will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Her love had definitely learned to be quite the romantic. As far as she knew men tended to make big gestures with roses and cliches but all Jack needed to do was tell her a few words and she was a pile of mush.

Watching him blow out the candles, she composed herself and took a little icing off. “Obviously not going to tell me your wish I presume..?” she teased as she planted it on his nose and sucked the rest off her finger.

“Of course not,” he teased her back, reached up to wipe the smear of chocolate off his nose. “If I do that, it won’t come true, and I’m not about to take that risk!” 

Still grinning at the silliness of it all, he politely pulled a chair out for her, before taking a seat himself. “I doubt we’ll be able to eat all this in one sitting. Do you think they can box it up for us to take home?” 

She giggled softly, leaning her cheek against her palm to watch him for a moment. “How daring, inviting me back to your place already when we’ve barely met?” But there was a twinkle in her eye and she nearly broke character. It was just too much fun to pass up teasing him for a moment more in case he wanted to stop pretending.

But then she had to eventually since they were going somewhere private and doing something that she would never do on a first date.

Oh, right. They were supposed to keep pretending this was their first meeting. A purple blush of embarrassment rose in Jack’s cheeks as he thought how his words would have sounded a year ago. “Oh, I didn’t m-mean it that way! We could, um, split it. Or I could save some for next time.” Getting his confidence back, he leaned in a little closer. “That is, if you want a next time?” He hoped he sounded as softly hopeful as he was trying to. 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

“Y-Yes,” she squeaked happily, pleasantly surprised by the hug and the warmth it brought from the outside chill. She was hesitant to get out of his arms but noticed several patrons watching the scene play out, some of them with stars in their eyes.

Growing embarrassed, Katelynn pulled away to lead him over to the cake – devil’s food as he had told her his favorite. “Happy birthday Jack,” she told him tenderly in and out of character at the same time, pushing the cake towards him. “I know it’s a day late and all but..I’m sure you weren’t forgotten by any loved one and now I can celebrate it with you properly. Go ahead and make a wish.”

He nodded softly, trying not to drool at the sight of the cake. Jack didn’t usually care for sweets much, but cake (and hot chocolate) was a different matter. There weren’t many bakeries in the city that could make devil’s food the way he liked, but this one looked perfect.

“It was worth waiting for, Katelynn,” he said, reaching over to take her hand. “Just like you.” 

With that, Jack leaned in, took a deep breath, made his wish, and blew out the candles in a single long puff. 

Her love had definitely learned to be quite the romantic. As far as she knew men tended to make big gestures with roses and cliches but all Jack needed to do was tell her a few words and she was a pile of mush.

Watching him blow out the candles, she composed herself and took a little icing off. “Obviously not going to tell me your wish I presume..?” she teased as she planted it on his nose and sucked the rest off her finger.

“Of course not,” he teased her back, reached up to wipe the smear of chocolate off his nose. “If I do that, it won’t come true, and I’m not about to take that risk!" 

Still grinning at the silliness of it all, he politely pulled a chair out for her, before taking a seat himself. "I doubt we’ll be able to eat all this in one sitting. Do you think they can box it up for us to take home?" 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

Because they had been acting out the first meeting again, she was getting so lost in the moment and memories that his question made her blush to the roots of her hair, lips pursed together to avoid smiling too much.

“I-I would love that. Actually I know a little cafe that serves the best holiday hot chocolate if you’d like to go? They add mint and frosting and chocolate shavings so it’s..really delicious,” she ended nervously, tucking some hair behind her ear.

Not only would the same waitress of last year not be there but she had a surprise waiting for him there. How she hoped he would love it.

Although it was what he’d been expecting to hear, it still made him smile. He remembered how good the drinks there had been last year – getting to enjoy it again, with Katelynn, sounded absolutely perfect. 

“Of course.” Like a gentleman, and with much more confidence than he’d had this time last year, Jack offered his arm to her. “If you’ll point the way, I’d be happy to escort you, Miss Foster.” 

“O-Oh my,” she gushed, feeling herself fall in love with Jack all over again just from everything he was doing and the way he was looking at her. Taking his arm, she led him down the street to the familiar pink building as the wave of nostalgia hit her hard. The smells of the bakery in the distance, the man at her side and the snow on the ground took her back to a more naive time.

Yet she knew that that beginning, she was getting a wonderful future.

As they approached, she smiled as she spotted his birthday cake sitting on the reserved counter in the front where customers could sit and watch the city pass by with ease. One of the worker’s must have just finished lighting the candles because she could see the gentle glow from where she stood.

When they went inside, the manager who had been there a year ago approached the two, smiling happily. “Sir,” she directed towards Jack, nodding off to the cake. “Someone called us anonymously telling us it was your birthday yesterday so happy birthday.”

“Oh!” Katelynn played out a gasp as if it wasn’t her who had planned this out. “It was your birthday?”

Jack couldn’t help it – he gaped. Taking him to the cafe again was one thing, but actually calling ahead, and arranging for him to have a real birthday cake … ?

To hell with keeping in character. He slid his arms around Katelynn and hugged her close with a little sound of happiness. “How did you know? Yes, it’s my birthday.” Well, it had been yesterday, but as far as he was concerned, this occasion was far more important to mark. “Thank you so much. So, will you have some cake with me?" 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

“Yes I would love to!” she giggled, changing the meeting around a bit now to give it some spice as she flipped through her photo’s of shots she had taken of Jack in various poses. They were meticulously taken taking into account lighting and position and waiting for just the right time to snap it with every gesture he made.

“I took these photo’s of a very handsome man I really admire. You know I think he’s engaged to someone and they’re really in love.” Last year it had been a photo of a couple expecting a child and she couldn’t help the blush of someday being the woman in that photo with Jack.

“I hope I can find that someday too.” She looked up at him with a secretive smile, cheeks flushed from the cold but mostly her words.

The sight of so many photos of him, taken with so much skill and care, brought a flood of love welling up in Jack’s heart. She’d put so much effort into this; he wished he’d had the thought to plan more for her. He wanted to touch Katelynn, embrace her, kiss her, but he knew that would break the scene. Back then, he never would have had the courage to do anything like that in public – he couldn’t do it now. 

“He does look happy,” he whispered back. Jack looked up from the camera, his bright green eyes meeting her soft brown ones. “Whoever he’s engaged to must be a very special person.” 

He cleared his throat a little. “Do, um … do you m-maybe want to get some hot chocolate?” 

Because they had been acting out the first meeting again, she was getting so lost in the moment and memories that his question made her blush to the roots of her hair, lips pursed together to avoid smiling too much.

“I-I would love that. Actually I know a little cafe that serves the best holiday hot chocolate if you’d like to go? They add mint and frosting and chocolate shavings so it’s..really delicious,” she ended nervously, tucking some hair behind her ear.

Not only would the same waitress of last year not be there but she had a surprise waiting for him there. How she hoped he would love it.

Although it was what he’d been expecting to hear, it still made him smile. He remembered how good the drinks there had been last year – getting to enjoy it again, with Katelynn, sounded absolutely perfect. 

“Of course.” Like a gentleman, and with much more confidence than he’d had this time last year, Jack offered his arm to her. “If you’ll point the way, I’d be happy to escort you, Miss Foster." 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

“That’s a cute name,” she giggled shortly, making a show of checking him out as she teetered on her feet. “You read my blog..? I-I didn’t think people did or that I’d meet someone who did..”

She even wore her camera around her neck though it was the one Jack had given her for Christmas instead of her old one as she had lost it. Her hands were caressing it tenderly as it was her greatest possession.

“Would you like to see the newest ones I’ve taken?” She lifted the camera up, acting like a shy teenager with a crush.

“If they don’t, they’re missing out,” he replied. “Your photos are wonderful. And y-yes, I’d love to see some new ones.” Jack could feel heat rising in his own cheeks, and not just from the cold. He tried to remember how their conversation had gone that first day …

“M-maybe you’d like to see some of my work as well?” He smiled shyly. “I’m an artist too. A painter.” He thought about adding you show me yours, I’ll show you mine, but even now, a year later, it was embarrassing to think about how he’d let that line slip out. 

“Yes I would love to!” she giggled, changing the meeting around a bit now to give it some spice as she flipped through her photo’s of shots she had taken of Jack in various poses. They were meticulously taken taking into account lighting and position and waiting for just the right time to snap it with every gesture he made.

“I took these photo’s of a very handsome man I really admire. You know I think he’s engaged to someone and they’re really in love.” Last year it had been a photo of a couple expecting a child and she couldn’t help the blush of someday being the woman in that photo with Jack.

“I hope I can find that someday too.” She looked up at him with a secretive smile, cheeks flushed from the cold but mostly her words.

The sight of so many photos of him, taken with so much skill and care, brought a flood of love welling up in Jack’s heart. She’d put so much effort into this; he wished he’d had the thought to plan more for her. He wanted to touch Katelynn, embrace her, kiss her, but he knew that would break the scene. Back then, he never would have had the courage to do anything like that in public – he couldn’t do it now. 

“He does look happy,” he whispered back. Jack looked up from the camera, his bright green eyes meeting her soft brown ones. “Whoever he’s engaged to must be a very special person." 

He cleared his throat a little. "Do, um … do you m-maybe want to get some hot chocolate?" 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

It was showtime.

She had been peaking around the corner to wait for him, feeling as nervous as he had probably felt a year ago with meeting the girl from the blog. When he appeared on the sidewalk, Katelynn gathered her wits and walked forward, purposely making herself bump into him.

“O-oh I’m sorry,” she whispered, hands sweating with her nerves. She knew it was just Jack but a part of her worried he would laugh at her attempts to recreate their meeting. “Sorry about t-that..um..I’m Katelynn Foster..nice to meet you..—?”

Holding out her hand, she cocked her head to the side with a shaky smile, hoping he’d catch on.

It took Jack a moment to catch on, since hadn’t realized how closely she wanted to recreate each detail from their first outing. But once he did, he gave her his best shy, sweet smile. 

“Katelynn Foster the photographer?” He straightened up, and didn’t have to pretend to be nervous. The memories were still strong enough. “M-Miss Foster, it’s wonderful to meet you. I’m a huge fan of your blog-” He made a show of pausing, realizing he should introduce himself. “Oh. Uh, m-my name’s Jack. Jack Maple.” 

“That’s a cute name,” she giggled shortly, making a show of checking him out as she teetered on her feet. “You read my blog..? I-I didn’t think people did or that I’d meet someone who did..”

She even wore her camera around her neck though it was the one Jack had given her for Christmas instead of her old one as she had lost it. Her hands were caressing it tenderly as it was her greatest possession.

“Would you like to see the newest ones I’ve taken?” She lifted the camera up, acting like a shy teenager with a crush.

“If they don’t, they’re missing out,” he replied. “Your photos are wonderful. And y-yes, I’d love to see some new ones.” Jack could feel heat rising in his own cheeks, and not just from the cold. He tried to remember how their conversation had gone that first day …

“M-maybe you’d like to see some of my work as well?” He smiled shyly. “I’m an artist too. A painter.” He thought about adding you show me yours, I’ll show you mine, but even now, a year later, it was embarrassing to think about how he’d let that line slip out. 

will-never-be-a-swan:

wrapped-in-shadows:

will-never-be-a-swan:

The bakery was called, the room at the top floor of Harrison’s building was reserved with edible paint and a view of the Metro City skyline; everything in preparation for their first year anniversary.

Some people would probably call her silly for celebrating such an event as people tended to do things for the first date but her entire world had changed an exact year ago that today had always been very special in her heart.

Wearing the exact outfit she had worn that day, Katelynn tip-toed across the apartment to leave the note for him to find, smiling as she did. Hopefully he would understand what she was trying to do and play along because she really wanted today to be as special for him as it had been for her last year.

The day someone had given her hope and love.

Leaving the apartment, Katelynn couldn’t wait for today to start.

[Note]

Love,

Happy one year anniversary! I wasn’t sure if you remembered but it’s okay because I was trying to brainstorm what to do for a while to make today wonderful for you. You deserve it because you made this year so magical and full of love that it still surprises me you stayed.

I laid out some clothes for you if that’s okay? It was the outfit you were wearing when we met. I’ll be outside, around the apartment building walking around and waiting for you and I hope you understand my plans cause I really wanted it to be a surprise. Here’s a clue: It’s the day we met.

Love you always,

Katelynn.

With no particular plans for the day, Jack had allowed himself to sleep in a little. He dozed quietly as Katelynn set everything up, and didn’t awaken until some minutes after she had left. As the winter sunlight began to filter into the room, the blue man stirred. The room was a little chilly, and he rolled over, seeking his beloved’s warmth – and gave a displeased murmur when he didn’t find it. 

“Mmn, Katelynn … ?”

Jack yawned and rose up, swinging his legs out of the bed. He listened, but didn’t hear any sounds from the bathroom or kitchen. Huh. Maybe she took the dogs for a walk? Hoping everything was okay, he started to head for the bathroom to take a shower … when he saw the note on the dresser. 

“Love, happy one year anniver-“ 

Jack swallowed a gasp. So he wasn’t the only one who’d been thinking about this date! He still remembered his first outing with Katelynn so clearly – walking Roxy, visiting the cafe, the way she’d surprised him with cake and candles, how they’d come back and cuddled on the beanbag. They hadn’t spoken their feelings to each other yet, but in his heart, he liked to think of it as their first date. But he hadn’t known she thought it was an occasion worth marking too. 

“O-o-of course!” Not wanting to keep her waiting, Jack grabbed the clothes she’d set out, and hurried to get ready …

~ 

It wasn’t long before a clean, dressed-up Jack Maple was making his way outside. Although he was only wearing jeans and a turtleneck, and a pair of scuffed white sneakers, his smile and bearing were so delighted that he might have been heading to escort a princess to the ball. 

“Katelynn?” 

It was showtime.

She had been peaking around the corner to wait for him, feeling as nervous as he had probably felt a year ago with meeting the girl from the blog. When he appeared on the sidewalk, Katelynn gathered her wits and walked forward, purposely making herself bump into him.

“O-oh I’m sorry,” she whispered, hands sweating with her nerves. She knew it was just Jack but a part of her worried he would laugh at her attempts to recreate their meeting. “Sorry about t-that..um..I’m Katelynn Foster..nice to meet you..—?”

Holding out her hand, she cocked her head to the side with a shaky smile, hoping he’d catch on.

It took Jack a moment to catch on, since hadn’t realized how closely she wanted to recreate each detail from their first outing. But once he did, he gave her his best shy, sweet smile. 

“Katelynn Foster the photographer?” He straightened up, and didn’t have to pretend to be nervous. The memories were still strong enough. “M-Miss Foster, it’s wonderful to meet you. I’m a huge fan of your blog-” He made a show of pausing, realizing he should introduce himself. “Oh. Uh, m-my name’s Jack. Jack Maple." 

will-never-be-a-swan:

The bakery was called, the room at the top floor of Harrison’s building was reserved with edible paint and a view of the Metro City skyline; everything in preparation for their first year anniversary.

Some people would probably call her silly for celebrating such an event as people tended to do things for the first date but her entire world had changed an exact year ago that today had always been very special in her heart.

Wearing the exact outfit she had worn that day, Katelynn tip-toed across the apartment to leave the note for him to find, smiling as she did. Hopefully he would understand what she was trying to do and play along because she really wanted today to be as special for him as it had been for her last year.

The day someone had given her hope and love.

Leaving the apartment, Katelynn couldn’t wait for today to start.

[Note]

Love,

Happy one year anniversary! I wasn’t sure if you remembered but it’s okay because I was trying to brainstorm what to do for a while to make today wonderful for you. You deserve it because you made this year so magical and full of love that it still surprises me you stayed.

I laid out some clothes for you if that’s okay? It was the outfit you were wearing when we met. I’ll be outside, around the apartment building walking around and waiting for you and I hope you understand my plans cause I really wanted it to be a surprise. Here’s a clue: It’s the day we met.

Love you always,

Katelynn.

With no particular plans for the day, Jack had allowed himself to sleep in a little. He dozed quietly as Katelynn set everything up, and didn’t awaken until some minutes after she had left. As the winter sunlight began to filter into the room, the blue man stirred. The room was a little chilly, and he rolled over, seeking his beloved’s warmth – and gave a displeased murmur when he didn’t find it. 

“Mmn, Katelynn … ?”

Jack yawned and rose up, swinging his legs out of the bed. He listened, but didn’t hear any sounds from the bathroom or kitchen. Huh. Maybe she took the dogs for a walk? Hoping everything was okay, he started to head for the bathroom to take a shower … when he saw the note on the dresser. 

“Love, happy one year anniver-" 

Jack swallowed a gasp. So he wasn’t the only one who’d been thinking about this date! He still remembered his first outing with Katelynn so clearly – walking Roxy, visiting the cafe, the way she’d surprised him with cake and candles, how they’d come back and cuddled on the beanbag. They hadn’t spoken their feelings to each other yet, but in his heart, he liked to think of it as their first date. But he hadn’t known she thought it was an occasion worth marking too. 

"O-o-of course!” Not wanting to keep her waiting, Jack grabbed the clothes she’d set out, and hurried to get ready …

~ 

It wasn’t long before a clean, dressed-up Jack Maple was making his way outside. Although he was only wearing jeans and a turtleneck, and a pair of scuffed white sneakers, his smile and bearing were so delighted that he might have been heading to escort a princess to the ball. 

“Katelynn?"