Someone needs to take my computer away from me. Thanks for reading!

Don't own anything.

Jimmy Box

The entire kitchen is filled with boxes. They're on the counter, on the floor, and tucked in the corners. She hated moving. There was always so much to do. She opens one sitting near her with a sigh. She's taking out the newspaper-wrapped plates when she hears a loud thud from somewhere else in the house.

"Neutron, what was that? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he answers, "a box fell, that's all."

"Be careful, okay? I am not taking you to the ER on top of everything else, do you hear me?" She braces herself for Neutron's retort, but it never comes. "Neutron?"

When he still doesn't answer, she curses under her breath and goes to find him. He's in the bedroom staring at a box that has fallen on its side, and its top has come untaped.

"Jimmy, are you sure you're okay?"

He turns to her with a curious look. "What is this?"

CV TOP SECRET is written on the side of the box in her handwriting. Her eyes widen, and she feels a flush blooming on her cheeks. "Nothing."

"Is that so?" He inquires as he takes out a photo and shows it to her. It's of the two of them at Retroland laughing about some private joke, their hands interwoven. Then he pulls out a Valentine's Day card with a holographic heart that they both know is from him. "It looks like something."

She mumbles an expletive under her breath, and he chuckles. "I can't hear you, Vortex."

"It's my Jimmy box, okay?" She concedes. "You weren't ever supposed to see it. I forgot I had it, to be honest."

"This entire box is dedicated to me?" He asks with a smug grin.

"I thought you were a genius. You figure it out," she hisses, narrowing her eyes at him.

"What else is in here?"

"Various things. Some newspaper clippings about you, photographs from when we were growing up. Stuff like that."

"And what's this?" He points to a journal near the top of the box. The sides are worn from use, and several pages are earmarked.

"It's called a journal, Neutron." He raises an eyebrow curiously, and she shrugs. "Whenever I couldn't tell you how I felt, I'd write it down."

"Why is it so small?"

She can't help laughing. "That's your first question? God, your ego is unbelievable sometimes. I had another diary for other everyday things. I reserved this one only for you."

"May I look?"

"If you want, but don't let it go to your already overly sized head. It was more about working out what I felt than anything else," she quickly adds.

Jimmy picks up the journal and starts paging through it. His eyes widen with every page. So much of her heart is in that ink she wonders if it carries a pulse of its own. After a few moments, he looks up at her, his eyes glittering with mirth. "I particularly like this entry where you go on for paragraphs about my sapphire blue eyes and honey-sweet lips."

"Shut up, Neutron."

"You had a massive crush on me, admit it," he teases.

"You realize that we live together and are engaged to be married, right?"

"You-had a crush on me," he sings.

"You are getting way too much enjoyment out of this."

"Sorry," he says, and she can tell the apology is sincere. He sets the journal on the floor and turns back to the box. He pulls out a project they'd worked on together. A map with a pushpin marking a certain secret island he'd given her for her 16th birthday. The certificate for the star he'd named in honor of her for her 20th. "I had no idea you'd kept this stuff, Cindy."

"It's mostly junk, but for some reason, I could never bring myself to throw it out."

"I'm glad you didn't," he adds as he puts the things back inside the box—all except the journal, which still sits on the floor. When his eyes meet hers again, she's surprised to see a hint of sadness there.

"What's wrong?"

"I wish I hadn't been obtuse for so long. I had no idea how much you cared about me."

"Well, then it's a good thing I eventually clued you in."

"Clued me in? You stormed over and told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to stop being a chicken and take you out on a proper date."

"It's not my fault you never made a move."

"Hey, that's not true. I kissed you first!"

"Then I had to track you down and drag your sorry ass to the Candy Bar, so that doesn't count."

"Touché," his hands rise in mock surrender.

"Admitting defeat already? You are getting rusty."

He reaches out to tuck a loose hair behind her ear. His gaze is full of utter reverence and love. Happiness expands like a balloon in her chest as he draws her into a kiss. It's deliciously slow and tender. Every press and twist of his mouth is lingering and luxurious as if he's worshipping her lips with his. Her head is starting to go hazy with delirious giddiness when he pulls away and nuzzles her nose with his.

"Are you hungry?"

"Starved."

"I'll find us some breakfast," he kisses her once more and then stoops to grab the journal.

"You need to bring that with you?"

"Obviously! I'm going to hide it somewhere special, so I can tease you mercilessly with it whenever I want."

"Neutron!"

-x-