This story was written in February 2008 for a friend who
requested a waffy married fic. Many thanks to Alcyone for her
insightful beta work; her friendly but constructive comments led
to some real improvements in the story.  I've been home exactly
forty seconds and the kitchen counter is already cluttered with
food. Tonight I will cook the twenty-third dinner Lois and I
have shared as husband and wife, but I'm still having a good
time thinking up new meals to impress her. Although now that I
think about it, she's impressed by pretty much any meal that
requires turning on the stove, so I don't need to try very hard.
I do anyway, though, because it's for her.  I'm eyeing a few
iffy stalks of celery in the crisper drawer when it occurs to me
that the house, although dark, isn't silent. The thu-thump, thu-
thump of Lois's heartbeat echoes softly in my head. She's home
after all. I can't believe I missed that when I came in. Is she
napping? No, the rhythm isn't steady enough.  I shove the celery
back in the fridge