***
Jean rolled over on her side of the bed, expecting her hand to come in contact with the familiar warm lump that usually held residence on the other side of the bed.
Nothing.
She opened one eye and looked at the pillow. Putting her hand on it, she found it cool. However, the sheet under the blanket was still warm. He couldn't have gotten far. She glanced over to the clock on the nightstand. 2:30.
"Alright. Where you at, mister?" Jean said to herself as she got up to put her robe on. She noticed Scott's clothes on the back of the chair, so wherever he was, he was still in his pajamas.
The hall was dark and quiet, only lit by dim, green emergency lights over the main doors. Walking on, she saw a light coming from under the door to the staff kitchen.
The door was slightly open, just enough for Jean to peak through without being seen. Scott was rummaging through the freezer. When he pulled out and kicked the door closed, he had her carton of triple chocolate ice cream. Not that it was new, but she was a bit possessive of what little was left.
He turned, leaned on the counter and with a pop opened the ice cream carton, and skimmed a spoon around the inside edge. He licked the spoon clean, and with a approving grunt, he took out a small bag of chocolate chip cookies and headed to the den through the door on the other side of the room. Once he was out of sight, she quietly backed out into the hallway, making her way to the doorway of the den where she watched him discreetly, unseen from behind the corner.
He collapsed on the couch, lifted his feet on the table. He was wearing his blue slippers, which he usually never wore if there was a chance of someone seeing them. He balanced the ice cream on his stomach, placed the cookies by his side and punched the remote. The TV flickered on instanly.
"The city of Townsville...."
Jean had to blink. Her future husband was watching The Powerpuff Girls?
"Hey, you."
Jean was startled, and on instinct tried to hide behind the corner.
"Too late for that. Come here" Scott said, holding his hand up, but his eyes never left the TV screen.
She strolled over, took his hand and sat on his lap, leaning against his chest. "What on Earth are you doing?"
"It's the episode where the boring neighbor thinks he's a superhero" he said, pointing at the screen, "I would've watched it this morning with the kids, but I had a meeting with the Professor."
"So you sneak out here in the middle of the night to catch the re-run?" Jean dipped her finger in the slightly melted ice cream, "And this was mine."
"I know, hon. I thought I'd buy you two to replace it tomorrow" he said, while catching her hand and sucking the ice cream off her finger.
"I like the way you think. You're the sweetest."
"Well I know that" he said, as if it were a given. She smacked his chest.
She settled on his lap, her head on his shoulder, and he pulled a blanket over them and placed the ice cream carton on her lap. His right hand went over her waist to steady her.
"You know, this would be easier with two hands" he said, while dropping the spoon in the carton and then taking an Oreo from the bag. She chuckled at him, rolling her eyes.
"Amateurs. This is how it's done" she said, took an Oreo, dunk it in the ice cream and brought it to his lips. As he was about to eat it from her fingers, she took it back and ate it herself. Some ice cream hit the tip of his nose in the process, which she was more than happy to kiss off. "See, only takes one hand. Leaves the other free for... other things" she said and winked at him.
He laughed,and took an Oreo, dipped it in the carton. "Very clever."
Jean laid her head down on his shoulder, resumed her attention to the TV as her husband-to-be continued destroying what was left of his snacks.
Scott didn't even notice his thumb moving up and down on Jean's waist. He was watching the cartoon, occasionally devouring another ice cream-dipped Oreo. Jean's hand was absently stroking Scott's stomach, and she closed her eyes, listening to his breathing and trying to ignore the sounds from the TV.
When the cartoon was over, Scott hit the remote to turn the TV off. He glanced at Jean and found her sleeping. Putting aside the empty carton and what was left of the Oreos, he pulled the blanket off, lifted her up and carried her back to bed.
She didn't even stir on the way.
Deciding he'd clean up the den in the morning, he spooned her warm body, tugged the blanket around her and shut off the light.
Making sure the alarm was set, he replaced his shades with his sleeping goggles, and pressed his face in her hair, inhaling the scent of Jean that eventually lulled him to sleep.
With his slippers still on.