Another agenda
While Jenny and Jason were focussed on each other and laughing about, the others, who were in the middle of coaxing and being coaxed, couldn't help but have their attention drawn by them. Though Jenny and Jason were together for a couple of years now and they had seen them together numerous times, they still couldn't believe that the person laughing so genuinely and carefree was Jason. Over the years they had seen his softer side and had seen him smile occasionally in the presence of Jenny but pain inducing laughter? Tears in his eyes kind of laughter? Never.
They were amazed by the changes Jenny managed to bring about in Jason with just her presence. Whenever they were together, it felt to them as if he was a completely different person. All that made him scary and intimidating seemed to be washed away and all that was left was a happy, handsome guy who was completely smitten by the creature in front of him. Jenny was used to this non-intimidating side of Jason. As that was the side that he showed her, the side without any walls. So, she was in no way shocked by what Jason was showing but enjoyed all the same.
The others however couldn't direct their attention to each other until Jenny stopped her teasing and a closer to normal Jason appeared. When they did, the first more serious talk started. The first being the one between Nick and Elizabeth. "What has gotten you to pout like this my dear?" Nick asked playfully as that worked better for them then actual serious talks. "What do you think? We have Don Juan over there, who has his eyes locked on his missus from the moment his plane landed and even before then he made sure to check in with her multiple times a day. Even asking us about how she is doing. I have to watch and see him romancing his wife every way he can. Meanwhile you are frolicking with the boys and seem to only notice my presence when I am at a baby class with you or don't have any clothes on."
Nick shot a glare at Jason for getting him in trouble before turning back to Elizabeth with a guilty smile. "Oh come on babe. You know we couldn't do much in the past few months. Pregnancy was hard on you and you barely had enough energy to get all the work for you classes done." Elizabeth used his words against him as she responded with, "Exactly! So, now that we finally have a chance to spend our energy on each other, you choose to waste yours away partying with your friends. I don't mind you letting loose but when is it my time? Just because I am pregnant, does not mean I don't want or deserve a bit of fun and an occasional evening of romance without there being another agenda." Nick could hear that she was upset and felt bad for neglecting Elizabeth like that. He had never intended to make her feel like that but that didn't change the fact that he had.
Over at the other couple's sides, the men weren't faring much better. Before Jason's arrival all the men were behaving in the same way, making their behaviour not stand out to their wives. They were all being treated the same and had Jenny to compare themselves with if they felt bad about their situation, as she had no partner at all there. So, when the men were off hanging out with each other, they would do the same. Making sure that Jenny wasn't being left out. But now that Jason was here and was showing them what they had been missing out on, they started to notice the difference in treatment they had been receiving and that what Jenny was receiving. Even bringing back the memories from before he got here. Seeing now that he was putting in more effort without even being here than their husbands, who had the time and the means and chose to use neither.
In the end, what was supposed to be a fun filled reunion, turned into a wake up call and a chance at receiving better for more than half of the group. Though both Harry and George were saved by their track record from before their break, with George being an attentive partner overall and Harry having invested a lot of extra time in his relationship when Julia was having a hard time fitting in with the other girls, Nick had been slacking a bit on the romance department since the pregnancy news. It hadn't been intentional. He did try to not let the pregnancy affect them as a couple in the beginning but as they became more busy with baby classes, regular classes and Elizabeth's growing fatigue, he had dropped the ball a bit. At least on that front. After some time he became used to their new routine, making it that even when Elizabeth's energy levels improved, Nick had a hard time switching back. So, he thought to himself that maybe a talk like this was exactly what he needed. He was at least certain that from now on he would do better. A thought the other two shared as they thought of what to do for their other halves, even if they hadn't dropped the ball as far as Nick had.