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The house smelled sweet and warm. How could a house possibly smell warm? Well, that's a good question. It just did. Holly hung from the ceiling and draped over the mantle of the crackling fireplace. As he got closer to the kitchen, the aroma only intensified. Montgomery smiled as the cinnamon hit his nose. His was watering as he slid into the kitchen, only to see his beautiful husband hunched over a mixing bowl, working miracles with those doctor's hands.
"What're ye doing, love?" He asked and smiled when the doctor met his eyes. Montgomery sat down at the island counter, opposite of Leonard.
"Thought I'd get ahead of the baking before the family arrives."
Ah yes, Jo was getting back from studying abroad in Deneb's star system, and Jim and Spock and their kids were bound to be arriving soon as well. Chekov would be arriving as well, and Jaylah, as they were practically adopted by the two of them on board their old days on the Enterprise.
"Smells amazing," Montgomery sighed. "Anything Ah can help with?"
Leonard chuckled softly, casting a look that most definitely read 'no'. "Last time you tried to help, you broke the oven."
Montgomery walked around the island counter to his love and wrapped his arms around him from behind. "Can Ah at least watch?"
"Yeah," Leonard hummed, pressing a gentle kiss to his husband's cheek. "Maybe you'll learn something," He teased.
He continued to hum as he worked with the cookie dough and Montgomery pressed kisses into his neck, holding him as if he couldn't bear to let go.
The timer of the oven beeped and Montgomery regrettably had to let go of Leonard so he could get the cookies out of the oven. The engineer sat down in his original place, watching him set the cookies on the stove's surface before going back to work with the dough.
Leonard seemed to approach baking with an almost medical care. His surgeon's hands(which had come in handy in other ways than baking) worked with the dough so methodically, he made it look like an art.
"Beautiful," Montgomery whispered aloud and Leonard looked up at him, blushing slightly.
"They're just cookies, Mont." Leonard took the dough and spread it out onto the floured counter, beginning to cut shapes out of the dough.
"Not the cookies," Montgomery emphasized. "You."
Leonard didn't respond, only smiled softly. After a moment, Leonard grabbed a plate and began easing the already finished cookies onto them before setting them down in front of Monty with a glass of milk.
"Okay, but try them."
Leonard's eyes glimmered in anticipation. They did this every year and yet that look was still the same, that adorable, pure look. Leonard had started baking during a time of great need and what had started out as a coping mechanism became a little hobby. Bones had spent most of his academy days feeding Jim, and food almost equated to love for him. Then Montgomery came along, who was not very good at remembering when to eat. The engineer spent so much time in engineering, he forgot to take care of himself, and when they started dating, Leonard would make sure he'd eaten and taken breaks. Leonard bringing him food was one of the first signs Montgomery ever recognized as the doctor being smitten with him, and from there, their love only bloomed.
Montgomery grabbed a cookie and took an eager bite. His eyes widened as the flavor hit him. 20 or so years they'd done this and yet, every bit of Leonard's cooking was like tasting dreams.
"They're not frosted yet," Leonard warned, but Montgomery just shook his head.
"It's perfect." The euphoria of the cookie's flavor was almost overwhelming. "You're perfect."
Leonard chuckled softly, leaning over the counter to kiss his boyfriend properly.
And all was quiet for awhile.