Writer's Note - Remember to vote!!
Remember when Katy Perry actually used to make bops? *sigh*
#
Roe elicited a high pitched squeal and raised her arms over her head, "Look it's Santa!"
I flinched wondering how such a little girl could make that much noise. I'd accompanied Roe's mom and her to the mall to take their annual picture with Santa. It was all part of my Christmas gift to Roe. When I'd called her mother and asked if I could give her a gift and take her to a read and signing for the Detective Hogdins series with her supervision she was delighted. So here we were out in the mall with so many screaming children, Roe's sweaty palm in mine and in line waiting for Santa.
She was hopping from toe to toe, "Do you think he'll know what I want, Hodgins?"
I hesitated, "Definitely."
"Mommy, I'm so excited!" Roe said, wrapping her arms around her mother's waist. She was wearing a yellow spongebob shirt that said 'I'm a goofy goober.' Along with a pair of jeans and sneakers. It was really hitting me that she constantly dressed like a boy.
We were approaching the front of the line and Roe was zoned in on the elves and free candy canes.
"So she always dresses like this?" I asked Roe's mom.
Her mother gave me a laugh, "Ever since Roe could talk she just likes certain things more than others. Blue over pink, pants over skirts, spongebob over everything that's not spongebob. She's-" She looked at her daughter fondly, "She's a funny kid." Roe beamed up at her mother. "It was hard when me and Darren split up, we wanted different things. We both wanted Roe, but joint custody was the best decision. She's adjusted well to me, Tommy and Darren."
"Tommy came back!" Roe said quickly, "He said him and Daddy didn't need space anymore. Daddy said him and Tommy are solid. I don't know what that means but- we're next! We're next!"
I took a step back and watched Roe hop onto Santa's lap as the old rosy cheeked man gave out an oof. She said something quietly to him and magic snow set the scene casting the regal chair, fake snow, elves and candy cane wonderland into a world of its own. The photographers took a picture with just Roe, then Roe and her mother and then Roe was yelling at me to join the picture and I got in there, too. I felt like I blinked when the flash hit but I couldn't help but feel kind of happy that Roe wanted to include me.
#
Roe's mom said she needed to do her own Christmas shopping and that she'd be in the mall while we went to the read through and signing. Mike was waiting for Roe and I at the bookstore, saving us a spot in line for the signing.
"Why are we here?" Roe said, twisting her hand in mine. "What's this line for? If we're here for American girl dolls, then I don't like those. They're worse than boogers."
That seemed like a weird response but I let it go. "It's a surprise." I said.
She gave a bright smile, "Like when Spongebob surprises Patrick or when Patrick surprises Spongebob?"
"What's the difference?"
"Everything is the difference!"
I felt like I might as well just tell her. "Y'kno Detective Hodgins?"
She rolled her eyes like she wasn't five years old, "Of course I know Detective Hodgins!"
"Well one of his books is coming out today, and the author is doing a read through."
"What's a read through?"
"Like, the author reads the books out loud to people."
"Oh!" Her eyes dimmed and she bit her lip, "I wish I could be there." She looked down at the ground, twisting her shoe against the floor.
I didn't understand what wasn't clicking. "Roe." I said and she looked up at me with mournful blue eyes. "We're here. We're in line. You're going to meet the author, get a signed copy of his latest book and sit for him to read the book. It's my Christmas gift to you."
Roe stumbled and blinked, rubbed her eyes twice and didn't say anything for a moment. "Am I dreaming?"
I couldn't help but laugh, "No, kid. I'm serious."
She jumped up in the air, and twirled in a circle, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I'm so excited. Oh. My. Goodness. Is this a heart attack? I can't believe it! A new book? And the person who comes up with all the Hodgins stuff?" She gave me a tight hug and looked at me like I was some kind of God. I have to say it felt pretty good.
Mike was chuckling during the entirety of Roe's display. As we stood in the line other children were similarly excited ranging from kids even younger than Roe who probably couldn't even read to kids that looked a little over ten which I thought was a little old.
Mike kissed my cheek without warning. When I turned an inquisitive eye on him he spoke in a quiet voice, shrugging a shoulder, "Sometimes you just look cute and I want to kiss you."
For whatever reason that completely embarrassed me, and I tilted my face away, "Gee, thanks."
Mike only laughed at my discomfort, trailing a hand down my back.
The bookstore's doors opened and there was a ripple of excitement as we were filed in. The adults sat in chairs and the kids sat on a woven carpet where there was a solitary rocking chair. I was glad I didn't have to sit on the floor. I'd hated that as a child.
For a moment I was startled that I'd remembered something like that, and whatever the memory was slipped away.
The afternoon passed pleasantly as the author did the read through and all the kids got signed copies of the latest Detective Hodgins books. Roe was star struck the entire time and kept thanking us over and over. I think a part of her really thought I was an alternate version of Detective Hodgins manifested to make her dreams come true.
After Roe's mother came to pick her up and the four of us went our separate ways Mike was strangely quiet in the car. Abruptly, he turned down the soft Christmas music and cleared his throat. Several seconds passed before he spoke, "So. You really don't want kids one day?"
That startled me and I stoped looking out the window at the falling snow to turn to look at Mike. He was looking at the road too intently considering we were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. "Haven't we had this conversation already?"
Mike gave me a long look before replying curtly, "Don't answer a question with another question, Derrick."
"I don't know, okay? Roe's a cute kid but I can't imagine having to take care of an ankle biter day in and day out. Especially if they turn out kinda crazy."
Mike looked smug, "That isn't a no."
#
Later on that week I decided I'd had enough of being a mediocre boyfriend and I was going to start doing more things for Mike.
I didn't really know how to bake like Mike but I was hoping the Betty Crocker instant cake mix and frosting would be good enough to appease him. I stood in the kitchen feeling like I was ready to conquer the world. I tied back my hair with a bandana and began mixing things together. The process was more difficult than Mike made it look, I kept measuring things incorrectly.
I was close to giving up when I finally put the tray in the pre heated oven. I looked around the kitchen realizing everything was a mess; broken egg shells were strewn about the counters and flour had ended up on the floor.
I watched the timer as I tried to wipe down the counters hoping that Mike wouldn't come before things were ready.
When the cupcakes were done I opened up the oven expecting golden brown fluffy cakes. I frowned when I saw they had barely risen. Maybe a few more minutes, I decided when I closed the oven again.
#
Mike came home when I was still wearing my apron. He gave me an inquisitive look, regarding me and raising a brow.
I looked slightly away from him, crossing my arms over my chest. "What? I can bake, too." The asshole in me jumped out before I could reconsider my words. Mike didn't say anything so I tried again, looking at him and uncrossing my arms. "I wanted to do something for you, so I made cupcakes." The words came out quiet and about as shaky as my confidence at that moment.
Mike tilted my head up with a strong finger, giving me an intimate smile. "Great, let me taste it?" But instead of walking with me to the kitchen, he lowered his mouth down to mine gently slipping his tongue between my lips. "Or, I can taste you. Whichever you prefer."
I gasped in surprise and he took that opportunity to give me a different kind of kiss, one that wasn't saying hello so much as it was exploring the recesses of my mouth.
I moved back, "Uhm. It's not that great, I think maybe I didn't measure correctly. The cake didn't rise well, and I'll be honest...It's more Betty Crocker than me."
Mike laughed adorably, twining fingers in my hair and kissing me on the forehead. "Well, let's see."
We went over to the kitchen and I took out my...Creation. The chocolate cupcakes had each risen to different heights, and the icing had done a good job of covering the deformities. But then it hadn't looked very even so I tried to add more icing on the edges to compensate and it just...
I scowled, feeling embarrassed. I rubbed my forehead with an agitated hand, not realizing I was smearing flour on my forehead until it started falling into my eyes. "This is stupid. It looks like shit, you don't have to eat it."
Mike looked between me and the cupcakes before taking one, removing the wrapper and eating it in a few large bites. I saw that it was a struggle to swallow. "It's...Interesting." Mike said thickly.
My heart fell, "I'm sorry." I said. "I just wanted to..." I looked up at Mike's clear grey eyes and then away, biting my lip. "I wanted to do something for you. I'll do a better job next time, promise."
Mike swept some flour off my face, "You do a lot of things for me, Derrick."
I snorted softly, wishing his fingers could have lingered on my face. "You do way more for me."
"It isn't a competition." Mike said quietly, "And-" his voice got even quieter, "You make me happy, Derrick. That's what's important to me." He cupped my face with his hands, still a bit cold from the weather outside. "I don't care if you can bake or not. Or if you're shy. Or if your memories are gone. Or if you feel like you have too much baggage. None of that makes me love you any less."
I closed my eyes for a moment, not understanding how Mike could say something perfect every time he opened his mouth. I didn't know what to say exactly so I kissed him instead. I moved out of Mike's grasp, sliding my lips across his neck before kissing him beneath his earlobe. Lately, I was picking out Mike's more responsive areas, finding that his neck was especially sensitive.
Mike moaned low in his throat when I bit his earlobe with just the tiniest suggestion of pain. I curled my fingers into his hair, pulling his head back to give him a wet kiss. Mike's eyes were squeezed closed but even when I wasn't kissing him, his lips were parted and he was breathing heavily like he'd just run a race. "Please." he whispered, slowly opening his eyes. "Please, don't."
God, he was so cute. "Don't what?"
"Don't stop kissing me."
So I didn't. I gained a new appreciation for what kissing could do to Mike and the way slow, soft kisses could make him lose his mind as much as hard and heavy ones. Within moments Mike was as close to a mess as I'd seen him.
I took off his dress shirt, kissing my way down his chest and Mike was actually shivering in excitement by that point.
"Are you cold?" I asked, circling my thumb across the plains of his stomach.
Mike almost sounded shy, "You could warm me up."
So I did.
#
Later on Mike's head was on a pillow in my lap as we sat together on the couch watching tv. We watched a queen sashay away and Mike's brows were drawn in irritation the whole time.
He got up quickly, stretching his arms up and over his head giving me a nice view of long lean muscles. There were a few scratch marks and bite marks here and there but otherwise it was uninterrupted rippling skin.
"She didn't deserve to go home." Mike said after turning around. "Sometimes, I just don't see what Ru sees."
I gave an over the top gasp, "Really, sis?"
Mike laughed at me, sitting down and lightly swatting the pillow in my direction. "Don't do that." But he was barely getting the words out through his laughter.
"What?" I said innocently.
"You're not that kind of gay, which is fine."
"Am I still sickening, though?"
I felt like Mike was still laughing on the inside but he cupped my face between his hands, "You're a skinny legend."
I didn't understand why that was so hilarious and Mike couldn't explain because he was laughing too hard.
But in all honesty, it was nice to see Mike laughing so hard. The past few days he'd been seeming down. I didn't understand why since I was normally the depressed one. He went to work early and stayed late. Mike wanted to get more hours in so he could take off time around Christmas. But every day he only came home in a darker and darker mood. He never took anything out on me but he was becoming distant. Another reason why I was happy Mike hadn't rejected my advances earlier.
Mike got up to go to the bathroom and I remembered he'd left his briefcase in the kitchen. I went to go and get it, seeing that it looked full to bursting. I'd never opened Mike's work bag before but what was making it so full?
I heard Mike come out of the bathroom and considered asking him, but curiosity won out. I opened one snap and then tried for the other but it broke off and hit me in the face, the briefcase unfolding across my lap.
There was a blind moment of pain when I touched my cheekbone realizing the snap had cut me. The blood left a slow trail down my shirt, splattering onto the contents of whatever was in the briefcase.
I freaked out, not wanting to get blood on his things. I picked up the papers mindlessly and then realized they were letters. Dozens of letters. Some of them were in envelopes and others were open. I started reading and stopped several times feeling disturbed. I felt like it was harder to get air, and I started gasping knowing that that wouldn't help me but unable to stop.
Writer's Note-
Thoughts on the chapter?
What do you think are in these letters?
These kissing scenes can get so boring, what can I do to spice things up?
Should I do a D&M sequel?
Do any of you watch RPDR, what's your favourite season? Season 4 and 6 are my faves.
Also...That new story I was gonna write? I'm over it, it's cancelled. I don't feel like doing it anymore. I guess I'm fickle but I wanna focus on other stuff.