What We Are (Jake & Veronika)

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Veronika stretched out in bed, letting out a small groan as the sun continued to filter into the bedroom. This was how she'd been waking up for months now, next to Jake, enjoying the way the sun felt on her skin. She had an internal clock that told her to wake up around 5:40 if not 6. Normally it was then that the sun was barely kissing the sky, but she had no qualms against the tender rays that hit her eyelids. It was a weekend and the morning after properly meeting Jake’s parents. She had worked her ass off to get all the work she possibly could for Saturday and Friday done in order to just sleep in today or even later in the day go on a date with Jake.

Last night had been pleasant. Secretly she admitted to liking it more than she thought she would; it was fun and cute. The Newbury’s were a good bunch. She was confident that Jake would like her parents; they were loud and kind. Not to mention although they were stern and strict, they were loving and charismatic. Well Tristian Hollands was, Maxwell Westmeister was - not, but she’d bite his ear off to make sure he was open to it.

Meeting the parents meant more than it should have to her, she knew. It awoke age old dreams of - well. It awoke dreams of possibly getting well ‘m-word’. To be fair, she had already such a deep affinity for Jake, so the question was…

Did he share a similar sentiment?

She rolled over from her stomach and her side of the bed and onto Jake’s chest and his side of the bed. She had one hand under her chin and a small smile tugged at her lips as she stared at his handsome features. She liked this. There was a peace in the air she couldn’t find anywhere else.

Subject: Re: What We Are (Jake & Veronika) Thu Jul 23, 2015 10:38 pm

It had taken Jake a while to get used to waking up with someone beside him, and a little bit longer to get used to finding the person beside him already awake. It was unusual, but he had grown used to it. Just how he'd gotten used to wearing boxers to bed with Veronika because he simply couldn't be that forward with her because somehow it just didn't seem right.

But through all the change, Jake had found new comforts in his life.

Namely, Veronika.

Now that his body was fully healed, Jake was allowed to start working back in the gym, and he'd taken to easing himself back in after a month away from the gym, it was tough, but he was getting there. Yesterday he'd done exactly that and done a light work out in the gym before the dinner with his parents. Which meant he was a little tender that morning.

Normally, Jake wouldn't stir in his sleep, but as Veronika shifted on to him, he stirred as his muscles protested. It didn't hurt, he just wasn't expecting it. Lifting his left hand to his face, Jake rubbed his eyes for a moment before focusing on his girlfriend. A sleepy smile touched his features a moment later. "Mornin'." Jake murmured to the witch, his hands moving to her waist to pull her up a little for a kiss. Personally he wasn't bother with the whole notion of morning breath and the like, but he kept the kiss light nonetheless.

Moving his right hand behind his head, Jake used his left to run his fingers through her hair. Waking up to Veronika every morning for the past month had been amazing. She'd been more than amazing with all that happened, and he didn't know how he could possibly thank her.

"Are you okay?" He asked, always worried that her being awake meant there was something wrong. It was unreasonable, but he was still getting to used to it.

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~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

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Veronika for a split second thought of Ivan, and guilt filtered through her system for a few moments. Within the rush and the joy that came with being with Jake she’d practically forgotten him… Save for last night when she’d gotten a good reminder of him when she met Jake’s parents. Besides that, Ivan was on the back burner of her brain and she couldn’t help feeling guilty about forgetting him. Still, she knew that it was only usual since she was properly moving on. This was good, she reassured her guilty senses, she was growing as a person, experiencing new things. She sometimes felt like Hilary Swank from P.S I Love You, when she lost Gerard Butler it took her some time but she was able to move on, but Veronika felt certain that at the end of the movie, her character moved on to a better love, a lasting one.

There was a weird tugging on her mind at the idea of Jake being a last love, it was settling. Her heart was happy at that idea, her body was fulfilled at the feeling. However, voicing the thought out loud was nerve-wracking to say the least. She didn’t want to ruin whatever this was for Jake. Sure she’d said that this was serious, but she meant it in regards to just being a fun memory in Rome. If someone were to ask her where she saw herself in five years, she’d tell them she still wanted to be teaching, but probably take up a side job as an official Animagi trainer. Where did she see Jake and her? Hopefully still together. To her it didn’t matter what they were as long as they were together.

“Good morning,” she replied smiling tenderly, feeling her heart soar at his half-awake smile. When he pulled her up she didn’t struggle, instead helping him some to kiss him back just as chastely, still reveling in the absolutely perfect feeling of his lips on her.

“I’m okay, just happy,” she answered honestly after he pulled away and closed her eyes, enjoying the soft, slow atmosphere that was surrounding them, “how’re you feeling? I meant to ask but were you alright after the gym yesterday?No pain or anything right now?” She promised that her next question would be in regards to how he felt about dinner last night, but she wanted to make sure she wasn’t crushing him in anyway first.

Subject: Re: What We Are (Jake & Veronika) Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:47 pm

The future, in Jake's mind, was a long way away. But, the Auror squad had instilled in him that time was precious. A lot of his colleagues had married young, and started a family young to make sure they could fulfil their dreams just in case something were to happen to them in the field. Jake wasn't sure how he felt about that, making a life with someone in fear that if he could miss his chance.

But these worries were internal, because he was twenty-three.

Yes, he knew what he wanted in the future, but right now... he was happy without outlining exactly what he wanted.

Especially when not outlining things got him such kisses first thing in the morning! Smiling in to the kiss even with it being brief, Jake decided that he was completely content with what he had, and so long as things were moving nicely, he wouldn't state he wanted something in a certain timeline.

The question on the gym made Jake smile a little more, because he'd missed the gym for the last month. "It was great! Well, it's frustrating because I couldn't do as much as I used to, but the Auror division sent me a Personal Trainer for the session, and he's advising on what to do to make sure I don't set myself back for longer." Jake explained, though he probably could have done it himself from the few years he played Quidditch professionally.

"I ache a little though, but the good kind of ache, not a painful ache." He explained, making sure not to worry his girlfriend anymore than he already had over the past month. There was a slight pause, and then Jake lifted himself up a little, pressing his lips to Veronika's once more, tenderly, for a little longer than before.

"Thank you." He murmured as he pulled away a little, opening his eyes to look in to hers. "For everything this past month." Jake explained with a warm smile. How he'd come across such a perfect girlfriend, he wasn't sure, but this past month had shown him just how lucky he was to have her.

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~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

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Veronika found that her life was good the way it was now.

She had a steady job, a steady boyfriend, a home (technically she had yet to bring this up, but y’know he didn’t really seem in a rush to kick her out), and good friends and family. Not to forget her fathers, from what they’d heard of him they liked the way Jake was. Their biggest concern, and this was mostly from poppa, was that Jake would be gone from home too often. Poppa didn’t like the idea that he could be often in exotic places with exotic women or stuck on a mission with another female Auror for an extended amount of time. Then again poppa was the one who was cheated on so his ability to trust was still a little messed up.

However, Veronika had total faith in Jake to not well cheat. At least, that’s all she could hope for. At the same time, she couldn’t feel as though Jake was to be at fault if he followed after another again, he was so young and - she let out a small sigh as she pulled away, putting on a clearly fake smile. A part of her wondered if he’d notice and silently hoped he would so she could tell him the truth.

She listened carefully to his answer, trying to search his face for any discomfort as she laid on top of him still.

“That’s good though,” she murmured before adding a bit sheepishly and choosing to look a little to the side as her cheeks flushed, “I don’t quite care what you look like either way, I like you.” She admitted, before smirking a bit as she ran her fingers slowly over his triceps and his pectorals, “but these are definitely nice add-on’s.”

She reveled in the kiss, moving her hands back to his cheeks for a moment to hold him there a bit longer before he pulled away.

“Anytime,” she murmured, before biting her lower lip as she wondered if now was the time to ask him about moving in officially at least, her body was a little tense as she was sprawled out on him and she really hoped he’d be able to tell so she wouldn’t have to ruin the calm air around them.

Subject: Re: What We Are (Jake & Veronika) Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:05 pm

As Jake's fingers played gently with Veronika's hair, he couldn't help but notice the change in her posture. He was not the best at reading people, he never had been, but he could feel the way she deflated slightly as she pulled away from him. And he could see the way her smile no longer quite met her eyes. His own smile faltered for a moment, wondering whether he should ask. Giving her a moment to explain, Jake decided to ask.

"Is everything okay, Veronika, really?" Jake asked softly, almost too carefully. He didn't want to scare her away, and it had been a long time since he'd done commitment. And the first time... it had been one where he could never ask if there was a problem, because he would drive the other party away. But Veronika, he hoped, would be different because she was different.

"You like those, huh?" Jake teased, making a show of tensing the muscles she was talking about as her fingers moved across them. Not much, but enough to show the definition in them that he worked on every week. "Well, work expects me to keep fit, so I think they'll be staying." Jake teased softly as she said she didn't mind how he looked. He had to be in shape for work, but he did take it a little further than was expected because he liked the definition of his muscles. Without them... well, he wouldn't be Jake.

"I mean it." Jake murmured, rolling them on to their sides because he wasn't comfortable anymore. Also, this way he could cuddle her better, talk better. "You didn't have to do all that, I'm really thankful. It's..." Jake paused, uncertain as to whether to proceed. What did he have to lose? "It's been nice having you here. And... if you want..."

Jake paused there though, looking to his girlfriend in the hope she understood what he was trying to say. Too much? Not enough? He wasn't sure, but he felt like they needed to talk about it, to make sure they were both happy with what they had.

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~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

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For the strangest reason, Veronika couldn’t help but to think of Ivan. However, for the first time in a long time, it felt okay. She didn’t in the slightest feel sad when thinking about him. At the same time she didn’t feel stuck. When she thought of Ivan she wasn’t going back to the sadness that surrounded him, she was going back to the good. She was recounting the first time she met his parents and how awkward that had been, and recounting the laughter they shared as they confessed how uncomfortable they both were with it. They laughed and said they’d just be with her side when the holidays came around.

Sure things weren’t always perfect. Sometimes her eyes wandered, sometimes his eyes wandered. But every night, they were together and every night they were honest and talked for moments that would stretch into hours coated with laughter. So as she went back to the good, she thought about what Ivan and her had discussed when they had been contemplating the future. It was casual, totally and completely. They were maybe five years in? It was after the Incident that he told her he was going to marry her; they’d talked about it for a while, but didn’t act on those conversations because of him. She was patient though, and in the end it resulted in one of the best and worst years of her life.

“Sort of,” she started and let out a soft sigh as she burrowed her face deeper into him, “did you know that most if not all couples have two choices in the end when it comes to being a relationship with each other? Do you know which two roads they have?”

Something shifted in Veronika so dramatically it was like a chemical change; she wanted to marry Jake. She was ready to get married, even if she was okay with waiting a while. She just needed to know if he was as interested in being with her for a really long time. If not, she couldn’t bring herself to break up with him now, but she’d probably have to so they could pursue ‘ the second option ‘ road. She bit back a wince at the idea.

She laughed as he tensed his muscles, but grinned at him, feeling a bit lighter about the conversation over all.

“Then that’s definitely a plus,” she murmured, unable to stop grinning, “if I want…?” She trailed off repeating what he’d said as she slid her hand up under her head. For a split second she was taken aback by just how comfortable she was with this. It felt natural to just lay her and absorb all that was Jake. She adored his blue eyes, the light scruff along his jaw and scruff; the color of his lips, his adorable nose… It was all him and she adored it.

“Maybe I do want,” she whispered with eyes aglow with affection.

Subject: Re: What We Are (Jake & Veronika) Sat Aug 08, 2015 10:54 am

The notion that things were 'sort of' okay made Jake worry for a moment. Okay, perhaps more than a moment. His breathing slowed as he tried to work out what those two words meant, trying not to panic about this situation too much. Perhaps irrationally he thought that there was a big problem, perhaps resulting from the night before, but he couldn't think what his mom might have said to push Veronika to...

“did you know that most if not all couples have two choices in the end when it comes to being a relationship with each other? Do you know which two roads they have?”

Jake's fingers still in Veronika's hair at the question, a frown touching his features as he tried to work out what she meant. He was quiet for a short time, wondering if what he thought she meant was what was intended. "I... guess you stay together or you break up..?" Jake replied softly, his tone uncertain because he couldn't work out if that was what she was doing. The latter, anyway.

But the worry, that was much his own creation, disappeared when Veronika agreed to moving in with him. Relief touched his features because he never really masked them, and he was relieved to know Veronika wasn't thinking of leaving him. But that brought Jake back to the point that Veronika had been making before.

"I'm... guessing this is the point you want to talk about the future then?" Jake asked, moving his hand from her hair to her hand instead. Honestly, Jake hadn't thought too long term, he was happy now, and the future was a long way away. But, if Veronika wanted to talk about it, he would, because it would help both of them to know where they were going.

Past those words, however, Jake was not going to lead this conversation, because what his idea of a future was wasn't very clear, but also, he knew some people didn't like the level of commitment he did. And right now, he didn't want to scare her away. So, Jake simply waited to be told and then he would work with the knowledge of Veronika's wants.

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~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

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To be perfectly realistic it had been a shock to Veronika when her Animagus had been a white wolf; later she’d find out that it did somewhat fit her character. She didn’t like being known best as ‘cunning’ but a white wolf stood for feminine power too. That part she thought she totally fit like a glove. Still at the same time she associated herself more as a cat kind of person, just based off the fact that she seemed to be growing a large affinity for affection. Or maybe she was more like a dog since she could be loud and had an energetic-ish interface. Regardless of what animal she was, she couldn’t help but think that she was being petted as Jake ran his fingers through her hair.

She actually did manage a wince when his fingers stopped their soothing trek through her hair.

“You’re right,” she urged quietly, “and um, which one of those categories do you think we might fit in?” She said still into his shirt, trying to stop the nervousness from rising. She couldn’t remember being so tense talking to someone she loved in such a long time.

She really hoped that this conversation didn’t backfire on her.

“Yeah,” she said, lifting her head to look him in the eyes, she steeled her wayward nervousness and bit her lower lip, “and to be frank, Jake, I kind of sorta really want us to stay together.” She gulped back more of her fears. “I don’t mean that things have to go towards marriage and babies because man that’s crazy and you’re too young, so I don’t mean anytime soon do we need to go out and buy rings, but do you think that’s something that’ll happen?” She let out a small pant as the floodgates just sort of broke on her.

She really really hoped this conversation went the way she wanted it to.

Marriage had been in the cards for Ivan and her, and although it was a quick paper based one, she honored it still. She thinks that she truly would've been a good wife; suitable and strong, but not too dependent. Marriage wasn't at the top of her list of priorities, but it was definitely there. Eventually she'd like to get married, maybe have a baby in a few more years, but none of these thoughts had ever come up in her mind before she met Jake. Before she met Jake she would've been content to never settle. Before Jake she wouldn't have minded swimming in nameless men and blurred nights of passion, but now there was someone there in the morning. Now there was something there that was totally worth it and she was - well she wasn't looking forward to just easily letting it go. However it was against her nature to force anyone to stay with her and if she had to, she would.

Subject: Re: What We Are (Jake & Veronika) Wed Aug 12, 2015 5:54 pm

“You’re right,” she urged quietly, “and um, which one of those categories do you think we might fit in?”

If ever Jake was going to feel slightly patronized, it was then. Though, he didn't say a word to his girlfriend in that moment, instead focusing on the question she'd asked. It felt, or perhaps he was being paranoid, that this was a trick question in that moment. But, Jake gave a small shrug with a nervous smile to accompany it. "Would I be in trouble if I said I hoped we'd be the former?" Jake asked, hoping that staying together was what Veronika wanted too.

The next words from Veronika's lips made Jake fall silent, his eyes focused on her as he listened to what she wanted. It wasn't that he didn't want it, it's just that these kind of things made him nervous.

Shifting slightly to make himself comfortable, and also to stall for a little more time, Jake ran a hand over his face. "I..." He started, before slowly nodding. "I would... like that, yes." Jake replied honestly, giving her a small smile. "In time, of course, we still have a lot to learn about each other... and stuff." Jake continued, leaning in to give her a soft kiss on the lips.

"I've always wanted children." Jake told her as he pulled away. "Two... preferably... maybe more." He explained, his features showing he was uncertain if that was okay to Veronika in that moment. "And, I think my mom would kill me if I didn't marry the woman who gave me the children." Jake told her, laughing softly to show that it wasn't just for that reason he would get married.

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~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

» The Very Big Question (Veronika & Jake)
» First Dance (Jake & Veronika)
» Coffee for Two? (Jake & Veronika - Rome)
» Where the Heart Is (Jake & Veronika)
» Welcome to the World (Veronika, Jake + Ivan)