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The Complete Fic Directory
- All I Do Each Night Is Rehearse The Pray Routine
- Appendicitis
- An Act Of Un-Remembrance
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- Better Than Today - Kylie Minogue
- Black
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- Dangling
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- Default Settings/Do You Love Me? [Part One]
- Displacement Theory [Blue]
- DJ (I Could Be Dancing) - Alphabeat
- Enchanted
- Ends (Loose And Otherwise) [Ends]
- Enemies
- Family
- Fine Time To Lose Your Mind - Jack McManus
- Fireworks
- Flat Tyres And Palm Prints [Birth]
- Flu
- Friends: A Dictionary [Friends]
- From Angels To The Moon/The Soup
- Green Light [Green]
- Hell Raisers
- Home Invasion
- Hours
- In My Veins
- Insides
- It Was The Death Of Something [Death]
- Just Like Children [Children]
- Kiss And Make Up
- The Last Time
- Lonely At Christmas
- Love Songs
- Lovers
- Middles
- Midnight Sun
- Mistletoe
- Months Go By [Months]
- More Important Than Fear
- Muddied Stars [Brown]
- Not Enough
- Of Peacocks
- On The Subject Of Angels [Orange]
- Playing House [Parents]
- The Price Of Friendship
- The Prize
- Post-Match Analysis
- Puddles
- Red
- Secret Admirer
- Secret Agent Owen
- Shades
- Shine - Skies Of America
- Slow Dancing In A Burning Room
- Snap
- So Good To See You
- Stage Fright
- Stay (Oh Darlin')
- Study In Motion
- Summertime Feeling - S Club 7
- Sunrise
- Sunset
- Teammates
- That Night In Amsterdam/Do You Love Me? [Part Two]
- This
- Three Sets Of Three
- Twenty-Nine (And A Half)
- Under A Colourless Sky [Colourless]
- We Found Something That Belongs To You [Outsides]
- We Were Strangers Once [Strangers]
- Weeks
- What Did You Say This Time?
- What Will The Papers Say? [Purple]
- White Out [White]
- The Wordsmith/Breathe In
- Years
- Yellow
- Yesterday's Promise
- 3-0 Defeats
- Barlow's Music Shop Series
- Fanfiction Challenges
- The Postcard Prompts
- OT3, OT4 & OT5
- Stories By Band Member
- Stories By Ship
- Stories By Genre
- Stories By Era
- Band-Free AUs
- Prompt Requests
- Other Fandom Fics
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Playing House [Parents]
Every now and again, Howard and Jason would find themselves playing at being parents. Howard wasn’t sure what point at which the routine had begun – Grace could remember a time before it started but Lola had very few memories without it. Howard was grateful for it though, very grateful. Howard wasn’t sure how many times he had sung Jason’s praises; even for coming from a big family the man still had a unique gift with kids. But Jason’s real gift was with Howard. Jason had a habit of swanning into Howard’s life as it was all falling apart and flopping down on the sofa to watch the footie. Jason always knew when a dose of normality was needed. In fact, Doctor Jason had a remedy for every situation; Lola’s ill – make soup and bring a book of bedtime stories, Howard’s fought with his girlfriend – put on the football and ring for a take away, the gossip columns are talking about things they don’t understand – simply beer, crisps and a good old-fashioned heart-to-heart. Sometimes Jason could even pre-empt the storm, because he knew how lonely Howard could get. For a man who so loved company, picking a life lived between countries was probably not the wisest of strategies. Sometimes Howard got really lonely. But Jason always seemed to be able to tell. Howard half-suspected his house was bugged, that Jason was sitting somewhere waiting for that wistful sigh or the tell-tale blast of drown-it-out music. But no. Because Jason had better things to do with his time. Howard was genuinely honoured that Jason valued him over his studying, his travelling…even his flirting. Howard was well aware he came first and sometimes he suspected he saw the man more than any of the Orange family ever did.
And today was one of those days to play at being parents, so it seemed. Jason had appeared – unannounced but not unexpected – shortly after Howard’s girlfriend had been called away and now there he was on the sofa, Lola on his lap. Howard wasn’t sure how many times he and Jason had sat through Alice In Wonderland now. Too many, probably. Secretly he was grateful when he heard the doorbell ring. That’d be Grace back from her friend’s house then. Jason continued to make soft chatter with Lola as Howard pushed himself up from the sofa.
Jason glanced up as Grace threw herself down onto the sofa, looking in the direction of the door for Howard before resting his gaze back on Grace.
“You seem like a ray of sunshine today sweetheart,” he said gently, tipping his head slightly to try and get a better view of Grace’s sulking face. Grace tried to resist smiling but Jason was good at coaxing smiles. She sighed, slowly unfolding her arms and shifting to sit crossed legged on the sofa.
“My best friend’s mum just asked for my dad’s autograph, it’s kind of hard to smile about that Uncle Jay,” she said slowly and Jason cast her a sympathetic glance.
“It could be worse…my best friend’s mum asked me for your dad’s autograph too…and Mark’s…and Gaz’s…apparently I just wasn’t good enough for her,” he joked and Grace’s resistance was broken. Howard arrived in time to see Jason win the laughter and he breathed a sigh of relief
“Am I forgiven now?” he asked tentatively, joining them on the sofa. Grace wrinkled her nose.
“Maybe…” she conceded after a while and Howard mimed a ‘thank you’ at Jason over Grace’s head.
“Aw, come on sweetheart, give ya dad a break. There are benefits to a famous parent you know,” Jason pointed out, flashing Grace a soft smile. There’s Jason for a start, Howard thought. But he didn’t say it aloud. Jason knew that their friendship was Howard’s most-valued benefit of the job.
One important factor in his and Jason’s partnership was that Jason understood Howard’s issues with trusting people. Howard had struggled since Rob had left the band. He didn’t always trust people not to hurt him, didn’t always trust them not to leave him. Mark and Gary he felt safest with but he was still scared of their rejection. Girlfriends – no matter how much he loved them – would forever have the potential to come and go. But Jason…Jason was the exception to the rule. Howard trusted Jason wholly and completely. He couldn’t really explain why. Maybe it was just that Jason was a trustworthy guy. Or maybe it was the fact that Jason never failed to be there when you least expected him but most needed him. It was a theme that repeated itself throughout Howard’s life. Before the band split, after the band split…and even more now the band were back together.
As day slowly turned into night, Jason ordered pizza for them all. Grace chatted Jason’s ear off and Jason humoured her. He gave good sweet-talk and by the time the pizza was finished with, Howard felt sure that she’d forgotten she’d been cross with him at all. It was always the same when he and Jason ended up playing parents; Jason was mother. He’d tidy up and he’d lend a listening ear and he’d make sure food was on the table and he’d keep as much harmony in the house as he possibly could. He’d even put some washing on if he suspected Howard to be wearing too lived-in a t-shirt.
By the time Mark and Gary spilled in through Howard’s front door, the night-time routine was in full swing. Howard laughed at Mark’s ramblings as they walked towards the kitchen, Grace appearing briefly to say hi before returning to the TV. By the kitchen table, Jason was stood with Lola in his arms. Mark greeted him cheerfully, placing a bottle of wine on the kitchen table.
“You’ve got your nanny well trained mate, the girl’s eating out the palm of his hand! You available for bedtimes at my place?” Gary joked as he noted Lola’s sleepy eyes. Jason sighed.
“Don’t you start on me Barlow, I’ve got to get through a bedtime story yet,” he replied as Mark lost himself in pretending to steal Lola’s nose. Howard smirked, opening the wine up.
“I take it you’ll actually be joining us for a drink tonight then?” he asked and Jason nodded.
“I think I’ve earned it – I swear your house would fall apart without me mate,” he called as he left the kitchen to put Lola to bed. Mark tilted his head to one side.
“If someone had asked you if that would ever happen in the 90s, would you have taken them at all seriously?!” he questioned, taking a wine glass from Howard. Gary chuckled.
“Eh, I’ve always maintained that man has about three personalities,” he joked.
“Oh, leave him be! You’ll be glad of it next time one of you pair’s dealing with a ‘why’s my dad have to be famous’ strop,” Howard sighed, taking a sip of his own wine.
“Thank God mine are just about too young for that,” Gary nodded thoughtfully.
“It’ll come – trust me!” Howard replied with a slight wince.
“I don’t think I want Elwood to grow up in that case…” Mark put in with a wry smile and Gary laughed, sitting down at the kitchen table. The others followed suit.
“A kid of yours grow up? Impossible, they’ll inherit the eternal seven-year-old gene from you I’m sure,” Howard shot back teasingly and Mark pretended to pout.
“Markie, if he grows up anything like you then he’ll be too busy walking on clouds to notice that the women of England want to marry his father,” Gary pointed out with a grin and Mark laughed one of his head-back-smile-to-the-stars laughs that prompted Gary to give his shoulders a gentle squeeze.
“You shouldn’t laugh Markie…those women really want to marry you. I mean really. They’ve voted you Most Fanciable Male three years running now…I think even Gaz is starting to want to marry you,” Howard joked making Gary almost choke on his wine.
“Eh! Careful Dougie…I’m worried enough that Dawn’s onto my secret as it is!” he recovered and Mark laughed brightly once more, shaking his head.
“You two are mad, you know that?” he said, adjusting his scarf slightly and rolling his eyes.
“And you’re an elf and yet still the women fall at your feet!” Howard teased, sending the three men into fits of laughter once more.
Upstairs Jason tucked Lola in, kissing her goodnight, and Lola – who knew that her Uncle Jay was as soft as butter – called him back for two more hugs and a second story before he could leave. He could hear his bandmates’ laughter rippling up the stairs and he wondered, briefly, if he was being taken advantage of. But he couldn’t hold it against Howard. He and Howard had, at some point, made some silent promise to be parents whenever the helping hand was needed. And Jason never broke his promises. Especially not his promises to Howard. So he continued to fuss over Lola until she fell asleep and finally he was released from her grasp. As Jason padded downstairs he passed Grace and she smiled over at him as their paths crossed on the staircase.
“You off up for the night then kiddo?” Jason asked her, returning the smile .
“Yeah…are you staying here tonight?” she replied. Jason nodded slowly
“Might do, we’ll see. Sweet dreams sweetheart,” he said, starting to head back down.
“Night Uncle Jay,” she called over her shoulder.
Entering the kitchen, Jason was relieved to see his glass of wine was ready and waiting for him and his friends all turned to greet him as he flopped down into the nearest chair.
“Alright Donald, both your kids have been fed and sent to bed and your laundry and your dishes have been done…now can I just ask if any of you three know if Howard made enough money last year to cover my fees? Coz they’re going up Donald, you’ve been warned,” Jason teased, eyes glittering as he gave Howard a look that told him not to worry.
“Oh Jay, you bring it on y’self mate,” Gary sighed with a shake of his head. Jason noted, with a raised eyebrow, that Mark had already had enough wine to have been coaxed onto Gary’s lap and he shook his head slightly at the sight.
“If I pay you extra will you stay single for me?” Howard put in with a sly grin.
“Eh, hang on Howard, stop hogging the help! Elwood and Willow haven’t seen him for…at least a week now,” Mark shot back and Jason simply shook his head, chuckling into his wine glass. Gary was right, he did bring it on himself. Because he was happy to play parent to this band. He’d play parent to their kids if they wanted him to, of course. But he’d also play parent when someone needed to make sure Mark got his taxi home safely. And he’d play parent when Gary needed reminding that he had an interview to give tomorrow afternoon, so he shouldn’t give himself a hangover. And he’d definitely play parent when Howard tried to crash out on the sofa, rolling him back onto the cushions when he quite literally crashed to the floor. Yes, Howard and Jason would play at being parents. But at the end of the day, everyone knew, it was really Jason who was boss in the Donald household.
And today was one of those days to play at being parents, so it seemed. Jason had appeared – unannounced but not unexpected – shortly after Howard’s girlfriend had been called away and now there he was on the sofa, Lola on his lap. Howard wasn’t sure how many times he and Jason had sat through Alice In Wonderland now. Too many, probably. Secretly he was grateful when he heard the doorbell ring. That’d be Grace back from her friend’s house then. Jason continued to make soft chatter with Lola as Howard pushed himself up from the sofa.
Jason glanced up as Grace threw herself down onto the sofa, looking in the direction of the door for Howard before resting his gaze back on Grace.
“You seem like a ray of sunshine today sweetheart,” he said gently, tipping his head slightly to try and get a better view of Grace’s sulking face. Grace tried to resist smiling but Jason was good at coaxing smiles. She sighed, slowly unfolding her arms and shifting to sit crossed legged on the sofa.
“My best friend’s mum just asked for my dad’s autograph, it’s kind of hard to smile about that Uncle Jay,” she said slowly and Jason cast her a sympathetic glance.
“It could be worse…my best friend’s mum asked me for your dad’s autograph too…and Mark’s…and Gaz’s…apparently I just wasn’t good enough for her,” he joked and Grace’s resistance was broken. Howard arrived in time to see Jason win the laughter and he breathed a sigh of relief
“Am I forgiven now?” he asked tentatively, joining them on the sofa. Grace wrinkled her nose.
“Maybe…” she conceded after a while and Howard mimed a ‘thank you’ at Jason over Grace’s head.
“Aw, come on sweetheart, give ya dad a break. There are benefits to a famous parent you know,” Jason pointed out, flashing Grace a soft smile. There’s Jason for a start, Howard thought. But he didn’t say it aloud. Jason knew that their friendship was Howard’s most-valued benefit of the job.
One important factor in his and Jason’s partnership was that Jason understood Howard’s issues with trusting people. Howard had struggled since Rob had left the band. He didn’t always trust people not to hurt him, didn’t always trust them not to leave him. Mark and Gary he felt safest with but he was still scared of their rejection. Girlfriends – no matter how much he loved them – would forever have the potential to come and go. But Jason…Jason was the exception to the rule. Howard trusted Jason wholly and completely. He couldn’t really explain why. Maybe it was just that Jason was a trustworthy guy. Or maybe it was the fact that Jason never failed to be there when you least expected him but most needed him. It was a theme that repeated itself throughout Howard’s life. Before the band split, after the band split…and even more now the band were back together.
As day slowly turned into night, Jason ordered pizza for them all. Grace chatted Jason’s ear off and Jason humoured her. He gave good sweet-talk and by the time the pizza was finished with, Howard felt sure that she’d forgotten she’d been cross with him at all. It was always the same when he and Jason ended up playing parents; Jason was mother. He’d tidy up and he’d lend a listening ear and he’d make sure food was on the table and he’d keep as much harmony in the house as he possibly could. He’d even put some washing on if he suspected Howard to be wearing too lived-in a t-shirt.
By the time Mark and Gary spilled in through Howard’s front door, the night-time routine was in full swing. Howard laughed at Mark’s ramblings as they walked towards the kitchen, Grace appearing briefly to say hi before returning to the TV. By the kitchen table, Jason was stood with Lola in his arms. Mark greeted him cheerfully, placing a bottle of wine on the kitchen table.
“You’ve got your nanny well trained mate, the girl’s eating out the palm of his hand! You available for bedtimes at my place?” Gary joked as he noted Lola’s sleepy eyes. Jason sighed.
“Don’t you start on me Barlow, I’ve got to get through a bedtime story yet,” he replied as Mark lost himself in pretending to steal Lola’s nose. Howard smirked, opening the wine up.
“I take it you’ll actually be joining us for a drink tonight then?” he asked and Jason nodded.
“I think I’ve earned it – I swear your house would fall apart without me mate,” he called as he left the kitchen to put Lola to bed. Mark tilted his head to one side.
“If someone had asked you if that would ever happen in the 90s, would you have taken them at all seriously?!” he questioned, taking a wine glass from Howard. Gary chuckled.
“Eh, I’ve always maintained that man has about three personalities,” he joked.
“Oh, leave him be! You’ll be glad of it next time one of you pair’s dealing with a ‘why’s my dad have to be famous’ strop,” Howard sighed, taking a sip of his own wine.
“Thank God mine are just about too young for that,” Gary nodded thoughtfully.
“It’ll come – trust me!” Howard replied with a slight wince.
“I don’t think I want Elwood to grow up in that case…” Mark put in with a wry smile and Gary laughed, sitting down at the kitchen table. The others followed suit.
“A kid of yours grow up? Impossible, they’ll inherit the eternal seven-year-old gene from you I’m sure,” Howard shot back teasingly and Mark pretended to pout.
“Markie, if he grows up anything like you then he’ll be too busy walking on clouds to notice that the women of England want to marry his father,” Gary pointed out with a grin and Mark laughed one of his head-back-smile-to-the-stars laughs that prompted Gary to give his shoulders a gentle squeeze.
“You shouldn’t laugh Markie…those women really want to marry you. I mean really. They’ve voted you Most Fanciable Male three years running now…I think even Gaz is starting to want to marry you,” Howard joked making Gary almost choke on his wine.
“Eh! Careful Dougie…I’m worried enough that Dawn’s onto my secret as it is!” he recovered and Mark laughed brightly once more, shaking his head.
“You two are mad, you know that?” he said, adjusting his scarf slightly and rolling his eyes.
“And you’re an elf and yet still the women fall at your feet!” Howard teased, sending the three men into fits of laughter once more.
Upstairs Jason tucked Lola in, kissing her goodnight, and Lola – who knew that her Uncle Jay was as soft as butter – called him back for two more hugs and a second story before he could leave. He could hear his bandmates’ laughter rippling up the stairs and he wondered, briefly, if he was being taken advantage of. But he couldn’t hold it against Howard. He and Howard had, at some point, made some silent promise to be parents whenever the helping hand was needed. And Jason never broke his promises. Especially not his promises to Howard. So he continued to fuss over Lola until she fell asleep and finally he was released from her grasp. As Jason padded downstairs he passed Grace and she smiled over at him as their paths crossed on the staircase.
“You off up for the night then kiddo?” Jason asked her, returning the smile .
“Yeah…are you staying here tonight?” she replied. Jason nodded slowly
“Might do, we’ll see. Sweet dreams sweetheart,” he said, starting to head back down.
“Night Uncle Jay,” she called over her shoulder.
Entering the kitchen, Jason was relieved to see his glass of wine was ready and waiting for him and his friends all turned to greet him as he flopped down into the nearest chair.
“Alright Donald, both your kids have been fed and sent to bed and your laundry and your dishes have been done…now can I just ask if any of you three know if Howard made enough money last year to cover my fees? Coz they’re going up Donald, you’ve been warned,” Jason teased, eyes glittering as he gave Howard a look that told him not to worry.
“Oh Jay, you bring it on y’self mate,” Gary sighed with a shake of his head. Jason noted, with a raised eyebrow, that Mark had already had enough wine to have been coaxed onto Gary’s lap and he shook his head slightly at the sight.
“If I pay you extra will you stay single for me?” Howard put in with a sly grin.
“Eh, hang on Howard, stop hogging the help! Elwood and Willow haven’t seen him for…at least a week now,” Mark shot back and Jason simply shook his head, chuckling into his wine glass. Gary was right, he did bring it on himself. Because he was happy to play parent to this band. He’d play parent to their kids if they wanted him to, of course. But he’d also play parent when someone needed to make sure Mark got his taxi home safely. And he’d play parent when Gary needed reminding that he had an interview to give tomorrow afternoon, so he shouldn’t give himself a hangover. And he’d definitely play parent when Howard tried to crash out on the sofa, rolling him back onto the cushions when he quite literally crashed to the floor. Yes, Howard and Jason would play at being parents. But at the end of the day, everyone knew, it was really Jason who was boss in the Donald household.