indeedsir_backup | Fic: The Complications, part 4

This is a little something written as a birthday present for the lovely

kahvi The premise being, what if Jeeves HAD married that cook?

Pairing: Bertie/Jeeves
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I have no claim on the lovely works of Wodehouse.
NOTE: Note I know I cheated, using a 1940s song, but I figure that if the series can cheat, then so can I. Besides, Rodgers and Hammerstein fit so nicely with Wodehouse, don’t you think?

Comes after
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

…Don't keep your hand in mine
Your hand feels so grand in mine
People will say we're in love!
Don't dance all night with me
Till the stars fade from above.
They'll see it's alright with me
People will say we're in love.

I wound down the last notes slowly, my fingers lingering on the keys. Under normal circs. , one doesn’t want to put their audience to sleep, but I was pleased to have lulled Hazel halfway there. “Not that we have to worry about that, what?” I murmured to my charge. She gave a wide yawn and closed her eyes, uninterested in my woes.

Jeeves would be back any moment now. I’d instructed him to take the afternoon off to relax. Having left me in charge of a baby and a pot roast, it was unlikely that he wasn’t worrying himself to death at present time. It had taken the better part of an hour to convince him that I was capable of supervising the roast, which required only that I not touch it until he returns. Hazel was a different story; having been freshly diapered and fed before his departure, she was jolly company. He somehow trusted me with that task.

I smiled as Jeeves opened the door and entered. Somehow the mere sight of him is enough to make me smile, to make my heart flutter and flop, even if he’s not at his best and brightest and even if he doesn’t love me in the way that I quite desperately love him. If absence made my heart grow fonder, recent proximity made it impossible to think of much else. “Look in at the club?” I asked, genuinely curious as to if he’d done any actual relaxing.

“No, sir. I went to the park.” He replied. “It is extremely peaceful at this time of day.”

“She’s asleep.” I gestured proudly to the bassinette. “I weave a skillful lullaby.” This earned me the slightest quirk of his lips.

“You are invaluable, sir.”

I was aghast. “Nonsense. You’re the invaluable one, old thing.”

“Perhaps not as much as I once was.” He mused. “It pains me to think of the inconvenience I am putting you through. “

I shook my head. “I’m grateful for it.” I replied, meaning every word. “And now that you’ve brought it up, it pains me to see you pained, at that.” I took a deep breath. I had decided that morning that I would make my push while his defenses were lowered.

“I want to have a talk with you, Jeeves.” I said, gesturing for him to sit beside me “Not as your employer, but as your friend. As godfather to your daughter. Gentleman to gentleman. The sort of talk which bears no danger of consequences.”

He gave me a rummy sort of look. “Very good, sir.” He replied, and accepted the seat.

“I worry for you.” I began, suddenly nervous that what I had to say would come out all sorts of wrong.

“Sir, you mustn’t concern yourself with such things.” He insisted.

“But I must!” I cried. ‘You… you are important to me, Jeeves, dashed important at that. You must stop walking on bally eggshells.”

His eyes clouded. “You must remember that I am your valet, sir.” He said, quietly. “It is not good for you to hold me in such high esteem, to the exclusion of others of your rank.”

He was trying to put distance between us again. I clenched my fingers in the cushion. “The class system is bunk!” I declared, earning a disapproving look from the object of my affections, who thought rather highly of it. “What I mean to say is, why shouldn’t I care for you? You’ve shared so much of my life, the best and worst bits of my life, I believe. You always came through for me in the end. I want…” I felt myself blushing, reflecting on what it was that I really wanted. This speech was only meant to scratch the surface.

“Sir.” He said, gently. “You should not worry so much for my well being. You are still a young man. If you continue to cling to my apron strings, you will never have the companionship that you so deserve. For too long, I manipulated you to stay in your service. I began with good intentions. I weeded out the young ladies that were unsuitable. I came to realize that they were all unsuitable.” He added, darkly. “I felt justified so long as you were content. When I noticed that you had fallen into a depression, longing for a child… I regretted how selfish I had been.” He took a deep breath, and was eerily still once more.

“So, you left.” I concluded, dully.

“It seemed to be the prudent course of action, sir. The misunderstanding that led to my engagement was aptly timed.”

I shook my head. “If there’s one thing you should know by now, it’s that you can’t mould Bertram Wooster. He resists, remaining as God intended. Instead of hitching myself to some toothsome filly, I pined away. Foolish, I know, but there you have it. I’m happy now, with you at my side and the daughter- nay, godchild- that I wished for.” I corrected myself, feeling that it was surely a liberty to claim another man’s first born as your own.

“You frustrate me, sir. I am most disturbed that my efforts have been in vain.” His eyes lit on Hazel, and I saw it again- the flash of regret , anger, and resentment first diverted to her, and then to me. Suddenly, I understood. The scales fell from my eyes and I saw all for what it was, a clear as daybreak. Jeeves had created an elaborate scheme, the wheeze of a lifetime, to ensure my happiness, and it had backfired. His ego was wounded. Add to this the misery of getting hitched to some country girl he barely knew, and the extra workload that caring for Hazel thrust onto him, and it was no wonder that he was discontent.

He’d done it for me. He’d uprooted his life and everything he cared about, for me. “I’m sorry.” I began, a bit shyly. “You know that I’m too mentally negligible to take a hint, Jeeves. You know that. If you thought that leaving would make me happy, you were wrong, but take heart in the fact that your return has emboldened the Wooster spirit tenfold. I want you to stop worrying about Hazel disturbing me, too. She’s a joy to have around, an absolute corker as far as babies go.”

Jeeves merely sighed, a sigh laden with defeat.

“I don’t know why you’d go through all of this for the likes of me.” I continued. “I say, Jeeves, this is still a conversation bound by a gentleman’s agreement, isn’t it? That we might speak freely, without fear of consequences?”

“If it pleases you, sir.” He replied.

I screwed up my courage. “In that case, I have something to say. I’m fairly sure that I love you, old thing. No, more than fairly sure, I am convinced. If it disturbs you, you can leave; and don’t worry about the baby. I’ll pay her bills no matter where you go. Don’t think to stay because of that, or because you think you owe me a debt. All the same, I do wish you would stay, and let me take comfort in the company of you, and my dear goddaughter.” I looked away. “No strings, my love. None.” No matter how much I wanted him, I couldn’t force him to stay. Only a monster would force him, holding his child for ransom. The most terrible silence ensued, and I held my breath, waiting for his reaction.

“This is truly your wish, sir?” he asked, cautiously. “You have thought this through and have considered the situation from every angle?”

“I’ve thought of little else these past few years.” I managed.

“Are you certain that what you feel is deeper than friendship?” He took my hand in his, and my pulse began to race. Surely he could feel that, could tell by the way that my hand was growing clammy with nerves; and yet he still regarded me with a discerning look. “Do you understand what it implies, to share your bed with a man? With a servant, no less?” he added, his voice soft and level, offering me a change to backpedal and remove myself from the situation while saving face. His voice was dark and deep, and I very nearly swooned, as silly girls do in films. I considered his words- did I know? I’d had a few awkward experiments in the dark with some boys at Eton, but that didn’t strike me as expert knowledge. But then again, what did I know of women? I’d kissed plenty of girls in my time, but I’d never been under their skirts, and only had a vague idea of how their underpinnings worked.

“I don’t know much.” I admitted. “But I could learn.” I regarded him coyly. “I say, Jeeves… none of this matters unless it were truly your wish, as well.”

“My dear Bertram.” He began. “Would I have done any of this if I did not love you, quite madly?”

His lips were on mine, and I groaned, opening my mouth for him, for as I said, I was fairly skilled at kissing, at least. My arms found their way around his strong, broad shoulders, and my fingers creased the stiff perfection of his collar. It would have been a flawless memory of perfect romance, had Hazel stayed asleep.

I winced out of his arms as my ear drums were pierced by her agitated shriek, informing us quite loudly that she had woken up expecting to have her bottle, and it was not forthcoming.

“Forgive me, sir.” He rose and glided to the kitchen to retrieve her formula.

“Not at all, Jeeves.’ I replied, scooping her into my arms, hoping that reassurance that we had not forgotten her would calm her down, although I had no bottle on my person. “I’m a bit surly before my morning tea, as well.” For a moment, I felt the sting of resentment that Jeeves had guiltily spoken of, but once she was contentedly feeding, I felt ashamed for being annoyed at all. I gave Jeeves a glance, attempting to convey that I understood. I was a kindred spirit. I bounced Hazel slightly, and she seemed content.

to part 5