Addek bliss. Derek noticing Addison's freckles for the first time, and they're living together. . . .

Infinity

She has never liked them. Numerous tiny dots of light brown covering her skin. Her father had always told her that they make her look cute. Her mother had only lamented what she thought to be a long-gone gene coming back to life. They're Irish descent after all. It is hard enough to be taken serious as a woman without being seen as one of a fragile nature.

For most women, make up is a case of vanity, or social convention, but for Addison, it is a part of her armour, hiding the feature that undermines her seriousness. The only time she had allowed herself to lower that guard was in privacy of her own home, where she would be alone.

But she is no longer alone. She knew certain compromises would need to be made. Derek, however, has taken to the concept of them sharing a living space with an enthusiasm she has not seen on him before. However, she is still unsure what to make of it.

Is she as enthusiastic as he is?

She's happy, though. Yeah. Maybe a little drop of terror in there as well. But he's the first boy she's ever truly loved, first boy she's ever going to move in with, and hopefully, the last.

Now she sits at her vanity of their West Village apartment, looking at her own reflection. A selection of jars and bottles is presented in front of her, only the most exclusive brands. She would only have the best for herself, as she told him before, and that she breaks out easily.

Addison picks up a cleaning pad; she starts with her eyelids before moving to her cheeks. With each stroke, more cinnamon freckles come to light. Upon finishing, she gives herself a critical look. She feels like a little girl again, playing with her mother's make-up and pretending to be a grown-up.

Only then she notices Derek, standing in the doorway, looking at her intensely. She is used to his piercing gaze, but this one is different and she feels uneasy, suddenly naked before his eyes. Still she matches his stare, as she always did.

"Derek, you're staring," she keeps her tone controlled.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he averts his gaze and Addison suddenly feels reassured.

He appears shy, like a young boy caught looking at something forbidden. Perhaps that is what they both are — two children playing house for the first time. Except neither of them are playing. This is happening, they're living together, they're sharing a home, an address, Addison thinks as the gleam of the earrings he had bought her for her birthday reflects in the mirror. She finishes her beauty routine by applying moisturizer and gets up from her seat.

Derek keeps his distance and only approaches her when she sets to leave. They stand in front of each other silently; she is without her armour, him without his and in the cutest pyjamas.

He extends his hand, but stops mid-air.

"May I?" he asks softly, yet his eyes leave a burning sensation on her skin.

Her heart is rushing in her ears, she does not know what to expect, as the words escape her lips as she nods. "Okay," her voice almost as timid as his.

His fingers move to her cheek and begin to gently stroke her skin, tracing the lines of her freckles, unfolding the map of infinity. No one has ever touched her this way; his feather-like brush travels slowly across her cheek.

"So beautiful," he says as his hand moves to the other cheek. Heat rises to her skin and she cannot control the blush appearing on her face, only making the freckles more prominent. "How I've never noticed them is beyond me."

That was what she wanted, she thinks to herself. She've hid them well, it means.

A smile pulls at Derek's lips and he leans forward, his lips replacing his fingers, softly kissing her cheeks, cherishing every spot. Addison sighs and closes her eyes, surrendering to the caress. She no longer feels like a little girl, but like a goddess worshipped. More heat rises deep in her core and she welcomes it.

"I think this one is my favourite."

Much later, they linger in bed. She lays on her stomach and Derek's fingers dance on her back, unable to refrain himself from touching her. With all the seriousness of a seasoned explorer, he finds a freckle between her shoulder blades and traces it with his finger, before sealing the discovery with his lips.

But once a new land is traversed and all its resources claimed, it becomes discarded. Addison tenses up at the thought.

"Am I a territory to be claimed?" she turns to face him.

"No," he looks at her with all sincerity, "You are a paradise to be treasured."

Derek kisses her lips and Addison blushes once more. But this time, she does not care to hide it.

Just a little Addek domestic bliss because there must have been some happy moments in their years together. Thank you for reading.