A/N: I love all your reviews immensely! I think that this chapter is probably my favourite so far, so I really hope you like it =).
Staring in consternation at the counter piled high with ingredients, Fitz sighed. He was in way over his head.
He had made a terrible mistake.
And now he was paying the consequences.
...
"Look at Simmons - isn't she so obvious?" Plopping down next to him on the couch, Skye gestured toward Jemma who was chatting with Ward in the lab.
"What?" A handful of popcorn en route to his mouth, Fitz stopped, then turned to look.
"Don't stare," Skye ordered, snagging some popcorn from his bowl. "I'm sure they want some...alone time." She winked at him, relaxing further into the couch contentedly.
"Ward and Simmons?" Fitz scoffed contemptuously. "Not a chance."
...
"A pot. That's a good start, right?" Locating a large pot took a couple minutes of searching through every shelf and cupboard in the small kitchen area. "And water. I can boil water." He filled the pot halfway with water and set it on the stove.
"It helps if you turn the burner on," Skye's teasing voice came from behind him. Turning, he saw her sitting at the island, her face propped up in her hands. Watching him.
"Thanks a heap." Fitz responded dryly, but did turn the burner on.
...
"I think that they'd be cute together," Skye insisted, stealing more of Fitz's popcorn despite his pointed glare.
"Don't be ridiculous. He's not her type."
"Do you really think that you can matchmake better than me?" Looking offended, Skye threw a handful popcorn at him.
"Obviously." Rolling his eyes, he picked the popcorn out of his hair. "Because you are so far off."
"Am not! Wanna bet?"
"Winner makes the loser dinner?" Fitz leaned towards her, a challenging note in his voice.
"You're on."
...
"How did you manage to set the pasta on fire?" Skye demanded over the sound of the smoke alarm.
"I don't know!" Fitz yelled back, grabbing the fire extinguisher from its place on the wall. Aiming the hose at the stove, he sprayed a good couple inches of foam over the flaming pasta, watching the flames die under the onslaught.
There was silence for a couple moments as both of them regarded the charred remains of the pasta and the foamy pasta sauce on the burner next to it. Then Skye let out a peal of laughter and sank onto the ground, overcome by mirth. "You...you set pasta on fire!"
Trying to keep a straight face, Fitz protested, "It's not funny - stop laughing."
"I can't!" She giggled. "You're a worse cook than I am."
Giving up, Fitz sat down next to her and started laughing too.
...
"Guess what?" Skye poked her head into Fitz's room, her voice excited.
Looking up from his laptop, he asked, "What?"
She smiled at him radiantly. "I win! Ward just totally kissed Simmons!"
Scrambling to his feet, Fitz stared at her. "You must be kidding." That was impossible - there was no way that he was wrong.
"Nope. I saw them." She entered the room and perched on the edge of his desk, her expression triumphant.
"I don't believe you." Fitz crossed his arms and eyed her, waiting for proof.
A look of mock outrage crossed Skye's features. "It's true! I was working out, but then I heard voices in the hall, so I spied out the window." She grinned at him, her eyes lighting up. "And then he just leaned in and kissed her. They're so cute." Looking much too satisfied for her own good, she added, "So I expect dinner tomorrow." With that, she left.
Later, Fitz asked Jemma and she confirmed that there was something there. He was happy for her, but resigned to cooking for Skye. The price of his defeat was going to be significant.
...
"Is this an acceptable substitute to flaming pasta?" Taking the chair next to Skye at the table, Fitz placed a large container of chocolate ice-cream on the table and dug two spoons into the creamy surface.
"Well," she eyed the ice-cream thoughtfully, "I'm not sure that anything can beat flaming pasta, but I guess it's close." She grabbed a spoon and dug in; he mirrored her actions. Then Skye looked at him, her eyes wide in innocence. "So...Coulson and May?"
Taken aback, Fitz blurted out, "What? No. Not a chance."
"Wanna bet?"
"You're on."
Please review - I want to know if you liked this one as much as I did!