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[rosarianoath]

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[noburden]

"Nor will I. I'm so happy with how we are now, Clive," she reminds him, fingers brushing his hair from his eyes. His tears make her own eyes sting. "For the rest of our lives, you'll have kindness and patience from me. I understand you so much better now."

[rosarianoath]

It’s embarrassing, but it’s okay with her. He nods, leaning into her touch, clumsily pressing a kiss to her fingers.

“I’d do anything for you, Jill. Anything you could possibly ask for. You deserve it.”

[noburden]

"I have all I could ask for. My treasure," she says with a warm smile, fingertips brushing over his bottom lip. "You do enough for me, Clive. That's why it makes me happy when you ask for what you want. We have that luxury, now."

[rosarianoath]

He nods, squeezing his eyes shut. How wonderful she is.

“I’ll try,” he says. “I’ll try to ask for something every week, if it pleases you.”

[noburden]

Shut eyes are a good opportunity for Jill to plant a kiss on the tip of his nose.

"It would. You don't need to worry about me denying you."

[rosarianoath]

“Thank you,” he says, squeezing her tight against him. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

[noburden]

She shakes her head.

"Just continue being yourself. Speak your mind. I'll be happy," she promises. "I already am."

Jill shifts to embrace him, squeezing tightly.

"You're all I need."

[rosarianoath]

“I’ll do all that and more,” he promises, and he gathers her fully into his arms and tips them back to lay in bed.

[noburden]

"I don't need more," she points out with a laugh after she finds herself horizontal, looking to him with a smile. "You're enough, Clive."

[rosarianoath]

“So are you,” he says, cradling her to his chest still. “You’re beloved, my lady.”

[noburden]

Every word fills her with warmth. To be loved so well is a gift she doesn't take for granted.

"Then every struggle and heartache has been worth it."

[rosarianoath]

“Good,” he says. “That’s all that should matter — what we do next.”

[noburden]

The past does factor into that, she feels, but she's reluctant to tarnish a sweet moment when they've already said their parts. Instead, she smiles and nuzzles the underside of his jaw.

"What do we do next, Clive?"

[rosarianoath]

He lets himself feel relief the longer she settles in.

“Today? Or in the greater picture?”

[noburden]

"Both, ideally. I want to hear your plans," she says. "Knowing that all I request is that we're together."

It's been a bumpy morning but she still wants to spend the day with him.

[rosarianoath]

“Perhaps we… go see a film?” He suggests. “And then we walk to a nice dinner somewhere, since the weather is kinder…”

[noburden]

"... or..." Jill begins, looking to him. Not a terrible idea, but she may have better. If he's agreeable.

[rosarianoath]

“Or what, my love?”

He runs a hand over the back of her head.

[noburden]

"Or, we spend the day outside. We can watch something tomorrow. I want to be under the sun with you."

He looks best with the light on his hair and the warmth tanning his skin. It's not quite summer, of course, but he runs hot, anyway.

[rosarianoath]

“I do so love to see the sun,” he murmurs. “What about a picnic?”

[noburden]

"A picnic sounds wonderful. What will you prepare for us?"

Gentle and loving as she is with him, she likes giving him a fright even now and then, too.

[rosarianoath]

He chuckles, nearly out of disbelief.

“The finest takeout a man could buy, carefully packaged to look like it came from our own kitchen,” he says. “It’s that or I roast up some beef or a coney over a spit in the backyard.”

[noburden]

Jill pats his chest with an amused smile. Never to fear. She's already got a menu planned of sandwiches and leftovers.

"We have plenty food here to take," she assures him, but there seems to be no urgency on her end to get up to get ready as she snuggles into him again. "I wouldn't make you do so much work for something that was my idea, after all."

[rosarianoath]

“I would do anything for you, but I confess I would hesitate to make you eat my cooking,” he says, closing his eyes comfortably as she pats him.

[noburden]

"Oh, I would hesitate to eat it."

Just because he's willing to do anything for her doesn't mean he should.