little they expect to go right, cake and boots. Nathan is also drinking. Really, it's a fun time for all.


He was cramped, grouchy, jittery, and the Scotch wasn't helping. Nathan sipped at it as he stared out the window of the plane at the clouds below them. There wasn't even a decent view. It was that cloudy today.

Paige had somehow managed to be designated the middle seat, which ended up working just fine in the end. Angelo had fallen asleep on her shoulder about ten minutes into the flight, which left Paige with a protective arm around his shoulders and talking to a jittery Nathan. “And now I understand why Angelo asked I wear this sweater,” she muttered under her breath, glancing at him a moment.

Nathan blinked, looking sideways at her. "Why--oh." He smiled suddenly, unable to help himself. Angelo looked quite content.

“And I thought he just liked me in this shade of blue,” Paige said mournfully. “Good to know if my lifelong dreams fall through, I don’t even have to study to become a pillow.”

"Always good to have something to fall back on," Nathan agreed, and tried to tell himself to relax. At this rate, he'd start projecting, and the flight crew wouldn't thank him for that.

Paige resisted nodding, instead gently patting Nathan’s hand, which was clenched on the armrest, with her own. “So. Should I distract you with the breakdown of all my husks, or something? Or we could talk aura mumbo jumbo. Hm.”

"Aura mumbo jumbo--oh," Nathan said, wondering if it was the Scotch or the twitchiness, or whether he was just too slow to keep up with Paige in general. "Can't do that anymore," he said regretfully. "See them, I mean."

“Probably for the best. As much as I love being told I’m pretty,” Paige replied. A baby was fussing behind them and it was really taking all of her strength to not twitch.

"I miss it," Nathan said almost wistfully. "Apparently I might be able to go back to doing it, once I heal up properly."

“Emphasis on the properly in that sentence,” Paige reminded him in a stern tone. “No more brain breaking. I took enough science classes to know that you sort of need that thing. Annoying mass of jelly.”

"I could whine and point out that it wasn't actually my fault," Nathan said, his lips twitching. "I didn't know any better."

“And then I’d stare at you with one of those scary ‘I’m not totally buying that’ look that I’ve perfected oh so well,” Paige informed him. “Just like this.” With that, she narrowed her eyes, issuing him the stare.

He laughed. "If I didn't get that from Moira on a regular basis, it would be scarier. Really." His eyes flickered back to the window, noticing that the clouds were actually starting to break up. Hopefully it would be clear by the time they were over New Mexico. He'd really like to get a look at the desert from the air. "I'm a bit concerned about how this is going to go this weekend," he said slowly.

Paige sighed quietly; making sure Angelo was indeed asleep. “You and me both. I don’t see how this is going to go well, and I’m the optimistic one.”

"I'm all in favor of closure." He took another sip of the Scotch, his eyes going back to the sleeping Angelo. "But this... I'm just not sure this is the way to go about it. And there are risks, more than I think he's acknowledging to himself." He smiled again, humorlessly this time. "Charles gave me chapter and verse on what to do in case of this blowing up in our faces, at least."

“You think I’m only coming for emotional support?” Paige asked, a strange sort of knowing tone coming from her lips. It was as if she’d peeled back a layer of herself to show something wise and golden underneath. “You should see the boots I packed.”

"No, I didn't think that," he said with a soft chuckle that didn't have much in the way of humor about it. "I know what his former friends did to him. I can imagine your motivations for coming are many and complex."

Paige gently ran her fingers through Angelo’s hair, a soothing touch that was just as much for her as it was him. “Oh, you know me. I’m so deep and thoughtful.”

"Also very self-deprecating. Someone told you while you were at an impressionable age that it was cute, didn't they?" Nathan teased lightly.

“Oh, no. If someone had said that I would have become the most egotistical person on the planet if only to anti the cute. Someone did mention it would make me look smarter,” she admitted.

Nathan laughed again, quietly. He took another sip of the Scotch, reflecting on how shocked he'd been that Moira had actually suggested he have a drink on the flight and see if that helped his nerves. "Didn't expect to be heading out to California again so soon," he said softly.

“Didn’t expect to be heading out to California like this...” Paige whispered in return, unsure for a moment if she’d thought it or said it.

"You know what they say about life being full of surprises."

Paige gave him a weak smile, eyes flickering over to his hands, to his ring finger and back again. Her heart was doing funny twisting things again. “I only like the kind where there’s cake.”

"Cake is good," Nathan agreed, somewhat inanely. "What kind, do you think?"

“I’ve always been partial to ice cream cake myself,” Paige answered with some thought. “With the cookies on the bottom.”

"Where to get an ice cream cake in Northern Scotland, though, that's the thing..." Nathan blinked, shaking his head. "Why must my mind go weird places?" he complained.

“Because you’re crazy,” Paige replied easily. “And I’m sure they have a Dairy Queen in Scotland. They’re like McDonalds.”

"Moira likes gelato," Nathan offered a bit lamely. "We could have a gelato cake..."

Paige made a face, nose wrinkling. “Oh yeah, because that sounds appetizing. Too much drinky for you, sir.”

"Mm. We're taking a cab to the hotel, not to worry. Although if I'm getting tipsy on half an airplane glass of Scotch, I really must be getting old." He looked sideways at Angelo. "Still sound asleep. He didn't sleep at all last night, did he?"

“Not a wink,” Paige said sadly, pressing a gentle kiss to his temple, uncaring of who was watching. This was the curse with trying to care for two people at the same time; sometimes it just couldn’t be done. “But he’ll get some tonight.”

"I imagine you'll make sure of that, won't you?" Nathan teased gently.

Paige turned back to him, giving Nathan a wicked little smile. “You didn’t think I brought just my boots, did you?”