It was very simple: Shera cooked, Verity cleaned. It was a system that had done them well for many years. Basically, as long as they'd been living outside of the Academy dorms. Officially, that just meant dinners, but it also meant that if Verity wanted anything more complicated than oatmeal, she had to wait until Shera was up to make her something. The Chimera had seen her roommate manage to set the kitchen on fire making toast once. That had been an unpleasant morning.This morning, it was a cheese and pepper omelette, which Verity hadn't even asked for. Shera knew that it was her friend's favorite breakfast, and she didn't get it very often. Verity...didn't want to trouble her much. Which was why Shera felt it was extra important that if she wanted to bother Verity for something, she pamper her roommate something special.
The smell of eggs had apparently roused the Demi-Imp from her slumber, bringing her shuffling into the kitchen to sink at the table. Shera watched out of the corner of her eye as Verity scooped up the newspaper and sipped the hot coffee that Shera had left at her place. "Morning," the scientist said.
Verity replied with something that sort of resembled "good morning." It was close enough for less than a cup of coffee.
Verity awoke to the smell of a cheese and pepper omelette. At first, she assumed she was dreaming, but further examination of her tousled self in the face of her alarm clock dispelled that idea. She pushed herself out of bed, fetched a pair of slippers, and walked into the kitchen. It was too early in the morning. She'd been up all night playing the latest Warriors of Jade game. She was so close to the boss level...she could almost taste it...But there must have been something important going on if Shera wanted to make her breakfast without being asked. Something very important. Shera would ask her soon, when she was ready. In the meantime, there was a newspaper to read (just the headlines and the horoscopes) and coffee to drink. Ah. Two sugars. Just like she liked it. She bid Shera a good morning and settled down to "read" the newspaper.
She waited a while for the Chimera to say anything, but to her surprise, her roommate didn't say anything until the omelette was slid in front of her. By then, the cup of coffee was nearly empty and a glass of apple juice had been left nearby. Verity smiled her thanks and dug into her omelette, watching the Chimera drink her own enormous cup of coffee. "Spit it out," she said between mouthfuls.
Heh. Had it...really been that obvious, that she wanted something? Shera cleared her throat. "So...uh, Verity, you know that I really like kids. I always have. That's why I'm so excited to have a job at the school. I'm a teacher now, and I get to see kids all of the time." She waited for her roommate to give her a nod before continuing. "Which...I thought would scratch that sort of...protecting, teaching instinct? But it hasn't. It's...well, it's rather fanned the flames." Her cheeks were getting hot. "I don't think I'm communicating this well, am I?" she confessed. "Um...I'd like to imbue a stone. Um, with you. If you're interested."
Shera's cheeks turned the most fascinating shade of grey when she blushed. It was almost a dark khaki or a tan. Verity considered the offer as she finished her current mouthful. It was...interesting... "I like kids, too," she said. "They're cute, and they get so curious. I'd love to have kids of my own...someday." Shera's blue eyes faltered and Verity sighed. "What I mean is, having kids sounds totally awesome! But I've gotta know, Shera, why me?"
Shera's heart skipped a beat when Verity seemed to turn her down. But wait...no...there was a shot at redemption here... "I like you, Verity. Not in a romantic way--" they had established that a long time ago "--but I care a lot about you, and I think you're a good person. We work well together. We fit. I think together, we could do a stellar job raising a child, your strengths bolstering my weaknesses." She hoped Verity liked that answer.
Typical scientist answer. But Verity had known Shera for long enough to know that she never made a decision based purely on logic. Emotion always came into it for the Chimera. "Okay," Verity said. "One kid. And I'm the mom."
Shera grinned. "Deal!" They high-fived, made their plans, and returned to their breakfast.
