Author's Note: As I said earlier, this chapter is fluff. May change in tone in next few chapters, but won't be horrible. Didn't want to shock anyone.
Chapter Two, Jess' Birthday
Jess woke to Becker's alarm blaring. She smiled. "It's my birthday," she whispered.
No reply.
"Becker?"
Nothing.
She stretched out her arm. The bed was empty.
"Becker?"
She sat up, and saw him walking into the bedroom, carrying a breakfast tray and smiling brightly.
"Good morning," he said.
"Becker!" she cried, giggling as he set the tray in front of her. Beside breakfast dishes, was a single red rose in a small vase. "Oh!"
"Breakfast in bed, my lovely," he said. He then crawled in beside her.
"Oh, you sweetie!" she cried, kissing him. "I love you!"
He laughed. "We have breakfast sausage, eggs, hash browned potatoes, and your favorite coffee. And of course, for my beautiful chocolate fiend, chocolate chip scones."
She giggled. "Hmm. Yummy. Thank you, thank you!"
He smiled. "Bon Apetit."
"It's so much, though!"
"Yeah," he said, chuckling. "I thought maybe you'd want to share."
She giggled, sliding a scone piece into his mouth. "Of course. You are so sweet. This is lovely."
He smiled. "Happy Birthday, Darling."
"Mmm. Delicious."
They sat in bed, sharing breakfast. "This is a fabulous start to the day. Thank you," she said, kissing him slowly.
"You take a shower," he said, picking up the tray. "I'll get rid of this."
She smiled, crawling out of bed. She walked into the bathroom, opening the shower stall.
She squealed.
"Becker!"
He had remained in the bedroom to get her reaction, and he laughed.
"Yes?" he asked.
She turned around, holding a large basket full of girly shower/bath accessories: gel, lotion, shampoo, loofah sponges, even a bright pink towel and washcloth.
She smiled brighter than the towel.
"You gorgeous, lovely man!" she cried. "I love it!"
He giggled. "I'm glad," he said, kissing her.
She set in down, and jumped in his arms. "It's a fabulous present! Thank you."
He smiled. "You're welcome. Now get ready. Don't forget, we are due in for work, so don't take hours using your new stuff."
She smiled, giggling with glee. "I'll try, but I can't promise."
Becker could hear her singing happily in the shower, and he giggled. He beamed as he snuck back into the bathroom.
He cleaned the breakfast dishes, and waited for the shower to end. Finally he heard the shower turn off. A few seconds later, the shower door opened.
And he heard her squeal.
"Becker!"
He laughed.
"You are so sweet! Ooh, this is a very nice robe! So soft and smooth. It's gorgeous! Where are you, you fantastic male?"
She came out, her hair wet and dripping, wearing a silky pink robe in an oriental print, with flowers and birds.
Sh e tackled him.
He laughed. "You look gorgeous, Jess," he said.
She smiled. "Breakfast in bed, a shower gift set, and now a luxurious robe. You are doing very well!"
"Good. I'm glad," he said. "I'm not done, though." He bent down to a kitchen chair, and retrieved a large dress box, holding it out.
She squealed again. "More?"
He laughed, and nodded. "You're always so fashionable," he said. "It seems to me that you should have a new dress on your birthday."
Jess had tears in her eyes. "You are so thoughtful, Becker. You really are. Thank you."
He smiled and watched her face as she took off the lid, removed the tissue paper, and looked at the dress inside.
Her eyes twinkled, her cheeks puffed and turned pink, and her mouth twitched upward.
"It's beautiful," she said. "Becker, it's beautiful!"
Jess held it up to her. It was two tone. The top, with a sweetheart neckline, was a delicate pink and white calico print. The breast area was lightly pleated, and lined delicately with lace and small ruffles.
Then, just above the waist, the print ended. The rest of the dress, ending an inch above the knee was a bright green, and flared out slightly.
"I love it! Did you pick this out yourself?"
"You bet I did. Try it on."
She nodded, pulling off the robe.
"Or you can stay like that," he said, smirking at her birthday suit.
She smiled at him, pulling the dress over her head, and tugged it down.
"What do you think?"
He stared and smiled. It was cute, bright and happy. It was Jess.
"I think you were stunning before, but you look beautiful in it."
"Thank you," she said,throwing her arms around him and kissing him. "It's my new favorite."
"Is it?"
"Mmm-hmm, you gave it to me. I love you."
"Love you, too." They kissed again. "So, I did a good job picking out girly stuff?"
"Oh my gosh, did you!" He laughed. "Now, we have to stop by my place to properly accessorize this outfit," she said.
He cleared his throat, and smiled. He opened a kitchen cabinet, and took out a box.
"You're joking!"
He laughed. "I had help with the accessories. Apparently guys just can't do it well. Emily, Kim, and the Ops girls, Sara and Mayik were hugely helpful. Abby, not so much."
She giggled, and opened the box, as he covered his ears.
She squealed even louder.
"Oh my God! These are the cutest shoes I have ever seen!" She held up a tangerine orange pair of shoes, with tiny colored rhinestones all over. The toes had a green and yellow bow.
She quickly strapped them on, prancing around the kitchen.
"I feel like I'm endangering your health, giving you heels that high."
"Don't be silly. I have higher ones. They're smashing Becker!" She jumped into his arms, yet again.
"I love you, love you, love you," she said, kissing his face.
He laughed. "Check the box again."
She squealed, softer this time.
"Ooh, a hair clip. It' so adorable!" she cried, taking out a large orange and yellow flower. "There's more in the bag!" she cried happily. "It's a...shoulder bag! You darling, darling man!"
He chuckled as she pulled it out: a white and medium pink bag, done in a kind of cloud pattern, melding the colors together slightly.
"It seems like a lot of color to me, but Emily was convinced you'd like them. Personally, I'm not sure the colors all go together."
Jess laughed, fastening the hair bow. "That's because you're inhibited by your love of black, honey. I think they all work fabulously together."
She threw the bag over her shoulder and faced him: Orange/yellow flower in her hair, white/pink bag over her shoulder, the pink print and green dress, and the orange colorful shoes.
When he had seen them altogether in the store, he winced, but on Jess, they belonged.
"Perfect," he said, then stepping intimately close, he whispered, "You're breathtakingly beautiful." He slowly, tenderly kissed her, enjoying the taste and feel.
Jess leaned against his chest, calming her breathing. "You're the perfect one," she said. "I never imagined you'd go so overboard. It's really too much."
"Oh, what should I return?" He smirked.
"Funny. Not happening. Thank you, Becker. It's fabulous, perfect, sensational. I am enthralled, as promised."
He smiled widely. "Mission accomplished then," he said. "I wanted to see that smile, brighter and bigger than ever."
She obliged, grinning brilliantly wide. "It's all a trifle redundant, though, now that I think about it."
He raised his eyebrow. "Redundant?"
She smiled. "Yeah. I didn't need anything else. I have you," and she kissed him passionately.
"Oh, we better get out of here, or we won't be leaving," he said with a smirk. "Lester wouldn't like that."
She giggled. "OK. Let's go," she said. "I can't wait to show everyone."
She quickly loaded her new bag with her things, and he took her hand, heading for the ARC.
End of Chapter Two