The New Moon with the Old
Late, late yestreen I saw the new Moon,
With the old Moon in her arms…
With the old Moon in her arms…
Part 1
Draping his arm over the top of the bench, Tristan stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles. Robin sat within the circle of his arm, leaning against him. Around them, the park was almost deserted. A man threw a ball for his dog to fetch; an older couple walked arm in arm along the path leading from the entrance on the next street.
Spring had finally come after weeks of greyer- and drearier-than-usual winter weather. It had been months since they had walked to the park after dinner. The previous summer, it had been part of their nightly routine. Tristan would arrive home to find Robin lying on the floor of the lounge, taking advantage of the faint movement of air the windows provided. After showers and a light supper, they had spent an hour or two watching the last colours of sunset deepen into the dark of the night sky.
Tonight they had walked to a small café nearby for a late supper. When they had finished, their feet had carried them unbidden to the small park a block from home. At the very centre, a small fountain muted the sound of passing cars and favoured passers-by with a cool mist. A century of water and weather had smoothed most of the fountain's carvings but on this one side, a lion still stood rampant on its shield under draped flags.
Turning slightly to see Robin in the dim light, Tristan announced, "Mum rang this afternoon."
"How is she?" Robin inquired.
"Excited. They've finished all the work on the house —"
"And only three months late."
"Ssh, you're not meant to remember that. She's organizing a dinner for the family this Saturday."
Robin smiled vaguely, his attention on the dog. "You'll enjoy that."
Tapping him on the head, Tristan waited until blue-grey eyes focused on him. "All of us, Robbie, which includes you."
Robin sat up to face him. "It — it does?"
"Of course it does. Will and Meg want to meet you, and I want you to meet them as well." Seeing Robin's eyebrows rise steadily towards his hairline, Tristan hurried on, "Just consider it. If you decide not to go, it's perfectly fine. You know what you're comfortable doing." He smiled. "Remember, though, you survived meeting my parents."
"What did you tell your mother?"
"That I'd talk to you about it and let her know by Thursday."
"Would you go without me?"
"If that's what we decide. I could drive down on Saturday afternoon then come home first thing Sunday."
"That's hardly much of a visit, Tris!" Robin protested.
"I'd rather not spend the whole week-end without you, darling."
"And if I go?"
"I thought we might leave late Saturday morning and stay through until Monday. Mum said there are wonderful shops nearby."
"Can you take the day from work?"
"I don't see why not. Things have slowed, and Sarah can handle what we have. It would be nice to have some time for ourselves. And you? Can you spare a day?"
"I'm ahead of schedule," Robin admitted.
"Then you'll consider going along, at least?" As the crease between Robin's brows threatened an appearance, Tristan tipped up his chin for a kiss. "Give it some thought, then we'll talk." He waited for a response. "All right?"
"Whatever I decide?" Robin asked.
"As long as you don't worry yourself to death over it, then I'll step in." He yawned and looked at his watch. "Ready to start home?"
"Let's stay for a while longer."
Tristan settled more comfortably, wrapping both arms around Robin as he laid his head against Tristan's shoulder. They watched the dog retrieve its ball, racing past its owner in its excitement and then circling back to drop it at his feet. The traffic had lessened, and they sat, listening as the city grew quieter around them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"…And if you don't stop stirring that, I shall scream!" Jamie announced.
With a guilty start that sent a wave of coffee out of the cup and into the saucer, Robin focused on his indignant friend. "Sorry, what were you saying?"
"Robbie, where are you today?"
Robin returned his attention to the coffee on the table in front of him, thinking he should add some sugar before he drank it. He reached for the sugar bowl only to have Jamie take it out of his hand.
"I think four are quite enough, don't you?" he inquired. "And that coffee can't be warm." Looking around the nearly empty shop, he caught their waitress's eye and pointed to their cups. "Now tell me."
Robin nodded his thanks as the waitress brought two fresh coffees and cleared away the old ones. When she moved away, he leaned forward. "Tris' parents are having the family to dinner this week-end."
"Uh-huh," Jamie allowed, waiting for the rest of it.
"And I'm invited as well."
"Well, that's fantastic, isn't it? You must've made a good impression when you met them, and you said you liked them."
"I did like them..." Robin spun his knife, trying to put words to his concerns.
"But you don't now?"
"No, no, I still do. They were — are very kind."
Jamie shook his head as he added milk and sugar to the coffee in front of him before giving it a quick stir and switching it with Robin's cup. "I don't understand."
"Tris wants me to meet his brother and sister-in-law." Robin took a sip and pulled a face.
"And you're afraid they won't like you," Jamie finished.
Robin settled for a shrug as he pointed at the sugar bowl Jamie had set on an adjacent table. "Please?"
"Absolutely not, you're impossible to talk to when you've had too much sugar," Jamie scolded. "And as for Tristan's family, they'll love you. If they've so much as spoken to Tris, they know he's smitten with you.
Robin snorted as he stirred his coffee. "I doubt anyone thinks that."
"I do," Jamie informed him, raising one perfect eyebrow, "and don't think you can change the subject that easily, my lad."
"I'm only saying Tristan is hardly —"
"He is. Trust me, I recognise the signs."
"What about Geoff?" Robin queried as he took another sip. Tolerable, he decided.
"Not yet, but I'm working on it," Jamie returned crisply. "Now, if you've quite finished?" At Robin's nod, he continued, "Not only does Tristan adore you, his parents must like you since they've invited you."
"I hope so," Robin murmured, spinning his knife.
Jamie buttered a bit of roll and popped it into his mouth. "And since they like you, everyone else is apt to like you as well."
"Suppose they don't? Suppose they think I'm too young for Tris? Or not smart enough?" He gestured toward himself. "Or whatever."
Taking hold of Robin's arm, Jamie turned him toward the window and ordered, "Tell me what you see."
"The chemist across the street."
"The reflection, idiot."
Refocusing, Robin smoothed down his hair. "And?"
"It's obviously escaped your notice, Robbie, but you've an abundance of —" Jamie copied Robin's gesture. "—Whatever."
"You're hardly an impartial judge," Robin objected.
Jamie clamped down hard on Robin's wrist, all the laughter gone from his face. "Listen to me. Aside from needing a decent haircut, you're not bad to look at. You're smart. You may be a bit shy, but when you relax, you're articulate and funny. On top of all that, you're the most genuinely nice person I know. Trust me, there isn't an awful lot about you to dislike. Why do you think I've put up with you all these years?"
Robin dropped his head into his hands. "But I'm no good at meeting people, Jame."
"No, you think you're no good at it!"
"You don't understand how difficult it is for me! You always come up with something, no matter who it is. Tris is the same way. I don't know what to say! I can't even string words together in a sentence."
"I'm confused. Is Tris slowing the car as you pass his parents' house and pushing you out the door?"
Robin sighed and shook his head.
"Then, unless I'm mistaken, he'll be beside you the whole time."
"He said I shouldn't go if I can't manage it."
"Robbie, do it now. Otherwise, it will be more and more difficult as time passes. I know you, and you'll spin yourself up until you absolutely can't manage it." He put the last bit of roll in his mouth and chewed it thoroughly. "Tristan's parents want you there, and more importantly, he wants you there."
"I know," Robin sighed and ran a hand through his hair, struggling to order his thoughts. "It's just..." He paused and started again. "I should do it, I understand that. Part of me wants to, for the reasons you've come up with and more besides. But there's another part that's —"
"Scared shitless?"
That surprised a laugh out of Robin. "I was thinking 'senseless', but that'll do."
"And which should you listen to?" Jamie prompted.
Robbie sighed. "The responsible, get-it-over-with part."
"There you are then," Jamie announced with finality as he drank the rest of his coffee.
"I suppose you're right," Robin allowed.
Digging in his rucksack, Jamie stopped. "You suppose I'm right?"
"If this goes badly, you do understand I'll blame you?" Robin inquired as they walked to the till.
"It won't go badly, and you'll be grateful to me forever," Jamie assured him. Finding his mobile at last, he began dialling.
Robin paid what they owed and pocketed the change before following Jamie out to the street. Finding him standing in the middle of the sidewalk talking away, Robin leaned against the building and waited.
"Twenty minutes, then?" Jamie confirmed. Closing the mobile, he grabbed Robin by the arm and dragged him toward the tube station. "Come along, Robbie."
"Let go! I won't be dragged about," Robin snapped, pulling his arm away. "Where are we going?"
"To have your hair cut. Beth will fit you in if we're there in twenty minutes."
"Now? Right now?"
"And not a moment too soon," Jamie muttered. "Hurry, will you?"
"Give me your mobile."
"Why?"
"Because I want to call Tris. I told him I'd be home by lunch, and I don't want him worrying when I'm not there."
Jamie rolled his eyes but handed it over. "Would you at least keep walking?"
Robin dialled but kept moving. By the time they reached the stairs, he had informed Tristan of the change in plans and promised to call once he reached home. Dodging other people, he followed Jamie down two long flights of stairs to the platform and the just-arrived train.
Part 2
Spring had finally come after weeks of greyer- and drearier-than-usual winter weather. It had been months since they had walked to the park after dinner. The previous summer, it had been part of their nightly routine. Tristan would arrive home to find Robin lying on the floor of the lounge, taking advantage of the faint movement of air the windows provided. After showers and a light supper, they had spent an hour or two watching the last colours of sunset deepen into the dark of the night sky.
Tonight they had walked to a small café nearby for a late supper. When they had finished, their feet had carried them unbidden to the small park a block from home. At the very centre, a small fountain muted the sound of passing cars and favoured passers-by with a cool mist. A century of water and weather had smoothed most of the fountain's carvings but on this one side, a lion still stood rampant on its shield under draped flags.
Turning slightly to see Robin in the dim light, Tristan announced, "Mum rang this afternoon."
"How is she?" Robin inquired.
"Excited. They've finished all the work on the house —"
"And only three months late."
"Ssh, you're not meant to remember that. She's organizing a dinner for the family this Saturday."
Robin smiled vaguely, his attention on the dog. "You'll enjoy that."
Tapping him on the head, Tristan waited until blue-grey eyes focused on him. "All of us, Robbie, which includes you."
Robin sat up to face him. "It — it does?"
"Of course it does. Will and Meg want to meet you, and I want you to meet them as well." Seeing Robin's eyebrows rise steadily towards his hairline, Tristan hurried on, "Just consider it. If you decide not to go, it's perfectly fine. You know what you're comfortable doing." He smiled. "Remember, though, you survived meeting my parents."
"What did you tell your mother?"
"That I'd talk to you about it and let her know by Thursday."
"Would you go without me?"
"If that's what we decide. I could drive down on Saturday afternoon then come home first thing Sunday."
"That's hardly much of a visit, Tris!" Robin protested.
"I'd rather not spend the whole week-end without you, darling."
"And if I go?"
"I thought we might leave late Saturday morning and stay through until Monday. Mum said there are wonderful shops nearby."
"Can you take the day from work?"
"I don't see why not. Things have slowed, and Sarah can handle what we have. It would be nice to have some time for ourselves. And you? Can you spare a day?"
"I'm ahead of schedule," Robin admitted.
"Then you'll consider going along, at least?" As the crease between Robin's brows threatened an appearance, Tristan tipped up his chin for a kiss. "Give it some thought, then we'll talk." He waited for a response. "All right?"
"Whatever I decide?" Robin asked.
"As long as you don't worry yourself to death over it, then I'll step in." He yawned and looked at his watch. "Ready to start home?"
"Let's stay for a while longer."
Tristan settled more comfortably, wrapping both arms around Robin as he laid his head against Tristan's shoulder. They watched the dog retrieve its ball, racing past its owner in its excitement and then circling back to drop it at his feet. The traffic had lessened, and they sat, listening as the city grew quieter around them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"…And if you don't stop stirring that, I shall scream!" Jamie announced.
With a guilty start that sent a wave of coffee out of the cup and into the saucer, Robin focused on his indignant friend. "Sorry, what were you saying?"
"Robbie, where are you today?"
Robin returned his attention to the coffee on the table in front of him, thinking he should add some sugar before he drank it. He reached for the sugar bowl only to have Jamie take it out of his hand.
"I think four are quite enough, don't you?" he inquired. "And that coffee can't be warm." Looking around the nearly empty shop, he caught their waitress's eye and pointed to their cups. "Now tell me."
Robin nodded his thanks as the waitress brought two fresh coffees and cleared away the old ones. When she moved away, he leaned forward. "Tris' parents are having the family to dinner this week-end."
"Uh-huh," Jamie allowed, waiting for the rest of it.
"And I'm invited as well."
"Well, that's fantastic, isn't it? You must've made a good impression when you met them, and you said you liked them."
"I did like them..." Robin spun his knife, trying to put words to his concerns.
"But you don't now?"
"No, no, I still do. They were — are very kind."
Jamie shook his head as he added milk and sugar to the coffee in front of him before giving it a quick stir and switching it with Robin's cup. "I don't understand."
"Tris wants me to meet his brother and sister-in-law." Robin took a sip and pulled a face.
"And you're afraid they won't like you," Jamie finished.
Robin settled for a shrug as he pointed at the sugar bowl Jamie had set on an adjacent table. "Please?"
"Absolutely not, you're impossible to talk to when you've had too much sugar," Jamie scolded. "And as for Tristan's family, they'll love you. If they've so much as spoken to Tris, they know he's smitten with you.
Robin snorted as he stirred his coffee. "I doubt anyone thinks that."
"I do," Jamie informed him, raising one perfect eyebrow, "and don't think you can change the subject that easily, my lad."
"I'm only saying Tristan is hardly —"
"He is. Trust me, I recognise the signs."
"What about Geoff?" Robin queried as he took another sip. Tolerable, he decided.
"Not yet, but I'm working on it," Jamie returned crisply. "Now, if you've quite finished?" At Robin's nod, he continued, "Not only does Tristan adore you, his parents must like you since they've invited you."
"I hope so," Robin murmured, spinning his knife.
Jamie buttered a bit of roll and popped it into his mouth. "And since they like you, everyone else is apt to like you as well."
"Suppose they don't? Suppose they think I'm too young for Tris? Or not smart enough?" He gestured toward himself. "Or whatever."
Taking hold of Robin's arm, Jamie turned him toward the window and ordered, "Tell me what you see."
"The chemist across the street."
"The reflection, idiot."
Refocusing, Robin smoothed down his hair. "And?"
"It's obviously escaped your notice, Robbie, but you've an abundance of —" Jamie copied Robin's gesture. "—Whatever."
"You're hardly an impartial judge," Robin objected.
Jamie clamped down hard on Robin's wrist, all the laughter gone from his face. "Listen to me. Aside from needing a decent haircut, you're not bad to look at. You're smart. You may be a bit shy, but when you relax, you're articulate and funny. On top of all that, you're the most genuinely nice person I know. Trust me, there isn't an awful lot about you to dislike. Why do you think I've put up with you all these years?"
Robin dropped his head into his hands. "But I'm no good at meeting people, Jame."
"No, you think you're no good at it!"
"You don't understand how difficult it is for me! You always come up with something, no matter who it is. Tris is the same way. I don't know what to say! I can't even string words together in a sentence."
"I'm confused. Is Tris slowing the car as you pass his parents' house and pushing you out the door?"
Robin sighed and shook his head.
"Then, unless I'm mistaken, he'll be beside you the whole time."
"He said I shouldn't go if I can't manage it."
"Robbie, do it now. Otherwise, it will be more and more difficult as time passes. I know you, and you'll spin yourself up until you absolutely can't manage it." He put the last bit of roll in his mouth and chewed it thoroughly. "Tristan's parents want you there, and more importantly, he wants you there."
"I know," Robin sighed and ran a hand through his hair, struggling to order his thoughts. "It's just..." He paused and started again. "I should do it, I understand that. Part of me wants to, for the reasons you've come up with and more besides. But there's another part that's —"
"Scared shitless?"
That surprised a laugh out of Robin. "I was thinking 'senseless', but that'll do."
"And which should you listen to?" Jamie prompted.
Robbie sighed. "The responsible, get-it-over-with part."
"There you are then," Jamie announced with finality as he drank the rest of his coffee.
"I suppose you're right," Robin allowed.
Digging in his rucksack, Jamie stopped. "You suppose I'm right?"
"If this goes badly, you do understand I'll blame you?" Robin inquired as they walked to the till.
"It won't go badly, and you'll be grateful to me forever," Jamie assured him. Finding his mobile at last, he began dialling.
Robin paid what they owed and pocketed the change before following Jamie out to the street. Finding him standing in the middle of the sidewalk talking away, Robin leaned against the building and waited.
"Twenty minutes, then?" Jamie confirmed. Closing the mobile, he grabbed Robin by the arm and dragged him toward the tube station. "Come along, Robbie."
"Let go! I won't be dragged about," Robin snapped, pulling his arm away. "Where are we going?"
"To have your hair cut. Beth will fit you in if we're there in twenty minutes."
"Now? Right now?"
"And not a moment too soon," Jamie muttered. "Hurry, will you?"
"Give me your mobile."
"Why?"
"Because I want to call Tris. I told him I'd be home by lunch, and I don't want him worrying when I'm not there."
Jamie rolled his eyes but handed it over. "Would you at least keep walking?"
Robin dialled but kept moving. By the time they reached the stairs, he had informed Tristan of the change in plans and promised to call once he reached home. Dodging other people, he followed Jamie down two long flights of stairs to the platform and the just-arrived train.
Part 2