CH.6

As Phoebe Spengler, the Ghostbusters' most underrated member, walked down the aisle of the local supermarket, she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment wash over her. Today was the day she would prove to her black lover, John, that she could be the perfect wife for him. Not just the perfect ghostbuster, but the perfect homemaker too.

Her heart raced with excitement as she scanned the shelves, carefully selecting ingredients for their evening meal. Chicken, her favorite. She would marinate it in a special blend of herbs and spices, just the way he liked it. The thought of his approval was enough to make her knees go weak.

Phoebe glanced over at a nearby display of fresh flowers and felt a pang of guilt. She knew she should have picked some up for him, but with their latest ghost-hunting expedition leaving them strapped for cash, she simply couldn't afford them. Still, she refused to let that dampen her spirits. She had the rest of the day to prepare something truly special for him.

The store's automatic doors whooshed open, signaling her arrival at the checkout line. As she unloaded her cart onto the conveyor belt, Phoebe couldn't help but overhear a group of teenage girls giggling and whispering nearby. "Oh my god, did you see that?" one of them squealed, pointing at her. "She's like, so ugly!" they all burst out laughing.

Phoebe's face flushed with anger. Ugly? She may not be the most conventionally attractive person in the world, but she knew she was far from ugly. Her eyes narrowed as the girls continued to laugh at her expense. She clenched her fists, willing herself not to lose her composure. Just then, a familiar voice cut through the noise. "Hey, baby," John called out, his deep baritone sending shivers down her spine. "You almost done over there?"

Her anger melted away in an instant, replaced by a warm, fuzzy feeling of love and adoration. She turned to face him, a beaming smile spreading across her face. "Almost," she replied, trying to sound casual. "Just a few more things to pick up." With renewed determination, she gathered her purchases and made her way over to where John stood, waiting patiently for her.

As she drew closer, she couldn't help but notice the way the light from the store's fluorescent lights danced across his chocolate-brown skin, making his features appear almost otherworldly. His broad shoulders and tall, muscular frame were clad in his trademark blue jumpsuit, complete with Ghostbusters patches and gear. In his arms, he carried a bouquet of red roses, their crimson petals glistening in the artificial light.

"Hey, you," he said, his voice softening as he took her hands in his. "I thought you could use these." He held up the flowers, a sheepish grin tugging at the corners of his lips. Phoebe felt tears well up in her eyes. "You really didn't have to," she managed to choke out. "They're just so beautiful."

"I wanted to," he replied, his thumbs rubbing soothingly against the back of her hands. "I wanted to show you how much you mean to me." And with that, he leaned in and kissed her, his lips soft and warm against hers. The taste of his mouth sent a shiver down her spine, and for a moment, she forgot about everything else around them. The supermarket faded away, replaced by the feeling of his strong arms wrapped around her, the scent of his cologne filling her nose.

As they kissed, Phoebe could feel the weight of the world slipping off her shoulders. She didn't need to prove anything to anyone. Not to her family, not to her friends, and certainly not to John. All that mattered was that he was here, with her, and that he loved her just the way she was. When they finally pulled apart, Phoebe smiled up at him, her eyes shining with tears of happiness. "Thank you," she whispered. "For everything."

He smiled back, a twinkle in his eye. "Anything for you, my beautiful ghostbuster." And with that, they continued on with their day, hand in hand, ready to face whatever challenges the world threw their way. Together.

As they left the supermarket, Phoebe couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. Despite her earlier worries, the day had turned out to be perfect. She glanced over at John, admiring the way the setting sun cast a warm glow on his skin, and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for having him in her life.

They stopped at a nearby park, their favorite spot in the city, and found a quiet, secluded bench to sit on. The air was filled with the sounds of birds chirping and children laughing, and the scent of freshly mowed grass was thick in the air. Phoebe took a deep breath, savoring the moment.

"So," John said, clearing his throat. "I've been meaning to ask you something." Phoebe looked up at him, her heart racing. What could he possibly want to ask her? "I was wondering," he continued, his voice soft and nervous, "if you'd want to go on a real date with me sometime." His gaze was steady, his eyes boring into hers. "Like, not just to a supermarket or the movies or something, but like... a proper date."

Phoebe's heart leapt into her throat. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for, hoping for, since the day they'd met. "I'd like that," she managed to choke out. "I'd like that very much."

He smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that lit up his entire face. "Good," he replied, his voice gentle. "Because I'd like that too." And with that, they sat in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company and the warmth of the late afternoon sun.

As the light began to fade, they stood up, brushing off the seat of their pants. "Well," John said, clearing his throat again. "I suppose we should be getting back home." Phoebe nodded, reluctantly. She didn't want the day to end, but she knew that there would be other days, other chances for them to be together.

Hand in hand, they walked back to John's Ecto-1, the iconic Ghostbusters-themed car he'd restored himself. As they approached the vehicle, Phoebe leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek. "Thank you for today," she whispered. "It meant so much to me."

He wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her close. "I'm the one who should be thanking you," he replied. "For being in my life." And with that, they climbed into the car, buckled up, and drove off into the twilight, their future together filled with hope and love and the promise of endless adventures.