Marion & Leo

breakfast

 As soon as I took a bite out of the warm pancake, my nose wrinkled in disgust. "Fuck, this definitely doesn't taste right," I muttered, tossing the gross pancake into the trash and turning back to the recipe on the counter. Just as I turned my back on the frying pan, I started to smell smoke. Whirling around, I discovered that I had severely burnt the eggs. My fingers worked quickly to turn off the stove as I rushed to fill a glass with water to pour in the pan to extinguish the small flames.

I heard his feet on the creaky staircase before I saw him enter the kitchen dressed in a short-sleeved white t-shirt and black basketball shorts. A soft, sleepy smile was sprawled across his lips as he rubbed at his eye with one hand. His hoarse morning voice rasped, "good morning, beautiful."

Somehow, the words still made me blush even though I heard them almost every morning. "Happy birthday," I spoke, slightly embarrassed at the mess I'd made of the kitchen.

He strode across the room and stepped around the island to envelop me in his arms, planting a sloppy kiss on my forehead. "Thanks, baby." He looked around slowly. "Can I help you with something?"

Stepping away from him, I crossed my arms and glanced back at the filthy countertop. "I was trying to make you breakfast."

He chuckled and stepped around me, picking up the recipe. "I got it, Hales."

I grasped his arm. "But it's your birthday breakfast! Let me go pick something up or we can go-"

He placed his hands on my waist and kissed me softly. "Don't worry about it, I'm glad to."

Sighing in defeat, I pushed myself up onto the counter. "What are your plans for the day?"

He looked between me and the eggs he was cracking. "Hmm, Tuesday. First day of winter break after the most grueling college semester of my life?" He paused for effect. "I was kinda planning to just lay in bed all day, but you weren't there when I woke up."

Letting out a soft 'aw,' I moved so I was standing to his left, leaning my head on his shoulder. "After breakfast, darlin'."

He turned to face me after the eggs were safely in the pan. "You know we've got, like, ten years of school left."

I chuckled. "Well, three. And then residency."

He giggled a little bit. "The future Doctors Haley Roe and Ryan James."

I shook my head, smiling widely at him. "Where is this going?"

"I just..." he sighed, looking at me happily. "I mean, that's a long time." I simply nodded, not understanding. "And, obviously, we've both discussed it and we're putting our research first, but you have no idea how badly I want to get married."

"Got anyone specific in mind?" I joked.

Rolling his eyes at me, he stepped closer and placed his chin on the top of my head. "I wanna put a ring on your pretty little finger-"

"I'll even take your last name if you propose before I become Dr. Haley Roe," I interjected.

Chuckling, he held me tighter for a moment. "And yes, we can be Doctors Haley and Ryan James." He pulled away to look me in the eye, and I swear time sped through those ten years and then brought us back to now. "And after awhile, I'm definitely putting my adorable kid in your adorable uterus."

I brought my hand to cup his cheek. "Look at you, using all that fancy medical terminology!" I teased, bringing my face closer to his. "Happy birthday, I love you."