Chapter Text
The washing up
They hadn’t meant to fall asleep, it had been a long week, and both had sacked off dinner plans with Ben and Sophie.
He hadn’t seen his brother in a while, and he really wanted to see him. But he was just so fucking tired. Like nearly falling asleep in the office tired.
His assistant had told him to go home, though he’d never been one to be told what to-do, he listened and had left the office at a reasonable time.
The morning prior, he’d seen the tiredness in his wife’s eyes as she sat there with Good Morning Britan playing on the TV, glazed over and not really listening. He’d asked if she was okay, and she’d cited period pain.
As he did every month, he’d asked if there was anything he could do to help, make it easier. She just shook her head, telling him it was fine and that other people have it worse than her.
Not that it negated his wife’s suffering, but she wouldn’t listen.
Instead, he made a mental note to pick up a galaxy chocolate bar on his way home. Something he knew that she’d never ask for but appreciated all the same.
He’d asked her then if he wanted to cancel Ben and Sophie. Predictably, she told him no, and that she’d be fine once she’d taken some paracetamol and finished her coffee. He’d rolled his eyes, kissing her as he left for another day in the office.
He’d called Ben Thursday evening, saying he wanted to raincheck and Ben was fine with that. His brother had heard the sheer exhaustion in his voice and told him no problem and to get some rest.
They’d opted to order in, and watch ‘’love actually.’ He’d moaned, as she’d (mockingly) pleaded with him, whilst he ordered from dominos.
“Are we picking up or getting it delivered” he’d asked, not looking up from his phone as he put in their usual order. “Kate?”
“Can we watch love actually?”
“Not what I asked.”
“Please?”
“Delivery or not?”
“Please, it’s nearly December, perfect time for love actually.”
“Not what I’m asking.”
“Please.”
“Yes, now do you want to go and pick it up?”
“Do I look like I’m wanting to go and pick it up? I’m in my pyjamas.” His smirk doesn’t go unnoticed, instead she quickly flashes him, to prove a point that she was not ready to leave the house.
“Delivery it is. Do you want any extras?”
“No, I’m good with pizza – Hawaiian, right?”
“Yes, you absolute mad woman. Pineapple does not belong on pizza.”
“It is elite and I won’t have a bad word said about it.”
“Weirdo”
“Coming from the man who tried to iron his boxers.”
“Do you want a glass of water?” He shakes his head, placing a singular kiss on her cheek as she walked by.
“I love you Kathani Bridgeton.”
“I love you too Ant” she grins, pulling him to the sofa. Normally one of them would make some crude joke about shagging instead of watching a movie. Today, both were too tired.
It had been a long week for him; everyone had wanted something from him. He’d stayed late most nights, and that is why he’d binned Ben off this evening. He wanted to spend time with his wife. If it was up to him, they’d do nothing all weekend, but Kate had arranged plans with Mary that couldn’t be postponed. Supposedly.
And if they missed brunch one more time, Hyacinth would send out a search party, having missed four consecutive brunches.
She’d had an equally long week, lots of time reading contracts and signing off on important documents. A nice salary, but it felt like she was selling her soul a bit.
He’d begged her to join Bridgeton enterprises legal department, but she had been hesitant. Working with her husband was one step more than she was ready for. Living and working with the same person, who could be so vexing at times, was not something she really wanted to-do. He didn’t like it, but he understood it.
They’d paused the movie when the pizza had been delivered, plating up the pizza and eating it on the sofa.
He remembers pulling her in close and kissing her head.
He doesn’t remember falling asleep, he doesn’t remember her falling asleep but doubted he was the first one to drop off.
He spends a moment studying her features, the woman he loves more than life itself. No one would ever be able to compare to her.
They’re different to the people they were when they met at 23 and 25. Both heavy into the partying scene, something that they’d given up relatively soon after they met (I mean, he didn’t need to pull when he was shagging a literal goddess who, surprisingly, liked him back. Flaws and all). They’d fallen into a rhythm where they stopped going out, stopped drinking like fishes, and the only coke they inhaled was the drink that sat in their fridge. He couldn’t pinpoint when the shift happened, but it happened quickly. Five years down the line, he could barely remember what those nights were like, and how crap they made him feel. Instead, he got to spend time with his beautiful wife.
She looks older, not massively but the babyface she was blessed with had morphed ever so slightly so that she stopped looking like a teenager. He’d never say it, but he found her even sexier now.
He notices the plate balanced on her stomach, half eaten crust sitting there. As much as he’d love to stay like this, he knows that they need to bin their food before Newton gets at it. He gently navigates his way around her, ensuring she stayed sound asleep, placing the pillow on the floor under her head, and giving her a little kiss.
Quietly gathering the boxes, he sorts them between the bin and recycling and doing the washing up. They had a dishwasher, but they were waiting on an engineer to fix it.
“C’mon sleepy head” he murmurs, gently rousing her, “time for bed.” She woke up, wiping her mouth in the process, “washing up?”
“I’ve done it, let’s go to bed.”
“Mm love you, Anthony.”
“Not nearly as much as I love you.”