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Sunday - The Beginning.
In just one week, Max and Amanda will celebrate their first wedding anniversary.
After nearly five years together, and the things they went through, it’s still incredible how far they’ve come. How much they’ve grown, both individually and as a couple.
It shouldn’t feel so intimidating, but it does. When it comes to anniversaries, Amanda is an expert at making them memorable and making Max feel special. Max doubts that Amanda will let up for this important date.
Just like before, Max wants to match her. Only she doesn't have the slightest idea what to do, and it's embarrassing, because as her wife, she's supposed to be one of the people who knows Amanda best—and that's true.
She can’t afford to make any mistakes.
Amanda is... she’s the perfect woman, and Max wouldn’t know what to do if she ever lost her. If anything, she wants to do everything in her power- no pun intended- to make sure that never happens and that they'll have their happy ending—, buried side by side, so that their souls may pass into eternity and be reunited.
- -
On weekends, the Snapping Turtle is always packed with Max’s students and colleagues. Amanda once confessed that having Max around during these grueling shifts helps her, and since then, Max has become her constant companion.
So naturally, Max accompanies her to the Turtle early in the morning.
Moses and Safi are there when Max finishes her breakfast, grading assignments from the week with a slowness that’s unusual for them. They even have a steaming pot of coffee in the center of the table, they both look stressed, their eyes darting back and forth between their laptops. Max approaches them once she’s finished paying, still putting her wallet away when Safi catches a glimpse of her out of the corner of her eye.
"Hey, shouldn't you be working?" she asks, her voice slurring, leaning back in her chair and stifling a yawn.
"Oh, I'm taking care of my wifely duties," Max shrugs, though she still feels her heart lighten at the reminder; she grabs the nearest chair and settles into it. The two of them glare at her. "What?" she asks, raising her eyebrows in mild surprise.
"You can’t be serious, Max," Moses says, rubbing his temple with a grimace as if it hurt. Max wonders how many hours he’s been awake.
"Yeah, that's impossible." Safi rolls her eyes and then shakes her head, as if she's disappointed. "All you ever do is brag, you jerk."
Max almost laughs. Actually, she doesn’t have much to say in defense, because she loves to reminisce and remind everyone that Amanda is her wife. Well, now she feels a little guilty—maybe her enthusiasm is a bit annoying. She’ll try to keep that in mind.
But screw it, she’s Married. To. Amanda. Thomas.
"Hey!" Max puts a hand to her chest, feigning offense. The sun's rays fall on her wedding ring—a simple gold band (which Amanda had suggested, for comfort while she worked)—engraved with her wife's initials (A.T.) and their wedding date, which glisten brightly. "I'm serious. I finished grading the papers days ago."
She’s always ready for the weekend. That means starting to grade papers on Wednesdays so she can finish by Friday, and then sorting through and editing her photos from Saturday to Sunday. Busy, but not too busy if Amanda needs her. She’s learned her lesson.
(She can no longer count on her fingers the number of times Amanda drags her out onto the terrace to kiss her until she’s breathless, as a way to shake off her frustration and exhaustion, as if kissing Max gave her a reason to stay sane.)
In a few months, she’ll have a new photo exhibition in New York, and she’s already getting ready for it. Hazel is constantly giving her suggestions and feedback. If all goes well, Max might finally make a name for herself in the industry—which is exactly what Hazel is after.
Safi snorts, her elbows resting on the table. “So what? Are you spending quality time?” She seems happy to keep talking instead of grading papers. Moses doesn’t even look at them, one hand still on his laptop’s touchpad.
Max hums, crossing her arms as she leans on the table. “If you want to look at it that way. I have to edit a couple of photos.”
“I don’t see your laptop anywhere,” Safi points out, mimicking her pose as she taps her fist on the table.
"Amanda's using it," Max says dismissively with a wave of her hand. Amanda's laptop is at the repair shop after she accidentally installed a virus while trying to download a game. Max ended up buying it for her and lets her use the laptop, as long as she lets her know in advance.
Amanda had been quite resigned, visibly guilty, even though Max had insisted it was okay.
"Oh. My. God," Safi complains, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Are you that typical couple who shares everything and call it 'love language'? Just what I fucking needed. Get out of here," she gestures for her to leave, with a mocking smile.
Max chuckles. “You love us.”
Still, even after they’ve finished grading and decided to celebrate, Safi’s comment about love language lingers in her mind.
That night, while Amanda sleeps peacefully beside her, Max reads up on the love languages until exhaustion gets the better of her.
She already has an idea of how to make their first anniversary memorable.
- -
1. Monday - Words of Affirmation.
As always, Amanda’s alarm clock wakes them up. Max grumbles, wanting to stay wrapped in her wife’s warmth a little longer, while Amanda chuckles hoarsely, running her fingers through her hair as she tries to convince her to get up.
Max usually has no trouble waking up as soon as the alarm goes off, but since she went to bed so late, her limbs feel like jelly. Amanda looks a bit worried when she murmurs to her again to get up, and that’s enough to actually get Max out of bed. She doesn’t like to worry her wife over nothing.
Since it’s Monday, Max usually has her classes later, but she still reluctantly (she’s too tired) joins her wife in their morning routine. While Amanda prepares a delicious breakfast for them, Max takes care of putting away the clean dishes from the night before (and washing any that are left) and picking out their outfits for the day (shouting the options from their room for Amanda to choose from). That’s how they usually start their day, and it’s a routine they both enjoy. Amanda likes to take over the kitchen, and Max has learned to use that time to do little things that relieve them of unnecessary stress.
They sit across from each other and usually chat briefly, both still half-asleep and thinking about their plans for the day.
Amanda puts the dishes in the sink and Max washes them. That’s the moment they both take to spend time together. Amanda’s job requires her to be away from home longer than Max’s, so they know that moments like these are precious and fleeting.
Max dries her hands and turns around, feeling a smile begin to form on her lips. Amanda has been stealing her clothes since the beginning of their relationship, and today she’s wearing a worn-out one that used to say Seattle. As she leans against a countertop with her head tilted slightly while looking at something on her phone, Max feels her heart racing.
“You’re a goddess,” Max blurts out without thinking, slowly looking her up and down. Amanda looks at her, a little surprised, as if she hadn't expected that comment. "Do I really have to let you go, love?" Max pouts slightly, to which Amanda responds with a smile.
Amanda playfully rolls her eyes. “Don’t start, hon” she warns lightly, without really meaning it, setting her phone on the table to welcome her with open arms as Max slips into her personal space.
“It’s impossible not to, babe,” she murmurs, pulling her close. “You drive me crazy.”
"And you drive me crazy too," Amanda murmurs as she strokes her back.
The sun streams in through the windows little by little, but that’s not why they feel warm. They’re surrounded by light, without even realizing it.
"Thank you for what you do. I admire you so much," Max whispers against her shoulder, and Amanda hugs her tighter, without answering.
But Max feels her melting against her, and that’s enough. She makes a mental note to tell her that more often.
- -
2. Tuesday - Quality time.
It takes Max almost the whole day to figure out how to do it. Because just going to the Turtle doesn’t leave her much time to talk to Amanda about anything other than trivial things—or they don’t even get a chance to talk at all. And by the time Amanda gets home, Max prefers to let her rest, since she always feels guilty about keeping her up too late.
During breakfast and at work, she gets distracted several times that if she hadn’t been a professional photographer for years, she probably would have completely lost her train of thought during class, but she managed to get through it, even though she received quite a few questioning looks from her students.
Their reaction made her recall that morning after Amanda had proposed to her, when Max couldn’t stop smiling and blushing, that she, too, had received those looks from her students. At the end of class, Max had given in and told them the news, which they greeted with cheers.
A gentle smile crosses her face as she gazes fondly at her ring. Seeing it there, where it belongs, where it will always belong, fills her heart with joy.
That’s when the idea strikes her.
So she goes an hour before the Turtle closes and stays until Amanda starts closing up. That’s when she gets up and helps her out however she can. It’s not the first time this has happened, and besides, Amanda is too tired to turn down some extra help.
Max takes charge of stacking the chairs once Amanda finishes cleaning the tables leaving them sparkling clean. It takes a little effort to keep them steady, but after doing it so many times, Max has her technique down.
Max shakes her hands, looking around for her wife. She spots her just as she’s coming out of the kitchen with the broom in her hand. She walks up to her and snatches the broom from her hand.
Amanda frowns in confusion. “What?” she asks, blinking repeatedly.
"What?" Max glances at her out of the corner of her eye, already starting to sweep.
The music from the speaker is still playing, though a little quieter, so their voices echo through the empty bar.
"Honey, you've been on your feet all day—let me do this for you," Max says, without looking at her.
Amanda sighs, leaning against the bar. "It wasn’t that bad." Max snorts, sensing the little white lie, and Amanda gives in. "Okay, maybe I was a little uncomfortable, but nothing I haven’t dealt with before."
Max shakes her head, bending down slightly to sweep under the tables. “Well, that’s why I’m here, isn’t it?”
“Among other things, hon” Amanda jokes, looking at her with a weary smile, a silent thank-you in her eyes.
Luckily, she still feels like talking, Max notes to herself.
“So… anything interesting happen today?” she asks, trying to sound indifferent, but they both know her secret motive.
Amanda doesn't even bat an eye; she fills Max in on the latest rumors and gossip, with Max chipping in what she can from Caledon.
That counts, right?
- -
3. Wednesday - Gifts.
Even though it might not seem like it, Amanda is a fan of anime and manga. Still, she doesn’t have any merchandise. It’s something Max has been working to fix since they started dating, because she wants to give Amanda everything and because she likes to see her get excited.
After teaching her class, before sitting down to grade papers at the Turtle while she waits with Safi for Moses to finish his classes, she decides to go buy her some more manga volumens.
Since they’ve been so busy—Max caught up in the whirlwind of preparing for her exhibition and her classes, and Amanda getting ready to do stand-up at some bars around Lakeport—she had forgotten.
She goes to her favorite store to buy another manga volume, and the employees recognize her as usual.
"Hey, Max. Are you looking for the volumes of your wife’s favorite manga?" one of them asks excitedly, and Max can’t help but smile.
"Hey Ben. Yeah, I am."
And, as always, they put the manga in a blue bag with her wife’s name written on a piece of paper stuck to it. Max leaves them a tip as usual before leaving.
She arrives at the Turtle a little late, and that is the first thing Safi points out as soon as she sits down at their table.
"Haven’t you ever heard of being on time?"
Max rolls her eyes, pulling out her laptop and her briefcase full of photos. “This is the first time I’ve been late.”
“Nuh-uh,” Safi shakes her head, taking a sip of her vodka. Max grimaces at the smell. She’s gotten drunk on vodka so many times that the mere scent makes her nauseous. “It’s not the first time, and you know it. You’re just rewinding and hoping no one notices.”
Max gasps, offended. “Hey, I told you that in confidence! It was just once!” she protests, pointing a finger at her.
"Yeah, well, who'd be late to their own wedding anyway right?"
Max blushes, coughing discreetly. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
But they both know it’s a lie. That Max was so nervous about her wedding that she’d been late because she’d been overthinking what could go wrong. Of course, she realized that being late would mean Amanda might start having doubts too—that it would mean Max wasn’t excited or fully committed.
The only solution had been to raise her right hand and undo her mistake lateness.
She’d told Safi this during her wedding reception—a lapse in judgment, considering anyone could have overheard her—but Max had been on cloud nine, caught up in the alcohol and the thrill of being newlywed.
Luckily, Safi had remained as neutral as possible, clenching her jaw and leaning in to scold her in a whisper.
Safi lets it slide, with a look in her eyes that said she’d bring it up again sooner or later. Max groans.
“Anyway. You’re up to something,” Safi accuses her, deliberately gesturing with the hand holding her drink. Max turns her face away and sticks her tongue out at her.
“Not at all,” she denies, waving her hands. “I’m innocent of whatever you’re insinuating.”
“Max, you know I love you, but hiding things has never been your strong suit,” Safi clicks her tongue. “Does it have anything to do with a certain bartender?”
"Are you talking about my wife?" Max turns her head instinctively, only to grimace again. "Fuck, how can you drink that so calmly?"
"Because some of us didn't get drunk on vodka in our youth, obviously," Safi smiles at her. "But seriously, what's going on with you?"
"I'm just... doing something," Max shrugs.
"You're not going to ask for a divorce or anything, are you?" Safi raises an eyebrow, staring at her. Max almost chokes on her own breath.
"No! Of course not!" Max exclaims, her eyes wide with horror. Safi hums, nodding satisfied.
"Good. Because if that were the case, I'd take Amanda's side. In a blink."
- -
As night falls, after dinner and washing the dishes, Amanda takes a moment to relax on the couch. Max seizes the opportunity to find the gift and approach her.
"Love," she calls out with a soft hum, holding the bag behind her back as she stands close to her wife.
Amanda, with her head resting against the back of the seat and almost asleep, looks at her with interest.
"I brought you something."
She hands her the bag, and Amanda immediately sits down to receive it. She opens it carefully and then lets out a squeal of excitement.
"God, Max! I was just thinking about buying that!" Amanda looks at the different volumes with sparkling eyes before turning to look at her. Max smiles at her.
"I love you," she says tenderly, and Amanda visibly softens.
"I love you too."
- -
4. Thursday - Acts of service.
Max has always loved doing little things for Amanda, but coming up with something specific to help her relieve her stress is hard when there are so many options.
Maybe in the kitchen? After all, Amanda is almost always cooking for them. Max always offers to help her, but over the years she’s learned that cooking is like a Zen moment for Amanda—one that shouldn’t be interrupted.
Oh, but she could help her get the monthly grocery shopping out of the way. It’s not really a set chore for the two of them; it’s more like when they actually need something from the supermarket.
And Amanda has made little comments about things she’s missing while cooking—Max can’t believe she even remembered them. And she knows they’re not hints, because her wife likes to tell her things straight to her face.
Still.
After parking at the Turtle and saying goodbye to Amanda in the car—with kisses and plenty of romantic sweet-talking—Max heads to the Lakeport supermarket, which takes her a while, though fortunately she passes the time listening to music.
Max starts by focusing on buying the things Amanda likes—the spices she needs to season her food, ingredients for her favorite dishes, and a few gifts—before moving on to the general items they both need, and finally picking up what she needs. It takes her a few hours, but eventually she has at least five bags, which she loads into her car and heads home happily.
It’s a challenge to carry all the bags into their apartment, but she manages somehow.
After setting them on the counter, she decides to send Amanda a photo, as she usually does.
Her wife replies a few minutes later, thanking her and telling her she didn’t know they needed to go to the grocery store.
Max isn’t sure if it really counts when it’s just an everyday thing, so she decides to order something from Amanda’s favorite restaurant for dinner, leaving enough for her to have for lunch. Maybe it’ll even last for breakfast, giving Amanda a break from cooking.
It takes her a while to get to Lakeport and order at the restaurant, but it’s worth it.
Because, at the end of the day, Amanda had hugged her, covered her face with kisses, and thanked her with that smile of hers that always melts Max’s heart.
- -
5. Friday - Physical contact.
It’s Amanda’s day off.
Which means this day will be the easiest.
When the alarm goes off, Max turns it off as Amanda begins to wake up. Max rests her arm on the pillow and presses her cheek against her palm as she watches her.
Amanda always looks pretty when she first wakes up.
When her brown eyes open and lock onto her, she lets out a little groan. “You can’t look like that when you first wake up,” she murmurs in a hoarse voice, and Max just smiles briefly at her.
"Neither should you," she hums, reaching out with her free hand to stroke her cheek. Amanda hums in delight, turning to face her. Max’s breath catches at their sudden closeness.
She feels Amanda’s hands brush against her waist, while her eyes remain fixed on her.
“Do you want to cuddle?” Max asks, instinctively moving closer. Amanda nods immediately, opening her arms.
Max lets out a little chuckle before moving closer, letting her wife wrap her arms around her and snuggle against her chest.
Max rests her cheek on top of her head, wrapping her arms around her shoulders as she closes her eyes.
Sleeping a little longer sounds perfect.
- -
Saturday - Caught.
Amanda is quieter than usual during breakfast, something Max notices immediately, but she decides not to say anything.
She knows her wife well enough to know she needs some space.
As Max was washing the dishes, she suddenly felt arms wrap around her waist and a warm body press against her back. She couldn’t help but smile.
“You’ve been acting weird,” Amanda murmurs against her neck. Max almost tenses up, as if she’d been caught red-handed.
“Weird?” Max asks, tilting her head slightly in curiosity.
“I think you know what I mean.” Of course she does.
She should have known Amanda would notice.
Max hums. “But it wasn’t bad, was it?” she asks in a low voice, feeling a little embarrassed—mostly because she’d been caught.
“No,” Amanda says, somehow snuggling up against her. “Weird in a good way, I guess.”
"Okay," Max leans against the sink, suddenly nervous. But she hasn’t done anything wrong, has she?
"I might have been showing you affection in different love languages," she confesses, tilting her head back and leaning awkwardly on Amanda’s shoulder, who lets out a small, questioning sound.
"Really?"
Max hums, sitting up straight. "I feel like I should start doing it more often, so you never have to doubt whether I love you," she explains in a low voice.
Amanda gives her a soft kiss on the shoulder. Max leans into her touch. "That's really sweet, but I’ll never doubt it, Max. You already make me feel loved by just existing."
Max hums, smiling.
"... You know I'm going to do it anyway, right?"
Amanda giggles. "I'm counting on it."