Title: Cooking for Two
By: lewis771750
Challenge: No Dialogue
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine, Jerry and the people at CBS would never be quite this twisted:) But it is all just for fun, honest.
Spoilers: No
Words: 526
AN: mrswoman thinks it needs a sequel, but I'm not sure I can do that without words, so you might have to wait for next week. My porn faerie muse is stirring though...

***

Sara was meant to be cooking dinner for Catherine. It was something she had done hundreds of times since they'd started dating, dozens since they had moved in together.

This time nothing was going right. Chopping the zucchini she'd sliced her finger as well. Whilst making the pasta the phone had rung, and by the time she'd finished the conversation about Lindsey's school work it was so dried out as to be unsaveable. Then, lost in thought, she'd let the sauce boil dry into a blackened residue so foul that she was sorely tempted to throw the whole pan out rather than try and clean it. If it had been one of the pans she'd contributed it would be in the bin already, but it was one of Catherine's so she was soaking it, hoping she could get it clean.

The latest disaster was waiting to happen. Changing plans again, Sara had started cooking rice. She'd not set the timer to ring when it was done, she never did, because her internal clock worked well enough usually. But yet again, rehearsing what she planned to do tonight, she'd completely lost track of time.

Should she, or should she not, do the traditional thing and go down on one knee? Her first thought was no, nothing else about this relationship was particularly traditional, so why do it that way. But then she thought yes, she wanted something normal in the whole mad-cap world of this wild romance, and so maybe it was a good idea.

Should she actually utter the words ‘Marry me?' or not? It couldn't be a marriage, not a fully legal one anyway, but if she was doing the down on one knee thing she could do the ‘Marry me?' thing, surely? This was a romance after all, as well as everything else, and where was the romance in asking your lover ‘Will you come to the attorney and register as my life partner of choice?' ‘Marry me?' might not be precise or legal, but it was the intent that counted.

To try and control the thoughts that were spiraling around in her head Sara took the ring from her pocket. It was a solitaire sapphire, a stone that matched Catherine's eyes perfectly, and in a style that Sara knew she liked. Satisfied that at least that part of the day was perfect Sara was about to snap the box shut when the smoke alarm blared it's warning.

Spinning round Sara saw smoke rising from the pan with the rice cooking in it. Swearing she grabbed the pan off the hob and put it in the sink, running water to dissipate the smoke. As she went to open the windows to clear the room her foot slipped on a piece of pasta sauce that had escaped the incineration and she collapsed to the floor, knocking herself out.

20 minutes later Catherine walked in, surprised at the smell of burning and the total silence. Looking around she saw the kitchen was a mess and as she went to investigate she saw Sara lying there, unconscious, one outstretched arm holding an engagement ring towards her.

***

Next story in series - I Accept.