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[assassinrue]

"I...haven't a single clue. It makes no sense to me. She never just walks away."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Exactly," Olivia murmured. It seemed the danger had passed, but her brow was still furrowed in thought. She didn't for a second buy that this was over.

[assassinrue]

Phillip breathed in sharply, "she's up to something."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia shook her head slightly. "Well, even if she is, I don't know what we can do about it right now. I'm certainly not going to go chasing after her and ask."

[assassinrue]

"Ha me either." Phillip ran his hand over the small of her back. "Let go get breakfast."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Oh?" Olivia said. She gave him a small, teasing smile. "You mean you're not going to cook for me?"

[assassinrue]

Phillip chuckled. "Of course I'm cooking for you." He caught her chin in his fingers. "You deserve far more than some preheated restaurant failure." Gods he loved her. More than he could comprehend.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia laughed quietly. "Alright. Let's see what you've got Mr. Orville."

[assassinrue]

Phillip glided into the kitchen and began to create the most extravagant breakfast he could dream up. There were crepes stuffed with ricotta and fresh fruit. Fresh sausages cooked over the stove with a small omelette each. Fresh squeezed orange juice and an espresso.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia watched him work with a faint bemusement. "You know, you've never cooked breakfast like this," she said. "I usually had to leave quickly in the morning." For obvious reasons.

[assassinrue]

Phillip shrugged, a little embarrassed. "I've always wanted to cook for you. It just never worked out." He turned to looked at her, his face serjous. "I want to cook for you the rest of our lives."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia fell silent and didn't respond to that. The thought of them staying together actually being a possibility... it was so foreign to her that it was frightening. Not to mention the fact that she might actually have to make a commitment, when she hadn't for many years.

[assassinrue]

Phillip looked b away from her aware that he had made her uncomfortable. When he looked away the intensity of his desire lessened and he hoped this helped her have room to think.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia took a deep breath to compose herself. She wasn't a woman that let herself seem so uncertain. Of course, wasn't that the point, though? She was afraid to open up, even with Phillip. She couldn't let herself seem weak around anyone, and yet she knew Phil had seen sides of her she'd tried so hard to keep hidden. She walked over to the kitchen table and took a seat quietly, her brown eyes troubled.

[assassinrue]

Phillip brought her food in silence, wondering if he'd gone to far, if he had professed his love one too many times.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia gave him a grateful smile and picked up her fork. She had to give Phillip credit: the food smelled amazing. She just wasn't sure she had an appetite anymore.

[assassinrue]

Phillip ate slowly, half enjoying the food, half waiting for the familiar tension to dissipate. He wondered how much longer they would feel like this, like they were sneaking about.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia did her best, taking slow bites and trying to savor the food. Her mind was too distracted to really taste much, though. Eventually, she set down her fork and let out a slow breath. She'd eaten maybe 2/3 of the meal, but she didn't think she could force herself to keep going.

[assassinrue]

Phillip looked down as if he could see his toes through the table. "This is not a prison, you are free to leave when ever you'd like."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Olivia's eyes darted up. "I know that," she said. "Of course I do. The problem is I don't know what I want." It seemed strange to speak her mind like that, but he had a way of drawing it out of her.