Cooking Lessons

"Of course it is," Ranna said, like bad food from her was a concept so incredulous. "What else would you expect?"

"Don't let her fool you," Trea said, showing up beside Aden. Nora hadn't noticed her come in. "When she first started cooking, she was terrible. I taught her everything she knows."

"Lies," Ranna countered, shooting Trea a disbelieving look. "All lies."

Warmth

Aden slumped in the chair, not having the energy to protest anymore.
Maybe he should have stayed home. He wasn't feeling any better, other than being with Nora which always made him feel better.
Pepermint tea floated down in front of him and then Chicken noodle soup was next to it.
"Eat up." Nora told him.
Aden nodded and reached forward, grabbing the spoon and bringing it slowly to his mouth.
The soup was delicious and just the perfect temperature. He felt warmth surge through him.
"It's good." He said, smiling.

Full Care Mode

"What are you doing here?" Nora asked incredulously. He looked miserably sick, his face gray with the effort of being there. She jumped out of her chair, pushing him into it.

"Peppermint tea and chicken noodle soup," she gave her order to Ranna, who was starting it up before Maura even said anything. Aden started to protest, but Nora wouldn't listen to him. She was in full Care-Mode, and Ranna knew from experience that she was a force to be reckoned with, but never to be stopped.

Sick

Aden walked into the coffee shop, sagging a little.
He felt awful.
He hated colds.
And head colds were the worst.
But he knew he would feel better if he got out instead of staying at home. He also knew he would feel better if he saw Nora.
It had been horrible to not see her yesterday, but he hadn't been able to get out of bed.

She turned around when he walked in and the relief on her face was more than he had hoped for.
"Hey Nora." He said in his stuffy nose voice.

Irrational

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm acting so stupid," she laughed, embarrassed. "I'm not doing this. I told myself I wouldn't do this again, and here I am doing it again, and over a guy that I have no idea if he likes me -- he doesn't like me, I just know it."

"Nora, you're being irrational again," Ranna said, a small hint of amusement at the corner of her mouth.

Nora clutched her hair, then smoothed it out and sighed. "You're right. I'm getting all worked up about nothing. So he didn't come today. Big deal. It wasn't because of me. He didn't not come because of me. Am I right, Ranna?" Her eyes begged Ranna to tell her she was right. The coffeeshop doorbell clang as someone walked in.

"Why don't you turn around and ask him yourself?" Ranna asked with a lopsided grin.

Odd

"No I haven't seen him. And he hasn't walked by the shop either."
That was strange. Ranna had been able to hear what Aden thought about Nora.... He wouldn't just not show up for her.
Nora bit her lip. "Can I just have a cookie?"
Ranna raised her eyebrows then walked away silently, coming back with a cookie.
"I'm sure he'll be in tomorrow."

Anxious

Ranna was there, scratches and bruises all up her arms, a cut lip, and a bruising face.

"What happened to you?" Nora gasped. Ranna shrugged casually, as if this were the way she looked every day.

"I'm a little rusty. We had a situation in the South Pacific, and the guys need my help. Well, the guys and Trea."

"That still doesn't explain what happened to you."

Ranna looked at her like she was stupid. "Nora. Superhero, remember?"

"Oh. Oh, yeah. Hey, I haven't seen Aden all day. He hasn't come in while I was gone, has he?" Her fingers tapped anxiously on the countertop. She didn't notice. Ranna did.