I've been painting a lot of walls recently and I cannot deny that I wish this scene could play out in my own life. Guess I'll just live vicariously through these two!

Enjoy!

"Remind me again how you convinced me to re-paint this library?" Elizabeth asked, letting out an exhausted breath as she let her arm fall to her side.

Laughter rumbled in Lucas' chest. "If I remember correctly, you're the one who convinced me to re-paint this library."

Elizabeth's mouth quirked to the side, her eyebrow raising slightly, the way he knew it did when she was unimpressed with his antics, even if this time he was entirely correct. They'd been painting for what felt like an eternity in an attempt to freshen up the library. It had taken a few days to empty out all the books and move them to the schoolhouse for temporary storage, so the room was as empty as the day he'd first given her the key. Granted, the floor was now covered in tarps and a significant amount of paint, but the couple had never claimed to be masters at renovation.

With a playful look in his eyes, Lucas crossed the room to stand next to the small step stool she was perched on.

"What are you up to?" Elizabeth asked, looking down at him, an unfamiliar vantage point for her considering his height. The step stool, however, put her a few inches above him.

"Oh nothing, just coming to see how this wall is going." Lucas feigned an inspection of the wall before turning back to her, "I think it could use some more work."

Elizabeth crossed her arms, careful to not let her paintbrush get in the way. "And how's your wall going?"

"Perfectly" Lucas returned, puffing out his chest and closing his eyes, a proud look on his face. "I'd venture to guess I'll even finish before you." When he reopened his eyes, he found that Elizabeth was no longer on her step stool.

"Are you sure about that?" she asked from behind him, causing Lucas to whip around in her direction just in time to see her run her paintbrush, coated in a different color paint, along a swatch of the wall he'd been working on. Her lips were turned up in a sly smile, and he could see the mischief in her eyes.

"You didn't."

She shrugged her shoulders. "It seems your wall might take you longer than you thought."

Before Elizabeth knew what was happening, Lucas had crossed the room to stand next to her, his paintbrush coming up to paint the tip of her nose. Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. "You didn't."

"It sure seems like I did" he replied, his own smile only growing.

Elizabeth was quick to retaliate, painting the sleeve of his shirt before her gaze met his in a challenge. He painted her shoulder, and she painted his cheek, the two of them engaging in a lighthearted battle. When he tried to go for her forehead, she dodged his aim and ran to the other side of the table that remained in the center of the room.

"Come back here" he laughed, following her one way around the table only for her to continue to move away. They went back and forth a few times before he finally caught her. His brush fell to the floor as he wrapped his arms around her from behind, stopping her from getting any further away. She fought playfully against him for a moment, but quickly gave in, turning in his arms.

Both their chests were heaving by the time she looked up at him, breath mingling as they leaned in closer simultaneously. Their lips were just a breath apart when Elizabeth stopped, inhaling suddenly. "Lucas."

"Elizabeth" he returned, his voice a low rumble.

"I think you missed a spot."

Lucas looked confused, but only for the split second it took for Elizabeth to bring her paintbrush up to his face once more, painting the tip of his own nose before diving into another fit of giggles. He laughed with her, arms tightening around her before he leaned in to kiss her, a smile wide on both of their faces. He bent her back slightly, leaning over her as he deepened the kiss, causing her paintbrush to finally join his on the floor as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

When they pulled apart, they stayed close, and as their eyes finally met they laughed lightly, foreheads dipping back to rest against each other.

"At this rate we'll never get this library re-painted" Elizabeth whispered, leaning into his embrace a bit further.

Lucas leaned in to kiss her once more before responding. "I don't know about you, but I wouldn't complain if it took an extra day or two."

"Is that so?" she questioned. "Why?"

"Because, my love, it means I get to spend more time with you."