stronger

Jules hummed and smiled, tilting his head back as he leaned closer against his boyfriend. “Oh, I don’t want to ever see my name starring a concert at Carnegie Hall. I think I’d die. I don’t want to die just yet.” He half joked, nuzzling the side of Jonas’ neck, quiet for a moment at his question. Having a family was important to Jonas, and he had made it clear before. It was still something that scared Jules to even think about, even if it was 10 years from now. But he wanted it all with Jonas, that he was sure about, and if that meant they became parents down the line, then he’d do it. He’d do anything for Jonas. “As long as they take after you.” He offers instead, smiling as he catches his boyfriend’s eyes. “We’ll need a bigger apartment so you better get started with those bestsellers.” Jules added, lightening the mood before he spoke again. “Children scare me a little. I don’t want to screw up.”

"Mm, I don’t want you to die either. I quite like having you around.” Jonas hums, pressing a kiss to the top of Julien’s head. He hadn’t meant to worry or scare Jules with talks of their future, but it was also important for them to discuss even casually to make sure that they were on the same page. “Well...I can’t promise that, but we can certainly try.” He teases gently, running his fingers through the younger man’s hair soothingly. “We’ll definitely need a bigger place or a house, I agree. I guess that’s motivation to finish my screenplay, huh?” Jonas asks with a laugh, pausing to look Jules in the eyes, fingertips brushing along his cheek lightly. “Hey, it’s okay to be scared. I can tell you know that we’re not going to be perfect parents. But what we are going to do is do our best and have a house full of love, and that’s what matters.” 

“Je suis d'accord.” Jules nods, accepting Jonas’ hand as he steps into the tub, leaning against Jonas once he joins. Of course he agreed. They had the perfect life. He wouldn’t have it any other way. His his head resting against Jonas’ shoulder, back against the writer’s chest, he plays idly with the water around them, letting drops fall down his own shoulders, his arms. “Do you ever wonder how it’d be ten, twenty years from now?” Jules asks. “Where are we? What are we doing? Who we are?” Jules always had a blurry vision when it came to his own future. He wasn’t able to see that far. He was still so confused at times with who he was and what he wanted in the present. “It would be kinda neat if I became a professional composer for a local orchestra or something, and you were touring the country with your fifth New York Times Bestseller.”

"MM, that sounds nice.” Jonas murmurs, pressing a kiss to Julien’s shoulder lightly. “Five bestsellers? That’s the dream. It’s okay to dream big for yourself too, my darling. You can do anything you put your mind to. I know it. You are quite stubborn, after all.” He says teasingly, his lips moving to his boyfriend’s neck, sucking lightly on his skin. “It would be nice to have a family someday. Not any time soon, but...someday. Maybe ten years from now.” A future filled with the sound of children’s laughter and Jules’ piano in the background sounded perfect to him. “Is that something you want down the line? Children?”

Jules grinned after his boyfriend, following Jonas with his eyes as he disappeared down the hall towards the bathroom. He followed quickly after a beat, grabbing the half empty bottle of wine and their glasses. “You’re still picking me up and carrying me to bed later.” The younger man grins into the kiss, holding the blonde to a promise, a shiver running down his spine as Jonas’ fingers sneak under his shirt, leaving a hot trail to the touch. He bites his lip and hums in agreement, more than happy to oblige. “Bien sûr.” He whispers. Of course. He moves enough to put down the wine before turning towards his boyfriend, his arms folding behind his neck as he pulls him right back into a kiss, thin fingers working their way slowly through the buttons of the writer’s shirt. He gets rid of his own shirt unceremoniously eventually, kicking off his pants as he helps Jonas unzip, pulling him closer. “Is this what you coming home will be like every day? Cause I can get used to this.” 

"But of course.” Jonas chuckles, pretty sure Julien would have him carry him around all of the time if it was socially acceptable. Smirking into the kiss, he shrugs his shirt off once the buttons are undone, his fingers going through the other man’s hair. “Mm, it just might be. We’ll have to find out.” The blonde teases, walking over to the tub to turn the water off, offering a hand to help Jules in before he follows suit, one arm wrapped around his boyfriend’s waist and his glass of wine in the other. “We have a pretty nice life, don’t we?” 

“Mm.” Jules hums into the kiss, looking up as Jonas invites him to share a bath. Even if he doesn’t immediately move from his chair, they both know he’s in. It was moments like these, shared in privacy, so casual in their routine, that made him fall even more in love with the life they had somehow build together and were still getting used to. “I could be persuaded.” He adds, mostly teasing, though he’s already reaching for the stack of music sheet he had pushed aside, standing up to put it back in his binders. He stretched his arms behind his back as he turned to look at his boyfriend. “We can always finish this bottle of wine in the bathroom. It’d be a shame if it went to waste.”

"Convinced, huh? So...I don’t need to pick you up and carry you then.” Jonas teases, an amused laugh leaving his lips. “Finish up and bring the wine with you, my darling. I’ll get the bath started.” He promises before disappearing down the hall, letting the water get warmed up for them. When he hears footsteps approach again, the blonde smiles, pulling him in for a kiss. “How nice of you to join me.” He murmurs, letting a hand trail down his boyfriend’s chest and under his shirt, fingertips trailing along his skin lightly. “Care to help me out of my clothes?”

Jules knows his boyfriend is not rushing him in any way. He still can’t help but suffer mild panic attacks whenever their conversation turned towards that kind of talk. It’s not that Jules is opposed to marriage and children but that he believes he’s too young for either. What freaks him out is not the notion or the possibility of either but that Jonas would get tired of waiting for him to be ready. He let the kiss wash his worries away, focusing on the plants and the wine instead. “I’m sure Cami will love to see your face.” He teased. His sister was, after all, Jonas’ biggest fan. “There’s just so much going on and the time difference… but they’ll want to hear all about your new job, too.” They had been in the same situation once before. Long distance was tough. Luckily they didn’t have to worry about that anymore. “But enough about our parents. We’ll figure them out later.”

"Alright, alright. Hint taken.” Jonas chuckles, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to Julien’s lips. “Why don’t we go run a bath before bed? Relax a bit.” He suggests, brushing a stray curl out of his boyfriend’s face. It was getting late, but he wasn’t quite ready for bed yet. He figured Jules wouldn’t say no to a little more quality time together. “I bought some more of that lavender bubble bath. We could use some.” 

Jules lets out a nervous laugh at the mention of grandkids. He’s not nearly ready to have kids of his own or even the conversation right now even if he knew they were both on the same page when it came to that. “No pressure.” He echoes, running a hand through his hair. “Winston and Edith will keep them entertained for a few years so we have that playing in our favor at least!” He adds, grinning, mostly in an attempt to deviate from that conversation happening. “We have plenty of people to help dog sit. I’m really more worried about the plants. I don’t trust Eyra with those. I barely trust myself!” Jules jokes, his eyes instinctively moving to their very few plants, mostly succulents, just because they required minimal care. “I think we still have a bottle of that nice rosé we got last time. Your moms will love it and the weather is perfect for it. We can grab something else on our way there.”

"Seriously though. You know I’m not in any rush. I’m happy with you and how things are between us right now.” Jonas promises, reaching out to brush a stray curl out of Jules’ face. Cupping his boyfriend’s cheek in his hand, he leans in to give him a quick kiss, an easy smile playing on the blonde’s lips. “Good thing our plants are drought resistant. We do live in California, after all!” Jonas jokes back, shaking his head. “The red sounds perfect. I’ll ask if they want us to bring anything else. They’ll be happy to have us over. We should give your parents a call sometime soon too. It’s been a while since we talked to them.”

“For now.” Jules grinned. He really was very careful when it came to Edith. He didn’t want to let Jonas down on this. Jules could be a little immature still at times and he often leaned on Jonas to pick up after himself albeit not intentionally but he did try. There was nothing, or no one, more important to him that his relationship with Jonas and the home they were building together, and that included Edith. “Oh yeah? This weekend’s good. You know I’ll shift whatever plans I had to make it to your moms’, not that there were any, by the way. I think Edith will like that. Your moms will spoil her, though, you know that right?”

"Perfect, I’ll let them know. We’ll bring the wine?” Jonas asks teasingly, knowing full well that they had plenty of bottles to spare. “To be fair, Edith is their first grandbaby along with Winston. Tom and Ash don’t have any kids, so...no pressure.” He’s joking, of course, knowing that neither of them are ready for kids yet. Hell, they weren’t even ready to discuss getting engaged. Jonas was fine with that though, he really was. They were in a good place and Jonas couldn’t be happier. “Besides, that means they’ll be willing to dog sit for us if we ever need...so really, it’s a win/win.” 

“Maybe I should get a succulent. I definitely can’t kill that…” Jules muttered mostly to himself even though he was sure his boyfriend was probably more than able to make out his words, shrugging the thought away as he looked back at Jonas. “Well, I want to have your attention. I don’t want to distract you too much.” He grinned when Jonas suggested the selfies. He would anyway, of course, and all the voice clips too. Jules would spend so much time at Jonas’ office on campus when they started, always careful on his way in or out. Then on his return from New York once they moved in together. He knew this would happen, that it was only a matter of time, but it was still too recent and Jules was too clingy. “I know I’m being needy but you know I’m still très proud of you, right? So proud!”

"You’ve kept Matilda alive, you could probably handle a succulent.” Jonas points out, chuckling quietly. “I know, my darling. Your love and support means the world to me.” The blonde promises, leaning across the table to give his boyfriend a quick, soft kiss. He didn’t mind that Jules was being a bit needy or clingy. It showed that he cared, in his own Jules way. “Speaking of proud...my moms want to have us over for dinner to celebrate. I was thinking maybe this weekend if that works for you? We can bring Edith so we don’t have to worry about leaving her home alone.” 

Jules smiled at the puppy, quickly distracted by Jonas’ lips on his, hooking a finger around his boyfriend’s belt loops to keep him from leaving his side before he managed to steal another kiss with a grin. He missed Jonas but he was also excited for his boyfriend’s new opportunity, and so proud! “Maybe I should get you a nice succulent, then, to decorate. I’ve read you barely have to water those so they can’t be killed easily.” Of course Jules wouldn’t know, he wasn’t great with plants either. His eyes fell on the puppy and he muttered something in French alongside the sentiment of being sorry she was left at his mercy. “I’ll try. No promises, though!” The younger man teased, helping unpack the food as Jonas joined him at the table. “Lunch might be doable, at least. I can stop by every now and then, of course, until you make lunch buddies and no longer need me.”

Humming quietly at the mention of a succulent, Jonas smiles, touched by the thought. “I would be happy to have you join me for lunch, my darling. With or without a succulent.” He chuckles, nodding back at his boyfriend. “And you have to make sure to send me all of the cute Edith pictures and videos. I wouldn’t say no to a selfie or two from you either. I’m just saying.” 

“Yes, please, Professor.” Jules grinned at the offer of wine, stacking his music sheets together and setting them aside, happy to have Jonas back. He missed him around the place even if it just meant Jonas would stay quietly reading and writing in one corner while he transcribed music in another. “We did. We missed you, though.” Jules admitted, his voice almost boyish against his boyfriend’s lips as they kissed. “Derek took Edith away for the shots but he says she didn’t cry much. She has been a little sleepy since, though. He said that was expected.” He tried to get Jonas up to date about Edith and his day, eventually standing up from his seat to move his papers and clear the table for dinner while his boyfriend brought the wine. “So, do you have a nice office? Can I sneak it or should I play nice this time?”

"Aw. She’s a trooper.” Jonas hums against Julien’s lips, brushing a stray curl out of his boyfriend’s face after they part. Pouring them each a glass of wine, he brings them to the table to have with their takeout, settling down in his seat across from Jules. “It’s more of a cubicle than an office, but it’s decent enough. You may want to play nice, but I wouldn’t say no to you dropping by with lunch some time.” 

Jules had spent the greater part of his day with Edith and Eyra. Luckily his best friend was much more experienced with taking care of a dog now considering she lived with three, and a cat! And shared a few tips with him. He wasn’t even sure where Eyra had found a tiny bow Edit was now wearing around her collar. She insisted it gave Edith personality which he said his dog didn’t need the accessory for but now, hours later, he looked at the puppy and her bow and smiled. Unlike Eyra, though, who had promised her boyfriend a homemade meal for dinner, Jules had ordered in for his, the bags on the dining table where he was also sitting with music sheets spread in front of him, transcribing a piece he had been listening to when Jonas came back from work. He almost missed him had it not been for Edith’s sudden jump, running to the door to greet him. Jules smiled, stretching his arms behind his back as he slowly took his headphones off. “Allô there!” He greeted from his seat. “I got us sushi, thought you might be hungry after your big first day at work. How was it?” Even if he didn’t stand up, he still reached his arms towards Jonas urging him to come closer so he could kiss him.

Bending over to give Edith a scratch behind the ears, Jonas smiles, happy to be home after a long day. “Hi yourself.” He hums, smiling when Jules mentioned he had gotten dinner for them. “I’m always hungry for sushi. It went well, i think. I’ll tell you all about it while we eat. Do you want a glass of wine?” The blonde asks, dropping his messenger bag onto the couch before he walks over to where his boyfriend is sitting, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “You certainly are a sight for sore eyes, my darling. Did you and Edith have a nice day without me?”

Julien was a jealous man but he mostly blamed Jonas for it. It wasn’t fair, he thought, that looked the way he did and was as charming as he was. Everyone that came across Jonas, in his experience, stood no chance. He remembered how everyone talked about him on campus, how every student fought to sit closer to the man, how they all got lost in the compelling tone of his voice. Julien wasn’t worried about Jonas’ eyes wandering off but everyone else’s on his boyfriend. He could see the amusement on his boyfriend’s face, laughing in spite of himself as he shoot his head. “You may find it funny but I don’t. I know what you can do to people. I know what you did to me.” He half teased, leaning in a little closer, playing with Jonas’ hand in his. “Well, now. That definitely gives me something to look forward to today. I’ll be counting down the minutes. Literally.”

"Oh, so now it’s my fault?” Jonas asks teasingly, shaking his head back at Jules. “You’re cute. And as much as I could spend all day with you, I have work. So save all of the pouting for until I get home and I promise I’ll get it off of your face one way or another.” Leaning forward to give his boyfriend a kiss, he smiles, giving his hand a light squeeze. “Now let’s get going. I’ll take care of the dishes if you go get Edith’s leash on her.”

“But that’s so hard!” Jules groaned the word out as he took a sit by the table, quickly turning his frown into a smile as Jonas kissed him. “Oh, yes! Eyra borrowed this brand last week. It’s so good!” He chimed giddily as he took a sip, eyes following his boyfriend around until he finally took a seat next to him. “You look nice. Is it too early to warn you about some annoying little bastard trying to make your life difficult at work just to get your attention? Because I already did that and I’m not willing to let you go.”

"Julien...my darling, my love. We both know that I only have eyes for you.” Jonas points out at his boyfriend’s “warning”, an amused look moving over his face. It was cute, really. “No need to be jealous over something that isn’t going to happen. My heart belongs to you and only you.” He says, reaching across the table to give his boyfriend’s fingers a light squeeze. Jonas knew that neither of them wore rings or were even close to that step in their relationship, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t committed to Jules and Jules alone. There was no one else he would rather be with. “You’ll get to be the one to get me out of these clothes later, don’t you worry.” 

“Oui, monsieur.” Jules nods after his boyfriend as he’s left to finishing getting dressed. While Jonas was already starting breakfast, Jules was dragging his feet across the room, calling after Edith as he stepped out to the backyard with their pup. It wasn’t realistically cold in LA for Jules to justify the shiver running down his spine for any other reason than it was still too early for him to be properly functioning. Coffee was already served by the time he returned inside, fixing Edith’s water bowl and food bowl before heading back towards Jonas. “I don’t know how you do it.” The younger man chuckled, looking at everything his boyfriend had managed to get done. “How are you so… efficient?”

Jonas was more of morning person by necessity than desire. He had grown more accustomed to it over the years, he supposed, but he still much rather sleep in that get up early if he had the choice. “You have to keep moving. Stay still for too long and you’re a goner.” Jonas chuckles, placing a mug of coffee and a plate of food in front of his boyfriend, kissing the top of his head. “Also, really strong coffee. Ash gave me this new blend he’s trying at The Grind House, it’s really good.” 

Jules stayed in bed for another minute as he watched his boyfriend leave the bed and walk towards the bathroom. He’s about to follow when the blonde calls after him, grinning as he shrugs. “I’m coming… I’m just enjoying the view.” He adds, slowly moving to his feet still half begrudgingly. “You’re going to have to do a whole lot more than that, monsieur…” Jules grinned, joining Jonas in the shower, wrapping his arms around his neck in an effort to pull him closer to him and steal a morning kiss. “Mm, good morning.”

"Good morning.” Pulling Julien into the shower with him, Jonas smiles against his boyfriend’s lips, letting his hands roam over the brunette’s body. He doesn’t know how long they get distracted, but it definitely takes a while before they actually shower, stealing another kiss before he gets out. “Will you let Edith out into the yard? I’ll start breakfast in a minute.” The blonde asks, smiling back at Jules as he walks over to his closet to get dressed, checking the time while he does. “We should probably leave in a half hour or so.”

Jules was a heavy sleeper. He was definitely not a morning person in any way. Even at the mention of the promised shower, he pouted and cuddled even closer to his boyfriend, wrapping his arms and legs around Jonas to make sure he wasn’t going anywhere just yet. “Five more minutes.” He mumbled, still not quite opening his eyes fully until the alarm went off again, reluctantly sitting up. Yawning, he stretched one arm behind him, turning to look at the blonde who somehow managed to look like some sort of Greek sculpture: perfectly beautiful. “You promised me a shower…” He grinned, waiting of Jonas to move first.

"I did. Come on.” Stealing a kiss before he gets up, Jonas moves to his feet, running a hand through his hair as he starts towards the bathroom. “You coming?” He asks, looking back over his shoulder to make sure Jules is following. Starting the water, he waits for his boyfriend to join him, smiling once he does. “I know you’re not a morning person, but the shower’ll help. I’ll even wash your hair for you.”