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Day Fifteen
Coffee, Fresh Flowers, and Bacon
A soft gasp escaped Shepard as she turned the corner and saw what awaited her in the small, quaint kitchen of their cabin. She'd been drawn from sleep when the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon had wafted into the bedroom.
Standing in the entryway to the kitchen, she was greeted with yet another scent, fresh flowers. A large vase with a breathtaking arrangement of white calla lilies and red roses rested in the center of the island. As she stepped further into the room, she noticed the small, square box resting on the countertop beside the vase and froze.
Kaidan turned toward her at the sound of her gasp, his concern giving way to an affectionate grin as he noted where her gaze lingered. Her eyes flicked up to meet his and her expression shifted to one of forced calm.
In the past few days of their shore leave, she'd grown to love the way his short, curly black hair was completely disheveled first thing in the morning. And the way he'd surrendered his too-large t-shirts to her, clearly favoring the sight of her wearing his clothes as she shuffled around groggily.
She slid her arms around his body, giving him a tight squeeze as he kept his eyes on hers. She reached up and placed a kiss against his soft lips, humming contentedly against them before pulling away.
"So, what's all of this?" she asked as she faced the island. She reached toward the flowers, feeling the soft petals between her fingers and pointedly avoiding the small box beside the vase.
Kaidan pulled the last pieces of bacon from the frying pan and sat them on the plate beside the stove. He'd also made buttermilk pancakes and scrambled eggs as she'd slept in.
"Well, as this is our last full day of shore leave together, I figured I'd spoil the hell out of you while I still can," he responded with a mischievous grin.
Shepard chuckled lightly as she grabbed the two mugs they'd been using all week from the dish drying rack beside the sink. She sat them down beside the coffee pot, pouring the dark liquid into the mugs and following the routine of adding their cream and sugar according to their individual preferences.
A frown pulled at her lips as she thought of this being the last time she'd be making Kaidan's coffee for a while. The thought was honestly a bit depressing.
Kaidan turned away from the stove, bearing two identical plates of food. He sat them down in front of the bar stools beside the island and took his seat just as Shepard finished with their drinks. She took her place beside him and handed him his mug, trying desperately to push the sense of dread out of her mind.
"You know, the box isn't going to bite," Kaidan prompted pointedly as they both began eating the food he'd so lovingly prepared. Shepard glanced sideways at him, a small smirk playing on her lips as she noted the glint in his eyes.
"I wasn't sure. It looks so dangerous next to the fresh calla lilies," she responded as she picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite of it. Kaidan leaned closer, planting a kiss on her cheek.
"I know they're your favorite," he replied in a knowing tone. She'd only mentioned it once before, weeks and weeks ago. Of course he'd remembered such a small, insignificant detail.
"Show off," she grumbled as she reached toward the box.
She held it close to her ear and shook it, a grin spreading across her lips as Kaidan rolled his eyes at her. She slowly raised the lid of the box, smiling as her eyes rested on the piece of jewelry inside.
It was a small chain of white gold, attached to a charm shaped like a heart.
"Oh no, don't tell me… You're giving me your heart?" she asked with a chuckle.
A blush settled across Kaidan's cheeks as he avoided meeting her gaze. "That's awfully sappy, Nat," he retorted through a mouthful of food.
Shepard brought her foot up to rest against the edge of his chair and held the anklet out for him expectantly.
"Come on, Kay. Isn't that kind of your thing?" she whispered playfully as he gently took the anklet from her hand. She watched his deft fingers work as he clasped the delicate piece of jewelry around her ankle. They both admired it against her porcelain skin until she moved her foot to push against the side of his bar stool, forcing him to turn toward her.
"It's beautiful, Kaidan. Thank you," she said gently, lowering her leg and standing up. Her hands rested on either side of his chair as she slowly spun him until he was facing away from the counter, all the while placing tender kisses against his neck. She felt the rumble of his laugh against her lips and smiled, pulling away to look at him as he met her gaze.
"As always, you're right. That's what I'm known for," he replied as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his body. "And I've given you my heart already, Nat. I love you more than I can say."
Shepard felt her heartbeat quicken at his soft words. She cradled her hands against his cheeks, staring into the warmth of his golden-brown eyes. She pulled away from him, grabbing one of his hands and gently leading him away from the kitchen.
"Whoa, we haven't even finished breakfast yet," he protested indignantly as he grabbed for a piece of bacon from his plate before it was out of reach.
"Hey, it's my turn to spoil the hell out of you," she replied suggestively as she turned slightly, smirking at him as she led him back toward the bedroom.