Spring Challenge Fic
Okay, posting it over here too, because I doubt I'll get much fb on the board I wrote it for. And I kept talking about it so...
Like I said, it is Michael/Tess. So if you can't stomach that, don't read. But really, please give it a chance. I promise there is no bashing of Maria in any way, nor did I kill her off to be able to write this. I also won't replace Tess' name with Maria's just so I can post it at CID. It won't work with Maria. And I love Tess, so suck it up. ;)
Anyways, just a short, fluffy piece.
Title: Easter Fun and Games
Author: Vera
Rating: Teen
Category: Michael/Tess
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters, much as I wish to own Michael.
Summary: This is a response to the Avant Garde Spring Fic Challenge over at DAS, which required the following (selected):
4. the story must take place during spring break, or in a park with water, or at least mention that it is spring
5. the story must include one of the following phrases:
- How many damn jellybeans are you going to eat?
- This is my life, not a damn soap opera.
6. the story must include one of the following things:
- someone in a bunny suit
- a stuffed alien
- a picnic basket
“I am not going out there.“ Michael clung to the doorframe and shook his head.
“Aw come on, Michael. It’ll be fun.”
“No. No, it won’t. I don’t know what I had been thinking. I hate kids.”
”No you don’t.” The petite blonde behind him rolled her eyes, knowing full well how much he loved to be around them and how much he wanted a bunch of his own.
“Yes. Yes, I…” He turned and looked at her, then relented when he saw her raising her eyebrow. “Okay. But kids hate me.”
“Oh please. That’s the best you got?” She took a good push, trying to shove him out the door but he wouldn’t budge.
“They do.” He nodded again and by now she could see the fear in his eyes. After all these months Michael was still just as afraid to screw it all up as the very first day. It was time to take extreme measures.
She leaned up to whisper something in his ear and when she pulled back, he was left with his mouth hanging open. Seizing the opportunity, she gave him one good shove and this time managed to get him out on stage. As soon as the kids spotted him, they started cheering his name.
Michael looked back at her with a deadly glare on his face. “You owe me, Tess.” He whispered before the cheers got to him and his glare turned into a wide grin as he turned towards his appreciative audience. And, spreading his arms and throwing his head back in a gesture of success, he bathed in the glory.
Tess chuckled and watched Michael do his show. He was moderating the Easter Fun and Games at the local orphanage, much like he had done for Christmas and Halloween. He loved it, the kids loved him and it always made her happy to see him so happy. But yet still every time he tried to get around it by all means. She didn’t even want to think about how she had to bribe him to wear a Santa costume last year. Or no, actually… she did.
Tess first smirked and then blushed deeply, wanting nothing more than to hide her face beneath her long, curly hair, but sadly she couldn’t. Because this time she was the one in costume and right on cue Michael was calling for his lovely assistant. And these damn bunny ears wouldn’t go down to cover her blush. She just hoped nobody would notice it in the spotlight.
With a smile on her face she made her way out to join Michael. “Hey kids! Who’s going to head out and look for eggs with me?” Her smile grew when the kids cheered and whooped. Her gaze joined Michael’s and they both knew they had done the right thing when they decided to volunteer here.
It just felt good to give something back. Or no, that was wrong. How could they give back what they had both never experienced? Not with the respective adoptive fathers they got stuck with. But these kids here, they shouldn’t suffer like they had done. They deserved as much fun as possible. And hell, as much love as possible. Michael would never admit it, but she had seen him talking to some of the kids. Special cases. Loners, shy kids, abuse victims. He usually picked them to help him, to make them feel special and most of all useful. Good for something. It was times like these that she realized just why she loved him, and why she was the luckiest girl in the whole world to have him love her back.
She jumped out of her reverie when Michael gave her a not-so-gentle slap on her behind. “Come on, bunny. The kids are waiting. Hop.” He wiggled his eyebrows and gave her his trademark grin. Oh yes, if she wouldn’t love him so much…
She narrowed her eyes but knew he was right. They were kids after all. She jumped down the stage and took a young girl by the hand. “Alright, let’s head out. And remember to always stay in groups of two or more, and don’t stray too far from where I can see you and…”
”And don’t forget to save me some of the good candy!” Michael interrupted her before he too jumped off the stage and then walked outside along with her.
“Michael. It is important that they know the rules. We can’t lose any of them. You know how many creeps are out there, just trying to… trying to…” She couldn’t even say it.
“Relax, Tess. This is not the first time. And these kids are not dumb. They know what it’s like out there.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
The young girl on her hand, Connie, suddenly got active and tugged on her arm, trying to get free. “Please Miss Tess, can I go look for chocolate now?”
”Yes Miss Tess, can she?” Michael smirked at her.
Tess nibbled on her bottom lip before she reluctantly let go. “Oh yes, honey. Sure.” She watched her run off with unease. “Just stay where I can see you!”
”Tess.” Michael reprimanded her again, although she damn well knew he was just as worried as she was, he was just trying to be cool Uncle Michael, while she was always mean Miss Tess.
“Oh shut up. Next year you wear the bunny suit.” She patted his stomach.
“Oh hell no.” He shook his head. “Why would I? You look so damn cute in it.” He smirked and tugged on one of her ears.
Tess rolled her eyes till he stopped and wrapped his arms around her. “You do.” He leaned down. “You’re the cutest bunny ever.”
”Awww.” She smiled happily and their lips met for a chaste kiss, which could have easily turned into something more if some of the kids around them hadn’t commented it with loud “eeeeew”s. She giggled and wiped his lips with her thumb when he pulled back to make sure none of her lipstick had rubbed off on him.
“Just you wait.” Michael mumbled and interlaced his fingers with Tess’. “And I still get to see my bunny in the adult version of this, right?” He tugged on the plush covering her arms.
“It was the deal, wasn’t it?” She winked, looking forward to this evening herself.
But before they could get too close again, one of the boys, Kenny, ran up to them. “Michael, Michael, look what I’ve found! A double Mars bar!” He waved it around excitedly.
“Wow, that’s awesome, buddy.” Michael smiled and ruffled the kid’s hair. Kenny was back with them for the third time now. No family would keep him longer than a few months. And the last time, they had to get him out for his own safety. Sometimes Tess just wanted to cry.
And when Kenny now handed one of his bars up to Michael, she had a hard time suppressing a sniffle. “Awww. That’s so cute of you, Kenny, but…”
But before she could complete her sentence, Michael had already grabbed it with a fat grin on his face. “That’s my man.” He winked and took a large bite out of his candy bar, almost eating the whole thing at once.
Tess gasped but Kenny was happy and ran off again. As soon as he was out of eyesight, Tess gave Michael a whack over his head.
“Ouch. What?” He pouted and quickly swallowed the last bit of chocolate before he went to rubbing the back of his head.
“You stole candy. From a kid.” She raised her eyebrow and shook her head in a scolding motion.
“Did not.” Michael pouted harder.
“I was right here.” Tess tapped her foot impatiently.
“Yeah, so? He gave it to me.” He shrugged before he gave her a smirk. “And I expect plenty more from the others.”
“Oh you.” She shook her head. Sometimes he was just… incredible.
“Aw, come on. How do you think he’d have felt if I had declined it? I am his friend, Tess.” He rubbed over her back soothingly and she just had to smile again. Because she knew that in a way, he was right. The boy had been nothing but smiles when he left with his half of the Easter price.
“Alright. But still. You can’t tell me you’ve only been doing it for the kid. I know you, Michael. I know what you eat.” And he was a real sucker for any kid of junk food.
In response he just grinned and licked the remaining chocolate off his lips. Slowly. Tess groaned. He was just too good at anything he did. And he knew just how to play people. But now she was doing him injustice. She knew he wasn’t using the kids. He cared about them more than anything else. Reaching out, she stroked over his cheek. But once again, the kids interrupted them.
“Michael, Michael! Come here! Quick!” Some of them were waving at him from a few trees away and Tess smiled.
“Go. Steal some more candy.” She chuckled and squeezed his hand. Michael winked and leaned down to kiss her cheek before he ran off to be with the kids. Tess smiled and watched him for a while before she too mingled again and helped some of the younger kids find a stash of their own.
About an hour later Tess found Michael back in the hall, sitting at a table with a few of the boys around him, all cheering him on while he was stuffing his face with jellybeans. Tess sighed and rolled her eyes. Men.
She came to stand next to him, hands on her hips. “Michael. How many damn jellybeans are you going to eat?”
He turned towards her with his mouth still full. “Thatsch what wu’re try’n n find out.” He gave her a toothy grin and she turned away in disgust.
“And stop!” One of the boys raised his hand in the air and Tess realized he had been taking the time. “Five minutes are over, Uncle Michael.”
Michael sighed and leaned back in his seat with a smile, then he swallowed. “So? Did I win?” He was looking at the still giant stash of jellybeans left on the table.
The boys stuck their heads together for a moment before one of them announced, “Yes. You definitely ate more than Dave.”
“Alright!” Michael grinned and raised his arms in the air. “I win!” Then he reached out and shook hands with Dave. “No offense, dude.”
“None taken.” Dave was smiling and then most of the boys were laughing and running off. All but one which Tess had grabbed by the back of his shirt.
“Jimmy.” She scrutinized him. “That was your idea, wasn’t it?”
The boy just smirked and shrugged. Oh yes, she could see why he always got along with Michael so well.
“I told you not to include Michael into your little bets anymore. You know how he gets.”
“I know, Miss Tess.” His smirk grew and Tess gave up and let go of him so he could run off with the others. She was obviously talking to the wrong person.
“Michael.” She shook her head and stemmed her hands back in her hips. “You’re supposed to give a good example.”
”So? I won.” He was still smiling and leaning back in the chair, his hand gently rubbing his stomach.
“And later you are going to get sick. And I mean… Michael!” She looked at him but he was still clueless. “How old are you again?”
”Oh please Miss Tess, don’t be mad at me. I will try to behave better next time.” He pouted at her and tried to look as innocent as possible. Which earned him another whack over his head.
“Oh you.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t ‘Miss Tess’ me. You know I hate that.”
”Aw but I am really sorry, Miss Tess.” He was smirking now and grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him till he could wrap his arms around her waist.
“Shut up.” Tess tried to stay strong, but it was hopeless. Already her smile was breaking through. He was just too adorable. Her big kid. She could never be mad at him for too long. “Don’t come crawling to me later when you get stomach cramps.”
“I won’t.” He grinned and pulled her down to sit in his lap. “You know me, I have a strong stomach.” He buried his face in her neck and kissed her gently.
Unfortunately, it was true. It’s why he never learned from these things. Next week she’d catch him drinking hot dog water straight from the pot with Jimmy right next to him taking the time. She sighed. “You’re still giving them a bad example.”
“Shhh.” He blew against her skin and she shivered. Damn. Even after all these years he still made her weak in the knees. So it was a good thing she was already sitting. Although she was forced to jump up when she felt him tugging on her zipper.
“Michael!” He just smirked up at her and winked. “You can do that later when I’ll be wearing the other costume. Although it doesn’t have zippers. Just these really tiny, tiny bows.” She winked and blew him a kiss before she went off to help Melanie serving out some food. Behind her she could hear him exhale audibly. Oh yes, he wasn’t the only one with tricks up his sleeve. Now it was Tess’ turn to smirk.
A few hours later they were both holding hands on their walk back home. Michael brought their joined hands up to his lips and kissed hers before smiling down at her. “Why’d you change? You really did look very cute in your costume.”
Tess frowned and let go to twirl around in front of him. “What? You mean you don’t like my dress?” It was just a simple, light sun dress, but Tess liked it. And most of all she liked being able to wear it. It was very nice outside already. Spring was her favourite season of all. Everything was blossoming, new life emerging. The summer heat just burned it all down. Fall was just depressing and winter… well, winter was just too damn cold.
“I do.” He smiled and picked her up, twirling them both around. Tess wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed till he put her back down. “It’s just, I kinda always wanted to go home with a bunny.” Michael winked.
“Oh you damn well better be talking about animals now, Mister.“ She raised her eyebrows. Men.
“Oh yes. Animals.” Michael whistled and she had to slap his chest.
“You keep this up and you won’t be seeing me in one of these outfits after all.” She was kidding, of course. He’d earned it, and hell, she had earned it too. But he didn’t know that. And sometimes he just deserved to suffer for being such a pig.
Michael paled. “You promised!”
“And I can take it back.” She smiled and started walking towards their apartment again. He followed close on her heels.
“Tess, wait! I’m sorry!” He placed a hand on her shoulder and made her turn around. “The only bunny I ever want to go home with is you. You know that, right?”
Tess smiled for real now. Yes, she knew. That’s why she had only been kidding. As a reply she leaned up on her tip toes and gave him a soft kiss. “I know, baby. And you’re the only man I don’t slap for repeatedly calling me a bunny.”
They both chuckled and then kissed again. “I love you, Tess.” Michael passed his fingers through her hair.
“I love you too, Michael.” She stroked over his cheek. “I always have.” From the first moment they met. Even though back then it was a different kind of love, because back then they had both been mere kids themselves.
He smiled and their lips joined for another sweet kiss. This time though, with no more interruptions, it quickly deepened and when they broke apart, they were both breathing heavily. “Alright.” Michael took a deep breath. “Let’s continue this elsewhere.” He interlaced their fingers again and instantly tugged on her arm, getting them both going once more.
“Let’s.” Tess chuckled and fell into step with him till they were all but running home to have their own little Easter Fun and Games.
Fin.
Like I said, it is Michael/Tess. So if you can't stomach that, don't read. But really, please give it a chance. I promise there is no bashing of Maria in any way, nor did I kill her off to be able to write this. I also won't replace Tess' name with Maria's just so I can post it at CID. It won't work with Maria. And I love Tess, so suck it up. ;)
Anyways, just a short, fluffy piece.
Title: Easter Fun and Games
Author: Vera
Rating: Teen
Category: Michael/Tess
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters, much as I wish to own Michael.
Summary: This is a response to the Avant Garde Spring Fic Challenge over at DAS, which required the following (selected):
4. the story must take place during spring break, or in a park with water, or at least mention that it is spring
5. the story must include one of the following phrases:
- How many damn jellybeans are you going to eat?
- This is my life, not a damn soap opera.
6. the story must include one of the following things:
- someone in a bunny suit
- a stuffed alien
- a picnic basket
“I am not going out there.“ Michael clung to the doorframe and shook his head.
“Aw come on, Michael. It’ll be fun.”
“No. No, it won’t. I don’t know what I had been thinking. I hate kids.”
”No you don’t.” The petite blonde behind him rolled her eyes, knowing full well how much he loved to be around them and how much he wanted a bunch of his own.
“Yes. Yes, I…” He turned and looked at her, then relented when he saw her raising her eyebrow. “Okay. But kids hate me.”
“Oh please. That’s the best you got?” She took a good push, trying to shove him out the door but he wouldn’t budge.
“They do.” He nodded again and by now she could see the fear in his eyes. After all these months Michael was still just as afraid to screw it all up as the very first day. It was time to take extreme measures.
She leaned up to whisper something in his ear and when she pulled back, he was left with his mouth hanging open. Seizing the opportunity, she gave him one good shove and this time managed to get him out on stage. As soon as the kids spotted him, they started cheering his name.
Michael looked back at her with a deadly glare on his face. “You owe me, Tess.” He whispered before the cheers got to him and his glare turned into a wide grin as he turned towards his appreciative audience. And, spreading his arms and throwing his head back in a gesture of success, he bathed in the glory.
Tess chuckled and watched Michael do his show. He was moderating the Easter Fun and Games at the local orphanage, much like he had done for Christmas and Halloween. He loved it, the kids loved him and it always made her happy to see him so happy. But yet still every time he tried to get around it by all means. She didn’t even want to think about how she had to bribe him to wear a Santa costume last year. Or no, actually… she did.
Tess first smirked and then blushed deeply, wanting nothing more than to hide her face beneath her long, curly hair, but sadly she couldn’t. Because this time she was the one in costume and right on cue Michael was calling for his lovely assistant. And these damn bunny ears wouldn’t go down to cover her blush. She just hoped nobody would notice it in the spotlight.
With a smile on her face she made her way out to join Michael. “Hey kids! Who’s going to head out and look for eggs with me?” Her smile grew when the kids cheered and whooped. Her gaze joined Michael’s and they both knew they had done the right thing when they decided to volunteer here.
It just felt good to give something back. Or no, that was wrong. How could they give back what they had both never experienced? Not with the respective adoptive fathers they got stuck with. But these kids here, they shouldn’t suffer like they had done. They deserved as much fun as possible. And hell, as much love as possible. Michael would never admit it, but she had seen him talking to some of the kids. Special cases. Loners, shy kids, abuse victims. He usually picked them to help him, to make them feel special and most of all useful. Good for something. It was times like these that she realized just why she loved him, and why she was the luckiest girl in the whole world to have him love her back.
She jumped out of her reverie when Michael gave her a not-so-gentle slap on her behind. “Come on, bunny. The kids are waiting. Hop.” He wiggled his eyebrows and gave her his trademark grin. Oh yes, if she wouldn’t love him so much…
She narrowed her eyes but knew he was right. They were kids after all. She jumped down the stage and took a young girl by the hand. “Alright, let’s head out. And remember to always stay in groups of two or more, and don’t stray too far from where I can see you and…”
”And don’t forget to save me some of the good candy!” Michael interrupted her before he too jumped off the stage and then walked outside along with her.
“Michael. It is important that they know the rules. We can’t lose any of them. You know how many creeps are out there, just trying to… trying to…” She couldn’t even say it.
“Relax, Tess. This is not the first time. And these kids are not dumb. They know what it’s like out there.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
The young girl on her hand, Connie, suddenly got active and tugged on her arm, trying to get free. “Please Miss Tess, can I go look for chocolate now?”
”Yes Miss Tess, can she?” Michael smirked at her.
Tess nibbled on her bottom lip before she reluctantly let go. “Oh yes, honey. Sure.” She watched her run off with unease. “Just stay where I can see you!”
”Tess.” Michael reprimanded her again, although she damn well knew he was just as worried as she was, he was just trying to be cool Uncle Michael, while she was always mean Miss Tess.
“Oh shut up. Next year you wear the bunny suit.” She patted his stomach.
“Oh hell no.” He shook his head. “Why would I? You look so damn cute in it.” He smirked and tugged on one of her ears.
Tess rolled her eyes till he stopped and wrapped his arms around her. “You do.” He leaned down. “You’re the cutest bunny ever.”
”Awww.” She smiled happily and their lips met for a chaste kiss, which could have easily turned into something more if some of the kids around them hadn’t commented it with loud “eeeeew”s. She giggled and wiped his lips with her thumb when he pulled back to make sure none of her lipstick had rubbed off on him.
“Just you wait.” Michael mumbled and interlaced his fingers with Tess’. “And I still get to see my bunny in the adult version of this, right?” He tugged on the plush covering her arms.
“It was the deal, wasn’t it?” She winked, looking forward to this evening herself.
But before they could get too close again, one of the boys, Kenny, ran up to them. “Michael, Michael, look what I’ve found! A double Mars bar!” He waved it around excitedly.
“Wow, that’s awesome, buddy.” Michael smiled and ruffled the kid’s hair. Kenny was back with them for the third time now. No family would keep him longer than a few months. And the last time, they had to get him out for his own safety. Sometimes Tess just wanted to cry.
And when Kenny now handed one of his bars up to Michael, she had a hard time suppressing a sniffle. “Awww. That’s so cute of you, Kenny, but…”
But before she could complete her sentence, Michael had already grabbed it with a fat grin on his face. “That’s my man.” He winked and took a large bite out of his candy bar, almost eating the whole thing at once.
Tess gasped but Kenny was happy and ran off again. As soon as he was out of eyesight, Tess gave Michael a whack over his head.
“Ouch. What?” He pouted and quickly swallowed the last bit of chocolate before he went to rubbing the back of his head.
“You stole candy. From a kid.” She raised her eyebrow and shook her head in a scolding motion.
“Did not.” Michael pouted harder.
“I was right here.” Tess tapped her foot impatiently.
“Yeah, so? He gave it to me.” He shrugged before he gave her a smirk. “And I expect plenty more from the others.”
“Oh you.” She shook her head. Sometimes he was just… incredible.
“Aw, come on. How do you think he’d have felt if I had declined it? I am his friend, Tess.” He rubbed over her back soothingly and she just had to smile again. Because she knew that in a way, he was right. The boy had been nothing but smiles when he left with his half of the Easter price.
“Alright. But still. You can’t tell me you’ve only been doing it for the kid. I know you, Michael. I know what you eat.” And he was a real sucker for any kid of junk food.
In response he just grinned and licked the remaining chocolate off his lips. Slowly. Tess groaned. He was just too good at anything he did. And he knew just how to play people. But now she was doing him injustice. She knew he wasn’t using the kids. He cared about them more than anything else. Reaching out, she stroked over his cheek. But once again, the kids interrupted them.
“Michael, Michael! Come here! Quick!” Some of them were waving at him from a few trees away and Tess smiled.
“Go. Steal some more candy.” She chuckled and squeezed his hand. Michael winked and leaned down to kiss her cheek before he ran off to be with the kids. Tess smiled and watched him for a while before she too mingled again and helped some of the younger kids find a stash of their own.
About an hour later Tess found Michael back in the hall, sitting at a table with a few of the boys around him, all cheering him on while he was stuffing his face with jellybeans. Tess sighed and rolled her eyes. Men.
She came to stand next to him, hands on her hips. “Michael. How many damn jellybeans are you going to eat?”
He turned towards her with his mouth still full. “Thatsch what wu’re try’n n find out.” He gave her a toothy grin and she turned away in disgust.
“And stop!” One of the boys raised his hand in the air and Tess realized he had been taking the time. “Five minutes are over, Uncle Michael.”
Michael sighed and leaned back in his seat with a smile, then he swallowed. “So? Did I win?” He was looking at the still giant stash of jellybeans left on the table.
The boys stuck their heads together for a moment before one of them announced, “Yes. You definitely ate more than Dave.”
“Alright!” Michael grinned and raised his arms in the air. “I win!” Then he reached out and shook hands with Dave. “No offense, dude.”
“None taken.” Dave was smiling and then most of the boys were laughing and running off. All but one which Tess had grabbed by the back of his shirt.
“Jimmy.” She scrutinized him. “That was your idea, wasn’t it?”
The boy just smirked and shrugged. Oh yes, she could see why he always got along with Michael so well.
“I told you not to include Michael into your little bets anymore. You know how he gets.”
“I know, Miss Tess.” His smirk grew and Tess gave up and let go of him so he could run off with the others. She was obviously talking to the wrong person.
“Michael.” She shook her head and stemmed her hands back in her hips. “You’re supposed to give a good example.”
”So? I won.” He was still smiling and leaning back in the chair, his hand gently rubbing his stomach.
“And later you are going to get sick. And I mean… Michael!” She looked at him but he was still clueless. “How old are you again?”
”Oh please Miss Tess, don’t be mad at me. I will try to behave better next time.” He pouted at her and tried to look as innocent as possible. Which earned him another whack over his head.
“Oh you.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t ‘Miss Tess’ me. You know I hate that.”
”Aw but I am really sorry, Miss Tess.” He was smirking now and grabbed her arm, pulling her closer to him till he could wrap his arms around her waist.
“Shut up.” Tess tried to stay strong, but it was hopeless. Already her smile was breaking through. He was just too adorable. Her big kid. She could never be mad at him for too long. “Don’t come crawling to me later when you get stomach cramps.”
“I won’t.” He grinned and pulled her down to sit in his lap. “You know me, I have a strong stomach.” He buried his face in her neck and kissed her gently.
Unfortunately, it was true. It’s why he never learned from these things. Next week she’d catch him drinking hot dog water straight from the pot with Jimmy right next to him taking the time. She sighed. “You’re still giving them a bad example.”
“Shhh.” He blew against her skin and she shivered. Damn. Even after all these years he still made her weak in the knees. So it was a good thing she was already sitting. Although she was forced to jump up when she felt him tugging on her zipper.
“Michael!” He just smirked up at her and winked. “You can do that later when I’ll be wearing the other costume. Although it doesn’t have zippers. Just these really tiny, tiny bows.” She winked and blew him a kiss before she went off to help Melanie serving out some food. Behind her she could hear him exhale audibly. Oh yes, he wasn’t the only one with tricks up his sleeve. Now it was Tess’ turn to smirk.
A few hours later they were both holding hands on their walk back home. Michael brought their joined hands up to his lips and kissed hers before smiling down at her. “Why’d you change? You really did look very cute in your costume.”
Tess frowned and let go to twirl around in front of him. “What? You mean you don’t like my dress?” It was just a simple, light sun dress, but Tess liked it. And most of all she liked being able to wear it. It was very nice outside already. Spring was her favourite season of all. Everything was blossoming, new life emerging. The summer heat just burned it all down. Fall was just depressing and winter… well, winter was just too damn cold.
“I do.” He smiled and picked her up, twirling them both around. Tess wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed till he put her back down. “It’s just, I kinda always wanted to go home with a bunny.” Michael winked.
“Oh you damn well better be talking about animals now, Mister.“ She raised her eyebrows. Men.
“Oh yes. Animals.” Michael whistled and she had to slap his chest.
“You keep this up and you won’t be seeing me in one of these outfits after all.” She was kidding, of course. He’d earned it, and hell, she had earned it too. But he didn’t know that. And sometimes he just deserved to suffer for being such a pig.
Michael paled. “You promised!”
“And I can take it back.” She smiled and started walking towards their apartment again. He followed close on her heels.
“Tess, wait! I’m sorry!” He placed a hand on her shoulder and made her turn around. “The only bunny I ever want to go home with is you. You know that, right?”
Tess smiled for real now. Yes, she knew. That’s why she had only been kidding. As a reply she leaned up on her tip toes and gave him a soft kiss. “I know, baby. And you’re the only man I don’t slap for repeatedly calling me a bunny.”
They both chuckled and then kissed again. “I love you, Tess.” Michael passed his fingers through her hair.
“I love you too, Michael.” She stroked over his cheek. “I always have.” From the first moment they met. Even though back then it was a different kind of love, because back then they had both been mere kids themselves.
He smiled and their lips joined for another sweet kiss. This time though, with no more interruptions, it quickly deepened and when they broke apart, they were both breathing heavily. “Alright.” Michael took a deep breath. “Let’s continue this elsewhere.” He interlaced their fingers again and instantly tugged on her arm, getting them both going once more.
“Let’s.” Tess chuckled and fell into step with him till they were all but running home to have their own little Easter Fun and Games.
Fin.