Dine My Darling [Maebelle]

[Kieron Sharpe]

Backdated to 14th February 2015

This time last year Kieron had gone to ridiculous lengths for valentine’s day, hiring a boat (and learning how to row it), packing a picnic and letting off lanterns at the lake. It had gone every bit as perfectly as he had hoped it would, and he did not regret a single one of his decisions or a single moment of the time that had passed since then. This valentine’s he planned to keep things much simpler, but hopefully no less special. He had the day off work and had spent most of the time in the kitchen, cooking a three-course dinner of all of Maebelle’s favourites. The lounge and dining area were filled with pots of spring flowers that he had been tending for about two weeks, trying his best to keep them alive and happy yet also secret from Mae.

To say Kieron was nervous was a gross understatement. Even though he had been setting this up for weeks to try to make sure it went smoothly, there was still so much that could go wrong. The recipes had been tried time and time again to make sure he had them down, but the food was not his only concern. He had plans in motion that could change everything, and he was chewing his bottom lip in quiet anxiety as he put the main course in the oven, just in time to hear the front door open as Maebelle arrived.

“Hey, welcome back” Kieron called out from the kitchen. “Dinner won’t be long.” After closing up the oven and double-checking the temperature of it, Kieron made his way into the living room to greet her. The room was lit by dozens of candles, giving it a warm glow that meant that Maebelle could see and he wasn’t having to wear sunglasses to prevent himself being blinded. “I never thought it could be possible, but you really do look more lovely every single day.”

[Deleted]

Despite last year, Maebelle didn't have any expectations when it came to Valentine's Day. There was a lack of signs that Kieron might have planned something. To just spend a quiet night with him, pizza and a movie included, just like he had offered the other day, felt like a great way to end her shift. The celebration, however, did make the young woman feel a tad bit torn. She wanted to dress nicely for her boyfriend, given the festivity, but at the same time she feared being too overdressed for the simple plans he had made. Slumping on a couch and cuddling would not be comfortable while wearing a fancy dress. And surely Kieron didn't expect that this time around, seeing he hadn't given her directions on an outfit.

It was why the brunette had gone home to grab a quick shower and to get changed into a casual and comfy outfit. A coat was thrown on over it, and then she was on her way to Kieron's place. The key he had given her was already in the woman's hand as she stepped up to the door, effortlessly unlocking it before stepping in. A gentle warmth greeted her and she shed the coat, putting it on a hanger, followed by stepping into the living room.

When Mae stepped in there, she briefly halted in the doorway though. Blue eyes darted over the candles and plants, allowing the baffled look to soon make place for a happy smile before she slowly closed the door, without completely turning her back to the effort Kieron had put into this. By the time she let go of the handle, Kieron headed into the living room.

"I... feel highly underdressed now." The brown-haired woman replied in a gentle chuckle to his words. For a split second her gaze took in the decorated room again, and then she moved over to where he stood. "What happened to the pizza and movie plans?" She truly did feel bad for not having settled for a dress now; she kind of felt out of place.

"No, wait, let me guess." Her voice adopted a playful and sly tone. "You burnt the pizza, which caused a meltdown of the electricity. That explains the candles, and the flowers are to hide the burnt smell?"

[Kieron Sharpe]

There was a part of Kieron that wished he had planned something more spectacular for tonight. Something far grander and more luxurious, but he had other plans for tonight beyond dinner, and he did not want the sincerity of them to be clouded under too much fanfare. He wanted Maebelle to be happy more than anything, but he also wanted her to be able to be completely relaxed and honest and not just respond to things while lost in the moment of lanterns over the lake.

Wearing a simple but well-fitting dark green shirt and black slacks, Kieron smiled warmly as he looked over at Maebelle. “You do not look underdressed at all. The candlelight suits you; it reinforces my belief that you are above mere humans, for surely only an angel could look so beautiful.” His words were flowery, of that he was well aware, but he truly meant them. Maebelle’s grace fed directly into his soul, making his heart burn with the urge to shower her with all the adoration she so deserved… yet at the same time, mere words simply could not capture how she made him feel each and every day he got to spend with her.

Maebelle’s playful teasing caused Kieron to blush slightly, and he glanced down at the ground with a shy smile for a moment before he could meet her eye again. “Exactly that. The pizza got frisbee’d down the garden for the foxes, and if it was not for the flowers, the whole house would smell of cremated cheese. I’m sorry, my ineptness means you’re just going to have to put up with real food instead.”

Indicating towards the dining area Kieron said, “it should only be a few minutes, if you’d like to get comfortable?” The small dining table was set neatly for two, lit by more candles and decorated in the centre with a large Kaffir lily with a deep red satin bow around the pot. Comfortable cushions padded the seats, and the fishtanks in the area were draped in thin red fabric to keep up the warm glow. Overall, Kieron was very happy with how he’d managed to get the place to look. Now, if only he could get his hands to stop trembling with nerves…

[Deleted]

If she were an angel, surely Kieron would fall under a supernatural label as well. The sweet words he fed her and the royal treatment given made it hard for Maebelle to believe that he was real to begin with. He brought out the best in her. She had yet to tell him lies - things that happened in the past and which he wasn't informed about not included. The gardener had been honest from the beginning, as long as he asked straight out. "I still don't know what I did to deserve you," was the conclusion that flowed from the young woman's lips. Love was evident in her voice, and the look in her eyes effortlessly backed that up.

If possible, the smile brightened her face the second he playfully retorted her sarcasm. "Damn, I had been hoping on fake food." Mae answered while playing with his words before allowing a slightly more serious look to cross her features again. Clearly Kiern still had some work to do, and she rather didn't keep him from that. So, with a small nod, contact was broken and she turned to the dining area. "I'll time those minutes," the brunette mused while making her way over and taking a seat at the table, carefully shuffling the chair closer before hands settled on her lap. Eyes then scanned the place as she turned her head some. It was obvious that the man had put a lot of time in decorating the area. While that effort had not been needed, it was very much appreciated.

"So," Mae called out to the kitchen. "How many attempts did it take you to decorate it this perfectly?" She figured he would have been picky, wanting the best for her. She could imagine him having gone through a lot of stress, especially since she often came over, limiting the time he could freely spend on arranging this surprise. Of course the question had a teasong undertone. At first she had wanted to ask how much the decorater's services costed, but that might have been borderline rude, even if he would most probably know that it was all for good laughter.

"And how many hours did you have to negotiate with the plants to keep them from telling me?" During that question, corners of her lips tugged higher as Kieron reappeared. White teeth visible as she smiled without limitation. God, he was perfect.

[Kieron Sharpe]

Kieron had been in relationships before, but not a single one of them had created this intense a need in him. A need to be with her, a need to look after her, a need to simply see her smile each and every day. He knew it was not mere infatuation; that would have faded long ago as he had come to know her better and discover that not every single thing about her was perfect. Instead of fading the intensity had instead grown, and with that had come a deep happiness he had never known before. “You settled for someone far below your limits; you are a hundred times the person I could ever hope to be, and I am extremely lucky to have you in my life.”

It truly was wonderful to see her smiling, and Kieron chuckled at her comment. “If you'd like, I could always throw this out and we'll go to McDonald's. The drive-through should still be open, if we're quick.” When Maebelle went to settle down at the table Kieron returned to the kitchen, putting the finishing touches to the starter. When she called out to him asking about how the decorating had gone, Kieron gave a slightly strained laugh. “Ahh... Fair many more than I care to admit. Needless to say it's a very good job I had today off work, otherwise you'd have had to settle for significantly less fanfare.”

Finally content with how the first course looked, Kieron gave a small nod to himself and picked up the bowls, heading into the dining area and grinning at her question. “I didn't tell them. I knew they wouldn't be able to help themselves from blabbing away and ruining everything.” He settled a bowl down in front of her first, before setting his own down and taking a seat opposite her. “I hope you enjoy it.”

Kieron picked up his spoon, fussing with it in his fingers for a long moment and staring down at the table, before glancing up at Maebelle. “I just wanted to ask... are you happy here? I mean, when you come to visit... Do you like being here?”

[Deleted]

Mae merely snorted. Verbally going against his statement might cause somewhat of a discussion. Plus, she was very convinced that Kieron knew she didn't label him as 'far below her limits'. It was something she was willing to repeat a thousand times, but right now didn't feel like the moment to do so. His flattery was therefore welcomed (with the brief moment of protest), and so was the playful banter that followed afterwards. "I don't mind settling for less fanfare as long as you're here." Mae mused in response while her gaze scanned the room. It looked amazing though, and she was very grateful the man had had the day off. Not only because it had given him the opportunity to decorate the place, but also because he could use some rest. Little did Mae know his mind hadn't been granted a single second of that.

When Kieron entered again, a small laugh broke past her lips. "That sounds like a reasonable assumption." She hadn't suspected anything like this. Had there been any suspicions, the gardener definitely would have adressed the plants around the house. Even so, it had been a safe decision to not tell them. "And this smells delicious!" The young woman was quick to pick up the spoon, scooping some up before starting to eat. While her eating pace had never been quick, it slowed even more, to the extent that Maebelle kept the spoon in the bowl as the questions got asked. It kind of caught her off guard. Had she given him a reason to doubt her happiness?

"Of course..." She spoke quietly as a frown arched her eyebrows. "Did... I give the impression I'm not?" It kind of distraught her. The last thing Maebelle wanted was for Kieron to interpret something wrong. It led to the belief that she had to convince him of this. "I mean, I love coming here. I love being with you. You're the best thing th at ever happened to me, and I'm sorry if that wasn't clear."

Pausing for a split second, Mae let go of the spoon and reached her hand across the table for Kieron to take. "You're my everything..."

[Kieron Sharpe]

Kieron did know that Maebelle loved him in return and he fully believed when she said she did not think she held any higher status than he did, but that did not stop him thinking it sometimes. He just had to look at her, at all the grace and poise and both inner and outer beauty that she possessed, and it felt like he was so far out of his depths that he was drowning. It was a strange feeling, like he had at once won the life lottery and that a cruel trick was being played on him at the same time. That his hopes and happiness were being built up so high, just so that the fall would be even more painful when her heart was inevitably whisked away by someone else. At her compliment Kieron gave a small, shy smile. “If I could, I would forever be wherever you are.”

Kieron didn’t believe the plants could understand his spoken words, not for a moment, but he had come to learn that they were far more perceptive than he had ever given them credit for before he had met Maebelle. They were sensitive and far more complex organisms than he could have ever guessed, and so he had made sure that he kept them as far away from the planning for today as possible. If Maebelle had found out he’d been planning something, it could well have led to potentially surprise-ruining questions. “Ahh, thank you! I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”

Knowing Maebelle as well as he did, Kieron believed that she was happy here. Either that or she was very good at masking her distaste or unhappiness. He knew it wasn’t ideal, but she did seem to enjoy her time here almost as much as he enjoyed it when she was visiting. For that he was grateful, though the knowledge did little to settle his current nerves. When Maebelle seemed to get a bit upset at his questions Kieron internally kicked himself, and was quick to try to reassure her. “No, no. It was clear, I just… I just wanted to be sure.”

Giving a small shake of his head, mostly in frustration with himself for making her anxious, Kieron reached across the table and took her hand gently, loosely twining his fingers with her own. “I love you, so very much. And, I love it when you’re here, even if it’s just for a few minutes in the morning to feed the hedgehog. I was just…” Kieron took a deep breath, steadying himself. “I was wondering if you’d like to be here on a more… complete basis. Nothing would make me happier than being able to wake up each morning with you in my arms, for you to be the last thing I see every night and the first thing I see every morning.” He gave a nervy chuckle. “I think the hedgehog might appreciate you being closer, too.” Kieron glanced down at his bowl for a moment then looked up to meet her gaze again, the worry that she might say no obvious in his hazel eyes. “But only if you want that, too.”

[Deleted]

The compliments were more than welcome. As for the question: Kieron wanted to make sure. Maebelle didn't voice it out loud, but: if he had to ask about it, it was not clear. Therefore that explanation was invalid, and so the concern remained. It quite probably was evident on her features. The frown stuck, despite his words, and an almost uncomfortable shuffle on the chair took place. Only when the connection between their hands was made did the brunette relax some. At least for a couple of seconds. "Wait..." Confusion and perhaps a little bit of shock were visible as blue eyes searched his hazel ones. "Are... you asking me to move in with you?" Technically her wording it differently was abdundant. Of course that was what he meant. Mae knew, yet it felt almost impossible for reality to dawn on her.

"Are you serious? You are, right? You aren't just saying this because you're scared to lose me?" An anxious laugh slipped past her lips at that point, very much aware that she had started to ramble. Her hand squeezed his thighter before letting go. Despite the fact that food was on the table, Maebelle got up and moved to stand next to his chair. There she offered him her hand again. Once his settled in hers, the gardener gave a gentle tug to get him to stand. She could have stayed seated to answer, but offering affection felt like one of the only ways she knew to reassure him of the feelings inside.

Once the man was on his feet and the distance between them was relatively closed, Mae brought his hand up to her chest. "Do you feel that? It's beating, only for you. There is no other person on this planet nor in the galaxy that I would want to be with. So, yes... Yes, I would love that, with whole my heart." A loving smile crossed delicate features as her second hand sprawled on his cheek. "You can stop worrying now, even though I might have to slap you for fearing that I might not want to." A joking tone hinted in her voice before she leaned in the steal the softest of kisses. "You are my everything, Kieron Sharpe."

[Kieron Sharpe]

That frown on Maebelle’s face tore Kieron up, the nurse giving a soft sigh and momentarily rubbing his temples. He wanted nothing more than to be able to make her happy and it frustrated him when he failed to do so. Especially in moments like this, when it was his own insecurities that were causing it. He loved her dearly and knew she loved him too; he never would have even considered making this suggestion if there had been any real doubt of that. It just still sometimes felt like a dream, like it was too good to be true. The princess falling in love with the pauper, except real life never usually had such a Disney-tinted reflection of that.

Maebelle’s reaction to his statement brought a brief moment of panic to Kieron. She seemed spooked and uncertain, and for a brief moment Kieron was genuinely worried she might say no. “I am very serious, and no, it’s not that. I really do want this, but only if you want it too.” The tightening of the hand on his was a promising sign, and as Maebelle tugged gently to get him to stand Kieron complied willingly.

Kieron let his hand be moved up to her chest and he could very faintly feel the soft rhythm of her heartbeat, contrasting sharply with his own that seemed to be attempting to hammer its way through his ribcage. Her words were soothing, and as she confirmed that yes she did want to move in with him, Kieron’s features lit up into a bright smile. He chuckled softly at her playful scolding, though his eyes never left hers, and he gently returned the kiss. “Every time I think I couldn’t possibly get any more lucky, you go ahead and prove me wrong.” He leaned his cheek into her hand, gently kissing her fingers, and the hand that was on her chest slid down to loosely wrap around her waist to pull her into a gentle hug. “I love you, with every ounce of my being.”