Jhene Aiko and Frary vibes now. Yes, guys. I've officially lost the plot. No, I'm joking. Just enjoying writing during lockdown! Unfortunately, uni still exists online and so do exams but we're relaxed. No stress. Enjoy.

Mary inhales deeply, her eyes opening and staring at the wisps of hair her fingers play with on Francis's chest. She can't remember the last time she left the bed but she knows that it was probably to use the toilet.

Francis chuckles when her stomach grumbles. "Finally ready to leave the bed now?"

"No," she mumbles as an idea pops into her mind. "Have you ever tried weed?"

He laughs nervously. "Why?"

"You so have!"

"Okay, once or twice," he admits, laughing now. "Bash and his friends were doing it and I was curious."

Mary giggles. "Of course you'd be. I knew you weren't perfect."

"Why do you ask?" He asks her, kissing her head.

"I was just wondering."

"You want to try it?"

She shakes her head. "No, that's not me. What was it like?"

"Weird," he tells her. "I was out of it and I laughed a lot. Bearing in mind, it was a Friday evening after school when we were seventeen. It was so trippy."

"Huh," she says, smiling. "But you vape now."

Francis nods. "I do."

"I want to try."

"Little Innocent Miss Mary Stuart wants to vape?" He asks, chuckling.

She nods, sitting up to look down at him. "Yeah."

Francis grins and gets out of her bed to dig into his trouser pocket. "I'm going to have to go in about an hour. Work calls."

"No," Mary says firmly. "You're staying here. Call your dad up and say you're sick."

"Mary..."

"You know what?" She asks, wrapping the sheets around her frame and padding out of her bedroom to her kitchen. "I've got all sorts. Vodka, Whiskey, Scotch-"

Francis leans against the doorjamb and watches her rummage her cupboards. "Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah," she drawls cheekily, dropping the sheets. "Want some?"

Francis bites his bottom lip and grins. "Fine."

"And as you've been working hard this past week, I'll take good care of you tonight," she continues, bringing over a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. The hard stuff can wait until later. "I've got leftovers we can put in the oven, watch a movie, I'll massage your back-"

"Johnny will be expecting me, Mary," he says softly.

Mary's eyes flash but she doesn't stop her actions. It still stings, the physical reminder of his infidelity. They're not married but they're promised and that's near engaged. They were on a break but it still hurts regardless. The break only lasted a week or two.

"Tell Lola you're staying the night," she tells him. "We're going to be married one day, we might as well get used to staying the night at each other's places. We've been together for four years."

"He's my son-"

"You've been there every night since he was born," Mary says quietly. "Just one night with me. Or is this how it's going to be when we have kids? You always putting John Philip above our children?" Putting Lola above me?

Francis lowers his gaze to the floor. "I..."

"Look," she starts, moving past him to put the items on her bedside table and coming over to wrap her arms around his waist. "What I'm trying to say right now is that everything else can wait. I want this moment, this morning, this afternoon, this night to be about us. We barely have days like this, Francis. I want to cherish it before you're everybody else's. I need you."

He lifts her into his arms and places her onto the bed, attacking her face with kisses and settling down beside her. He lies on his side, his arm over her waist and his hand supporting his head.

"Well?" She asks softly, dubious.

"I'm staying," Francis whispers, laying his head on her chest. He can practically feel her body's happiness and he looks up to see her grin happily. "Hello, Cheshire Cat."

"Shut up," she says, squealing when he tickles her hip.

"Your smile is the best remedy to beat stress, you know?" He tells her.

Mary scoffs lightly, rolling her eyes playfully. "Shut up."

Then she shoots out of the bed and heads back out of the bedroom, leaving him stunned at the sudden movement. She returns with orange juice, José and Rosé along with a jug. She mixes the three liquids and pours it into the wine glasses.

"I was feeling something fruity," she explains bashfully, taking a sip from her glass as he inspects his. "Try it."

He does. "Oh, that tastes amazing."

"Don't tell anyone but when you were too busy trying weed, I was experimenting with alcoholic drinks," Mary tells him, grinning.

"Ooh, so you were rebellious!"

"Shh," she hushes him even though they're alone in her apartment, making them both laugh at the idea. "I have a reputation."

"Well, put that drink down and taint it," he says, taking the glass from her hand and placing it beside his. He pulls her to his frame and kisses her deeply.

Mary beams as she straddles his hips instead and leans down to peck his lips. "Who knew a bed could hold so much power?"

"Oh, it's definitely a peacemaker," he replies lightly, running his fingers through her hair. "Beautiful."

"Stop it," she says, blushing.

"Never," he breathes out in awe. "You wanted me to stay so you'll have to put up with my compliments."

Mary giggles, covering her mouth to stop them but it fails and she places her palms on his chest. "If I really must do so."

Francis looks up at her, now serious. "I'll never put anyone above you or our family. I'll divide my time up properly and I'll never neglect you again."

Mary's eyes sparkle. She knows because she sees his sparkle too. Her heart swells with love so much, she thinks it might just burst because she is so happy. She is always at her happiest with Francis Valois.

"Hey, can I try that vape now?" She asks him.

Francis grins and blindly retrieves it from the other bedside table, lifting it up to her like a precious jewel.

"Before you do," he says, bringing it back down to his chest. "Promise me you won't make a habit of this."

Mary gives him a look. "Francis..."

"I mean it! It's addictive and I'm trying to-hmm..."

Distracted by her lips, he doesn't realise that she's taken the vape pen from his hand.

She pulls away. "I'm a big girl," she whispers, grinning.

Francis laughs, shaking his head. "How have I not learnt my lesson? Those damn lips of yours."

She brings the pen to her mouth and takes a draw before releasing it. "These damn lips of mine are quite enjoying this actually."

"Oh, dear God."

Mary snorts and coughs a little because of that, removing the vape and placing it onto the bedside table. "Now, I've tried everything."

"What else does rebellious Mary want to do?"

Mary eyes her automatic blinds. "We're quite a good storeys up. I've always thought about having sex exposed."

"Oh..." His eyebrows rise. "Oh."

"No one can see us!" She quickly says. "Unless they're actively peeking. We're so high in the building, probably passing planes can grab a look if they try hard enough to."

Francis smirks. "Put the blinds up then."

Francis believes he quite likes rebellious Mary.

But he will never let her in on that.

She'll never let him live it down.

But he knows that as long as their relationship goes from strength to strength, whenever there's a storm between them, peace will be sure to follow soon after.

"You're my peace, Francis," she whispers tiredly after they've exhausted themselves. "My serenity."

He doesn't reply, merely brushes a chaste kiss on her forehead and settles asleep.

All the words he leaves unspoken, she feels through his tight hold around her body.

I love you, Mary.