They Were Calling It Date Number Three
Chapter 1
Athos paced the length of his living room holding his phone to his ear. "Yes, father." He sighed. "I'm going to the house this weekend to check on the repairs."
There was a knock on his door. He checked his watch and inwardly groaned. He opened the door waving Sylvie inside giving her an apologetic look.
"You do remember she gave it to me," Athos said giving, himself a mental high five. He always liked reminding his father that his grandmother left the chateau to him. It was petty he knew, but there were so few joys in life.
"Goodbye, father," he said hang up while his father was in mid rant or at what qualified as a rant from his father.
"Hey," he said leaning over pressing a kiss to Sylvie's lips.
"Everything all right?" She asked.
"Just the usual with my father," Athos said. "I was wondering if you would be interested in accompanying me back to my house in the country this weekend?"
"Hhmm, going away for the weekend together?" She asked looking thoughtful. "Are you sure it's not too soon?"
Athos smiled wrapping his arms around Sylvie's waist and pulling her close to him. He leaned in teasing her with a possible kiss, but not quite making contact. "I promise to be a complete gentleman and we'll sleep in separate rooms."
Sylvie threw her head back laughing. Athos' smile widened. "So, no separate rooms?" He asked.
"I would be offended if we did have separate rooms," she said.
Athos hummed. "Well, I wouldn't want to offend you."
TM
They had arrived at Athos' family house in the country over an hour ago. They were calling this date number three. Constance insisted on details as did Aramis.
Sylvie thought back to earlier in the day when they stopped by Constance and d'Artagnan's apartment. Constance had insisted on Aramis convalescing at their apartment.
The two sat together on the couch apparently attempting to out irritate one another. Constance was to return to light duty in a couple of days, but Aramis was stuck at home.
The two detectives had familiar gleams in their eyes looking at Athos and Sylvie. That was when they demanded Athos and Sylvie return from their weekend with details.
Sylvie was wandering around the house while Athos spoke to the caretaker. Someone was supposed to arrive in the morning to repair the damage from the storm when they were at the house for d'Artagnan and Constance's wedding.
She ended up back at Athos' favorite place in the house-the library. She walked over to the shelves not having had the chance previously to peruse the selection.
Every one of the books was well used and old. It was really quite beautiful, she thought.
"See anything you like?"
Sylvie nearly jumped a foot when Athos spoke from behind her. "Do you make it a habit of sneaking up on people?" She asked turning around wrapping her arms around his waist and smiling up at him. He was surprisingly good at appearing out of nowhere.
"It was part of my training to become a police officer," he said.
"Why did you leave it?" She asked only to regret it as she felt him stiffen slightly in her arms. "Sorry, you don't have to answer. It's none of my business."
He smiled down at her relaxing again. "It wasn't any one thing really. I think I'd been using it as a place to hide for a long time."
"Are you still considering to returning to it?" She asked.
"I am, but this time it will have to be for a different reason if I go back. And I don't think fear is a good reason to return either," he said.
She nodded her head. She wanted to be supportive, but she couldn't help wondering if returning to the police force was a good idea if for no other reason than fear of something happening to one of his friends. Of course she also wasn't so sure it was her place to say since they hadn't been together all that long.
And now she was wondering; what exactly was their relationship? They hadn't discussed it. They were just getting to know each other and having really great sex.
"So who's going to cook if neither one of us are good at it?" She asked.
Athos let out a soft laugh. It took her by surprise; she had never heard him seriously laugh before.
TM
As it turned out Athos had been slightly exaggerating when he had told Sylvie he couldn't cook at all. Of course it didn't hurt that the pantry was full of canned stuff.
"Do you have a thing for clam chowder?" Sylvie asked as she scanned the labels of canned items.
"I asked the caretaker of the house to stock the pantry and refrigerator for the weekend." Athos shrugged. "I didn't specify with what."
"Spaghetti," Sylvie pulled out a box of noodles. "And a jar of tomato sauce."
"It doesn't look too difficult," he said.
"A baguette and garlic. I've seen what can be done with these things on a couple of cooking shows," she said.
Athos stepped back looking uncertain.
"How hard could it be?" She asked.
TM
Two hours later the couple was curled up together on the couch watching an old movie eating their bowls of clam chowder.
The windows in the kitchen were opened to air it out of the smoke from the burnt garlic bread. The noodles were in the trash can and the spaghetti sauce was down the drain.
"I don't think I should let you near an oven again," Athos said.
Sylvie released a deep sigh. It was a little disappointing how bad she was at cooking, but she could live with it.
"That's all right," she said. "I do have other talents."
"True." He smiled.
TM
They were awoken early the next day to the sounds of hammering and other much louder tools. Sylvie pushed up into a sitting position rubbing her eyes. She was really going to need an antihistamine.
"How about a picnic outside for lunch?" Athos asked.
"Sounds like a plan," she said. "As long as you're fixing the lunch."
"Not to worry, I think I can handle this one," he said.
TM
They dressed in jeans and light long sleeved shirts. Sylvie grabbed a sweater just in case now that it was nearing fall.
She was amazed by the property. It was breathtaking in its beauty.
Athos spread out a blanket placing the basket down on top of it. Sylvie sat down moving so she could lean back against him.
"It's beautiful out here," Sylvie sighed leaning against Athos.
Athos wrapped his arms around her waist holding her close to him. He kissed the side of her neck making her laugh and squirm a little.
"I am not having sex in the middle of the grass," she said.
Athos made a noise that she described as sounding like a disgruntled cat.
"I'm hungry," she said.
"Very well." He smiled pulling away from her to reach for the basket.
"Ham and cheese?" She asked looking in the basket.
"No cooking required," he said.
"Ooh, potato chips." She snatched the bag right up.
"I do hope you're sharing those," he said raising an eyebrow only to smirk a moment later. It was nice to have someone to tease and be teased by, he thought.
She thought about it then laughed tossing them back into his hands.
"It seems the caretaker of the house's wife bakes cookies." Athos pulled out a plate covered in plastic wrap.
As soon as Athos had the cookies uncovered Sylvie had snatched one up and was taking a big bite out of it. "Oh my God." She sighed. "They're practically orgasmic, Athos."
"We'll keep that to ourselves," he said trying doing his best serious act making her laugh.
They ate their sandwiches and then shared the potato chips between them.
"Is it supposed to rain?" Sylvie asked looking up at the sky. The sun had dipped under the clouds several minutes earlier and it seemed darker than the hour.
"Merde," Athos grumbled tossing the things they had left into the basket. "I just felt a raindrop. I'm glad I decided against the wine," he said tossing the last item in the basket; their water bottles.
Sylvie grabbed the blanket folding it up as best she could when the wind picked up and the rain fell harder.
"Let's go," Athos said.
They ran as quickly as they could to the house. By the time they were at the door they were soaked. Athos opened the door leading Sylvie inside. "Just leave the blanket here on the floor," Athos said putting down the basket.
They removed their shoes and socks first leaving them too at the front door. Sylvie let her sweater hang on the front door knob and followed Athos through the house to the bathroom to take a shower and change.
They made it half way through the house when Athos stopped abruptly in front of Sylvie who nearly collided into him.
"Father?" He said.
TBC