Chapter dedication: Loutka

Song of recommendation for the chapter: Enrique Iglesias - Hero 🎶 🎶

Everybody could sing.

The first step was knowing the lyrics. The second step was knowing the tone, and you're good to go. There was also the matter of choosing your dance floor and the spot to sing. Most people song stage was their bathroom.

Different performances could be done while taking a bath or showering. There could be imaginary audience and the soap bottle could be your microphone. Nobody could judge you in the privacy of your bathroom. The bathroom was a place where dreams could be brought to reality in one morning.

For Lee, it was the kitchen.

Her hair lay in soft curls around her shoulders. She was dressed in Chris shirt and shorts- she got them from his walk-in closet-and was barefoot. The only thing missing was a baby bump.

Lee snorted at the thought. Men who thought women's place only had to be in the kitchen had another thing coming. Men were the sole providers of the family, that was true, but women were also allowed to support their husbands. It should be the choice of a woman to be a full-time mother slash wife, not the society's or her husband. If a woman wanted to work, so be it.

Equality's one of the most important thing.

Humming along to the soft music resonating from the house inbuilt speakers, Lee swayed her hips softly as she opened the refrigerator. She grabbed all she needed to make a quick, but healthy breakfast and sashayed to the worktop where she placed her loots.

"I'll let you set the pace, 'cause I'm not thinking straight," Lee sang as she danced to the sink to rinse her bowl, pepper and knife. She rinsed the cutting board too, before dancing back to the worktop.

Lee diced the pepper into a clean plastic bowl and set it aside. Grabbing three eggs from it's crate, she broke them into a bowl, added salt and pepper. She beat the egg with a fork until it was very mixed and frothy. She opened the bread cover. Lee took some slices and dipped each bread into the beaten eggs until the slices were evenly coated with eggs on both sides.

"What are you waiting for? Love me like you do, Love love me like you do," she hummed the remaining lyrics.

Lee switched the stove on, placed the washed frying pan on it, and waited until it was dried before pouring oil and butter onto it's hot surface. When the pan was finally hot, she placed the bread in it. She was placing the last batch of golden breads on a plate to cool when her phone began to ring. She switched the stove off and reached for her vibrating phone on the worktop. Rachel's name was displayed on the screen.

"Good morning, Rach," Lee said.

Rachel sighed. "Good morning, boss. I was wondering if you were coming in late today?"

Lee cursed. "Yes, I will be coming before the lunch rush hour. I'm so sorry for not calling to inform you about it. Can you handle the morning rush?"

"Yes. I just wanted to know if you would be coming in, because it's totally fine if you're not coming in today. I can handle the bakery."

Lee knew she could. But it wasn't fair of her to neglect her livelihood because of the challenge. Her bakery would remain after the challenge ended. Lee was still scared about the outcome of the challenge. There was no guarantee she was going to end up with Chris in the end of it. Better not to jeopardize her present life for an uncertain future.

"I will be in before lunch. Thank you, Rachel."

"Anytime, boss."

Lee placed her phone on the worktop with a sigh. The positive spirit she woke up with had dimmed a little at the dose of reality. What had she been thinking waltzing in another person's kitchen as if it were her own. As if he was her-

Arms encircled her waist from behind. Soft lips pressed a kiss on her head. All thought about reality fled instantly and warm, toe curling feelings took over. Lee melted into the warm embrace with a sigh.

"Good morning, Ledia." Chris murmured as he dropped another kiss on her head. "The smell of your food drew me from the dregs of sleep."

Lee giggled. "It was my plan." She placed her palm on his arms to keep herself grounded. "Now, there's one other person I am expecting."

Chris tightened his grip just right enough to make her flush. His forearm grazed the underside of her breasts, making her breath catch in her throat as butterflies made themselves know in the south region. Her body tingled with awareness and nerve endings sang in anticipation of what was to come.

One of his hands left her waist and reached up to sweep her hair to one side of her neck, exposing her fair skin to his hot gaze. Chris leaned towards her neck and breathed hotly against her skin. Goosebumps raised on the fine skin.

"Topher," Lee breathed. Her pulse galloped away in her throat and her breaths came out in little hot, wet pants. "Please."

Chris' tongue darted out to lick the smooth skin tingled with an underlying taste of salt and vanilla. He groaned before latching onto the skin to suck it hotly into his mouth. His teeth worried at the tender skin, nipping, biting and licking.

"Chris," Lee moaned. "Fuck!"

He released the skin. Chris' hands dropped to the hem of her shirt and he started to lift it over her head when-

"Ouch!"

Lee's eyes startled open when Chris leaped away from her with a curse. She blinked, her mind still scrambled and lost somewhere in the universe. She turned around to ask what the curse was for when she saw the reason.

Daniel stood few feet from them, his face a pure mask of rage. Little full brows were furrowed so hard that they almost touched in the middle. His lips were pulled back, baring his sharp little teeth and enraged huffs escaped from the clenched teeth. One end of blue sheets was tied around his neck, the other end pooled on the floor behind him. In his right hand was a plastic sword which he brandished at his uncle in a threat.

Daniel looked anything but threatening, what with the crusty in both eyes, a line of dried drool trailing down on chin and wild, tousled bed hair. He looked as dangerous as a lamb.

Lee had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. "Uh, Daniel, what are you doing?"

Daniel leaped toward his uncle, poking him with the head of his sword. "Prince Charlie to the rescue!"

From her peripheral vision, Lee saw Chris shaking with his repressed laughter. Lee refused to make eye contact with him, knowing she'd loose the battle if she met his eyes. Daniel would be hurt if she laughed, after all he was saving her from his uncle's pawing hands.

"Why?" She added hastily. "It's not that I don't appreciate you doing that for me."

"I heard you sounding like you were in pain. I make the sounds when I'm hurt and mummy also makes the sounds when daddy hits her." He glared at Chris. "Don't hurt my princess!"

Lee's eyes widened at that little information. Amanda's husband hit her? She turned to Chris with wide eyes. He shook his head in answer, but nodded at Daniel and Lee got the message.

"Thank you, my prince." She squatted down to his level and pulled him into her embrace. He was still too young to be witnessing such violence. What the hell was Amanda thinking to expose this little innocent child to such life? Why was she still with them man if he was hitting her?

Daniel pulled back. "I will always rescue you. Princes rescue princesses remember?" He planted a kiss on her cheek. "I'll go and brush my teeth."

Lee grinned at him. "I will call you if I I'm trouble. Go ahead."

Daniel nodded. His expression changed from pleased to angry when he turned to Chris. "Unca Chris, stay away from my princess!"

"Pinky promise." Chris raised his finger then Daniel marched out of the kitchen, blue sheets and sword and all.

Lee collapsed against the cabinets in a fit of laughter. Chris couldn't hold his mirth too. The pair of them cackling like hyenas must be strange to whoever was watching them. She couldn't remember the last time she laughed so much that her sides hurt. Daniel was so precious. His uncle was too.

"That kid," Chris said between bursts of laughter. "I love him so much."

Lee wiped tears from her eyes as she struggled to contain her laugh. "He is so precious. My very own Prince Charlie."

By the time they finally got a hold on their laugh, Daniel walked into the kitchen all freshened up. He'd managed to comb his hair, although few strands remained askew. His face was scrunched up and his eyes were hard. Chris wisely sat on the breakfast stool without a word.

"What's for brekkie?" Daniel asked as he climbed on the other stool. "What's this?" He poked a finger at the cooling toast.

"French toast which your uncle Chris is about to cut into neat little triangles while I make waffles." Lee pushed the plates towards Chris along with a knife and tray.

"I suck at drawing shapes," Chris murmured, but he picked the knife and a slice.

"Language." Lee hissed at him.

"You're going to be one of those parents, aren't you?" He grinned.

Lee rolled her eyes. She arranged the ingredients needed for waffles on the countertop after clearing and wiping it down first. She cracked eggs in different bowls, extracted the yolk from the egg whites without it breaking out. She beat the egg yolks, beat the small whites in a bowl with the electric mixer until soft peaks formed; folded the whites into the egg yolk mixture.

"Waffles are difficult?" Daniel's eyes were wide as he watched the the process.

"A bit if you don't know what you're doing," said Lee. "But it's quite easy, although you have to be careful with the eggs or the waffles will curdle. You have to make sure they aren't over beaten."

"Wow," he breathed. "Do you see that Uncle Chris? Princess can really cook. She's like that cinder girl in the stories."

It seemed he forgot he was supposed to be mad at his uncle.

"Cinderella." Chris' gaze remained on the toast he was cutting into little triangle shapes. "Here, taste this."

Lee saw Chris thrust a bit of toast into the little boy's open mouth. Daniel's eyes widened as he chewed on the toast. He made sound effects to accompany his chewing and his little eyes slid shut.

"That sweet, huh?" Lee laughed.

Daniel nodded. "I want more, uncle Chris."

Lee sprayed the heated waffle iron, and closed it. As she waited for it to heat up, she cleared the worktop, placed dirty bowls and instruments in the sink. When she checked on the oil it was heated. She poured one quarter of the batter over the bottom element of the waffle iron. She closed the iron, waited for the Waffle to cook about 3 minutes until both sides were crisp, before transferring the waffles to a plate. She repeat the process until she had a total of 12 waffles.

Then she switched off the stove, soaked the waffle iron for later. She placed two waffles each on three plates, dusted them with icing sugar and drizzled maple syrup on them.

When she turned to her companions, she found that they had set up the breakfast table for their meal. A pitcher of juice sat admit plates of toast and cups filled with juice. Daniel and Chris smiled at her in appreciation as she present their plates to them.

"Brekkie is served!" Daniel bounced in his seat when his uncle placed his plate in front of him. "Thank you, Princess Ledia."

Lee grinned at him. She rounded the table to drop a kiss on his head. She kissed Chris's cheek too before joining them.

"You're welcome, my prince."

Chris wasn't smiling. His eyes spoke of his thoughts, and Lee averted her gaze. Heart pounding, she picked her fork. His own thoughts mirrored hers and Lee was afraid to wish for it, knowing it might never happen. Maybe if she ignored it, it would happen. It might not. Lee wanted it.

She wanted it bad.

Lee wanted a day like this. She wanted a family to cook for. She wanted a son who would appreciate her. She wanted a daughter to play princess and tea parties with. She wanted a husband to love and wake up next to in the morning. She wanted it all.

But that was what it was and what it would remain as.

A wish.

Lee wasn't stupid. Nothing good ever came easy. There was always a price to pay.

She prayed she was ready for it.

A/N:

Hello! Welcome, welcome. Cute fluffy chapter with a bit of angst?

Yeah, I achieved my aim. And to think I typed all this in one sitting without even thinking about it before. The words just flowed.

I like to think It came from one deep part in me. I see a little bit of myself in Lee in this chapter.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it?

QOTC: What do you think about Lee's fear?

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