Fred whistled to himself as he placed the bowl of chips on the table, next to a deck of cards and a stack of movies. As he bent over to pick up a stray sock, his shoulder muscles constricted painfully and he winced.
"Stupid quarter back." He mumbled trying to stretch out the sore muscles.
Last night's game had been a hard one and they had barely managed to win by a mere three points. The quarter back must have had it in for Fred, because he seemed determined to break him in two last night.
The doorbell rang and Fred raced to open it with a large smile on his face. The coach's back to back practices in preparation for the game had prevented him from seeing Fina and she had been busy helping San-Li take care of Alex and preparing for the baby. So this weekend they were finally going to get some quality time together. A nice fun and romantic weekend for the two of them.
"Fred!" Fina cried out happily when he opened the door. She was wearing Joe's backpack filled with clothes for their sleepover and had a bag of groceries in her arms for the dinner she was going to make him.
"Hey Fina." Fred gave her a quick kiss. "Come on in."
Fina practically skipped inside, her curls bouncing playfully. "You did awesome in the game last night by the way. How was the after celebration?"
"It was alright." Fred shrugged slipping the back pack off her shoulders. "Kinda sucks that the team wanted it be a guys only thing. I really missed you."
"I missed you too." Fina smiled up at him sweetly.
Fred felt his heart practically melt in his chest and his smile widened. "Come on, let's put those groceries away so we can get more comfortable in the living room."
Fina nodded eagerly and he led her into the kitchen. He watched her put the groceries away and openly checked her out. She was starting to wear shorter and more casual skirts and her legs looked amazing. Her hair was always out now in the form of shoulder length, loose, bouncy curls and she even wore light touches of make up like simple eye shadow. Fina may not have been glamorous like Joleena or edgy like San-Li, but there was a simplistic prettiness about her that Fred loved.
"So," she said putting the last item away. "what are we going to do today?"
"I was thinking I'd teach you how to build a house of cards." Fred said wrapping an arm around her waist. "Then we could watch some movies and talk and stuff."
They went into the living room and Fred shuffled through the cards while Fina moved the stuff off the table to give him room. He showed her how to build a simple triangular base and build off of that. He laughed as the cards fell the first few times and she stuck her tongue out in concentration. But her gentle and delicate hands were finally able to make the cards stand up.
"I did it!" Fina cried out clapping and caused the cards to fall.
Fred burst out laughing and she pouted at him in mock annoyance.
"You are so adorable." Fred said kissing her on the nose.
"Oh whatever," she giggled, pushing him playfully. "This is a lot harder than you make it look."
"It'd be easier if you weren't so clumsy." Fred laughed and pushed her back.
"I'm not clumsy!"
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are- AH!"
Fina transformed into a lioness and tackled him playfully pinning him to the floor. She licked his face before transforming back into a human and pinned his arms above his head. She smiled down at him triumphantly, her beautiful golden hair framing her face.
"I love you so much." Fred laughed. "But you're crazy if you think you're strong enough to keep me pinned down like this."
"Oh, is that so?" Fina smiled. "We'll see about that."
Wearing a slightly seductive smile that made his heart skip a beat, Fina slowly leaned down and pressed her lips to his. Fred groaned and eagerly kissed her back. As many times as he fantasied about kissing her beautiful pink lips when they were just friends, it felt amazing to be able to kiss her whenever he wanted.
Fred smiled and gently flipped them over so that he was on top. Fina giggled as he moved his lips down the column of her neck and he tickled her waist. He nipped at her collarbone and she let out a soft sigh. His hand went to her exposed midriff and gently caressed her hip.
Suddenly the front door opened and the heavy sound of footsteps sounded in the front hall.
"Hey little bro, I'm home!" Mike called out and walked directly into the living room.
Mike's eyes widened in surprise when he saw them and he grinned devilishly. Fina squeaked in surprise and Fred scrabbled off her feeling his entire face heat up with embarrassment. Fina hurried straightened her skirt and blouse, her cheeks tinged pink.
"Well, well, look's like my little brother's been busy while I was away at college." He said smirking down at them. "But don't you think she's a little young for you?"
"Shut up, Mike." Fred grumbled. "Fina, this is my older brother Mike."
Fina stood and held out her hand. "Hi, Mike it's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." Mike shook her hand and looked her up and down slowly. "You may be young, but you are awfully cute. Just make sure you two don't go too far or else he'll get charged with-"
"She's eighteen Mike, she just looks young." Fred impatiently pulled Fina's hand out of his brother's and pulled her close to his side.
"Whatever you say little bro." Mike shrugged and walked away. "Imma head in the shower. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone kids."
Once Mike was out the room Fred groaned and flopped into the couch. There couldn't have been a worst time for Mike to visit home. He was always so embarrassing and bullied Fred to no end.
"Um, Fred?" Fina sat down next to him and touched his arm. "Should I leave?"
"No!" Fred whined and wrapped his arms around her tightly, burying in his face in the crook of her neck. "Please don't leave me alone with him! I'll die without you!"
Fina giggled and patted his head. "Okay, I'll stay. But your brother doesn't seem that bad."
"You have no idea." Fred smiled and breathed in the scent of her skin. "You smell so sweet."
He then winced as he shoulder muscles constricted and he let out a soft hiss of pain. When Fina asked what was wrong he told her about the quarter back from the game last night.
"Yeah, I saw that." Fina tentatively laid a hand on his back. "Would you like me to give you a massage?"
"Absolutely." He grinned.
Fina smiled and moved behind him on the couch. He peeled off his shirt and she gave the tiniest sharp intake of breath. The corners of Fred's mouth turned up in a slightly smug smile. He loved how he could always put Fina on edge just by being shirtless. Her face would flush pink and she would pretend not to be affected.
"Something wrong babe?" He smiled at her over his shoulder.
Fina rolled her eyes playfully and began kneading his tight muscles. Fred moaned and felt himself turn to jelly. Her hands were pure magic. Soft, gentle magic that seemed to heal even without her powers. The tension in his shoulders disappeared and his heart felt incredibly light.
"I love you so much." He groaned happily.
"I love you too." Fina leaned forward and gently kissed his shoulder.
Fred turned and pulled Fina into his lap. He leaned forward to kiss her and felt her breath fan across his lips and-
"Wow, I haven't been gone an hour and you two are back at it again." Mike laughed walking into the living room again.
Fred jumped and nearly tossed Fina off of his lap. "Danggit Mike!"
"Chill little brother, I'm just messing with you." Mike laughed.
He was now shirtless wearing only sweat pants and was rubbing a towel through his damp, dark blonde hair. Fina went wide eyed and a light blush spread across her cheeks. She looked away quickly , but Fred already felt his temper rising.
"Mike for goodness sake, can you put a shirt on please? My girlfriend is sitting right here you know!" He said angrily.
Mike snickered and sat down next to Fina. "What's the matter Fred? Scared I'll steal her from you?"
"Mike! I swear I'll-"
"Fred, calm down." Fina said softly putting a hand on his arm.
"Yeah, little brother, or have you forgotten who used to kick your butt when we were kids?"
"Who wants something to eat?" Fina said brightly, trying to push them apart. "I'll be happy to make you both lunch."
"Lunch sounds good, doll face." Mike winked at her.
"Doll face!?" Fred exploded jumping up.
"Will both of you just stop it!?" Fina yelled jumping up as well. "You're both grown adults, act like it!"
Fred and Mike glared at each other a moment longer before the tension eased and Fred sat down again. Fina stood up with a sigh of relief and went into the kitchen to make lunch. Fred sat fuming while Mike sat chuckling.
"What?" He mumbled raising an eyebrow.
"You can't tell me that she doesn't remind you of mom." Mike chuckled. "She used to yell at us all the time for fighting then tried to shove food down our throats so we'd be quiet."
The corner of Fred's mouth turned up in a small smile. "Geez Mike, I don't want to think of mom and Fina at the same time."
"Oh so you are trying to hit that?" He snickered.
"Ugh, Mike!" Fred's face flamed. "Fina means a lot more to me than that!"
"What do I mean to you?" Fina came back into the living carrying two plates of chips and sandwiches.
"You know." Fred mumbled still blushed. "Iloveyou."
"What was that?" Mike said with his mouth full. "We couldn't quite hear you."
"I said Iloveher." Fred mumbled.
"What was that?" Mike chuckled. "Did you say the "L" word little brother?"
"Oh, Mike don't tease him." Fina giggled sitting next to Fred. "So what movie would you guys like to watch?"
Fina gasped and clung to Fred as the alien speared the man through the stomach and pulled out his heart. Fred tightened his grip on her and kissed her temple.
"You alright?" He whispered.
Fina nodded but looked pale. Fred sighed and rubbed her shoulder soothingly. Alien Demons II was definitely not his choice of movie for Fina to watch. He was supposed to gradually introduce her into scary movies, not show her one of the most violent and graphic alien movies out right now. But Mike wanted to watch it and when it came to control of the TV Fred always lost.
The movie finally ended and Mike was snoring on the arm chair next to the couch.
"Would you like me to fix dinner now?" Fina whispered.
"Sure. I'll help you." Fred smiled and pulled her to her feet.
They chatted quietly in the kitchen while they fixed one of Fred's favorite non pizza dishes, chicken enchiladas. He didn't like to admit it to the guys, but he loved cooking with Fina. They always had fun together in the kitchen and he was even learning some of her tricks to making amazing food.
Once the pan was heated up Fina placed a slab of chicken on the cutting board and reached for the knife. Fred shook his head with a slight chuckle and took the knife himself.
Fina sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fred, I'm perfectly capable of cutting chicken myself."
"I know." He smiled. "But without your healing powers you might hurt yourself."
"I've worked with a knife before. I can handle it."
"But now that you have me, you don't need to." Fred started cutting. "Besides, I want to practice so I can start cooking for you one day."
"Why would you do that? You know I don't mind cooking for you."
Fred leaned close to her and brushed his lips against her ear. "Because I want to be a good husband for you."
Fina giggled and smiled up at him. "Don't you think we're a little young to think about marriage? You're not even in college yet."
"So?" Fred shrugged. "People get married in college all the time. I already know I want to be with you forever, so what's the point in waiting?"
Fina blushed and turned away with an even bigger smile on her face. Fred meant every word that he said. He always thought it was stupid how people waited ten years to get married when they fell in love in high school or college. When Fred wanted something he went for it, no questions asked.
They put the finishing touches on the enchiladas and despite Fred's protests Fina fixed a plate for Mike as well. The three of them sat at the table in awkward silence while Mike wolfed down his food like a starving animal.
"So Mike," Fina said. "What are you majoring in?"
"Communications." Mike said with his mouth full. "I got a wresting scholarship."
Crumbs sprayed across the table and Fred cringed in disgust.
"That's so gross Mike." He mumbled with his own mouth full. "Close your mouth while you eat, dude."
"You're doing the same thing dickwad."
Fina giggled and they both looked at her in confusion. "What?"
"You guys are definitely brothers." She laughed. "You act just alike."
"Yeah, my little brother used to look up to me all the time." Mike laughed wrapping an arm around Fred's neck. "He takes after me you know."
"I do not." Fred couldn't help but chuckle. "Why do you think I have such a hot girlfriend and you don't?"
"Because that's how I trained you, little bro." Mike laughed giving him a nuggie.
Fina smiled and cleared the empty dishes. "You boys are hilarious."
A few movies later Fred and Fina were in bed trying to go to sleep, but Mike was in the room next to Fred's and he had his video games on high volume. Fina was lying on Fred's chest in her cat form while Fred stroked her fur.
"I'm really sorry about my brother." Fred mumbled. "I thought that we were finally going to be alone this weekend."
Fina blinked slowly and crawled up to lick his nose. Fred smiled and playfully tugged on her ear.
"You know, you don't have to be in your cat form," He whispered suggestively. "You're my girlfriend which means we can be in the same bed together."
Fina gave another slow blink and transformed back into a human, wearing nothing but a sleep shirt. She gave him a shy smiled and he pulled her close to him. Fred peppered her face with little kisses.
"I love you." He whispered moving to her lips.
There was a loud explosion and Mike yelled out in victory. Fred rolled his eyes and heaved a sigh of annoyance. Fina giggled and pecked him on the lips.
"I love you too, Fred. And your family."