A love to last

middle of her kitchen.

The man reached up to open the cupboard above where he was standing, his back stretching at the action. Before Freya could scold him, a hiss erupted from his lips as his hand quickly drew back to hold his side.

Freya let out a sigh before walking into the kitchen. She approached the man, letting her hands run over his shoulders before hugging him from behind. "You know you still have to be careful with your back," she said quietly.

Falcon took in a deep breath, resting his hands over hers as a small smile grew on his face. "I know," he said just as quietly. "I'm still not used to it yet."

Freya's hand glided over the area he had been shot years before, the scar obvious even under the thin shirt he wore. For the first year after his spinal cord injury he had had trouble walking, he spent more time in the hospital than he did at home and it had frustrated him more than anything. The doctors said that they didn't know how he hadn't fallen the moment the bullet hit him. Falcon said it was because she was in his arms.

A few years later and he could walk perfectly fine again, but anything that stretched his back too much caused him pain. Freya believed it was a necessary evil: it caused him pain but kept him out of any gang-related business. She would take anything over experiencing the fear of him dying for a second time.

Falcon sighed, allowing his smile to grow as he turned to face Freya. He caught her hands in his own and brought them to his lips to give them a chaste kiss before running his thumb over the band of metal that was wrapped around her left ring finger.

"Enough about me," he leaned in to peck her nose. "How is Mrs. Anders this fine morning?" Freya grinned, humming in thought for a moment. "Incredibly hungry," she informed. Falcon chuckled and held her head in place before giving her a hard kiss on the lips. Freya squealed, playfully trying to push him away but when he only pulled her closer, she melted into his embrace. She didn't think that feeling could ever grow old.

Reluctantly, the two broke away but stayed close; with Freya's arms around Falcon's neck and his around her waist. "How do chocolate and waffles sound?" Falcon raised an eyebrow in question. Freya grinned in response. "What if we put the chocolate in the waffles?" she said as if she had come up with the greatest idea since sliced bread.

Falcon's eyes rounded in mock surprise before smirking. "Ooh, frisky," Falcon winked playfully before an adoring smile overtook his lips as he looked down at the blushing woman in his arms, pecking her nose before removing himself from her embrace.

"But if you think I'm letting you touch another kitchen appliance again in your life," he raised an eyebrow in an attempt to look stern. "You're sorely mistaken, my love."

"Oh come on," she rolled her eyes, pouting. "That was one time."

"And that one time was the last time," he chuckled. "You damn near flooded the house." Falcon turned to face the cupboards once again, searching through the masses of mugs Freya had insisted on hoarding for the secret stash he knew she had.

"I left the pot on for five seconds," she emphasised, holding up five fingers. "It wasn't my fault." Sighing, Falcon finally found the chocolate and grabbed Freya's hand, pulling her over to the stove. He grabbed a pot and bowl, setting up what was required to melt chocolate before placing a rubber spoon in Freya's hand and guiding it to stir the mixture.

"There," he kissed the side of her head as he let go of her hand. "Think you can handle that without burning anything?"

"Of course I can," she mumbled, brows furrowed as her tongue poked out the side of her mouth in concentration.

Falcon took a moment, breathing, smiling to himself. He had made it. He had created that perfect life that had once seemed impossible. He had the home, the perfect wife, and eventually...

Falcon wound his arms around Freya's waist, pressing kisses to the side of her neck.

Eventually, they would make an addition to the family.

A sharp pain erupted from his forearm and a resounding smack resonated around the room. "Go

make the waffles," Freya scolded without taking her eyes off the chocolate.

"Okay okay," Falcon held his hands up in surrender, backing away with a grin.

Yeah, life was pretty perfect.