>you wake up in the morning
>Ruby is snuggled up next to you
>you’re tired from lying awake last night
>gently slip out of Ruby’s grasp despite her sleepy protests
>coffee will make everything better
>you stare bleary-eyed and scowling at the coffee maker as it percolates
>mornings come way too early some days
>the smell of brewing coffee fills the kitchen
>you pour yourself a cup once it’s done brewing
>as you sip at the hot coffee, you hear some noises from the bedroom and bathroom area
>a sleepy Ruby wanders into the kitchen, in one of your t-shirts
>you thought once she got her own she’d stop swiping yours
>not that the view is anything to complain about
>she looks up at your face and stops short
>”Sheesh, and I thought I didn’t like mornings.”
>you smile slightly
“Sorry. Didn’t sleep well.”
>she walks over to you and gives you a hug
>”You said you had a bad dream. Want to talk about it?”
>she’s looking up at you with those blue eyes
“Honestly I’d rather just forget about it rather than talk about it.”
>”Mmm. That bad, huh?”
“That sad.”
>you go to take a drink of coffee, but she stops your arm with a hand
>she stretches up on her toes and kisses you
>softly at first, then leans into you more
>she nips at your lower lip, sucking it in
>her tongue brushes against yours lightly
>you put down your coffee cup to wrap her in your arms
>as you do this she breaks the kiss and looks up at you
>”I’ll just have to give you something else to think about, hmm?”
>with that she steps over to the stove and turns on a burner
>she’s a dangerous one, this one
>she walks over to the fridge and starts looking through it for breakfast supplies
>she bends over to look in the lower drawers
>aaaand it is JUST a shirt she’s wearing
>she looks over her shoulder at you
>”See anything you like, sailor?” she says, thickening her New England accent
>she shakes her hips a little bit, giggling
>she straightens up, holding a carton of eggs and some bacon
>she deliberately and firmly brushes against you on the way to the stove
>as she stands in front of the stove getting things ready you walk up behind her and wrap your arms around her
>you attack her neck with kisses, eliciting giggles and squirming
>”Quit iiiiit~! I’m trying to make breakfast!”
>she turns around in your arms, plants a kiss on your lips, then pushes against your chest with both hands
>”Now shoo! Get out of here and let me cook!”
>you sneak one last kiss and then make your retreat
>you end up sitting down in the living room and turning on the morning news
>it’s a welcome distraction from the thoughts racing through your mind right now
>during a commercial break, she comes into the room carrying a plate
>something smells delicious
>it’s two fried egg sandwiches, with bacon, cheese, and some kind of sauce on it
>”Breakfast time!”
>you look at the offered plate, then at her
“What about you? Did you make any for yourself?”
>”I still have to make mine. Eat up!”
>with that she turns and goes back to the kitchen
>mmmph, whatever these are, they taste delicious
>you can almost hear your arteries clogging in protest though
>after two you’re stuffed
>she comes back into the living room with two of her own
>and sits down directly on your lap
>she wiggles a bit to get comfy
>goddamn tease, she knows exactly what she’s doing
>the smile at you over her shoulder confirms it
>as she eats, you try to think about anything else other than her
>baseball, the news coverage of the latest misery in Europe, rebuild instructions for a small-block Chevy
>crisis averted, but barely
>after she finishes her breakfast she sets the plate aside
>she looks down at her lap and then over her shoulder at you, mock-mournfully
>”What, am I losing my touch already?”
>she turns sideways and kisses you deeply
>you try your best to fight it, but she soon gets the desired effect and jumps a little bit
>”Ah~! There we go. Thought I’d have to send a search party.” 
>she giggles as you lightly swat her shoulder
>her shirt softly lands on the floor
>your pants and underwear quickly join it

>afterwards, the two of you are cuddling on the couch
>all is right with the world
>you look into Ruby's eyes as you gently brush the hair off her cheek
>”Something on your mind?”
>the first thing that comes to mind is 'I love you.'
>it wasn't until her eyes went wide and her face started blushing that you realized you said it out loud
>tiny tears form at the corners of her eyes as she smiles
>”Oh, Anon, I love you too!”
>she squeezes you tightly, and you return it
>the two of you stay cuddling a little longer in comfy silence
>a glance at the clock causes you to growl just a little bit
>”Mmm?”
“It's almost 11. Gotta work noon-8 tonight.”
>”Well, then I suppose we have to get up.”
”I guess.”
>neither of you move for a few minutes
>”Well?”
“Just because I have to doesn't mean I want to.”
>”C'mon, get up. You're not getting in trouble because of me.”
>she gets up and starts tugging on your arm
>you give in and get up before she drags you face-first onto the floor
>she giggles and gives you a kiss on the cheek
>”Now go get dressed!”
>she swats you lightly on the backside as you head for the bedroom
>get dressed, brush teeth, all that jazz
>she's waiting by the door as you get ready to leave
>naked as a jaybird, blushing and smiling
>”Have a good day at work!”
>she stands up on her toes and gives you a kiss
>then she looks into your eyes
>”I love you.”
“I love you too.”
>she puts a bag in your hand as she steps back
>”Get going, you'll be late!”
>off to the car for the drive to work
>at a stop light you peek inside the bag she gave you
>leftovers for lunch it looks like, with a note
>work is the standard slog it always is
>lunchtime
>you pop the container in the microwave and read the note while it cooks
>”Have fun at work today! Love you! - Ruby”
>fold up the note and stick it in your pocket
>after lunch, you take the note, unfold it, and pin it to the wall of your cubicle
>right above your computer monitor, so you can see it when you're working
>the rest of the day, for some reason, goes better
>drive home and walk inside
>you smell food, but also hear clanking and muffled swearing
>this is new
>follow it to the source: the laundry room
>the dryer's half-disassembled
>there's lint and dust everywhere
>Ruby's head is stuck inside the dryer shell, as well as both arms
>”Come on, you sonofabastard, get in place” you hear muttered quietly
>ponder what to do for a second
“Whatcha doin?”
>you hear a bonk and watch the whole dryer shake
>”Oww!”
>Ruby crawls out, one hand on her forehead
>she's covered in dust
>lint stuck in her disheveled hair
>”Damn dryer broke. One of the support rollers fell off. I've almost got it.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
>”Yeah, reach inside and hold up the drum so I can bolt the roller in.”
>you do as she asks, and she gets it bolted back together no problem
>she pulls herself out from inside the dryer, shirt riding up as she does
>she shoos you out of the room so she can put the dryer back together
>you start to follow the smell of food
>the slow cooker is in the kitchen, merrily steaming away
>some kind of stew or roast, it looks like
>you look around the kitchen
>it's pristine
>you think she might be cleaning the pattern off the countertops
>the rest of the house is just as clean
>maybe it's not good for Ruby to be stuck at home alone all the time
>you hear the whirr of the dryer starting, looks like she fixed it
>she sticks her head into the kitchen
>”Food should be ready, help yourself. I'm going to get cleaned up.”
>as you dish out some of the stew, you hear the shower turn on
>you lean against the counter and eat
>she comes into the kitchen just as you finish up
>t-shirt and pajama pants, toweling off her hair
>”Why are you eating in here?”
>shrug
“Dunno, just felt like it.”
>she takes your empty bowl and spoon and fills it with stew
>”Just don't make a mess all over the kitchen, okay?”
>you wave a hand around the kitchen
“I'm not sure I could. You've cleaned it to within an inch of its life.”
>”I know, I did a good job too!”
>she blows on a spoonful of stew before eating
“Sweetheart, you don't have to go that overboard. What do you do all day when I'm gone?”
>”Just try to keep busy, mostly. I can't spend all day watching TV.”
“Hmm...”
>you think about what you're going to say as she finished off dinner and starts filling containers with leftovers
“I might know someone that could put you to work for a few hours a week, if you want to get out of the house more.”
>”Work? What kind of work? I've never had a job before!”
>she seems excited by this, which is what you were hoping
“I have to talk to him first, so no promises. But we'll see.”
>she gives you a hug and a kiss
>”I'm looking forward to it! I hope it's something fun!”
>after dinner you get in about a half-hour of cuddling on the couch watching TV before bed
>she snuggles up tightly next to you
>”Hey.”
“Mmmm?”
>”No bad dreams tonight, okay?”
“I'll do my best.”
>the two of you drift off to sleep