You make everything

Everything just right

So alive

Life is good when you're around

Junk - Life is Good

He'd nodded, sneezing, as she gesticulated towards his mug with the coffee pot. "I think I've got the 'flu." Balking, she'd stepped back, raising an eyebrow, "The 'flu?"

Pouting a little with wide eyes, he'd nodded gravely, "Uh-huh" before adding a cough for effect.

Teasing "Poor baby", she'd poured the coffee and suggested "Sure it's not just the allergies Flack? I heard all about your brush with the big cat! Shot of Benadryl would clear you right up you know!?"

Shaking his head stubbornly he'd scowled, "I don't have 'allergies'! It's the 'flu...or anthrax or something. It could be the end of me Jess, you should take the chance now and cook me my last supper".

She'd disappeared in fits of giggles, leaving him groaning and cursing both smart women and the evolution of the feline species. He'd always been allergic to cats; from as young as he could remember even the slightest sniff of a kitty would leave him with streaming eyes and uncontrollable sneezing. He hated what they did to him; the memories of the picking up Bianca DiFazio for Prom and being reduced to a red eyed snotty mess by her Mother's prize Siamese cat still haunted him. Although, how he got her into the backseat of his Father's Caddy after the incident was a more interesting memory.

Returning to his desk some time later, still sneezing, he'd found a strip of antihistamine capsules and a note on his chair: 'Dinner mine, 7.30...bring beer'.

o-o-o

He was fully aware that Jess could cook, very well, but what she chose to serve could range anywhere from an average midweek meal to a gourmet feast to an over microwaved Lean Cuisine dinner. Not that he minded what she served though, any dinner with her was good in his books and, in hindsight, he knew that the Lean Cuisine episode followed a long period of dinners from her kitchen and very few on his credit card.

As he walked into her apartment, proffering both beer and flowers, he was hit by a wave of nostalgia; the aroma transporting back to his Mother's kitchen and him as a small boy.

"Corned beef?!" His eyes widened and belly growled.

"Corned beef, mash and cabbage," she nodded knowingly, "an Irish last supper I believe."

As he followed her into the kitchen, he eyed her a little skeptically. Jess was probably the coolest girl he'd ever dated; funny and intelligent, sexy and strong minded. The sex was amazing and their dates, from lazy Sundays watching Family Guy re-runs on TBS to the spur of the minute road trips to Cape Cod so she could walk on the beach, were always great. Every day with her was exciting and she kept him on his toes. For her to produce his favorite childhood dinner, mid week when he knew he'd done nothing out of the ordinary, couldn't help but raise a shadow of suspicion in his mind.

As he frowned, debating things were leading; she chuckled and draped her arms around his neck, "If you're going out to anthrax Don, you might as well go on a full belly." He pouted, before grinning broadly as she tickled the spot behind his ear, laying his lips onto hers.

They lazed on the floor after dinner, barefoot, playing Monopoly. Usually he swept clean the board quickly but had been put off by her dated French edition; instead of being able to buy up Park Place and Pennsylvania Avenue he was faced with Rue de la Paix and Avenue des Champs Elysees. She rubbed her hands in glee as he landed on yet another of her heavily developed squares, grinning and holding out her hand. Grumbling, he thrust the remainder of his fake Francs into her grasp before flopping on his back in defeat, "You don't play nice Jessica".

She laughed, leaning over to brush her lips to his, protesting "I do play nice! I made you a lovely dinner and found my Monopoly set and I might run to some of your other favorite things later too..."

His ears pricked at the '...other favorite things' and she bent to kiss him again; he deftly tugged her down, so she lay along the length of his body.

Her body radiated warmth and was faintly perfumed with coconut shampoo and apples. Her hands ran through his cropped hair and behind his head, her thumbs grazing along his cheekbones as she kissed him; softly at first, then gently nibbling his bottom lip she nudged his mouth open. As her tongue met his he growled, his hands sliding under her t-shirt to run the length of her spine, melding her body closer to his.

Leaning his forehead against hers, his breath caught, "Wow'.

She purred as he wrapped his arm around her, protectively (possessively); his fingers tracing across the ink on her ribcage. "I was just kidding when I said you didn't play nice Jess" he croaked. Chuckling softly, she dropped a feather light kiss on his jaw.

"What did I do to deserve this tonight Jess?"

She shrugged a little; then teased gently, "Even tough guys need a bit of looking after sometimes I guess."

Grinning, he nodded, "We do!" before cupping her chin and loosing himself in the dark pools of her eyes, "Thank you"

He pulled her close again, tucking her into the crook of his neck. "There's pie for dessert, you want some?" her breath was hot against his skin. Brushing his cheek against her hair, inhaling the sweet scent, he asked "Apple?" As she nodded, he sighed in contentment, "My favorite...but I think I'm good here just now."