Author's note -

Story inspired by a beautiful song -

"It feels like nothing matters
In our private universe
And it's a pleasure that I have known
And it's a treasure that I have gained…

It's a tight squeeze but I won't let go
Love is on the table and the dinner's cold"

Private universe

A flurry of snow has just become more serious when Tom headed home from work after a crazy day running all over town for a story. He pulled his coat collar more tightly around his neck and starting walking through the Dublin evening - Wish I had brought my thicker scarf.

He finally rounded the corner of their street after twenty minutes' hard slog against the freezing wind, feeling the slush pour into his shoes with every step. He looked up and saw a light ahead – a light in their window – and felt a surge of strength propel him the last few steps to their front door…

Sybil was exhausted after a long day at the hospital as she got onto the crowded bus. Her pregnancy was clearly showing now, but no-one got up to offer her a seat and she had to do her best to balance herself as the bus lurched its way through the evening traffic.

What can I make for our dinner tonight? She still wasn't very confident in the kitchen, but she always liked to try and make them both something hot to eat if she got home first.

Once she got to their flat, she managed to burn a saucepan making the mashed potatoes but she finally had something ready. She closed her eyes and felt the baby kick – she needed to sit down, just for a minute…

Tom shoved his way through the door and threw his overcoat over a chair. He looked around for Sybil and found her asleep on the couch, with the dinner made and ready to dish up. His heart nearly burst with love, looking at her and knowing she was his. At moments like this, after close to a year of marriage, he could really appreciate the treasure he had gained in his life with her and the fact that she had made dinner for them when she was so tired herself made him feel like the luckiest man in Dublin that night. He walked over to her and leaned down to touch her face –

"Sybil, love?"

She jolted out of sleep and smiled to see him. She reached out to put her arms around his neck and pulled him down to her for a loving kiss. Somehow, as often happened with them, the kiss became something more quite quickly and he found himself rolling down onto the couch with her as he nuzzled into her neck and heard her sigh with pleasure as the day fell away from both of them. She began pulling at the buttons on his shirt, and as she looked into his blue eyes she saw the same desire she felt. They both knew what was coming … and they forgot all about the dinner.

A/N -

Song credit - "Private Universe" by the wonderful NZ band Crowded House. Check the song out on youtube.