Missy stared down at her ringing phone, a small frown appearing on her face.

It was Wade.

Wade, goddamn, Wilson.

He always managed to call just when she really didn't want him to.

It was 6pm and Missy was standing in her kitchen. She still had her work clothes on, not even having had the time to change yet.

Lifting up the cell, she held it to her ear.

"What is it Wade?" she asked with a huff, as she scrolled through a recipe on her ipad.

"Hey babe, I'll be over in ten," uttered the merc, she knew so well, in a playful tone. "You realise Ghosbusters is on TV at eight tonight? Wanna be the Spengler to my Venkman?"

Missy pouted. "No, I can't tonight?" she uttered, her eyes scanning through the recipe list.

"Why? Is David there?" asked Wade quickly.

Missy felt herself turn the slightest shade of pink.

"No…" she answred in a quiet tone. Her heart plummeting into her stomach. "H-He's just gone out for a drink with a couple of friends. He'll be back later. I'm just making dinner."

Last night had made it the fifth night in a row that David had been …working late.

He ensured her he was totally swamped in the office, and hadn't been able to get away.

But tonight he promised her it would be different. He would be home by seven-thirty and they could spent the entire evening cuddled up on the couch together, just like they used to.

"Want some help?" asked Wade brightly. "You know, I make a mean pop tart!"

Missy smirked. "You don't even make them, Wade…" she said shaking her head. "You just heat them up."

But Wade wasn't listening.

"I'll see you in ten," he uttered easily.

And before Missy had the chance to protest, the merc had hung up the phone.

Missy let out a small growl, tossing her cell phone down onto the counter.

Wade Wilson messing up her night was the last thing she needed.


True to his word, ten minutes later, Missy heard a tuneful knock upon her apartment door. She tore it open to find the six-foot-two merc standing there, arms folded, a wide grin across his handsomely-rugged face.

"Hey hot stuff," he said in a cheery tone, looking her up and down. "Well don't you look good enough to eat?"

Right now Missy looked a little flustered to say the least.

She wasn't a natural cook and the pressure of making a nice meal for her absent boyfriend was all too much for her.

Leaning forwards, Wade suddenly ran a finger down her nose, catching a small amount of flour that lingered there.

Missy instantly reddened and headed inside once more.

The merc followed her closely as she strutted into the kitchen, still in her skyscraper high-heels.

Leaning over a pan, she gave it a quick stir.

"So…. what are you making for me?" Wade asked goadingly, as she felt his hands suddenly slip around her waist and his head come to rest on her shoulder from behind.

"Chicken and mushroom casserole," she said, ignoring at least half of his comment and biting her lip. "But I think this sauce looks too thick… do you think?"

"No," said Wade letting go of her and taking a step back as Missy moved over to a small casserole dish on her left. "It smells amazing…. You and the food."

But Missy stared down at the sauce as she poured it in on top of the golden pieces of chicken, worrying at her lip.

What if it was too thick? What if David hated it?

"Need me to do anything?" asked Wade, leaning his broad form against the kitchen counter.

He was, as usual, dressed in a sheepskin jacket and tight fitting tshirt and Missy could smell his familiar musky scent from here. To her, he always seemed to smell like candy apples.

"I think…." She said cocking her head at the dish. "I'm done. I'll finish the potatoes just before David gets back."

With that she opened up the oven and placed the dish inside, turning up the dial.

"So no Ghostbusters?" said Wade with a pout.

Missy glanced up at him, giving a smile.

"Sorry," she said, brushing past him and nudging him with her hip. "But you can help me do the washing up?"

Wade raised a scarred eyebrow in her direction.

She remembered the day he got that scar. When he turned up on her doorstep, face covered in blood with his shoulder dislocated, telling her he had finished her job.

"Are you telling me, you do the washing up before you've even eaten?" said the merc incredulously. "Pffft. See, if you were my girl, we would eat your amazing dinner and then have a super sexy, sudsy dessert right here on the kitchen counter."

Missy instantly reddened, her eyes fluttering to the floor, as she tossed him a dish-towel.

"You're on drying duty, Wilson," she said passing swiftly over his comment.

The merc stared at her, narrowing his eyes for a moment, looking as though he was about to pounce.

But a second later, he joined her at the sink, picking up a drying dish and giving it a wipe with the towel.

"So any plans for Christmas this year?" he asked, glancing her way.

He was stood close. His body turned into hers.

Missy rinsed a wooden spoon under the tap and placed it into the drainer.

Wade had asked her this question a million times already. As if he eventually expected a different answer from her…

"I'm not sure what David's plans are yet?" she answered, in a quiet voice.

She could feel Wade frowning down at her, like he always did when she gave this response.

"I still don't see why that is his decision?" snapped Wade, accusingly. "I though you wanted to go see your Mom…."

Missy's Mom lived in Florida with her aunt. For the past few years Missy had headed down there and spent the holidays with her family, which she always loved.

But being in a relationship was all about compromise...right?

That was what David always said, at least.

And he was right…of course he was.

"I did…..I do…" she said glancing down into the soapy water befor her. "But it's just difficult…."

She gave a gulp.

"David said that we should save money if we want to buy our own place eventually," she said submerging a bowl in the water. "A-And flights will be like a few hundred dollars each…"

"Fuck it, I'll give you the money!" said Wade dropping the dish towel down the counter exasperatedly, and pulling out his wallet. "You should do what you want to do."

He pulled out a wad of cash, and held it out towards her.

But Missy merely scolwed.

"I'm not taking your money Wade!" she uttered in an angry voice "It's not about that-. It's just that David wants-"

"Fuck what David wants!" shouted Wade harshly.

Missy's eyes widened furiously, but before she could open her mouth to argue her phone suddenly began to buzz across the work surface.

Swinging around quickly, she picked up it.

It was a text….from David.

She quickly opened it, feeling Wade's gaze on her face the entire time.

'Hey Sweetheart. Danny's just got a job promotion. Staying out to celebrate so probably won't be home tonight. Will just crash on his couch. Save my dinner in the fridge and I'll eat it when I get in tomorrow. Oh and can you make sure you drop that rent money into my account by tomorrow please. Anyway, have a good night.'

Missy read the message once .

Then again.

Then again…

A lump forming in her throat…

But before she could do anything, her eyes suddenly traveled behind Wade, to the oven…which was currently smoking.

"Shit!" she cried, shoving past the merc and running over to the oven and tugging it open.

In all her hastiness to get the dinner on, she had turned the heat up way to high, and now a cloud of back smoke poured from the oven.

"No!" she cried.

And before she even realised what she was doing, she grabbed the excruciatingly hot glass dish with her hand.

Instantly the pain hit her, and she dropped the glass container letting out a loud yelp, sending glass shards and thick white casserole sauce all over the kitchen floor.

Missy stared down for a long moment, her whole body starting to shake.

Tears pricked at her eyes.

He wasn't even coming home… again.

She had ruined everything anyway… why would he have wanted to come home to this….

A gentle tear ran down her cheek as she let out a sob.

But before she could even blink Wade had taken charge and stepped over the mess on the floor and grabbed her tightly, pulling her over to the sink.

Missy glanced up at him, but his face was set.

He already knew what had happened, she could tell by his face.

He knew her so well…

Taking her burnt fingers gently in his own, he ran the cold water tap and held them under the faucet.

Missy let out a small cry of pain, as the icy coolness met with her red and blistered hand.

She let out a shuddering breath, turning away from him slightly, letting the tears fall freely from her eyes.

David hated it when she cried, so she...well, she just didn't...

She just kept it all bundled up inside her…

But Wade wasn't judging her.

He wasn't even saying a word. Which for him, was a bit of a miracle.

She gave herself a moment to let all the upset wash away down the plughole.

It was a long minute before she finally felt like herself again.

Wiping her eyes with her free hand, she blinked a couple of times, before turning back to the merc.

"Thanks," she said in a quiet voice.

Wade stared at her worriedly, withdrawing her hand from the water and wiping it gently dry with the dish towel.

"Don't mention it," he said, after a long moment, finally letting out a relived smile. "Just promise me no more tears. I get the worst flashbacks on 4th grade where I cut off Sharon Garfield's ponytail with a pair of craft scissors and she just would not stop crying..."

Missy gave a small gulp and stared up into Wade's dark brown eyes, letting out a gentle laugh.

Only he could manage to make a shit day seem ok again…

Wincing slightly, she tested the tender skin on her hand.

"Ow," she said grimacing and glancing up sat the merc. "This hurts so much..."

But this time it was Wade's turn to roll his eyes. He pulled his tshirt quickly away from neck revealing the scar from a large bullet wound on his shoulder. "I've been shot like twice," he said in a goading tone. "There's only so much sympathy I can give you. Quit your complaining."

Missy gaped, giving another, this time louder laugh, as Wade grinned back at her, his eyes travelling across her tear-strewn, yet completely happy face.

Missy bit her lip and took in a long breath of air, suddenly gazing about the room.

She sighed.

"You know what? Fuck it," she said with a shrug. "I'm gonna wait until morning to clear this crap up."

She wrinkled her nose, before turning back to Wade.

"You fancy take out and Ghostbusters?" she asked with a hopeful smile.

Wade bounced on the balls of his feet, and shot her another grin.

"You had me at take-out," he said happily, grabbing her hand and tugging her out of the kitchen, flicking off the light-switch as he did so.


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