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Reed rummages through the closet of their bedroom, his eyebrows knitted together in concentration and confusion. He pushes shirts and sweaters and jackets aside, somehow digging himself deeper into the closet, unable to find exactly what he’s looking for.
Everything is always in its place. Reed makes sure that everything is always in its place. It’s a quirk that’s been with him since he was young—Reed’s entire life must be about precision and everything has its place. Many people, who are no longer part of his life, never quite understood it, and even now, with his amazing family, it sometimes wears on them. However, they’re all much more willing to work with him than those in his past.
He heaves a sigh as he leans back, pulling out of the closet, his face pinched together in confusion and frustration.
“HERBIE,” Reed calls out, running a hand through his hair. “Can you comb through the lab for my jacket, please? The one that goes over my suits.”
H.E.R.B.I.E. responds with a little Reerrr! from somewhere in the hallway. Reed hears his wheels turning as he moves through the house, heading down towards his lab. Reed sighs again as he runs a hand over the side of his neck, making his way out of the bedroom.
Sue meets him at the doorway, an eyebrow raised as she tilts her head over her shoulder in the direction H.E.R.B.I.E. surely left in.
“Where’s HERBIE off to?” She asks, reaching out to gently rest her hand on his waist.
Reed is still, admittedly, tense, but the touch of his wife has him able to slowly settle. The nerves are still there, frustrated anxiety sitting low in his chest. He reaches out for Sue’s hand and pulls it up to press a kiss to her palm. She smiles at him, amused, and shifts her hand up to gently cup his cheek.
“Reed?” She prompts, a gentle nudge that finally gets him to speak.
“He’s looking for my jacket,” Reed says, leaning himself into Sue’s touch. “I couldn’t find it in the closet, but I swore that was the last place I put it—”
Sue laughs softly as she runs her thumb over Reed’s cheek. “I put it in the wash for you. It smelled too much like your lab—it was making me a bit sick.” She takes her other hand back and runs it over her baby bump.
Reed’s shoulders immediately deflate as he breathes out through his nose. Any frustrations he’s had slowly seep away. He probably should feel some kind of annoyance with Sue not telling him, but he feels nothing but warmth and affection, especially upon realizing it had to do with her pregnancy.
“I’m sorry about that,” Reed says softly, taking his hand and resting it against her bump as well. “You should have told me, I would have—”
“I know, but I thought it would be nice to do it myself.” Sue smiles as she presses a soft kiss to his lips. “It should be done by now. Let’s go get it.”
The together is left unsaid, but Reed knows it’s there. He smiles softly in return, letting Sue take his hand in hers as she pulls him off to the laundry room.