Let's Share A Habitat

[AUGUST WITT]

The stories continued and August zoned out for the better part of it. He listened politely but had absolutely nothing to add to the conversation. It wasn't as though he had siblings to tell stories about. Sure, there was Eponine and an assortment of other cousins around his age that he'd spent some time with while growing up, but for the most part there were no funny or lighthearted anecdotes he could contribute. So he sat and ate his food like a good boy, drinking his wine, and putting up with Maxine's sister and her boyfriend yet again. He fantasized about their evening to come and hoped that they could make a speedy retreat once supper was finished, though he didn't expect that to happen. She'd already agreed to be with him tonight, and he expected her to make good on that promise. Maureen would be fine on her own, and Drew could always spend time with her.

Finally the memories were done being exchange and the supper and dessert were consumed. They group sat around full and happy. Even August felt content even though the food wasn't what he would have chosen. It was good for what it was, though. “Great dinner, you two. And that wine was great too. Thanks for bringing it, August.” He nodded at Drew, finding his own voice after being silent for so long, a skill he'd learned easily after being on the Gargoyle council for so many years. "My pleasure." He tipped his glass before draining it. The girls moved to clear the dishes leaving him alone with Drew. He hated making chit chat, but he knew if he didn't get Drew talking, Drew would try to get him talking and personally, he wasn't interesting in idle chatter. "Do you have any plans this evening?" He asked. Drew explained he'd promised to help Mary Miller move some heavy furniture but was planning on picking Maureen up when he was finished, giving her enough time to get her things together since he wouldn't be too long at Mary's. In August's mind this simply meant that it would be longer until he got Maxine to himself which annoyed him. He didn't want to wait any longer. He wanted her to himself now. Of course on his face there was no show of this, but below the surface he bubbled with annoyance.

Drew talked a little more as the girls finished and then made his farewells with the promise to be back soon. August sat agitated at the table, and Maureen, likely sensing his mood, excused herself to pack her bags. When alone Maxine came to him and he looked her over. "I would have liked for our evening together to have begun already." He admitted, getting to his feet and pulling her close. "I hate waiting to be alone with you." He grumbled as his face nuzzled against hers lovingly, his hands on her hips and slowly slipping around her waist to her back, crossing and pulling her closer. "I have a right mind to fuck you right here, right now." He teased in her ear. "Your sister be damned." He squeezed her rear end firmly before moving his hand up and slipping it inside her pants, feeling the smooth skin of her ass. "Actually, that sounds like a good idea.." A devious smile slipped over his lips and nipped playfully at her neck, his hand slipping further into her pants.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

“Great dinner, you two.”[/b] Maxi grinned at Drew and nodded her head, quite proud of what she and Maureen had put together. “And that wine was great too. Thanks for bringing it, August.” “My pleasure.”[/b] Now Maxi grinned between Drew and her boyfriend. She knew this wasn’t August’s thing, but he’d been respectful and kind tonight. There were definitely thanks in order for later. Maureen got up to start clearing the table and Maxi followed dutifully. Her kitchen wasn’t that big, so she didn’t expect Drew and August to help clean up. She knew August would be uncomfortable being left alone with Drew, but Drew was a good guy. He wouldn’t push if August didn’t want to chit chat. “I’ve asked Drew if I could spend the night with him.” Maxi looked up from placing dishes in the dishwasher and her brow was furrowed worriedly. “Oh, you didn’t have to do that, Maury!” she exclaimed softly, matching Maureen’s quieted tones. “I know you hate leaving me here and I can tell August is sort of tired of sharing you. So…if you wanted him to spend the night or whatever I won’t be in the way.” Maxi gave a pout, knowing Maureen was absolutely right but feeling guilty for chasing her away all the same. “You’re never in the way, but thanks. I’m sure Drew will be happy to have you all to himself too.” She gave a little smile, her pout melting away slowly. Her sister’s eyes wandered over to the men and Maxi’s eyes followed. Drew was talking, so at least it wasn’t completely awkward. “I feel bad for him. He seems so out of place…” Maxi knew she wasn’t talking about Drew and she gave Maureen a smile, slightly amused by the comment. “I wish he’d loosen up a bit in front of us. He does talk to you, right?” There was such genuine anxiety in her sister’s voice that she had to giggle. “Of course he talks to me! I wouldn’t have made it almost two years with him if he didn’t talk to me.” She kept her voice low so the guys wouldn’t overhear what they were saying, but it was hard to contain her laughter. As she slid more dishes into the dishwasher, she was still grinning. “He’s just an extreme introvert. It takes a lot to make him feel comfortable in these kinds of settings. He’s not used to being surrounded by cheerful people. He’s on the Council for goodness sake.” She and Maureen laughed between each other about that while they finished the dishes.

When they had finished the dishes, Drew explained that he had to leave for a little while to help Mary Miller with some moving, but he’d be back soon. Before leaving, however, he asked Maureen to come walk him out. He seemed antsy, yet Maxi didn’t ask any questions, just said goodbye to him. She and August sat talking for a few minutes, mostly her expressing her gratitude for his kind behavior all evening and promising to make it up to him. It was obvious he was a little peeved about something, probably having to wait longer for them to really be alone, so she did her best to cheer him. His mood was still hanging over him like a black cloud when Maureen came back inside, her cheeks flushed from what Maxi assumed was the cold. She went upstairs to back her bags and Maxi stood, offering to help. Maureen just waved her off and Maxi shrugged. If she wanted to be alone, she’d let it happen.

When she turned back to August, he was looking her up and down in that familiar way that always sent her heart into a fluttering frenzy. “I would have liked for our evening together to have begun already.” Maxi gave him a lightly scolding look. “It’s only for a little while. One hour tops.” August pulled her into him and she giggled softly, her arms coming up around his shoulders. “I hate waiting to be alone with you.” She giggled again before biting her bottom lip, looking up at him as he nuzzled his face against hers. Sighing, she closed her eyes and adored the way his hands slowly slid from her hips to her waist and then to her back. His arms crossed and pulled her closer into him. Her stomach squirmed and she felt her constant desire for him beginning to burn brighter. His lips trailed back to her ear and her fingers slid up the back of his neck lovingly. “I have a right mind to fuck you right here, right now. Your sister be damned.” Her pale cheeks flushed deeper than they already were, embarrassed at the thought of Maureen, her very religious and wholesome big sister, catching them. The feel of his hand squeezing her ass made her giggle, some of her nerves easing, but they came surging back as that same hand began to slip into her pants. One hand squeezed the upper arm that led down to the hand in her pants, surprised he would tease her like this when Maureen was right upstairs! “Actually, that sounds like a good idea…” She felt the smile grow on his lips before his teeth found their way to her neck, his hand slipping down further. A soft gasp escaped her and she squeezed his arm harder. “August, Maureen could…” He began kissing her throat and his hand squeezed her buttcheek hard enough to make her whimper. She didn’t want to be caught, but…she didn’t want to pull away from August yet either. Maxi’s fingers found their way into his hair as they so often did, her face turning towards his to try and catch him in a kiss. When their lips met, she let out a soft whimper of approval, their kisses desperate from the start. Both of her hands were in August’s hair within a minute of kissing him and she felt her knees giving out.

It was the sound of footsteps on the stairs that shocked her out of her trance. Immediately she wiggled August’s hand out of her pants, breathing against his mouth a quick, “Sorry.” By the time Maureen was at the bottom of her stairs, Maxi turned to her with a smile. “Hey, you done packing?” Maureen confirmed she was and stated now was just time to wait for Drew to come get her. Maxi smiled wider. “It won’t take him too long. Mary just lives about fifteen minutes away.” Looking up at August she could see the irritation on his face. She grabbed his hand and started to lead him towards the stairs. “Do you mind if August and I just finish our conversation upstairs?” Maureen shooed them away assuring Maxi that she could watch TV or something while they took care of whatever it was they were talking about. Maxi smiled wide and thanked her sister before going up to her bedroom with August and shutting the door behind her. Before she’d even turned around, she was saying quietly, “Sorry, I just didn’t want to freak her out or something.” It was going to be hard to calm the beast now that she’d thwarted him once.

[DREW SOLOMON]

“My pleasure.” August may have been thorny and quiet, but he was polite, and Drew appreciated that. He smiled at the other man before watching Maureen and Maxi get up to start clearing the table. Normally he would have helped, but Maxi didn’t have a lot of space over by her sink and he felt he would just get in the way. Most of their dishes were already on the counter anyway, having been cleared away for desert. So he was left with August to try and make conversation. To his surprise, August was the first to initiate it. “Do you have any plans this evening?” Drew nodded with a kind smile. “Yeah, actually. Maureen’s coming over, but I can’t take her just yet. I promised our old friend Mary Miller to help move some heavy furniture for her. She’s a tiny little thing and I’d hate to make her do it herself lest she break something.” He gave a wider smile, shrugging his shoulders. “I won’t be very long and then I’ll come scoop up my girl. It’ll give her enough time to pack up for spending the night at my place.” For some reason August didn’t look too happy about this, though it was just a fleeting look that crossed his face. Maybe Drew was just imagining things. The man did have a naturally pouty look about him. When Maxi and Maureen began laughing together, he turned and smiled at them. It genuinely made him happy to hear them laughing together again, just like when they were young. Turning back to August with a smile on his face, he said, “You ever feel like you’re just on the outside looking in?”

It didn’t take the ladies long to load the dishwasher and get it running and Drew spent some of his time in the bathroom considering what to do. His stomach was doing flip-flops and he wasn’t sure he could survive even a short time at Mary’s without at least asking Maureen what he’d been holding in all evening. But how was he going to ask her? He practiced a couple opening lines in the mirror before giving up. He’d just have to wing it. Whispering to himself in the bathroom was only going to get him even more worked up and make him too nervous. So he took a deep breath and then made his way back into the kitchen. “Hey, Maureen?” Her lovely deep blue eyes met his and he swallowed hard to work up his nerve, forcing a lopsided smile. “I have to run out real quick to help Mary Miller move some furniture. You mind walking me out?” She looked a little confused but agreed, smiling and assuring her sister she would be back soon. Drew smiled wider at her, walking to the door with his arm around her waist. When she asked him softly what this was about, he answered, “I just have a question to ask you and I just wanted some privacy.” He gave her a reassuring smile, tucking her closely against him. They slipped their coats and shoes on and stepped out onto the porch and into the cool night air. Maureen immediately curled her arms into her chest against the cold and he gripped her upper arms gently, drawing her closer. His heart was racing, but he cleared his throat. This was the time to ask!

“So, this question I wanted to ask…” It was a lame start and he shifted from one foot to the other, silently berating himself for being so nervous. This of course only made him more nervous and he had to force a smile to his lips. “I, uh…Well, the time we’ve been together has been…the best time of my life. Both times.” His smile eased gently into one more genuine before he continued. “And it’s been torture the last few months to have you so far away so much of the time. Whenever we’re apart I can only think about how much I want to be close to you again. I know that sounds so cliche, but I promise it’s true.” He ran his hands gently up and down her arms as both an attempt to warm her and a show of his affection. “I think that’s what made me realize how in love with you I really am.” One of his hands pushed some of her auburn hair behind one ear, his hand cupping her cheek afterward. “I’m so happy to have you in the city again and to see that you want to build a life here. With Maxi and with me. But…I want you to be closer than just in the city.” He licked his lips, his eyes looking into her with all seriousness. “I want to come home to you every night and wake up next to you every morning. I want to see you every day and know you’ll be close when I need you. I want you to boss me around a place that we share.” His thumb brushed along her cheekbone as he smiled warmly. “So what do you say? Will you move in with me?” He hung on her lips, anxious for her response.

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

"Of course he talks to me! I wouldn’t have made it almost two years with him if he didn’t talk to me.” Maureen smiled, relieved and nodded, giving a silly sort of laugh to show she was glad and that she didn't mean to sound so silly or nosy. The man had barely spoken to her since they'd met and she just needed to be sure that he was a different person when alone with her sister. “He’s just an extreme introvert. It takes a lot to make him feel comfortable in these kinds of settings. He’s not used to being surrounded by cheerful people. He’s on the Council for goodness sake.” Maureen actually laughed and nodded. "Alright, alright.. just checking. I take this big sister business very seriously. I have a lot of time to make up for." She teased, though she had a feeling if things had been different, had the accident never happened, Maxi would be the one looking out for her and her choice of men. She sounded like a wild kid!

“Hey, Maureen?” Maureen turned at the sound of her name, her brows rising at the same time as the corner of her lips, looking into Drew's sweet green eyes. "Hmm?" “I have to run out real quick to help Mary Miller move some furniture. You mind walking me out?” She offered a curious look but then smiled and nodded. "Sure." She grinned at Maxi and then wiped her hands on a dish towel before following Drew to the door. The pair slipped their coats on and Maureen looked up into his eyes. "Everything okay?" She asked and Drew grinned back and nodded. “I just have a question to ask you and I just wanted some privacy.” Her lips pursed nervously but he offered a reassuring smile, tucking her closely against him. What did he need to ask her privately? Maybe he didn't want Maxi to know whatever it was. She tried not to think bad thoughts as they finished getting ready and going outside.

The chill hit her immediately and she pulled her arms up to her chest to try and retain as much heat as possible. She never cared for the freezing cold. “So, this question I wanted to ask…” Why was he so nervous? She raised her brows coaxing him to continue, a smile playing at her lips at how cute he was being. “I, uh…Well, the time we’ve been together has been…the best time of my life. Both times. And it’s been torture the last few months to have you so far away so much of the time. Whenever we’re apart I can only think about how much I want to be close to you again. I know that sounds so cliche, but I promise it’s true.” She smiled a little nervously, not completely sure exactly where he was going, but her heart began to beat. This sounded an awful lot like the beginnings of a marriage proposal, but Drew wouldn't ask her here, not like this.. would he? “I think that’s what made me realize how in love with you I really am. I’m so happy to have you in the city again and to see that you want to build a life here. With Maxi and with me. But…I want you to be closer than just in the city.” Her heart began to pound very quickly in her chest, her eyes wide as Drew spoke so gently and sweetly to her, his fingers stroking her cheek. This was happening.. this was actually happening! “I want to come home to you every night and wake up next to you every morning. I want to see you every day and know you’ll be close when I need you. I want you to boss me around a place that we share.” Her hand found her mouth, covering it as she tried to grasp what was happening. Drew was going to ask her to marry him! Right here on her sisters porch! Should she say yes? Of course she should, she loved Drew! But wasn't it too soon? They could have a long engagement, it didn't have to be super soon.. “So what do you say? Will you move in with me?”

Maureen froze. Move in? The question seemed so much less monumental than the one she had been expecting to hear and she actually laughed out loud. "Oh God, Drew!" She laughed again leaning forward, burying her face in his chest. "You scared me to death!" She admitted looking up at him and wiping at her eyes that were watering considering the words he spoke and the cold air hitting them. "I thought you were going to ask me to marry you.. and as lovely as that would be I'm just glad that wasn't the question tonight." She smiled sweetly and cupped his cheeks with her hands, pulling his face down so she could kiss him. Her lips lingered a moment before pulling away and smiling, the heaviness of his actual question settling onto her shoulders. Move in with Drew? That did sound nice.. but was it a good idea? What if things didn't work? She couldn't imagine them not working. Her fingers gently stroking down his cheek gently as she continued to talk cautiously, afraid of him feeling rejected when she wasn't doing that. "I don't want to immediately say yes, not until we've talked about it more. Tonight.. When you come get me we can discuss it more in detail and see if that's the best decision for us." She smiled and kissed him again gently before wrapping her arms around him. "I love you." She said softly into his ear and she felt his body melt into hers as he returned the sentiment. She smiled as he pulled away, seeing he looked pleased and she did the same, her smile wide. This would definitely solve all her apartment hunting problems! "Be quick.. I'll see you soon." They bid their farewells and Maureen backed into the house, grinning at Drew with a silly look on her face. Moving in with Drew! How exciting!

[AUGUST WITT]

“August, Maureen could…” He ignored her words, his mouth finding her throat as he planted hungry kisses along the soft, delicate flesh. It took all but a moment for her fingers to find their way into his hair, a sign she was giving in at least for the moment. Her mouth gave in and found his and he kissed her hard and needy, drawing her body tighter into his as his hand squeezed tighter at her rear. He wondered if he could get her to agree to having sex right there with her sister so close. All he needed to do was turn her around and pull her pants down. Then it was just a matter of bending her over and..

Footsteps on the stairs made him lose his concentration and Maxine pulled away, making him glower at her in annoyance. “Sorry.” She breathed against his lips as she separated herself from him, making him sigh his agitation. It only made him want her more. “Hey, you done packing?” August didn't bother looking at the other girl, moving off to the side grumpily. "Yeah, just waiting for Drew to come back." She was smiling too much which made August curious, but in the end he really just didn't care enough to think on it too much. “It won’t take him too long. Mary just lives about fifteen minutes away.” Fifteen minutes there and back, plus whatever time he spent moving stuff for her. He had to wait at least another hour, probably longer, to get into Maxine's pants. She suddenly grabbed his hand and lead him towards the stairs. Was she excusing them? That was very unlike her.. Maxi had a thing for hanging around Maureen for as long as possible, making him wait. “Do you mind if August and I just finish our conversation upstairs?” Maureen looked up at them and then waved her hands, shooing them to the steps. "No, no go ahead. I wanted to finish this episode of Parenthood anyway." She grinned and moved past them to the living room, catching August's eye briefly.

August followed Maxine to her room, and he could hardly contain himself the second the door was shut. “Sorry, I just didn’t want to freak her out or something.” His eyes narrowed and he smirked. "She could use a freaking out now and then." He grumbled before catching Maxine and tossing her onto the bed. He was on her in a second, picking up quickly where he'd left off downstairs. Maybe they could still freak Maureen out a bit..