This Love - Taylor Swift
He's not even going to pretend he knows what he's doing here. He looks around and he already is overwhelmed. He could go for the basic. But basic does not say what he wants to say. He wants to remind her that they are extraordinary. That they can get through a lot.
"How can I help you?" A sweet old lady, who kind of reminds him of his mother, approaches him. A sweet smile on her face, twinkle in her eye.
He knows why he's here, but he doesn't know what he's doing here. He thinks this is beyond supermarket flowers. Beyond a random bouquet he can pick up by the grocery store. He's here, in this adorable store surrounded by so many different kinds of flowers, overwhelmed by the choices.
"I—uhm" He says gesturing to the flowers "I'm thinking of getting flower arrangements for my wife, but I don't know where to start"
The woman's smile grows wider and she clasps her hands on her chest. "Of course! I can help with that. First of all, my name is Rosie."
He glances at the sign behind the woman "Rosie Posie" and offers the woman a warm smile. "My name is Owen."
"Okay, Owen. Tell me about your wife. What's the occasion?"
"Uhm—"
"—Or, I guess there doesn't have to be an occasion—but clearly you're looking for something specific"
"She—uh--" He smiles again, clearly uncomfortable with his surrounding. "She has a new job. We haven't properly celebrated. And uh—We, as a couple, are getting over some rough patch. So I figured I'd get her some flowers, something nicer than supermarket flowers, but nothing too basic like red roses. I just want to surprise her is all—I don't think I've ever gotten her flowers."
The woman nods understanding his unease. "Follow me" she says, leading the way further into the store. "So tell me about your wife. What's her name?"
"Teddy—Theodora—but yeah, Teddy"
"What is Teddy like? Does she like colorful things—"
"—Uhm—She's more of the neutral color type, I guess?" He chuckles at the thought of handing Teddy a bouquet of dyed colorful roses. He can already picture a slight cringe on her face. "Definitely neutral."
Rosie giggles at his addition and she nods knowlingly. "And you're saying I'm sorry and congratulations"
"Yes, ma'am." He says "And I love you."
"Yes, of course"
He starts to ease into the environment. Rosie definitely made him feel a little more relaxed. "Are you married, Rosie?"
She looks at him, beaming. "Why yes. For fifty years now. Would you believe that?"
"Wow. What's your secret?" He asks, giving him the most charming smile.
"A lot of patience. And he was my best friend. Since sixth grade. So if you do that math, I am approximately one thousand years old." Rosie says as she picks some flowers from buckets. Owen has no clue as to what they are but he trusts her. Rosie stops by a bucket of the most beautiful flowers he'd ever seen. She pauses as she reaches for some and she glances back at Owen. "Do you have cats?"
Owen cocks his head at the absurdity of the question. "Uh, no" He said, shaking his head. "Although our daughter sometimes pretends she's a cat"
Rosie nods and reaches for a handful "These are poisonous to them….to cats…so hopefully not your daughter."
Owen just chuckles "We'll take our chances."
"So you have a daughter?" Rosie asks as she walks towards flowers with a little more color.
"Yes, ma'am. And a son."
"Best of both worlds. I only have a daughter. She is grown now. And has no interest in flowers. Such a shame"
"How long have you had the business? I assume you are the Rosie or Rosie Posie?"
The woman smiles "I am. A while now. Maybe forty-five years. It's always been a passion of mine. I've seen many people come through here who have been through everything you can think of. And flowers always seem to solve their problems"
Owen just nods with a sweet, understanding smile. He gets it.
"Or at least it helps cheer up people, you know?"
Rosie leads him back towards the front carrying an armful of flowers. Owen follows diligently and he paws through some other decorations Rosie had in the store.
"Teddy is my best friend too" Owen says softly and picks up a candle in front of him. "We've gone through lot together. But when we got married—I don't know—She became my wife. And that somehow changed everything"
Rosie nods as she arranges the flowers. "And you feel that there were things you used to be able to tell her because she's you're best friend but now you can't because she's now your wife"
"…Yeah…" He says, watching Rosie meticulously moving the flowers around. "But it sure makes everything easier."
"When it's someone you know, you love unconditionally?…" Rosie gives him a knowing look.
"Yeah."
They fall into a comfortable silence, and Owen is more relaxed, leaning against the table, closer to the bouquet between him and the florist he's growing to love.
"In case your wife asks, I picked some dahlias over here, and white tulips over here, it means worthiness—and some white hydrangeas over here, and these are the lilies—really hoping your daughter is not a cat. That is one of the very few liabilities in this place—" She says jokingly with a smirk. "I added some cute little branches to break down all the whites. I added some olive branches for obvious reasons. The pink snapdragons are for accent and the pink peonies represent a happy marriage. And these beautiful pink ones are Stargazers. I don't know, but I feel like your wife is the stargazing type"
"This is beautiful. Thank you, Rosie."
"My pleasure. I hope she loves them"
"She will" He says with a soft chuckle. "She's been attempting to garden….. so maybe she will be in inspired again" He pauses shaking his head "I hope"
"Well, send her my way. Maybe I can help"
He pays and leaves a hefty tip and Rosie hands her a beautifully crafted bouquet. Sure, of course, a bouquet of flowers is not going to erase the past or fix the future, but it's a gesture.
He thinks about her on the drive home. The bouquet sitting safely next to him. The stargazers staring back at him. He tears his eyes from it and back on the road as the light turns green. Teddy was a star gazer. They had spent countless nights looking at the desert skies. Making wishes on shooting stars.
Wishes that came true. Wishes that had downfalls.
But he is focusing on the now. On the present. Because they will bounce back. They always do.
He pulls into the driveway and walks into the house with a smile on his face. Soft jazz is playing. The lights are dimmed. The candles are lit. And it smells like delicious food. She doesn't notice him, so he watches her for a second. A small smile playing on her face. She pours herself a glass of wine, red this time, not like the usual Chardonnay she's been guzzling. Humming along to Diana Krall. The relief in her face is obvious. Life she can tackle on anything again. She finally notices him and her face breaks out into a beautiful smile. Something he's missed in months.
"What do you have there?" She says walking towards him.
"These…are for you"
"Owen, they're beautiful!"
"Yeah, aren't they"
"The stargazers, the snapdragons" She pinches the little snapdragon bud and chuckles "I love doing that to them. It's like they're saying hi" She leans forward and gives him a kiss.
"There's also peonies, which I learned means happy marriage. And obviously some olive branches thrown around in there."
Teddy gives him a look and a chuckle. "You went all out. Did some research or is Floriography a secret you've been keeping from me?"
He laughs and leans in for another kiss "Sounds like a made up word but okay"
She leans against him and wraps her arm around her waist. "Thank you, Owen. These are beautiful"
He drops a kiss on her head. They're going to be just fine.
"Hey" She starts as she watches him take a sip from his scotch and leans against the back of his chair.
"Hmm?" He asks, as he rolls his sleeves up revealing his forearms. She can tell he was satisfied with dinner, which is feat for her because he's usually the cook of the family. She was nervous about making steak and roasted vegetables because it is surely not her event, but she wants to make something special for him.
"Thank you for the flowers. They are so beautiful."
"I don't think I've ever gotten you flowers ever."
"You skipped past the flowers and straight to fake snow, or you know…flying halfway across the globe and giving me a baby" She says with a soft laugh. She's relieved when he also laughs in response. "It feels good to laugh again." She says softly.
"I know." He said. Leaning over with his elbows on the table. "I feel like huge weight lifted. Like, I've been holding my breath for months."
"I know we're not magically fixed, and there's still work to do, but thank you for taking this step. And encouraging me to do the same."
"We have to do it for us. For our kids. But mostly for us. I missed my best friend, Teddy."
She smiles and nods "I missed my best friend too"
"And now my best friend is Chief of Surgery."
"Don't even bother sucking up to the Chief of Surgery." She said with a fake sigh and then a smirk "I already have a Chief of Trauma"
He picks up his fork and pops a piece of roasted zucchini into his mouth, and there was just something so sexy about how exposed his forearms were, that she just can't help but enjoy the silence and watch him.
"I know we can't just say put everything behind us, but can we please? I just—let's just move forward. And just make up for time we spent hating each other" He says as soon as his mouth was cleared. "I miss this—I miss us"
She reaches for his hand and gives it a squeeze "I miss us too. I promise to be better and put this behind us. I think we deserve that?" She sighs "I miss telling my best friend things like the new chief of trauma has these insanely hot forearms, among other hot things."
"Your Chief of Trauma better stay away. You're a married woman" He says. She just laughs in response. "You really think my forearms are hot?"
"Yeah, especially when you were surfing, and wearing the short sleeved wetsuit. You were all tan and kinda red and salty. And for a brief second, I can get past your hot instructor and just drool over you in that wet suit."
He leans back and crosses his arms over his chest with a smirk. "Oh really now?"
"Don't get cocky."
"Well, these forearms can help rebuild that garden you tore up, if you still want some help with that"
"Only if you promise exposed forearms." She said, biting her lower lip. "I could use a floriographer tp help me out"
"Now, that is definitely a made-up word"
"No it's not!" She says with a laugh.
"Now where's my phone. I have to look to it up to—"
"—Prove me wrong. I know, I know" She says laughing. "You suck"
"Hm, metaphorically? Literally? Because I can—literally—" He says pointing towards the bedroom.
"Or—We can start with cleaning up and watching that movie you think I'd like" She says winking.
"Fine. Let me clean up and you pour yourself a glass of wine."
She just chuckles as he runs his hands up his forearms to push his sleeves further up. He picks up her plate and drops a kiss on her lips. It was more than chaste, but it was less that hungry. It was perfect. She missed little moments like this with him.
She watches as he rinses the dishes and thoughtfully loads the dishwasher. She walks by behind him and leaves a small tap on his ass and a wink when he turns towards her with a smirk.
"Need more wine?"
"No, I was actually going to arrange the flowers. Put them in some water, may divvy them up in smaller vases" She says as she reaches for some vases hiding in the top cupboard.
"I don't think I ever see this side of you" He says. "The domestic side."
"Because I never really had one? I was always too busy for domesticity, and I feel like I'm even busier now. But I promised myself to try. To get in touch of that side of me that kind of just got pushed aside."
"Pre-G.I. Jane side?"
She throws her head back "Yeah, could you imagine that existing?"
"Actually I can. When did you decide this?"
She wrinkles her nose shyly. "When you walked in. Carrying this gorgeous bouquet. I remembered watching my mom coming home with flowers. Whatever catches her eye when she's out. And it was always nice at home. Some flowers in the bedroom, in the bathroom, in the kitchen. Just—everywhere." She glances at him just to see his face and he was leaning against the sink with a smile on his face, arms crossed against his chest. "It just made me feel good. So thank you."
"C'mere" He says opening up his arms. She places the shears and the flower she's holding on the counter and steps in front of him, between his legs. "You're welcome. I didn't know how much it would mean to you. But I'm happy it made you feel good." He wraps his arms around her tightly, pressing her against him.
"You didn't know because I don't think I ever told you. And because we rarely talked about things like this" She says and stands on her tiptoes to place a kiss on his lips. "And I think I tried so hard to not be like my mother, even thought she was amazing, that I forgot about that side of me. The way I liked waking up and there are white hydrangeas in my bedside. Because she couldn't sleep and decided to move around the flowers she was arranges a few days before. Just little things like that. And I think it will be nice to bring some….homey things… at home?"
"Yeah, I'd like that" He says, murmuring against her forehead.
"And I've never nested anywhere. But--we should. Because this is our home and I think it will be good."
"We'll start on the garden this weekend. I know the perfect place to get the goods. I can't wait for you to meet my new friend Rosie" He says, dropping a kiss on her forehead. "Are you sure you still want to watch a movie."
She pulls her upper half away from him with a smile and grabs his face with one hand and leaves a hard kiss on his lips. "Yes! Because this is one of the rare nights where we can snuggle up and watch an adult movie. Please. I am begging. We haven't done that in forever. And I just want to sit there and snuggle up against you. Now finish cleaning up and I'll finish up with the flowers and then we can start the movie."
"Yes, Chief"
She rolls her eyes and pushes away from him and returns to her flowers on the kitchen island.
She's always been afraid to fuck things up with Owen. What happens after happy ever after? What happens after the princess gets the prince? They rarely show those moments in movies, and god knows she has never had a happy ever after that stay happy always and forever. And it scares her. But she has to focus on just focusing on the present moment. Tonight with him. Tonight is about him.
She glances at him and watches him finish up with the dishes and fishes up his phone out of his pocket and answers the quiet vibration.
"Hey baby girl" He says happily. Allison's little face pops on the screen and Leo is babbling about his day behind her. He stands closer to her so she can see the kids.
"Hi mama! Hi papa!" Allison beams and Leo gently wrestles his sister for some FaceTime.
"Mama!"
Teddy just chuckles. "Hi baby"
"Grandma said we have to say good night!"
"See you tomorrow!!"
"We'll pick you up bright and early" Owen says, smiling. She sees the sparkle in his eyes.
"Or, maybe late morning" She says, gently elbowing him.
"Yup, maybe late morning" Owen says. She hears his mom laugh in the background.
"Okay kids. Say goodbye to mom and dad and let them get on with their night"
Owen turns beet read and Teddy just laughs as the kids scream their goodbyes through the phone.
Owen pockets his phone runs his hand down her back and punctuates it with a tap on her butt. "I'll set the movie up while you finish up here"
She has nothing to be afraid of. She just needs to take life one day at a time.
The movie was abandoned ten minutes in, Owen realizes. They'll restart some other time. Of course. But he's very much aware that his wife is straddling him and pinned him against the couch. He likes this so much better anyway. And she can't remember the last time they made out like this. He misses the snuggling and the long foreplay. He couldn't care less for to quick ones to release tension in on call rooms, especially not with Teddy. He takes time to feel the way her lips brushes against his. How she skillfully slips in her tongue against his. He is fully aware of how her fist curl up against his collar, pushing him down forcefully. Her hips moving subtly against his groin. How she makes a soft sound that vibrates against his mouth when he runs his hands up her thighs and and firmly grabs onto her waist.
She pulls away, panting, catching her breath, and looks deep into his eyes when she goes in again for another kiss. She releases his collar and presses his hands against his chest, feeling the fabric of his shirt. He can feel heat coming from her palms.
"I miss this. I miss your kisses. I miss feeling you hard against me. I miss looking into your eyes and seeing nothing but adoration. I miss …. I miss how your speeches make me feel weak in the knees. How you can articulate our history so clearly. How you love me. How your body feels against mine. I miss your passion. Your fervor. And how I can feel you throbbing through your pants when I'm the one giving the speech." She laughs, placing a hand between them. "I miss this. I miss our heat. I miss feeling your heart beat out of your chest. I miss seeing the blood rush through you. I miss telling you and showing you how much I love you."
He gathers all the energy he can muster to reach up for her and lay her down on the couch, hovering over her.
"I miss showing you how much I love you too."
It's like floodgates have opened and a rush for their love crashes back in between them. She's always been the one for him. He's the only one who understand her.
They're the only ones who can love each other like this.
end.
the way that i am tempted to make this a multi-chapter but i know once i decide on that, i will abandon it like everything else in my life looool. so anyways i hope you enjoy. i'd love to hear your thoughts! :)