AUTHOR'S NOTE: Repost from LJ's sfaflashfic. Prompt: First time. This is something light and fluffy-hope you'll enjoy it! :)
She was seven at that time, her soft blonde hair tied up into two ponytails when she bounced into the office. Ashley Magnus had been living in quarters of the Sanctuary far enough away from where Helen had kept her work. While Helen had told her daughter more times than she can remember that the "work area" is off limits, Ashley is her mother's daughter after all. There were countless child-safe and fool-proof protocols installed where it mattered, but her office was always open to her daughter.
"Mommy!" she plopped down on the couch, bright eyed and cheery. It was Saturday and Helen had what seemed like endless paperwork to do.
"I've got McDonald's!" She announced, holding up the half eaten cheese burger in wraps.
"Hmm...that's nice, Ashley." Helen forced a smile, keeping her head bowed as she flipped through the papers in front of her. Moments later, her babysitter came rushing in.
"I'm sorry, Doctor Magnus. I went to the bathroom for a moment and-"
"That's quite alright, Stacey." Helen looked up with a smile. "Take a break, Ashley can stay here with me for a while."
"I'll be in the TV lounge then."
"And Stacey?"
She stopped and stuck her head back in at the door way.
"McDonald's?" Helen asked, bemused. Stacey mouthed an apology and ducked away.
Helen Magnus was never a fan of fast food. Never tried it, never ever planned to. She absolutely hated the smell of grease and fried food and refused to be anywhere close to the outlets if she could help it. But there Ashley was, chewing happily at the bundle of processed minced beef and melted cheese.
The girl skipped towards her mother and dangled the cheese burger in front of her just as she stood up.
"Waaaaant some?" Ashley grinned, sauce smeared around her mouth and bits of beef stuck between her teeth. "It's very yummy!"
"No, thank you." She tried to step aside, but Ashley moved to block her way.
"C'mon, mommy. Just a bite! Please?" Ashley fluttered those baby blues at her mother. Helen sighed. Ashley had tried to introduce the wonders of fast food to her for quite a while now.
Maybe just a bite then. Helen thought, bending down to scoop Ashley up in her arms.
"Alright, just one bite."
Ashley beamed and stuck the cheese burger into Helen's gaping mouth, forcing her to take a bite quite larger than she was willing.
The taste of melted cheese and stale bread filled her mouth, then, the greasy juice of the salty meat followed.
"Dear god," Helen said, words muffled by the food. Quickly, she lowered Ashley to the ground and grabbed a handful of napkins, then spat the mouthful out.
"I'm sorry, Ashley" she gazed at the girl lovingly. "But that's quite disgusting."
"You're funny." Ashley giggled, then with her free hand, tugged at Helen's sleeve.
"C'mon! Let's go watch cartoons!"