It was often said that Paris was the city of love, but Nate was finding that at the moment, he had very little love for the city.
A week.
He had been stuck there for a week. Going through tedious negotiations over something that could have easily been resolved if the other party was thinking with their brain instead of their ego. It had taken everything in him to remain patient. In the end, his restraint had paid off, and he had been able to win the resisting party over. But it had still taken seven days. Something Nate would not have minded in the past when all he had was the job. But that time was time away from Rose. He had spent what was to be their first week as boyfriend and girlfriend in a foreign country, negotiating with people he felt like kicking every time they opened their mouths.
The only bright spots in his day being whenever he got to talk to Rose. Her witty messages always drawing a smile or a laugh from him no matter how tired or annoyed he was. Sometimes it was not even words. She just sent random pictures, from the food she was eating, to a flower arrangement she was proud of. She even sent photos of herself smiling and pointing at various objects. The pictures with her in them, looking so full of life, always made a warm weight settle in his stomach. Not even Ron's knowing looks to stop him perking up each time his phone vibrated.
But now, he was finally back on home soil, with Ron driving him to her shop.
"You do know it is strange that you two do not live together, right?" His PA asked (being nosy), and Nate immediately fired back with a response he and Rose had come up with in case they were ever asked.
"The flowers need near-constant care, and she would rather take care of them directly than hire someone else,"
"If sleeping with her flora makes her happy, then I will let her continue to do so until she no longer wants to," It was by far the sappiest thing Nate had ever said, and he was surprised to find that he actually meant it.
If she wanted to build a house on the moon and live there he would let her. Trailing behind her the whole way.
If she wanted to move to Timbuktu then she would find him there, waiting. Whatever made her happy, if it was in his power to give, then he would, no questions asked. The intensity of his thoughts scared him, but before he could dwell on them, Ron broke into his spiraling thoughts.
"I never thought I would see the day. Nathaniel Kiriakis…whipped…there is really no hope for men," The other man made a whipping motion with one hand, the other staying on the wheel.
"Ronald, it would be best for you to remember who pays your salary,"
"Sorry, boss," The apology was so fake, Nate was even astronauts in space could see how false it was.
His annoyance at his PA's cheek was short lived however. A rush of warmth overwhelming him at the sight of a familiar store front. Nate was reaching for the door before the car even stopped. The moment it did, he had his seatbelt off and was stepping onto the sidewalk, reaching back into the car to get his present for her.
"Be back in an hour," He told Ron, shutting the door before the other could talk back. Technically, the hour was supposed to be for Nate to power nap before heading to the office. But he had already done so during the flight. Besides, what was a little exhaustion when it meant he got to see Rose. After a week of Ron's ugly mug and the shrivelled faces of the Parisian party, she would be like a breath of fresh air. Running a hand through his hair, and checking his watch, he pushed the door open and stepped in.
She was with a customer. He could hear her talking in a warm, pleasant tone to another woman. Deciding not to disturb her just yet, Nate moved amongst the giant shelves the pre arranged bouquets were placed on. Hiding his face behind some purple flowers when she glanced his way, clearly trying to see who it was.
He listened in as she continued talking to her customer, the woman finally settling on the flowers she wanted and paying for them. The whole time Nate stood where he was, just watching, taking her in. Her hair was in a loose bun, with a yellow jumper beneath an apron that had the store name on in. She said goodbye to the customer, her eyes crinkling in genuine mirth as she wished the lady luck on whatever it was they had been talking about.
The customer left, the bell above the door, announcing her exit. Leaving just the two of them in the store. It was then that Nate stepped out from behind the shelf, revealing himself to her. The moment her eyes settled on him, she gasped, a smile stretching her face. She went around the counter, slammed herself against him and put her arms around him, squeezing with all her strength.
"Nate," She cried, leaning back a little so that she could look up at him.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" She asked, a slight pout on her lips, and Nate did the only thing he could think of to get rid of it…he kissed her.
Long and sweet, simply enjoying the feel of having her so close after such a long time.
"I wanted to surprise you," He said when they finally broke apart. Her hold on him loosened and he used the chance to hold up the gift bag, shaking it at her. I got you something, and what traces of her pout the kiss did not take, the gift did.
She dove for it, like a child unwrapping gifts on Christmas, pure glee on her face. When she pulled out the first one, Nate thought she might just explode. Her whole being vibrating on the spot as she held the stuffed bee. Staring at its huge adorable eyes and cooing.
"Thank you," She breathed, and Nate nodded. He had not been sure what to get her. The old standby of flowers and chocolate out of the equation as her business meant she saw plenty of those. Then he had seen the bee and thought of her fluttering amongst her flowers like a honeybee and he had not been able to resist. The price was something she would balk at if she knew, so he resolved never to tell her.
The second gift was tickets to the opera, for the date that was long overdue.
"You and me, this coming Friday, if you want to that is?" A bit of his nerves shining through. This time she was the one who kissed him, standing on her tiptoes, her hands around his neck.
"I would love to," She said, and Nate felt a knot in his chest loosen. Whatever suave thing, he would have said was interrupted by huge yawn, and he cursed his body.
"Did you come straight her from the airport without any rest?" She asked, a thread of worry in her chest.
"It's fine, I only have an hour before I have to be at work, I will power through," But Rose was not having it. She all but dragged him upstairs and Nate found himself in her little apartment for the first time. He barely had time to see it before she was shoving him onto the couch, taking off his shoes and pulling a blanket over him. The bee he had just gifted her tucked in with him.
He felt like a two year old, but found himself too tired to complain. It should have been hard to fall asleep in the foreign room, but the couch smelled just like her, the scent lulling him. He was asleep before she made it all the way downstairs.