Disclaimer: It never was and never will be mine.

A/n: This one is for Edna E Mode, who asked for sappy Bree/Orson set between their first kiss and his proposal. I think this is the first time I've ever written them angst-free, so I hope it's satisfactory.

Thank you to those of you who reviewed. And please, keep requesting!

-Ryeloza

A Collection

By Ryeloza

Ten: Rays of Sunlight

Bree brushed her hand over her forehead, effectively smearing a smudge of dirt across her brow, and gave a sigh of deep satisfaction. The sound made Orson clench the bag of garbage he'd just picked up and for a minute he stood still, caught up in the sudden idea of her in bed, lying back and making that same contented sound. He allowed himself to go far enough with the fantasy as to picture the elegant manner in which her tresses would fan out over the pillow, and then quelled the thought. It wouldn't do to think such things, at least not here, standing in the middle of her attic with her daughter just downstairs.

"Happy, darling?" he asked, as if it wasn't obvious by the way she glowed. The sun coming through the window caught her hair in such a way that it looked like it was on fire, and Orson was struck, not for the first time, by how exquisitely beautiful she was.

"Mm-hmm. You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do this."

She glanced around the room with her hands on her hips; a queen presiding over an impeccable kingdom. Orson had to admit that they'd done a marvelous job. Her attic hadn't been by any means horrendously cluttered, but it obviously hadn't been organized in years. The dust alone was nothing to sneer at, and Orson had tackled it with a combination of dust-rags, cleanser, vacuuming and good old fashioned soap so that it now sparkled like a rare jewel. Bree, meanwhile, could have been a professional organizer for how quickly she went through the boxes and bags and assorted knickknacks that had made their way to the attic over the years. Overall, they'd spent most of the weekend up here, and Orson couldn't think of a possible better use of their time. Especially seeing her so happy now that they were finished.

"I'm surprised you waited so long."

"It wasn't exactly a one person job," she said, her voice caught between wit and annoyance. She sank down onto an old sofa that Orson hadn't been able to convince her to remove and flashed him a humorless smile. "Rex always had more important things to do on the weekend."

Orson bit back a retort—it seemed unkind to tarnish the name of the deceased—and set down the garbage bag, joining her on the couch. They sat, legs touching, and Orson wrapped his arm around her shoulders so she could rest her head against his chest. "Anyway, it's done now," she stated in her most practical voice. Her sensibility made Orson's heart flutter in the most horribly pleasant manner. "And I'm glad you were here. I've never met anyone else who appreciates a good spring cleaning."

"Wiping away the scourge of winter. What's not to love?"

"Mmm, I love it when you talk dirty."

Bree turned her head up for a kiss and he gladly complied. She tasted of strawberries and sunshine. "Maybe next weekend we can wash all the walls," he murmured against her lips; she grinned. "The ceilings too."

"Oh Orson."

Urged on by the thrill that ran from his head all the way down to his toes, Orson shifted so she lay on her back, draping his body over hers and pressing kisses all along her jaw. She let out a little moan that sent shivers up and down his spine, but after a moment of indulging him, she gave a little cough. "Wait. Orson, we can't."

They very well could, he wanted to point out, but he didn't. If there was anything he prided himself on it was his self-control, and he admired the quality even more in Bree. There was nothing more sensual than a woman who could hold herself back, because in Orson's experience, it was only better when she finally let herself go free. When the time finally came—and it would come—the smoldering heat between them would erupt into the most passionate flames. On that day, every unindulged moment would be worth tenfold what it would have been had they given into their baser urges.

He gave her one last peck and then rolled off of her, sitting back up. She smiled, and then set her feet in his lap, wriggling her toes in a most uninhibited manner. "You know," he said genially, "I'm pretty sure I'm falling in love with you."

Bree smiled. Not just a smile, but one that radiated through her whole body, shining out like sunlight from inside of her. Orson thought that he could go the rest of his life and never tire of seeing her smile that way. "I love you too."

All-in-all, it was the perfect way to spend the weekend.