I turned & picked the plate with his food up "Here. There's butter there & syrup next to it. Would you like some coffee?" Soldier took the plate from me & turned to the butter "Yeah! I like mine black with one cube of sugar!" I scratched my head "Cube? I don't have those." Soldier turned sharply & glared at me "How can you not have sugar?!" I crossed my arms "I got sugar! I just have no cubes!" Soldier grunted as he turned back to his waffles "Well then I don't see a problem!" He growled & knocked the syrup over "Shut up !" I turned with his coffe in hand along with mine "What ARE you on about? Why did you attack my syrup?" Soldier casually walked to the kitchen table "She was giving me sass! I do not tolerate people giving me sass!" I glanced at the syrup as I passed half expecting it to talk.

I set his coffe down next to his plate & took a seat across from him. I leand my elbows on the table just like mom always told me not to "Why do you yell all the time?" Soldier glanced up at me with a piece of waffle haning out of his mouth "I don't understand?! What do you mean yelling?! I'm not yelling!" I leaned back "Yeah you are. You're doing it right now!" Soldier swallowed & took a gulp of coffee "This is not yelling!" He took a deep breath & leaned across the table "THIS IS YELLING!" His booming baratone yelling startled me out of my chair. My butt hit the floor with a thud. Eyes wide I stared at him "God damn! The hell was that?! Give me warning before doing that! Ass!" I pulled myself back into my shair as Soldier laughed at me.

I picked my cup back up & took a sip "Now my ass hurts." Soldier stuffed his face with more waffle "You really need to toughen up if you want a man!" My eyes shot up to him "What?" Soldier nodded gulping his coffee loudly "No man on gods green earth wants a sissy wife! You need to be tough & strong! You need some muscule on those bones! Not whatever that flabby shit is!" I growled & glammed my hand down on the table "Yeah well at least I have manners & an inside voice! You'll never get a woman running around shouting all the time! I doubt you even know how to treat a woman!" I grinned at the man sitting across from me "I don't know any woman who would want a stupid barbaric brute for a husband!" Soldier stopped eating. His arms fell at his side & he stared down at his half empty plate. What had I done?

He imedieatly jumped from his seat & stomped over to me. I puffed my chest out trying to look tough. However my face betrayed me. Soldier grinned at be before holding his right hand out to me. I stared at him unsure of what was going on. A few minutes passed & soldier growled "Are you going to stare at it or are you going to take my hand?!" I tentatively took his hand scared out of my mind. Soldier gently pulled me from my chair. I blushed as he pulled me into his strong arms "What are you-" He hushed me with a finger to my lips "I'm showing you I know how to treat a woman. You are a woman aren't you?
I nodded my brain unable to find words of any kind. Soldier carefully took my left hand & placed it on his shoulder. My right hand was held firmly in his. He tenderly snaked his left arm around my waist. I knew he was older than me. I didn't know how much older but I knew. I was twenty-three & he must have been around thirty. I was pulled out of my thoughts by Soldier twirling us around to an invisible song.

Who would have thought such a sweet jesture could come from the barbarian. Soldier closed his eyes & leaned his head on my shoulder. I could hear him humming a song I knew called 'I Know Why & So Do You' by Glenn Miller. I let myself fade into the moment as I softly sang along with his humming. Soldier pulled back imideately & threw his arms to his side "THAT is how you treat a woman lady maggot!" I shook my head coming down from on high "What? Oh! Yes that was lovely." I grinned at him "You can be charming when you want to." Soldier grinned behind a light pink blush "I told you I could!" I felt my own blush heating up my face. Soldier turned from me & began to walk into the hallway. I watched him for a second "I'll be in the garage messing with laundry!" He waved a hand in the air as he darted into the bathroom.

Once in the short lived safety of the garage I let out a loud contented sigh. I hated him so much right now! The simple action of holding my hand got me flustered. I shook all thoughts from my head as I opened the washing machien & dryer. I cycled the laundry & got the rest of his clothes started. As I worked I sang more of that Glenn Miller song. I didn't even hear the door open. Nor did I hear Soldier sit down on my dryer. My hand reached for his dirty pants. I paused when my hand brushed across something warm. I turned my attention to the world around me. Soldier was holding out his pants for me to take. So that's what my hand hit "Thank you." I took them from him & tossed them into the wash. As I poured in soap I glanced at Soldier "Soldier? Can I ask you something?" He nodded "Sure thing!" I leaned on the washing machien as is spun to a start "How are you going to get home?