- Posting some drabbles from Tumblr - to keep them in one place...

"There she is," he greeted as he walked into their bedroom on that particular Thursday morning in January. Jean was curled up on the couch concentrated on her knitting.

"Here I am," she gave a small smile in return.

She felt his hands at her shoulders behind her, applying pressure as he droned, "That looks marvelous, Jean," he ran a hand ran from her shoulder down to her knitting, taking it out of her grasp.

"Lucien!" she objected.

He ignored her protests, placing the yarn and needles on the table. "It was demanding your attention."

"Hmm, and aren't you?"

He chuckled, "quite," before kissing the top of her head. He made his way around to her and placed his hands at the back of the couch at either side of her shoulders. "I need your full attention to wish you the happiest of birthdays."

"Oh," she exhaled. "Yes. Thank you," she let her lips brush his cheek.

"And to celebrate this fine day, I'm taking you out to Ballarat's finest restaurant. Or anywhere my lovely wife would like to dine."

"Really, Lucien. There's no need."

"No need?" he questioned and grazed her lips against hers. "There's every need. It's a very important day, your birth. Worthy of endless celebration in my estimation."

"If you say so. Just…surprise me with where we go," he felt her pull back and reach behind them to reach for her knitting.

"Jean?" he grabbed her wrist. "Do you not want to go out? That's alright too."

"No. Yes. I do," she managed. "I'm just not thrilled to celebrate this particular birthday," her eyebrow arched at him in a threatening manner.

"Oh, don't say that!" he exclaimed. "I faced it myself too almost four years ago. The best years of my life have been in my fifties," he kissed her temple.

"I suppose."

"Mmm, don't just 'suppose' it. It's a definite, my dear. And that is because of you. My only regret is that we didn't get to celebrate more of our birthdays together."

Her cheeks bunched up in response and Lucien kissed her tightened skin. "I mean it, Jean. I wished for you for so long and now every day I'm pleasantly confounded by the fact I have you. So you best believe I want to give you a grand birthday celebration."

"Well, I don't want to deny you that…" she considered, craning her neck to meet his eyes. "What else do you have planned?"

"Oh, you definitely will get at least fifty birthday kisses," he settled his lips on hers, tickling her lips with his tongue, until she giggled and deepened their kiss.

"Mmm, that's one," she smirked and pulled him down by his collar onto the couch.

"Yes," he kissed her once more, briefly. "You'll get the rest," he informed her. He stood off the couch. "Later. For now, I have some planning to do."

"No. Get back here. It's my birthday and I'll get what I want."

"But, you haven't told me what you want. You've barely acknowledged this day, in fact" he smirked.

"Lucien," she warned and hooked her foot around his ankle, making him topple back down onto the couch.

"Oh," he steadied himself beside her. "That move has earned you fifty birthday spanks, I'm afraid."

Her stomach flipped. "Hmmm, as long as they're accompanied by the kisses you owe me."

His voice deepened. "That can be arranged. Now, are you going to let me go make the other arrangements?"

"You're a terrible liar, Lucien. I heard you making reservations last week. Now be true to your word and kiss me."

"Whatever you wish. Happy birthday, my gorgeous," and with that his lips were back on hers to fulfill the many kisses he promised.