Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize from the show belongs to me.
A/N: Enjoy! Please review!
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One July evening, Detective Inspector Gabriel Lestrade entered his flat to find his wife stretched out in his recliner, sound asleep. They'd both been working hard lately; an increase in work for law enforcement meant an increase in work for the crime reporter. He knew Kate had been pushing herself to meet deadlines all week. He left her to her nap and went into the kitchen to see about dinner.
The first thing Kate registered when she woke was the smell of food. She looked over to find Gabriel busy in the kitchen. He smiled when he saw that she was awake.
"Have a good rest, love?"
"Yes, I did. Long day. Something smells great."
"Garlic and herb chicken, mashed potatoes, corn and peas."
She licked her lips. "Mmm, sounds fantastic."
"And for dessert, I stopped at the bakery on the way home and picked up a cobbler."
"I am the luckiest woman in the world."
Gabriel laughed. "I thought the best way to a man's heart was through his stomach."
Kate ignored his teasing as she got up and embraced him. "How was your day?"
"Hectic." He dropped a kiss into her hair.
She nodded against his shoulder. "Mine too."
"Then I suggest we enjoy our dinner and spend the evening relaxing."
"I like that idea."
They passed the next couple of hours curled up on the couch together, with Gabriel's head resting on Kate's chest as she gently ran her fingers through his hair. It was an action that both found soothing. Neither spoke, content to just be near each other.
Finally, Gabriel got to his feet. "I'm beat; I think I'll turn in. Coming?"
Kate nodded and accepted the hand he held out to help her up. "I couldn't have kept my eyes open much longer, anyhow."
The next morning, over breakfast, Gabriel brought up an idea he'd been turning over in his head the night before.
"We've both been working hard lately. I think we deserve a break. How does a holiday at the beach sound?"
"Absolutely lovely!" Kate's eyes brightened at the thought. "I shouldn't have any trouble getting a few days off."
"Neither should I."
After arranging for and coordinating their time off, the Lestrades planned to leave on the last Wednesday of the month and come back on Sunday. They booked a room in a very nice resort hotel on the southeastern coast.
Kate spent the weekend before they left packing. Gabriel couldn't resist teasing her when he saw the wide array of clothing and other items going into her suitcase.
"Packing everything but the kitchen sink, I see. Would you be taking it if you could figure out how?"
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, hush. My motto when it comes to packing is 'It's better to have something and not need it than need it and not have it.'"
"I suppose that does make sense," he admitted.
"Figured you'd see it my way."
They left early enough on Wednesday morning that they arrived at their hotel before noon.
"Wow, this is even better than the pictures on the website," Kate commented, looking around.
She had reason to be impressed. The beachfront suite had a marvelous view from the balcony, a surprisingly spacious kitchenette, a mini-bar, a king-size bed, large bathroom, and two televisions. With a smirk, Kate noticed that the shower had enough room for two. Her one complaint about their flat was that the shower stall was only big enough for one person, though they had made excellent use of the tub on many occasions.
After a shopping trip to pick up basic food items, the couple unpacked. They opted to change into their swimsuits and spend a few hours on the beach before dinner. As they spread their towels out on the sand, Kate noticed several admiring female heads turning in Gabriel's direction. She resisted the urge to respond with "back off!" death glares.
As was often the case, her modest husband was oblivious. He never seemed to quite comprehend just how good-looking he was. As long as Kate found him attractive, he wasn't worried about the rest of the world.
Kate smoothed out a pile of sand creating a lump beneath her towel and stretched out on her stomach with a book. Gabriel lay down on his back with a sigh.
"This is great."
"It is," Kate agreed. "This trip was a brilliant idea."
"Thank you, darling."
About the time Kate shifted from her stomach to her back, Gabriel decided the heat was becoming a bit much. Kate gave him a puzzled glance as he got to his feet.
"Think I'll go cool off in the water. Care to join me?"
"No, you go ahead. Every time I try to swim in the ocean I end up having an open sore I've forgotten about, or the water splashes into my eyes or mouth. Saltwater and I do not like each other."
Fifteen minutes later he was back, pulling a spare towel from Kate's bag to dry off with. She edged away slightly, so as not to get dripped on.
"That was very refreshing. You really should try it."
Kate shook her head. "No thanks."
They relaxed on the sand for another hour before going inside to clean up and go out for dinner. The seafood restaurant was reasonably priced, the portions large and the food delicious.
The next morning when Kate woke, she was alone in bed. She got up and padded into the living room. She noticed that the coffee pot was partially full and poured a cup before joining Gabriel on the balcony.
The day was already pleasantly warm. Gabriel greeted her with a smile, and she eschewed the other chair in favor of settling on his knee. They shared a long, coffee-flavored kiss, then sat for a while watching the beachgoers.
The Lestrades spent the morning relaxing by the pool. This time, Gabriel had no difficulty in persuading Kate to swim with him. They had the pool to themselves, and spent a long time splashing and playing. Hunger drove them in a little after noon, where they ate their sandwiches and crisps on the balcony.
Kate wasn't surprised when Gabriel joined her in the shower. She just smiled, finished rinsing the shampoo from her hair, and stepped into his arms. He returned the smile and took her mouth in a long, deep kiss.
Hands slick with soap roamed eagerly. Kate wound her legs around her husband's waist as he lifted her. Gabriel paused for a moment to drink in the sight of her: pupils blown, head back, exposing the sweet, sensitive skin of her throat, breath coming in gasps. It was a heady feeling, knowing that he was the only man who'd ever seen her this way, the only one who'd ever made her come apart like this.
Afterwards, they stood leaning against each other until the water began to cool. They toweled off and dressed, still exchanging kisses. As she slipped into her sundress, Kate noticed that the time she'd spent in the sun had paid off; she definitely had the beginnings of a tan.
After dinner, Gabriel suggested a sunset walk on the beach. Kate quickly agreed, and the couple spent a long time strolling barefoot at the water's edge and watching the brilliant colors created by the sinking sun.
Saturday was spent shopping and sightseeing. Many of the tourist attractions were excellent, and they had a good day. By the time they returned to the hotel, both were a bit tired, but in a good mood.
As she lay in bed that night, Kate reflected that part of her wished they could stay longer. The other part was starting to miss home. The holiday had definitely done them good: a change of pace was always nice, and having each other's undivided attention had been wonderful. She felt Gabriel press one last kiss to her shoulder, sighed contentedly, and was soon dreaming of their next holiday.
