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

"Can we leave?"

"Lucien, we've been here maybe twenty minutes."

"I know. It's just…" he groaned.

"What?"

"Do you really need something new? I think -"

Her glare stopped his train of thought.

"Need I remind you that I'm buying this dress for the Victoria Police Gala? Not because I want something frivolous for myself…"

"I know. You're right," Lucien lamented. "Here," he reached for a dress on the rack next to them. "Try this. You always look beautiful in blue."

She snatched the powder blue material from him and headed for the dressing room area. Lucien watched and sighed as she disappeared around the corner.

—

"Jean, darling?" Lucien called when she hadn't come out fifteen minutes later.

"In the middle room," she responded flatly.

He knocked lightly at the door before it opened. He saw her selection of dresses hanging neatly on the hooks and Jean standing there, silently finishing up the buttons of the blouse she chose that morning.

"No luck?"

"No," she answered shortly, looking down. "Shall we then?" she walked past him, thanking the dressing room attendant as she did.

He caught up to her. "Home, then?"

"Yes. You're right. I can just wear something I have."

"If you're sure," he placed his hand at her waist as he opened the store door for them.

"Well, don't sound too relieved," she rolled her eyes and walked ahead to the car. Lucien watched, perplexed, as she settled in the passenger seat before he caught up and got in the driver side.

Before he put the keys in the ignition, he paused and turned to her. "Please, Jean. If you want to try somewhere else, I don't mind going. It's not my favourite way to spend the afternoon, that's true, but just say the word."

"No. No, I'm tired of shopping too."

Lucien put the car in drive and Jean turned to her left, her gaze fixed out the window.

"We can look again if you want tomorrow. If not, how about your green silk dress? I do like that one," he offered as they pulled onto the road.

"Right. I could…" she agreed through a sigh.

At the stop light, he drummed his fingers against the wheel, compensating for their stilted conversation. He looked over to her. She looked irritated and while he knew he wasn't the best shopping companion, he didn't think he'd been insufferable. Far from it, in fact.

He moved his hand from the gear stick to pat above her knee. She stiffened before placing her other hand on top of his, pressing back before he pulled it away at the green light.

"Lucien?" she asked when he geared into third.

"Hmm?"

"Why didn't you come back to see what I was trying on?" she asked.

"What? I don't know. I guess I thought I'd see what you liked best when you dressed in them at home."

"Oh. I see. Well, yes, that's just as well," her voice broke off and burned in her throat so she swallowed, hoping he didn't notice her uneven words.

He did.

The car slowed down before he braked on the side of the road and turned off the engine. "Jean," he tried. His hand was back on her knee. "What is it?"

"It's nothing. I'm fine, Lucien."

"Did you want me to see them? I didn't know."

"No, no. Really. Let's just go. Please."

"Tomorrow we'll find a dress you like."

"I don't think so."

"I may regret saying it but there are plenty of other stores. You'll find something."

"It's not about the dresses. It's me."

"What?"

"I won't find anything. I really liked the dresses back there but nothing looks good on me. Nothing new or trendy will suit me. I'll wear what I have. Simple as that."

"Jean…" he sighed. He knew he had to pick his words carefully. "You'll find something you look incredible in. I don't believe for a minute that will be difficult."

She shrugged. "It doesn't matter, Lucien. I need to accept it," she carried on. "I'm not exactly the intended shopper of those more fashionable stores. I am…getting along in years," she paused. "And looking at myself in that dressing room mirror made that all the more obvious," she grimaced. "It's alright, Lucien," her voice softened. "I didn't mean to be short with you."

He gripped her hand tightly. "My God, Jean. You are so beautiful," he hushed an unwavering claim with a harsh ardor that swayed her. She choked and wiped away an unwelcome tear.

"I'm sorry. It's silly, really."

"No," he said simply. "It isn't."

He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. "I don't want you to feel like this. It isn't true. It will never be true."

She craned her neck to see him giving her a small smile that matched his pleading eyes. Reassurance swam in the blues of his eyes, making them look glassy. A subtle but disbelieving shake of his head and his knuckles stroking across her velvet cheek warmed her.

"Well I am getting older. We can't deny that," her light-headedness disguised insecurities he knew still loomed, holding her back from understanding how he saw her.

"We both are but you know something? I'm glad I get to grow old with you," he kissed the back of her left hand.

"I had already grown old when we met," she pointed out.

"Be as determined as you like to convince me otherwise but you, my dear, have emanated beauty - in every possible way - since the day we met. It has in no way diminished. If anything, the opposite is true."

"Lucien…"

"I mean it," he insisted.

"Hmm. Maybe it's because I met you."

"I can't take the credit."

Her eyebrows rose to challenge him.

"Well, not all of it," he chuckled.

She sighed and leaned her head against the headrest. "Definitely a lot."

"Good," he leaned toward her and kissed the corner of her mouth. She held his head there, placing a lingering kiss to his hair. "It's an easy task," he assured at her neck. She exhaled contentedly and let him go. He started the car again.

"Jean?" he began as he pulled back onto the road.

"Hmm?"

"Just for clarification purposes, you'll never have to question my willingness to be nearby when you're changing your clothes."

A coy smirk lit up her features. "Oh. Let's hurry home then, hmm? I may have some options in my closet."

He accelerated and the car sped up, demanding he shift gears once again. "Ooh, that you do," an appreciative drawl rumbled from his chest.

"And I'll need your honest thoughts," she continued with an evoking tease.

"That will not be a problem. Except to say, I may have to suppress my more enthusiastic opinions."

"You have always been prone to speaking before you think…"

"Is that a bad quality?"

She shook her head. "I don't think so."

"I like to follow my impulses," he conceded.

"I know. I accepted that a long time ago. And, I encourage them," she informed him as they turned right onto their road.

"Very good to know," he chuckled.