Catherine/Richard Season 12

"April! There you are dear, have you seen Jackson?"

"Uh, no sorry."

Catherine sighed. "You two have really got to get your act together."

"Catherine, respectfully, it's none of your business."

"Anything involving my son is my business."

April sighed.

"Anyway, since Jackson's avoiding me, I guess you're the next best thing. Here." Catherine handed her a bag.

"What's this for?"

"You know what it's for. Now, go on. I need the elevator at hmm... six? Make it happen."

xxx

"Uh, Jackson?"

"Richard? Something I can help you with?"

"Have you seen Catherine?"

"Nooo, I haven't. I'm... trying not to, actually."

"Hm, I know the feeling."

"Why? Are you fighting or something?"

"Not at all. You know, you should take a lesson from us. We fight, but we always make up."

"What are you up to?"

"Here," he handed him a slip of paper. "I have a liver transplant. It's gonna take me all day. I need you to make some arrangements for me. Remember, I need the elevator at six."

Jackson looked at the slip of paper. "Wait, what?"

"I trust you'll get it done. Remember, I know all your hiding spots."

xxx

Catherine saw April's nod across the hall, and nodded back as she made her way to the elevator. She stopped, and reached to press the button. But a hand stopped her. "Excuse me?" she exclaimed, pulling back from the button.

"Uh..." the nervous blonde intern said, "That's not your elevator..."

"Not my elevator?"

"I believe... um... you want that elevator?"

"Oh, I do, do I? Is that the one April assigned?"

"Umm... April?"

"Ugh, you are ridiculous. Get out of my way!" She pushed past him and pressed the button for the elevator she wanted.

The door dinged, and slid open. Catherine stepped forward, squaring her shoulders regally as she prepared to enter.

"Jackson! I can't believe you!" April ranted. "Why can't we just talk, like civilized beings!"

"We have been talking! For weeks! But we keep going in circles!" Jackson shouted back.

Catherine rolled her eyes at her son and daughter-in-law fighting under the mistletoe April no doubt had placed for her benefit.

But... it was a lost cause already.

She stepped into the other elevator. Too bad. She actually wanted to surprise Richard with something romantic. She almost couldn't believe her self, was she really this person now? But Richard... he was the romantic.

Catherine had always been careful with other suitors. After her husband left all those years ago, she'd vowed to never let another man get close.

Unless he was worthy.

And Richard... he'd proven that. He was almost as stubborn and ambitious as she. But he knew his place, too. He wasn't above her, or trying to be above her.

But it wasn't just that.

He was loyal. He never gave up on her, despite their spats. He wasn't afraid to fight for his beliefs, even if it ruined them at the same time.

It made her respect him even more.

Today, she'd wanted to do this little thing... A stupid romantic thing, but she should've known better.

Catherine Avery was not a romantic.

The elevator door slid open at the bottom floor, and she sighed.

"There you are," Richard's smokey baritone caused her to lift her head.

"Richard..."

"You just had to do it, didn't you?"

"Do what?" she asked.

"Meddle," he said.

"Meddle?"

Richard blinked at her wide-eyed, "The fight in the elevator beside us?"

"Oh that," she waved a hand. "That... I didn't... I just wanted to..."

"Wanted to what?" He asked, stepping closer to her.

"I wanted..." she breathed. But he towered over her. Catherine admitted to herself that her collection of heels had increased since she married this man. But she still was forced to look up at him.

"You were going to do it, weren't you? I know. Cross told me."

"It's pathetic," Catherine said. "You and I both know, I am not the romantic one in this relationship. But I... just wanted to see you smile."

"Mmhmm," Richard said.

"Richard."

He pressed the button for the elevator to climb, and then hit the emergency stop. The crook of his finger rested under her chin as he stared deeply into her.

"Catherine," he said. "Close your eyes."

She obeyed. Anticipating his lips on hers, the soft caress of his hands on her cheeks, the gentle press...

But...

She heard a click and a whirrr. She felt a cool breeze, and something touched her, like rain, but not rain. She shook her head, and looked up.

Mistletoe.

Mistletoe, yes... but... also, purple and green and red glitter. And rose petals. There was a hole in the elevator vent where a small portable fan gently blew everything around them.

"Richard!"

"Oh yes," he smiled. "I'm the romantic in the family. Don't you ever forget that."

"No, never, Richard."

"Kiss me," he said.

And she did, tilting up under him to press against his smooth lips.

His whiskers brushed and tickled the outskirts of her mouth, tingling right down to her toes. Catherine reached for his head, angling him closer as they pressed their bodies closer.

Yes. He was the romantic one...

Because, love, Powerful Love, the love of Legends... what was that without Romance?

She was Catherine Avery... mover and shaker. Torchbearer. The figure head and the head of a multimillion dollar foundation that saved countless lives every year...

But she was also In Love.

He was Richard Webber. Her support. Her mantle. Chief. The Chief of Romance. And he was the only one who could make her feel powerful and powerless at the same time.

And that's what love was, wasn't it? Having it all... at the risk of losing it all.

She wrapped her arms around his body tighter as he drew her in, and lavished her under sparkles and rose petals... and of course...

Mistletoe.

AN: Happy Thanksgiving! Look Me up on Twitter at unnamedfanwritr for more Grey's Stuff.