Lincoln had no idea about what was to come, that he would be taking their child into his care. All he knew now was that Graham was his closest friend, and his friend’s wife made the best gingerbread cookies he’d ever tasted… It was a memory Future Lincoln would look back on with bittersweet emotion.
He complimented Eve on her baking skills yet again, and brought up the baking competition. “I’m convinced that you’ll win first place,” he assured her eagerly. “I haven’t tasted them, but based upon their smell, no other entry will even hold a candle to your skills.”
Jack nodded in agreement. "Definitely. I mean, I haven't seen anything else that's been entered, but like Lincoln said, judging by the smell alone it's delicious."
Graham heartily agreed with both them.
“Awe, thank you,” Evelyn gushed, fidgeting with the hot-pad that she was still holding. “They might be cool enough to taste,” she offered, “But still be careful, of course.”
Jack smiled, and cautiously picked up a piece of gingerbread. He bounced it between his hands, hissing between his teeth. "Ouch! Hot!" he exclaimed, wincing. He blew on it, and waited a few minutes until it had cooled down enough to eat a small bite of.
“How is it?” Lincoln hesitated to pick it up, nervous to burn his fingers. He looked at the steaming cookies, tentatively touching one of them on the edge.
Evelyn eagerly waited for their feedback, wringing the oven mit through her hands.
Jack grinned happily. "Delicious!" He announced, smiling. He blew on the piece in his hand again, wincing a little. "Very hot. But delicious!"
Lincoln gingerly picked up the cookie and took a very small bite. He quickly set it back down on the cooling rack, “Oh! It is hot. But scrumptious as always!”
“Oh, Good! I’m so happy,” Eve clapped her hands as a smile brightened her features.
Graham couldn’t see his wife’s face, but he heard her tone and knew she was making that adorable smile again. He pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Jack smiled, and finished his cookie quickly, as if he didn't even notice the fact that it was nearly burning his mouth from how hot it was. He reached into his pocket and brushed a finger over Tip, wanting to demand answers as to what would happen to this adorable, sweet couple and their child. He swallowed, and wished he could warn Lincoln. But if he did…if he did, he could royally fuck up the timeline. Really, really fuck it up.
Lincoln tore a piece off of his cookie and brought it up to his lips, blowing air at it to cool it off before popping it in his mouth. As much as he liked talking to his friend, he was eager to leave and get the hardware they needed to fix Tip.
Jack watched Lincoln for a long moment, then looked away again with a soft sigh, raking a hand over his hair and making the red strands stick up a little. He hoped that they would be able to fix Tip, but…he wasn't sure. He wasn't sure if they could find the right materials.
“Well, we should start to leave soon.” Lincoln walked up to his friend, and tapped his shoulder in request to shake his hand.
Graham shook Lincoln’s hand. “Aw, so early? You’ll just have to visit me even sooner next time.”
“Of course,” Lincoln grinned, giving Evelyn a polite farewell as well.
Jack smiled a little. "Well, goodbye to you two. The gingerbread was lovely." he fidgeted a little. "I don't know if I'll ever happen to see you again, but if I don't, it was lovely to meet you." he inclined his head to Evelyn, and then hesitated, unsure what to do now. Should he shake Graham's hand too, or just leave?
A smile spread across Graham’s face, holding out his hand to shake Jack’s hand as well. “It was wonderful meeting you too, sir. You are a pleasant man.”
Lincoln left, then returned wearing his coat and hat, and holding Jack’s coat draped over his arm.
Jack smiled, and shook Graham's hand. "Thank you." He replied with a smile. He took his coat from Lincoln, putting it on. He looked around the room again, then looked at Graham and Evelyn.
“You’re welcome,” Graham replied warmly. “And if you do get the chance, you’re welcome back here at any time.”
Lincoln pulled into his own coat and wrapped his scarf comfortably around his neck.
Jack nodded, buttoning up his coat. "Alright. Thanks again." he replied, and stepped over to Lincoln, giving him a smile.
Graham cheerfully waved in the direction of his voice, “You’re welcome, goodbye.”
Lincoln returned the smile to Jack, bid his final farewells to Graham and Evelyn, and turned to make his way towards the door. Preparing for the cold, and the light dusting of snow, he stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Bye!" Jack called, and followed Lincoln outside. He took a deep breath of the cold air, a faint smile flickering over his face. "The air smells different." he commented with a laugh. "I mean, from my time." He knew that that was due to the coal that London often burned in this time period, but it still caught him a little bit by surprise.
Lincoln closed the door behind him and lifted his nose to the air, “Hm, yes,” he chuckled. “I haven’t really noticed the air here in years, but when I first got here, it had a very distinct scent from America. I bet it’s very different between time periods.” He walked down the porch.
Jack nodded. "Yeah." he agreed. "I mean…I don't know. I don't think I can describe the difference in a way that would make sense, thought." he followed Lincoln, adjusting his coat and brushing a finger against Tip again, just to make sure the little device was still there.
“I understand that,” he nodded contemplatively. “When I first got here, it smelled like a city, just like the city in America. But the city smells are weirdly different, but not so much you can make them distinct.” He peered down the road to see if there was a carriage coming or not.
"Yes, exactly." Jack agreed, nodding and looking about. "Where are we going now, by the way?" he asked, stepping forward to be beside Lincoln. His hand brushed lightly against the other male's, and his lips twitched in a faint smile.
Lincoln’s lips curled into a full smile. He subtly hooked one of his fingers with Jack’s, then let it simply brush past time make it seem like an accident to anyone else. “Well, we have two options. We can either go to the store to find tools for Tip, or we can go back to my house until it’s time to go to the club.”
Jack hummed for a moment. "Hmm…I'm good with either one, I think." He replied with a smile. He wanted to go to that club with Lincoln, he really did. It would be fun, to see what it was like.
Lincoln rubbed his face. “Well that doesn’t help,” he laughed, “because I wouldn’t mind either way. But 8f I had to choose, I would prefer going back to my house.” He pulled his coated tighter around his shoulders, breathing out a hot cloud of air into the falling snow.
Jack nodded. "Alright." he replied. "Are we taking a carriage, or walking?" he asked, looking over at Lincoln. He was excited. And…growing far too attached to Lincoln for his own good, if he was really, brutally honest. Because when the time came, he would need to go back home, to his own time, and leave Lincoln behind.
Lincoln tucked his rogue piece of hair behind his ear again, “A carriage, most likely,” he replied, “If we can catch one. We might have to at least walk to the town to find one. They’re less populated here in neighborhoods.” He looked sideways at Jack for his input. The snow began to fall more densely, and a thin layer of white began to gather on Lincoln’s head and shoulders like dandruff.
He was glad they were goin* home instead. As long as they didn’t fix Tip right away, the longer he would have with Jack, and he didn’t want him to leave.
Jack nodded. "Alright. Let's go, then." He said, and started walking. He smiled over at Lincoln. Secretly, some part of him was glad that they wouldn't be fixing Tip that day. It meant he got to stay longer with Lincoln. And he wanted that. Wanted to get to know the other man even better. He wanted to stay as long as possible.
Lincoln returned the smile, putting his hands in his coat pockets. He walked with him down the neighborhood street, through the flurry of snowflakes. The snow had gathered enough on the ground to cover the grass.
Jack walked beside Lincoln, smiling contentedly. He liked this. The silence, walking with a handsome man. Even if it was in a completely different time period than his own.
