She had figured that even though she had told James he was welcome to leave, that he would still say and help. That was so like him. She heard him sigh after she apologized, and suddenly thought that maybe she shouldn’t have. She heard his footsteps approach, and she looked up as he grabbed the bowls from her and set them on the table. “Wait – no. I can take it..” She said as he took them. He had pulled her close, and hugged her. Freya blinked, not expecting it. Oh no…

She could feel it..James was too gentle. He held her delicately, but still close enough to feel him there. “I…I wasn’t comfortable..But I didn’t…want to be rude, either…” She sniffled, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. She felt his free hand stroke her hair and she began crying. “I can still feel his arms on me, James. Make it go away..” She sobbed, wrapping her arms around him tightly. “I don’t even know him, why was he grabbing me like that? What if you weren’t here? Dianne was here but…but..” She was sending herself into a little bit of a panicked crying frenzy.

A small sigh left him as she began to cry. That creeps actions hurt her more than he had expected and now he felt bad. Every tear that rolled down her cheek made his heart ache. He sighed again, this time slowly letting her go and leading her by her hand to the couch. Sitting down he didn’t give her a moment to think before he pulled her onto his lap and wrapped an arm around her waist while the other grabbed a nearby blanket. Tossing the blanket over her and then wrapped his arms around her pulling her to his chest.

His right hand rubbed her back and his left hand rested against her head guiding it to rest on his shoulder. “It’s okay. I’m here for you, you’re fine. There’s no reason to think about what would have happened if I wasn’t here because I was.” His voice was soft and reassuring in the silent room. “Cry as much as you need to Freya, I’m here for you.” His hand returned to gently stroking her head.

James pulled back and slowly led her towards the couch. Just like that, she was on his lap with a blanket around them both. She let his hand guide her head to find his shoulder, and nuzzled into his neck. She nodded. “..Kay.” She didn’t want to even think about what would have happened. “I don’t..want to go class tomorrow, James.” She sniffed. Freya might change her mind in the morning, but at the moment, she wasn’t feeling like doing anything tomorrow if it involved leaving the apartment. Eventually, she had calmed down enough and stayed attached to James. “Can we stay like this for the night, James? I don’t want to sleep alone.” She moved an arm to wipe one of her eyes before slightly adjusting to get more comfortable. She didn’t know what she would do without James. She was such a frazzled mess…Listening to his relaxed breathing helped her relax and eventually fall into her own world of dreams.

Her sniffles were both sad and adorable. It should be illegal for her to be so darn cute whenever she does anything. Then, he asked her the one question he wasn’t expecting, she wanted him to stay with her for the night. As her butler, he wasn’t supposed to do something like that, much less be this close to her. It was against their code, but he was off the clock right now and helping her as a friend… right?

“I’ll do anything for you.” James responded without truly thinking it through but as she drifted off to sleep in his arms, he felt his head drop, resting against hers. Their breathings soon matched and James also drifted off to sleep.

Sometime during the night the two ended up laying down on the couch, James’ arm wrapped around her waist holding her close and his face rested gently against her back as they spooned on the couch under the blanket. For once in his life, James had an incredible night sleep.

The morning light from the window filled the apartment from last night. Freya groaned as some of it hit her eyelids and shifted to get away from it. She thought she was grabbing a pillow as she nuzzled into James' chest. Though, it wasn't quite conforming to her demands to squish down. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw a button up shirt in front of her. 'That's not a pillow'. Taking a few more moments, she realized the 'pillow' smelled familiar. Leaning back, Freya looked up and her face flushed bright red.

"Oh my gosh!" She whispered in surprise. Did they fall asleep like this? He looked...really handsome. Not that he didn't always look that way! 'Oh my goodness...' she bit her lip as she felt his arm tighten slightly to make sure she was secured. She didn't even know what time it was. She couldn't look at the clock because James was blocking the way. Though, Freya wasn't sure the time would matter. She didn't feel like going to classes today, anyway. But, she knew that she did have to go to the bathroom...darn all those snacks. She cleared her throat, and gently moved up to poke James' nose with her finger. "J-James. I...I have to go to the...bathroom." She whispered. After a few moments, she realized he probably hadn't heard her. She gently shook him, and repeated herself a bit louder. "James. I have to go to the bathroom..." Her face was still red when he had opened his blue eyes and found them staring into her own. "G-Good Morning." She greeted.

James actually spent the night at Freya’s house, he stayed in his mistress’s house; much less held her in his arms the whole night. Adrian was going to throw a fit when/if he found out about this, but James didn’t really care. It’s was Freya asked for and as her butler, he would do what she asked whether it was within their code of conduct or not. But, deep down inside, he wanted to stay outside of his job. He would have said yes despite his position.

Something echoed in his ears and caused James to stir from his deep slumber. He let out a small moan when he heard his name but it took a moment for him to realize who’s voice was calling to him. His blue eyes flickered opened, seeing that Freya was now facing him. His fine lips moved into a small tired smile, “Good morning…” He said softly as he loosened his grip on her and stretched his long arms above his head.

Slowly he sat up and pulled the cover off of them. “You go to the bathroom and I’ll start breakfast.” He said with a soft yawn before getting to his feet and offering her his hand.

Freya watched his mouth turn up into a smile, and couldn't help wondering how he wasn't freaking out. Was she dealing with butler James? He was still in his uniform, but...

He did still greet her and stretched, offering her hand once he had gotten up and moved the blanket he had draped over them off. She took it of course, and stood up. She nodded as he told her to go ahead with her bathroom business while he started breakfast. Freya quickly moved into her room and to the bathroom. She always had to go in the morning. Without fail. After that routine work was done, she brushed her teeth. It was incredibly nice to fall asleep and wake up next to James..But, there's no way that he would go for that. At least, not butler James. She ran a hand through her hair. It almost felt like they weren't at school, but in their own place with how content he looked just a few minutes ago. She wanted to see him like that all the time, and splashed her face with some cool water before drying it off. "I just...need to thank him for last night, and see which James I have this morning." She said, looking into the mirror and nodded in confirmation.

Right. Exiting the room, she already smelled that James was already swiftly making something. Peeking out, she saw he was at the stove, frying away something for the dish he was making. She waited until he had gotten the hot pans out of the way and made the plates before coming out and hugging him from behind. She really enjoyed how James felt against her. "Thank you, James. For last night." She mumbled into the back of his shirt. "Are you working today?" She asked, gripping him a bit tighter. "If you do...would it be wrong of me to ask if you could take the day off?" She had never really asked James to take the day off before. But she just wanted to spend the day together. Even if he had to leave ever-so often to go to classes. Not that he knew that she knew he had any to attend.

Standing in the kitchen, James slipped his gloves back on his hands and began to cook breakfast, the thoughts of last night floating in the back of his mind. She didn’t seem mad at him for scooping her into his arms to avoid Alex, and she was the one who wanted him to stay so; he did. And the look on her face this morning seemed relaxed and happy. A smile moved across his face as he started to create her breakfast, that was a wonderful way to spend the night and he really enjoyed himself.

It wasn’t until he started to plate things that he felt arms ago around him and his entire body seemed to ignite with fire. His hands instantly stopped working as she spoke against his back. Heart pounding in his chest he held his breath as she spoke. When she finished her sentence he finally let out the air he had been holding in for a while. James spent a moment thinking about what she had said before turning around to face her.

James wrapped his arms around Freya’s shoulders and gave her a small nod. “Alright.” He said softly, “I’ll take the day off but; I will not ignore my duties to you as your butler. However if I’m going to have the day off I’d like to step into my apartment and change real fast. Is that alright?”

Freya felt him freeze, and hoped that she didn’t startle him. As he turned, she let go of him, and looked up. As he nodded, she couldn’t help smiling. “Of course, I didn’t expect you to.” When he asked if he could go change, she remembered the he was in fact still in his uniform. “Oh! Right, of course you can!” She smiled. Looking at the plate he had prepared, she waved him off. “I’ll be alright for ten or twenty minutes while you get ready.” She assured, and sat down at the table and began eating what he had prepared her for breakfast. She watched as he walked out of the door, and once she had finished eating, she stood, and took the dish to the sink.

Taking a deep breath, she had to think quickly. She didn’t have the time to do anything super elaborate. She could manage on her own if she had to, of course. But this was something completely different. She went into the refrigerator and pulled out eggs, flour, suger, eggs, oil and baking powder, along with salt. She grabbed a bowl and began combining the ingredients. Once it reached a consistency that she was happy with, she grabbed a small skillet and began making pancakes. She had only time to make three, and grabbed strawberries out of the fridge, knowing James always kept some on hand, cut some up, and put three peaks of whipped cream on top, she turned off the stovetop and put them on a plate, just as James was coming back in.

“Surprise!” She greeted, extending the pancakes she was working on out towards him. “You always make me breakfast. I thought maybe it would be a nice change for me to make you something. I know it’s not super extravagant like you do for me, but…I still put the same amount of care into making it. Sorry I couldn’t put the strawberries into it. I didn’t have enough time.” She was beaming, and was covered with flour and had bits of raw batter on her arms and cheek from how quickly she was mixing to get it ready in time. She was a little winded having to do that so quickly.

James nodded and went back to his apartment and jumped into the shower. As the water ran down his body he placed his hand against the wall of the shower and let out a long sigh. Was this a bad thing? Was this a bad idea?! She was his employers daughter, so many bad things could come of this! And he did it, last night he opened a door that he probably shouldn’t have. But he couldn’t help it; he wanted it and she literally asked for it. He wasn’t going to turn her down. She might be his boss’s daughter but, he was still a man.

Finishing scrubbing himself down, he turned off the shower and climbed out drying himself off. He was nervous, actually nervous to return to the apartment next door. Brushing his teeth and drying out his hair and went into his room and changed into some clothes. Stopping himself before he left his apartment he turned his attention to something he had been saving for a while; at that he grabbed it from the storage and carried it over.

He gave the door a couple knocked before letting himself in and announcing he was back. When he entered the kitchen he received something he never expected. She had made him breakfast. His cheeks turned red and an embraced smile moved across his face. No matter what he did, he wasn’t able to look her in the face. “Strawberries are my favorite…” He said softly, almost in a whisper as if it was a secret between the two of them. “I… I brought you something…” His voice sounded almost shy as he pulled the large sunflower from behind his back and extended it to her. “It was bright and beautiful, it made me think of you.” Of course, now that he was off shift he could tell her the meaning behind the flower. He took the plate from her and sat down at the table giving her a shy smile. “Thank you for breakfast, I appreciate it and it looks delicious.” With that he began to eat only to find himself making uncomfortable “Mmmm” noises with almost every bite.

Freya giggled. “I know they’re your favorite, silly. I’m apologizing for not being able to incorporate it into the batter, since I didn’t have time.” As he presented the flower she gasped. “Oh my. James. This is beautiful. Thank you.” She blushed when he told her the reasons why he got it for her. She grabbed the both of them a glass of juice, and sat back down at the table. “I’m really glad you enjoy it. It was a frenzy to get it all done before you came back, I’ll have you know.” She smiled. Freya looked at him and raised her eyebrows. “Is everything alright? Did I leave something out? Did you need syrup or anything?” She asked, ready to get up and grab it.

It was hard to believe someone would do something so kind for him. Outside of his mother and his sister, no one ever made him a meal before. After his butler training no one ever cooked for him, it was always him doing the cooking. His “Mmmm”s got louder the further he got into the pancakes. However he eat with a professional sit and cut with the forks much like someone of his profession.

When she started to get up he put down his fork and reached up, grabbing her hand softly. A smile moved across his face even though his face was still pink with embarrassment. “Freya, they’re perfect. I don’t need anything else but your presence.” He said with a nod and gently let go of her hand before going back to eating. “You did a fantastic job despite how fast you put them together. They’re fluffy; the texture is perfect and just the right amount of strawberries.” He paused in his eating to take a drink of the juice before finishing up the plate.

“Thank you again, this was incredibly sweet of you.”

As she moved to grab him something, his hand caught her attention and she smiled back, taking a seat and finished her juice. Getting a compliment from James on her cooking was a plus. She looked embarrassed, but was flattered. “Thank you, a compliment on cooking always is special from you, James.” She put the plates into the sink and took a seat back at the table. “Don’t mention it. You do tons of sweet things for me all the time,” Freya reached over and grabbed a lollipop. “Like these.” She giggled, unwrapping it putting it in her mouth.

She looked at the clock. It read that it was fifteen after ten. Her morning classes would have started on the hour, and she glanced at James. She didn’t know his schedule or anything so she wasn’t sure if he was going to be skipping out on classes today, too…

“Was there something specific you wanted to do today, James?” She asked, picking up the sunflower he had given her and smelled it. “I might wear this in my hair today. If…I got a style picked out do you think you could help me get it settled in?” Freya had asked James to help her with her hair a handful of times, mostly going to Annie for any advice or tips she could give the young miss. Looking at James, Freya suddenly began to giggle. “You’ve got a little…” She leaned over, and gently wiped some whipped cream from the corner of his mouth. “A bit of whipped cream on your mouth.” She giggled, licking it off her finger. “Mmm.”

Did James have classes today? Yeah he did, did he really care that much about the classes? No, not in the least. He would much rather spend some personal-non-work time with her. And that’s what they had intended on doing and if he was ‘off the clock’ then he couldn’t exactly make her go to classes if she didn’t want to. And something deep down in his gut said that she probably didn’t want to go to classes either.

He was about to answer her when she asked about putting the flower in her hair when she began to giggle. Her response caused James to tilt his head to one side in confusion before her hand reached over and wiped some whipped cream from the corner of his mouth. His face went red but he couldn’t take his blue gaze off of her as she stuck her finger in her mouth and licked off the cream. Was she really so unaware of what that could signal to a man?!

Face and ears red his mouth curled into a shy smile as he turned his gaze away from her and finished up his glass of juice. Standing up from his seat he walked behind her and pulled out her chair. “Let’s move into the bathroom, I’ll carry the chair and you can tell me how you want your hair done.”

“Are you alright, James?” She asked innocently. He pulled her chair out and she stood. “Okay!” She grinned and headed towards her room and sat in it once James had set the chair down. Freya looked on her phone trying to find the image that she had found. “Hey, James? Did you want to go into town today? I imagine we can’t go this weekend since I asked you to take today off and you’ll want to make up that time, right?” She questioned. “Or, we could just go shopping for stuff. It’s been a while since you’ve gotten any new culinary stuff, hasn’t it?” She asked, genuinely curious.

“Ah! Here it is.” She smiled, holding her phone up with the example that she wanted. “Just, at the start of the ponytail, that’s where I want the sunflower.” She told him, and felt his hands beginning to manipulate her hair and let out a pleased sigh. “That feels so nice. I forget how it feels when people have their hands on my scalp. I wonder if you enjoy it too, James. Oh maybe we should go get our hair done?” Freya watched as James worked his magic, though and grinned when it was done, giving it a full check. “Thank you, James. It looks great! Now, did you want to have a shopping spree? Clothes, Cooking Stuff, things to decorate your apartment?” She gently nudged him.

He carried her chair into the bedroom behind her shaking his head slightly as they walked. Did she REALLY not understand the gesture she just did!? His heart was still pounding from it as he placed the chair down and she sat in it. Taking up her brush he began to do her hair with a practiced hand. Her hair was soft like velvet and smooth as silk that he was having fun just brushing it and running his fingers through her delicate hair. Soon he glanced at the photo and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, I think that’s going to look really good on you. Next time will have to get more flowers.” He said with a nod as he began to weave the sunflower into her hair as she had shown him from the photo.

When he was finished he stepped back allowing her to take in his work with a smile. “To answer your questions; I’m not neglecting my duties so, technically it’s not a full day off. Therefore I will still be taking the weekend off and Annie will be taking over my shifts. I could…” Again his face turned red and his attention dropped to the ground, his hands playing with the back of the chair, “I could use a new cutlery set…” His voice was a soft shy whisper before he somewhat composed himself and looked at her through the reflection of the mirror. “And I can’t say I’ve ever had my hair styled but my mom used to play with my hair when I was young to calm me down if I got stressed or worried. No one’s done it in a while though.” His shoulders rose and fell in a small shrug before he stepped away from the chair.

“My apartment could use a famine touch that isn’t my sister’s frilly dollies and collection of dolls. But I’ll tell you what. If you’re willing to help make my apartment feel more like a home I’d like to treat you to a new outfit.” With that he offered her his arm and held up his keys. “I’ll drive, what do you say?”

At the mention of getting more flowers, Freya smiled. “So, this means I can expect more flowers from you, James?” She teased. As he answered her questions, she nodded. “Ah. Right. Well. In a really selfish small way I am glad I’ll still have you to myself this weekend.” She giggled. She looked up, curiously. “You what?” She took a moment, and then grinned. “Well of course you can get another one, silly. All you had to do was say something. You know I don’t mind getting you anything. And neither does Daddy for that matter.” She was right though, the Von Rykers spared no expense for their workers to make sure that they were always comfortable, and happy.

Freya did find it a bit odd he had never had his hair styled, but then feigned a gasp in teasing. “Not stressed or worried. Not James!” She was being over dramatic, and placed her hand over her chest. Excited that they would get to decorate his apartment, she squeaked in delight. “Helping James decorate, get new cutlery stuff AND a new outfit? This day rocks!” She giggled, and as she pulled James out of the bathroom, she looked around her room. “Uhmmmm, do you know what the weather is going to be today, James?” She asked, pulling off her sweater that was covered in the labors of this morning’s work, wearing a tank top underneath, careful not to mess up what James had already done to her hair. She moved to her closet, waiting for a forecast from James, and took into consideration what he himself was wearing.

James was never one for asking for things but she was offering and he wasn’t going to turn her down. Considering she’s the reason he uses his cutlery set so regularly it would only help improve what he could make for her. When she made fun of him about not being stressed or worried, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes while grinning. She was so silly and he loved it. Being pulled out of the bathroom and into her bedroom he nearly had a heart attack when she pulled of her sweater. Blushing he turned away very quickly giving her some privacy.

“Uh… um…” He stumbled over his words as he struggled to get his phone out of his pocket to check the weather. “75 degrees with clear skies.” He read on the screen as he tucked his phone back into his pocket and spun his keys on his fingers trying to calm himself down. “Don’t worry too much about what you’re wearing right now. Our first stop is a new outfit for you. Oh, did I mention I’m the one picking it out? Yeah, my treat my choice.” He said with a small chuckle doing his best to calm himself down as he waited for her to tell him when she was finished. Does this girl honestly not know what she’s doing to a man?!

Freya raised an eyebrow. “I have on a tank top, James.” She laughed. “C’mon. I wouldn’t just start getting super undressed in front of you. I know better.” She stuck her tongue out at him. Her interest piqued at the new outfit first. “No, you didn’t, haha. I guess to get even I’ll be picking an outfit out for you as well.” She grinned. “Well, I know it doesn’t matter what I’m wearing but, still.” She smiled, and pulled on a lavender cardigan since she was going to be changing outfits anyway, and some flats, making sure to bring socks with her. “Whatever you pick, I totally want a new pair of boots. Knee high or higher, oh but new sneakers would be cute. Maybe heels? Hmm...” She said, thinking to herself aloud.

No, Freya was fairly naïve to what she was doing to James. It didn’t seem to be bothering him too much so she wasn’t getting any odd signals. “To the car!” She exclaimed, grabbing some more lollipops on her way out with James, linking her arm in his as she closed the door behind them. Downstairs they went, and towards the vehicle. Waiting for James to unlock it, she then got in and buckled herself in. “Exciting!!” She giggled, barely able to contain herself as she put another lollipop in her mouth.

She then turned towards James. “Hey. When I start getting dirty clothes…how are we going to do laundry?” She asked. “I’ve been meaning to say something since we moved in but…you know.” She grinned.

When she looped her arm in his he gave her smile and they started outside. Once to the car he unlocked it and pulled her door open for her. As he shut it, he couldn’t help but think of the lecture he’d get from his sister if he found out You did what with Freya? You let her skip how many classes? Oh the list would go on and on and there was no doubt about that but she didn’t have to know right?

Climbing into the driver’s seat, he stuck the key in the ignition and started to drive the car. Her question about the laundry made him laugh. “Oh right, I didn’t tell you. I have a washer and dryer in my apartment. I’ll just take your laundry into mine and do it. You won’t have to worry about it, I’ll have it done, folded and put away before you’re even home.” He said with a nod as the two pulled into town.

The town had a mix of a big city feel and a small town charm as people seemed to be incredibly friendly with one another on the streets and the vendors on the side of the road seemed inviting and willing to talk about their products. James pulled the car to a stop and parked it along the outskirts of a strip mall that would have everything they needed. “First stop is for you.” He said with a grin before climbing out of the car and hurrying around to let her out. Locking the car behind them he led her into a nearby high end store and began to go through the clothing rack with an excellent understanding of what exactly he was looking for.

“Here.” He said extending her a dress he picked out. “Go try it on, I’ll be right back.” Within moment of her being in the dressing room he slid under a bag, a set of high heels, a pair of earrings and a set of bracelets. “Try on the whole thing, I’ll wait outside.” With that he stepped away from the door and sat down in the waiting chair, curious to see how she would look and how she would feel in it.