Dinner at home - locked to Lou

[anddowntothesea]

It's one of his most closely guarded secrets - the fact that he can actually cook. He bakes, too. His Ma was determined that she wasn't going to raise any sons who were a burden on wives. As it turned out, wives had been purely theoretical, but Gabriel Monroe is a man that can look after himself.

When the doorbell rings, he opens the door in jeans and plaid rolled up to his elbows. He smiles.

"I was halfway expecting you to cancel."

Comments

[louise_abasi]

"Do-" Yes, it's her right foot that's the ticklish one, and she stretches it to prevent herself from kicking. "Left foot is just fine. Please."

[anddowntothesea]

He flashes a grin and lets go of her right foot, focusing on the left.

"Yes, ma'am."

[louise_abasi]

"Please feel free to stop if your hands get sore." The film's completely moving past her. How long can she keep this up, this pretense?

[anddowntothesea]

"Aren't you enjoying it?" he asks, pausing for a moment, glancing over at her with hair slipping into his eyes. "Because if you're not, I can stop."

[louise_abasi]

"It takes some getting used to", she admits. "Usually it's in a professional setting and followed by nail polish."

[anddowntothesea]

He puts his hands up in surrender, leaving her feet settled in his denim clad lap.

"Point taken."

[louise_abasi]

"How can I feel free to say anything if anything might be considered as a slight?" She curls her feet under her, her face suddenly hot. "I was joking, just saying. Not complaining."

[anddowntothesea]

"I wasn't taking it a slight," he says, colour rising in his own cheeks at her own reaction. "I didn't mean..." He ducks his head, letting his hair fall forward, movie forgotten for a moment. "I never know what to do or say, Lou. I feel like I'm on my best behaviour the whole time. Because..." He glances at her. "You have to know."

[louise_abasi]

You can't ace me, Gabriel. Gabe. Gabe. I'm not the princess in the tower, nor a project." She sets down her plate, a slight tremor in her hands. "I'm just another person and I like it best if you make me feel like you view me as such. Ordinary. Knowing that you feel that way doesn't make me more comfortable. I'm not the mother in law."

"And possibly never will be."

[anddowntothesea]

"I'm not trying to ace you, Lou. Jesus." He sags back against the couch, covering his face with his hands for a moment. "You're not a test. But you do have a tendency to do...this...whenever I get something wrong. And then I feel like..." He throws up his hands. "I can't do right for doing wrong."

[louise_abasi]

"To do what? Because I'm the one that feels like a -" She doesn't even know. "This was going well. I felt pretty comfortable, which doesn't happen around you often enough and I just..
Do you want me to go? I'll go. I guess I can't even handle ordinary interaction."
They were doing so well, weren't they?

[anddowntothesea]

"I want you to stay," he says, before he can stop himself. "In the spare room, if you want. The sheets are fresh. But I want you to stay."

[louise_abasi]

"The spare room?" It's so innocent that it cuts through the tension as a garrote-knife and Louise shakes her head. How did she get here. "Now, or after I finished my pie?"

[anddowntothesea]

"Whenever you're ready," says Gabe, pushing his hand back through her hair. "If we're doing this, I want to do it right, Lou. Whatever you want, we can do."

[louise_abasi]

"You're not here to serve me." She recognizes the double entendre of her words when she picks up her plate again. "I'm going to spend a short while on eating pie, now."

[anddowntothesea]

"Yes, ma'am," he says, corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk as he settles down to watch the movie in companionable silence while she eats her pie.

[louise_abasi]

"I'm never getting that out of you, am I?" Is she really going to do this, stay the night? Why hadn't she even considered that an option? And she didn't bring any clothing!

[anddowntothesea]

"Probably not," he admits, with a smirk in her direction. "Sorry."

[louise_abasi]

"Why 'ma'am'? Do I remind you of the time you were in the army?" She lifts an eyebrow. "A firm teacher?"