Just a Little Change... [Finished]

[CalamityJade]

"I didn't ask what you presumed to dictate. I asked you if, for some reason, I've given you the idea that I am suddenly going to leave." He seemed very to the point and a slight bit irritated. "Or that I'm some sort of invalid?"

[yamikuronue]

"Certainly not that." Siegfried sounds aghast, looking up from his notebook.

[CalamityJade]

"Then why do you seem poised that for some reason, and at any moment, I am suddenly going to disappear, leaving you to handle everything." Morden gave him a very pointed look over his glasses. "I am here for three reasons. One was that I still am employed by your family to work on finances. Second, because I care about you very much and enjoy being with you, and finally because I am not so crass as to abandon you or the baby. Now, will you PLEASE treat me like we are BOTH here and care about her."

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried sighs, putting his pen down entirely. "Do you want me to quit?"

[CalamityJade]

"I said nothing of the sort and you know it." Morden removed his glasses, his eyes a dull green through his contacts. "I want you, to treat me like we are in this together. You are not responsible for every late night, feeding, and dirty diaper. When you act like that, it gives me the impression that you see me as a guest and nothing more, when you know that I can and WOULD help you if you would let me."

[yamikuronue]

"I am responsible for the smooth operation of this entire household. You have objected to every task I have attempted to undertake this morning. Do you. Want me. To quit." He turns to level a stare at him.

[CalamityJade]

"No. I do not want you to quit. I want YOU to treat YOURSELF like a person and not a machine! I have objected to you turning away help and taking on as many things as possible like you did NOT spend all night with Grace. I am sure that no one would mind if someone also being paid here helped you because you were up all night with the baby, which you might NOT have been if you would acutally let me help with that."

[yamikuronue]

"So you think I'm incapable of doing it."

[CalamityJade]

"I think that you are going to do damage to yourself if you continue on like this, Siegfried. I don't want to see you burn yourself out because you think I don't WANT to help or that I am incapable of doing so for people I love!"

[yamikuronue]

"What if he puts me aside? What if he sees that I'm not as... as necessary or as useful as I once was, now that he has so many new guests to help, and no longer feels my presence is required? What if the shame of my existence finally outweighs my usefulness?" HIs eyes are misting up, but he pushes onward. "What then?"

[CalamityJade]

"I do not believe that he will, for more than one reason. You have been here and helped him when he had no-one else and put up with much more than should have been expected of you. He would be an idiot to put you aside now and while I believe a good amount of things about him, being an idiot is not one of them." Morden moved closer, reaching a hand up to touch Siegfried's cheek. "But if that did happen, we would leave. I do not feel like letting you go, so I would simply have to take you home with me."

[yamikuronue]

Siegfried sighs. "This place has been my home for my entire life. I do not wish to leave it, not so soon. And... it's not as though he hasn't tried to fire me before."

[CalamityJade]

"Before when he was trying to get rid of everyone?" Morden shook his head. "I still think he would be a fool to do it, and even MORE of one if you got help because you...we're...parents now."

[yamikuronue]

"That's not the first time. There was a time when I stayed on for a month without pay until he felt guilty enough to hire me back. Thankfully, he didn't notice when I paid myself back wages."

[CalamityJade]

"Why...would he fire you in the first place? It's not as if he could actually replace you."