churbooseanon

Summary: One of the hardest things, of course, is figuring out a name they both like.

Something All Our Own - What’s In A Name? (A Guns For Hire fanfic)

The book kept appearing all around the house. At first Tex had done her best to ignore it, not because she wasn’t willing to think about it, but because she was offended at the idea that the name for their child should come from some book. So she ignored the thing, pointedly, whenever it appeared in her presence. She ignored it when it was left on the back of the toilet. Ignored it when it was left on the coffee table, and didn’t even blink when it stays on her nightstand three days in a row. The very suggestion implied in it was ridiculous.

The escalation came, of course. She knew it would. Butch was a man who built things up slowly. If the subtle route didn’t work, then he would move to more overt. Tex figured there was probably something before the book that she hadn’t noticed. Which made the way Butch flopped down on the couch next to her one evening, no book or knitting in hand, and just pouted at her the next level. There was clearly displeasure radiating off of him, enough that Rex didn’t come running to jump on the couch between them like the old dog always did these days.

So… they’d reached the giving her weird looks phase. With a deep and clearly annoyed sigh, she set her bookmark in place and put the book aside. Not like she had to finish the thing tonight if she was going to properly host Delta’s bookclub for him while he was out of town. No, this was something Butch clearly needed to do now, and so she was going to throw the older of her two mutts a bone. Chill expression in place, she turned her attention to her husband and frowned.

“Yes?”

“You haven’t even thought about it, have you?”

Well, that was surprisingly to the point for him. Tex almost wanted to give the man a little medal for getting to the point. But that would be hypocritical, wouldn’t it? They were both bad at what might be construed as serious conversations about their relationship. Always had been, probably always would be. They still tried. They were better at trying now than they’d been in the beginning. She’d gotten used to the fact that he’d always be there, always wait for her no matter how far she went away from him. He’d gotten used to the idea of someone seeing him as a person, remembering him for the kind words and tenderness and not the fact that he probably knew twenty different ways to kill a man with a sponge. Time moved on, they changed, and they were almost starting to accept that. Just like it was really starting to hit home that this was happening.

With that thought her hand went to her swollen belly, stroking over it. How often these days did she find herself curled protectively around herself, around the life growing inside of her? Truth be told, she didn’t want to think about it. So instead she looked to Butch and frowned.

“Of course I have,” she answered simply. “But isn’t it early?”

“Beta, love, I don’t think it is,” Butch countered. “Our son needs a name. Maybe we won’t have anything set in stone, but I want to start seriously thinking about this. Is that okay?”

Of course, what he actually meant was that he had already put a lot of thought into names and he wanted her approval of those he liked. Somehow she doubted that would happen. She’d seen a lot of the names he used to use on fake identities. They weren’t exactly stunning. They didn’t have the ring she wanted for her child. They just weren’t… right.

“Fine,” she allowed anyway, because clearly this needed off of his chest. “Give me your best three candidates.”

“Brant,” Butch offered, a smile on his face like he was some puppy who had just performed a trick right and expected a treat. When Tex didn’t respond he just rolled on with the next offering. “Alright then, what would you think of Bradley?”

That one actually prompted Tex to roll her eyes. Bradley? Brad? No, she wasn’t exactly big on that name at all. At least Brant had some potential.

“No?” Butch asked with a sigh. “Well, good thing I saved the best for last I guess. What would you think of Bernie?”

“I’m noticing a pattern,” Tex chuckled, shaking her head. “Butch, all of those names start with a B. Got a hard-on for that letter or something?”

The initial look of offense that flashed over his face at her amusement, softened with the rest of what Tex said. Oh. There… was actually something going on there. So she reached forward, offering her hand, and sure enough Butch took the offering. Took it and seemed relieved.

“Doesn’t it make sense, though?” Butch asked, his voice low. “Butch and Beta. They both begin with B. It’s fitting.”

Oh. Yes, that did explain some of the pattern. But Tex squeezed his hand, shaking her head. “But your name isn’t Butch. And given my family history, do you really think I’m a fan of naming patterns?”

There was an expression on his face that sort of said ‘oh god how could I make that mistake?’ Again she squeezed his hand, hoping to calm him down. After a moment he nodded, because he had gotten it. The point was delivered.

“Well, then, what do you think in the terms of names?” Butch asked.

“I clearly haven’t put as much thought into it as you have, but I suppose I wouldn’t mind something like Jake.”

Butch made a slight hum of distaste as he leaned in to rest his head against her legs. “What else?”

“Riley?”

She could feel his head shaking and Tex shrugged. There would be time to convince him later. Still, there was one more…

“Michael.”

When Butch sat up she could see the small smile of approval on his lips.

“Michael. I like that.”

Good. Tex smiled, reaching out to stroke his hair. “Thanks, hun.”

“That’s the patron of soldiers, right?” he asked, amusement and approval in his voice.

“Funny that,” Tex chuckled in agreement.

Seemed like they might have reached a decision whether she’d intended to or not. Once more her hand returned to the swell of her belly, stroking over the fabric of her shirt. Michael. Their son would be Michael. And she’d teach him how to live up to that name.