Hello, I'm back! Like Jessica popping back up at Cabot Cove, I'm back with another long overdue drabble. I like to think this would be set probably around season 4 and "Who Threw the Barbitals in Mrs. Fletcher's Chowder?".

This drabble was inspired by a prompt on Tumblr. "Well. This is a disaster." / "I prefer the term 'minor inconvenience' please."

Seth's latest culinary adventure ends in disaster with an uninvited dinner guest saving the day.

Seth's Culinary Drama

"Well, this is a disaster." Jessica said, one hand on her hip as she used the other to clear away the smoke. Out of all of Seth's culinary adventures, this one took the biscuit.

"I prefer the term 'minor inconvenience' please." Seth called over his shoulder, taking his head away from the oven as he dropped the Le Creuset deep dish onto the counter.

The chicken was overcooked – to say the very least. The top was virtually burnt to a crisp.

Jessica took a step back as she looked at the remints of the Chicken Waterzooi. Seth had left his copy of Julia Child's 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' in her kitchen with a promise for them to work their way through her recipes.

He had mastered the art of French cooking as well as his butchering of the French language.

"And how was I meant to predict that Amos was going to call us with a murder?" He tutted, getting frustrated that the Sherriff had once again ruined another dinner with Jessica. If Amos wasn't coincidently dropping in right before dinner, he was calling Jessica to come running to the police station to look over new evidence.

Seth was of the opinion that Amos might as well give his badge to Jessica. Perhaps then they'd enjoy a homecooked meal in peace.

"I did tell you to turn off the oven, Seth," Jessica reminded him, opening the kitchen door and pushing back the curtains to let the smoke out. They had come back from the police station to the smell of burning Chicken Waterzooi and the smoke alarm wailing from the kitchen.

"I'll go and get the takeout menus, pizza will have to do," She lamented, opening the dresser drawer in search of the takeout menus. Jessica had been looking forward to the Chicken Waterzooi.

After all, Seth had announced he was going to try out the recipe after more than a week of catching no more than a few minutes together. It was cold and flu season, meaning Seth was practically living at the office. Meanwhile, Jessica was doing all the pre-Christmas media rounds to push holiday sales.

"God don't punish us with pizza," Seth muttered, shaking his head as he threw the oven gloves onto the counter. He had spent the last week surviving on takeout and cold coffee. While Jessica's diet might have been better, they both deserved some proper food.

Jessica was dialling the number when she heard footsteps coming up the back steps. "Evening, folks!" Amos greeted, his voice booming through the kitchen as he appeared with two brown paper bags in his arms.

Seth rolled his eyes to the back of his head, as Jessica put the phone back on its receiver. "I thought I'd come with takeout to say thank you for helping out, Mrs. Fletcher," Amos explained, answering their unspoken question as he put the bags down on the kitchen table.

"Ah, didn't expect to see you here Dr Hazlitt, good thing I ordered extra," The Sherriff added as Jessica gathered three plates and cutlery. "That's very sweet, Amos," she said, counting her lucky stars that the food looked to be from Dixon's Diner and not the pizza place down the street.

"At least it's not pizza," Seth sighed, rummaging through Jessica's wine rack for something strong enough to make Amos' company bearable. She always kept a bottle of his favourite Irish whisky around for occasions like this.

After all, Amos Tupper was usually the one who drove him to the stiffer drink.

Julia Child and her Chicken Waterzooi could wait for another day – when Sherriff Amos wouldn't be breaking bread with them.