Who: Trixie and Frank, with some Grantaire What: Frank cooks dinner for Trixie When: Today Where: The kitchen, Frank's room. Rating: High Status: Closed
Frank was in the kitchen, making poulet cocotte. He couldn’t stop smiling and he was swaying his hips as he stirred the pot, singing ‘Somewhere beyond the sea’ in French, to himself.
“Quelque part au-delà de la mer, Quelque part, dans l'attente pour moi, Mon amant se dresse sur le sable doré Et les montres navires qui vont voile.”
He was so happy to be seeing Trixie again soon. She was so wonderful and he loved any time he could to spend with her.
--
Grantaire stepped into the kitchen, sniffing as he did. Something smelled wonderful. And … Frank was there, and singing. He smiled. “Hello, Frank.” He peered closer. “What smells so wonderful? Are you cooking that?”
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Frank spun around at the sound of Grantaire’s voice. “Hello, Uncle Grantaire. Yes, I am. My mother taught me to cook some French dishes. It is poulet cocotte.”
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Grantaire moaned. “Frank, that smells delicious. How come you never mentioned this before? Can I try some?”
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Frank shrugged. “I don’t know. It didn’t… come up. Sure, just not too much. This is for Trixie,” he said, beaming as he said that. “But I can cook for you and Uncle Enjolras some time, if you would like.”
--
Grantaire dipped a spoon into the pot, taking out a small bit, and moaned as he tasted it. “You must. I insist.”
He paused, glancing back at Frank. “For Trixie?” he asked, just registering the smile that had spread over Frank’s face. “Trying to woo the lady?” he added, teasingly.
--
He smiled. “I would be happy to,” he said.
“Well…. not exactly. We are… together now,” he said, smile widening as he said those words. “I love her, and she loves me. And…. I said I would make us dinner since she made breakfast.”
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Grantaire raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter and setting down the spoon. “Ahh, she has already been wooed. Congratulations.”
He looked at the food again. “Probably wise, since she’s English,” he joked, with a wink.
--
“Thank you,” he said, smiling widening even further, which seemed impossible. “She is….. wonderful. She is so bright and so makes me so happy. And she makes me feel like I…. belong.”
He chuckled. “Breakfast was…. interesting. It is nothing like I’ve eaten before. It wasn’t terrible, just not what I am used to.”
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Grantaire grinned and reached out to hug Frank. “I’m very happy for you.”
He grinned. “That isn’t their worst meal, I’ll give them that.”
--
He hugged Grantaire back tightly. “Thank you,” he said.
“Well, I will have to get used to the food, since I will be joining her in London when the ship is fixed.”
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Grantaire smiled. “Ahh, sacrificing much. Then again, I doubt American food is much better.”
He clapped him on the shoulder. “So, she’s a nurse. Tell me more about her.”
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“It’s hardly a sacrifice when I get to be with her. Wouldn’t you go anywhere if it meant being with Uncle Enjolras?” he asked.
“She works as a midwife so she’s delivers babies. And she lived in the east end of London before she came here. She said that she’s needed there. Which I understand. She accepts me, the real me, and knows everything that I’ve done. She’s so bubbly and kind and sweet and so incredibly sexy. She just…. brightens me. Like being around her… makes me feel lighter, happier than I thought I could be. She’s just…. the best person I’ve ever know. She’s perfect.”
--
Grantaire nodded. “Of course I would. I understand completely.”
He grinned. “You’ll have to bring her around to meet us properly. We only saw her briefly when Enjolras was sick.”
--
“Of course. I would be happy to let you all meet her properly,” he said. He looked back at Grantaire and paused for a moment. “How did you know? When it was right to propose to Uncle Enjolras? How did you know?” he asked.
--
Grantaire raised an eyebrow. “Wow. Thinking like that already?”
He tilted his head. “With us… we had already agreed to spend the rest of our lives together. It was before we decided we wouldn’t return to the barricade, so there was a definite end in sight. And while we were alive, I wanted to have it… official. To be his, to have him be mine. It was months into our relationship, though.”
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He ducked his head when Grantaire asked if he was thinking like that already. “I love her. But I’m not sure if it’s too soon.”
“Wait, you’re not going back?” he asked. He smiled. “I’m happy to know that…. you’re not going back to die. And you two can be together longer.” He paused. “So… it’s too soon to ask her?”
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Grantaire shook his head. “We are going… to some other time when France needs us. We haven’t decided yet.” He smiled. “Exactly.”
Grantaire tilted his head. “Perhaps. Just enjoy it for now. There’s no hurry for you both. I mean, I assume if you spent breakfast together she doesn’t want to wait until after marriage…”
--
“Well, I am still happy for you both,” he said.
He ducked his head again, blushing slightly. “No, she certainly does not. She spent the night with me. But I want her to know that I want to share my life with her.”
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Grantaire nodded his head. “Thank you.”
“If you’ve spoken about following her to England and terrible food, she surely has an idea. Give it a little time, I think. Just enjoy this. The beginning is wonderful. Everything is new and exciting.”
--
“True,” he said. He smiled. “That is very true. And perhaps I shouldn’t rush things. I know I did with Brenda and I think it could have gone horribly wrong if we had gotten married. She just seemed like the answer to everything, and I had ridiculous expectations about what my life would be like if we had gotten married. I know better now, but…. yes, I will enjoy it.”
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Grantaire nodded proudly. “Do. You’re here, you can take time to get to know her, cook for her, share breakfasts,” he added with a waggle of his eyebrows. “You’ll know when the time is right to ask her.”
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Frank laughed. "Yes, you're right. I should wait. And I will know when the time is right, as you say." He smiled. "I just never imagined I could be so happy."
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Grantaire gave a wry smile. “Believe me, I know how that feels.” He clapped Frank on the shoulder and moved to the coffee pot. “I should leave you to your cooking.” He poured two cups of coffee. “Good luck with it. You’ll have to bring Trixie around soon.”
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He smiled warmly, glad that Grantaire was so happy too. “Thank you,” he said. “And yes, I’ll be sure to introduce her to you and Uncle Enjolras properly soon. Even if he is still scary.”
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Grantaire laughed as he picked up the mugs. “Yes, he will always be scary. I’ll try to get him to relax a little, though.”
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Frank furrowed his brow. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I don’t ever want to know what you do to make Uncle Enjolras relax.” He smiled after he said it, though.
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Grantaire waggled his eyebrows. “You don’t. Maybe I’ll tell Trixie though.” He winked at him.
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He shook his head. “Oh, she doesn’t need to be told,” he said. Then he paused and blushed. “I mean….”
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Grantaire laughed again. “How do you know, though? Since you don’t know what I do to your uncle?”
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Frank coloured even more. “I… figured you meant…. well, you know….” He looked back at the food. “Anyway, I should dish this up so it’s ready to take back to my room.”
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Grantaire chuckled. “Yes. I’ll leave you to it and … take this to your uncle.” He smirked. “I mean the coffee, of course.”
-
Frank’s eyes widened a little. “Okay…. um…. enjoy. The coffee, I mean. Not that you wouldn’t enjoy…… Okay, yeah, goodbye!” he said.
--
Grantaire smiled. “Enjoy your dinner.” He winked again and ducked out of the kitchen, chuckling as he headed back to the room.