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

Anne smiled and nodded in response. "You're welome, thank you for sharing in it with me," she smiled and tapped her glass against his. "To us, to Paris, and to our sublime and passionate future."

Her life had been a difficult one; her father held her to too-high standards while her mother remained mostly silent. Her brother and sister were the over-achievers, while Anne was the rebellious daughter. She wanted to fly and be free, but her father wanted to keep her caged. Thomas had brought light and love into her life, made her feel truly happy for the first time in years.

When he offered the pastries, Anne reached for the nearest one and took a nibble of it, testing the taste. She smiled, happy of the taste. "It's very good - nicely complimented by the wine," she held her glass up and took a sip.

She considered visiting the Dubois' before leaving Paris. A slow smile crept across her lips. "That's a wonderful idea! I'd like to bring Madame Dubois some flowers to brighten up the shop - they're such a lovely couple, I was so glad to see them still in business."

Wyatt took care of a salmon pastry in one go. No nibbling for him. The nodding of his head testified that he agreed with Anne of the taste. He swirled the wine in the glass, very happy indeed.

"It feels good to hear you talk about future." Not just any future but one that included him. It was almost better than hearing that she loved him.

"Well, you should do just that," he said, referring to buying flowers for the cafe. "Let's go there on Monday before we leave Paris. We can sit down for coffee and cakes and buy something to take with us for the journey."

Anne smiled as she took larger bites of her pastry before finishing it off as well. She blushed when he spoke again and tilted her head towards him.

"I enjoy thinking about it," she replied. "What it would be like, letting you have a more permanent drawer in my apartment, or us having one of our own that we could share and decorate as we please to reflect us both."

In truth she thought a great deal about the future, and what they might do and what they might be to each other. She would be lying if she didn't fantasize about a proposal. But Anne wasn't so hung up on it that she would be disappointed if one never came; things were rocky now with his wife, and even though she knew he was soon to be separated, that experience might sour him from marriage altogether.

But, enough of those thoughts; she was focused on the present now. "Indeed, then it's decided. We'll stop at the flower shop on Monday and have a last breakfast at the Dubois' cafe." She held her glass of wine up to toast the idea.

Wyatt listened quietly, smiling. He wanted the same things, but he was still more of a country boy and she a city girl. Living together would be all sorts of wonderful but also frightening. What if it didn't pan out - despite of them being soul mates, as he believed? He didn't fear marriage, only divorce.

"We'll never run out of reasons to toast," he chuckled and drank to the overflowing kindness of the Dubois couple.

"Since you mentioned your apartment... I wonder if you could you give me one of your keys? I'd promise I would't crash in unannounced. It would just make things easier for the days you do want me there."

They wouldn't have to jump through hoops anymore; no pretending he's delivering her some important papers when he's only fetching the keys. Also, if he happened to be somewhere else, he could go straight to her apartment without stopping by at the Boleyn paper or wait for her to go home before him.

"And let's be honest, you want my t-shirts in your drawer just so that you can wear them yourself," he winked.

Certainly they had their differences in taste and in preferences. But what they had in common was love; and that was more than enough. That was strong enough to get them through almost anything, that was what Anne believed.

She listened as he made his request, and a smile tugged the corners of her mouth. That was a serious step, wasn't it? And he wanted to take it with her. She was flattered.

"Of course," she replied. "I'll have a spare made when we get home."

It would indeed make things easier. They'd be less likely to get caught that way. "Make sure you text me though if you're planning on being there - surprise visits are probably not a good idea, considering how often George and Mary stop by unannounced."

She laughed at his last comment and winked at him in return. "They're just so comfortable - and you enjoy seeing me in them, I know it."

"It's true, I do. You look so contented wearing them. Even if you're going through work papers in bed, and getting ready for the night, you look so soft with my shirt on. Though I admit when you finally put away the papers and curl next to me... that's even better." Because she not only looked soft, but incredibly hot in those situations.

Wyatt took another salmon pastry and tried not to think about Anne in bed.

"I wouldn't go to your apartment without permission even if weren't for George or Mary. It's your place and you deserve to have a say when to have me there. As you said, maybe one day we're living in a house that's for both of us."

Anne smiled, blushing a bit as he described how he'd watched her wearing his clothes. "I enjoy them most on the nights when you can't come to the apartment, truth be told. They have your scent about them, and they comfort me when you can't."

Though those occasions were indeed rare. Anne followed his lead and took another pastry, taking another small nibble for her first bite.

"But I enjoy having you there - I always want you there," she replied. "I like it when I come home and you're there - sitting on the couch, working on your own writing."

She reached for his hand. "I would so much love to have a place of our own - coming home to you, tie undone and shirt partially unbuttoned as you pour over papers and poetry. Preparing meals and sharing each and every moment with one another. You may get bored of me yet, Thomas Wyatt!"

Wyatt could easily guess that Anne wore his shirts especially when he wasn't around. He didn't like the idea that she might need comforting but he understood what she meant.

"I love being there and I'm not easily bored, you know. Your home is like a warm nest. I'm almost worried that the magic disappears if I spend too much time there."

He squeezed her hand and fell quiet, just watching her. She was so frank about her dreams. If she really was ready to settle down with him, that changed everything.

"I had plans to look for a nice home with a room for me and a room for Junior but if you're serious... I mean, you'd have to be okay with him living with me sometimes and... that kind of house would soon feel too small for all of us."

Anne smiled, happy that he found her home so open and welcoming and warm. He had such a great deal of stress in his own home life; if he had an opportunity to get a reprieve from all that, she was happy that it was with her.

When he spoke of a new home, of having a room for Junior and for him living with his father, Anne paid very close attention. Her eyes were completely focused on Thomas as she took a deep breath.

"I mean...of course I'd be all right with him living there, he's your son after all, I would never seek to part you," she looked to him. "Are you...suggesting we try to find a place? For you, me and for Junior?"

Wyatt had to pause again. He wasn't sure how much he wanted to say right now but since the topic had been brought up, it seemed like a good enough time to talk about it.

"I've been thinking about it but I wasn't going to say anything until after our trip. I wanted to see if we not kill each other first, being together twenty-four-seven. But now that you mentioned it, I can't keep it to myself anymore."

Wyatt saw the waiter coming forward to collect their empty plates and to bring forth the soup. Even if the waiter couldn't understand their conversation held in English, he didn't continue before they were left alone again.

"If you are in this for the long term, it would make more sense to try to find a place that we both like and is big enough for all of us. I don't want to move now to a small house and again next year to a bigger one. However, before you can move in, your family has to come to terms with the fact that we're dating. If the first thing you tell them is that we bought a house together, your father will give me a hard time at work."

Anne's eyes lit as possibilities ran through her head. She could see it, in her mind. Sunday brunch with the three of them at a proper table. Pizza and movie night in the living room. And of course, on the nights when Junior was with his mother, candlelit dinners and heavier cuddling beneath blankets on the couch.

Anne glanced up when the waiter returned and gave him a polite smile. She focused her attention on Thomas again when the waiter left.

"You know I'm in this for the long haul, Thomas," she replied. "And frankly I would be fine telling my family that we're dating. But there's the small matter of..." she felt strange saying it. "Your marriage."

She knew her family. Mary would be supportive, the romantic that she was. George and Thomas Boleyn however, would see Thomas and his marriage as signs of infidelity, which they would suspect him of transferring to Anne if they went public about their relationship. It was clear enough to her that they couldn't proceed with buying a house and building a future without his divorce being finalized.

Wyatt could see how Anne's mind was working on the idea, though not the specifics of her dreams. Moving in with him was one thing - the easy thing - but to live with his son... that would require a lot of understanding.

But she seemed willing to try and that was all Wyatt could ask of her.

"My marriage will end one day, that I'm sure of. I say we look for a home that you can move in later. It's better for Junior anyway, that he can get used to living in a new place with just me. One change at a time, and all that. Besides, it can take months before we find something that we both love."

Anne truly had no issue with living alongside Junior. Even knowing that, as his son, he had more of Thomas' live than she ever could. That didn't bother her. At this point, it was only his marriage that made her unhappy, abs how long it was taking him to get a divorce.

It wasn't his fault. But still, she wished it could be over and done so that they could better enjoy their relationship. His answer was hardly a confident one, Anne gave a half-hearted smile and nodded slowly.

"Sounds like a plan," she agreed. "And it wouldn't do to have him get used to a snake house, only to move into a larger one."

"Good." Wyatt smiled, shaking his head for not quite believing his dream was about to come true. "Wow. I didn't expect this, not today. But you make me happy and I feel like I have a better sense of direction in my life if I can build it with you in mind."

Family was important to him. He'd been young when Junior was born but that he had never regretted. Every moment with Anne made him less sad about his failed marriage, too.

"If you ever changed your mind... I wouldn't hold it against you. I just want you to be you."

((ooc: Ugh, just realized I made a typo in my last post - damn autocorrect, it was supposed to read "small" not "snake"...))

Anne smiled and nodded slowly, reaching for her wine glass again. When he spoke again, Anne reached out to take his hand in hers, running her thumb over his knuckles. "I won't change my mind, not so long as things progress as we planned." She would stay with him, so long as he actively pursued his divorce - no matter how long it took, she would wait. But she wanted to be with him legitimately.

She knew in her heart that she wanted to marry him one day. Anne had no need nor want for anyone else. But that couldn't happen if he didn't get his divorce.

But no need to bring that up and dwell on it now. Anne raised her glass and smiled to Thomas. "Then shall we toast again? To us, to the future, and to blossoming love and passion."

((ooc: It was a bit strange, yes :), but I figured that maybe it's just a phrase to mean 'not-so-good', hah. Sorry, I should have asked, but it didn't affect the whole tag so I didn't mind.))

He difinitely wanted to marry Anne but the time to ask her would have to be right. While he was still firmly married to Liz, proposing to Anne would have meant nothing. It would be idle talk.

"I can't see why they wouldn't progress. I'm not going back to Elizabeth, not even if you left me. I'd just build a life for me and Junior."

He wasn't planning on living alone but it wasn't like he had a girlfriend candidate waiting in case Anne decided not to wait for the divorce. He'd find someone and hopefully still remained friends with Anne.

Leaning slightly over the table, Wyatt pulled Anne's hand to his lips before letting go and raising his glass. "To blossoming love and passionfruit."

Then he tasted the soup.

((ooc: No worries! I'll try to keep a better eye out next time.))

Anne smiled, comforted by his words. For a moment she imagined herself in a white dress, Thomas reaching beneath the fabric to pull her garter down. "Well, I hope to build a life for all three of us." She smiled.

When he released her hand after kissing it, Anne ran her fingers over his cheek before returning her hand to the table. She raised her glass in toast and took a sip.

And again she fantasized about their wedding; white rose petals littering the aisle. Herself in a pristine white gown with a veil, and a bouquet of roses and red spider lilies. She smiled to herself before tasting the soup as well.

"Thomas I must say again. This has all been so wonderful, you're really spoiling me."

"I love you for making an effort for Junior," he replied with a soft look in his eyes. "And I'm just happy you let me spoil you."

Deep down he wasn't quite so confident. His son wasn't a problem child but having to get used to a step-mom might unearth behaviour that Wyatt had not witnessed before. Junior could rebel against the new living arrangements and he could pretend to dislike Anne, simply out of loyalty to his own mother.

But that discussion wasn't on the plate today. They had time to talk about all of that heavy stuff later. This was supposed to be a romantic night. After the soup they enjoyed a good main course and salad; for Wyatt it was a rack of lamb with string beans, heavy with fresh herbs.

"Do you wish to go anywhere afterwards? Dancing maybe? Or should we just head back to the hotel?"

Edited 2016-09-22 21:50 (UTC)

Anne smiled and gave him a softly chiding look. "Of course I make an effort for him. He's your son, he's important to you - thus he's important to me."

She constantly feared though that he wouldn't like her in the future. No one knew what the future held for them. Junior could indeed rebel against her, and in that case, Anne would have no idea what to do. Junior wasn't her child; she had no right to discipline him. But she didn't anticipate needing to do so. Anne figured that Junior was a good kid, and that it wouldn't come to that.

Besides, she was more focused on being in the moment and enjoying this wonderful vacation Thomas had set up. She considered his question and smiled after a moment.

"I'd like to go dancing - just for a little while," she was tired from their long day. "We can go to the hotel after, if that's all right with you? We don't need to stay out long."

"Whatever you're up to, love. I didn't mean a noisy club but something like a quiet restaurant with a singer or a live band. It'd be nice if they had that here but they don't." Wyatt looked around. This restaurant wasn't big enough to have a dance floor.

"I long to hold you close when you look as lovely as you do now. Not that we can't dance in our hotel room if it comes to that but since nobody in Paris cares who we are... We should take the opportunity to do all the things we can't yet do in London."

When they went out clubbing with friends, there were always slow songs, too, but Wyatt couldn't dance them only with Anne. He felt as his duty to dance with other women as well, to balance it out. Even when they danced together, it had to look impersonal which put a damper on things.

"Agreed - we can go back to the loud clubs when we're home," she smiled. She preferred something more classy now; they were in Paris, after all.

She absolutely agreed that they should partake of the public romantic scenes while they were free to do so. "Soon enough we will be back to sharing such private, romantic acts in the privacy of the home, let's take advantage of being free and open with each other in public while we can."

Anne never liked it in the clubs when the slow songs came on and he danced with other women - but she knew deep down he only did it to protect her; to protect them both. George and Mary were usually with them when they went clubbing, so they couldn't afford having one of them catch wise to what they were doing.

But they didn't need to worry about that here. The main entree was brought out soon enough, and Anne ate slowly, but eagerly. The food in France was always prepared with a passion and love that was rarely replicated elsewhere.

After a long day walking outside, it was wonderful to relax and be served a good meal in a quiet atmosphere, without a care in the world. To know that their relationship had just taken a step forward with plans to move in together made everything better for Wyatt.

"You know how you keep saying I spoil you but honestly, I'm doing this for myself as much as for you. Writing is lonely and though I enjoy it, I crave for company on other times. I don't want to see the world on my own. I don't want to sit in a restaurant alone, nor look at sights by myself."

He lowered his fork on the plate and took a sip of wine. "I teach my son about the importance of sharing because I believe it."

Anne finished off her entree and smiled as he continued to speak. She smiled, recalling every time that she had come home to find him working diligently on his writing.

"Your writing is indeed wonderful," she praised him. "But you're right, it does seem solitary. How many times have I come home and asked you questions only to have them go unanswered while you worked on a particular passage?" she chuckled.

Anne didn't mind when that happened. It meant he was focused, and when he focused, his blue eyes seemed to light up and his brow furrowed in the most adorable manner.

"You're an ideal father," she praised, again reaching to squeeze his hand.

"I apologize," he whispered with a faint regret in his voice. Even if Anne had never complained, it didn't mean his behaviour was always commendable.

"I don't mean to take you for granted. I appreciate each and every time you let me finish the sentence or the chapter I'm working on." She had learned to sense when he was approachable. He didn't mind if she then came to sit beside him and put her legs across his lap, for when he was finished, his attention turned to her and her alone. Exchanging the day's news while cuddling on her couch was something he'd come to look forward to.

"Well, I try. I make mistakes but now that he's old enough to express his wants and needs with intelligible words, it's so much easier. Everything's hit and miss, and a test drive, with the first kid."

He squeezed her hand in return. "You'll see."

((ooc: Sorry again for taking so long on this! I didn't get a notification in my inbox :( ))

Anne tilted her head and smiled. "No need to apologize," she assured him. "You're not taking me for granted. You're focused, and I enjoy seeing you so hard at work on something you love."

When he teased her over a first child, Anne tilted a brow at him. She laughed softly and shook her head. "Perhaps."

Soon enough they finished their meals and enjoyed a night of dancing at a nearby dance hall. Then they started on their way back to the hotel. Anne laced her fingers with his as they continued on their way. She leaned into Thomas and nuzzled his shoulder. "I love you." she smiled up at him.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject