#mark alder

The smell of breakfast wafted in through the room as I woke up, the covers warm around me as light filters in through the window. Checking the clock, I saw it was nine in the morning. Obviously, Mark had let me sleep in for a while. I also noticed the house was oddly quiet for the time of day. I didn't expect Lorelai to be up yet, or at least out of her room, but Andy and Eva should have been up and downstairs by now with Haru. Getting up, I went into the bathroom, changing into clothes for the day and putting my hair into a bun before heading downstairs to the kitchen. Downstairs, the living room was surprisingly clean, with not a single one of the girls in sight. Walking into the kitchen, I see Mark, shirtless with a pair of grey sweatpants hung low on his hips as he stands in front of the stove, his hair still slightly messy from getting out of bed. Walking up behind him, I wrap my arms around his middle, resting my cheek against his back as we slowly start swaying together. "Whatcha makin'?" I feel Mark's hum rumble through his chest as he reaches a hand back to squeeze my thigh gently. "I'm makin' crepes for the beautiful woman currently huggin' me." Reaching behind his back, Mark's arm wrapped around my waist before pulling me to stand next to him, letting my body lean against his side. Humming, let my fingers trace random shapes on his side as I bury my nose against his bare skin, breathing him in. "Where are the kids?" "At mom and dad's. Mom came to pick them up before you were awake. Wanted to let us have Valentine's day to ourselves." I close my eyes, pressing a kiss to his shoulder as his kisses my temple. After a few minutes, he turns off the oven, his arm around my waist shifting underneath my bum before he lifts me in one arm, grabbing the plate of brown and red, raspberry creme filled, letter shaped crepes and carrying me over to the table, setting me down in a chair gently as he sets the plate in front of me. Pulling a chair beside mine, Mark hugged me around the waist, laying his head on my shoulder as I began to eat. "So, I'm plannin' on takin' a shower with my pretty wife, givin' her the gifts I bought her, helpin' her with her hair and makeup, and then takin' her out to a nice dinner. How does that sound?" I look at him, a small smile on my face. "Like I should leave before she gets here." Mark let out a booming laugh, gently nipping the side of my neck before placing a kiss there. "You're terrible." I hum in agreement before setting my fork down on my now empty plate and taking Mark's face between my hands, kissing him gently as he smiles dopily. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you, baby." "Anythin' for you, babygirl. You're so pretty. You deserve to have nice things. Now, let's go take that shower." Mark stood up before grabbing my hips and throwing my over his shoulder, his hand resting on my bum as I let out a shocked laugh while he walks to our bathroom.

After the shower, I sat in front of the mirror, Mark doing my hair as I put on my makeup, wearing a dress Mark had bought for me. The chocolate were sitting on our bed, the flowers he bought in a vase sitting on the vanity as we get ready to go, Mark already dressed in a white button up, the top few buttons left undone and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, with a dark blue pair of chinos and dress shoes. When my hair was finally done, Mark leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to my temple, his hands rubbing up and down my arms. "Beautiful. Prettiest girl I e'er seen." Holding me for a moment, he rests his chin on my shoulder, admiring me in the mirror for a moment before grabbing my hand to help me up and pressing his face into my shoulder, swaying with me gently as he presses kiss after kiss to my neck. Finally pulling away, Mark kneels down to help me into my shoes, holding my face as he stands back up afterward. "You're so pretty. I don't want to ruin your makeup by kissing you." Pressing the lightest kiss to the tip of my nose, he finally returns his hand to mine as he leads me out of our room, helping me into my jacket before heading out the door and helping me into the passenger seat of the car. The drive to the restaurant was quiet, instrumental love songs playing on the radio as Mark sat behind the wheel, a hand holding my thigh as I rested against his arm.

The restaurant was tiny, and intimate. A little Italian place with fairy lights and fake foliage draped across the ceiling of the industrial style building with dim lighting and candles at each table. There was only a handful of people, with so little noise me and Mark didn't have to talk loudly to hear each other as we ate our pasta and break sticks together. It was nice. Just us, no kids, and only food in between us. "So, how did I do?" I could tell Mark was only slightly joking with the question as he help both my hands across the table. "Wonderfully, honey. Just like every other year. Still doesn't top that one anniversary we went to Italy together though." I smile as Mark chuckles, the light playing across his face. He really was handsome. "I don't think many things will top that. I can always try though." Lifting both my hands to his mouth, he showers kisses over the backs of them, slow and gentle, reverent in a way that spoke of indescribable love and devotion. "Happy Valentine's day, babygirl." "Happy Valentine's day, honey."