Adonis @anthro-adonis - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag

Adonis

@anthro-adonis

Lover of anthropology, nature, and books, among other things. (Death Stranding OC!)

64 posts

She gladly let him kiss her again, tightening her grip on his hand just slightly. After a few comfortable beats, she pulled back just enough to speak, her forehead still pressed against his. "I sure hope it was, considering you've been promising me countless kisses for weeks... I intend to make you pay up, my dear." She couldn't help but laugh a little bit, enjoying it all far more than she thought she would. -A

“It was amazing… it really was…” He laugh softly and rub barely his nose against hers, enjoying her “Oh you don’t worry, honey, I will pay for all of them, and with interests. If I ever get late for a kiss, you can always demand for a 200% more of kisses”

He smile amply, rubbing softly her hand with the thumb as the hand he had in her cheek, wander slowly for her jaw and neck, caressing barely her skin “Your skin is deliciously smooth… And you smell so lovely…” He give a soft peak in her lips “Are you trully sure that you are not an angel? With you here, I’m starting to think that I’m in a real heaven now…”

“Heaven would imply that you’re dead, and we’ve got the proof right here that you’re not.” She gently tapped his AED with one finger before sliding her hand up and letting her fingers rest carefully over the pulse point in his neck. “I’m fairly certain this is just Earth.”

A slightly darker blush found its way onto her cheeks with his compliments, and she couldn’t help but glance away from his eyes. “Don’t forget I was just traveling for a few days, my dear. I’m sure I’d smell much more pleasant after a long shower… I’ll take one tonight before bed, then I’ll be at my best when I’m finally able to cuddle you…”

“That’s a very valid point, my dear” He smile long “Then right now I’m in the most heavenly place on Earth”

“Well, you smell like a pure woman… Yeah, maybe a little bit strong, but is not disgusting. Ladies always smell more soft… We, the dudes, are the stinky pigs… These cuddles, I’m looking foward to them…” He chuckle as look her more “I adore these red cheeks” He take her face with both hands and give a long loud kiss in each cheek.

“I have always heard the saying that mountains are where Heaven meets Earth, so you just might be right on that part.”

She gave a bright smile before pulling away a little bit, keeping ahold of his hand with one of hers and picking up her tea for another drink with the other. “Believe me, I’m looking forward to them too,” she replied after she swallowed, setting the cup aside again. “As long as you don’t mind setting your AED to the side so we can get as close as possible…”

He smile more as look her and caress gently her hand with his thumb “Oh, don’t worry honey, this annoying box will be not in the middle to bother us. Even more, I have another toy to when we need to sleep, to make us sure to be as comfortable as we can”

He look her cup and remember something “Oh… my pill” He use his free hand to check his pockets, until find a small white plastic box. To avoid to stop to hold her hand, he open the box with his teeth and throw the single pill inside into his mouth before take fast his cup and drink it. He put a weird disgusted face “Comming… aghjjjj” He frown, shaking a little his head “Is so… gross!” He cough softly and drink the rest of his tea, to later put it aside “If was not because that pill is the experimental one, I would not take it at all… Between the taste and the side effects….”

“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow, curious as to what he had in store for when bedtime finally came around.

She frowned as she watched him take the pill, then glanced down at his AED for a few seconds. “And especially if it’s working, I doubt an unpleasant taste could make you want to stop using it. Hopefully someone will figure out a way to make it less unpleasant, allow you to take necessary meds without uncomfortable reactions like that.” A soft smile found its way back onto her face as she looked up at him. “And if it makes you feel any better, some of my meds aren’t the most pleasant either. There’s one I have to take with food or some flavored drink because I swear the taste alone is enough to make me sick.”

“Yep” He smile, still watching intensely her face “I get the new AED, smaller, lighter, with very long wires… You will not even notice it that I have it….”

“Is true, is just a few seconds of disgust, and side effects to which I’m used by now, not big deal, I’m a big strong dude… Besides, is not like we had too many options, right?” He laugh softly as rub more her hand “You tell me when you need some nice food for that meds, okay honey? I have a lot of tasty sweet things that can help you with that flavor, and I’m not talking about my lips!” He laugh more as deny and cover his face with the free hand “Lord… That sounded better in my head, I swear!”

"That's so exciting!" Her eyes lit up a bit at the news, her smile spreading a little wider. "Have you had a chance to try it out yet?"

The attempt at flirting made her laugh, and she reached up to pull his hand away from his face. "Don't worry, it was cute," she told him. "And those are meds I take in the morning, so we don't have to worry about it for a while yet."

She gladly let him kiss her again, tightening her grip on his hand just slightly. After a few comfortable beats, she pulled back just enough to speak, her forehead still pressed against his. "I sure hope it was, considering you've been promising me countless kisses for weeks... I intend to make you pay up, my dear." She couldn't help but laugh a little bit, enjoying it all far more than she thought she would. -A

“It was amazing… it really was…” He laugh softly and rub barely his nose against hers, enjoying her “Oh you don’t worry, honey, I will pay for all of them, and with interests. If I ever get late for a kiss, you can always demand for a 200% more of kisses”

He smile amply, rubbing softly her hand with the thumb as the hand he had in her cheek, wander slowly for her jaw and neck, caressing barely her skin “Your skin is deliciously smooth… And you smell so lovely…” He give a soft peak in her lips “Are you trully sure that you are not an angel? With you here, I’m starting to think that I’m in a real heaven now…”

“Heaven would imply that you’re dead, and we’ve got the proof right here that you’re not.” She gently tapped his AED with one finger before sliding her hand up and letting her fingers rest carefully over the pulse point in his neck. “I’m fairly certain this is just Earth.”

A slightly darker blush found its way onto her cheeks with his compliments, and she couldn’t help but glance away from his eyes. “Don’t forget I was just traveling for a few days, my dear. I’m sure I’d smell much more pleasant after a long shower… I’ll take one tonight before bed, then I’ll be at my best when I’m finally able to cuddle you…”

“That’s a very valid point, my dear” He smile long “Then right now I’m in the most heavenly place on Earth”

“Well, you smell like a pure woman… Yeah, maybe a little bit strong, but is not disgusting. Ladies always smell more soft… We, the dudes, are the stinky pigs… These cuddles, I’m looking foward to them…” He chuckle as look her more “I adore these red cheeks” He take her face with both hands and give a long loud kiss in each cheek.

“I have always heard the saying that mountains are where Heaven meets Earth, so you just might be right on that part.”

She gave a bright smile before pulling away a little bit, keeping ahold of his hand with one of hers and picking up her tea for another drink with the other. “Believe me, I’m looking forward to them too,” she replied after she swallowed, setting the cup aside again. “As long as you don’t mind setting your AED to the side so we can get as close as possible…”

He smile more as look her and caress gently her hand with his thumb “Oh, don’t worry honey, this annoying box will be not in the middle to bother us. Even more, I have another toy to when we need to sleep, to make us sure to be as comfortable as we can”

He look her cup and remember something “Oh… my pill” He use his free hand to check his pockets, until find a small white plastic box. To avoid to stop to hold her hand, he open the box with his teeth and throw the single pill inside into his mouth before take fast his cup and drink it. He put a weird disgusted face “Comming… aghjjjj” He frown, shaking a little his head “Is so… gross!” He cough softly and drink the rest of his tea, to later put it aside “If was not because that pill is the experimental one, I would not take it at all… Between the taste and the side effects….”

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, curious as to what he had in store for when bedtime finally came around.

She frowned as she watched him take the pill, then glanced down at his AED for a few seconds. "And especially if it's working, I doubt an unpleasant taste could make you want to stop using it. Hopefully someone will figure out a way to make it less unpleasant, allow you to take necessary meds without uncomfortable reactions like that." A soft smile found its way back onto her face as she looked up at him. "And if it makes you feel any better, some of my meds aren't the most pleasant either. There's one I have to take with food or some flavored drink because I swear the taste alone is enough to make me sick."

She gladly let him kiss her again, tightening her grip on his hand just slightly. After a few comfortable beats, she pulled back just enough to speak, her forehead still pressed against his. "I sure hope it was, considering you've been promising me countless kisses for weeks... I intend to make you pay up, my dear." She couldn't help but laugh a little bit, enjoying it all far more than she thought she would. -A

“It was amazing… it really was…” He laugh softly and rub barely his nose against hers, enjoying her “Oh you don’t worry, honey, I will pay for all of them, and with interests. If I ever get late for a kiss, you can always demand for a 200% more of kisses”

He smile amply, rubbing softly her hand with the thumb as the hand he had in her cheek, wander slowly for her jaw and neck, caressing barely her skin “Your skin is deliciously smooth… And you smell so lovely…” He give a soft peak in her lips “Are you trully sure that you are not an angel? With you here, I’m starting to think that I’m in a real heaven now…”

“Heaven would imply that you’re dead, and we’ve got the proof right here that you’re not.” She gently tapped his AED with one finger before sliding her hand up and letting her fingers rest carefully over the pulse point in his neck. “I’m fairly certain this is just Earth.”

A slightly darker blush found its way onto her cheeks with his compliments, and she couldn’t help but glance away from his eyes. “Don’t forget I was just traveling for a few days, my dear. I’m sure I’d smell much more pleasant after a long shower… I’ll take one tonight before bed, then I’ll be at my best when I’m finally able to cuddle you…”

“That’s a very valid point, my dear” He smile long “Then right now I’m in the most heavenly place on Earth”

“Well, you smell like a pure woman… Yeah, maybe a little bit strong, but is not disgusting. Ladies always smell more soft… We, the dudes, are the stinky pigs… These cuddles, I’m looking foward to them…” He chuckle as look her more “I adore these red cheeks” He take her face with both hands and give a long loud kiss in each cheek.

"I have always heard the saying that mountains are where Heaven meets Earth, so you just might be right on that part."

She gave a bright smile before pulling away a little bit, keeping ahold of his hand with one of hers and picking up her tea for another drink with the other. "Believe me, I'm looking forward to them too," she replied after she swallowed, setting the cup aside again. "As long as you don't mind setting your AED to the side so we can get as close as possible..."

She gladly let him kiss her again, tightening her grip on his hand just slightly. After a few comfortable beats, she pulled back just enough to speak, her forehead still pressed against his. "I sure hope it was, considering you've been promising me countless kisses for weeks... I intend to make you pay up, my dear." She couldn't help but laugh a little bit, enjoying it all far more than she thought she would. -A

“It was amazing… it really was…” He laugh softly and rub barely his nose against hers, enjoying her “Oh you don’t worry, honey, I will pay for all of them, and with interests. If I ever get late for a kiss, you can always demand for a 200% more of kisses”

He smile amply, rubbing softly her hand with the thumb as the hand he had in her cheek, wander slowly for her jaw and neck, caressing barely her skin “Your skin is deliciously smooth… And you smell so lovely…” He give a soft peak in her lips “Are you trully sure that you are not an angel? With you here, I’m starting to think that I’m in a real heaven now…”

"Heaven would imply that you're dead, and we've got the proof right here that you're not." She gently tapped his AED with one finger before sliding her hand up and letting her fingers rest carefully over the pulse point in his neck. "I'm fairly certain this is just Earth."

A slightly darker blush found its way onto her cheeks with his compliments, and she couldn't help but glance away from his eyes. "Don't forget I was just traveling for a few days, my dear. I'm sure I'd smell much more pleasant after a long shower... I'll take one tonight before bed, then I'll be at my best when I'm finally able to cuddle you..."

coiour-my-world

“Light & Life” | Lake Te Anau, New Zealand || williampatino

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. “I’m feeling wonderful, my dear…” she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ve taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there’s no need to worry.”

“How about you?” She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. “Have you remembered your medication? And… when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I’d hate for it to take me by surprise…”

“Good… good…” He smile softly, still rubbing gently her cheeks.

“I’m beyond any possible positive word that you can imagine…” He smile more amply “Maybe something have to do with have the most amazing woman in the world, just right in my side… mmmmm?” He squeeze barely her cheeks.

He chuckle soft “Thanks to worry abou me, honey… I just need to take one more pill today, is in my pocket… I will drink it when the tea is ready because it taste trully disgusting… My next cardiac arrest?” He move his right hand and check his cuff link “Well, I was back not much time before you come here… The previous one was… 47 minutes ago, so we have easier 3 more hours… I have activated an alarm, so that will sound around the fourth hour. Will not get you by surprise, dear, don’t worry”

He back his hand to her cheek and rub softly her cheekbones, looking her face, absorbed, for some seconds “Damn… Beautiful is not enough to describe you…”

“I’ve told you, I care about you and I’m going to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I can understand meds tasting horrible, though,” she wrinkled her nose a little bit. “Do we really not have the technology available to make things taste good?”

She glanced at his cufflink with him, making note of the clock. “You’re forgetting that it’ll probably catch me by surprise anyway, since I’ve never been around for one. I’ll just have to try and stop myself from worrying.”

Her face took on a soft blush as he looked at her and she glanced away, suddenly shy. “You’re being far too sweet, dear…”

“You are adorable!” He giggle, touching her nose “Well… they always say that ugly meds make an better effect, and know that make a psychologically effect similar to the placebo pills… So the same pill, tasty, make less effect… Or something like that…”

“Is okay” He smile reassuringly, smoothing her cheeks “Is not big deal, I will just stay there as asleep for 2 minutes… But yeah, I know you will get worried, just as I would be always worried about you…”

He look her shy face and try to find her eyes, smiling “I’m just honest, honey… And blushing you look way more lovely”

She let her head drop slightly against his shoulder with a quiet laugh. “Now you’re just trying to fluster me, aren’t you? See how much you can get me to blush…”

After a second, she pulled back to once again meet his eyes, her smile kind of nervous. “It’s not a big deal to you, because it’s been happening for nearly a decade. But you have to understand, very rarely have I seen anyone die and make it back fine.” She lifted a hand to run her thumb over his cheekbone, the touch gentle. “I’m going to be worried, and there’s really nothing that can be done about it.”

“Maybe…” He laugh softly.

He close his eyes and lean more his face against her hand “Yeah… Is not something easy to see, to anyone… I guess you can get used to if a little, after some time… I will be worried about you too… But do that for several years don’t sounds that bad…”

He move one of his hands to hold hers more against his face, still closed eyes, rubbing soft the nose and lips against her palm “So soft…. so warm… I forget how this kind of things feels… Just…. delightful…” He sigh very long, still with a hand in her cheek, touching gently her jaw, as he hear the water boiling.

She watched his eyes fall shut and followed suit, her heart giving a dangerous skip in her chest. “Hopefully I will get sort of used to it… I think after a few times I’ll be less afraid of the possibility of–” she cut herself off, swallowing a bit hard “… well. You know.”

It took her a second to compose herself, but then she was smiling again as she felt him nuzzle into her hand. “… You’ve gone a long time without touch like this, haven’t you?” She asked quietly, opening her eyes to look up at him. “So long that even the simplest things feel like heaven…”

“A very long time…. indeed…” He sigh softly again “How fast a mind forget what feeds a soul… But the soul never forget… Just… holds… and wait…”

His eyes open softly, looking her eyes, thinking, silent for a moment. He move fast to take off the water of the hob and back to her, to take firmly her both hands “Ado… Honey… Don’t do that… Not with me… You don’t have to pretend be fine and hide your feelings. You are free here, with me. If something scare your soul, don’t rush in hide it behind your smile, okay?” He squeeze her hands and take them to his face, to kiss largely her fingers “Feelings are feelings, you can’t choose which ones have and which ones erase… Express them is the best way to could pass to the next one… And… That… possibility… but in you… It also scare the shit of me…” Kiss harder her fingers.

“I’m okay, really,” she promised, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s only a minor worry; I trust you when you say it’ll be okay. I promise I’m not trying to hide anything, and I promise I’m not that worried.”

She glanced back towards the kettle and the box of tea before looking back to him with a small smile. “Why don’t you prepare our tea, hm? I think we could both use some right now. And then we can sit down and relax.”

“Good… That calm me down a little” He smile softly as nod “When you are right, you are very right, honey… The tea wait for us” He give her a soft kiss in her head before move a little away “No, too softly” He come back to her, take gently her head and give a long harder kiss “Way much better….”

He go to the kitchen counter and take the teapot, to pour the hot tea into the cups. He take both filled cups and walk very slowly to the table, very focused “Dear, can you… bring the spoons…. and the sugar to the… table, please?” He walk slowly and lean them gently in the dark wooden table.

She smiled and grabbed what he had asked, carrying them to the table and setting them down before slipping into a seat.

“I promise, there’s no need to worry about me,” she assured him again. “Especially not now that I’m here. If something is truly wrong, you’ll be the first to know, okay?” She took one of the tea cups as she spoke, adding a bit of sugar and stirring it in carefully.

“I trully hope that, my dear, but more I hope that nothing bad happen to you, ever” He take his chair and move it a little closer to her before take sit and smile “Is not like if I will ever let that something bad happen to you” He wink at her “Not in my watch, ma’am!”

He take his cup, put a little of sugar and stir it slowly. He take the cup with both hands, to make his hands warm and take a moment to look her and around, smiling amply, taking a deep breathe, pleased “Have you here is lovely… The house feels different with your sweet presence”

He take a careful sip and the steam make his glasses foggy.

She laughed, reaching forward to gently pull his glasses from his face and set them on the table. “Believe me, I’m very happy to be here too. I bet it can be quite lonely, being up here alone all the time… I’m glad I can help remedy that, even for a little.”

After she finished speaking, she took a small drink of her tea, eyes wandering around the room once again before coming back to rest on his face, her smile growing as she met his eyes. “You… have beautiful eyes, my dear…” she observed absently.

“Oh… Thanks” He smile, softly, looking his glasses and back to her “But you do way more than that…”

He look her eyes too “Do I…?” He smile amply, blushing softly and playing with the cup in his hands “W-well… Your eyes are extremely beautiful too, you know? Very calming… I think… I could see them for several hours without get tired…” He take a sip of his cup, without stop to watch her eyes “And I love your hair too, honey… It looks so soft…”

She sighed, setting her cup down with a bit of a smile. “I was trying to be patient but your compliments just make it so hard,” she told him, her eyes sparkling a bit. “I just have to ask: when were you planning on kissing me?”

She could feel herself starting to blush but she didn’t break eye contact, giving him a look that fell somewhere between hopeful and embarrassed.

He chocke a little with his tea as his AED give a warning bip. He put his cup aside as he cough several times, with the face red as a tomato.

“F-fuck…” He cough soft “K-kiss you…?” He breathe a couple of times, looking her shyly “I… I… W-well… God I’m sweating…” He dry his hands in his pants “W-when? I d-don’t know, when y-you wanted? I…” He rubbed the back of his head, nervously “I w-was thinking in… some r-romantic moment?… I d-don’t want to push you or s-something… ” He doubt a moment as he open more the eyes, recognizing something “T-the eye compliment was a h-hint…. right?…” He blush even a little more, looking her as the AED sounded loudly fast.

“Well… the compliment was true,” she said, reaching out a hand in a subtle offer for him to take it. “I don’t say things I don’t mean. But I suppose it… was a bit of a hint.”

She blushed a little darker, looking down at the table. “I just… I know you want to kiss me, and I want to kiss you too, and I’ve… sort of been waiting, if I’m being honest.” She spared a glance at his AED, her eyebrows furrowing in worry. “I… I haven’t scared you or hurt you or anything, have I?”

“Oh d-dear…” He chuckle barely, nervously, drying his hand again in his thigh before mute his AED and lean his hand it softly over hers, taking it gently “Don’t worry, h-honey… you j-just catch me with the pants down… I’m fine, just… rusty and…. God, more nervous than when I w-was in my prom dance… I don’t really want to fuck it, not with you… I…” He sigh, a little self frustrated by his rambling “Fuck, Michael, just shut up…”

He move his chair more close to her, without leave her hand, until his knee touch hers. He lean softly towards her as take her chin with his other hand, lifting gently her face, before kiss delicately her lips.

She sighed slightly when his lips finally met hers, leaning a little bit closer and giving a small smile into the kiss. After a few seconds she pulled away, lifting her free hand to brush gently over his cheek.

"See? That was nice, wasn't it?" She murmured softly, giving his hand a squeeze. "And I think the rambling is sweet. While I don't want you to be nervous around me, it is quite endearing..."

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. “I’m feeling wonderful, my dear…” she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ve taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there’s no need to worry.”

“How about you?” She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. “Have you remembered your medication? And… when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I’d hate for it to take me by surprise…”

“Good… good…” He smile softly, still rubbing gently her cheeks.

“I’m beyond any possible positive word that you can imagine…” He smile more amply “Maybe something have to do with have the most amazing woman in the world, just right in my side… mmmmm?” He squeeze barely her cheeks.

He chuckle soft “Thanks to worry abou me, honey… I just need to take one more pill today, is in my pocket… I will drink it when the tea is ready because it taste trully disgusting… My next cardiac arrest?” He move his right hand and check his cuff link “Well, I was back not much time before you come here… The previous one was… 47 minutes ago, so we have easier 3 more hours… I have activated an alarm, so that will sound around the fourth hour. Will not get you by surprise, dear, don’t worry”

He back his hand to her cheek and rub softly her cheekbones, looking her face, absorbed, for some seconds “Damn… Beautiful is not enough to describe you…”

“I’ve told you, I care about you and I’m going to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I can understand meds tasting horrible, though,” she wrinkled her nose a little bit. “Do we really not have the technology available to make things taste good?”

She glanced at his cufflink with him, making note of the clock. “You’re forgetting that it’ll probably catch me by surprise anyway, since I’ve never been around for one. I’ll just have to try and stop myself from worrying.”

Her face took on a soft blush as he looked at her and she glanced away, suddenly shy. “You’re being far too sweet, dear…”

“You are adorable!” He giggle, touching her nose “Well… they always say that ugly meds make an better effect, and know that make a psychologically effect similar to the placebo pills… So the same pill, tasty, make less effect… Or something like that…”

“Is okay” He smile reassuringly, smoothing her cheeks “Is not big deal, I will just stay there as asleep for 2 minutes… But yeah, I know you will get worried, just as I would be always worried about you…”

He look her shy face and try to find her eyes, smiling “I’m just honest, honey… And blushing you look way more lovely”

She let her head drop slightly against his shoulder with a quiet laugh. “Now you’re just trying to fluster me, aren’t you? See how much you can get me to blush…”

After a second, she pulled back to once again meet his eyes, her smile kind of nervous. “It’s not a big deal to you, because it’s been happening for nearly a decade. But you have to understand, very rarely have I seen anyone die and make it back fine.” She lifted a hand to run her thumb over his cheekbone, the touch gentle. “I’m going to be worried, and there’s really nothing that can be done about it.”

“Maybe…” He laugh softly.

He close his eyes and lean more his face against her hand “Yeah… Is not something easy to see, to anyone… I guess you can get used to if a little, after some time… I will be worried about you too… But do that for several years don’t sounds that bad…”

He move one of his hands to hold hers more against his face, still closed eyes, rubbing soft the nose and lips against her palm “So soft…. so warm… I forget how this kind of things feels… Just…. delightful…” He sigh very long, still with a hand in her cheek, touching gently her jaw, as he hear the water boiling.

She watched his eyes fall shut and followed suit, her heart giving a dangerous skip in her chest. “Hopefully I will get sort of used to it… I think after a few times I’ll be less afraid of the possibility of–” she cut herself off, swallowing a bit hard “… well. You know.”

It took her a second to compose herself, but then she was smiling again as she felt him nuzzle into her hand. “… You’ve gone a long time without touch like this, haven’t you?” She asked quietly, opening her eyes to look up at him. “So long that even the simplest things feel like heaven…”

“A very long time…. indeed…” He sigh softly again “How fast a mind forget what feeds a soul… But the soul never forget… Just… holds… and wait…”

His eyes open softly, looking her eyes, thinking, silent for a moment. He move fast to take off the water of the hob and back to her, to take firmly her both hands “Ado… Honey… Don’t do that… Not with me… You don’t have to pretend be fine and hide your feelings. You are free here, with me. If something scare your soul, don’t rush in hide it behind your smile, okay?” He squeeze her hands and take them to his face, to kiss largely her fingers “Feelings are feelings, you can’t choose which ones have and which ones erase… Express them is the best way to could pass to the next one… And… That… possibility… but in you… It also scare the shit of me…” Kiss harder her fingers.

“I’m okay, really,” she promised, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s only a minor worry; I trust you when you say it’ll be okay. I promise I’m not trying to hide anything, and I promise I’m not that worried.”

She glanced back towards the kettle and the box of tea before looking back to him with a small smile. “Why don’t you prepare our tea, hm? I think we could both use some right now. And then we can sit down and relax.”

“Good… That calm me down a little” He smile softly as nod “When you are right, you are very right, honey… The tea wait for us” He give her a soft kiss in her head before move a little away “No, too softly” He come back to her, take gently her head and give a long harder kiss “Way much better….”

He go to the kitchen counter and take the teapot, to pour the hot tea into the cups. He take both filled cups and walk very slowly to the table, very focused “Dear, can you… bring the spoons…. and the sugar to the… table, please?” He walk slowly and lean them gently in the dark wooden table.

She smiled and grabbed what he had asked, carrying them to the table and setting them down before slipping into a seat.

“I promise, there’s no need to worry about me,” she assured him again. “Especially not now that I’m here. If something is truly wrong, you’ll be the first to know, okay?” She took one of the tea cups as she spoke, adding a bit of sugar and stirring it in carefully.

“I trully hope that, my dear, but more I hope that nothing bad happen to you, ever” He take his chair and move it a little closer to her before take sit and smile “Is not like if I will ever let that something bad happen to you” He wink at her “Not in my watch, ma’am!”

He take his cup, put a little of sugar and stir it slowly. He take the cup with both hands, to make his hands warm and take a moment to look her and around, smiling amply, taking a deep breathe, pleased “Have you here is lovely… The house feels different with your sweet presence”

He take a careful sip and the steam make his glasses foggy.

She laughed, reaching forward to gently pull his glasses from his face and set them on the table. “Believe me, I’m very happy to be here too. I bet it can be quite lonely, being up here alone all the time… I’m glad I can help remedy that, even for a little.”

After she finished speaking, she took a small drink of her tea, eyes wandering around the room once again before coming back to rest on his face, her smile growing as she met his eyes. “You… have beautiful eyes, my dear…” she observed absently.

“Oh… Thanks” He smile, softly, looking his glasses and back to her “But you do way more than that…”

He look her eyes too “Do I…?” He smile amply, blushing softly and playing with the cup in his hands “W-well… Your eyes are extremely beautiful too, you know? Very calming… I think… I could see them for several hours without get tired…” He take a sip of his cup, without stop to watch her eyes “And I love your hair too, honey… It looks so soft…”

She sighed, setting her cup down with a bit of a smile. “I was trying to be patient but your compliments just make it so hard,” she told him, her eyes sparkling a bit. “I just have to ask: when were you planning on kissing me?”

She could feel herself starting to blush but she didn’t break eye contact, giving him a look that fell somewhere between hopeful and embarrassed.

He chocke a little with his tea as his AED give a warning bip. He put his cup aside as he cough several times, with the face red as a tomato.

“F-fuck…” He cough soft “K-kiss you…?” He breathe a couple of times, looking her shyly “I… I… W-well… God I’m sweating…” He dry his hands in his pants “W-when? I d-don’t know, when y-you wanted? I…” He rubbed the back of his head, nervously “I w-was thinking in… some r-romantic moment?… I d-don’t want to push you or s-something… ” He doubt a moment as he open more the eyes, recognizing something “T-the eye compliment was a h-hint…. right?…” He blush even a little more, looking her as the AED sounded loudly fast.

"Well... the compliment was true," she said, reaching out a hand in a subtle offer for him to take it. "I don't say things I don't mean. But I suppose it... was a bit of a hint."

She blushed a little darker, looking down at the table. "I just... I know you want to kiss me, and I want to kiss you too, and I've... sort of been waiting, if I'm being honest." She spared a glance at his AED, her eyebrows furrowing in worry. "I... I haven't scared you or hurt you or anything, have I?"

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. “I’m feeling wonderful, my dear…” she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ve taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there’s no need to worry.”

“How about you?” She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. “Have you remembered your medication? And… when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I’d hate for it to take me by surprise…”

“Good… good…” He smile softly, still rubbing gently her cheeks.

“I’m beyond any possible positive word that you can imagine…” He smile more amply “Maybe something have to do with have the most amazing woman in the world, just right in my side… mmmmm?” He squeeze barely her cheeks.

He chuckle soft “Thanks to worry abou me, honey… I just need to take one more pill today, is in my pocket… I will drink it when the tea is ready because it taste trully disgusting… My next cardiac arrest?” He move his right hand and check his cuff link “Well, I was back not much time before you come here… The previous one was… 47 minutes ago, so we have easier 3 more hours… I have activated an alarm, so that will sound around the fourth hour. Will not get you by surprise, dear, don’t worry”

He back his hand to her cheek and rub softly her cheekbones, looking her face, absorbed, for some seconds “Damn… Beautiful is not enough to describe you…”

“I’ve told you, I care about you and I’m going to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I can understand meds tasting horrible, though,” she wrinkled her nose a little bit. “Do we really not have the technology available to make things taste good?”

She glanced at his cufflink with him, making note of the clock. “You’re forgetting that it’ll probably catch me by surprise anyway, since I’ve never been around for one. I’ll just have to try and stop myself from worrying.”

Her face took on a soft blush as he looked at her and she glanced away, suddenly shy. “You’re being far too sweet, dear…”

“You are adorable!” He giggle, touching her nose “Well… they always say that ugly meds make an better effect, and know that make a psychologically effect similar to the placebo pills… So the same pill, tasty, make less effect… Or something like that…”

“Is okay” He smile reassuringly, smoothing her cheeks “Is not big deal, I will just stay there as asleep for 2 minutes… But yeah, I know you will get worried, just as I would be always worried about you…”

He look her shy face and try to find her eyes, smiling “I’m just honest, honey… And blushing you look way more lovely”

She let her head drop slightly against his shoulder with a quiet laugh. “Now you’re just trying to fluster me, aren’t you? See how much you can get me to blush…”

After a second, she pulled back to once again meet his eyes, her smile kind of nervous. “It’s not a big deal to you, because it’s been happening for nearly a decade. But you have to understand, very rarely have I seen anyone die and make it back fine.” She lifted a hand to run her thumb over his cheekbone, the touch gentle. “I’m going to be worried, and there’s really nothing that can be done about it.”

“Maybe…” He laugh softly.

He close his eyes and lean more his face against her hand “Yeah… Is not something easy to see, to anyone… I guess you can get used to if a little, after some time… I will be worried about you too… But do that for several years don’t sounds that bad…”

He move one of his hands to hold hers more against his face, still closed eyes, rubbing soft the nose and lips against her palm “So soft…. so warm… I forget how this kind of things feels… Just…. delightful…” He sigh very long, still with a hand in her cheek, touching gently her jaw, as he hear the water boiling.

She watched his eyes fall shut and followed suit, her heart giving a dangerous skip in her chest. “Hopefully I will get sort of used to it… I think after a few times I’ll be less afraid of the possibility of–” she cut herself off, swallowing a bit hard “… well. You know.”

It took her a second to compose herself, but then she was smiling again as she felt him nuzzle into her hand. “… You’ve gone a long time without touch like this, haven’t you?” She asked quietly, opening her eyes to look up at him. “So long that even the simplest things feel like heaven…”

“A very long time…. indeed…” He sigh softly again “How fast a mind forget what feeds a soul… But the soul never forget… Just… holds… and wait…”

His eyes open softly, looking her eyes, thinking, silent for a moment. He move fast to take off the water of the hob and back to her, to take firmly her both hands “Ado… Honey… Don’t do that… Not with me… You don’t have to pretend be fine and hide your feelings. You are free here, with me. If something scare your soul, don’t rush in hide it behind your smile, okay?” He squeeze her hands and take them to his face, to kiss largely her fingers “Feelings are feelings, you can’t choose which ones have and which ones erase… Express them is the best way to could pass to the next one… And… That… possibility… but in you… It also scare the shit of me…” Kiss harder her fingers.

“I’m okay, really,” she promised, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s only a minor worry; I trust you when you say it’ll be okay. I promise I’m not trying to hide anything, and I promise I’m not that worried.”

She glanced back towards the kettle and the box of tea before looking back to him with a small smile. “Why don’t you prepare our tea, hm? I think we could both use some right now. And then we can sit down and relax.”

“Good… That calm me down a little” He smile softly as nod “When you are right, you are very right, honey… The tea wait for us” He give her a soft kiss in her head before move a little away “No, too softly” He come back to her, take gently her head and give a long harder kiss “Way much better….”

He go to the kitchen counter and take the teapot, to pour the hot tea into the cups. He take both filled cups and walk very slowly to the table, very focused “Dear, can you… bring the spoons…. and the sugar to the… table, please?” He walk slowly and lean them gently in the dark wooden table.

She smiled and grabbed what he had asked, carrying them to the table and setting them down before slipping into a seat.

“I promise, there’s no need to worry about me,” she assured him again. “Especially not now that I’m here. If something is truly wrong, you’ll be the first to know, okay?” She took one of the tea cups as she spoke, adding a bit of sugar and stirring it in carefully.

“I trully hope that, my dear, but more I hope that nothing bad happen to you, ever” He take his chair and move it a little closer to her before take sit and smile “Is not like if I will ever let that something bad happen to you” He wink at her “Not in my watch, ma’am!”

He take his cup, put a little of sugar and stir it slowly. He take the cup with both hands, to make his hands warm and take a moment to look her and around, smiling amply, taking a deep breathe, pleased “Have you here is lovely… The house feels different with your sweet presence”

He take a careful sip and the steam make his glasses foggy.

She laughed, reaching forward to gently pull his glasses from his face and set them on the table. “Believe me, I’m very happy to be here too. I bet it can be quite lonely, being up here alone all the time… I’m glad I can help remedy that, even for a little.”

After she finished speaking, she took a small drink of her tea, eyes wandering around the room once again before coming back to rest on his face, her smile growing as she met his eyes. “You… have beautiful eyes, my dear…” she observed absently.

“Oh… Thanks” He smile, softly, looking his glasses and back to her “But you do way more than that…”

He look her eyes too “Do I…?” He smile amply, blushing softly and playing with the cup in his hands “W-well… Your eyes are extremely beautiful too, you know? Very calming… I think… I could see them for several hours without get tired…” He take a sip of his cup, without stop to watch her eyes “And I love your hair too, honey… It looks so soft…”

She sighed, setting her cup down with a bit of a smile. "I was trying to be patient but your compliments just make it so hard," she told him, her eyes sparkling a bit. "I just have to ask: when were you planning on kissing me?"

She could feel herself starting to blush but she didn't break eye contact, giving him a look that fell somewhere between hopeful and embarrassed.

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. “I’m feeling wonderful, my dear…” she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ve taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there’s no need to worry.”

“How about you?” She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. “Have you remembered your medication? And… when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I’d hate for it to take me by surprise…”

“Good… good…” He smile softly, still rubbing gently her cheeks.

“I’m beyond any possible positive word that you can imagine…” He smile more amply “Maybe something have to do with have the most amazing woman in the world, just right in my side… mmmmm?” He squeeze barely her cheeks.

He chuckle soft “Thanks to worry abou me, honey… I just need to take one more pill today, is in my pocket… I will drink it when the tea is ready because it taste trully disgusting… My next cardiac arrest?” He move his right hand and check his cuff link “Well, I was back not much time before you come here… The previous one was… 47 minutes ago, so we have easier 3 more hours… I have activated an alarm, so that will sound around the fourth hour. Will not get you by surprise, dear, don’t worry”

He back his hand to her cheek and rub softly her cheekbones, looking her face, absorbed, for some seconds “Damn… Beautiful is not enough to describe you…”

“I’ve told you, I care about you and I’m going to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I can understand meds tasting horrible, though,” she wrinkled her nose a little bit. “Do we really not have the technology available to make things taste good?”

She glanced at his cufflink with him, making note of the clock. “You’re forgetting that it’ll probably catch me by surprise anyway, since I’ve never been around for one. I’ll just have to try and stop myself from worrying.”

Her face took on a soft blush as he looked at her and she glanced away, suddenly shy. “You’re being far too sweet, dear…”

“You are adorable!” He giggle, touching her nose “Well… they always say that ugly meds make an better effect, and know that make a psychologically effect similar to the placebo pills… So the same pill, tasty, make less effect… Or something like that…”

“Is okay” He smile reassuringly, smoothing her cheeks “Is not big deal, I will just stay there as asleep for 2 minutes… But yeah, I know you will get worried, just as I would be always worried about you…”

He look her shy face and try to find her eyes, smiling “I’m just honest, honey… And blushing you look way more lovely”

She let her head drop slightly against his shoulder with a quiet laugh. “Now you’re just trying to fluster me, aren’t you? See how much you can get me to blush…”

After a second, she pulled back to once again meet his eyes, her smile kind of nervous. “It’s not a big deal to you, because it’s been happening for nearly a decade. But you have to understand, very rarely have I seen anyone die and make it back fine.” She lifted a hand to run her thumb over his cheekbone, the touch gentle. “I’m going to be worried, and there’s really nothing that can be done about it.”

“Maybe…” He laugh softly.

He close his eyes and lean more his face against her hand “Yeah… Is not something easy to see, to anyone… I guess you can get used to if a little, after some time… I will be worried about you too… But do that for several years don’t sounds that bad…”

He move one of his hands to hold hers more against his face, still closed eyes, rubbing soft the nose and lips against her palm “So soft…. so warm… I forget how this kind of things feels… Just…. delightful…” He sigh very long, still with a hand in her cheek, touching gently her jaw, as he hear the water boiling.

She watched his eyes fall shut and followed suit, her heart giving a dangerous skip in her chest. “Hopefully I will get sort of used to it… I think after a few times I’ll be less afraid of the possibility of–” she cut herself off, swallowing a bit hard “… well. You know.”

It took her a second to compose herself, but then she was smiling again as she felt him nuzzle into her hand. “… You’ve gone a long time without touch like this, haven’t you?” She asked quietly, opening her eyes to look up at him. “So long that even the simplest things feel like heaven…”

“A very long time…. indeed…” He sigh softly again “How fast a mind forget what feeds a soul… But the soul never forget… Just… holds… and wait…”

His eyes open softly, looking her eyes, thinking, silent for a moment. He move fast to take off the water of the hob and back to her, to take firmly her both hands “Ado… Honey… Don’t do that… Not with me… You don’t have to pretend be fine and hide your feelings. You are free here, with me. If something scare your soul, don’t rush in hide it behind your smile, okay?” He squeeze her hands and take them to his face, to kiss largely her fingers “Feelings are feelings, you can’t choose which ones have and which ones erase… Express them is the best way to could pass to the next one… And… That… possibility… but in you… It also scare the shit of me…” Kiss harder her fingers.

“I’m okay, really,” she promised, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s only a minor worry; I trust you when you say it’ll be okay. I promise I’m not trying to hide anything, and I promise I’m not that worried.”

She glanced back towards the kettle and the box of tea before looking back to him with a small smile. “Why don’t you prepare our tea, hm? I think we could both use some right now. And then we can sit down and relax.”

“Good… That calm me down a little” He smile softly as nod “When you are right, you are very right, honey… The tea wait for us” He give her a soft kiss in her head before move a little away “No, too softly” He come back to her, take gently her head and give a long harder kiss “Way much better….”

He go to the kitchen counter and take the teapot, to pour the hot tea into the cups. He take both filled cups and walk very slowly to the table, very focused “Dear, can you… bring the spoons…. and the sugar to the… table, please?” He walk slowly and lean them gently in the dark wooden table.

She smiled and grabbed what he had asked, carrying them to the table and setting them down before slipping into a seat.

“I promise, there’s no need to worry about me,” she assured him again. “Especially not now that I’m here. If something is truly wrong, you’ll be the first to know, okay?” She took one of the tea cups as she spoke, adding a bit of sugar and stirring it in carefully.

“I trully hope that, my dear, but more I hope that nothing bad happen to you, ever” He take his chair and move it a little closer to her before take sit and smile “Is not like if I will ever let that something bad happen to you” He wink at her “Not in my watch, ma’am!”

He take his cup, put a little of sugar and stir it slowly. He take the cup with both hands, to make his hands warm and take a moment to look her and around, smiling amply, taking a deep breathe, pleased “Have you here is lovely… The house feels different with your sweet presence”

He take a careful sip and the steam make his glasses foggy.

She laughed, reaching forward to gently pull his glasses from his face and set them on the table. "Believe me, I'm very happy to be here too. I bet it can be quite lonely, being up here alone all the time... I'm glad I can help remedy that, even for a little."

After she finished speaking, she took a small drink of her tea, eyes wandering around the room once again before coming back to rest on his face, her smile growing as she met his eyes. "You... have beautiful eyes, my dear..." she observed absently.

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. “I’m feeling wonderful, my dear…” she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ve taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there’s no need to worry.”

“How about you?” She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. “Have you remembered your medication? And… when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I’d hate for it to take me by surprise…”

“Good… good…” He smile softly, still rubbing gently her cheeks.

“I’m beyond any possible positive word that you can imagine…” He smile more amply “Maybe something have to do with have the most amazing woman in the world, just right in my side… mmmmm?” He squeeze barely her cheeks.

He chuckle soft “Thanks to worry abou me, honey… I just need to take one more pill today, is in my pocket… I will drink it when the tea is ready because it taste trully disgusting… My next cardiac arrest?” He move his right hand and check his cuff link “Well, I was back not much time before you come here… The previous one was… 47 minutes ago, so we have easier 3 more hours… I have activated an alarm, so that will sound around the fourth hour. Will not get you by surprise, dear, don’t worry”

He back his hand to her cheek and rub softly her cheekbones, looking her face, absorbed, for some seconds “Damn… Beautiful is not enough to describe you…”

“I’ve told you, I care about you and I’m going to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I can understand meds tasting horrible, though,” she wrinkled her nose a little bit. “Do we really not have the technology available to make things taste good?”

She glanced at his cufflink with him, making note of the clock. “You’re forgetting that it’ll probably catch me by surprise anyway, since I’ve never been around for one. I’ll just have to try and stop myself from worrying.”

Her face took on a soft blush as he looked at her and she glanced away, suddenly shy. “You’re being far too sweet, dear…”

“You are adorable!” He giggle, touching her nose “Well… they always say that ugly meds make an better effect, and know that make a psychologically effect similar to the placebo pills… So the same pill, tasty, make less effect… Or something like that…”

“Is okay” He smile reassuringly, smoothing her cheeks “Is not big deal, I will just stay there as asleep for 2 minutes… But yeah, I know you will get worried, just as I would be always worried about you…”

He look her shy face and try to find her eyes, smiling “I’m just honest, honey… And blushing you look way more lovely”

She let her head drop slightly against his shoulder with a quiet laugh. “Now you’re just trying to fluster me, aren’t you? See how much you can get me to blush…”

After a second, she pulled back to once again meet his eyes, her smile kind of nervous. “It’s not a big deal to you, because it’s been happening for nearly a decade. But you have to understand, very rarely have I seen anyone die and make it back fine.” She lifted a hand to run her thumb over his cheekbone, the touch gentle. “I’m going to be worried, and there’s really nothing that can be done about it.”

“Maybe…” He laugh softly.

He close his eyes and lean more his face against her hand “Yeah… Is not something easy to see, to anyone… I guess you can get used to if a little, after some time… I will be worried about you too… But do that for several years don’t sounds that bad…”

He move one of his hands to hold hers more against his face, still closed eyes, rubbing soft the nose and lips against her palm “So soft…. so warm… I forget how this kind of things feels… Just…. delightful…” He sigh very long, still with a hand in her cheek, touching gently her jaw, as he hear the water boiling.

She watched his eyes fall shut and followed suit, her heart giving a dangerous skip in her chest. “Hopefully I will get sort of used to it… I think after a few times I’ll be less afraid of the possibility of–” she cut herself off, swallowing a bit hard “… well. You know.”

It took her a second to compose herself, but then she was smiling again as she felt him nuzzle into her hand. “… You’ve gone a long time without touch like this, haven’t you?” She asked quietly, opening her eyes to look up at him. “So long that even the simplest things feel like heaven…”

“A very long time…. indeed…” He sigh softly again “How fast a mind forget what feeds a soul… But the soul never forget… Just… holds… and wait…”

His eyes open softly, looking her eyes, thinking, silent for a moment. He move fast to take off the water of the hob and back to her, to take firmly her both hands “Ado… Honey… Don’t do that… Not with me… You don’t have to pretend be fine and hide your feelings. You are free here, with me. If something scare your soul, don’t rush in hide it behind your smile, okay?” He squeeze her hands and take them to his face, to kiss largely her fingers “Feelings are feelings, you can’t choose which ones have and which ones erase… Express them is the best way to could pass to the next one… And… That… possibility… but in you… It also scare the shit of me…” Kiss harder her fingers.

“I’m okay, really,” she promised, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s only a minor worry; I trust you when you say it’ll be okay. I promise I’m not trying to hide anything, and I promise I’m not that worried.”

She glanced back towards the kettle and the box of tea before looking back to him with a small smile. “Why don’t you prepare our tea, hm? I think we could both use some right now. And then we can sit down and relax.”

“Good… That calm me down a little” He smile softly as nod “When you are right, you are very right, honey… The tea wait for us” He give her a soft kiss in her head before move a little away “No, too softly” He come back to her, take gently her head and give a long harder kiss “Way much better….”

He go to the kitchen counter and take the teapot, to pour the hot tea into the cups. He take both filled cups and walk very slowly to the table, very focused “Dear, can you… bring the spoons…. and the sugar to the… table, please?” He walk slowly and lean them gently in the dark wooden table.

She smiled and grabbed what he had asked, carrying them to the table and setting them down before slipping into a seat.

"I promise, there's no need to worry about me," she assured him again. "Especially not now that I'm here. If something is truly wrong, you'll be the first to know, okay?" She took one of the tea cups as she spoke, adding a bit of sugar and stirring it in carefully.

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. “I’m feeling wonderful, my dear…” she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ve taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there’s no need to worry.”

“How about you?” She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. “Have you remembered your medication? And… when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I’d hate for it to take me by surprise…”

“Good… good…” He smile softly, still rubbing gently her cheeks.

“I’m beyond any possible positive word that you can imagine…” He smile more amply “Maybe something have to do with have the most amazing woman in the world, just right in my side… mmmmm?” He squeeze barely her cheeks.

He chuckle soft “Thanks to worry abou me, honey… I just need to take one more pill today, is in my pocket… I will drink it when the tea is ready because it taste trully disgusting… My next cardiac arrest?” He move his right hand and check his cuff link “Well, I was back not much time before you come here… The previous one was… 47 minutes ago, so we have easier 3 more hours… I have activated an alarm, so that will sound around the fourth hour. Will not get you by surprise, dear, don’t worry”

He back his hand to her cheek and rub softly her cheekbones, looking her face, absorbed, for some seconds “Damn… Beautiful is not enough to describe you…”

“I’ve told you, I care about you and I’m going to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I can understand meds tasting horrible, though,” she wrinkled her nose a little bit. “Do we really not have the technology available to make things taste good?”

She glanced at his cufflink with him, making note of the clock. “You’re forgetting that it’ll probably catch me by surprise anyway, since I’ve never been around for one. I’ll just have to try and stop myself from worrying.”

Her face took on a soft blush as he looked at her and she glanced away, suddenly shy. “You’re being far too sweet, dear…”

“You are adorable!” He giggle, touching her nose “Well… they always say that ugly meds make an better effect, and know that make a psychologically effect similar to the placebo pills… So the same pill, tasty, make less effect… Or something like that…”

“Is okay” He smile reassuringly, smoothing her cheeks “Is not big deal, I will just stay there as asleep for 2 minutes… But yeah, I know you will get worried, just as I would be always worried about you…”

He look her shy face and try to find her eyes, smiling “I’m just honest, honey… And blushing you look way more lovely”

She let her head drop slightly against his shoulder with a quiet laugh. “Now you’re just trying to fluster me, aren’t you? See how much you can get me to blush…”

After a second, she pulled back to once again meet his eyes, her smile kind of nervous. “It’s not a big deal to you, because it’s been happening for nearly a decade. But you have to understand, very rarely have I seen anyone die and make it back fine.” She lifted a hand to run her thumb over his cheekbone, the touch gentle. “I’m going to be worried, and there’s really nothing that can be done about it.”

“Maybe…” He laugh softly.

He close his eyes and lean more his face against her hand “Yeah… Is not something easy to see, to anyone… I guess you can get used to if a little, after some time… I will be worried about you too… But do that for several years don’t sounds that bad…”

He move one of his hands to hold hers more against his face, still closed eyes, rubbing soft the nose and lips against her palm “So soft…. so warm… I forget how this kind of things feels… Just…. delightful…” He sigh very long, still with a hand in her cheek, touching gently her jaw, as he hear the water boiling.

She watched his eyes fall shut and followed suit, her heart giving a dangerous skip in her chest. “Hopefully I will get sort of used to it… I think after a few times I’ll be less afraid of the possibility of–” she cut herself off, swallowing a bit hard “… well. You know.”

It took her a second to compose herself, but then she was smiling again as she felt him nuzzle into her hand. “… You’ve gone a long time without touch like this, haven’t you?” She asked quietly, opening her eyes to look up at him. “So long that even the simplest things feel like heaven…”

“A very long time…. indeed…” He sigh softly again “How fast a mind forget what feeds a soul… But the soul never forget… Just… holds… and wait…”

His eyes open softly, looking her eyes, thinking, silent for a moment. He move fast to take off the water of the hob and back to her, to take firmly her both hands “Ado… Honey… Don’t do that… Not with me… You don’t have to pretend be fine and hide your feelings. You are free here, with me. If something scare your soul, don’t rush in hide it behind your smile, okay?” He squeeze her hands and take them to his face, to kiss largely her fingers “Feelings are feelings, you can’t choose which ones have and which ones erase… Express them is the best way to could pass to the next one… And… That… possibility… but in you… It also scare the shit of me…” Kiss harder her fingers.

"I'm okay, really," she promised, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "It's only a minor worry; I trust you when you say it'll be okay. I promise I'm not trying to hide anything, and I promise I'm not that worried."

She glanced back towards the kettle and the box of tea before looking back to him with a small smile. "Why don't you prepare our tea, hm? I think we could both use some right now. And then we can sit down and relax."

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. “I’m feeling wonderful, my dear…” she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ve taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there’s no need to worry.”

“How about you?” She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. “Have you remembered your medication? And… when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I’d hate for it to take me by surprise…”

“Good… good…” He smile softly, still rubbing gently her cheeks.

“I’m beyond any possible positive word that you can imagine…” He smile more amply “Maybe something have to do with have the most amazing woman in the world, just right in my side… mmmmm?” He squeeze barely her cheeks.

He chuckle soft “Thanks to worry abou me, honey… I just need to take one more pill today, is in my pocket… I will drink it when the tea is ready because it taste trully disgusting… My next cardiac arrest?” He move his right hand and check his cuff link “Well, I was back not much time before you come here… The previous one was… 47 minutes ago, so we have easier 3 more hours… I have activated an alarm, so that will sound around the fourth hour. Will not get you by surprise, dear, don’t worry”

He back his hand to her cheek and rub softly her cheekbones, looking her face, absorbed, for some seconds “Damn… Beautiful is not enough to describe you…”

“I’ve told you, I care about you and I’m going to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I can understand meds tasting horrible, though,” she wrinkled her nose a little bit. “Do we really not have the technology available to make things taste good?”

She glanced at his cufflink with him, making note of the clock. “You’re forgetting that it’ll probably catch me by surprise anyway, since I’ve never been around for one. I’ll just have to try and stop myself from worrying.”

Her face took on a soft blush as he looked at her and she glanced away, suddenly shy. “You’re being far too sweet, dear…”

“You are adorable!” He giggle, touching her nose “Well… they always say that ugly meds make an better effect, and know that make a psychologically effect similar to the placebo pills… So the same pill, tasty, make less effect… Or something like that…”

“Is okay” He smile reassuringly, smoothing her cheeks “Is not big deal, I will just stay there as asleep for 2 minutes… But yeah, I know you will get worried, just as I would be always worried about you…”

He look her shy face and try to find her eyes, smiling “I’m just honest, honey… And blushing you look way more lovely”

She let her head drop slightly against his shoulder with a quiet laugh. “Now you’re just trying to fluster me, aren’t you? See how much you can get me to blush…”

After a second, she pulled back to once again meet his eyes, her smile kind of nervous. “It’s not a big deal to you, because it’s been happening for nearly a decade. But you have to understand, very rarely have I seen anyone die and make it back fine.” She lifted a hand to run her thumb over his cheekbone, the touch gentle. “I’m going to be worried, and there’s really nothing that can be done about it.”

“Maybe…” He laugh softly.

He close his eyes and lean more his face against her hand “Yeah… Is not something easy to see, to anyone… I guess you can get used to if a little, after some time… I will be worried about you too… But do that for several years don’t sounds that bad…”

He move one of his hands to hold hers more against his face, still closed eyes, rubbing soft the nose and lips against her palm “So soft…. so warm… I forget how this kind of things feels… Just…. delightful…” He sigh very long, still with a hand in her cheek, touching gently her jaw, as he hear the water boiling.

She watched his eyes fall shut and followed suit, her heart giving a dangerous skip in her chest. "Hopefully I will get sort of used to it... I think after a few times I'll be less afraid of the possibility of--" she cut herself off, swallowing a bit hard "... well. You know."

It took her a second to compose herself, but then she was smiling again as she felt him nuzzle into her hand. "... You've gone a long time without touch like this, haven't you?" She asked quietly, opening her eyes to look up at him. "So long that even the simplest things feel like heaven..."

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. “I’m feeling wonderful, my dear…” she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ve taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there’s no need to worry.”

“How about you?” She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. “Have you remembered your medication? And… when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I’d hate for it to take me by surprise…”

“Good… good…” He smile softly, still rubbing gently her cheeks.

“I’m beyond any possible positive word that you can imagine…” He smile more amply “Maybe something have to do with have the most amazing woman in the world, just right in my side… mmmmm?” He squeeze barely her cheeks.

He chuckle soft “Thanks to worry abou me, honey… I just need to take one more pill today, is in my pocket… I will drink it when the tea is ready because it taste trully disgusting… My next cardiac arrest?” He move his right hand and check his cuff link “Well, I was back not much time before you come here… The previous one was… 47 minutes ago, so we have easier 3 more hours… I have activated an alarm, so that will sound around the fourth hour. Will not get you by surprise, dear, don’t worry”

He back his hand to her cheek and rub softly her cheekbones, looking her face, absorbed, for some seconds “Damn… Beautiful is not enough to describe you…”

“I’ve told you, I care about you and I’m going to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. I can understand meds tasting horrible, though,” she wrinkled her nose a little bit. “Do we really not have the technology available to make things taste good?”

She glanced at his cufflink with him, making note of the clock. “You’re forgetting that it’ll probably catch me by surprise anyway, since I’ve never been around for one. I’ll just have to try and stop myself from worrying.”

Her face took on a soft blush as he looked at her and she glanced away, suddenly shy. “You’re being far too sweet, dear…”

“You are adorable!” He giggle, touching her nose “Well… they always say that ugly meds make an better effect, and know that make a psychologically effect similar to the placebo pills… So the same pill, tasty, make less effect… Or something like that…”

“Is okay” He smile reassuringly, smoothing her cheeks “Is not big deal, I will just stay there as asleep for 2 minutes… But yeah, I know you will get worried, just as I would be always worried about you…”

He look her shy face and try to find her eyes, smiling “I’m just honest, honey… And blushing you look way more lovely”

She let her head drop slightly against his shoulder with a quiet laugh. "Now you're just trying to fluster me, aren't you? See how much you can get me to blush..."

After a second, she pulled back to once again meet his eyes, her smile kind of nervous. "It's not a big deal to you, because it's been happening for nearly a decade. But you have to understand, very rarely have I seen anyone die and make it back fine." She lifted a hand to run her thumb over his cheekbone, the touch gentle. "I'm going to be worried, and there's really nothing that can be done about it."

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. “I’m feeling wonderful, my dear…” she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ve taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there’s no need to worry.”

“How about you?” She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. “Have you remembered your medication? And… when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I’d hate for it to take me by surprise…”

“Good… good…” He smile softly, still rubbing gently her cheeks.

“I’m beyond any possible positive word that you can imagine…” He smile more amply “Maybe something have to do with have the most amazing woman in the world, just right in my side… mmmmm?” He squeeze barely her cheeks.

He chuckle soft “Thanks to worry abou me, honey… I just need to take one more pill today, is in my pocket… I will drink it when the tea is ready because it taste trully disgusting… My next cardiac arrest?” He move his right hand and check his cuff link “Well, I was back not much time before you come here… The previous one was… 47 minutes ago, so we have easier 3 more hours… I have activated an alarm, so that will sound around the fourth hour. Will not get you by surprise, dear, don’t worry”

He back his hand to her cheek and rub softly her cheekbones, looking her face, absorbed, for some seconds “Damn… Beautiful is not enough to describe you…”

"I've told you, I care about you and I'm going to make sure you're taking care of yourself. I can understand meds tasting horrible, though," she wrinkled her nose a little bit. "Do we really not have the technology available to make things taste good?"

She glanced at his cufflink with him, making note of the clock. "You're forgetting that it'll probably catch me by surprise anyway, since I've never been around for one. I'll just have to try and stop myself from worrying."

Her face took on a soft blush as he looked at her and she glanced away, suddenly shy. "You're being far too sweet, dear..."

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

“Hey I’m not that bad in the kitchen!” She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. “Oh, that is just delightful.”

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

He look the cream next to him and smile “Thanks dear!”

Nimbly he put a small precise ammount of cream in both gray cups and a little of sugar, to next check the water “This will be ready soon” He put carefully a strainer in each cup and take the spoons.

As he wait for the water be ready, he approached to her, take gently her cheeks with both hands and look deep her eyes “How are you, honey…?” He say quietly “Do you feel cold? Thirst? Do you take your medicine today?” His thumbs rub softly her cheeks.

She smiled softly, lifting her hand to rest over one of his. "I'm feeling wonderful, my dear..." she near whispered, closing her eyes for a moment. "I've taken all my medication that needs to be taken, there's no need to worry."

"How about you?" She asked after a split second of pause, just enough time for him to process her words. "Have you remembered your medication? And... when can I expect your next cardiac arrest? I'd hate for it to take me by surprise..."

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

“I’m sure they’ll love you,” she replied immediately. “Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They’ll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely.”

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. “Believe me, I’m well aware,” she whispered back. “You don’t have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I’ve already told you I’m a fairly tactile person.”

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. “Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?”

He chuckle soft as nod as he hear her “True, true…” He rub her hand all the way down.

His eyes look her, false shocked as he take the teapot “A-are you sure? What if you explode something?!” He chuckle and point the big black fridge with his head as filled the teapot with water “This tea need of a touch of cream, can you get me some, please? Is in the higher shelf, in a porcelain thing, between… milk and a big glass with mozzarella, if remember right… “And, honey? In the door is some honey, if you want honey, honey”

He laugh soft as put the teapot in the hob. Then he open a drawer filled with boxes of tea, take one and put two big spoons inside the teapot “Look” He smile and reach the tiny box to her “This is the one… Don’t it smell divine?”

"Hey I'm not that bad in the kitchen!" She protested with a quiet laugh, heading towards the fridge. She looked back when he held out the box of tea, leaning forward to smell it. "Oh, that is just delightful."

She gave him another smile before turning back to the fridge, lifting herself slightly onto her toes so she could see onto the top shelf. Once she found what she needed, she grabbed it and set it next to him before leaning on the counter and watching him work.

She bent her head against the cold and hurried towards the house, pulling the door open as soon as she was close enough to reach it. "Michael, dear?" She called, taking a few tentative steps inside before setting her bags down. "I'm here..."

Heartman gasp and stand up fast from his desk, almost throwing his chair back, looking at her.

“My God…” He stay a little paralyzed for a second and his AED give a warning bip “Ado? Honey…?” He walk towards her “Oh God you are here!” He smile amply and open amply his arms for a hug.

“Yeah, it’s me.” She smiled back as she moved towards him, shedding her coat along the way. She took a deep breath as she hit his chest, closing her eyes and hugging him as tightly as she was able. “I told you I’d be perfectly safe, and here I am just as I promised!”

He hug her tight, squeezing her firmly against his own chest “You are here…” He take a moment before bury his face between her hair “Is… not a dream… You are really here… Safe and one piece… with me…” He sob as close tight his eyes ”F-fuck…”

She rocks slightly from foot to foot, appreciating the closeness. “It’s okay!” She said, her voice muffled in his shirt. “I’m okay and you’re okay and everything’s okay, just take a deep breath.”

After a few seconds she pulled away just enough to look up at him, a soft smile on her face. “If I remember right, you promised me a hot drink and a chance to cuddle.”

He smile with a emotional chuckle as his dry his eyes with one hand “Y-yeah…”

He sniff a little and breathe deep a couple of times, before calm down and look her eyes “You are right… Tea or cacao, honey? Do you will want a piece of cake too?” He pass a lock of her hair behind her ear “There is still like a… 75% of my nautilus cake. Is vanilla, cream and almonds. Or some chocolate chips cookies too, whatever you prefer more… And cuddles, all of them”

She reached up with one hand to brush a tear from his cheek, the other hand curled gently in the back of his shirt. “Tea sounds wonderful. I think I’ll have to turn down your offer of food, though, I’m not quite hungry yet.”

She paused for a moment, her smile growing a little wider as she looked at him. “And happy birthday, my dear,” she added softly, lifting herself onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “It seems I planned the timing of my visit quite well.”

He smile very amply, holding her more with the arm around her waist “Thank you, so much honey…” He look more her eyes “I suspected that you was using that sweet brain of yours to do something clever like that… You are my best birthday gift in a very long time… Thanks” He bend a little to give a long soft smooch in her forehead.

He smile soft as rub slowly her lower back “Then tea will be, honey… You tell me as soon you be hungry, okay?… I have all pretty much ready already, so I will take not too long… Do you want to sit in the couch, make yourself comfortable and wait a little, Ado? Your poor feets are sure very tired after so long journey” He point the long black couch “You are allowed to take of your shoes if you want, the floor is very warm… I keep all my house extra warm, just for you…”

“I think I’d rather come with you, if that’s okay,” she answered with a smile. “Most of the journey was made sitting, actually, so I need a bit of time to stand; plus I’d like to keep you company and see more of your home.”

She glanced back towards where she had dropped her coat and bags before looking back to him. “And where should I put my stuff?”

“Oh is very okay, my dear! Your company would make me very happy! Besides you will can choose which kind of tea you want” He smile more “And is good to know that your journey was not too demanding to your body.”

He walk toward her bags, take one of them and think a moment “I think the best place is in my room, I have several hooks to hang them properly…. But, before that….” He back to her and use his free hand to take her hand, bend softly and kiss long and gently her knuckles, before look her barely and smile “Mr. Michael Edward Matthews, at your service…” He wink “Let me help you with your bags”

“What a gentleman,” she replied, giving a small mock curtsy. When he released her hand, she picked up her jacket and the other bag before turning back to him. “Lead the way, my dear.”

As he led her towards his room, she looked around her, trying to take in as much as she could. Her eyes sparkled as they passed over the shelves of books and displays of artifacts, her smile growing slightly. “You really do have a lovely home.”

“Oh thank you honey! But I bet your home is so lovely as mine…. Sure even better, womans have a magical touch to make a place look like a real home” He move softly the hand in the air and a soft classical music fill the place. “Besides, I’m here all the time, it need to be nice and organized or I would end really crazy… More of what I’m by now….”

He stand near a wall between the shelves and the wall slide away, giving way to a elegant minimalist black hallway with four black classical doors “This is the… private area…” He walk with her passing a door “This first door is the kitchen… The second one is where we go, my bedroom… The next one is the bathroom and the last one there in the end are the stairs, from there we can go up to the roof or go down to the lab, the chaos that I have as basement and the greenhouse… Are the funny places” He chuckle as open the second door and let her pass to a elegant dark room also filled with books. Right over the bed, a fluffy dark blue blanket and a huge bouquet of paper Lilacs and Tiger Lilies.

“Oh, but it’s certainly not as grand as this. I have similar furnishings, but I’m in an older home, so that changes the feel of things already.”

She followed him down the hall, slightly awed by the layout. She took a few steps into the bedroom, smiling at all the books and the flowers, thinking to herself that it felt quite similar to home. She turned back to him, then, waiting to see where he put her things down so she could follow suit.

“You’ll have to give me a more formal tour after we have our tea,” she suggested quietly. “I’d really love to see where you work, if that’s okay with you…”

“Of course! That’s almost obvious, my dear. You will love my dusty lab” He walk towards a wall with several free hooks, to hang the bag, then walk back to her, to take the other bag and her coat to hang them too “Damn, this one is heavy…. There, perfect height to could open the bags”

He go to the bed, take the flowers and reach them to her, a little shy “I… I get this ones right for you… I wanted to get you some real good ones but they don’t survive so long… So… I look for the most perfect paper ones. A-and they have even a pretty nice smell… Oh! And I also get a good tea of lilacs and chamomile, y-you will want that one?” He look a little to the floor, shyly.

She rummaged into one of the pockets of her bag before handing it over, pulling out a small envelope. “Don’t blame me for them being heavy, I had no idea how long to pack for,” she said jokingly as she watched him hang them.

She grinned when he passed the flowers to her, turning them in her hand to admire them. “They’re beautiful, my dear. And that tea sounds wonderful.” She admired the flowers a second longer before setting them aside and holding out the envelope she had grabbed. “And just as I promised, here are some tiger lily seeds for your greenhouse. Fresh from my own collection, so long as you take care of them, they should grow beautifully.”

He gasp soft “I forgot them! Oh honey, thank you!” He take gently the envelope and shake it softly close his ear, hearing the seeds inside “They sound happy and healthy, you sure was a great owner. I will try to not kill them with my blood, again… Thanks” He chuckle and let the envelope carefully over a table.

He look at her and offer her his arm as he point the door “Want to join me to the vast trip towards my kitchen? Is dangerous, and I will carry you if your legs can’t handle so long journey… The reward?… The best tea in the house!” He laugh soft “God, I’m a fool, right?”

“When flowers are at stake, I never forget,” she answered with a laugh. “Considering they’re some of my favorite flowers, I always try to keep them extra happy and healthy, and it appears it worked.”

She laughed softly again as he offered his arm, slipping her hand around to hold it gently. “I wouldn’t say foolish… maybe fun-spirited?” She suggested as they began to walk. “I’m sure I’ll be able to survive the trip just fine, but I thank you for your offer nonetheless.”

“That’s sweet! I only hope that they don’t get disappointed when they grow and see me instead you” He laugh.

Look her, thinking as walk with her “Mmmm… fun-spirited sound way better… Yeah!” He bend barely close her and whisper “Don’t tell to no one, but are just an excuse to be physical close to you, there is not real danger…. I know, is shocking! Just shhhhh…” He laugh soft as walk with her towards the kitchen, with the free hand touching hers.

He stand in front the kitchen’s door for a second, without see it open “This is a tricky one…” He kick soft the door and it get open. The kitchen is not big but pretty modern, with touchs of white, dark blue and black, filled with stuffs, tools, and a huge fern taking almost all the space of a black table.

"I'm sure they'll love you," she replied immediately. "Flowers tend to be quite friendly, you know. They'll take to anyone as long as you treat them nicely."

As they walked, she pressed a little closer to him. "Believe me, I'm well aware," she whispered back. "You don't have to make excuses to be close to me, though. I've already told you I'm a fairly tactile person."

She glanced around as they entered the kitchen, adding to her mental map of his house before turning back to him. "Is there anything I can do to help with the tea?"