Two years and counting: Jamie and Kitty in the treehouse, late at night

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

Jamie's anniversary present to Kitty comes as something of a surprise, especially once he explains it. But it's the good kind of surprise.



It was late at night, and candles flickered from every corner of the treehouse. Jamie leaned over, stealing a kiss as he set his present carefully aside.

As he reclined back on the cushions, he checked his watch. Midnight. Perfect. He grinned at Kitty and hefted the bulky package that was his present to her--or part of it. "Just so you know," he said lightly, "this is sort of a combination anniversary and birthday present. And it might take a little explanation."

Kitty eyed the package curiously as she took it. "That," she said, "is a very large sort of present."

"Mm." Jamie settled back down, leaning on his elbows and grinning at her. "Yes, as a matter of fact it is. Want the explanation first or unwrap the present first?"

Given Kitty had already started worming her fingers under the tape, the answer seemed self evident and, as the paper ripped she grinned at Jamie. "Want to see," she told him. Of course, when the paper was off the look of curiosity was overlaid with a look of slight confusion. "It's a... drawer?"

"It's a dresser drawer," Jamie corrected. "See . . . Doug and I are gonna be moving into one of those graduate suites after my birthday next month, with the private rooms, and all. And I know we can't really officially move in together until next year, but I thought, if you want, you could keep some of your stuff in my room, in that drawer, and it could be sort of a down payment on next year." He smiled hopefully. "And maybe we could try out the living together, y'know, on a kind of unofficial trial basis that involves you staying over a lot, if you want to. What do you think?"

Kitty's mouth didn't drop open, nor did she leap instantly at Jamie to express her approval of the idea (which was good, as otherwise the drawer would have probably lead to there being more Jamies about when it bashed into him along with her). She had the presence of mind to set the drawer down and even to say, "Yes," before she launched herself at him.

Jamie oofed softly as he suddenly (and pleasantly) found himself with a lapful of happy girlfriend. "Hoped you'd say that," he murmured once his lips were free again. "I'm guessing you don't mind me combining occasions with just the one present, either?"

"No, not at all. Wonderful present. Wonderful idea. Wonderful, wonderful boyfriend. All other boyfriends pail in comparison. All the girls are jealous of me. Did I mention that you're wonderful? And that I love you? Have I told you, in the last five minutes or so, how much I love you?"

"Mm, well, now you have." Jamie kissed her again. "And I, just in case I haven't said it lately either, love you. To distraction. And I'm the one people get jealous of, because you're the one who's amazing enough to inspire me to come up with this kind of thing. So there."

"Can we continue arguing about which one of us is the better catch until we're old and crotchety?" Kitty asked, knowing full well what his opinion on the matter was (it matching remarkably well with her own) but hearing him say he wanted to be with her forever was still the best thing in the world.

"Until we both have to turn our hearing aids up to max to hear it," Jamie said, pressing his forehead against Kitty's and getting lost in her eyes. "And after that doesn't work anymore we can pass notes."

"I still think that is the best plan you have ever had," she told him, catching his hand to lace their fingers together. "All other plans pail in comparison."

"Well, it's not a perfect plan yet," Jamie replied, his tone self-deprecating. "I still haven't figured out what we do if we both go blind and deaf, y'know, when we're a hundred and six. I'm trying to come up with some sort of Morse Code kind of thing we can tap out on each other's wrists, though, and I'll keep you posted."

"I'll be here and waiting," Kitty said, curling up in his lap so she could rest her head on his shoulder after kissing him softly on the cheek. "You have officially won the best present award for this year, I think. Not, mind you, that I am prepared to throw in the towel as regards your birthday next month, but I'm not sure how I can top this one."

"Oh, I have faith in you." Jamie nestled his arms comfortably around her. "Although I always think you are the best present I could possibly ever get, so what's the need to top anything?" He grinned. "Not, I hasten to say, that I mind you trying."

"I shall persevere. Am looking for a present I think is the best but, unfortunately, when it comes to things you deserve I suffer because I can not afford to gift wrap the world."

"It would take a lot of wrapping paper," Jamie agreed solemnly. "And you have to think of the rainforests, because wrapping paper grows as trees."

"A good point. Well, I'll shelve that plan then, indefinitely." She grinned suddenly. "If I had a big enough laser I could laser 'To Jamie, with Love' onto the moon and give that to you. It would be more sightly than just writing 'CHA'."

Jamie snickered. "It would. And I like your face just the way it is. I would be very unhappy if it suddenly got replaced by furniture, no matter how detailed the woodworking."

"I have to agree with you there, yes." Kitty nodded. "I'm rather fond of my head as is."

"It has many advantages over a chair. For one thing . . ." Jamie leaned down for a deep and thorough kiss. "I'd get splinters in all sorts of strange places if I tried that and your head was a chair."

The lack of breath was as much because of Kitty's giggling as because of the kiss. "Yes. Also, I am fond of having eyes, because then I can see you, especially when you're not wearing a shirt. Or other things." She grinned.

Jamie's eyebrows went up lazily. "Was that a hint? Because I could take it as a hint."

Kitty slid her arms around his waist, slipping her hands under the hem of his shirt. "I'm not going to say it wasn't a hint..."

Jamie grinned and slowly tugged his shirt up. "Well, without any confirmation either way, I guess I'll just have to trust my instincts, and I have a hunch it was a hint."

Kitty's fingers followed the rising hem, tracing along his ribs as she moved back so he could pull the shirt over his head. "Mmmm, shoulders," she said, pressing kisses along his shoulders and up his neck. "Still a big fan of the shoulders."

"Have noticed," Jamie murmured raggedly. "Blacksmithing was a lot more fun than pushups though. Pushups are . . . mmm. Boring."

"Worth it, though," Kitty told him, turning her head to give him a proper kiss. "Definitely worth it."

"This is me not arguing. See me not arguing? And what about you, hmm?" Jamie's fingers traced down Kitty's ribs in search of her shirt hem. "Ballet's been nothing but good to you all these years."

Kitty squirmed slightly as his fingers tickled her before reaching down to tug her own shirt off. "Has it's good points, I agree. All that dance practice pays off in the strangest ways, huh?"

"See, I'm not so much thinking 'strange' as I am 'incredible and exciting,'" Jamie said, hands moving back up. "But, y'know, whatever works for you."

"Mmmm, exciting, that works," Kitty said, pressing forward for another kiss. "That works very well."

"Had a feeling." Jamie smiled. "Happy birthday."

"Happy anniversary, love."