It's the Little Choices - Ch. 2 (Commission)

Thanks to our wonderful patron Wang Fire for commissioning another installment of this one! Hope you like it. :-)

***

The early morning light is struggling to find its way through our dark curtains when I wake. I blink blearily over at the clock, wondering vaguely why it hasn't gone off yet. Oh. It's not even seven yet. No wonder.

Reassured, I snuggle deeper in the blanket, aware now of Liz's arm wrapped firmly around me. She's still breathing heavily, and I sigh in warm, drowsy happiness. I sleep so well these days, probably all because of Liz's comforting presence. Even in her sleep she's so sweet and protective of me...

And then it hits me, my eyes flying open with a jolt. Today's Valentine's Day!

I lie there for a few minutes, pulsating between excitement and anxiety. It's a special day, of course - a holiday that we've celebrated several times over since we've been together. But I'm also anxiously racking my brain, trying to come up with some really awesome way to celebrate. Crap, I should have gotten a card last week already! Maybe I can pick up a present on the way back from work today? Ehh, but flowers and chocolates are kind of lame, aren't they?

All this thinking probably isn't helping, but it's the twinges from my bladder that finally goad me out of bed. I awkwardly slip free from Liz's protective arm, then pad across the cold floor to the bathroom. Hmm, I wonder what she's planning to do? Maybe she wants to go out or something? Ooh, but I broke one of the heels on my nice pumps last month. Can't wear those-

The inner debate continues even up to breakfast.

"Soo..." I finally begin, twirling my toast carefully around my plate. "It being a special day and all... Were you thinking of doing anything, I dunno... special today? Or tonight?" Liz sips meditatively at her coffee and glances out the window at our snow-covered balcony before returning to me with a smile. "You know, that's a great question! I guess we haven't really planned anything so far, have we? It's not like it's a weekend or anything, so that kind of puts a crimp in any fancy plans."

I nod, mouth full of jelly and crumbs. "Fhtoopid jerks at vhe bank won't gihf me time off or anyfhing..." "Hey, no talking with your mouth full! Didn't your mom ever teach you anything?" Liz is teasing, but for some reason I blush as if I've just been caught doing something naughty. "Sorry," I mumble, taking refuge in my glass of cranberry juice. "Sorry, Liz..."

But Liz just laughs and reaches forward to pat me on the back. "Aww, it's okay! I didn't mean it, really." And then, as I straighten up for my third and final piece, she continues with a smile. "Actually, I'm glad you asked. I wasn't sure what you wanted to do either, though I do have some ideas..."

"See," Liz explains after taking another sip of coffee, "A few weeks ago I happened to hear one of my clients talking about this new French restaurant on the other side of town. The chef is semi-famous, you know, and he's supposedly really good. So I, you know, thought I'd err on the side of caution. Reservations are crazy hard to get anywhere around Valentine's, so it only made sense to plan ahead-"

I pause, the Nutella-laden toast halfway to my mouth. "Aww, Liz! You mean you actually got us reservations?" French food's pretty great - except for the snails, of course - and for Liz to have planned so far ahead is super smart. Just like her. "Well, yes," she admits with a self-conscious smile. "But of course we don't need to actually use them. You see..."

She leans forward conspiratorially. "I don't know if you remember this or not. Last night - do you remember saying anything when you were falling asleep?" I feel my face flush. Oh, god. What did I say this time? "Um, well..." I gulp at my cranberry juice. "Not reeeallly... Liz, I didn't say anything awful, did I? I hope?"

But she's chuckling. "Of course not, sweetheart! You'd never say anything remotely nasty about anyone, I swear. No, it was just that you were talking about how much you wanted a certain kind of food..." "Wait, really?" I haven't the slightest clue right now what I could have said. "God, I hope it wasn't anything stupid-"

"No, no, it was super sweet!" Liz reassures me. "You were saying how much you wanted - what did you call them? - chicken nuggies. Chicken nuggies and mac 'n cheese, to be precise." I'm blushing even as a cascade of memories suddenly tumbles through my mind. Oh, of course! Chicken nuggies! Sitting at the dinner table, watching Mom scoop up that cheesy goodness onto my plate... Dipping those awesome little dinosaurs into the pool of ketchup lava...

"So," Liz is saying, even as I blink at the flood of half-forgotten memories swirls through me. "I mean, it's up to you, honey. You want to try that fancy French place? It's kind of far away and stuff, and we'd have to get dressed up. But the reviews are good, I guess. Or..." And she flashed me an indulgent smile. "We stay here tonight, and I go out and fetch some chicken nuggies and stuff, and we have ourselves our very own Valentine's at home - just you and me. What do you think?"

Oh, it's a hard call! I want to be fancy and sexy and give Liz a great evening. That's what you're supposed to do when you're grown up and stuff, right? But then again, the dinner at home just sounds so incredible! Every time I think of the sort of dinner she just described, it's as if there's a hidden magnet tugging me in that direction - a little voice urging me onward. It's probably childish as anything, but damn, does it sound good... not to mention a lot more comfortable than sitting for two hours on fancy chairs while waiters keep interrupting to talk about how amazing their wines and appetizers are.

"Well, I mean... if you really don't mind..." I glance up from my now-empty plate bashfully. "Could we maybe have the chicken nuggies? Please?"

***

This has been a perfect evening.

I'm seated here on the couch, the love of my life snuggled heavily against me and clearly on the verge of sleep. The dinner was a rousing success. Fiona brought me a darling Valentine's card, and I gave her kisses and hugs and reminders of just what an amazing partner she is... and then we sat down to our chicken tenders and mac 'n cheese. Oh, and of course some carrot sticks - just to be healthy, you know.

The look of dreamy pleasure on her face as she ate was absolutely precious. And not that different from the face of a three-year-old, either... though maybe a bit less messy.

"Time to go to beddie bye, honey," I whisper now, easing my shoulder free. "You're really sleepy, and we need to make sure you're tucked in bed. Nice, warm bed..." "Not sleepy," she mumbles back, even as I lift her heavy limbs and begin escorting her to the bedroom. "I'm super awake. Gotta- gotta keep the cats- away..."

"No chicken nuggies for you," she murmurs at the invisible cats, even as I slip her down onto our turned-back bed. "Kitties, don't steal- my chicken nuggies...!" "No one's gonna steal your chicken nuggies, honey," I whisper gently, tucking the blankets closer around her. "Don't worry. I'll give the kitties some of my mac n' cheese instead, okay?" "Okay," she mumbles. "Okay."

And then she's out like a light.

I'm smiling softly as I lean down and plant a soft kiss on her forehead... and then press play on the small stereo beside the bed. "Sleep well, princess," I whisper as the first strains of the relaxing, hypnotic file begin to stream gently into the room. "Sleep well..."

As I twist the earplugs into my ears, turn out the light, and nestle under the covers myself, I find my heart brimming with elation and what I can only describe as motherly happiness. Fiona's already such a sweetheart - but what I just saw today was truly heartwarming. That juvenile dinner choice of hers, to say nothing of the sweet and innocent relish with which she devoured it, was nothing short of remarkable. It was even more so, seeing as it came after only a few weeks of playing a simple little audio file in her sleep every night: a little file that coaxes her to remember how happy she is when she's young. Given these sorts of results, I'm becoming more and more certain that my dream of a sweet, happily regressed little Fiona might actually come true.

All I need is time... time, and patience. Oh, and a maybe few more audio files.

(To be continued!)