Work Text:
Jim cleared his throat for the tenth time since he and Barbara started casually walking down the lane at the park. He had his hands in his pockets, not quite knowing where to put them. He cleared his throat again.
"Would you stop doing that?" she teased. "We've walked around here before."
His face reddened and he stammered. "Yeah but we were... dating then- engaged even. And now…"
She hummed. "Now, you're dating my dad."
Jim loosened his tie just a bit. "Yeah…" He gave a light, nervous chuckle.
She giggled. "It's alright, Jim. I've gotten over it."
He looked hesitant. "You have?"
She nodded. "For the most part. And now that I've had time to think about things - us - I do believe we wouldn't have worked out in the long run."
He swallowed carefully. "What do you mean?"
She gave a shrug and stopped at the railing overlooking the pond. "We were too different." She giggled a little. "Too much in a rush, I guess. Just like Daddy said. Besides... after things have gotten back to normal... I can see you love him more than me."
"Barbara-"
"In a different way, of course, but still." She smiled fondly and gently knocked his shoulder with hers. "I'm not mad, Jim. Not anymore. It's good. You two are good."
He shifted nervously a little. "Are you sure?"
She sighed. "You look at him when you know he can't look at you. And to everyone else, it looks like a close partnership." She glanced up at him. “But now that I know... it looks like love.”
He turned his head away. "You didn't answer my question."
"Even if I didn't like it, I wouldn't be able to stop it."
"Barbara, your opinion matters to me," he urged, finding strength for the first time in their outing. "If you're bothered by it, then-"
"Then what? You'll break my father's heart?" she semi-teased in a not so friendly voice.
"No, I-"
"Jim, it doesn't matter what I think." She sighed quietly and picked at the hem of her sleeve. Her voice was much more somber when she spoke again, "I saw... how much he loved you when I forbade him from speaking to you. I saw him give up the man he loved all to make his daughter happy. At first, I thought it had been against me - because we were engaged. I thought you two were mocking me. But then I saw the tears in his eyes when I shouted at him. And when I watched his heart break..." She let out a shaky breath. "No, Jim, I don't think I'll ever be sure... but I know you two never meant any harm."
"We should have told you... instead of sneaking around," he said. "You were- you are important to both of us. We should have acted like it."
She shook her head and sighed. "It's done with. That's all that counts."
He watched her tear away from the railing and continue down the lane. He followed, returning his hands to his pockets. "Do you think, down the line, you'll wonder what life would have been like had we gotten married?"
A bounce returned to her step and Jim felt a little more at ease. She scrunched her nose. "Maybe. Just a little. But only as a curiosity. Not a regret."
He hummed.
"Will you think of it as a regret?"
"No," he said fondly.
She stopped walking. She folded her arms and gave him a skeptical look.
He didn't like her look. "What?"
"Will you ever think of what you have with my father as regret?"
"No…"
"No...?" She raised an eyebrow. "If you hurt him, I swear I'll-"
He raised his hands in defense. "Barbara-"
Her eyes were hard. "I mean it, Jim. You know how I can be. Just because we used to date, doesn't mean I'm not above acting on these threats-"
His chuckle was more pronounced and she thumped his arm. "Ow.. Barbara, listen- Your dad is very important to me. I'd never hurt him!"
She folded her arms and looked skeptical. "Breakups happen, Jim."
"Well I'm not planning on breaking up with him any time soon." His words were clipped at the end - he hadn't had time to think about the future with Lewis... and now here he was, speaking so sure of it. How he'd be in the man's life for a while.
She narrowed her eyes dangerously at his zoning out.
He cleared his throat again and took a step back. "I'm serious, Barbara. I like him. A lot. I don't- I'm not ending it in the foreseeable future."
She gave him a cold glare.
"I promise!" He hoped she wouldn't punch him again.
"How was lunch with Barbara?" Lewis asked the moment Jim closed the door.
The man sat and sunk down in his chair, put his head back and sighed. "She promised me a painful death if I ever hurt you."
Lewis chuckled. "That sounds like her." He kneaded his shoulder. He frowned a little when Jim shifted away. "You okay?"
"I'm fine."
Lewis hummed and pulled up another chair and sat down.
Jim glanced at him and saw that the man had that look - the look that said he didn't quite believe him. "I'm alright, really. Barbara has a mean right hook."
"That all?"
"Yeah…" He looked up at the ceiling.
Lewis watched him for any more signs of distress from his Jim. "I can tell Barbara not to be so enthusiastic about it."
He snorted. "No, it's alright, Lew. I can handle it. She's just protective of her dear old dad."
Lewis smiled but it seemed almost pained. "I'll do it if you want me to. It's no trouble. Barbara will understand."
Jim rolled his head back again. "And then I'll never hear the end of it from her about special treatment."
Lewis cracked a smile. "Only if you're sure."
He snorted and looked up at the ceiling. "Yeah, I'm sure." He righted his head at the soft squeeze to his thigh. He met the man halfway and they kissed.
Lewis pulled back and gave him a skeptical look that had reminded Jim of Barbara. "Jim?"
He sighed. "Just thinking about... how long this is going to last."
Lewis frowned. "What do you mean?"
He shrugged. "Is it an affair or is it... more?"
The man hummed and caressed the back of Jim's head... partially because he already knew that area was sensitive for Jim and it would make him easier to agree. "I think I'd like it to be something more. But if you don't want that, I'll be okay. I'll really make Barbara promise she won't kill you."
Jim cracked a smile though his heart was in his throat. "Something more?"
"Yeah," he said softly. "But let's take things slow. There's no rush, alright?"
"Alright, he gave a nod." He gave a small smile. "So... dinner tonight? My treat to make up for all this?"
Lewis smiled softly. "There's nothing to apologize for."
"Still. Burgers and a movie?"
"It's a date," Lewis hummed. He kissed him once more before standing and fixing his suit.
And just in time for Art knocked on the door. Jim admired Lewis up until the moment Art stepped in and looked his way.