The Known (On Hold)

86

Mal walks up and is surprised to find that she all alone in the bed. It's her birthday, and she can only assume that her girlfriend is already out in the kitchen making her breakfast that she will soon deliver to their bedroom. 

She gets up and makes a quick trip to the bathroom to complete her morning routine before getting comfortable in the bed with a book. Soon, the door opens, and sure enough, Charlotte leads the way carrying a tray with her breakfast on it along with a coffee, followed up by Andi carrying in two dozen red roses already in vases and Rose with a teddy bear and present in her hands. 

Charlotte places the tray down and leans over to kiss Mal, "Happy Birthday, Mally. Love you." 

"Love you, too."

"Happy Birthday, Mal. Come on, Rosie, let's leave the two of them alone for a bit." 

"But, I want to see what's in the box." 

"I'm sure you'll see it later. Now, let's go." 

Mal and Charlotte laugh as Andi leads Rose out of their bedroom. 

Mal looks at the present on the bed, "Can I open it, now?" 

Charlotte shakes her head, "Not yet. Eat first and then presents." 

"Presents? As in more than one?" 

"Always." Charlotte smiles, "I'll be right back. I'm just going to grab my breakfast." 

"The roses are beautiful, C.J." 

"They pale in comparison to the beauty that is you."

Mal laughs, "Oh, no, here we go again." 

"What does that mean?"

Mal laughs, "Nevermind. So, what's on the agenda today?" 

"Well, unfortunately, you have a game tomorrow, so it can't be as much as I would like, but there's always later for that. How about you open the box now, and I'll explain."

Mal takes Charlotte's present and unwraps it before opening the box it contains to find a gold chain. "It's beautiful, Baby. Can you put it on me?" 

As Mal lifts her hair, Charlotte places the chain around her neck and does up the clasp. 

Charlotte walks over to their closet and retrieves a larger box, and hands it to Mal, who opens it to find a black dress with another smaller box on top of it. Inside which there are earrings that match the chain. 

"C.J., this is all too much." 

"It doesn't even come close to being too much, Babe. Now that you've opened them, I'd really like it if you would do me the honour of accompanying me to an early dinner this evening at Bourbon Steak?"

"Of course, I will. Am I to assume that you have already taken care of an outfit for yourself to wear this evening?" 

"Yes. Lan helped me choose a navy blue number before I left Cali. I know how much you like me in blue." 

Mal smiles, "That, I do, it makes your eyes pop," she rolls the p as she says it causing Charlotte to laugh.

Charlotte leans in and kisses her, "I love you." 

"Love you, too, but if you are thinking of starting anything, be aware that our roommates are home and the door is unlocked." 

Charlotte rolls her eyes, "Wonder how much it would cost to soundproof the room?" 

"C.J!" 

Charlotte laughs, "What? I'm serious!" 

They hear a knocking on the door, "Speaking of the roommates."