All I Want for Christmas is a Ph.D.

December 18th - Part 2

DeeDee parked in front of her apartment building and Erik pulled up beside her in his rental. He got out first and walked over to her car to help her out.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"A girl could get used to this kind of treatment."

"Is that right?" He grabbed her briefcase from her. "So, where are we headed?"

DeeDee pointed forward, "This building, Apt B15."

Erik followed DeeDee as they walked into the building. He looked at the numbers on the doors as they passed them. Even numbers on the left and odds on the right. A quick assessment let him know her apartment was at the end by the other set of entry doors.

As soon as they passed B10, Erik slowed up to let DeeDee pass him. Then he scooped her up in his arms in a basket hold.

"What are you -" DeeDee squealed as she turned and held onto him for dear life.

Erik never broke his stride and kept walking. He laughed as DeeDee buried her face in his neck. "You ok there?"

"You couldn't just hold my hand again?"

"I mean, I could have. But nah," He stopped in front of her apartment but did not make a move.

"Erik, you can put me down now. I have to open the door."

"Do you?" He shifted her in his arms. He gave her two quick squeezes to her side.

"Seriously?" She huffed and let go of him long enough to hand over her keys. "It's the purple and silver key, Mr. Extra."

Erik opened the door to her place, and set DeeDee down before they stepped inside and he closed the door.

"Take a look around, I'm gonna freshen up real quick before we go." DeeDee took off her heels and walked towards her room.

"Sure thing. And don't forget, you're picking where we go. It's your night."

She turned back to him, "Ummm no. I am sure there are places that you want to go to since you are back. Pick one."

"Little Miss DeeDee."

"Ewww, not you combining names like that." She walked up to him and poked him in the chest. "Why are you so difficult?"

"How am I being difficult? I want to go where you want to go."

"What happened to what the lady wants, she gets."

Erik's face fell and DeeDee smirked.

"So, as I was saying, I know there has to be somewhere you want to eat at again." She pointed a shoe at him. "The first place that comes to your mind is where we'll go."

Erik opened and closed his mouth, she had him. DeeDee winked at him and bounced down the hall to her room.

He walked over to her desk and set her laptop case and purse down. He made his way around the living room. The space really spoke to DeeDee and her personality. She had pictures of various floral and nature scenes on the walls interspersed with painted wooden framed photos of her, her family and friends. From the curtains to her furniture accents, if he didn't know purple was her favorite color, her living room alone gave it away. All the pillows on her gray couch were various shades of it.

Erik unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down on the couch, "Maybe I should start calling her a purple faerie."

In the corner off to his left, he saw there was a small little potted tabletop Christmas tree decorated with silver tinsel and 3 simple handmade ornaments. Erik smiled as he looked everything over. In the midst of everything, she still had some time for Christmas spirit.