AUDREY
Looking back on it now, my twenty-first birthday was the best birthday I have ever had. It felt like it just happened yesterday when it was now, in fact, the second week of December.
After our friends returned home we all made sure to stay in contact, maybe even more so now than ever. Sebastian and I fell back into our usual routine, living comfortably in the presence of each other.
"Are you free next week?" Sebastian's voice called from the kitchen.
"I am, why?" I joined him in the kitchen to see him in that legendary pink apron.
"Then is it okay if we go to visit my family next week?" He asked, looking at me after cracking some eggs.
"Sure. What are you making?" He began stirring the mixture with a wooden spoon. "You know we have a standing mixer right?"
He shot a look that got his message across - of course I do. "Yeah I know, but this is how I destress. I'm making cookies."
"Hard week at work?" He began scooping the now extremely battered mixture into small balls and placing them on a tray with grease paper on it.
He nodded, pausing his rhythmic scooping and placing to look at me with pained eyes. "It's just that when I get cases like the one I got last week, I can't help but grieve with them. It's stupid I know but..."
I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head against his back. "It's not stupid, don't say that. If you want we can wrap ourselves in blankets on the couch and watch a sad movie so that I can cry with you."
"You'd do that?" I nodded, hearing him sniff quickly before turning around and hugging me into his chest. "I'd like that."
We stood in a moment of silence, being enveloped in each other's warmth, me more so than him. "Are you feeling a bit better now?"
"A little, at least now I don't have to cry alone." He chuckled a little, trying to cover up his sadness.
"Hey, you never have to cry alone when I'm around. And if you just want to cry for hours I'll gladly give you some company."
"What if I'm the grumpy kind of sad and want to be left alone?" He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
"Then I'll respect your wishes and make sure you are fed and kept warm before you feel comfortable in coming to me, then we'll follow the proper procedures." I smiled up at him, which hurt my neck because he was so damn tall.
"Proper procedure, I'm guessing that's the ice cream and all?"
"The whole shebang," I confirmed.
"Thank you." He whispered softly, kissing me as softly as he spoke. "Now, I need to finish these cookies."
"Okay, is there anything you need?" I asked, unwrapping my arms.
"Maybe I can give these to my family." He pondered.
"If you want, I can go get some gift bags and nice ribbon."
"Really? That would be amazing." I smiled and left him, running to the nearest craft store.
SEBASTIAN
As I was waiting for the cookies to finish baking I heard ringing from behind me. I looked at my laptop, instead of the cookie recipe I was greeted with my mother's icon.
As soon as I accepted the call I was greeted with a flurry of motherly love that I had undoubtedly missed. "Sebastian dear! I haven't heard from you in ages, you had me worried."
"But I texted you twenty minutes ago," I commented, leaning my elbows on the countertop.
"Oh shush, you know what I mean. Anyway, I got your text and I can't believe Audrey is coming to visit with you. Have yous got together yet?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
"We did, eleventh of November." I couldn't stop the smile creeping on my lips.
Her brows drew together. "You remember the date? That's...weird. Romantic, but weird. Sebastian, are you a psychopath?"
"No! I'm not a psychopath. I only remember because it was Audrey's birthday." I justified, golding my hands up to surrender.
"Sebastian Brennen King! It was Audrey's birthday and you didn't tell us? I also have to find out that you both got together, what," she counted the weeks on her fingers before giving up, "many weeks ago?"
"I'm sorry, I've just been caught up on work and...stuff."
"Stuff? Stuff? You aren't even married yet, not that I have a problem with that but like, it's you."
I could feel the blush blazing across my cheeks like the set of hot wheel cars my brother used to like. "Okay, first of all, it's not that kind of stuff. Secondly, what do you mean 'it's you'?"
"Sebastian, honey. You are very handsome, yes, but...how do I say this? You got no game."
"Oh my gosh, mother." Was I red now? Well, the computer screen seems to say that not only am I red, but I'm about to warn you to move out of the way because there's a fire to be put out and I am now a fire-engine.
"Sebastian, sweetie. You've been shy all your life, it's just the way you are. Don't get me wrong, we love you with all our hearts but, your anxiety usually prevents you from being social. That's why I am surprised. However, I'm so proud that you both finally got together."
"Really? You are?" Still red? Computer screen what do you- yep, still red.
She laughed, the skin around her twinkling eyes crinkling. "I love you but holy moly, I've been waiting forever for this. Your father and I ship you both together so hard that we both cried when you found her again."
"Wait, what?" I did a double-take, and then a triple-take.
"You have no idea. Anyway, how'd it happen?" She winked at me, which I ignored.
"Well, the night of her birthday we just sat down on the couch and it kind of...happened. We both said 'I love you' and that was it."
"Okay, a bit underwhelming but it's fine, you'll do an amazing proposal right? Just please tell me the day it happens, not after the one month anniversary for flip's sake."
This is your mother, she birthed you, clothed you, fed you and now she has murdered you. Happy life.
"I'll see you next week mother."
"Aw, no, I don't want to say goodbye. I want to talk to my baby," She whined.
"Well, you're going to have to because the cookies are almost done and Audrey will come home any second now." I thanked whoever was looking out for me when I heard the beeping of the oven go off behind me.
"Hmph, fine. But I want updates mister. I love you so much, I'll talk to you later okay, be good."
"I will. Love you too, bye." I ended the call after she blew the twentieth kiss at me, turning to take the trays out with the oven mitts.
It was another few minutes before Audrey sauntered in with a couple of bags. She pulled out the gift bags, some pretty festive ribbon and a packet of gift tags. We got to work after the cookies cooled, even stealing a few for ourselves while we worked.
That night, we did as she promised. She put on a sad movie, cocooned us in blankets and fed us cookies with hot chocolate. I didn't cry as much as I expected, maybe because I got that call from my mother, or maybe because I knew that as long as Audrey was by my side, I'd be alright.