Work Text:
Eliza was bored. Very bored. The kids were at school and Alexander had been trapped in his office for several hours now. She wanted to do something, but she didn’t know what.
She should probably get lunch for Alexander, considering he probably hasn’t eaten anything for a few days. She headed over to the kitchen, when a thought struck her.
She loves baking, and she’s bored. Perfect! It’s a great way to pass time! She walked over to Alexander’s office, hoping to get him to join in on the fun.
She opened the office door, and found Alexander typing away endlessly, his fingers flying at superhuman speed across the keyboard. He looked concentrated, and stressed. Baking would be the perfect thing to relieve that stress.
She made her way over to him, and lightly tapped him on the shoulder. He jumped, and smiled when he saw it was Eliza.
“Alexander, you’ve been trapped in here for half the day, come do something with me,” Eliza pleaded. He kissed the hand that was resting on his shoulder and said, “I have a lot of work Betsey. I’m sorry.”
Well, that just wouldn’t do. “Too bad, because I want to hang out with you.” She pulled him up, saved his work, and closed his laptop. She pulled him out of the room and into the kitchen, where she threw an apron on him, and tied his hair up. She did the same for herself.
“What are you doing, ‘Liza?” Eliza smiled as she took out the ingredients and placed them on the counter in front of him. With a smirk, she said, “We’re baking!” Alexander’s face morphed into comical horror. He shook his head and tried to take off his apron. “No, I-I’m not good at baking. I-I don’t even know what to add, or-or anything! Really, Betsey, I’d be better in my office-”
She cut him off with a kiss, and pulled away with a smile. “This is your opportunity to learn, then. And plus, you need to relax somehow.”
“Making me stress over burning cookies or whether or not to put more sugar isn’t going to help, babe,” exclaimed Alexander. She laughed, and kissed his forehead. “Then you should be glad you have me here to guide you.” He smiled and kissed her.
X
“What am I supposed to do with this, ‘Liza?” Eliza turned around to find her husband fiddling with a spatula. “Silly, that’s a spatula. We’re going to use that to put icing on the cake, but that’s not the step we’re on right now,” said Eliza, grabbing the spatula as she said the tool’s name.
“So, we’re making cake?” Eliza nodded. “It’ll be a nice treat for the kids when they get back.” Alexander nodded in agreement. He cracked his knuckles, and grabbed the ingredient sheet from behind Eliza. He set it in front of them. “Okay, so, what’s first?”
X
The clattering of a bowl could be heard as Alexander dropped the dry ingredients. He looked up with a sheepish grin. Eliza facepalmed herself, took a deep breath. Her exhale was painted with slight exasperation. “Alexander, what happened?” He rubbed the back of his neck, and let out a high pitched chuckle. “I, uh, might have stirred a bit too vigorously…Sorry, Betsey, I’ll clean it.”
She rolled her eyes, but the action held no anger. Sighing, she headed back to mixing the wet ingredients. The sound of Alexander muttering to himself and sweeping made her chuckle. She loves her long haired fool.
X
“I was supposed to preheat the oven?” Eliza sighed. “Yes, Alexander. I asked you to heat it up before the ingredients were mixed! Honestly, how could you miss that? It was one of the first things I asked you to do!”
After she exploded, she instantly regretted it. Before she could apologize, he shrugged, and went to preheat the oven, muttering insults that were directed to himself. She caught a ‘only thing you’re good for is writing’ and felt a stab of guilt. She walked over to him.
She found him miserably setting the time on the oven. He was trying to find the time on the paper, and was most likely guessing what time to set the oven to. She walked over, and set it for him. He looked up at her, and she smiled. He gave a hesitant smile, and she wrapped her arms around his torso. He hugged back, and she smiled into the hug.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten mad. This is your first time baking, so I shouldn’t be getting mad,” she said. He shook his head, resting his chin on her head. “No, I should’ve listened to your instructions. I’m sorry,” he replied. “Don’t be. You didn’t do anything.” He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “Let’s just agree that we’re both right. Now, c’mon. I don’t know what to set the oven to.” She chuckled, and let herself get pulled by Alexander towards the oven.
X
“I think this is going to overflow if we put it in the oven. It looks like there’s too much batter in there..” Eliza turned around to see the pan her husband had put batter in was filled to the brim. Eliza chuckled lightly and headed towards Alexander.
“Alex, there’s a specific amount you put in so it doesn't overflow. Here, this is how much.” She took his pan and poured the appropriate amount into another pan using the overflowed one. She handed it back to him, and he nodded.
“Thanks, Betsey. So, I just fill the next one up to the same point this one is at?” She nodded. “Oh, alright. That seems pretty easy. Thank you again,” said Alexander, finishing the sentence with a kiss to her cheek. She smiled back, and headed over to where she was making the icing.
While she was adding food colouring to another batch of icing, a certain voice called out to her.
“Betsey! I forgot how much I was supposed to put..!” She shook her head and smiled fondly, heading over to her husband.
X
“You’re so cute with flour on your nose, Alex.” Alexander turned around from where he was cleaning up while they were waiting for the cake. He smiled and headed over to his wife.
“Ah yes, and so do you. The egg on your fabulous apron really compliments it,” he said, grinning. She laughed and kissed him. He kissed back, and she felt safe, calm, happy in his arms. Like, nothing else mattered but the kiss they shared.
She smiled into the kiss, and pulled away to pepper his cheeks with kisses. He smiled, and tickled her. She laughed, and to Alexander’s ears, it was sweeter than the sweetest nectar. He was after the sound of her laughter, and her happiness.
Alexander and Eliza shared one more kiss, before pulling away and smiling at each other. It was suddenly cut short by the smell of something starting to burn. Their faces dropped, and they bolted to the kitchen.
X
“Well, at least it’s only the bottom. That can be cut off easily,” Eliza said. Alexander went to go pick up the icing, and Eliza cut off the bottom.
“Okay, so how are we going to decorate?” The question was asked by Alexander after they let the cakes cool. “First, we have to assemble it. Just give me a second, it won’t take that long,” said Eliza, and Alexander nodded.
After she was done putting the buttercream on the cakes, she turned around and grabbed the icing bowls. “Okay,” she said as she clapped her hands together, “now we can decorate. So, what colours are going to be on here?”
Alexander thought for a moment, then grabbed the blue and green, setting the others aside. “These ones can be on the cake. Let’s get decorating! This is going to be the best cake ever!” Eliza and Alexander high fived, and got to decorating.
A few minutes later, the cake was a green-blue ombre, had edible glitter on top of it, and had the word, ‘Delicious!’ written in Alexander’s cursive, neat handwriting. Alexander and Eliza awed at their hard work, and rewarded each other with kisses, hugs, and tickle wars.
X
When the kids got home, Alexander was in his office. The kids put their bags down, and went to Alexander’s office to greet their dad. Eliza opened the door, and greeted them with a hug and a kiss. They all greeted their mother with the same thing, and ran towards their father. They all tackled him, and he greeted them with a hug and a kiss.
“Now, before you guys are off to go do your homework, Papa and I have a special treat for you guys.” They all perked up, excitement shining in their eyes. “Follow me, guys,” said Alexander as he rushed out of his door and to the kitchen, the children right behind him. She smiled and followed them.
When she got there, they were sitting, and bouncing up and down. Eliza chuckled lightly at the sight. She headed over to the fridge with Alexander, and they both picked up the cake at the same time.
When they headed out, The kids all whooped at the sight of the cake. Alexander had cut slices for everyone, and the kids grabbed their plates quicker than Alexander could say “Dig in!”
Eliza and Alexander laughed, grabbed their slices, and took a bite. Turns out It ended up being the best cake ever.