A/N: Like always. Something bothered me, here's my explanation.
Disclaimer: Yay! Sure, gimme! What….no? Damn.
Pictures in the snow
„Wow. What's that?" He was drawing silly lines and stick figures on the fogged window of his passenger side like a bored child, when Grace drove her Grand Cherokee out of Des Moines International airport. Driving onto Interstate 235 first and onto Interstate 80 just out of Des Moines, in the direction of their destination. Fifty miles down the road something had caught his attention not that far off the street. Hence the question.
„Powdered sugar." She couldn't hide the smug smirk, knowing exactly it wasn't the beautiful white snow covering every surface he meant.
Tongue in cheek, he turned his head towards her, saw her grinning and raised one dark eyebrow. "You've been working with Cho way too long. But you have to work on your poker face."
She laughed openly at that. Stopping at a red light she turned to him, her right hand left the steering wheel to stroke through the soft spikes at the nape of his neck. Pulling till their heads were within an inch of each other, she smiled a sweet light kiss on his lips. No tongue, no open clashing mouths, just a quick loving peck.
Funny enough the light had turned green unnoticed by both of them and nothing happened. First he didn't notice, but after a while of Grace's soft fingers still holding his head in place something was missing. Nothing bad, mind you. But still, it was nagging at his brain. It took a few seconds till he had figured it out completely.
It was quiet.
He checked the mirror on his side twice, looked around to the back of the car and shook his head in astonishment. No car. No one honking their impatience. It was only then, that Grace saw the green light and just so managed to get her car in gear before it could turn back to yellow and ultimately to red.
They were driving in silence, the stereo was playing Billy Talent's newest album in the background, when Grace remembered his question.
She wiggled a little in her seat, getting more comfortable. Although it was her Jeep, it didn't feel like it anymore. Sure, after weeks of fixing it, she should be real proud. Mostly doing all the repair work herself, but the way it got destroyed, the memories of that day – the sneaky little bastard nearly killing her man. And after that the sicko almost splattered her brain all over her precious sport seats.
Brrr. That was nine months ago and it still sent shivers down her spine.
Back to the present. With definitely better company. She slowed the car and directed it straight to the building her boyfriend was asking about earlier. To this point she hadn't answered him. He didn't seem to mind, so engrossed was he by the sign in front of the building. He couldn't really believe it.
Driving onto the parking lot you could feel the snow crunch under the heavy tires. Making her sigh inwardly, she loved the sound of it. The SUV stopped at a parking space directly outside of big wooden double doors, Grace killed the engine but didn't move to get out, instead she made a little "tada" motion with her hands.
"This," she gestured to the double door entrance, "is the best burger place in the universe." Satisfied with the reaction of her awed looking neighbor, she patted his left thigh to get his attention.
"Come on, their cheeseburgers are to die for." Her hand wandered up to caress his stomach through his sweater. "You could use a few pounds."
Wayne's head turned around fast. Huh? Was his hearing defective? Gain weight? Wasn't Grace always telling him to eat healthier, bringing carrots instead of burgers? This was weird.
And it showed on his face. Brows crinkled, lines were forming on his forehead, blue eyes searching green ones for confirmation. Her right hand wandered to his left, caress turning into light tugging.
"Don't look at me like that." When he wouldn't look away or even try to make a move she got worried. "We don't have to, if you don't-"
He used the fingers of his right hand to shush her as his left hand was still tightly wrapped in hers. His features softened and his lips curved into a bright smile. "I love you."
Hand in hand they walked the short distance across the white fluffy material. Just before entering the place Grace scooped up a handful of snow attempting to throw it at Wayne but missing due to him being faster at ducking than she thought. Still looked pretty funny with their hands clasped together.
Laughing the pair entered the beautiful house. Red bricks, two stories, wide green trimmed windows. It looked nothing like a simple burger place. Too classy on the outside. On the inside it looked like burger place. Nice and cozy.
They stomped their boots on the ground removing the few cold flakes they brought from the outside.
To the left of the big green door they found a neat little booth and sat down. Ordering their burgers, with onion rings, only took a minute. Eating all the stuff took a few minutes longer.
Back on the road they only had twenty five more miles to go. Twenty five miles till he ventured into the town she had grown up in. Twenty five miles till he saw the house she spent all her life in. He would probably meet a few people she cares for. School friends, neighbors, shop owners maybe. It would be like delving into her past. Without one important thing. Her family.