Midnight Manor Private Residence, Tuesday Afternoon

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Today was Pie Day. No, not Pi Day, which was legally distinct and had been back in March, but a very specific anniversary of the baking of a very specific pie.

And what better way to celebrate the making of a pie than by... making pie to enjoy for dessert later tonight?

The ingredients were laid out, the recipe book was turned to the appropriate page, and the cat had been provided with a catnip toy to keep him busy and hopefully out from underfoot while they worked.

"I do believe that's everything," Watts said as he pulled the spices out from the cupboard and lined them up with the rest of the ingredients.

Comments

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Steven checked what they had and what the recipe called for. "Looks like? Shall I get started on the apples then?"

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"Please," Watts said. "But first-" and he was pulling Steven in for a kiss.

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Steven kissed him back. Kisses were a vital part of any recipe, and thus important to include.

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It just wouldn't be the same without them! Watts lingered in the kiss for a moment, then pulled away. "Right," he shook his head. "Apples."

At least this one didn't require pretty-looking slices, so he could do his part without worrying he'd slow the process down trying to be precise as possible.

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"Half each?" Steven suggested, indicating the apples in need of preparation.

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Watts nodded. "Seems fair." Would Steven be done before him? Almost certainly. But he wasn't going to divide the work unevenly.

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"I like the idea of us working side by side," Steven admitted.

So much so he was probably going to pace himself so that he didn't finish significantly faster than Llewellyn.

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"It is nice," Watts agreed with a smile. "Companionable."

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"Precisely," Steven said. He started to peel his apples. "That's part of what makes it special, not just the pie."

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"I love baking for you," Watts said as he began- in his somewhat awkward manner- peeling his own apples. "Surprising you with something, or fulfilling a request. But baking with you is always a joy."

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"I love your baking," Steven said. He took a piece of apple peel and offered it up for Llewellyn to nibble on. "Means a great deal that you do it for me. Makes me feel cared for."

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"Good," Watts said, pressing a kiss to Steven's fingertips as he took the offered peel. "That's what I want. To take care of you."

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"Trying to imagine you surprising me with something now," Steven said. He looked thoughtful. "Suppose if I knew it wouldn't be a surprise anymore."

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"Unless you only knew I was making you something, and not the details thereof, I suppose," Watts mused.

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"That's true," Steven said. He smiled at Llewellyn. "Like when I made dinner on Saturday."

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"Precisely so," Watts said, leaning over to press a kiss to Steven's cheek.

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"Those are good surprises?" Steven asked, to double check. "All right for me to keep doing them?"

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"Yes," Watts affirmed. "That's- I already knew we would be having dinner together here at home. That you prepared it on your own was a nice surprise. Conversely, if you'd come in to the library and announced that we were going out for dinner instead, that- that would not have been as pleasant a surprise. I enjoy dinners out, of course but not- not on short notice like that."

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"That's good to know," Steven said. He nibbled on a piece of apple peel as he thought about it. "I don't know that I would have ever done that? I think I knew not to, even if I couldn't articulate why."

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"Because you're a thoughtful man," Watts said. "I like- knowing what to expect, to some degree. If you told me you were making a dinner reservation somewhere but wished to keep the locale a secret, that sort of thing would be all right."

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Steven peeled another apple as he considered what Llewellyn said. "I think I would prefer to give more indication than that. Depending on what the location was and why I picked it. I wouldn't want you to be anxious not knowing until we got there. Hardly enjoyable for either of us."

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"You see? Thoughtful," Watts told him. "Which is precisely why I know I can trust you above anyone else."

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"Thank you," Steven said. "It's good to know, what you told me. I will keep it in mind. I only mean to say if I do attempt such things it will probably be rare. Erring on the side of caution and all that."

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Watts nodded. "Your consideration is appreciated," he told Steven.

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Steven gave Llewellyn a kiss on the cheek. "You are appreciated."

He turned back to his apples, then realized, "Oh - thank you. As well."

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"You're very welcome." Watts pulled him away from the apples for a quick kiss.

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Quick though it might be, Steven did steal a second one. "I love you. My lovely."

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"Love you too, my darling," Watts replied, smiling softly at him.

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"Right, best get to chopping these into bits before you distract me," Steven said. Not that Llewellyn had ever done that before, oh no.

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"I distract you?" Watts scoffed playfully.

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"Yes," Steven said, cheerful in return. "I believe I just said so."

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"And you are, of course, never anything but honest with me," Watts said, biting back a grin.

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"I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true," Steven confirmed.

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"Hmph," Watts scoffed, shaking his head as he went back to slicing his apples. He was still trying very hard not to smile, though.

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"Both could be true," Steven pointed out. "We distract one another."

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"Mmm," Watts hummed. "I'll allow that."

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Steven leaned up to give him a smooch. "Good. Then we are in agreement."

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"I do prefer when that is the state of things," Watts said. Which it was more often than not, a natural side effect of their general policy of honesty with each other.

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Or, when they didn't agree, at least respecting one another's opinion.

"Funny to think how far we've come," Steven said, indicating the apples in front of him. "All the things we've made together since that first time."

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"Indeed," Watts said. "There was a time when neither of us thought preparing our own food that important, and now," he smiled fondly at Steven. "Some of my favourite memories are of working alongside you in the kitchen. All the new things we've tried."

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Steven smiled back. "Making things for each other as well."

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"There is a great deal of love in this kitchen," Watts nodded.

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Steven had to kiss him at that. No choice. Nor was Steven the slightest bit sorry.

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Shockingly, Watts too had very little problem with the current state of affairs.

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"You say such wonderful things," Steven told him. "Poet."

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"Why thank you," Watts said. "You do inspire such thoughts in me."

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Llewellyn got a kiss for the thank you. "You help make our home feel special."

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"I do believe that one is a team effort," Watts replied.

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"I'll accept that," Steven said. "Thank you."

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"Our home," Watts said, no small amount of wonder in his voice. "That's still- I shall never tire of that."

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"Like our family?" Steven guessed. "It's what amazes me."

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"Both," Watts admitted. "They're both- a source of great joy for me. To have- someplace I belong."

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"Very much so." Steven wrapped an arm around Llewellyn's waist. "You belong here. With me, Marc, Raphael, our home..."

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They had a pie to make, yes, but Watts was just going to take a moment to lean in to Steven, dropping his head on his beau's shoulder.

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Steven hugged Llewellyn close. "You're home. With your family."

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Watts sucked in a long breath, holding tightly on to Steven as he let those words wash over him, let them sink in.

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Steven hugged Llewellyn with both arms, holding him tight in return. "Your home. With me."

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"With you," Watts echoed. "Always. You won't- you won't leave."

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"Never," Steven promised. "If we do, we always come back."

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Another long breath, as Watts tried to get his emotions under control. "Thank you," he murmured.

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Steven rubbed Llewellyn's back. "Take your time. Not going anywhere, remember?"

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"I don't quite know what came over me," Watts admitted.

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"It's all right," Steven said. He kept rubbing Llewellyn's back. "We all have moments like this. It's a good overcome though, yeah? Happiness?"

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"Happiness," Watts affirmed. "And relief."

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"Good," Steven said. He pressed a kiss to Llewellyn's cheek, still holding him close. "You deserve to feel both, my love. They're yours."

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"I love you," Watts sighed. "So very much."

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"My dearest, Llew," Steven said. "Love of my life."

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"Love of my life," Watts echoed happily. "My darling, my rare one."

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"My lovely Llew," Steven said. "My partner."

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"Shan't ever tire of that either," Watts said. And okay, technically it was an extension of being family, but it was also- also its own wonderful thing.

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"My partner," Steven said, because it wasn't like he tired of that being true either. "Keeper of my heart."

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"My greatest treasure, right there," Watts told him.

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"You're being a poet again," Steven told him. He did not remotely sound as though he minded.

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"Says the man who just called me the keeper of his heart," Watts said softly, shifting just enough that he could lift his head and offer Steven a gentle kiss.

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Steven kissed back. Both because he wanted to and because he knew it would help keep him from protesting that his had just been a description.

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Watts pulled away eventually, eyes shining. "We should. Resume preparing our pie," he managed.

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"And perhaps dancing while it bakes?" Steven suggested.

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"Oh yes," Watts said with great feeling. "A dance with my partner would be just the thing."

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"With a pie to enjoy when it's done," Steven said. He gave Llewellyn a quick kiss to seal the deal.

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"Wonderful," Watts declared. Did he mean the pie, the kiss, or the dance?

All of the above, actually. Because they all made a wonderful way to spend the day together with his beau.