Gideon was beaming under the covers. Last night had enraptured her down to each caress. Her hair was mussy, the corners of her mouth had syrup residue, and her fingertips were dyed red violet. She sat up and observed the messy bedroom. The steel pan was notably missing. She brushed her hand on the empty space next to her. She took her new sweater off the bedpost and put it on; she heard the door opening. Gary wore his onyx hooded robe. His appearance unveiled a similar frame of mind to hers. He chirped, "Hi, I thought you're still asleep."
A welcoming smile crept on her face. "No, I've just gotten up." She saw him holding a trayful of breakfast and a cup of tea. He placed them on the bedstand. She surveyed the plate: scrambled eggs, two slices of toasted bread, & four bacon strips. "How are you feeling?"
"Marvelous." She methodically prepared the eggs and bacon on the toast, eating it as a sandwich. "And you?" She sipped on the hot tea.
He sat on the edge of the bed. "The same. Did I thank you for the pie?"
"You did, right before you recognized the gooseberries."
"That's the best part. I thought they're homegrown in Europe."
"On the contrary, gooseberries are native to America. Only 21.57% of the country excludes the production of them and Black currants in recent years." This new tidbit stimulated him. The smile on his face shortly vanished. "What's the matter?"
"I wish we could stay here a little longer." The rhapsody faded when those words sunk in. Gary collected his clothes off the floor and walked out. Gideon ate her breakfast and set the platter on the dresser after she was done. She grabbed a jade thermal shirt, a pair of taupe slacks, fresh underclothing, and her boots. The minutes she spent in the shower cleared her mind. The clothed woman exited the bathroom, having another mental to-do list outlined. She first peeled the sullied blankets off, which she bundled in her dirty clothes, and towed them into the laundry room. Next, she made up the bed with fresh linen from the closet. Then, she carried the platter into the kitchen. She spotted the tidy dining table along the way and deduced it as his feat. As she entered the kitchen, she saw him washing the load of unattended dishes. He sang at a low volume:
Gideon and Gary, having adventures, solving problems, and saving the world.
She halted at the threshold, dazed by the lyrics. "Did you improvise a theme song about us?"
He flinched before he spun around. "Yeah, it was, um... a long time ago." He had virtually repressed the short-lived jingle and his image of Gideon, which was developed in his subconscious from an electrical shock. Even so, their interactions seemed genuine. He felt conflicted reminiscing about her when he was dedicated to the extant original. She wouldn't remember the genesis of his ditty or their first mission, but she was the one he loved. He refocused his attention on the pot he was scrubbing. "Did you enjoy your breakfast?"
"I did, thank you." She laid the plate on the counter and dived into assisting him. She loaded every dish and utensil washed by him in the dishwasher. Once they were done, she gave him a dishcloth to dry his hands. His fingertips also sported a particular hue.
He looked at the snow through the window. "I wanted this to be the best anniversary for you. I didn't think it would snow in November, let alone a blizzard."
"This one is a rare occurrence." She acknowledged, "For what it's worth, I've enjoyed the majority of it." He glanced down at her. "We need to have a discussion." They went to the living room. The blaze in the fireplace reduced into smoldering embers. The coffee table was still pushed aside. They sat on the floor, facing one another. She averted his gaze, coping with additional doubt.
She was so deep in her introspection that she didn't see his curled index finger going under her chin and redirecting her eyes to him. He softly asked, "What is it?"
"Do you believe that things would've been better if we didn't ventilate the past?"
"Not necessarily. It was heavy at first. To be honest, some of the things that were said I wish I knew before." He noticed her twiddling her fingers voicelessly. She clearly had more to say. "What's else on your mind? You can tell me."
She had multiple variants of her answer. Choosing the right one was tricky. The pending stillness was beginning to distress him. She ultimately squeaked, "Us."
Gary sought a deeper context in her singular response. A while later, he realized it. "Oh." She watched his facial expression slowly turning rueful. "It was too soon to ask that question, was it? I didn't even consider if it's what you want."
She raised her hand, stopping him from rambling. He tilted his head. "I'd researched the subject of matrimony through film analysis and sample observations on Mr. Hall and Ms. Saunders, Dr. Palmer and Ms. Darhk, & the captains. It compensated for my absence. Overall, I found that the custom yields some arguments."
"Such as?"
"The benefits include companionship, the accumulation of security, a higher level of health, and creating a foundation for a family. The liabilities entail the shortening of a lifespan due to stress, dissatisfaction from a daily routine, unmet expectations, and curbed freedom as well as the possibility of a divorce." Listening to her inventory brought him back to Necria, which thrived on arranged marriages. An autonomous union in the war-worn planet was outlandish. His own betrothal to the bellicose Kayla wasn't successful. The sensitive local admired his ex-employer's prowess. She largely resembled the formidable warlord Kamaya, whose husband Kyle was her opposite. Their daughter conversely regarded her former groom-to-be as a mere subordinate. She was vexed by his perceived weakness. Other than incompatible differences, there was no affection and intimacy. Those qualities came into view when he started his ongoing life on Earth. He thoughtfully inquired, "Do you want to settle down at all?"
"Yes." He was contented by her answer until he noticed Gideon's pink lips quivering. There was something else she needed to tell him. Without providing an angle, she asked, "Do you seriously want to move out of the Waverider?"
The dark-haired man blinked doubly, unprepared. "Not immediately." He envisioned a life outside the timeship. In fact, he had the experience before he moved in. "I love my quarters, but I'd like to return living within the timeline." He believed it could be a viable expedition for her. The underlying danger of it was the consequences. "Don't you?"
She gave him a blank look. "I don't know." Flopping on the carpet, she stared at the vaulted ceiling. He rested next to her. His forehead bore a set of worry lines. "I have known the ship like the back of my hand. If I disavow it, then I terminate my obligations as a Time Master, which poses a severance to time travel. Most importantly, I might lose my only connection to the Legends."
He turned his head to see her stiff and motionless. Her hands were loosely gripping over her ribcage. "No, you won't. Your ties to the team run much deeper. Don't force yourself to do something you don't want to please anyone." He turned away, feeling edgy. "Do you believe me when I say things like that?"
"Of course, I do." The effusive woman regained the extraterrestrial's attention, giving his foreman a firm squeeze. She disclosed, "I need to know what we are getting ourselves into." His face quickly softened.
His other hand touched hers. Their fingertips tenderly grazed. "I know things can be messy and painful. It doesn't have to be, though. I'm not giving up on you. Hopefully, you aren't giving up on me." Gideon recalled her ventures and how she enjoyed most of the outcomes.
The artificial human had been habitually engrossed with checklists after getting the skill from Ava. It was an efficient diversion versus stressing herself. Then, she remembered something Astra and Spooner told her: "Not every big decision is made by yourself or on the spot." Comprehending her friends' words, she glimpsed her and Gary's intertwined fingers. The handhold prompted their palms to touch. He gawked at this before they made eye contact. She shared, "Out of the risks I've taken, loving you is one I don't ever regret." A soft smile emanated from her face.
He was emotionally stirred, and his brown eyes brimmed with tears. She observed them fall at a time. Moments later, he rose and went to the study room for "Parcheesi". She spotted the radio on the coffee table. Intent on listening to some music, she turned it on. A news report was posted instead. "Today's temperature is still chilly at 56 degrees, but we are pleased to report that the climate and visibility are now bearable. Wind speed is at a light breeze. Be warned that the roads are being cleared and may be slippery. If you are planning on executing outdoor labor, ensure a steady blood flow through physical movement, dress warm, and avoid overexertion." The brunette couldn't believe her ears. She shouted her boyfriend's name twice. He rushed in, holding the board game. He yelped, "What's wrong?"
She mellowed out before answering, "The reporter just confirmed it. We can go outdoors."
He went from confusion to mirth, nearly dropping the game. "How do you like that? Let's go." He headed for the front door until she stopped him.
"Don't you think you might need to wear warmer clothes?" She blatantly pointed at his current attire. Gary peeked down and, realizing his mistake, left to freshen up. She divertingly shook her head as she watched him go.