13. teasing each other good-naturedly Ross & Demelza
Thank you for the ask, @veryflowerobservation! 💗
He was startled awake by a nudge to his hand then a sharp pain, eyes jerking open to see a white and black cat sitting on the desk looking pleased with himself. Ross yawned mightily, not having realized how tired he actually was after burning the candle at both ends for the past few weeks. He was nearing the end of his book and he wanted to make the push through to get it done, but he must have dozed off. The clock on the mantle read half past two.
“What are you doing down here?” he asked the cow kitty, Feathers was Demelza’s cat from the moment they discovered each other in the barn loft. That was near on three years ago now and he’d turned into a very lazy house cat who loved a good patch of sun and had a fetish for green peas.
Feathers miaowed in answer, his purr box starting up to rough rumble when he settled the long, lanky cat in his lap, idly scritching his ears. Ross had long given up fighting against the invasion of animals in his house - it was a losing proposition and he wanted to live in a happy home. One dog of undetermined breed, three former barn cats, a very cute hamster who loved to entertain, and a ridiculously soft rabbit all now lived under his roof - none of which technically belonged to him - his father, his wife, and his baby girl were the cause of the madness. He’d recently overheard talk of an aquarium of some sort since Julia loved their trips to the National Marine Aquarium - she was keen on the octopus and sharks.
“What is your mama going to say if she catches you?” he murmured to the cat once he’d settled down and Ross could reach to wake the laptop again. He’d obviously nodded off longer than he’d thought. “Or are you just trying to find out how the story ends before anyone else?”
Feathers, for his part, seemed unperturbed with the notion of being caught cheating since his ears were being scratched. He sighed, stretched, and went completely limp in Ross’ lap, his purring causing his entire body to vibrate. Ross went back to attempting to close out the tragic story of Jeremy Poldark, only managing a few sentences before his eyes started to drift closed again.
The next time Ross awoke it was barely light in the room. The laptop had long gone dormant again and Feathers was still snoozing in his lap. There was a steaming cup of coffee sitting on the desk and his wife was sitting on the edge of the desk, looking highly amused. She was wearing his deep blue dotted dressing gown.
“G’morning, sleepyhead,” Demelza said, one bright auburn eyebrow arching up in question.
He just took in his wife, looking stunningly beautiful in the early morning light just beginning to stream through the tall library windows. How he ended up married to her was still a mystery, but he wasn’t going to pull too hard on that thread. “Morning, my love,” he answered. “Sorry, my love, I managed to do it again.”
“It’s just that I'm so close.”
“I know you are which is why I don’t mind your late nights.”
“You’re a good wife,” he said, reaching to place a hand on her bare knee. Feathers made a little disparaging noise at the loss of Ross’ warm hand on his back.
She leaned down to buss his cheek with a tender kiss before sweetly stating, “But I didn’t expect to catch you cheating on me.”
“W-what?” Ross spluttered, jolting straight up, causing the cat in his lap to suddenly go from sleeping to fleeing the scene of the crime like he’d been shot out of a cannon. “I wasn’t cheating!”
“So you say,” she groused, leaning back so the dressing gown parted to expose a creamy expanse of thigh to his greedy eyes, “but it’s your loss.”
“The cat?” he asked somewhat confuzzled.
“You claim you don’t like him,” she hrumphed, “and yet I find him down here with you, in your lap. Was it all night?”
“I don’t know,” he answered hastily, not sure if she was toying with him or if she was actually miffed. It was early and he hadn’t had a cup of coffee yet. “He woke me around two. He bit my hand to wake me up and insisted on getting my lap… I don’t like that flea bag all that much. I mean I do like Feathers, but not on me or around me…”
Demelza’s stern demeanor dissolved into mirth, her whole body shaking with her laughter. “Oh, Ross,” she said with absolute glee, bending down once more to kiss him silly, “you’re so adorable when you think you’re in trouble!”
He eyed her with narrowed eyes, his mouth set in a firm frown. “I don’t think I like you anymore.”
“Is that so?” Demelza inquired, sliding off of the desk to put some distance between them. He could see she was having trouble reining in her smirk. She had the upper-hand in their marriage. They both knew it. He was just thankful she didn’t take advantage of it more.
“Well, that’s too bad,” she said with a sigh. “I was going to tell you to go catch a couple hours of sleep while I get ready for the day then make eggy bread for breakfast.”
That got Ross’ attention. His wife made the best eggy bread he’s ever eaten in his life and it was one of his absolutely favorite things in the world. It was terrible for you the way Demelza made it - fried in butter and bacon grease - but by God it tasted of Heaven itself. It was also an extremely rare treat. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
She scoffed. “You just said you didn’t like me any more.”
“I lied,” he blurted out quickly. “Will there be blackberry compote too?”
He was up and across the room in an instant, gathering her in his arms before capturing her mouth in a thorough kiss that left her nearly breathless when he finally relented. “I’ll make it up to you.”
Demelza giggled as she shifted a bit to put a bit more space between them, her growing baby bump was getting more noticeable these days. “Maybe some other time, my darling.”
“Oh.” He was more than disappointed, not used to being turned down.
“No worries,” she reached up to brush an errant curl from his forehead, “there is someone waiting for you in our bed for her second sleep.”
“Julia,” he said, melting instantly at the thought of his baby girl. They often had a lazy nap together, just father and daughter, before the day started in earnest if they were up very early for whatever reason. It was a ritual that had started out of necessity -- he’d see to the baby while Demelza got her day going. Ross was now mourning the quickly approaching time that Julia outgrew the need for morning lie-ins with Poppy.
He pressed a quick kiss to his wife’s cheek and let her go. “I shouldn’t keep her waiting then.”
“I’d be jealous if I didn’t know you better,” Demelza smiled and put a loving hand on her bump.
It was his turn to laugh. “You know I will always love you the most.”
“Yes,” she sighed, “but I think this will be the last baby we have and no more pets. I don’t need any competition.”
