Chapter X: She Came Through the Bathroom Window
Chapter Genre: Romance, Humour
Chapter Character(s): Twenty six year old John MacTavish, his wife (Madeline MacTavish) / Ghost, Roach
Chapter Summary: Every relationship has its ups and downs. Sometimes, MacTavish can't tell which one it is.

X

"You're so wrapped up in layers onion boy, you're afraid of your own feelings!"
– Donkey, Shrek

Roach laughed whole heartedly. "Women are confusing."

The three men walked outside into the lot, entering the vehicle, as MacTavish placed a bouquet of lilies with one poppy in the back seat. MacTavish promised them to show them the most important sentimental object. Ghost had placed the box containing their captain's things into the back seat as their drive began. Roach stuffed his hand into the box and pulled out a record and a CD. Plopping the CD to play, they began to listen to the burned disc.

"She gave those to me," MacTavish told them. "She burned all of my favourite songs into one disc. She also found the record of that song and added it as a gift. It's a simple, brilliant gesture. You listen to the song and they're all you think about."

You take the breath right out of me.
You left a hole where my heart should be.
You got to fight just to make it through,
'Cause I will be the death of you.

2008.

February

He had placed around the flat as John had remained shirtless when he conversed with his sister on the other side of the telephone. He had silently thanked God that Madeline was at work, leaving him able to think through the stressful event of buying his wife a birthday present.

"She likes everything! That's what makes it so bloody frustrating!" John had sighed. He had listened to his sister laugh on the other line.

His sister had mocked him, "Stay frosty, John!"

It had taken him two days with conversations of dozens of Madeline's friends before finally gaining the proper idea of what to get her. And, on her birthday, John had woken up just before she did to place the wrapped present beside her face.

John had just finished cooking break fast for her when her familiar laughter and squeals of delight erupted from the bedroom. He grinned to himself as she popped her head into the kitchen, bubbly sniffing the air as she bounced on the wooden floor. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she continuously thanked him, kissing all over his face.

In her hands were three novels – one titled 'The Zombie Survival Guide', one titled 'How to Take over the World' and the other '14 000 Things to be Happy About.' Her fingers also laced with a theatrical mask, one that resembled a Renaissance masquerade.

Madeline kissed him square on the lips as she exclaimed, "John, this is perfect!" She breathed, running her hand through her hair. Her eyes stared at him. "My students already think you're an amazing husband – at least, by the way I'm talking about you during class. Now… you've just reached a level I never though possible."

John laughed loudly, his arms wrapping around her. "You talk about me during class? Dear Lord, Maddi – what do you teach your kids?"

Her eyes filled with sass. "Well, I tell kids about your life experiences and hopefully they'll get inspired by the strange things we do. They thought I made you up when I first told them, eh? You're wonderful, you know that?"

Guffawing, he invited her to eat breakfast.

"Are you sure you have to work today?"

March

A low growl escaped John's lips as he held the phone next to his ear. Madeline, who placed her lips on areas of his neck, grinned slyly as their game continued. Her competitive side emerged as the two locked eyes, stifling their laughter as they kept their bodies resting on the mattress.

Of course, this wasn't their first time playing The Phone Moan Challenge. Either Madeline or John would be attempted to be sexually aroused by the other, trying to hold in their moans or any noise that would give away their actions while having a normal conversation on the phone. The person put up to the challenge would not be able to lie. That was the whole point, really – if the person on the other side of the phone asked what they were doing or guessed that they were playing, they'd lose. The objective was to keep the conversation going for as long as they could.

In the current moment, John's time ticked against the clock, nearing Madeline's time. She began to search harder for an area of weakness as her trail of kisses led down to his chest. Her hands mischievously teased him as a soft moan unintentionally erupted from his lips. He slapped his hand over his mouth, his eyes widening from the horror.

John's brother called out over the phone, "Damn, John; what are you doing over there?"

Madeline's eyes lit up at the voice, suddenly bursting out into laughter. She was sure that Joshua could hear her exclaimed, "This is going to be close! Check the time! Check the time!"

Both memorized Madeline's time to be 8:36. John's eyes looked down to the telephone screen to see the time, 8:42. He whooped loudly as Madeline screamed out with defeat. Both of them snickered over the phone, re-challenging each other to another round.

John's brother remained confused on the line. "Oh my God, are you two sleeping with each other while on the phone?"

April

Their dates were never particularly regular.

When heading out for the night, sometimes they would spend their time at the library, sneakily placing sheets of papers that contained absurd jokes into books. They unknowingly trained themselves how to laugh quietly – or at least do it without being caught by the strict library – as the two adults fooled around. Sometimes they would, instead, place sheets of inspiration within the books, reminding that the person holding the book was beautiful or unique in some way.

Other dates consisted of them acting out a silent film in front of a security camera. Occasionally, there would be people joining them into a Flash Mob of mimes.

There were times when the two would pull all-nighters, watching horror movies until dawn or placing it on mute and creating their own dialogue. Safe to say, their dates were never typical and never repeated – at least, they almost never did. And, at the moment, John focused on infiltrating Madeline's blanket-fort that contained her cookies which she guarded.

Entering the bedroom, which was messily covered with blankets and pillows, John silently walked around to hide himself in the dark. He did not hear or see Madeline in the room, which gave him a sense of both courage and anxiousness. Where was the crazy girl? He hadn't a clue, but he might as well take a running chance of stealing a piece of freshly baked chocolate chipped cookies.

He had barely been able to take a step out when Madeline shot him with a Nerf gun. He stood there, stunned, while blinking toward Madeline. She grinned evilly before dashing to the plate of cookies.

"Oh no, you don't!" he shouted, throwing his entire body at her. They both softly landed against the fort of blankets and pillows as the two began to fight for the right to eat cookies.

No. Their dates were never particularly regular.

May

Maddi, open the door please!

John sent the text message to Madeline's phone as he casually leaned against the door as he stared at his own phone. Surprisingly quick, he received his reply.

OK! Hold on, though. I'm not dressed yet.

Grinning like a devious teenager, John moved his thumbs against the phone's pad and replied back to her.

WAIT; STAY LIKE THAT. Just open the door!

The warm air after sunset around him caused him to become impatient. His neighbours passed by as they greeted him. At the same time, his phone vibrated.

BRB my goldfish are drowning.

John laughed out loud, knowing it was such a typical thing for her to do. He waited for several moments before the all-too-familiar door finally opened, displaying her in casual clothes and moist hair. He mocked a disappointed sigh as she grinned devilishly, only to have him hug her tightly, swaying her back and forth.

"Happy anniversary, love," he told her. "I've gone on that bloody scavenger's hunt of yours and oh my God, your present is brilliant." John lifted the vintage record of Crimson & Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells as well as a burned CD of all his favourite songs. She laughed lightly, twirling her body around so she could jump on his back. He sighed, slowly bringing her to the bedroom. The last words he said were, "You know, Kid; putting your clothes on was really redundant."

December

The deployment had lasted long – too bloody long for John's sanity. For seven months, he had been away from Madeline. And, in seven months, she had redecorated the entire flat. Her pillow cases consisted inspiration quotes written by a permanent pen. He nearly didn't recognize the flat when arriving home on Christmas.

For him, she had set up a Christmas tree, despite the fact that she didn't even celebrate the holiday. She had presents from her students scattered under the tree with thank you cards from graduated students. With the warmth and comfort, he couldn't have asked for a better "welcome home."

Spending the night out, their families and friends called in to wish them happy holidays.

"Hey, this is John –"

"…And Maddi!"

"…and Maddi MacTavish. Leave a message after the tone and we'll get back to you as soon as we can."

Their recorded voices were heard every time their unanswered calls were made. Laughing was heard from the recording and each caller rolled their eyes at their oddness.

Finally returning home from their yet again bizarre celebration, Madeline and John listened to the messages they received over Christmas Eve.

"Message One: It's me, Josephine. I think you've gotten my postcard, right, John? Anyway, my girl and I are doing alright. We've been travelling; I guess that's all to say. Anyway: happy holidays, you two. I'll talk to you soon.

"Message Two: Mr. and Mrs. MacTavish, where are you guys on the holidays? It's Joshua. Maddi, do you have John locked up in a closet again? Is he still telling you to slow down on the speeding? He's a little meticulous about that. Anyway, I'll try you guys again later. Happy Christmas!

"Message Three: John, I haven't seen you in moths! It's your old pal, Benjamin. I hope you haven't gotten yourself killed. Well, you bastard, you don't die easily, do you? Alright; I'll leave you alone with Maddi. Merry Christmas to you both!

"Message Four: John, it's Josephine again –"

"Are you going to go through all of that?" John asked Madeline as she handed him a cup of hot chocolate. Both of them sat by the telephone as they held their Nerf guns. "If your family comes in just because they hear the machine playing, it will be entirely your fault if we lose!" he chuckled.

"We've been at this for about thirty-six hours. Can't we at least tell your family that we're not actually being chased by zombies yet?" she grinned.

"You guys were 'zombie slaying' for Christmas?" Roach had asked, listening to the CD that Madeline had burned. His goofy smiled returned as he tapped to the beat. "Your wife is so cool." He began to mouth the lyrics to the songs that played while peering outside his window. They had returned to the highway, this time having MacTavish drive.

He grinned half-heartedly. "I told you. No day was typical."

Ghost flipped his wrist to gaze at his watch. "You said her birthday was on February 14th. That's today. She's turning, what, thirty-one?" He nodded and leaned back to his seat, playing with his seat belt.

"Can we go meet her?" Roach requested. MacTavish chuckled.

"That's where we're headed to," he responded. "Half an hour left of driving."

That concludes the 2008 year/Chapter Ten! I'm only going to remind you to review for the chapter. The books that MacTavish gave to Madeline were (respectively) by Max Brooks and Barbara Ann Kipfer. The lyrics belong to Breath by Breaking Benjamin. Constructive criticism and comments will be highly appreciated! Flames will be used to hunt down Makarov! Hoorah!

Chapter Title: She Came Through the Bathroom Window by the Beatles
Chapter Question: Would you do anything that MacTavish and Madeline do? (This will be used for future writing references.)

Review for not-so-mini-MacTavish!