And with the next step comes...?

The scraping sound of metal meeting concrete greeted Matthew’s ears as he dug his shovel deeper into the snow. His breath plumed outwards slowly growing into a pant while he hurled a shovel full of snow off the walkway. The cold air bit at his lungs but he welcomed the feeling. Nothing jolted you awake better than a chilly morning out in December. He kept focused on his work, glad that the walk was short because he had something else that needed his attention.
Standing up straight for a moment, Matthew sniffled, leaning on the shovel handle.
His morning began just before eight, though the sun was just starting to light the sky as he rolled over on the couch, waking to an unfamiliar house and foggy memories. The night had been rough, his cold waking him more then once for a soothing drink, more medicine or to prop himself up in hopes his coughing would subside. Still, what sleep he did manage to get seemed to help. His voice had returned to that harsh croaking like before he’d lost it completely yesterday, better yet the constant ache that clung to his muscles was slowly leaving. Matthew made a mental note not to push his vocal cords this time though.
Katyusha appeared to be still sleeping as he'd began to move around, getting up and getting dressed, packing his things away inconspicuously in a corner. He didn’t want Katyusha to feel pressured to let him stay, and his logic for hiding was along the lines of ‘Out of sight, out of mind’. Maybe if she didn’t see them he could hang around until it got too late to return to the school. That was the plan anyway. After setting things aside, he'd glanced out the window at the grey sky. It had stopped snowing. The corner of his mouth pulled upward as he tugged on another sweater and placed his glasses over the bridge of his nose. Time to put pulling his own weight into action. Moving to his boots, he hesitated, his stomach giving a ferocious growl. His hand pressed to his middle thoughtfully. Katyusha would probably be hungry to when she woke. He turned on his heel, making a beeline for the kitchen. It wouldn’t be much, but it beat her waking up and having to cook breakfast for herself.
It was like clockwork and when he thought about it he could probably make them in his sleep. Grabbing a pan and the ingredients, he made about half a dozen pancakes easy as pie. Well, actually they were easier than pie, but that was beside the point. He set the finished product on a plate and, turning the oven to a low temperature, placed them inside to keep warm. They were always better hot. Matthew put the dirty dishes in the sink, noting the also dirty dishes from their fondue the night before, and reminded himself to deal with those before the pile grew too big. They'd have to wait though. He had another task to complete first.
Quietly so he wouldn’t wake Katyusha, Matthew shrugged on his coat, mittens and boots, along with a worn red toque with a maple leaf on the front, and slipped outside into the cold. He’d found the shovel waiting for him under the slight overhang that shielded the front steps and he got too it. If Katyusha needed to go somewhere today, she'd do it on a clean sidewalk.
Sniffling again, he shook his head from remembering getting back to work, determined to finish quickly.
Matthew scooped the last shovel full with a satisfied huff. Normally he’d sweep the path too, but he wanted to check on the pancakes, more importantly the oven to make sure he hadn’t started a fire or anything. Throwing one last look at the walkway, checking for any hidden ice that could hurt somebody, Matthew headed back inside, setting the shovel back in its place.
The warm air inside engulfed him, causing his glasses to fog up of course, but he welcomed it nonetheless. He was just hanging up his jacket when movement on the stairs caught his eye.
“Good morning,” he smiled softly at a sweet, sleepy looking Kat.

---

PANCAKES
om nom nom

Katyusha's curiosity about Matthew had grown when the smell of something delicious wafted up the stairs and she spotted him hanging up his coat. He'd been outside? What was he doing out there so early? He should be relaxing, not going into the cold while he was sick. Although, she couldn't help but give him a sleepy smile when he greeted her; it was a relief that he had his voice back. Scratchy, but back anyways. She continued down the stairs until she was by his side, stifling a yawn. "Good morning. How do you feel...?" Of course, a question had to be one of the first things out of her mouth. You worry from the moment you get up to the moment you fall asleep. You probably worry in your sleep, too...
Her attention was once again diverted to the tempting smell coming from the kitchen. It smelled like...like... It was right on the tip of her tongue, she knew it--- Pancakes? Matthew had made pancakes for them? "Did...you make breakfast?" The question was followed by her gaze meeting with his again, and this time her usual worried crease appeared. "Matvey...y-you're supposed to be resting..." She didn't want him to overwork himself right now! Not while he was just getting better...that would be the worst! The rumbling of her stomach told her to get over it and just eat, but her concious was telling her to try and get some understanding about all this. She knew he wanted to help her, she knew he cared...but...
It just didn't make sense.
Snapping back into reality and, to lighten the mood she'd created (way to be, Kat), she took of the blanket she was wearing and lightly threw it over his head. She crossed her arms and tried to put on a disapproving expression, although it was more like a bashful or amused face. Sighing a little, she took his hand almost jumping back at the cold skin and toyed with his fridged fingers. "You don't have to do all this, you know...i-it's alright."
Truth be told, she was happy he was being so generous about everything. It was very sweet of him...for a moment, the thought of it feeling like they were actually living together, but she quickly shoo'd the thought away with a blush. She would be able to concentrate on that happiness...but he was sick. That only caused her to worry more than usual. She couldn't help it! "Do you...want to eat now? Y-You look like you've been up for a while."
Letting out another soft sigh, - she couldn't seem to wipe off her smile, much to her frustration - she tugged on his hand gently before releasing it, letting him get the rest of his gear off. She took that moment to glance out at the morning scenery. ...He'd shoveled the walkway! So that's what he'd been up too.
Matthew...you really are too sweet for your own good. ...I guess it's a good thing I like that about you.
Alright. So, apparently she had sappy thoughts in the morning. Alright, ok, mental note to self about that.

________________________________________________________________

OM NOM NOM
...I can't think. .__.

Matthew blinked into the cloth of the material for a long moment.
That… wasn’t quite the reaction he was looking for.
I thought girls like it when a guy cooks for them...
He tugged one side of the blanket, feeling it slide off one side of his head and onto his shoulder. His hair stuck up all statically charged, sticking to his cheeks and his lopsided glasses, and his eyes dropped to the floor with an expression of a scolded child, not of a teenager who’d tried to cook for his girlfriend. He knew Katyusha was only worried about him and the state of his illness, and that in itself was so wonderfully kind… but he’d hoped his little breakfast escapade would happily surprise her. He never meant to upset her.
Matthew felt her fingers cradling his, warming them in ways the synthetic material of his gloves never could. And glancing up, he caught the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
So she is happy about it...!
He smiled to, abashed, locking eyes with her over the tops of his still foggy glasses. “I-I know I don’t have to… but I thought after last night that it could be my turn to do something.” His stomach gave a growl at her mentioning of the food, and he blushed sheepishly with a rough laugh. “And I think eating would be a good idea.”
He took the blanket from his shoulder, shaking it to make sure none of the melted snow had touched it, and wrapped it back around Katyusha’s thin shoulders before pulling the rest of his outdoors wear off. Matthew ran a hand through his hair, that persistent curl bobbing ahead of him as he led Katyusha to the kitchen.
“Uh-uh, sit down. I’ll get it.” Matthew teased lightly, making sure Katyusha really was seated, watching with a raised eyebrow. He grabbed a couple of plates and set them on the table, then taking a towel to handle the hot plate and something to set it on so it wouldn’t mark the table surface, brought the pancakes before Katyusha. He beamed proudly, gesturing for her to go first before he grabbed a couple for himself. Of course, whichever friend of Katyusha that owned this house only had the mock-maple syrup not the real thing, Matthew screwed his face up in horror, but it would do until he had time to nip out and get the real McCoy.
Swallowing a mouthful of pancake, Matthew glanced at Katyusha. “So… what is there to do today?”

---

Madness...?
THIS IS A CANADIAN PANCAKE BREAKFAST! *boot*
Sorry I missed yesterday ;A;

Matthew's mocking left a fake pout lingering on her face, and nodded her thanks when he offered her some pancakes. Katyusha's eyes lit up from the first bite; who knew he could cook? He sure knew the right treats for the occasion; beaver tails, pancakes...he was pretty traditional with it. Not that it was a bad thing. He chose just the right thing; they tasted wonderful to her, not only because of her growling stomach.
She swallowed her bit of pancake upon hearing his question, pausing for a second. Resting her head in her hands, she let out a small hum, mentally going over what needed to be prepared. "Well...after the dishes, there needs to be a little checking up around the house, just to make sure things are ok...Christmas plans should be finished by tomorrow...and I don't have to work today, so..." She stopped to take another bite and swallow, then smiled shyly. "There isn't really anything to do. Other than taking care of you, of course."
She accompanied her last statement with a light-hearted chuckle, hoping that Matthew wouldn't take it the wrong way.
It felt a bit odd to already be on Christmas break. She wasn't used to doing...nothing. She was used to doing, well, everything. It was usual for Katyusha to always have something on her mind, to always have something to do, but now... There was a mental image of a comfortable silence, maybe a bit of music somwhere in the background, of the two of them huddled together and sharing the warmth of a blanket. Even just being in his company was enough for her...
The idea of relaxing was no doubt a pleasant one, but it was a little unnerving, too. Ironic, really.
Am I forgetting something? I can't be...am I? If I am, is it important??
She shook her head slightly, polishing off the last of her breakfast and automatically began to collect any empty plates and unused cutlery.
Relax. It's Christmas break! I need to take it down a knotch; turn on my lazy-mode. Besides, Matthew's here with me...worrying is just going to worry him, and that gets us nowhere.
Before turning to go place the dishes by the sink, she locked her gaze with his again. "I-Is there anything you want to do...?" As much as she wanted him to simply lie down and take care of himself, she didn't want him to be bored to death. The day had just started; that'd be awful!

________________________________________________________________

I'm sorry, this sucks. ;A;

There really was nothing like a delicious pancake to get the morning started, even if he couldn’t really taste them right now. Truthfully the only reason he no longer burned them was because the simple meal took up a lot of his diet… as sad as that sounded. However he was pretty pleased with himself. After all, this was the first meal he got to cook for his girlfriend, and nobody got food poisoning, nobody caught on fire. So he considered it a definite success.
Setting down his fork, he listened to Katyusha’s answer carefully, knowing she was making the same mental lists as himself. He nodded minutely at her mention of the dishes and checking the state of the house. His hopes rose when she said she didn’t have work. They really did have the whole day to themselves! Then flushing deeply from her declaration to take care of him, Matthew’s pushed the last piece of his pancake around his syrup covered plate embarrassed but happy all the same. She was so unbelievably kind to him. He didn’t deserve her.
Finishing his meal as well, he stood to help Katyusha with the mess, setting the used dishes in the sink along with the other dirty plates and pots they’d used since coming to the house, and turning on the hot water waiting for it to warm.
He chewed on his bottom lip as he thought about her question. “Is there anything you need?” he asked. “I mean, from the grocery store or anything?”
He wanted to suggest they simply curl up and waste the day away talking and canoodling, wrapped together under a thick blanket to keep the cold away. But he didn’t want to sound so... lazy. No matter how you look at it, house sitting was a job and he wasn’t about to just bum around while Katyusha tended to everything including him and his troublesome cold.
Picking up a towel to dry the dishes and set them away, Matthew waited for Katyusha’s answer.
They’d get done what she needed first… then they’d find somewhere to curl up.

---

I take freaking forever ;A; sorry

Katyusha paused in the middle of putting a dish away, also taking the time to make more mental notes. Was there anything she needed? There was still plenty of food for now, and she hadn't used anything of particular importance yet that needed to be restocked. There wasn't really anything that was coming to mind...oh, right! Christmas plans! "...I could use some acrylic paints...f-for the craft I brought with me. F-For school. I didn't think I'd have company, s-so I brought it in case I got bored...ahaha.." It wasn't ENTIRELY a lie; it was at first for boredom. But it was also a little project for Matthew; for Christmas. A while ago, while she was visiting with her family, she'd found a small pocketwatch. It had looked old, but the carvings in the metal were beautiful and very careful. She gained permission to keep it and had been working on creating a design over the carvings, while not hiding the original shapes all together. Hopefully, the elders of the past wouldn't mind she was painting the watch. In a way, Katyusha felt it was somewhat like making pysanky, otherwise known as Ukrainian Easter eggs. It was just a simple designing craft; although, simple may not be the word most people would use for it. She'd already spent much of her free time on it, hours upon hours. She was very focused on the details and the general design... and she was nearly done, too!
I definitely have to be done by Christmas...!
With the dishes put away and the towel set back in place, she turned to face Matthew, worry glinting in her eyes. "B-But I don't want you to go out while you're still sick...it could get worse again. I-It can wait." Even if it really couldn't wait - she still had a bit left, but she didn't know how much she'd use - she couldn't help fretting over him. And there she went again; endlessly worrying. He was perfectly capable of taking care of himself! He wasn't a kid!
Her gaze wandered from his eyes to his jaw line, flickering downwards, then back up as her cheeks flushed lightly.
Far from it...
But really, she'd much rather have him stay and rest for a little longer. He'd already lost his voice completely once, and she didn't want that to happen again. His throat was bound to still be sore, too...
To let him go, or not to let him go? That was the question.
And it was a question that made her want to tug at her hair in frustration and worry.

_________________________________________________________________

Um. ._.

Matthew sighed, drying off his hands as he leaned against the counter. He ran a hand through his hair, an affectionate lopsided smile tugging up one side of his mouth. His curiosity peaked at the way the apples of Katyusha’s cheeks tinted pink and he cocked his head slightly wondering if there would be more to her explanation.
A craft…? Like homemade Christmas ornaments…?
When Katyusha offered no more hints, Matthew’s eyes swept around the kitchen, the walls barren of decorations and garnishes like most other parts of the house. What was their first Christmas together if it didn’t even look like Christmas? A large tree was out of the question, that much was obvious, but maybe they could find a smaller one, one of those half trees more fitting for tiny apartments.
It wouldn’t be too hard to take care of… but it would look rather plain without any lights or garland…
Matthew rubbed his jaw thoughtfully for a moment, turning back to Katyusha. His gaze drifted. He knew he shouldn't... he just couldn't help it.
The thin material of her nightclothes was deceivingly innocent. He knew he could feel the warmth of her skin by laying his hand on her waist again, like he had while they made fondue the previous night. His eyes watched the material flutter and flare as she moved, like a cat watched a juicy looking mouse.
Stop that, it’s not like you can do anything without risking Katyusha getting sick.
Sighing in frustration under his breath and shifting his weight, Matthew took Katyusha’s hand he drew her away from the kitchen into the living room where he’d spent the night. He dropped on the sofa and pulled Katyusha gently down with him. His sore body instantly began to relax as soon as his body met with the plush cushions and his side pressed to Katyusha’s. Looking down at her, he fiddled with the hem of her blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
He needed to get his head straight. This was the first time he had to think of someone else, someone else that he loved, and he was doing a spotty job of it in his opinion. Here he was wanting Katyusha to relax for the holidays and yet he’d implied, even if it was accidental, that they should be out and about, working and fetching things. That was the complete opposite of what they should be doing. They were on vacation for goodness sake!
“Should we go later, around lunch?” he wheezed, coughing a little in embarrassment but it was no use. He was stuck sounding like an old smoker for the time being.
The antique grandfather clock in the corner ticked loudly in their minute or two of silence, when something came to Matthew’s mind.
“I don’t mean to pry, but… Will your brother and sister be stopping by?”
He watched her carefully and cautiously. Katyusha was motherly by nature and would never leave her family unless she was forced to. He couldn't put his finger on it but something nagged at the back of his head, debating whether or not that absolute terror he'd helplessly seen her trapped in back when they'd entered the haunted house, had something to do with Katyusha's lack of communication with her siblings...

---

I'm late agaaaaaaiiiiiin *sob*
Sorry ;A;

After recovering from a small bounce when she'd sat down beside Matthew, Katyusha huddled into his side and let out a small sigh. Sleep was still clinging to her conciousness, begging her to go back to her bed, but she would have to shake it off. Sleeping all day wasn't productive and besides, she always felt sore if she slept for too long. Pausing to think it over for a moment, she let herself relax then answered his first question. "It can wait."
She was rather comfortable right now and didn't exactly feel like getting up just yet; it was a bit embarressing to be so close to Matthew, but it felt...right. It was nice, she wouldn't lie about that. She wasn't sure if he was warm because of his illness or if it was just body heat, but either way...Katyusha would choose his arms over the bed any day.
It was his second question that brought her out of her temporary bubble.
She blinked, then shifted her gaze to stare at the coffee table, and a long silence came over the room. Would they be coming over? ...What a question. Her sister would do anything her brother wanted her to, but if he didn't want to come... No, no! That was ridiculous. He always told her he loved her, he always said how much he wanted to see everyone again. The lingering doubt and nervousness in her couldn't be helped, though... Katyusha could only wish for a proper Christmas this year. They'd visited over Christmas holidays, yes. It wasn't like the avoided each other, but...it wasn't exactly the same. It just felt odd. Maybe it was because they didn't see each other often.
Maybe it was because of the past...
Leaning her head against Matthew's shoulder, she remained silent for a few more seconds before speaking softly, "...They won't be coming. I-I'm pretty sure, anyways..." She didn't look up at him; she just stared at the coffee table. Boy, was it interesting right now. But she wasn't really staring at it; her response had almost been absentmindedly, too. This was no good. They were supposed to be relaxing, having a good time, and here she was being a downer to the both of them.
So, she tried a small smile, her hand finding his almost automatically and interlocking her fingers with his.

_______________________________________________________________

I'M SO SORRY THIS IS SO LATE. ;A;
*crawls away*

Guilt seeped into his mind as Katyusha reaction sunk in.
I shouldn’t have brought that up! Stupid! Stupid! She’s was happy before you opened your big stupid mouth!
Her heart shaped face paling, and the sparkle disappearing from her eyes strangled Matthew’s heart, but it was the faint, fragile sound of her voice that shattered him. She was still waking up, that sweetly dazed fog of sleep still clinging to her eyelashes. However after his question, the sweet daze darkened into a weariness that worried Matthew. Her eyes didn’t meet his, staring away unseeingly, like she was remembering something he could never understand.
Matthew’s hand snaked down, brushing against Katyusha’s arm until his fingers touched her palm and ran upwards his fingers snaking in between hers, lacing their hands together and giving a both apologetic and comforting squeeze.
Oh Katyusha… you don’t deserve this…
Her smile was forced and Matthew frowned at the barely smothered hints of hurt looming behind her cerulean irises.
Matthew sighed. He wanted to cheer her up.
With his free arm, Matthew curled around Katyusha’s waist, feeling the light gauze like material of her pajamas ripple under his fingers as he pulled her closer, falling backwards until his shoulders hit the couch arm. They had to adjust slightly (laying too horizontal still provoked Matthew’s coughing) but after a minute they got comfortable and he rested his chin on top of her head, his eyes drifting slowly shut. His early start was catching up with him. It wouldn’t be hard to just fall asleep right then and there, stuffed with his favorite food and more than anything the soft comforting weight of the girl he loved wrapped up in his arms.
What was I… Oh, cheering Katyusha up… focus Matthew! Catching a few winks is nothing compared to Katyusha. Stop being so selfish!
“Should we decorate a little… would your friend mind if we put up a few things in their house…?” he asked, his words coming out much drowsier than he realized.

---

Pshaw I love eeet!

The colour in Katyusha's cheeks returned when he changed their positions, but she shook it off and chose to go with it. It wasn't so bad really...she definitely wasn't going to complain.
"I-I'm sure they wouldn't mind...but...it can wait, too." She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. Matthew still smelled faintly of baking ingredients, but the cold of which he'd been in previously must've sapped most of the scent from before.
"You sound tired. You're supposed to be resting anyways..." A small smile couldn't be helped at the statement. "We can stay here for now...i-if that's OK, of course."
She really was trying to fight off the urge to sleep, she was, but she couldn't hold in a yawn and flushed sheepishly because of it. Katyusha had a feeling that today was going to be a lazy day... So, she inwardly told herself to just relax already and take it slow. Tone it down a few notches, get her mind off of the subject of "work"... Stressing herself out wasn't going to help any.
Even if they were both seemingly comfortable with the situation, she couldn't help but worry if she was too close for him right now. She didn't want to suffocate him or anything. She could always give him his space. Relax, Katya. Relax...
The idea of relaxing was becoming increasingly easy to do as she lay there. Being curled up together, both with full stomachs, was quite satisfying. The rise and fall of Matthew's chest as he breathed was rather mesmerising, and having his arms wrapped around her frame was just as comforting. Subconciously, she nuzzled closer, wanting to be able to savour the warmth or at least capture the moment and store it away. Store it away in a litle box and open it when she needed it. If only that could happen...
Katyusha forced her eyes open again, a bit frustrated with herself. Sleeping all day was no good; she wouldn't fall asleep on him! ...He had an excuse to do so, he was sick. She didn't mind.
"How long have you been up...?" she asked, determined to make a little bit of small talk, even if it was mostly to keep herself up and at it.

_________________________________________________________________

*brain is dead* D:

Matthew perked slightly, shifting so he could look down at Katyusha. He hummed a note of satisfaction, happy to stay exactly where they were. But something troubled him. “Katyusha, it’s all all right if you want to do something else. You don’t have check with me all the time.” His words- though rough in sound- were soft, both pleading and reassuring, as he tucked a lock of her flaxen hair behind her ear. “If you want to do something just say so, it’s okay, really.”
It wasn’t like he could ever get mad at her or anything, quite the opposite actually. Katyusha could tell him stand out in the snow in nothing but his boxers and by gum he’s probably do it. All she had to do was say the word. He was that wrapped around her little finger and she didn’t even know it. And it irked him that she always tended to ask if something was right or not because he knew people had taken advantage of her, pushed their own thoughts forward on her so her own were pushed aside. How someone could take advantage of her like that was unfathomable to him. Watching her yawn sweetly and flush that perfect pink… there was no way he could or would ever do that to her.
He felt her cheek press to his chest and the warmth of her body heat relaxed his weary muscles more than any cold medicine. Figured, Katyusha was healing him without even knowing it.
She looked like an angel there in his arms, the deep blue of her eyes playing a coy game of peek-a-boo through her dark lashes, strands of her hair dusting just above them without her hair band.
Honestly, he wouldn’t be surprised if she really was an angel. He didn’t care how cheesy that sounded. It was true. Someone as benevolent and compassionate and compelling as Katyusha couldn’t be anything but.
Matthew’s eyes studied the ceiling unseeingly for a long minute. It all felt like a dream, some kind of unbelievable alternate reality. Mere months ago he sparsely spared a thought for any kind of relationship, drowning his fears of social ineptitude and his solitude in his studies instead. And yet here he was, Katyusha snugged securely in his arms and all he could think about was her, the curve of her cheek, the tiny dimple in her smile, the way she brought life to him, like he’d been living and black and white and suddenly she’d brought color.
I’m starting to sound like a bad romance novel…
Matthew frowned at himself, flushing from his musing and looked down in embarrassment realizing he’d rudely forgotten Katyusha’s question.
“Er, around seven forty-five, I think… I’m not really sure…” he said nonchalantly. Katyusha didn’t need to know about the missed hours of the night he’d spent awake thanks to his intolerable cold. She was finally starting to unwind and he wasn’t about to send her into a worried tizzy all over again. His eyes drifted to her feet, chewing his bottom lip for a second. He didn’t want her getting cold. The house wasn't freezing but pajamas alone weren't enough to avoid the chill. Grabbing one of the blankets he’d used the night before he managed to maneuver it over Katyusha, tucking it all the way up to her shoulders. There, much better.
His gaze shifted out the bay window the couch faced, to the muted light of an overcast winters day. It was still early in the morning but several children across the street were already out in full gear playing in the snow. Two off to the side were deligently constructing the startings of a snowman, having already finished the base.
A lopsided smile hitched itself up on Matthew’s face as he turned to Katyusha. “Do you know where snowmen go to dance?” he asked impishly. “A snowball.”

---

lolololol
I suck at comedy
\owo/

Katyusha's mind was still wrapped around Matthew's first statement, and she'd hardly paid attention to his answer to her question. He was right, she had to decide for herself. Everyone did, eventually. ...But...maybe she was just used to asking if it was "OK". Maybe she was just used to comfirming with others, with making sure she wasn't "in the wrong". ...Maybe she really was working too much. But it couldn't be helped, right? ...Right?
Turning her head a little, she murmured a quiet answer into his shirt, but she doubted it was even audible. "I-I...don't want to make you mad." Having Matthew mad at her would probably tear her apart. Katyusha was never one for violence, and she definitely didn't want any now.
She took a few more deep breaths, letting her mind wander. How long had it been since she'd been so close to someone like this? How was it that in such a short period of time, she almost nearly felt completely comfortable like this? How was it that she felt like this could be "forever", that her first love had her heart overflowing with so many different emotions? It was very overwhelming sometimes, that was no lie. It was one big rollercoaster; maybe more like a plane that was being piloted by a 5-year old, but that wasn't the point. It was a very difficult thing for her to "trust", but this...all of this...it came so easily. So naturally. Things really were confusing---
It was then she felt Matthew pull the blanket over her and heard him crack a joke. Not a very good joke, but it had her smiling anyways.
She looked up at him, rolling her eyes a little, and trying to hold back a giggle. There couldn't possibly be a reaon to not try to make this work. He had his own little way of making things just a little bit brighter for her. It was reassuring, not to mention adorable. Heat flooded her cheeks again at the thought and she did her best to keep her smile somewhat sarcastic.
Katyusha sat up a little, violet eyes meeting her own. Mischief shone in them, and despite his illness, Matthew was looking more and more like his old self. Thank goodness...it'd definitely be awful if his cold stuck around any longer. His skin was tinted with a slight blush, and there were a few wavy strands of hair out of place, giving him a disheaveled sort of look. That was to be expected - it was still the morning, after all - but she couldn't help but lock the memory of this single expression away in the depths of her mind.
Then, before she really knew it, the cogs in her head were spinning and she'd come up with a little "comeback".
"Do you know what I heard that woke me up...?" She paused, shifting her position in the slightest, then met his gaze again. "...The crack of dawn." A wider, more playful smile was tugging at the corners of her lips, but she resisted, content with the small smile she had on at the moment. It wasn't very creative, but it was good enough.
Cautiously and yet almost automatically, a hand went to his forehead and Katyusha held back a relieved sigh. It looked like he was doing fine still. Moving from his forehead, she gently pushed the stray strands of Matthew's hair back into place, being wary of his glasses, too. She couldn't help but check up on him; it was just a part of her personality. Although, this motherly side of her was getting in the way of her goal of actually relaxing...

__________________________________________________________

*had to actually look up a joke, lol FAIL* orz

‘I don’t want to make you mad…’
His brow dipped fiercely at the ghosted words, so soft and breathy he wondered if he was hallucinating. Whether or not he had, the mere idea knocked the wind from his lungs. Did she think… Not that Matthew ever, EVER wanted to, but there would be times when they argued. Right now, as he held her he could never imagine yelling at her or even disagreeing with Katyusha, picturing her heart shaped face twisted with anger, blue eyes searing with loathing for him… Matthew shuddered. But it would happen. It was healthy though, right? Relationships always seen through rose tinted glasses never lasted. He'd seen enough people try to keep things always sugar coated and the batting average wasn't good. Forcing themselves to leave things unsaid would make things worse not better. Then eventually the weight of those unsaid words would crush them until the silence turned to resentment. If she wasn’t happy being with him… he let her go though it scared Matthew to even think about it.
He blinked for a moment, returning to reality and relaxed back against the arm rest. There was no point worrying himself over ‘What ifs' right now, not when he was supposed to be enjoying their moment in the present. His gaze traced focused back on Katyusha, the soft bend of her jaw, the defined line of her nose. This was where his mind should be, right here, savoring the very second.
Matthew was momentarily hypnotized by the stunning smile growing across Katyusha’s face when her joke clicked in his head. He snickered wildly, flushing slightly at his wheezy chuckles. He couldn’t help it! It wasn’t so much the joke itself, hers being nearly as bad as his own, but it was the cute way she said it. The way she wrinkled her nose skeptically with a mock ‘Not Amused’ look on her face, he just couldn’t help it. Then the mood turned once again as he felt her gentle touch press again his forehead. A shiver sparked down his spine as she brushed aside his troublesome hair. Matthew’s breath quieted to almost silent, slow inhales, like if he breathed too hard the moment would shatter. His eyes flickered instinctively to her lips, his expression quickly morphing into one of torment. He could practically taste her and knowing she still tasted of pancakes…
Matthew’s arms turned into a protective cage as he flipped them over, his glasses clanking somewhere onto the floor from the sudden flurry of motion. He ignored the loss, burying his face in the crook of Katyusha’s neck with a pained groan of frustration. He was careful to keep the brunt of his weight off Katyusha’s little frame using his elbows braced on either side of her, but his grip around her tightened. This must be how a drug addict felt when they needed a fix. He needed a fix all right, just a little bit… a tiny taste…
But I’ll get her sick- Stupid cold!
Figures fate would be so cruel. Matthew muttered an unintelligible string of curses. Katyusha was simply irresistible without even trying. He pulled back for a moment, probably looking like some kind of wild man with his hair askew and holding his broad shoulders above her. Even laying there, flushed pink in her nightclothes beneath him, her hair splayed out around her face statically sticking to the decorative throw pillows… she was so beautiful.
He sighed, taking a mental picture of her with an imaginary 'click'.
A more feral side of him wanted to dig his claws in, claim her as his and his alone! But if she grew tired of him, he'd let her go. For right now, however, he'd do everything to make her happy and if he ever had to face that bridge he'd deal with it when the time came.
Like a magnet, his eyes drifted back to the shine of her delectable looking pink lips.
Now if he only wasn't sick...

---

Soooooo.... nice weather we're having...? Hehe...he...^^'
Sorry it's so late! \;A;/

Well, she wouldn't say that the sudden change in positions didn't make her head spin for a moment.
With cheeks flushed red and slightly widened eyes, Katyusha blinked. She let out a shaky breath and tried to regain her focus, which wasn't too hard. She almost felt the need to panic, to get away...but then she remembered that this was Matthew who was with her. It was Matthew who was snuggling with her...why did she want to panic in that split second? There were answers for that question, but she pushed it from her mind and left it unanswered. It was better that way.
His breath against her skin sent a chill down her spine and though his groan added to the sensation, she couldn't help but worry. Had he hurt himself getting up so fast? He was still sick...
Even then, her worries seemed to dissolve when he pulled away and she was able to look up at him. Her breathing hitched in the slightest at his tightening grip and his gaze. Violet orbs which would've usually been clouded over from his cold were ablaze with desire, a sight much clearer now that his eyes weren't shielded by his glasses. The fact that he was looming over her - while she was still in her nightclothes, no less - only increased the blush on her face. It wasn't that Matthew's hold on her wasn't reassuring and warm, it wasn't that she didn't want to have a little cuddle...
It was the intense longing Katyusha felt herself that she didn't know what to do about.
Her cheeks burned hotter and she raised a hand up to lightly stroke his jaw with one finger before retreating, averting her gaze. Her mind buzzed as she tried to calm herself; why was she so bashful NOW? It wasn't like she hadn't seen a look like that before; she must've had it as well at some point. She had - much to her own embarressment - imagined things that would not and should not be said out loud. It was shameful, but...everyone did it at least once, right? Right?
C-C'mon, get your head out of the gutter! Now is NOT exactly the time...!
A few seconds passed before she met with Matthew's gaze again, biting her lip shyly. Since he was sick, kisses on the lips were out. Unfortunately. But hugs were fine, right? And...what about...? An idea came to her and it didn't take long for a part of her subconcious to take action. With a moment of hesitation, she lifted her hand again and pressed her fingers gently against his lips. Katyusha removed them after a couple seconds and then pressed those same fingers to her cheek, shooting him a bashful smile. The smile didn't last long, for her embarressment was much stronger and she looked away from him yet again.
Indirect kisses were fine, weren't they...?

________________________________________________________

My reply is in no way as awesome as your's. ;A; <3

It was that tiny flicker of fear that broke through the lustful haze blinding his mind.
Had he scared her? Matthew sat up more to give her room. He hadn’t meant to make her feel trapped or anything. He studied her fastidiously, cursing himself as he watched for anymore signs that she wanted him to clear out of her personal space.
Stupid! You moved too fast! There’s a protocol to follow for girls right? And you jumped forward waaaay too soon, buddy.
Matthew liked to think Katyusha trusted him more than other guys- conceited as that was- but he hoped she knew he’d never try anything. … And lying on top of her probably wasn’t helping that understanding of trust.
Yet she reached out, brushing his jaw with the pad of her finger leaving a tingling sensation in its wake as if contradicting his line of thought. Matthew let out a shallow breath of laughter, the corner of his mouth turning up in a sheepishly crooked smile as she flushed bright enough to match the red of his sweater. He’d never get tired of seeing her blush. Never. Not the way her eyes flickered back and forth from his gaze and away, not the way she chewed on her bottom lip-
Matthew froze when Katyusha reached up for a second time. His lips bowed naturally around her fingers and he watched transfixed as she touched her cheek, smiling up at him shyly if not a little coyly. Of course her shyness promptly got the better of her and turned away, but Matthew remained exactly where he was, blinking in surprise. His tongue darted out to where she had touched, his own face flooding hotly with color.
Was that… an indirect… kiss…?
Well two could play at that game.
Settling back down so they were face to face and barely a hairs width apart, Matthew closed the distance so their noses rubbed together. He withdrew after a moment, grinning. “Eskimo kisses.”
He readjusted his arms around her, shifting back until his chin rested on her soft stomach, and waggled his eyebrows in an attempt to make her laugh. He loved hearing her bubbly giggles… almost… almost as much as he loved her.
Gah! Cliché alert!
They sat there for a while, sometimes talking, sometimes just enjoying each others company in silence. The kids across the street had already finished two snowmen and had retreated inside to warm their undoubtedly snow soaked clothes and enjoy a nice hot cup of hot chocolate while they waited for them to dry. It was right around when the antique grandfather clock chimed just before lunch that Matthew’s cell phone started to buzz. He ignored it, asking Katyusha what her favorite movie was (maybe for watching later), but the buzzing continued like a mad bug.
Matthew gave her an apologetic look, not wanting to detangle himself from his current position. With a deep breath he pulled away already regretting it, and dug through his bag until he found the troublesome item.
It was his family, texting him like no tomorrow, asking him if he’d change his mind and come home for the holidays. He scrolled through them half-heartedly for a minute then tossed it bag on top of his bag.
It was his decision. He could handle himself, he was an adult after all. …Okay, maybe not legally yet, but fundamentally he understood the choice he made. Sinking down back on the couch, he slipped back into Katyusha’s arms and the warmth she provided.
How could he say no to spending a Christmas with this wonderful girl? Impossible.

---

o3o There, finished~

Katyusha had nearly been holding her breath when his face closed in on hers, briefly thinking that he was going for a kiss. But when she didn't feel the familiar pressure and instead, felt his nose touch to hers, she blinked in confusion, her blush still as intense as ever. Slowly, another shy smile grew on her lips but this time it stayed. Too cute! It was a childish kind of kiss, but it really was adorable. And the way Matthew grinned afterwards only added to it, so she couldn't help but let out a few giggles. Then, as time went by quite easily, she found that their current position got less embarressing. Rather, it was a bit relaxing...
It was the buzzing of his phone and the fact that he had to go check it that popped her bubble.
She was slightly curious as to who it had been as he moved back into her grip, but she didn't prod. It was none of her business anyways. She didn't want to be rude. Instead, she cocked her head to the side for a moment and stared at him inquisitively, then let it go.
Katyusha hummed a little, fiddling with strands of his hair around the back of his neck, twirling them around her fingers absentmindedly. A few more conversations were struck up before silence returned, not that that was necessarily a bad thing. Her attention was grabbed by the strange curly strand of hair he had, nearly constantly bobbing infront of him. She pursed her lips before blowing on it gently, watching it bob to her breath. Another giggle escaped her, and she met with Matthew's gaze again. Maybe she should ask about it...what WAS it exactly?
How about not. No strange questions for today, just relaxation.
Although it truly was a curious sight.
"You...you're feeling OK, right?" The question had left her mouth before she really knew she was speaking it, and she regretted even opening her mouth. There she went worrying again. "I-I could get you something, if you want."
And out went another question. She inwardly slapped herself, forcing her mouth shut. Whatever happened to her objective of relaxing for once? She really did work too much.

_______________________________________________________

This sucks, sorry. =A=;; My brain isn't working.

Her fingers twirling the hair on the back of his neck sent a continuous line of shivers shooting down his spine and unconsciously a contented, lazy grin hitched itself across his face. Glancing upwards, Matthew hummed a sigh, seeing the curiosity in her eyes. That had been rather rude of him to just get up like that, even if it was to stop his phone’s horrid buzzing so he could spend more time sharing the peace and quiet of a crisp winters morning alone cuddled up with her. His eyes shifted downwards to the material of Katyusha’s pajamas, fidgeting with a loose thread. She deserved an explanation.
“Sorry, that was ju... j-j-just-“ His words sputtered out, suddenly speechless by the soft breath Katyusha had blown directly at the one single curl always bouncing before him. The reaction was instant and acute. Blood coursed to his face giving him the color that would put a beet to shame, and flustered beyond all belief, it was all he could do not to blurt out an embarrassingly breathy moan, instead safely burying his face in her middle. Slowly, he sucked in several long breaths trying to calm his bewildered nerves.
The sudden flush of heat didn’t help the remnants of his cold induced headache and the last dregs of his fever. He felt a little dizzy...
Matthew raised his head after a minute or so, praying that the fierce red in his face had cooled though he still couldn’t quiet look Katyusha in the eye yet. But that didn't stop him from barely smothering a smile listening to the bell-like charm to her delightfully bubbly giggles.
The familiar feeling of her warm palm slipping beneath his hair and pressing to his forehead snapped him back.
“I-I-I-I-“ Matthew swallowed and cleared his throat, starting over. “N-No, I’m okay. I’ve... Actually," Smiling sheepishly he looked up at Katyusha through the waves of his hair that fell in his face. “I’ve been meaning to thank you. I’ve gotten so much better since you started looking after me…”
It honestly made him shudder thinking about how just a couple days ago the best care he gave himself was retreating to his dark dorm, trying to ignore the constant sounds of people in the rooms next door and the hallway and downing a lot of aspirin. Even sick, being here with Katyusha was a blissful refuge. She had that motherly touch, that gentle aura that pulled him back into their private little bubble. Not to mention that she even wanted to spend the holidays with a stuffed up mess like him, holding him close when she really shouldn't be touching him with a ten foot pole.
Matthew tightened his hold briefly in a silent thank you before he sat up, giving her space as he’d reminded himself of his cold.
I'm being careless.
Getting Katyusha sick was something he didn’t want in any capacity. And maybe she wanted to get dressed. Not that he didn’t like the idea of an all day pj party. Especially when they were cute pj’s on his even cuter girlfriend. Keeping Katyusha right there, relaxed on the couch while he did picked up the chores was exactly what he wanted, however he’d never force anything on her.
Turning his gaze outside a thought popped into his head. “Would you want to go out for lunch? My treat?”

---

I'm so late ;A; Sorry!
....aaand my reply is lame D:

She had to hold back a whine of protest when Matthew moved further from her, not wanting to part from the closeness they'd obtained. His cold didn't matter in that moment, despite the fact that she was nearly constantly worrying about it. He was warm, and it felt nice to have his arms around her. If she could, Katyusha would have him hold her all the time. All day, every day, all night, every ni---
WOAH. Back up. Back up, back up, back up.
G-Getting ahead yourself, are we? W-Well, stop! Sheesh...th-that's not the way you should be thinking!
She blinked at his question, taken aback slightly, then shook her head lightly with worry pooling in the depths of her eyes. "I-I shouldn't...it's your money, you don't have to use it on...me..." She didn't like the thought of him spending money on her behalf, when it wasn't needed. She wanted to be able to give something in return, but she knew she couldn't. Perhaps her small gift was all she could really do...other than take care of Matthew, of course. But that wasn't the point! She wasn't used to being "spoiled", and she wasn't sure how to deal with it. "I-I could always make something, it wouldn't be hard..." Her voice had lowered on octave and she spoke softly, as if her words could cause harm somehow.
Glancing over at the clock, Katyusha blinked at the realization that much more time had passed than she thought. Her gaze travelled to the window; the weather wasn't too bad, but looks were always deceiving when it came to the cold. Sighing a little, she sat up in the slightest and readjusted her position, turning her gaze back to Matthew.
"Although...I-I should probably get dressed, huh?" The statement was accompanied by a shy blush and she couldn't help but laugh a little. It was soft, hardly there, but still there. And it was true that they would eventually have to get out of the house; things needed to be done. Besides, staying cooped up inside - even if the warmth of the house was more inviting for her - wasn't healthy.
There was also the fact that she wasn't...well..."properly dressed" for company. Yes, he had stayed the night, but that was no excuse to look like she'd just rolled out of bed.
Which she had.
But again, that wasn't the point.

____________________________________________________________

I'm sorryyyyyyyyyyy, this sucks. ;;;n;;;

“You don’t have to make anything if you don’t want to.” Matthew said honestly, though non-too quietly his stomach growled at the thought of tasting Katyusha’s homemade cooking. However, he would never shove her into the kitchen and demand a sandwich. On the other hand he didn’t want Katyusha having to do all the cooking while he sat around doing nothing.
Automatically he shot a poorly hidden sidelong glance at her delicate attire when she mentioned getting dressed. He’d rather she stay like for the whole vacation, looking as adorable as she did in those clothes. But that wasn’t possible and he knew it. Sucking in a breath and licking his lips, he smiled blithely- if not a little conspiratorially.
“Well then, your wish is my command.” Matthew stood and in one fell swoop he scooped her up with one hand securely behind her back and the other under her knees. He made sure not to move to fast so he didn't startle her too bad, pausing a moment before making his way towards the stairs. “Why don’t you get dressed and think about what we should do, and I’ll tidy up a little downstairs while you do?”
He carried her bridle-style up the stairs to her room, all the while desperately trying –and failing- to knock the image of the two of them being newlyweds and having a place of their own. Not really an appropriate idea when they’ve only been dating for a couple months. Katyusha needed him to be mature and adult, not walk around like a lovesick puppy… no matter how much he wanted to…
Using his back to open the door, he hesitated, butterflies suddenly jumping from their normal abode in his stomach to his throat, unsure whether it was excitement or nerves that skipped a beat making him feel a thrill of fear like one normally did when you missed a step and encountered an abrupt freefall. The slightly askew bed, obviously slept in, loomed before him, a big unanswered question of what the future entailed…
“Here we go,” Matthew said gruffly, gently setting Katyusha on the end. He opened his mouth to say something but snapped his jaw shut, a smart move before he said anything he’d regret. Being in the same room, with her still in her nightclothes, on a mussed bed… well, that was a topic better left alone for the time being. “I’ll, er, I’ll be downstairs… tidying up- But you knew that already,” he laughed nervously, “because I… said… so…” Flushing scarlet from embarrassment, Matthew backed awkwardly out of the room, attempting to act casual by humming a random Christmas tune, but he didn’t think his severely off key notes were quite helping the facade.
He was still beating himself up mentally as he returned to the main level and ended back at the couch to try his hand at folding the blanket they’d used. It wasn’t long before he gave up. How people managed to keep the corners together or fold it into a perfect square was way beyond him! So he opted for draping it (what he hoped was artfully) over the corner. They did that all the time in those ‘House & Home’ magazines right?
Matthew blew out a sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. The loud screaming laugh of the kids from across the street, back out in their newly dry attire, drew his attention back outside. How cold was it? It couldn’t be too bad if those kids were out again, though remembering his own childhood, it really didn’t matter if it was cold or not. Anything over a foot of snow and not even God himself could stop him from diving head first into that fresh, untouched blanket of snow. Again he ran his hand through his hair, lacing his hand together behind his neck thoughtfully as he exhaled, staring up at the ceiling. It would definitely be useful to know what was going on out there. Looking around, Matthew wandered until he found a TV, grabbing the remote control and turning to the news just as an exceptionally perky weather lady was going over the local air systems.
“Huh, doesn’t look too bad,” Matthew mused. Today was still a bit brisk but reasonable considering the time of year. It seemed the next couple of days two wouldn’t be much different. Although Matthew knew this time of year was also when the weather reports changed hourly. One minute it’s all well and good, and the next you’re up to your eyeballs in bone chilling snow.
The weather lady switched back to the regular news anchor and it was the headline appearing at the bottom of the screen that caused him to turn up the volume.
“… and some warnings with the holidays. This may be the season of giving, but it is also one of the worst times of the year for burglaries. Citizens are reminded to keep their homes secure and stay extra diligent. Another safety issue is the rocketing percentage of house fires…”
But Matthew didn’t hear anymore.
Burglaries…? The idea did not sit well with him. If I left and Katyusha was here all by herself… she’d be a prime target. Young woman, in a house all alone…
Maybe going back to his dorm wasn’t a good idea…
He could stay for just one more night… or maybe two… or at least until his nerves settled. Yeah, he’s stay until he was sure Katyusha would be safe. Though they did say the whole Christmas season was perfect break in time… Maybe he should stay until New Years… because really, spending the holidays protecting the castle and the fair maiden dwelling within it was not the worst way to enjoy Christmas.
Matthew turned off the TV, puffing out his chest a little with the sudden urge to strut. Sure, he wasn’t the first choice for the role of White Knight, but damn it, he was going to try!
For Katyusha!

---

My brain died at the end there >:T
And I know my reply is late and stupidly long. Sorry >A<
(And I know there's spelling errors n'stuff. I'll fix those later. Meh brain is deadz rite naow @_@)

The red on her cheeks remained as Katyusha sat there for a couple seconds, having lost herself in an embaressed state. The fact that Matthew had carried her bridal-style to her room was already surprising enough, but the action was accompanied by a few of her own thoughts.
One, she'd been in her night clothes.
Two, the idea of being carried to her bedroom was...well...how to put it...? It was...something she couldn't think about without blushing.
And three, he knew just as well the idea..."behind" thought number two. She could tell. They were both, afterall, quite flustered. Well, that's what it seemed like anyways. Was she mistaken?
Y-You're thinking WAY too much. Just relax! Relax, relax, relax!
A few more minutes were spent in the room cleaning up the bed, the room in general, and getting herself dressed. Her hand stopped on the doorhandle and her thoughts began reeling again. What were they going to do now? Matthew WAS offering to pay for lunch...but no! She couldn't impose on him! That was much too rude; he was HER guest! Even so, she didn't want to offend him...and besides, he'd paid for things for her before. But the uncomfortableness of being "spoiled" wouldn't leave her concious, and Katyusha stood where she was for about a minute more, inwardly debating with and contradicting herself. Shaking her head, she let out a small sigh. This wasn't getting her anywhere! Going out WOULD be nice, but she just couldn't get her mind off of his cold. She didn't want him to get worse... Shaking her head, she left her now tidy room and descended down the stairs, deciding that she'd simply have to decide on the fly. She had to make sure this was really ok with him...
But before she could finished that thought, her foot met with air. That's funny, shouldn't there be a couple more steps---?
Her heart lept up into her throat and she let out a sharp cry, stumbling as her lone foot met with the ground below. Her balance was lost and she desperately flailed her arms for something to keep her upright; hands met with a wood surface and she clung to the last of the railing. Once the world had stopped spinning, Katyusha could only blink in shock.
Well...that hadn't been expected.
She stood up quickly, brushing a stray hair back into place and flushing a cherry red again.
At this rate, you'll both end up bed-ridden.
Trying to shake off her mishap with a small chuckle, she glanced around seeing that Matthew had wandered away. Was he checking out the rest of the house? She found him with the TV in a seperate room close by and returned to his side, shooting a look at the TV. The news? Why was he watching that?
She started fiddlng with her hair a little, looking up shyly at him. "So...is this really OK? Are you SURE your feeling OK? I-I don't want to make you do something when you feel awful..." Biting her lip, Katyusha inwardly ridiculed herself for being so overly worried about him and for asking so many questions; she really must be getting annoying...why would he even put up with it? She was just a nuiscance.

_____________________________________________

Long reply = GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD <3
Haha~
Matt's so cute, asdljfal;sdjf
Sorry, my reply is crap. ;n;

It was the familiar breathless little giggle that pulled him from his smug array of thoughts (the idea of Katyusha dressed up as a medieval maiden appealed to his inner dork much more than it should've). Glancing over his shoulder, Matthew smiled down at her newly dressed self, her ever present headband and pins holding back her hair and giving him a better view of her sparkling blue eyes.
His smile softened as she spoke about her worries over his health, biting her lip abashedly.
Always worrying about me… I really don’t deserve you…
“I’m all right,” he assured, “It’s mostly just a chest cold now, and I can take something for the headache. Another couple of days and I should be back to normal.” Honestly he really couldn’t give a flying fart in space if he was sick or not. He’d have to be on his deathbed to say no to lunch with Katyusha- and even then he’d still try to go! Subtlety, however, he kept a critical eye on Katyusha for any signs she’d caught his bug.
Shifting his weight from foot to foot awkwardly, Matthew smothered a sneeze.
“So lunch is a go?” he inquired. “I’ll, um, I’ll go call a taxi then.”
He grabbed his bag and dug out his cell phone- rolling his eyes at the more and more annoying texts- and dipped into the kitchen for a quick moment to find the local taxi number in the phone book. That didn’t take too long, though his growling stomach protesting obnoxiously in disagreement.
“They should be here in a couple minutes,” Matthew said, snapping his phone shut before he took Katyusha's jacket off the hanger, holding it out for her to put on. He licked his lips distractedly, unable to keep his eyes off the back of her slender neck- Then he remembered.
“Oh! I brought you something…” Pulling out his own jacket, he searched and inside pocket, giving an enthusiastic ‘Ah-ha!’ when his fingers connected with what he was looking for. “I remembered that you didn’t have a pair of gloves, so-“ he held them out to her. “I know they’ll be a bit big… b-but they’ll keep your hands warm…” His voice trailed off.
Blushing, he swallowed nervously and busied himself with lacing up his boots and jamming his toque over his head.
Why did he feel so flustered all of a sudden? They were just a pair of his gloves. No need to get all excited!
…But he couldn’t stop it. The same rush of seeing her wearing something of his sparked in his chest, like when she’d worn his hoodie back on Halloween. Even if they were only winter gloves that were much too big for her tiny hands… it was his gloves on her tiny hands.
Matthew jerked his head up as a horn honked outside. “Guess that’s our ride,” he chuckled, opening the door for her.
They were almost to the car, Matthew getting Katyusha settled inside, when he remembered that he’d stupidly forgotten his glasses. Darting back inside, he returned red faced and mortified.
Heaving a breath, he slid in on the other side, closing the door a tad more forceful than he needed to. He turned to Katyusha. “So, anywhere in particular you’d like to go?”

---

Blaaahh...

Katyusha's eyes averted from his own to the seat infront of her, then back to his gaze, and she chewed on the inside of her cheek a little. Guess this was the time for on-the-fly decisions, huh? Even if she'd been inside this house before, she hadn't exactly been around the neighbourhood much. Most of her visits were brief, unfortunately. But she'd been told there was a buffet somewhere near...
Perhaps they could go on a little adventure? "Search for the Buffet"...it didn't sound like a smashing hit, but there was no harm in it right?
She turned her attention from Matthew again and quickly gave directions to the driver. They'd first go to the main street of this area; they'd walk from there. Hopefully that was fine...he'd said he was OK, but she really couldn't help worrying. She just wanted him to recover completely. Was it greedy to want that, or was that a good thing? Maybe she was just confusing herself. "U-Um...I don't really know this area very well, but...I was told there's a buffet in the area. I'm not exactly sure where it is, though...haha... I-Is that OK?" Katyusha took a moment to turn her gaze to the gloves on her hand. They were large, yes, but that didn't bother her. Flexing her fingers, a bashful smile couldn't be helped. He always looked after small details...surely he wasn't as big of a worrier as she, but he did fret over her. He'd even helped her with her coat. He was too much of a gentlemen for someone like her. Once again, blue irises met with violet ones this time accompanied by her usual shy smile. "Um...thank you for the gloves."
She couldn't sworn she'd seen the taxi driver roll their eyes out of the corner of her eye, but that didn't matter, now did it?
Soon enough, their drop-off point was reached and after paying the fee, (Katyusha paid for this herself. It wasn't too much and besides, if Matthew was going to pay for lunch, she had to pay him back even if it was in this small way.) she adjusted her coat and shuffled her feet a little. She felt a little nervous all of the sudden; maybe it was just her getting a little worked up over unneeded details. Or maybe her personality was shining a little brighter today. Her voice was trapped behind pink lips and all she could do was hesitantly reach out a gloved hand, beckoning silently.

________________________________________________________________

Urgh, crap post. Sorry. D:

Matthew welcomed the cold winter air nipping at the exposed skin of his face. He still had a little of his fever left, dwindling as it may be, and the chill granted him a little reprieve. Leaning back against the seat of the cab, he smiled sideways automatically slipping his hand into Katyusha’s. It took a couple of seconds to find her fingers swimming in the thermal material of his too big gloves. She had such dainty little hands-
“Buffet?” Matthew asked curiously, head shooting up like a dog being called to attention. His stomach gave a ferocious growl, making his face tint pink in embarrassment but his focus never wavered. With a cold his diet had consisted mostly of soup and toast, save for what he and Katyusha had made back at the house. Slowly but surely he was getting his appetite back and a hot buffet sounded delicious. His face grew even redder as he mentally reminded himself to keep his manners in check. Just because he could inhale food at an inhuman pace didn’t mean Katyusha had to see it.
Matthew glanced up and then down to the old worn car mat at his feet smiling bashfully. “I didn’t want your hands to get cold. I mean, it is winter and frostbite is avoidable…”
Shut up! Shut up! You’re just babbling!
“H-hey-!” He knew the protest was useless, but that didn’t stop him from grimacing as Katyusha handed over the money for their fair. He looks away for one second-!
He followed her out of the taxi, still huffing a little, but when she reached out to him any remnants of a foul mood vaporized instantaneously. Matthew’s expression melted into one of adoration, smiling softy as he reached back, linking their hands securely.
The snow crunched beneath their feet as they headed down the block. Wreaths hung from the light posts and an ample amount of decorations dazzled the front of the stores. Some of them were simple and pleasant to look at, others had taken the saying ‘Going overboard’ to a whole new level. Still, under the mounds of garland and lights, Matthew kept an eye out for anything more homely, unique, special. It would be difficult to doll up the entire house in Christmas gear- if they did he feared that’d be all they’d do for the whole holiday, putting things up and taking them down- but that didn’t mean they had to leave things completely barren. And there was one thing in particular he was looking for in particular.
Mistletoe.
Matthew cleared his throat, trying to distract himself. Would Kat notice if he hung it in every doorway of the house…?
Katyusha needed some paints to. We’ll have to remember to pick some up before we head home. She never really said what it was for...
“Is that the buffet you had in mind?” he asked, pointing with his free hand a couple of buildings down. It was nearing lunch so things looked busy but not everly so. They could tuck themselves away in a corner and enjoy a cozy meal together.
His mouth watered greedily and Matthew grinned down at Katyusha goofily. “Time to get our grub on!”

---

om nom nom...nom... idk
lol

The corners of her lips twitched upward into a smile and Katyusha raised on eyebrow, holding in a soft giggle. Instead of answering, she simply nodded and led him into the building. She gladly welcomed the warmness of the building - as in the air and the atmosphere - and it hardly took a couple minutes before they were at their own table. It was a pretty decent place, so far...she really did have to look around more often.
A few more minutes passed and they had grabbed whatever they wanted, returning to their seats. Breakfast was still being served, so she'd figured she might as well grab a little from there. Otherwise, she'd chosen anything else that fancied her interest. The thought of Matthew paying for the food had left her mind for the moment; right now, she was simply focused on laying back and having a good time with him. Even if they were going to do a few errands here and there, that wasn't the point.
She always worried over him and she KNEW that he worried over her, too...so why not try to make things easier for the both of them?
It was worth a shot.
Their time there was spent in brief conversations, a few laughs, and a comfortable silence once in a while. Even if they were in a semi-crowded buffet, it felt like it was just them. Katyusha's nervousness lingered but even then, her responses would come almost naturally. It was like being with Matthew was allowing her to grow, in a way, to stretch her limits and expose herself to new things. He gave her courage.
...But what the heck was she thinking? You didn't need courage of all things to go on a lunch date. She was being ridiculous!
"So...after this, what should we do first? W-We don't need a whole lot of decorations, right..?" Wandering around wouldn't be bad, but she'd rather have somewhat of a plan, especially if she wanted him to get better sooner. Maybe if they split up, things would get done faster and they could go home sooner. The cough was mighty inviting, especially if she got to see his ruffled hair again. His arms around her were a bonus. Cuddling really wouldn't be a bad idea, even if it made her cheeks glow a soft pinkish hue.
A bit lost in thought, she snuck a small chunk of meat from his plate, giving him a sly - and yet somehow still shy - smile.

______________________________________________________

~=A=~

Matthew sat back in his chair, chewing a mouthful of hash browns thoughtfully as he contemplated the variety of food on his plate. The buffet had a little of everything and his choices reflected that. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all modestly piled together, no doubt looking rather absurd. The corners of his mouth turned up when she snuck a piece off his plate, unable to even attempt a mock scolding expression. He nipped a piece off of hers and popped it into his mouth with a happy hum, eyebrows raised in a 'you messed with the wrong eater' look.
He liked this. Sitting together like they’d known each other forever. They’d found their niche, a place where everything fell into a much more comfortable place. He wasn’t as nervous being around her anymore. Quite the opposite, he was nervous when he wasn’t around her. Was she okay? Was she safe? Was she working too hard? He nearly ended up driving himself crazy!
Matthew watched her eat for a moment, smiling lopsidedly to himself at the dainty way she ate. Katyusha also seemed much more relaxed and he was glad to see it. It meant that his sick and stuffy self wasn’t causing her to stress out worrying over him. He knew she fretted over him even when he wasn’t sick, being a mother hen was a part of her and a part of her he would never change. But it would be nice once he got rid of this cold for good. It would be one less thing to bother her.
Adjusting his glasses, he smiled across the table at Katyusha. “I didn’t think-“ he smothered a sneeze in his napkin- “S-sorry. Um, what I was saying was, no, I don’t think we need a lot of decorations.” Sniffling for a moment, he added with a stuffed up chuckle, “I think I can make those paper chains out of construction paper but that’s about the extent of my creative abilities. Sad, I know.”
Matthew inhaled slowly, setting down his fork.
He’d spotted a Christmas themed store just a bit further up the block. They had to have what he wanted…
Now I just have to figure out where to hang the mistletoe… I could always just cover the whole house in them… That plan’s a definite possibility…
They could always go to different stores… That way he could pick up the mistletoe and something else to make it inconspicuous and she could get whatever she needed. But that meant leaving her alone… He touched the edge of his temple unconsciously. His skin still carried faint white scars from the fight all those months ago. It was stupid to think that would happen now, not with all these people around and not with a heavier holiday police presence.
Katyusha’s a grown woman. She’s perfectly capable of looking after herself. I can’t be there to guard her 24/7…
Still, he felt uneasy. He decided to let her decided what she wanted to do.
“Do you want to split up?” Matthew asked, trying desperately to lighten his tone. He hoped he sounded light-hearted enough. “I think there was a craft store back a ways, and I can go grab some lights or something? Or we can stick together…” He trailed off, voice reposed, but his gut begged her choose the latter. Though as soon as he saw the look in her eyes he knew that wasn’t going to happen.
They finished their plates (well Matthew finished and went back for seconds, polishing off that helping to), and gathering their things headed back outside, feeling rather full but content.
“So how ‘bout we meet back here in… twenty minutes?” Matthew checked, looking at his watch. He stood awkwardly, not really wanting to part from her. His body turned half away, but he hesitated before suddenly spinning back and placing a kiss against Katyusha’s hair.
“Be safe.”
He meant it.
Then they broke apart. Matthew walked quickly, zipping around people and recieving an odd look from an old woman.
The sooner he was back with Kat, the better.
He found the Christmas store with ease, answering back a hello to the clerk as he stepped inside. It was a small store, covered in rich reds and golds, greens and silvers. It was near the back where he found the mistletoe tied together in an ornamental ball with a crimson scarlet bow hanging from the bottom. However, there was only one.
“Those have always been a big seller,” the clerk said cheerily. “Good thing you got here, that’s the last one.”
Matthew blushed automatically. A guy picking out mistletoe… well, it was pretty obvious he wasn’t going to use it just for decoration.
He followed the clerk to the register.
“Will this be all?”
Matthew looked around, “Uh…” There was a group of boxes stacked near the front. They were those small indoor lights strung together. Grabbing a box he set it on the counter to. He had no idea what he’d do with them after Christmas but he didn’t really care. Twenty minutes were almost up and he was getting antsy.
Was Katyusha all right?
“Here you go,” the clerk handed him his bag. “Oh! Hang on, I almost forgot! A free Christmas gift comes with your perchase. Happy holidays!”
Matthew returned the sentiment, diving right back into the cold. He walked back to the buffet, peering into his bag at whatever this ‘free gift’ was. When discovered what it really was, he laughed out loud. In disbelief or dismay he wasn’t sure, but it would a fun surprise once they got home.

---

Blah!