the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

Curled up on the couch, Alanna leafs through her last book on Atlantis. Over the last few hours, she's become something of an expert on the subject. That doesn't mean, however, that she doesn't look up every now and then and wonder when Adam will return. They have much to discuss.

She glances at the door and sighs, reaching for the apple and cinnamon tea near at hand. It's possible she spends more time smelling it than drinking.

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"Hmmm?"

(Blodwen's powerless, Blodwen's powerless, Blodwen's powerless)

"Oh! Mike. Goddess, poor Mike. But I think I actually quit!"

.

. . . .

. . . . . . . .

"Really?"

"...Possibly. In a way."

She starts to blush.

"I definitely made my intentions known."

He laughs a lot, and only rolls his eyes a little, and kisses her.

"I'm proud of you."

Feeling silly, Alanna rubs her nose and gives him a lopsided smile.

"It requires explanation. When I got up to feed the animals this morning, I found Mike attempting to blend into the mural. I've never seen him look like that." She swallows, obviously concerned. "Apparently Bar somehow switched from Bernard to Mike."

"Right. Mike was hiding in the mural. That explains-

wait, what?"

Eyes wide, Alanna nods.

"Aye, that was much my reaction. I can't pretend to understand. We have no idea if it's temporary or permanent, but it seems as if Mike is currently head barman."

He nods, and leans his head into Alanna's shoulder.

"I guess we'll just-

wow."

She keeps talking, absently running her fingers through his hair much as she had done to Mike earlier.

"He said he thought he's my boss now, and in the same breath, asked for my help. Of course I promised to help him, but I had to be honest with him as well. I had to tell him. All those times I tried to imagine how I could possibly tell Bernard, and it just tumbled out. I suppose because I made my promises to Bernard, not Mike. But I told him I can't be head of security much longer. I told him we might have a baby."

Saying it aloud sends a delightful shiver down her spine.

"I-"

He grins, and kisses her.

"Saying it seems so..."

Another kiss, then.

"Seems so?" Lowering her lashes, she watches his mouth when he pulls back. "Seems so what?" she murmurs.

"Real."

But the smile on his face clearly says that's not a bad thing.

She laughs quietly.

"It does, doesn't it? You should've heard me stammering all over myself to Mike. I think that's the first time I've actually said it in quite that way."

Adam nods, and lifts a thumb to his mouth to chew on it.

"What'd he say?"

"In the midst of his own confusion?" A fond smile crosses her face. "He said it was perfectly understandable, and congratulations. Neither one of us knows if I still need to discuss this with Bernard, but it felt so good to say."

"Feels like a relief, almost."

"All of it," she insists, thinking of Blodwen again. "I couldn't not be honest with him when he asked for my help."

Lifting her hands to his cheeks, she gives him a slow, soft kiss.

"Citizen."

It's soft and it's warm and it's everything he's ever loved about her, and all the things he's come to love. He only pulls away slowly, running a finger lightly down her cheek.

"Wonder if England offers dual citizenship for such situations."

"Do let me accompany you if and when you decide to question the authorities on the matter. I suspect it would be quite entertaining."

Catching his hand, she kisses his fingertips and giggles.

"I think, perhaps, they'll make an exception for me."

He grins, and captures her mouth briefly.

"Maybe when I go to let Lucy through."

He winks.

That catches her off guard. She blinks, eyes on his.

"When's this?"

"Next weekend.

...this weekend?

She said she needed a vacation."

Her eye twitches, and just like that, she's out of his lap, gathering her books and stacking them in a neat pile.

"Oh. I suppose she truly does. What better time to take one if Blodwen has been dealt with?"

Adam looks up at Alanna, utterly and completely confused.

"I... suppose."

He blinks.

"What just happened there? You were in my lap, and then you weren't."

"I stood up."

Chin stubbornly in the air, she looks for the last book and tells herself to stop being stupid. She turns around and sighs.

"I just- no tubs with the special jets! And you better miss me."