Yellow Roses
Written for the fanfic100 prompt: Yellow
Title: Yellow Roses
Character(s)/Pairings: Emily, Ian Edgerton
Rating: PG-13
Summary: She awoke to find a yellow rose...
Author’s Notes: I love the banter between these two.
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
The morning Los Angeles sunshine streamed through the window, warming Emily as she slept. Gradually she began to come awake and as her eyes slowly fluttered open, she took some time to get her bearings.
After a moment, she realized what had awakened her. The house was filled with the smell of coffee, bacon, and…was that? Blueberry waffles. She furrowed her brow as her mind worked furiously, trying to figure out what was going on.
She turned over to get a good view of her bedroom door, only to find a single yellow rose lying perfectly on the pillow next to her own. A soft smile spread across her features as she picked it up and breathed in the fragrance.
For years, this had been their signal and now she was flooded with excitement as she threw back the covers and rolled out of bed. She smoothed her hair and then laughed at herself, knowing he could care less. She headed down the hallway and as always there was a vase waiting with water and she plopped the rose down in happily.
She then turned towards the kitchen and grinned when she was greeted by the sight of a newspaper covering the face of the man before her. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe as she cleared her throat.
Without lowering the paper, he stated, “Bacon does the trick every time…”
She giggled, knowing that he was right. He had probably been there for hours, not wanting to wake her or frighten her by making any noise in the house. The simple act of frying bacon was a gentle way of rousing her - a trick that her mother had used against her and her father many times.
Impatiently she asked, “Are you just going to sit there? You’ve had all morning to read the paper.”
He sighed aloud as he began closing the paper, “Well, I do have to check on the food anyways, I suppose…”
Her heart soared then when he was revealed to her and when he stood up, he barely had time to react before she had jumped into his arms and was showering his face with kisses and hugging him tightly.
He chuckled before groaning, “Easy EJ…I’m getting old.”
She eased down and shook her head, “You’re not getting old. I don’t think you’ve aged a day since I first met you.”
She poured herself a cup of coffee and refilled his cup before he raised an eyebrow at her, “You’re just saying I’m not old because I’m the same age as your boyfriend.”
He then walked around her casually and began filling their plates with food, as if he hadn’t said anything out of the ordinary. She put her hands on her hips and asked, “Ian Edgerton…have you been spying on me?”
He handed her a plate and walked past her to sit down at the table. He put his napkin in his lap and shook his head, “Not spying really. I was actually going to stop by night before last, but well…you had company.”
She joined him at the table and began crunching on a piece of bacon as she tried to change the subject, “So, how long have you been in town then?”
He shrugged, “I just got into town. I am working a case with the FBI.”
She concentrated more fully on the food in front of her a moment before she smiled, “Oh! That sounds like fun! Will you be working with Callie at all?”
He nodded, “Yeah, I saw her yesterday…she looks great…happy.”
Emily nodded, but before she could say anything in response, Ian reached over and covered her hand with his own, “EJ…I’m worried about you.”
She frowned a bit as she asked, “Worried about me? Why?”
Ian sighed, knowing what he was about to say would not be received well. “Are you sure you know what you’re getting into with Eppes?”
Emily rolled her eyes, “If by that question you mean do I know his track record with women…yes I do. I could give women the same warning about you, now couldn’t I?”
He winced, “That’s different…my job…”
Emily stated, “Don could claim the same…”
Ian replied, “Look…I promised your father that if anything happened to him, I’d look out for you. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Emily reached for her fork and cut away a piece of her waffle before giving him a look, “Well, you know…if you came around more often or even called once in a while to let me know you were alive, then you would know that I’m actually happier than I’ve ever been.”
Ian leaned back in his seat as he took a swallow of coffee. He knew her well enough to know that she wasn’t just telling him what he wanted to hear, but it was still difficult for him to believe. “Really? You’re ok with this type of relationship?”
She regarded him, “It’s not just about sex if that’s what you’re implying.”
He grimaced, “Oh EJ…come on…”
She gasped, “What? You know that’s what you were thinking and besides, did you really think he just came over and we just cuddled? Yes, Ian…I, Emily James…have sex...lots of sex…great sex…with Don Eppes.”
He covered his ears and started singing, “La la la la la.”
Despite herself, Emily started laughing as she shook her head, “You are SO five years old, you know that?”
Glad to see her laughing once more instead of this sudden serious tone that she seemed to have taken with him, he uncovered his ears and smiled at her, “Look who I hang around.”
She stuck her tongue out at him before returning her attention back to her breakfast. He was quiet for a moment before he groaned, “I have to work with him, you know? Now, every time I look at him I am going to think about what you just said.”
Emily laughed again, “That’s what you get for being nosy. You know I get defensive about people I love…”
The words were out of her mouth before she could think about it or stop them. Silence hung in the air as their eyes met before finally he found the will to speak, “So…you’re in love with him? Does he know?”
Emily nodded, “Truth be told, I’ve been in love with him since the moment I met him two years ago. I wouldn’t have admitted that to anyone, let alone myself…but then the more time I spent with him it just kept getting stronger.”
Ian couldn’t help but prod more, “Has he said it?”
Emily blushed slightly as she smiled, “He has. You know me…I wouldn’t have been the first to say it and I certainly wouldn’t have slept with him if I didn’t believe that there was something there. It’s in his eyes, Ian.”
He looked at her and asked, “You know I’m going to have to talk to him about this, don’t you?”
Her eyes widened, “What? Why?”
He chuckled, “Because…I have to see this look for myself. I have to hear it from him that he’s going to take care of you. I know you usually run away at the first sign of a relationship and so I have to say this is freaking me out a little bit.”
Emily giggled, “All right then…but be nice. And be discreet…we haven’t exactly told people yet.”
She paused, “Honestly Ian…I’m happy…I’m truly happy.”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead as he smiled, “Good. You deserve to be happy and you deserve someone who’s going to treat you right.”
He pulled out his keys and removed her house key and held it out to her. She asked, “What are you doing?”
He grinned, “I’m sure Eppes wouldn’t want to wake up to find another man cooking his woman breakfast and leaving her yellow roses.”
Emily protested, “But that’s the only way I ever know you’re in town and besides you’re my family…you’re always welcome here.”
Ian smiled softly, “And I’ll knock just like everyone else.”
She nearly pouted, “But I’m usually asleep when you get here…”
He shrugged, “Then I’ll leave a rose on your porch and you’ll know I’ve been here and you’ll know to expect me to pop in for a visit.”
Still refusing the key, she sighed, “I don’t know about this, Ian.”
He replied, “Tell you what. I’ll hang onto it…but I won’t use it. You just let me know when you need it back to give to Eppes.”
Emily gasped, “And what makes you think I’ll be giving him my key?”
He chuckled, “Because I don’t see you moving into his apartment, that’s why.”
Emily stated, “Well, no one’s talking about moving in with the other.”
Ian smirked, “Just wait, EJ. You’re in love with him and if he’s in love with you too, then it’s only a matter of time. He won’t want to be away from you.”
Emily shrugged, “We’ll see. In the meantime, however…are you going to take me to the firing range, or what?”
Ian chuckled, “Why, so you can kick my ass again like last time?”
She beamed, “Hey…it’s not my fault that I learn from the best. You know, you’d better be glad that I didn’t choose the sniper business…otherwise, I just might pass you and grab that number two spot.”
He reached over and playfully shoved her, “Be quiet you and eat your waffles. You’re going to need your strength…we’ll see if you’ve been practicing since the last time I was here.”
Emily just smiled knowingly as she took a bite of her waffles. Ian was definitely in for a surprise…
Title: Yellow Roses
Character(s)/Pairings: Emily, Ian Edgerton
Rating: PG-13
Summary: She awoke to find a yellow rose...
Author’s Notes: I love the banter between these two.
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
The morning Los Angeles sunshine streamed through the window, warming Emily as she slept. Gradually she began to come awake and as her eyes slowly fluttered open, she took some time to get her bearings.
After a moment, she realized what had awakened her. The house was filled with the smell of coffee, bacon, and…was that? Blueberry waffles. She furrowed her brow as her mind worked furiously, trying to figure out what was going on.
She turned over to get a good view of her bedroom door, only to find a single yellow rose lying perfectly on the pillow next to her own. A soft smile spread across her features as she picked it up and breathed in the fragrance.
For years, this had been their signal and now she was flooded with excitement as she threw back the covers and rolled out of bed. She smoothed her hair and then laughed at herself, knowing he could care less. She headed down the hallway and as always there was a vase waiting with water and she plopped the rose down in happily.
She then turned towards the kitchen and grinned when she was greeted by the sight of a newspaper covering the face of the man before her. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe as she cleared her throat.
Without lowering the paper, he stated, “Bacon does the trick every time…”
She giggled, knowing that he was right. He had probably been there for hours, not wanting to wake her or frighten her by making any noise in the house. The simple act of frying bacon was a gentle way of rousing her - a trick that her mother had used against her and her father many times.
Impatiently she asked, “Are you just going to sit there? You’ve had all morning to read the paper.”
He sighed aloud as he began closing the paper, “Well, I do have to check on the food anyways, I suppose…”
Her heart soared then when he was revealed to her and when he stood up, he barely had time to react before she had jumped into his arms and was showering his face with kisses and hugging him tightly.
He chuckled before groaning, “Easy EJ…I’m getting old.”
She eased down and shook her head, “You’re not getting old. I don’t think you’ve aged a day since I first met you.”
She poured herself a cup of coffee and refilled his cup before he raised an eyebrow at her, “You’re just saying I’m not old because I’m the same age as your boyfriend.”
He then walked around her casually and began filling their plates with food, as if he hadn’t said anything out of the ordinary. She put her hands on her hips and asked, “Ian Edgerton…have you been spying on me?”
He handed her a plate and walked past her to sit down at the table. He put his napkin in his lap and shook his head, “Not spying really. I was actually going to stop by night before last, but well…you had company.”
She joined him at the table and began crunching on a piece of bacon as she tried to change the subject, “So, how long have you been in town then?”
He shrugged, “I just got into town. I am working a case with the FBI.”
She concentrated more fully on the food in front of her a moment before she smiled, “Oh! That sounds like fun! Will you be working with Callie at all?”
He nodded, “Yeah, I saw her yesterday…she looks great…happy.”
Emily nodded, but before she could say anything in response, Ian reached over and covered her hand with his own, “EJ…I’m worried about you.”
She frowned a bit as she asked, “Worried about me? Why?”
Ian sighed, knowing what he was about to say would not be received well. “Are you sure you know what you’re getting into with Eppes?”
Emily rolled her eyes, “If by that question you mean do I know his track record with women…yes I do. I could give women the same warning about you, now couldn’t I?”
He winced, “That’s different…my job…”
Emily stated, “Don could claim the same…”
Ian replied, “Look…I promised your father that if anything happened to him, I’d look out for you. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Emily reached for her fork and cut away a piece of her waffle before giving him a look, “Well, you know…if you came around more often or even called once in a while to let me know you were alive, then you would know that I’m actually happier than I’ve ever been.”
Ian leaned back in his seat as he took a swallow of coffee. He knew her well enough to know that she wasn’t just telling him what he wanted to hear, but it was still difficult for him to believe. “Really? You’re ok with this type of relationship?”
She regarded him, “It’s not just about sex if that’s what you’re implying.”
He grimaced, “Oh EJ…come on…”
She gasped, “What? You know that’s what you were thinking and besides, did you really think he just came over and we just cuddled? Yes, Ian…I, Emily James…have sex...lots of sex…great sex…with Don Eppes.”
He covered his ears and started singing, “La la la la la.”
Despite herself, Emily started laughing as she shook her head, “You are SO five years old, you know that?”
Glad to see her laughing once more instead of this sudden serious tone that she seemed to have taken with him, he uncovered his ears and smiled at her, “Look who I hang around.”
She stuck her tongue out at him before returning her attention back to her breakfast. He was quiet for a moment before he groaned, “I have to work with him, you know? Now, every time I look at him I am going to think about what you just said.”
Emily laughed again, “That’s what you get for being nosy. You know I get defensive about people I love…”
The words were out of her mouth before she could think about it or stop them. Silence hung in the air as their eyes met before finally he found the will to speak, “So…you’re in love with him? Does he know?”
Emily nodded, “Truth be told, I’ve been in love with him since the moment I met him two years ago. I wouldn’t have admitted that to anyone, let alone myself…but then the more time I spent with him it just kept getting stronger.”
Ian couldn’t help but prod more, “Has he said it?”
Emily blushed slightly as she smiled, “He has. You know me…I wouldn’t have been the first to say it and I certainly wouldn’t have slept with him if I didn’t believe that there was something there. It’s in his eyes, Ian.”
He looked at her and asked, “You know I’m going to have to talk to him about this, don’t you?”
Her eyes widened, “What? Why?”
He chuckled, “Because…I have to see this look for myself. I have to hear it from him that he’s going to take care of you. I know you usually run away at the first sign of a relationship and so I have to say this is freaking me out a little bit.”
Emily giggled, “All right then…but be nice. And be discreet…we haven’t exactly told people yet.”
She paused, “Honestly Ian…I’m happy…I’m truly happy.”
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead as he smiled, “Good. You deserve to be happy and you deserve someone who’s going to treat you right.”
He pulled out his keys and removed her house key and held it out to her. She asked, “What are you doing?”
He grinned, “I’m sure Eppes wouldn’t want to wake up to find another man cooking his woman breakfast and leaving her yellow roses.”
Emily protested, “But that’s the only way I ever know you’re in town and besides you’re my family…you’re always welcome here.”
Ian smiled softly, “And I’ll knock just like everyone else.”
She nearly pouted, “But I’m usually asleep when you get here…”
He shrugged, “Then I’ll leave a rose on your porch and you’ll know I’ve been here and you’ll know to expect me to pop in for a visit.”
Still refusing the key, she sighed, “I don’t know about this, Ian.”
He replied, “Tell you what. I’ll hang onto it…but I won’t use it. You just let me know when you need it back to give to Eppes.”
Emily gasped, “And what makes you think I’ll be giving him my key?”
He chuckled, “Because I don’t see you moving into his apartment, that’s why.”
Emily stated, “Well, no one’s talking about moving in with the other.”
Ian smirked, “Just wait, EJ. You’re in love with him and if he’s in love with you too, then it’s only a matter of time. He won’t want to be away from you.”
Emily shrugged, “We’ll see. In the meantime, however…are you going to take me to the firing range, or what?”
Ian chuckled, “Why, so you can kick my ass again like last time?”
She beamed, “Hey…it’s not my fault that I learn from the best. You know, you’d better be glad that I didn’t choose the sniper business…otherwise, I just might pass you and grab that number two spot.”
He reached over and playfully shoved her, “Be quiet you and eat your waffles. You’re going to need your strength…we’ll see if you’ve been practicing since the last time I was here.”
Emily just smiled knowingly as she took a bite of her waffles. Ian was definitely in for a surprise…