For the next five days, Francis and _ traveled to many cities in France to view landmarks. They went to Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile , and many others. Also, during that week she continued to wake up to roses. The first day she got one and second three, third five and fourth seven, fifth nine and today she received eleven. Whenever she'd count them she would get butterflies in her stomach. The larger the number got, the more she fell for the French man. At the same time Francis was slowly falling for her too. She made the loneliness that lurked inside him disappear. After they arrived home from another day of sight seeing, France decided to cook dinner for them. _ was trying to assist him by cutting up vegetables, but she was struggling majorly.
"So how do you like my home, _?" France asked trying to break the sudden silence
"It's so lovely, huge, and always smells quite nice! Eh, but I guess that's what happens when you keep fresh roses all around inside your home"
France continued cooking with a growing smile on his face.
"I don't keep roses all around inside here…"
_ looked at his back confused. He turned to her with a smile on his face.
"I just keep them in your room"
She was still puzzled by his words.
"But…why?"
France chuckled at her confusion and walked over so he was behind her.
"Why not? A beauty deserves to wake up to a beauty, no?"
_ didn't know what to say. Her cheeks turned a light pink, but quickly went red when she felt him rest his chin on her shoulder.
"Hm? Are you in need of some assistance? Do you need help, a sharper knife…or even air?" he whispered the last part into her ear. _ suddenly noticed she had been holding her breath and exhaled fastly.
"H-Help will do" she squeaked.
He chuckled and placed his hands over hers. Skillfully, he began to cut the vegetables. France finished cutting them in a flash, but kept his hands on top of hers. His warm breathe tickled _'s neck. Thoughts ran wildly through her head. What was he doing? What was he thinking? What's going to happen next?
She felt him wrap his left arm around her waist, and looked down at it. Her right hand was then lifted causing her to hastily look over her shoulder. France's eyes slowly slid closed as he placed a long soft kiss on her hand. The sight made her blush fade slightly. Instead of looking up at him embarrassed she just gazed at him longingly. When his eyes slid open he looked down at her with the same expression. He quickly released her grabbing the cutting board and heading over to where he was before. He kept his eyes on the food and didn't glance over at her once. France let out a small sigh. Whenever he even slightly revealed his feelings for her he would always remember that they could truly never be. She only stood there wondering why their intimacies ended so soon. _ wished it would've continued.
Number of red rose(s) meaning
one rose: Love at first sight
three: each rose stands for a word in 'I love you'
five: I love you very much
seven:infatuation
nine: Together for the rest of our days
eleven: I treasure you