Um. I told someone I would write this like, over a month ago. I'm a slow worker. Plus Marching band started, etc, more excuses. The point is, here I am! Also! I changed my name! because-fuckyou-thatswhy-54 - tsharknami

"Oh my god," was all Rafferty could manage as she gazed into the disaster that was Shay's kitchen.

Shay walked up behind her and assessed the damage. "Yeah," she said sheepishly, "This is what happens when I try to do things by myself."

"It's just lasagna!"

"I know, okay, obviously I have no idea what I'm doing, that's why you're here!"

Rafferty sighed deeply. "Okay, I can work with this. How did you end up stuck doing this, anyway?" She asked.

Shay looked at the ground sheepishly. "My mother may have implied that there's no way I would have survived this long without Dawson's cooking. To which I may have replied that I can cook just fine, thank you, and that I would love to have her and my father over for dinner tonight. Lasagna looked so easy online."

"Everything looks easier online," Rafferty replied, rolling her eyes as she stepped into the kitchen. "Some of these ingredients don't even go into lasagna."

Shay saw the smile on her partner's face and grit her teeth. "Y'know what, his was dumb. Never mind, I'll find something else to do. Thanks anyway."

She started toward her bedroom, but Rafferty grabbed her arm. "Wait, I'm sorry, okay? I want to help. I won't even laugh. Much. I promise."

Shay turned around, but kept her eyes on her feet.

"This was really hard for you, huh?" Rafferty asked as her face softened. "The whole asking for help thing."

"Whatever, can we just, like, get on with it? I'd like it to actually be ready for dinner."

Rafferty wanted to press the issue more, but she didn't want Shay to shut down even further, so she just said, "Sure, let's do it."

"And that's it!" Rafferty exclaimed as Shay put the pan of lasagna in the oven. "Now you just wait until the timer goes off, and you're good."

Shay sighed and leant back against the counter. "Thank God, cooking sucks."

"It wasn't that bad," Rafferty said, trying to contain her laughter.

"Oh, it was pretty bad," Shay muttered, looking around at the kitchen. "I thought it was a mess when it was just me!"

"Oh no, don't even act like you weren't the first one throwing-"

"What matters is that we got it done!" Shay interrupted quickly. "So... thank you. I really appreciate it."

Rafferty smiled. "No problem. Spending the afternoon with you wasn't totally painful, I guess. If you ever need help lying to your parents about your cooking skills, let me know."

Shay nodded, and Rafferty turned to leave. However, after a quick inner battle, Shay shouted, "Wait!"

Rafferty turned back to face her with a curious expression, and Shay stumbled over her words. "Would you- uh- if you want- Do you wanna stay for dinner?" She sucked in a huge breath, having pushed all of those words out quickly, as Rafferty fought to keep her amusement from showing. "I mean, you are mostly responsible for it in the first place, and I need help cleaning up the kitchen. Um, but if you have other plans, or if you just don't want to, that's cool, I just thought-"

"I would love to," Rafferty replied, a grin breaking through.

"Great," Shay said, wearing a grin of her own. "That's great. Now come help me clean up this kitchen."

"God, lesbians are so needy."

"That reminds me! My mom keeps confusing work partner with girlfriend partner, so it's probably gonna be a little weird when she first gets here."

"Shay."

Original prompt was Rafferty teaching Shay to make lasagna, I hope this is okay. I know it's kind of pre-shafferty more than anything else but. Oh well!

Good night, and good news,
tsharknami