It started so simply Helen didn't even realize it had begun until much later.
Nikola had sauntered into her office while she was busy working. She had mostly ignored him while he prattled on about when was she planning to restock the wine cellar, and was it really necessary to have the kiddies stringing tinsel and bows about the place? Helen hummed a note of false sympathy for his complaints to humor him without raising her head from her paperwork.
He was wise enough to read the signs that she wasn't going to be entertaining him anytime soon. With a petulant sigh he started to leave.
But as he strolled for the door, he pause a scant moment to deposit a small gift on the edge of her desk. He was gone before she paused to look at it but when she did she found a single perfect pear. A little heavy when she picked it up, and almost soft enough for her fingers to have bruised it already, there was a thin red ribbon tied around the middle of it. Helen smiled a bit at the quirkiness of Nikola's gesture. Not just the odd gift of fruit itself, but not even hanging around to hear any thanks. He had always loved having her gush over him for any reason, whether it be for a lovely gift, a handsome new suit, or a brilliant new invention.
Still, the day was getting late and she was getting hungry. Slipping off the bow, Helen leaned back into her chair and took a bite of the pear. Her eyes fell closed and she moaned at the juicy flavor coursing over her tastebuds. It was incredible! It had to be the most delicious pear ever grown. There's no way he had found this at the local market….
Helen debated what he meant by giving it to her as she polished off the succulent fruit. Her tongue darted out to clean her slightly sticky hands and she grinned to herself as she sucked the sweet juice from a fingertip. Nikola would be rather disappointed he missed this, she thought.