Resilience | S. Rogers [3]

22 | US

Or Everything Has Changed

August 2023
Poland

"Good morning," Rose mentioned with a fond smile watching Steve wake up slowly. When his brain processed the smell that filled him came from the tray she was holding he sat up.

"Honey, why didn't you wait for me to wake up and help."

She laid the tray on the bed sitting down carefully. "Because you always wake up first," surprisingly. She'd actually made an effort to wake up before him and had to block any sound that she made, even if it was small, to ensure he wouldn't wake up. She wanted to be the one preparing the breakfast that morning. Rose stared at him with a happy smile. "Happy anniversary," she smiled leaning forward.

Steve grinned doing the same. "Happy anniversary." Their lips met, shifting as they smiled in between the kiss. "Five years."

"Five years," she mirrored his affectionate glance.

Only then did Steve look at the tray with food. "Is that why there are two piles of five pancakes?" he said with an amused grin staring at the pancakes next to the semolina porridge, which he had tried and loved since they came to Poland on their small vacation.

Rose became mildly serious. "Shut up."

"What? I like them," he said staring at them brightly thinking about the thoughtfulness behind the breakfast. Seldomly did Rose do anything without a deeper meaning behind it.

"Just... eat them, okay?" she replied avoiding his gaze. He moved his hand to touch her thigh, squeezing it gently.

Another year when he was reassured that stopping himself from waiting was the best decision he'd ever made in his life.

When, thankfully, Rose felt the same way.

PRESENT TIME
October 2023

Rose and Steve's Apartment, New York

"What time are you coming back tomorrow?"

"About seven in the afternoon, I'll probably be back after you get back from the support group."

"You're sure you don't want me to get you at the airport?" Steve asked finishing his breakfast. He stood up walking back to the kitchen.

"Really. I'll be fine, I have a car, I have to use it...Besides, you'd have to leave the group earlier and I don't want that," Rose commented.

"I'm sorry I couldn't go."

"Hey, Finn knows why you can't go. You went to the last gallery anyway," she mentioned thinking about how the man in his twenties had been happy to see him...his father not so much, either of them.

Finn had ended up working in the art business, something that made him feel closer to his mom. And he was really good at it as well.

"I'll call you anyway so you can see it," Rose reassured. A teasing grin appeared on her face. "Maybe this time you'll figure out how the camera works."