Decorating

Jack sat on the couch, resting his worn back as the pain threatened to flare up, and watched as his wife Alyssa continued to decorate the house for Christmas. He had managed to get through the tree, at least, which in truth was his favorite part of the decorations anyway, and he was more than content to let his wife do the rest. He didn't want to make her do all the work, of course, but if she didn't need his help he was more than willing to take a break. She had always been the designer between the two of them, able to visualize colors and shapes and put them together to make things beautiful, while he just made them fit together. He was a puzzle solver. She was a creator.

And he was especially grateful to be able to sit when it meant that he could watch her in motion. From the day they had met, there had always been something about the way that she moved and carried herself that had caught his attention. It was hard to call her graceful - she was a bit of a klutz at times, and she certainly didn't have the same flow to her steps as the models did. But there was just something about the way that she was that caught his attention. Perhaps it was that, in his eyes, she felt more real. More attainable. Less like a prize to be placed on a mantle to be observed but not touched.

"You look so beautiful right now."

Alyssa looked down at him from the chair she was standing on to hang the garland. She was a bit of mess, having been digging through boxes and moving all over the house, and she had even managed to work up a bit of a sweat, though it mostly just shone on her face. She was dressed in a silly and adorable ugly christmas sweater, loose sweatpants, and a santa hat that was just a little bit too big for her head.

"That's sweet of you and all," she replied, "but you know you don't have to suck up to me. You already got the ring on my finger."

Jack smiled. "I'm serious," he said. "That look of determined thought on your face. The kind of frazzle you've got going on from trying to figure it all out. I love it. You look so beautiful to me right now."

Alyssa laughed and turned back to her garlands. "You are such a kiss ass," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head.

"You love me."

"I do."

He smiled a cocky grin. "Good. Cause I love you too."

"You're just saying that cause I'm doing the work."

They both laughed at that.