Title: The Scent of Her
Pairing: Bobby/Alex (as if I could write anything else)
Author: Lady Taevyn
Email: K
Summary: Bobby is reminded of Alex in an unusual way.
Classification/Genre: Fluff/Romance (if you stand on your head and squint)
Archive: Yes wherever AI is archiving these days.
Disclaimer: We all know the song and dance by now (sing along). Not mine Dick Wolf is a genius, I'm not worthy.
Bobby had been sitting in the restaurant for 25 minutes now and had been reminded of Alex for 23 of them. What or who was making him think of her. Looking around he didn't see anyone that immediately jumped out at him as looking like her. As one of the waitresses walked past him he figured it out. Her perfume, but why, it wasn't like anything he'd ever actually smelled on Alex. That's what found Bobby at the Bath Shop that Saturday, the overwhelming need to put a name to the scent that was Alex. It was a rich scent, thick almost, but not cloying. Pure sugar, almost like it was straight off the cane. There was something else though, something to counter the richness, it was lighter almost flowery.
"Water Lilly!" Bobby said out loud scaring the older lady standing to his right.
"Is there something I can help you with sir?" A sales associate asked gently.
"Yes, do you carry a perfume that has cane sugar and Lilly as its main scents?" He hadn't decided if he was going to buy it or not, he just needed to smell it again.
"We do as a matter of fact. It was a seasonal scent last fall, but so many people asked for it that we've just started manufacturing it as a year round fragrance." The woman said leading Bobby across the store, glad she could help him.
Monday morning found Bobby getting to work much earlier then usual. He wanted his gift to be a surprise. When Alex came in 20 minutes later two cups of coffee in hand she eyed the gift bag on her desk with pseudo suspicion knowing it wasn't her birthday. Bobby attempted nonchalance as she took off her coat, started up her computer and even fussed with the pens on her blotter but when she started to move the bag without even looking in it Bobby let out a petulant sigh. A weary look and sigh of her own Alex finally caved and opened the bag revealing the gift. A large bottle of Water Lilly/Sugar Cane scented spritz, along with the matching moisturizing body lotion. Alex immediately flipped the cap off of the lotion and put it to her nose inhaling a deep breath.
"Bobby, did you get this for me?" She asked after rubbing the lotion into her hands. Bobby had the good sense to look sheepish rubbing his hand along the back of his neck.
"Um yeah, I just thought it was something you would like, I hope it's ok." He said seeming unsure of himself for the first time in a long time. Had he made a mistake, buying these things for her? Was he crossing a line he shouldn't be? The questions ran unchecked through his mind until Alex looked at him with a smile that reached her eyes.
"It's fine Bobby, I've actually been looking for this scent for a while. I found it at a chain store once but they only carried it for a short time. Thank you this was a really nice surprise." Alex said finally getting down to work. Bobby let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. That's why the scent evoked memories of Alex when he was at the restaurant; she had worn it at some point in the past.