It was a lovely Wednesday morning. Frankly, it was a lovely Christmas Eve.
Once she got home after opening night and her third near death experience, she immediately went to bed. The second her face planted onto the pillow, she eyes closed and she was dreaming.
For once, she didn't have scary or shocking dreams, like she should have. She had ones with her new family and Quentin. Some dreams, thinking about them the next morning, brought a flushed look to her face.
Out of bed, she took her shower. She finally got a chance to wash away the sweat and grim from yesterday. She quickly put on a robe and found a small heater afterwards. It felt like the little water droplets froze on her delicate skin. She put on some cozy clothes, since Christmas Eve wasn't a day the family gathered on. It was going to be just her a Quentin.
When shopping one day, she found a lovey and tacky Christmas sweater. It was a fuzzy, long-sleeved white sweater with chunky snowmen and decorated Christmas trees lined up in rows. Penny got one good look at it, and quickly took out her credit card.
The rest of her outfit consisted of a part of tight fitted leggings and a random pair of gray socks. She let her hair air dry as she finished wrapping a few presents. She didn't know what to get people. She got small little trinkets that will hopefully come off as meaningful.
She could hear Quentin rustling downstairs, so she decided to join him. She walked silently down the stair, creeping behind him as he busies himself. Getting right behind him, she then jumps on his back and yells, "BOO!"
Quentin jumps and makes a little shriek, clearly surprised as her actions. He almost throws her off his back, but quickly grabs her legs to prevent her falling. Her arms hook around his neck, so now she was getting a piggy back from him. They both start laughing, at each other and with each other. Both were clearly in a good mood.
Quinn tries to turn his head to look at her, but human necks didn't crane that far. "Good morning my little monkey." This is the first time he has every called her an endearing nickname.
"Good morning my big tree," She calls him back. "What are you making?" Penny looks over his shoulder and sees him standing over a large bowl with various baking material around him.
"I looked up a recipe for making Christmas cookies and other treats. Would you like to help?" He asked. She now slid down his back and stands on her own two feet.
Coming next to him, she says, "I would love too. Anyways, I am the better baker."
"Well, see." He smiles at her. "Now, can you get me the sugar?"
"Of course, sugar," She winks at him.
Together, they make three different types of cookies: chocolate chip, sugar cookie with Christmas colored sprinkles, and the hardest for them, gingerbread. Once done, they both felt like they could collapse. It was a long and arduous morning, but rewarding.
Quentin and Penny once finished were both sick to their stomachs from eating so much sugary raw dough. That didn't stop them from making hot chocolates and drinking them in the living room.
The Penthouse wasn't really decorated at all. Quentin's place wasn't were they celebrated Christmas, so their wasn't anyone to impress and entertain with beautiful decor. Also, the two have been very busy with work. Penny couldn't help but think if Ms. Birdie was here, then the place would be decorated. But what is...is, and there is nothing to to about it. She needs to be grateful for what is and not dwell on what's not.
The house did have some fun elements. The couch now have a red and white snowflake blanket draped behind and matching throw pillows on top. The dining room table now has a festive center piece, with fake pine branches and red ball ornaments. A similar looking wreath sat on the front door. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough for a young woman that never celebrated the holiday in the first place. She is already amazed at what he had.
Quentin and Penny sat on the couch, in silences, waiting for there hot chocolate to cool. He was sitting straight up while she rested on his shoulder. His arm was wrapped around her back so she could snuggle closer. It was quite the intimate act, but it was so familiar to the two of them.
Something in the corner of her eye catches Penny's attention. She lifts her head from his shoulder and looks outside. Slightly concerned, Quentin turned his head too. What they see is a light gray sky and soft and thick blankets of snow fall.
Finally a white Christmas! Penny exclaims in her head. "We have to go outside," she tells him. Already five steps ahead, she places her mug on the table and runs to grab her thickest jacket and a white, winter hat. Going back to him, she laughs and trying to pull him from the couch. "Come on! I love the snow."
He couldn't deny her anymore. Her smiles, laughter, and joy was contagious. He grabs similar items to Penny and joined her at the sliding door. She was already unlocking the door and pushing it open. The cold air was shocking, but that didn't stop her. It stopped Quentin for a second, but he would do anything for Penny.
With there drinks in hand, they brush some snow from the outdoor furniture, and resume there normal positions. The started to sip there drinks together, both moaning at the warm temperature.
"Thank you," Penny whispers.
Twisting his face together, he asks, "For what?"
"I don't know. Just everything," she shrugs her shoulders.
"I don't think you should thank me for the way I treated you when we first met," He said, ashamed for what he did.
"That doesn't matter to me anymore. All the things you have done after that make up for it, tenfold."
"Really," he looks down at her.
"Really," she looks up at him. "I haven't even celebrated Christmas in ten years. I have the most amazing job. I have a family. There is so much I am thankful for."
"I don't even remember why I tried to convince myself to hate you," he laughs. "I think I was lonely, but kept on thinking that I needed to be lonely. But you changed all of that."
"Stop," She swatted his arm. "I didn't change you."
"No, but I changed for you," He was now very serious. "I wanted to be - I want to be a better person for you. I want to be someone you are proud of, someone you are happy to see at the end of the day. I want to do anything for you."
"I would do anything for you too," Penny was now serious, too. Both, without fully realizing it, leaned there heads closer and closer. They put down there drinks in front of them.
Quentin took her hands in his and started to confess, "I been wanting for a long time to tell you how I feel. I really, really like you. I want to be with you all the time because you just make my day better. I think about you all time, it is certainly due to the ADHD, but I don't mind it, really. Actually I really like it because I like thinking about you. And it's not in a sexual, weird, and creepy way...but I am attracted to you. You are so pretty and beautiful and-"
"Quentin," She squeezed his hand to stop the rambling. "I think about you too." Her lips turning up, and her eyes looking down at there hands. "I really, really like you too. Some days I really think we are a normal married couple that dated for years, and it's such a good feeling. I love waking up and watching you cook breakfast. I love how you texting me stupid shit while you are working. I love being with you, knowing you."
"I think I may love you," Quentin said, also looking down at his hands. There was no other way to explain how deeply he feels for her. He doesn't want to come off strong with his feelings, scared that she will run away.
"I think me too," they both look up and finally look at each other. Both smiling uncontrollable.
He couldn't take it anymore, "I'm going to kiss you now." He wanted try to ask first, just in case she didn't want too. Even though, she confessed the same feelings as he did, doubt was still present in his mind.
"Do it!" She dared.
Quentin let her hands go, grabbed the sides of her face, and planted his lips right on hers. Her hands quickly shot up to wrap around his neck. In such an uncomfortable, twisted position, Penny pulls away. She took a good look at Quentin, who was confused and distraught, thinking that she was ending the kiss early. He surly didn't expect her to swing her legs across his waist to straddle him and continue to kiss him.
Both now in a more comfortable position, they started deepening the kiss. No longer was it a quick closed mouth kiss shared for a quick goodbye. This was a passionate, long awaited makeup session.
Penny could feel Quentin's hands plant themselves on her waist, sometimes a stray hand trailing up and down her back.
Quentin could feel Penny's slightly crackle lips almost scratch against his, yet they were also warm from the hot chocolate.
Breathing wasn't easy, but it wasn't the main priority either.
Every breath they took, they could smell little things about them.
Quentin smell Penny's coconut shampoo and conditioner. Every time he sneaked a whiff, his heart lightened and he was comforted.
Penny could smell Quentin musky cologne that was slightly masked with sweetness. It was new and excited, bringing small little shocked of joy down her whole body.
Passion, love and desire were all wrapped up in this kiss.
It was a I'm never letting you go kiss.
It was I love you with the bottom of my heart kiss.
It was You are my everything, my soul kiss.
It was their first kiss.
Penny couldn't only hear the noise of the street.
Quentin heard hard knocks on there front door. He knew they had to stop.
He pushed her shoulder away, "There is," kiss, "Someone at the," kiss, "front door."
Disappointed, Penny finally stopped kissing him. It was hard, but someone was waiting. Silently, yet stealing glances at each other, she grabbed there mugs and he opened the sliding door.
She went to the kitchen, and he went to open the door.
There, standing on the other side, were a pair of police officers.
"Can I help you," he ask, his tone implying that he was in a sour mood and didn't want to deal with this when he could have been making-out with Penny more.
"Does Penelope Marshall live at this address? Is she here," one asks.
"Yeah," he says, unsure. Penny, hearing her name, pops out. Her hands busy, wiping the wet mug with a dish towel.
The cops push pass Quentin, one holding a pair of handcuff. Terrified by the sudden movement, Penny drops the mug and freezes in places, raising her hands up high about her head. The cop comes behind Penny, placing the cuffs on her wrist.
"Penelope Marshall you are under arrest for the murder of William Marshall."