A restaurant in Westchester- Tuesday

[throughaphase]

Everything was chaos at the moment, but it was also birthday week, and these things had to be celebrated. Also, it was an excuse to dress up cute and get the hell away from a building full of teenagers for a little while.

“You know what’s nice?” Kitty said as the waiter left after taking their orders. “Feeling sane.”


[For the partner in birthdays!]

Comments

[so_hawkward]

"Is that a good feeling? I don't know if I'm familiar with it," Clint teased. He'd put on a tie and everything for this date so he hoped that earned him enough points to be a little snarky.

[throughaphase]

“You should try it sometime. It’s totally different going through life without a constant stress headache,” Kitty said, only half joking. “I’m even starting to remember what normal thoughts are like.”

[so_hawkward]

Clint laughed softly and reached over to give Kitty's hand a squeeze. "I'm glad getting out is helping. We could make this a more regular thing if it'd help, and not just for birthday times."

[throughaphase]

“We should. Though I always feel now like I need to make sure the other teachers- such as they are- can watch the mansion,” she said with a sigh. And then,”Ooh, we should get s hotel.”

These were no crises at a hotel!

[so_hawkward]

"Ooh, I like the sound of that," Clint said. He thought about asking if they could get away for that long, but he didn't want Kitty to question the idea. "Just you and me and a king sized bed with a phone off the hook."

[throughaphase]

“It’s the best birthday present to ourselves,” Kitty said, actually feeling a little lighter at the thought of it. “I mean, I still have to be up at ridiculous o’clock to go all crazy again but that’s tomorrow’s problem.”

[so_hawkward]

"Early o'clock is still a long way from now," Clint said. "And you'll have an easier time tomorrow if you're relaxed and well-rested."

Or, you know, relatively well-rested.

[throughaphase]

“I absolutely better not be well-rested,” Kitty told him. “We’re not supposed to get hotel rooms just to sleep until our own kids are annoying teenagers.”

[so_hawkward]

Clint laughed and gave Kitty an endearing smile. "This is why I married you, you understand how things work," he said. "I have no problem distracting you tonight, as a special birthday present."

[throughaphase]

“Seriously, you’re a saint for putting up with all this,” Kitty told him, squeezing his hand. “Do I say that enough? I should say it more. And then take you on vacation.”

[so_hawkward]

"You let me know how appreciated I am, don't worry. I mean, I won't turn down a vacation when this whole thing is less terrible," he said. "You've seen me through a lot of crap too. What kind of vacation would you want to take?" That seemed like a good, non-stressful thing to think about.

[throughaphase]

“Somewhere with a beach. And like no other people,” she replied. Her needs were simple.

[so_hawkward]

"Mmmm, warm weather, nice ocean, no humans... but we can bring the dogs, right?"

Sorry Kitty, Clint had priorities.

[throughaphase]

“Of course,” she said immediately. “Who am I to deprive them of the beach?”

[so_hawkward]

"Just think about Lucky versus an ocean. That relaxed me like five steps already," Clint said.

[throughaphase]

“And then he shakes off, and you get soaked...” Kitty teased.

[so_hawkward]

"And you get a free shower from a loyal animal that loves you," Clint said. "I'm not seeing a downside here."

[throughaphase]

“I'd worry about this being a mutual goal of ours, but we’ve earned it and it sounds awesome,” Kitty decided.

[so_hawkward]

"I'm going to make sure this happens. You've definitely earned it," Clint said, reaching to squeeze Kitty's hand again. "No phones or people bugging us, just us having a good time."

[throughaphase]

“I’m looking even more forward to people not being idiots now,” Kitty said with a smile. “It’ll happen, I swear.”