AN: This is a space for me to return to again and again as I come across interesting prompts that I'd like to write for Jessica Fletcher and Seth Hazlitt.
This particular prompt came from a list on fluffyevans tumblr post. This is #13 of 76:
Imagine Person A of your OTP seeing Person B with bed hair for the first time and being totally blown away by how cute/hot/etc. they look with their hair being a huge mess. Bonus: if Person A gets flustered when Person B pokes fun at them for liking it.
Obviously Seth is Person A. Obviously.
It's something of an homage to two of two mascaret's many delightful stories: "Old Friends" and "Unions and Reunions." If you've not yet had the pleasure of reading them, I'm envious.
*Note: I wasn't happy with the end of The Morning After section. Inspiration struck, so I've added it and reposted.
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The Morning After
Seth came awake gradually. He was warm, much warmer than usual. Good grief, I'm roasting! He fumbled around, feeling for his glasses, when he realized his right arm was trapped under something warm and soft. He stilled for a moment. It was all coming back to him now, and he looked down to see Jessica's head nestled on his shoulder. A slow grin spread across his face as he tightened his grasp on Jessica. It wasn't that warm.
Last night had been, well, wonderful. And unexpected. He'd been in love with Jessica Fletcher for ages, but he never thought she might love him, too.
That wasn't strictly true. There were times when he felt she was softening toward him, but then she would retreat. He knew what she felt for Frank. It was much the same as he felt for Ruth. They'd both been fortunate to have had such long and happy marriages. There was something quite different about a long, happy marriage. Firstly, people tended to believe in unicorns more easily. Secondly, it was hard to envision yourself ever being quite as happy with someone else, and why would you want to do that to yourself, much less the someone else?
But Jessica was different. Of course it began as friendship. She was intelligent, worldly, inquisitive. But only a fool wouldn't admit that she was also an attractive woman. Of course she was. And she grew even lovelier as the years passed. Somehow Jess seemed to stay youthful, if not strictly young. She certainly looked in the range of her age. Tread carefully, man. But there was something more...a curiosity, a desire to engage with the world as it was, not as she remembered it or as she hoped it would be. That's why so many young people, beginning with her vast array of nieces and nephews, were drawn to her. She listened, gave them the courtesy of her attention, held her tongue. She also withheld judgement.
Seth could admit that he wasn't quite that broadminded. And yet, here they were, in bed together, after a night he almost blushed to think of. Almost.
He hadn't thought of himself as a man who would make love with a woman outside of marriage. He had loved Ruth, deeply, and had loved being married to her. After her death, it was natural for him to consider that he would spend the rest of his life celibate. Most of the magic of making love with someone came from the love. He couldn't imagine ever loving someone as much as he had Ruth. But he did now. He grew to love Jessica, differently to be sure, but no less deeply than he had loved Ruth.
So. He and Jessica spent the night together. Now what? He could almost believe she loved him. Almost. They hadn't exchanged the words. They were on the tip of Seth's tongue all night, but he was afraid to utter them...afraid saying it aloud would break the delicate spell that was woven around them. But now, in the cold light of day, he had to say them. He couldn't not say them. He couldn't lie to her by pretending that he wasn't in love with her, no matter the cost.
She began to stir in his arms. She was so warm and soft, and she smelled so good. He savored these final few moments, determined to squeeze the most joy he could from this time with her. He rubbed her back in warm, soothing circles. She had the most delightful freckles scattered across her shoulders. He wished he could kiss each one. She stretched against him, burying her face in his shoulder and groaning softly. Did she know what she was doing to him?
"Jessica?" he murmured.
"Mmm," she mumbled, and stretched more deeply into him.
This had the potential to become embarrassing. "Jessica," he repeated, more firmly this time. He would be crushed if she startled against him or worse if it appeared that she regretted what had happened between them. She certainly seemed willing last night. Eager, even. "Jessica?" He couldn't help the wobble in his voice. He really couldn't.
"Mmmm," murmured Jessica. She snuggled in even closer, if such a thing were possible. "Good morning, Seth."
He sent up a prayer to all the gods. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
She began to curl her fingers through the hair on his chest, and he stroked her arm lightly. "How are you?" Are you having second thoughts? Do you regret what happened between us last night?
She stretched again, this time moving her legs down the length of him and pointing her toes. If she didn't stop stretching soon, this could become very embarrassing.
She lifted her head, smiled at him, and crooked an elbow to prop her head on. He was absolutely charmed. He'd seen Jessica dressed up and Jessica dressed down, but he'd never seen her so gloriously, delightfully unkempt. He stared, transfixed.
"What?"
Seth felt his mouth flapping open and shut like a fish struggling in the flat of a boat, but there was very little he was able to do about it.
She covered her mouth. "Do I have something in my teeth?"
He laughed quietly, then took his free hand and brushed a finger against her cheek. "No."
"You're staring."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
Jessica fixed him with an imperious stare of her own. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you staring?"
Because I'm in love with you. Because you take my breath away. Because I never let myself hope I could be with you like this. "You look...you look-" Jessica pulled the sheet up and made to sit up and smooth her hair. "No!"
Jessica froze, shocked. He raised his free hand in a gesture of apology. "Sorry. I'm sorry. It's just..." He paused, and Jessica exhaled in frustration. "I've never seen you look this way."
"What way?"
Seth sighed. "I'm making a mess of things. You look radiant, messy, disheveled, beautiful." He paused. "I think you're lovely," he murmured softly.
She pulled the sheet more tightly around her. "You're saying you like the way I look this morning?" She reached up to feel her hair. "Seth, I'm sure look a wreck."
He reached out to smooth a wayward curl. "Woman, I can assure you, you look far from a wreck." He picked up her hand and kissed it. "Your hair is...well, it's-"
"What?"
"I'm not the writer, woman! I just...like what I see is all." Her hair was a glorious riot of curls on one side and was that a cow lick or had she just slept on that side? Whatever it was she looked...delightful. Alluring. He tightened his hold on her and he felt her relax against him. Thanks be to all the gods. Maybe he hadn't botched it all in a matter of minutes.
"So you like it when I look disheveled?" she asked archly.
Seth thought he felt her cheek curve into a smile against his shoulder. She didn't sound perturbed, but then Jessica's temper could be volatile. He'd certainly felt the rough side of her tongue on more than one occasion. "I do, woman," he said softly.
Jessica lifted her head to look at him. "I like it when you look disheveled, too," she said in a tone that warmed his heart.
His voice actually cracked. "You do?" Get ahold of yourself, man!
She tightened her grasp around his middle and settled in against him more closely. "I do," she said with a yawn.
"Jessica, I...you...we-" He groaned in exasperation.
She reached for his hand and entwined her fingers with his. "It's alright, Seth," she murmured. "Everything is as it should be."
"But what does that mean?" He hated the plaintive note in his voice. His heart was doing a conga line in his chest.
Jessica turned her face so she could look at him. "Seth Hazlitt. I'm naked, in your arms, the morning after we spent the most wonderful night together." She arched an eyebrow at him. "It's for the gentleman to draw the appropriate conclusion, not the lady to spell it out," she said primly.
He exhaled, a large grin threatening against his lips. He pressed her to him, then loosened his grip so that he could lift her chin." Jessica, I love you."
She dropped a kiss to his chest, then looked up at him through her lashes. "This disheveled woman loves you, too."
"May I kiss you? he breathed.
"I shouldn't think you'd need to ask." She paused. "You certainly didn't last night," she smirked.
Seth laughed quietly and leaned down to kiss Jessica as she lifted up to receive it.
Jessica smiled against his lips. "Feeling better," she asked pertly.
Seth smiled back and settled them both back down in the bed. "A-yuh, woman. I am."
"You might want to check the batteries in your smoke detector, Seth," said Jess sleepily.
Seth dropped a kiss on her head. "I'll do that, woman, before I cook for you again."
Jess sighed and draped herself a little more firmly across Seth. "Next time, I think I'd like dinner first."
Seth barked a laugh and hugged her a little tighter. "That's a promise, my love."
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The Previous Night
They seldom cooked a meal at Seth's. Jessica's kitchen was larger, with more counter space and more room to move in general. Seth's kitchen was galley style. Functional (barely), but of course working there required greater precision and concentration in order to keep out of the other's way.
Generally, they avoided cooking at Seth's because it usually led to frustration. Of the two, Seth was the more serious cook. Jessica was a fine cook and an excellent baker, but it was something she'd learned out of necessity rather than desire. Seth learned to cook out of necessity as well, but it had become something more than a mere diversion or hobby and, now that he had a reliable guinea pig, he was embarking on more challenging recipes. He'd been wanting to attempt a Paella recipe that he'd earmarked in a cooking magazine for quite some time now. The rice had to caramelize on the bottom of the pan. The last time he'd attempted something like that at Jessica's, her very sophisticated smoke detector shrieked at the barest hint of smoke. The neighbors heard the racket and phoned the fire department. He was still smarting from that episode. His old, dependable smoke detector wasn't that sensitive. And his neighbors weren't quite so inquisitive.
Jessica's voice broke into his thoughts. "Anything I can do to help?"
"No, no. Although you could pour us a glass of wine, if you don't think that's too scandalous."
Jessica laughed. "Well, it might be too scandalous for Cabot Cove, but I think you and I will survive. Remind me where your corkscrew is?"
Seth jerked his head toward the refrigerator. "I put it on the counter next to the refrigerator. Convenient."
"If you say so," said Jessica mildly. She pulled the wine from the refrigerator and busied herself with opening the bottle and pouring two glasses. She handed one to Seth.
"Thanks," he grunted.
Jessica smiled. "You never change, do you Seth?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean... Forget it. I don't know what I mean." She took another sip of wine.
"Sounds like you meant something, Jess. Out with it! If you've got something to say, just say it."
"No need to get huffy, Seth. I didn't mean anything. Really. I was just musing."
"Should I change?"
"No, of course not! I just meant it's one of the nice things about returning home. Things are the same. Predictable."
"That sounds like an ad for a laxative, Jess. It doesn't sound like a very appealing prescription for life."
"There's nothing wrong with same or predictable. After all, wouldn't you agree that the formula for a murder mystery is...well...formulaic? It's part of the appeal. You know what you're going to get."
"So I'm as exciting as an oil change or chicken pox?"
"You misunderstand me, Seth. I was trying to pay you a compliment."
"A compliment is that I'm boring?" His eyebrows disappeared into his hairline.
"You certainly are touchy tonight!"
"So I am boring." He turned back to the rice and adjusted the flame. This was excruciating.
"Seth. Seth! I did not say you were boring. This is a ridiculous argument. Will you please look at me?" He turned slowly to face her. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. It was careless of me, and I'm sorry." She reached for his hand.
Seth moved closer and gripped her elbow. "Do you think me a fool, Jessica Fletcher?" He choked out the words.
"You're not a fool, Seth."
His voice was gravelly and she felt his warm breath on her cheek. "You have another, separate life. You leave and do God knows what while I stay here. Then, when you come back, you insult me by complimenting my predictability." His grip traveled up her elbow and he squeezed her arm tightly. "You must know how I feel about you," he ground out. He paused, breathing a little heavily. "What is it you want, Jess? Why do you treat me like this?" he asked her in a hoarse voice.
Jessica held her ground and considered the man before her. She had suppressed, denied, buried her feelings for this man for many years. Here, in this cramped kitchen, with the acrid smell of burning rice in her nose, his hot breath on her cheek, his hand possessively gripping her elbow, hard, she couldn't ignore those feelings any longer. To her surprise, she found she didn't want to.
"You're not a fool, Seth Hazlitt," she repeated. She leaned in to kiss him, a gentle peck really, but as soon as her lips touched his, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed her passionately. His arms traveled down her back to rest on her hips. He pressed her against the counter, grasping her hips with his fingers, and Jessica moaned into his mouth.
Seth pulled back immediately, shocked and embarrassed by his behavior. "Jessica, I-"
She smiled and stroked his cheek lovingly. "Just make sure the pot is off the burner, Seth, and we'll open a window on our way to your bedroom."
Seth looked at her for a long moment, mouth gaping. "Oh, damn! The rice!" He grabbed a dish towel and hastily pulled the rice off the burner and turned it off. He turned to Jess and smiled tentatively. "I suppose that was predictable."
Jessica smiled tenderly at him. "I don't suppose anything about tonight could be considered predictable." She leaned forward to kiss him lightly on lips. "Your bedroom is this way, isn't it?" She gestured vaguely down the hall.
Seth could only nod dumbly and follow this mercurial, charming, alluring woman down the hall into his room. He threw up a final prayer that he'd made his bed this morning, as was his habit.
The End