happyfalcon | [For Thomas] [Modern AU] Secret Holiday

"It's alright," Wyatt whispered and squeezed Anne to his side. Perhaps the surprise was for the best; he hadn't had time to be intimidated in advance. Besides, it would have sounded a bit selfish actually if Anne had told him how well liked she was here.

Monsieur Dubois threw his hands up in the air after the introduction. "Poète! Oui, you deserve beautiful words in your life, Mademoiselle Boleyn." He smiled to both of them before excusing himself. One didn't become an owner of the best bakery in Paris by ignoring all other customers. Madame Dubois, however, pulled them slightly to the side and took the time to catch up on the latest news in Anne's life. Wyatt explained what he could about their travel plans while still keeping Anne in suspense for future destinations.

"I am so pleased you came to see us, my dear," Madame Dubois concluded and gave Anne one more hug. "We certainly didn't expect it but there ought to be some of your favourites available today. Please look around." Then she too returned to her work.

"I do love you," Wyatt smiled at Anne as he stepped closer to the long glass counter full of good things. "Let's buy a few different things and walk to the Eiffel Tower."

Anne laughed softly at Alain's compliments. "You're too kind as always, Monsieur Dubois." She did lean into Thomas a bit though, enjoying the secure feeling of leaning against him.

She had fun talking to Madame Dubois about what she'd been up to and what else was new in her life. When Thomas shared about the plans for their trip, she chuckled softly. "My beloved poet has taken great pains to keep this entire trip a secret surprise for me, you see."

Anne hugged Madame Dubois and kissed both cheeks. "It was so very good to see you! I hope we are able to see you at least once more before we leave."

She smiled as Madame Dubois went back to work and Thomas led her towards the glass counter. She chuckled softly and rubbed along his upper arm. "I love you too," she pointed to a light yellow sandwich cookie. "The passionfruit macarons, they're my absolute favorite! We should get at least six. The espresso macarons are also very good."

Anne pointed to the breads behind the counter. "We should get a baguette and stop at the cheese shop for fresh brie."

"Fruit de la passion," Wyatt chuckled. Her favourites, yes. That's what she'd told him. "Alright. We'll take six of those, two with espresso flavor, and... chocolate truffles?" The shop sold packages that contained four tiny truffles, all different kind. Anne's suggestion of bread and cheese met Wyatt's approval since he preferred to have some savoury food to balance out the sweet things.

"Now you're talking. And champagne in mini bottles. Have to have champagne."

Madame Dubois packed their purchases in a paper bag adding two more macarons for free. They were bright red cherry flavoured macarons with a dark chocolate layer in between. "These are newest in our selection," she explained.

Anne smiled and nodded at his choices. This was shaping up to be a very decadent picnic. She found herself anxious for it. Anne watched as Madame Dubois put together the treats for them and smiled the whole time. When she added the two extra macarons, Anne's smile grew bigger and she reached out to gently clutch the other woman's hand.

"You're far too kind, sweet lady," Anne smiled. "I'm sure they'll be wonderful, as is everything you both make here."

Once everything was rung up Anne brought out her purse, insistent on paying for the treats. She included a generous tip, which Madame Dubois tried to decline, but Anne wasn't taking no for an answer. They hugged one last time before the younger couple left the shop.

"So, what did you think?" She smiled to Thomas as she took his arm and handed him the small bag to carry.

Wyatt laughed. "I think you're famous here and we'll definitely come back to taste their cakes before we leave Paris." Macarons were easy to carry and have as picnic treats but it was a different matter for tarts with wobbly mousse and cream layers. Those were best enjoyed in the bakery's cafe.

The next stop was the fromagerie, the cheese shop that thankfully had a small selection of wine and champagne so there was no need to find a liquor store. A water bottle and napkins also found their way into the paper bag.

"Eating local food is one of the best things about travelling," Wyatt said and lifted the bag to smell that fresh baguette. "And it's doubly good with you as company."

They now followed the River Seine to reach the Eiffel Tower that was well in their sight already.

Anne laughed and leaned into him playfully. "Famous, hardly. I was there almost every day between classes. Their espresso is also very good - helped me stay awake late into the night during exam weeks."

After they'd collected the final pieces for their picnic lunch, Anne led the way along the Seine towards the Eiffel Tower. Thankfully it hadn't begun to rain in the city just yet, so the ground was mostly dry.

"You flatter me, my love," she kissed his cheek. "But I must thank you again. All this...it's barely been one day and this has been incredible."

Closer to the Tower, tourists had begun to assemble, making a great ruckus and yelling to one another. That scene was not for Anne. She pointed out a shady spot beneath the trees that had a prime view of the river. "Shall we eat there?"

"I wish I'd known you then," Wyatt said while trying to imagine Anne during her university years. When she thanked him once again, Wyatt didn't see any other option but to stop and kiss her. He held her face between his palms and took advantage of being in one of the most romantic cities in the world. There was no Paris without kissing couples.

"Looks fine to me. We lack a red and white checkered blanket to sit on but I can gallantly offer you my jacket."

They had talked about a picnic but this was more spontaneous than he had expected. But it was good. They could do without blankets and champagne glasses. The cheese shop had given them a small disposable knife which was handy. There were flowers in the park.

"Perfect. I'll open the bottles."

Anne chuckled and thought back to those days. "I was something of a bookworm," she admitted. Anne had still been dealing with her image issues, worrying about her appearance and still thinking herself inferior to her sister Mary.

But that had lessened when she came to work for her father. Anne had become less concerned with her appearance and more determined to become successful. Then she'd met Thomas. Any doubts had melted away at that moment.

She smiled when he offered her his jacket, and politely waved her hand to refuse. "Think nothing of it. Truly nothing should separate a person from the ground - we draw energy and inspiration from the earth and all it gives us, do we not?" Anne laughed, getting a little carried away with her imagery.

Spontaneous was good. Anne liked it. They didn't get much spontaneity back home, so it only made sense that their holiday be filled with spontaneity. She settled down against the grass and took the bag from him to set it down and begin unpacking.

A bookworm and a beauty. In Wyatt's opinion, Anne was a full package. He was convinced he'd seen the truth of her personality in the photograph in Boleyn's office. She was smart and well-read on top of being gorgeous. And now he did laugh with her about the importance of sitting on the ground.

"I believe you, my dear." He sat close and brushed his hand across her ankle. The jacket proved useful anyway since Wyatt wrapped its sleeves around the tiny champagne bottles in order to keep them upright.

"That's something I thought of but didn't make reservations yet," Wyatt said, pointing to the river cruise boats that sailed past them. "A dinner tour at night could be nice but I wanted to leave enough wiggle room in my plans so you can show me Paris in your own way."

Anne looked out on the river as he pointed out the cruise boat. She gave a nervous little look and smiled to him. "It's just as well - cruises provide a nice view but it's hardly experiencing the true spirit of Paris."

She smiled as she looked out on the water with a smile. "Paris is something that you need to experience from the inside out, you can't discover her secrets by looking in."

Anne smiled and reached for the box of macarons from the bakery. She plucked a yellow-orange passionfruit macaron from the box and held it out for him to take a bite. There was a darker orange jam that made up the filling of the cookie, and Anne practically licked her lips just looking at it.

Wyatt held his hand under the macaron as he bit into it, ready to catch any falling crumbles. "Mm... inside out. My insides say Paris is very tasty."

He could understand that dinner cruises were mostly for tourists. He'd never gone on a cruise on the River Thames in London so that probably was an indication of something. It wasn't that locals couldn't enjoy the city from the river but more interesting life happened elsewhere.

"You must have had other opportunities here. You could have stayed, right? Was it hard to return to England?"

Anne smiled and gave a soft laugh as he replied. She popped the remainder of the macaron into her own mouth. Anne sighed in delight and closed her eyes as she enjoyed the taste. "Mmmm...the best macarons in the whole, wide world!"

Anne considered his question and looked out on the river for a good long moment.

"I could have stayed, yes," she replied. "I didn't necessarily want to leave Paris. I didn't want to be under father's thumb again. In truth I'm not sure what brought me back. A promising job, perhaps."

She smiled as she looked up to him. Anne reached up to tuck one wayward dark curl behind her ear. "Or perhaps it was fate, bringing me to you."

Wyatt broke a piece from the baguette and ate it with cheese as Anne contemplated her answer. Bringing me to you. It made him smile.

"Absolutely. You brought yourself to me. We should drink to that." Wyatt took one of the tiny champagne bottles and handed Anne the other so they could click them together.

"To French souvenirs. Be they made of silver," he started, thinking of the locket they saw, "or of red lips and dark hair."

Edited 2016-07-12 19:56 (UTC)

Anne smiled as she too took a sliver of cheese and ate it over a piece of the baguette. Fresh bread and soft cheese, there was nothing truly like it. When he held one of the bottles to her, Anne took it and held it aloft as he so eloquently spoke the toast.

"To English classics," she added. "Chivalrous and full of romance and inspiration. Be they bound in books of leather, or of blonde curls and crystal-blue eyes."

She clinked her glass against his and took a slow sip. Once that was done, she leaned into him and brushed her lips over his, tasting the champagne on his lips. "I love you, you know."

Wyatt felt almost embarrassed to hear such a toast from Anne. That she saw him in that way... He would gladly be her English classic; familiar and trustworthy.

"I'm beginning to believe it. I love you so much," he replied quietly, not able to take his eyes off of hers for some time. Like so often with her, surroundings vanished, outside noise and interruptions seized to exist. Wyatt put down the bottle in order to give Anne a longer kiss.

"I wouldn't worry too much about you being under your father's thumb. You've managed to carve a little niche for yourself and proved that you're more than just another Boleyn at the office."

She pouted her lips playfully, but she was unable to hide her smile. "You think I would lie about such a thing?" She smiled and kissed the curve of his jaw softly. When he leaned in for a deeper kiss, Anne kissed him back and sighed softly against his lips. She set her own bottle down and ran one at of fingers through his hair.

"You think so? I hope so," she replied. "I would love to take over the business one day, but surely father will leave it to George."

But truly she wasn't interested in discussing work. She had her man, her poet, her Thomas. That was all she needed. Anne leaned in close, resting her head against his chest, sighing contentedly as she took in the scenery with the sound of his heartbeat in her ears.

"No. No, I don't think that at all. I am merely self-doubting at times. Not believing I'm worth your love... But I do believe it when you're here with me."

Especially when she cuddled close and made him feel wanted and important. Their relationship satisfied his longing for a true relationship where emotional and physical needs were met. He knew it would only get better once they were finally able to date out in the open.

Wyatt didn't wish to waste any time talking about work, either. He much rather listened to Anne's stories about her life in Paris and the places she wanted to show him. In return, he shared the progress of his latest writing projects. And so the picnic filled their bodies with good food and their minds with good conversation.

"Last one," Wyatt smiled and held up a tiny chocolate truffle. Anne's head was resting on his lap and his fingers were tangled among her long locks.

Anne smiled and leaned in to kiss him softly. "You are the only one worthy of my love."

It was a splendid afternoon - they were truly free here, able to openly discuss their dreams and plans for the future. The future that, at least for Anne, she planned on spending with Thomas. She could only hope and pray that he would get his divorce soon enough. Anne didn't blame him; it wasn't his fault that it was taking so long now - she didn't want to separate him from his son, at any rate either.

But now was not the time to focus on such things. Now was the time to bask in the present and the paradise they had found with one another.

Anne curled into Thomas a bit as she rested her head in his lap. The feeling of his fingers running through her hair made her sigh softly in delight. She could easily fall asleep this way. Her own fingers traced patterns along the seam of his jeans at his outer thigh. When he offered the truffle, her lips parted slowly and Anne took a bite. She licked the chocolate remnants slowly from her lips before pushing his wrist up to offer the remainder of the truffle back to him.

Wyatt munched down the last bit of sweet chocolate and took a sip from the water bottle before giving Anne a little kiss. They had finished it all; bread and cheese and macarons alike and now succumbed to a peaceful, lazy existence.

"Park's getting crowded," Wyatt noted. A line of tourists had formed in front of the Eiffel Tower and a family with small children was blowing bubbles near them.

"Don't fall asleep," he chuckled, noticing Anne's dreamy expression. "You mind if I take pictures? Um, I mean, of us." Wyatt pulled out his phone. He didn't need pictures to remember this moment but all the same it would be nice to have a few. Eiffel in the background.

Anne smiled and returned that kiss - there was no amount of affection that could be considered minimal between them. Everything was precious to her, each and every act.

She glanced up when he brought up the tourists. Anne smiled seeing the assembling people. But they didn't bother her - she had her man. Nothing in the world could spoil this for her now. When he brought up the phone and asked to take pictures, Anne smiled and sat up a bit.

"Mind? Of course not, in fact I insist!" she smiled and kissed his cheek, giving him the perfect opportunity to snap a photo. Only then did she lean in and kiss him on the lips, taking his lower lip between hers. Anne snuck her own phone out and took a picture, taking care to catch the Eiffel Tower in the background - it was a bit blurry, but satisfactory.

Memories, confirmation that they were here. Together, alone. Anne would want the pictures later for the hard days; for the days where they went extended periods of time without seeing one another. To prove to herself that this wasn't a dream, that they really had been here together.

Oh, she said yes to taking pictures and then proceeded to distract him with kisses. That was sneaky. Wyatt held his arm out and nearly forgot to press the button to make the photograps happen. Thankfully they came out surprisingly good in the end. Tilted yes, but that was just artistic.

The mother of the family that was next to them spoke up suddenly. She offered to take a picture of them using Wyatt's phone and he agreed. "Look at me," he asked Anne, not wanting to pose for the camera but to have a picture where they lovingly looked at each other. This photo Wyatt then chose as the new screensaver for his phone.

"Shall we go?" He started gathering the wrappers and empty boxes from their picnic, for no way would he leave a mess behind. "Lots of secret alleyways yet to be explored."

Anne happily greeted and thanked the woman who offered to take their picture. When Thomas told her to look at him, Anne smiled and obeyed. She looked into his eyes and tilted her head; she easily could have gotten lost in those blue eyes for hours, and she would not have minded it a bit. So blue and deep, she could have drowned.

When the photo was taken Anne again thanked the woman and looked to inspect it. She rolled her eyes playfully when Thomas chose it as his screensaver. They would have to be careful about that when they eventually returned home.

She helped him collect the trash and wrappers from their picnic and found a trash can nearby which she promptly dumped the wrappings and bags into. She nodded in response and looped her arm with his. "Yes indeed - new and secret places to make our own, just for us."

Wyatt let Anne lead him through the streets to places most dear to her. They saw tiny parks that tourists didn't flock to and quaint corner shops but they also admired the familiar symbols of Paris, such as Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Across the river from the cathedral was a bookstore called Shakespeare & Company. Indeed, a shop specializing in English-language literature was found in the heart of Paris. Wyatt had been there before, and even though he had not come to France to find English books, he stopped to look at the window.

"It is often said how the French feel superior to the English and how they sneer at everything foreign, but the existence of this store seems to me a proof of the opposite. The French do value our writers," he said, keeping Anne snugly to his side. Secretly, Wyatt wanted to become one of those writers.

Anne took pride in showing Thomas get old haunts and precious places. That she could share those places with him only made them more valuable to her. Anne lingered at Notre Dame Cathedral, having always admired its beauty and history.

When they came to the bookstore, Anne knew Thomas would want to linger. She leaned into him and smiled as he spoke.

He may have thought his desire secret, but to her it was plain as day. The way his eyes lit and sparkled as he looked upon the tomes in the window abs in the shelves inside, how could she not have known?

"Come, let's have a look inside, shall we?" She smiled, tugging him inside.

He did appreciate Anne's intuition as well as her discretion. If she knew his mind but didn't try to urge him to talk about a thing he wasn't ready for yet, all the better. It wasn't Anne he wanted to keep secrets from. He simply needed to mull over his own feelings first.

Thousands of books both old and new, stacked in shelves from floor to ceiling greeted them as they stumbled into the store. Wyatt kissed Anne's fingers to apologize for the fact that he could no longer hold her hand.

"I won't take all day," he swore and headed for the poetry section. His trained eyes skimmed through the selection. Occasionally he picked up a book to weigh its value to him. Yes. No. Maybe.

He chuckled to find a little poem that fit the occasion, and walked back to Anne to whisper it over her shoulder.

"Oh, came you from the isles of Greece
Or from the banks of Seine;
Or off some tree in forests free,
Which fringe the western main?"

((From here: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/charles_kingsley/poems/3763))

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