Page 56 of Jared

An hour later and a few hundred bucks lighter, Jared felt better. Tomorrow he'd have jeans again. It's amazing how that makes me feel more like myself. If only I had somewhere I could wear them.

“Oh, honey,” Alice said in dismay. “You haven't been out at all?”

Crap. I said that out loud.

“Of course you haven't,” she continued. “We'll have to fix that. You know, you can use the portals and visit home. I know it's not New York, but there are artisans living nearby in a community. Galbraith is a lovely place for an outing. Steve should have let you know!”

“I should have let him know what?” Steve asked as he arrived back home.

Jared gave him a soft smile. “Your mom was just saying I could visit Galbraith on my own. It's sort of artist's community?”

“Yeah, sorry, with everything else going on, I didn't think to assign you a detail in case you wanted to do that.”

“Or to tell me the place existed or thatI could even go,” Jared teased.

“Sorry,” Steve replied sheepishly. “Forgive me?” He leaned in to give Jared a quick peck on the lips.

“Sure. Especially as you just bought me new clothes I'm only going to be able to wear a few more weeks.”

“I see,” Steve laughed. “So that's how it is.”

“He needed some maternity clothes,” his mother said firmly.

Steve nodded.

Jared remembered why Steve had been away that day. “So, how did it go?”

“It went well. Agent Patterson is back home and plans to take some personal leave time. He wants to see how things work out with Silas, give their mating a chance. He's also planning on shadowing our security during that time as he may decide to resign and come work for us.”

“That's awesome,” Desmond said.

“What is going to tell the FBI about the last few days?”

“Nothing, unless they ask him. Seems R.W. was covering for him and it's only been two days here, after all. That seemed to surprise him, seems he didn't realize that when they left and went Under Hill that time would move differently to here and the rest of our world.”

“Well, it is kinda weird, if you think about it,” Jared said.

Steve shrugged. “Yeah, but what can you do? It is what it is.”

“What about Silas?” Alice asked.

“He'll be back to work in a few days. He's remaining behind at court at the Prince's request. He's not very happy with him at the moment. He's making Silas help track the two criminals he let loose there.”

Jared shivered. “I hope they find them real soon.”

“Me too, babe, which is why you will have a detail of experienced men with you if you decide to go through. I doubt anything will happen to you, but given what they've done, it's better safe than sorry, yeah?”

“Yeah,” he agreed.

“How about I take you out tomorrow?” Alice asked. “After your clothes get here, of course. We can stop by the tea shop there and visit the shops. There's a fantastic glassblower whose work you simply must see.”

Jared glanced at Steve. “Is that too soon?”

Steve shook his head. “No. Mom has her own detail she can call on and I'll arrange for some guys to join them, just for you.”

“Just how many guards do we need?” Jared looked incredulous.

“Just three or four.”