2020-02-11 - When We Were Young

She’s so tired. Too tired to function. Katy had insisted she was fine and had gone to the office to work, coffee in hand. And she managed to work a little before the caffeine crash. Roughly four hours later, she was passed out face first on her desk.

Once she headed to the office, Jonathan began work at the kitchen. He had decided to make a dish that took some time, letting it cook slowly in the oven for a few hours. So now the apartment is smelling a bit like slow-cooked veal, with some vegetables cooking with it. Finishing some garnish consisting of lemon zest, garlic and parsley, he's also prepared the table for the meal. Frowning momentarily as he hasn't seen Katy come out from the office, he makes his way over there to knock on the door before entering, just in case she's in the middle of something.

There is no response from Katy.

The lack of a response makes Jonathan worry a bit more, so he opens the door and slips inside. Pausing as he sees her passed out, he remains standing there for a few moments, just watching her. Then he makes his way over towards her, steps a bit slow. "Hey, Sleeping Beauty," he offers as he reaches the desk.

As he approaches her, Jonathan hears her mumble, “Just resting my eyes, I’ll finish the code. Just give me five minutes.” But she doesn’t seem to move much, except for a slight shifting.

Jonathan shakes his head a little. "The code won't run away from you," Jonathan replies, as he reaches out to shake her shoulder a bit gently. "On the other hand, the ossobuco might get cold, so you should probably wake up a bit and come eat." It's offered with a smile.

When her shoulder is shaken, her eyes open and Katy looks up at Jonathan. “What? Dinner time? Already?” She looks a little confused as she looks up at the clock on the wall and groans before she stands to walk out to the dining room, the smell of the delicious food hitting her all at once.

Jonathan smiles, "How long were you resting your eyes for?" It's offered a bit lightly before he moves to follow her to the dining room. "Hungry?"

Katy says, “Yeah, I’m starving, haven’t eaten since brunch.” She sits at the table with a sigh. “Have you ever considered becoming a chef? You’re really good in the kitchen.”

She leans over the counter to watch Jonathan prepare to serve the food, observing him.

"I have considered it, yes. I don't know why I haven't decided not to do it. Maybe I'm just worried that doing something I enjoy like that, in an environment filled with stress would somehow destroy the enjoyment, or something," Jonathan replies, before he start serving up some of those large pieces of veal shank that the dish consists of, along with the cooked vegetables. Sliding over the mixture of lemon zest, garlic and parsley that's the main garnish, he smiles as he offers the plate. "Enjoy," he replies, with a grin.

Opting to sit at the counter, Katy takes the offered plate and begins to sample it with a smile. “If that’s what you want to do, I’ll do whatever it takes to support you.”

She lets out a smile and a sigh at how delicious her first bite is, and she forgets for a moment about what happened when she woke up that morning. “How do you manage to capture heaven on a plate? You have a gift, Jon. You should really consider doing something more with it.”

Jonathan shrugs a little at the praise. "There are so many people far more talented at cooking than I am," he replies. "I just like having something to do to relax." There's a brief pause, before he grins, "I'm glad you like it, though." Serving himself some of the food as well.

Katy is trying to relax but it’s obvious to Jonathan she’s still rattled about what she’s experienced that morning. She still has that unsettled look in her eyes. “I’m getting a bit of a headache,” she says, “Thank you for making this delicious dinner.” She pauses her eating to rub her temples.

Jonathan nods as he hears that. "Understandable. You've had a bit of a rough day, after all." He smiles at her, as he offers another smile. "Seeing that you enjoyed the meal makes it all worth it for me."

“It feels like things are shifting in my brain,” Katy says, expecting Jonathan to look at her like she’s crazy, “Like memories are coming back that I don’t ever remember having.” She sighs.

"Memories you don't ever remember having? What kind of memories?" Jonathan sounds a bit curious, before he offers her a smile.

“The Horticultural Society’s Flower Show. Always assumed I had just forgotten about it because it was so boring when I went to it the first time...but now I’m remembering being injured that day...it’s so weird. My grandma Fran freaked out...” Katy frowns. “You were there too.”

Jonathan blinks as he hears that. "What happened?" he asks, before he blinks again. "I think I went to a few of those with my family. But I don't remember much of weird things happening there..."

“I mean we always said my birthday was the first time we met, but for whatever reason, now there’s a piece of my first Flower Show that’s coming back to me. I still can’t remember how I got injured but now I remember that I did, and I was bleeding on the ground. And you were there next to me.”

Katy shrugs as she eats. She has no idea where that memory came from or why it is now at the forefront of her mind.

"Hmmm... I can't really remember that. But I remember I was a bit beaten up after one of them, without really knowing what happened?" Jonathan looks a bit thoughtful as he hears that, trying to think back to that event, and not quite succeeding.

Katy shrugs then she says, “I thought I would bring it up. It’s been so weird today and I just want it to be over.”

She then starts to eat quietly and it’s almost as if Jonathan can watch her retreat into herself.

Jonathan nods, "Early bedtime today sounds like a good idea, then?" He eats a bit as well, nodding as he watches her a bit carefully.

“I just want to get to the part where we get to go away for Valentine’s Day.” Katy smiles. “Three more days.”

"You snd me both," Jonathan replies, with a smile. "I'm really looking forward to that trip."

As she finishes the last bites of the meal she’d been eating mostly quietly, she turns to Jonathan to give him an appreciative kiss.

“I think I’m ready for dessert,” she says quietly, her lips travelling down to his neck.

Jonathan finishes eating his own meal just before she turns to kiss him. "Dessert, hmmm?" he offers, words a bit light, as he leans a bit closer to her.

Katy says nothing more as she fiddles with the shirt he’s wearing and lowers her hand to undo his jeans. “Hmmmm, yes, dessert. We could skip it if you insist on that early bedtime...but you know how I am when I get that second wind.” She smiles before her lips go back to kissing his neck.

"Aaah," Jonathan replies, rather lightly. "I'm all yours, my dear." He reaches out to help her undo some of her clothing as well, before he adds, "But I'm sure that dessert before bedtime is a good solution."

Katy’s lips meet Jonathan’s once more as they move in tandem, and she presses his body against the wall in the dining room. He can feel her passion, her desire, her need to feel safe...all of it expressed in the intensity of each kiss, each movement.

His own desire, passion and need is mirrored in how Jonathan kisses her back, pulling her towards him as he is being pushed against the wall. His hold on her quite protective, trying to make her understand he will do anything he can to keep her safe.

A part of her wants something rough and aggressive but when Jonathan responds with his arms around her, she takes a more vulnerable emotional position. “I love you,” Katy whispers as she slows down her burst of intensity.

"I love you too," Jonathan replies, words just about at a whisper. "I always have..."

“I’m so exhausted,” Katy replies with a sigh, melting into his protective embrace.

Jonathan nods as he hears her words about being exhausted. "I know," he replies, softly. As she melts into his embrace, he smiles. "I will always be here for you, I promise."