A/N:Sorry for a really late update this week, I've had an exam, and I have another one next week so there might be another slow update (boo hiss), and I can't fail because otherwise I'll live in a trash can and be homeless and it'll be really sad. So thanks for your patience!
A slither of offending light crept through the gap in the certain. The room was silent apart from the sound of Edward's steady breaths hitting the side of Thomas' neck. For the first time in at least a month he look truly relaxed, his face smooth, reflecting every aspect of tranquillity. His flesh radiated warmth as it passed through into Thomas' skin, heating up his back as it pressed firmly onto Edward's front.
The bed was cosy and warm, something Thomas had never had the pleasure to experience very often in his life; and especially not with a beautiful man which was all his own, he thought proudly as he admired the twisted covers cocooning their naked bodies.
Untangling his limbs from Edward's, he unwrapped himself from the surrounding blanket and slid out of bed, making sure not to disturb his lovers sleep. Especially not when he was planning a surprise.
Putting on his clothes he crept out of the room, across the house, and down to the servants' stair case. He was fairly certain he wouldn't see anyone as he had gotten up at an ungodly hour, just so he didn't receive any unwanted attention from lowly servants.
After all, I am a doctor providing live-in support. Edward's right, I'm hardly just a servant now. Don't want anyone thinking we're on the same level...
In all honesty, he had been planning his surprise for quite sometime, so was fully prepared. Well, nearly fully prepared. All he was missing was the food.
How hard can it be to grab a bit a food?
Reaching for the handle to the pantry, he opened the door and walked inside. After successfully gathering all the necessary ingredients, and putting them in his specially acquired picnic basket, he was feeling rather proud of himself when he heard quickly approaching footsteps.
The door flung open, nearly breaking off the hinges.
Christ!
"Ay! You! What you doin' in me pantry? Who is you anyway? You got no business snoopin' through me food. Ge' out!" bustled a large women, with a naturally flushed face, who looked like she might just be a relation of Mrs. Patmore. Thomas contemplated asking if she was a sister, but quickly decided against it when his words got stuck in his throat and he found himself uncharacteristically nervous.
"I-er-I-was jus' getting som' food" Thomas began pathetically lifting up the basket and glancing towards it.
She stood still waiting for an extension on his excuse.
"-for a picnic. I'm taking edwar-err...Mr. Courtenay out for the morning on a walk, I thought it would be er...nice? Surprise I mean. For him. To go out. On a walk. Like he used to in the hospital."
Bugger I'm messing this up. I'm meant to be good at lying and explaining myself! How embarrassing!
She didn't look entirely convinced.
Well I am a stranger. Maybe she thinks I'm stealing. She could think I'm an intruder! Or a hobo taking things.
No. No, That's ridiculous. I'm far to good looking and well turned out to be a hobo...
But why does she look like she has no idea who I am.
Oh because I never said...
"Oh, I'm his doctor! I've just come here to work for him."
To this her angry crumpled face softened with understanding. [And because she knows a superior when she sees one] Well as soft as a face that ancient with kitchen grease can smooth out.
To this she let him pass, and designated an area for him to prepare the food, saying to Thomas' surprise, and almost shock, how she 'wasn't aware Edward had come back'.
I mean, yes, they were hardly going to let kitchen staff stand at the door to greet him, but surely someone would of mentioned it. Everyone knows how much servants gossip. Does no one care that my Edward's returned home, after fighting in the war?
Tip toeing up the stairs and back into the room, Thomas was glad to see Edward's sleeping form still asleep. He didn't want to wake him up. Slipping out of his clothes, he got back into the bed, re-instating his body under the covers like it was before, hoping to make it seem like he had never left. And anyway, even if he was itching to show Edward his surprise, it was still very early, and many of the servants would still be in bed, so it would have to wait. Not that lying on a big posh bed (posh for a servant at least), along side a beautiful lover was hard to endure.
Edward awoke to find himself nakedly interlocked in Thomas' arms. His face was pressed up against his chest, and he could feel the soft hair on his abdomen tickling his cheek and face. He squeezed his arms tightly around him, feeling a smile wash over his face.
"Edward?" Thomas whispered quietly into his hair, running a hand up and down his arm.
"Edward are you awake?" he asked again softly.
"hm? Oh hello" Edward said with a grin looking up "yes I am awake. Why, were you hoping to run away and leave me?"
Thomas let of a small laugh and bowed his head down to place a soft kiss on his forehead.
Removing his arms, Thomas sat up, and looked down at Edward.
"Does sir need some assistance getting dressed?" Thomas asked in a playful voice, bending down again to kiss Edward's mouth. His lips felt delicate as they pressed against his own, and Edward let himself relax, moving his mouth and leaning forward to deepen the kiss. The once tender peck on the lips progressed rapidly. As their mouths moved closer together, the fiery passion grew stronger, overwhelming their senses in the heat of the moment, as the desire for further romantic transgression increased.
Pushing Edward to lie on his back, Thomas sat on top of him, straddling his waist, as he thrust his face forwards to continue their previous action. Growing rougher, Thomas let his tongue slip past Edward's lips and into his mouth. The sensation of another's tongue in his mouth was unknown and unexplored, and the experience was proving to be strangely exhilarating as the corporal once again skimmed against him, sending a cold, but pleasant, rush across the entirety of his body, shuddering with excitement.
As the kiss eventually came to a close, Thomas finally relaxed, collapsing across Edward's chest, his body moving up and down as he attempted to control his breath.
When they had both regained composer, Thomas took Edward by the hand and led him into the bathroom. Standing on the cold floor, Edward could hear Thomas fumbling around behind him in the cupboard under the sink, then turning on the tap to dampen a cloth, and touching it to Edward's skin.
Washing away all evidence of their affections, they stood in front of each other once again, before swooping their arms around one another to embrace lightly, resting their heads together, as the water trickled across their skin and dripped onto the floor creating a puddle at their feet.
"But where are we going?" Edward questioned curiously.
"Ah you'll have to wait and see. And anyway, it's not where we're going it's what we're doing there that matters" Thomas replied cheekily.
As they walked further and further, the estate in the distance drifted away to become nothing more than a mere spec in the distance, the place they had come from appearing a faded mirage, holding no past nor memories.
Setting down the basket on the ground, Thomas stopped. Luckily Edward hadn't noticed the hamper in his left, injured hand, as the lieutenant held tightly onto his right, letting Thomas lead the way. Although, if he had realised Thomas was in possession of an object, he hadn't let on to show that he knew.
Unlatching his hand from Edward's grip, he bent down to the basket at his feet to retrieve the chequered picnic blanket within. Taking a few steps away, he laid it out gently on the floor, taking care to smooth out any creases or folds. Just as he began to unpack the food, Edward perked up to ask, whilst attempting to move towards him:
"What are you doing Thommy? Do-"
"oi! Stay there!" Thomas said interjected hurriedly, halting his movements, and taking a brief pause to make sure he had complied with his instructions, he went on "I can't tell you that, it's a surprise silly! Now wait there until its time to find out."
Continuing with his earlier task, he went on to lay out all the foods on the plates Mrs. Kitchen lady had given him, until it was all suitably presentable. He hoped that he was putting on a picnic even Mr. Carson would be impressed by.
Rising off his knees to stand, he rambled over to where Edward was standing a metre away.
Holding him gingerly, he drew him down to kneel by the corner of the cloth. Placing a hand over top of Edward's he guided it towards the food, controlling his movements.
"You wanna know what your surprise is? Then you'll have to guess! C'mon, feel..."
Moving his hand, he directed it at a bottle wine. As Edward ran his fingers along the stem, he crumpled his face quizzically, deep in thought.
"No? Okay well what about this then..."
Thomas looked around for something more guessable.
Leading Edward's forefinger to a small chocolate cake, he traced it along the icing. He let out a slight gasp in confusion and bewilderment to the unidentified texture. But before he could say anything, Thomas was drawing his hand towards his mouth. Tenderly running his tongue over the icing, he licked Edward's finger and ran it along his lower lip, before placing a quick kiss on it, and finally reuniting him with control over his own limbs.
Edward looked dumbfounded, lost for words, as he tried to work out what had just happened.
Not that Thomas was willing to give him much of a chance to realise what was going on. Before Edward could get his thoughts straight, Thomas was already scrapping more icing off the cake onto his own finger, and bringing it slowly towards his face. Easing Edward's mouth open with his thumb, he placed the finger inside the lieutenant's mouth. It didn't take long for him to eat the icing and realise the answer Thomas was waiting for.
"Cake?" Edward smiled excitedly.
Thomas gave a small grin.
"Yes, expand on that and you'll have your answer! Then maybe I'll let you eat it."
"Food?
"..then again maybe not..." Thomas teased, with a smirk forming on his face.
Striking him suddenly like a bolt to the head he beamed in reply:
"Outside food? Picnic! Oh Thomas you remembered what I said all those months ago...that I wished we could go outside together and have a picnic" Edward said erratically, swinging his arms around Thomas and dragging him into a hug.
Eating together, they fed off each others words, letting the hours pass and escalate until they had been outside a few hours, enjoying one another's company until it was eventually time to retire to their rooms.
As they made their way through the halls, they elapsed past Edward's mother ordering a bunch of servants to prepare rooms and giving timed instructions.
Almost like she could sense their silent presence behind her, she spun around to face Edward.
"Darling, just to let you know, Jack is coming home on leave tomorrow at 12 o'clock sharp, so make sure you look presentable," she said with a pointed glare towards Thomas.
"Apparently he's bringing a surprise!"
