Cinnamon and Chocolate

When a whiff of something warm and sweet and homey drifts out from the clinic's small kitchenette, the Doctor's first bewildered thought is that he's gotten the day wrong. Tucking the small parcel of cookie ingredients instinctively behind him, he smiles quizzically at the little brunette carefully arranging a freshly made batch into a white cardboard box.

"Today is the thirteenth, isn't it?"

Elli whirls about, startled, and he holds back a laugh at the little puff of flour dusting her nose.

"I'm sorry, Doctor! I didn't think you'd be back yet, or I would have done this at Grandma's."

A long-held tradition, including an unspoken agreement that she would stay out of the kitchen on this particular day of each year, and that, in return, he would leave her to her cake-baking on the eve of the adjacent Winter festival.

It only seems fair, being the usual recipients of each other's gifts. Although, a special piece of cake usually manages to find its way to a delighted Stu, and to a more reservedly delighted Carter on the day in the middle of Winter, while the understanding is that the particularly big box of cookies is to be shared with Ellen.

Still, why exactly she's baking cookies today is a bit of a mystery.

"I'm almost finished, though," she adds, packing her cookies more quickly and surreptitiously sneaking one. She smiles impishly at him over her shoulder. "Don't tell Vickie."

She's reasonably certain, though, that Vickie won't notice. She'll be so stunned that Elli's actually remembered that silly little promise last season that she won't notice much of anything. Which is exactly as Elli intends it. See how Vickie likes being flabbergasted beyond speech by an innocent gesture loaded with meaning that may or may not actually be there.

"Don't rush," the Doctor calls to her, leaning against the wall to watch, the corners of his mouth twitching up into a slight smile.

There are few silly, frivolous pleasures that he allows himself nowadays. Watching his nurse work herself up into a frenzy because a pretty girl gave her chocolate for Winter Thanksgiving and asked for cookies for Spring is not one that he plans to miss.

There are, after all, few things more entertaining than a flustered, blushing, and severely annoyed Elli..

The next morning, Elli lags behind the Doctor as they walk briskly through the village, talking as easily and companionably as they have spent the past few years growing close enough to, about everything and nothing.

He stops and turns, caught somewhere between concern and amusement.

"Are you alright?"

"I think this is a mistake," she replies, biting the corner of her lip nervously and tucking her package of cinnamon-raisin cookies – tied with a red ribbon so that she wouldn't confuse them with the surprisingly nice, chewy chocolate cookies the Doctor gave her this morning – more securely under her arm. "She's going to think I'm strange."

"Giving cookies to your friend is strange? Then I'd better be careful; she might think I'm strange, too."

"Well…just because of the festival, you know. It's different for you."

"Try not to worry so much," he suggests comfortingly as the farmhouse comes into view.

"I'm going to go back to the clinic," she says suddenly, shoving her box of cookies at him. "You can give her both boxes."

He catches her arm and presses the box back into her hands.

"You made me wait ten minutes for you to find the perfect ribbon to wrap that box with; you're coming with me."

"Alright," she agrees reluctantly, her expression making it very clear that she considers this a Very Bad Idea.

But soon enough, the worst part is over.

Soon enough, the Doctor is explaining that these cookies are because she helps him out so much, and nodding politely as Vickie thanks him cheerfully and teases him about being one heck of a catch for some lucky girl – a doctor that can bake, after all!

Soon enough, Elli is finished smiling innocently and reminding Vickie that she promised her these cookies last season.

Soon enough, Vickie is giggling out a thank-you that sounds decidedly like she isn't getting enough oxygen, and is hurrying back into the house after instructing Elli to wait a minute.

However, it seems far too long before Vickie emerges from the house again, and Elli is beginning to wonder if maybe she's not getting enough oxygen either, because she's a bit short of breath all of a sudden, and Tim is laughing at her, silently and kindly, but she's still going to make a point to tease him about his girlfriend later on.

Finally, the door bursts open again, and a little blonde flurry is attacking the startled little nurse with a box wrapped up with a pretty purple ribbon, and it finally starts being soon enough again: soon enough until Elli and the Doctor are walking back towards the clinic again.

Soon enough until he suggests mildly that she look at her present.

Soon enough until she blinks in astonishment as she lifts a corner of the box, to be overwhelmed by the rich, sweet scent of chocolate.

Soon enough until Elli realizes that she's just been beaten in her own game.

But that's okay, because this isn't really her game; she has always been entirely straightforward and honest, even if the blonde likes to confuse people.

And anyway, Vickie makes some really, really good chocolate cookies.

Maybe, Elli thinks, nibbling thoughtfully on a cookie and offering one to the tall dark-haired man beside her, she can get Vickie to give her the recipe.

For next year.

End Notes: Hee! Because I was lying through my teeth when I said this was a one-shot. Cutesy flirting between two amazingly cute girls is just irresistible, somehow.