Now it was Janelle’s turn to feel called out, and as they worked together to put the food away she tired to figure out how to explain the situation to Erik. Part of her felt like she shouldn’t need to explain, but something about the way he was reacting to everything had put her back on her heels a bit.

Erik also seemed a bit indifferent about staying and hanging out and Janelle found herself frowning a bit at the dichotomy of the morning. Why would Erik go to so much trouble to sneak in and make her breakfast only to get cagey about actually spending time together?

At least he decided that a movie would be good and Janelle snagged her coffee cup on the way to the couch. It was overstuffed, grey, and possessed a number of extremely fluffy pillows that were just firm enough not to swallow a person, but soft enough to be very comfortable.

Settling in, Janelle grabbed a remote from the table and set about pulling up one of the streaming services programmed into the TV. There were loads of romcoms this time of year, so she picked one and got it going.

”I hope you don’t mind romcoms. It feels a little early for action or drama, so I thought something silly might work.” she said, turning her coffee cup in her hands as she tried to parse out what she wanted to say.

”I’m guessing I never mentioned Matilda before. She’s really nice, and she’s been working around here for years.” It was terrible by way of explanation, but it was a start.

Taking a moment to make sure he didn't have any bits of flour or anything stuck to his pajamas he followed her over to the couch with his own coffee and placed it on the coffee table. After a brief moment of consideration he took a seat right next to her, but gave her a bit of space just incase too. 

"That is short for romantic comedy right? I don't mind at all. Granted I haven't watched enough to really develop an opinion on them in general. My life feels like an action movie and who doesn't have enough drama in their lives?" Grinning at her a bit even as he revealed his semi ignorance to movies as a whole. He shimmied a pillow out of the way he had been half sitting on and leaned back into the comfy couch. 

"I don't expect you to tell me every little detail of your life. It just came as a bit of a suprise. Used to people I work for or used to steal from having things like maids and butlers and so forth. A little different when it's rubbed in your face your girlfriend has one." Giving her a brief smile and shrugging as he settled in to watch the movie. So far so good. Little did he know his momentary hesitation to start had already caused a problem. The tension in his shoulders waiting for the other shoe to fall was already starting to get to him.  

Now that the choice of movie was approved and the two of them were settled in to watch, Janelle tried to decide if Erik would mind if she snuggled up closer. It was a strange conundrum, but he had left that little bit of space between them.

Deciding to leave it up to him, Janelle turned her attention to the movie...until he spoke again.

Turning slightly wide eyes in Erik’s direction, Janelle reached out and set her coffee on the table and took to worrying her hands a bit, turning to face him more directly . ”I didn’t mean to rub it in your face…” she said softly. “It’s just what my parents said I should do and she doesn’t like me to put things away in the kitchen because she can’t find them…” Janelle didn’t mention that the woman did some light cooking as well...she didn’t like that Janelle ate out so much.

”I’m sorry…” she said, not entirely sure what she was apologizing for, but sure she needed to all the same.

Just as Erik was about to ask if he sat too close she dropped a bomb on him. Well way to royally mess that up Erik you idiot. Damage control fully engaged in a furious flurry of thought. "I didn't mean it like that at all! Just found it more.. surreal than anything?" She looked so genuinely sorry over something she barely had any control over his chest hurt for some reason. 

"Whoah, wait. You don't have anything to apologise for." He ran a hand down his face and sighed. "You would think I could manage five minutes of socializing without f(*&ing it up." It spoke volumes to how angry he was at himself that he swore. He wasn't sure he had ever swore in front of her before and he rarely swore in general. The irony that his whole hesitation for hanging out came to fruition wasn't lost on him at all. Taking a deep breath he looked at her. "It is not your fault hun it is mine. Sorry..."

Apparently she had misread the situation.

Janelle studied Erik’s face as he went through his various reactions to her apology, trying to decide if she had really misjudged or if he was just trying to make her feel better. Erik has never done anything like that before, so there was no reason to think he would now, so Janelle relaxed slightly eyebrows rising as he cursed himself for his poor...socialization skills.

Janelle couldn’t help it. She laughed. What a roller coaster of emotion this had evolved into.

Erik apologized and Janelle shook her head, sighing and running a hand through her hair ”I do know how to clean up after myself...but if I let her go then she would just have to work somewhere else and she has a gaggle of kids and grandkids. We honestly spend a lot of the time she's here chatting.”

As for the rest, ”And we are socializing huh...that sounds so formal for jammies and a movie.”

She laughed.. so it couldn't have been as bad as it had all been in his head. It certainly unwound the tense feeling he had. Erik figured it was entirely possible he was only making things worse then they had to be. That fact he realized this only heightened his own internal awkward conflict on muddling his way through everything.

Yet again she proved what a wonderful and caring person she was and he smiled to her. "She sounds really nice. It actually makes me feel pretty good knowing you have someone keeping an eye out for you besides me." The rest of what she had to say made his eyebrows screw up slightly.

"What would you call it? Maybe I just don't know the word in english?" He ventured gently. If there was some other way to describe the situation he certainly wouldn't know it.

The idea that she needed someone to watch over her should have been at least a little galling to Janelle, but it wasn’t. Erik’s whole job was to protect people and it made sense that he would apply his skills to her. Being offended by him simply caring that she was safe would have been petty in a way that Janelle couldn’t manage.

As to what they were doing...it was so easy to forget that English wasn’t Erik’s native language, the idea that he didn’t know a word for something seemed somewhat outrageous.

”I told you. We are hanging out.” Janelle said, turning back to regain her seat, this time close enough that her leg pressed against Erik’s. She assumed he would let her know if he minded.

”Something we have not done enough since we started dating. ”

It was true, work and school had seemed to be increasingly in the way as time passed, ”My class load isn’t so bad next semester, so hopefully things will get better.”

Erik's lack of experience 'hanging out' left him not really understanding the concept. Thankfully she didn't seem too terribly surprised he was confused. "Right, hanging out." Sounded like something monkeys did. He felt her leg against his and looked down at it a moment before he gave it a reassuring pat to let her know he didn't mind at all.

The problem in Erik's mind was he had no real baseline as to what was a normal amount of time to spend together. "I would like that. I know my own work and volunteering get in the way too.." Thinking carefully how to phrase it before speaking. "How often should we shoot for dedicated us time? Maybe we just have to plan things further ahead?" As much as he completely and utterly lacked any experience in this field he was trying. "Holidays and exams really don't leave much room for couples when your juggling family gatherings."

So analytical.

Janelle presented a problem and Erik proposed a solution. This was something she was learning about her boyfriend. Erik saw things in quite simple terms most of the time and he never came across a problem he didn’t think he could solve.

Analytical could be a very good thing sometimes. Applied to dating...not necessarily so.

Still…

”Maybe you could come with me…” Janelle said by way of suggestion. ”Or maybe I could go with you sometime...to volunteer I mean.”

A schedule for time together seemed so...clinical, ”I don’t think I like the idea of a schedule...we should be more spontaneous! It makes things more fun...like today.”

She didn't sound like she was completely shooting him down. That was a good start. Compromising was supposed to be good for relationships too. "Would you consider working together quality time? Not opposed to the idea, just want to get a good feel for your well feelings." Erik hadn't really considered that she might even do such a thing and recognize it as 'together' time. 

"I don't mean like a full on this is the only time we see each other kind of schedule. More romantic like we pick a day or evening and say that is the dedicated time of the week just for us. So even if things get wild and crazy we still make sure to have time for one another to do something. Otherwise things should be more... organic?" It took him a moment to fish for the word. Erik silently tried not to balk at the increasing complexity of this whole dating situation. Needing a bit of reassurance amidst all the turmoil he pressed his side against her lightly to see how she would respond.

Would it be time together if it was working together? Janelle shrugged her shoulders, ” Volunteering would definitely count. We would be together, and doing something good. Once the holidays are over I won’t see my parents for quite a while. They’re doing a tour in Europe and won’t be back for ages.”

Hmmm a dedicated date night? Janelle mulled the idea for a moment, nodding as she considered the pros and cons. As long as they didn’t get too set on a single night of time together during the week, it seemed like a nice way to make sure they saw each other, no matter what.

”Now that you put it that way, a ‘date night kind of thing sounds nice.“ she said, Erik leaned against her more and Janelle smiled, slipping her arm under his so she could hold his hand and more easily lean her head on his shoulder.

”Good thing these movies aren’t too hard to follow, we’ve gone and missed the beginning. Want me to back it up?”

As ever Janelle wanted to use their time together to help people. He was amazed at her ability to be so giving despite really not needing anything at all for herself. Most people in her position would have found some hobby to sink their time and effort into. "Oh yeah? Speaking of which should I prepare myself to come over for Christmas or did they get enough of me over thanksgiving?" Making sure his tone was gentle to indicate teasing, but if christmas was a private family affair he also understood that aspect as well. Her parents had seemed nice enough, but he wasn't sure if she had gotten any pressure or feedback about him. Heavens above he knew it had been a bit stressful for him.

"Yeah I meant it as more of a 'hey you, one way or another we are spending time together' sort of thing." Unable to help a little chuckle at the thought. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and kissed the top of her head. "You can if you want. I am just using it as a distraction to try and figure out how to get all... cuddly and snuggly with you." Having pause to realise just what his own intentions were and putting it to words until he realized that was exactly what he wanted. A little blush tainting his cheeks as he hoped it wasn't too forward of him to say.  

Janelle grinned at Erik’s question. Thanksgiving had gone better than she could have possibly hoped and her parents had already extended an invitation to Erik for Christmas. Things had been busy though, and Janelle had known that Erik had been a bit...overwhelmed by everything at Thanksgiving so she hadn’t passed it along yet.

”They’d love it if you joined us! I usually stay a couple of days though, so we’d have to travel separately if you have to get back for work...otherwise there is plenty of room.”

As they settled in and Erik kissed the top of her head, Janelle laughed softly and snuggled in more, tilting her head so she could look up better and grin, ” That’s the other reason that people watch silly romcoms...so they don’t actually have to pay attention.”

That certainly came as a bit of a surprise. Erik hadn't thought he did good enough to warrant a second visit. True he had done his usual thing when placed in a situation he wasn't used to and that was to be quiet and observe and interact when directly expected to. The whole 'happy family gathering' scenario had certainly been a new one.  Only about ten million more social situations to learn to fake his way through. 

"Ah I was told not to make any set in stone plans. Boss figures there will be a lot of work to do over the holidays." Between being up normal security companies routines and foreigners making moves for their own plans he figured they would be busy. "Should be good for the evenings at the bare minimum." Even if he had to steal a helicopter he would make sure it happened. 

She grinned up at him and it made him chuckle yet again. "Wait, so romcoms are girl speak for 'I want to cuddle?' Is that what we have established?" What else could couples do?

Janelle frowned slightly at Erik’s mention of work around the holidays. It was almost criminal to make someone work on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Charles Dickens has even written a book about it that had been made into a play multitudes of times.

”It’s a long trip there and back.” she said shaking her head slightly against his shoulder, ”I wouldn’t want you to go to all of that trouble. They won’t mind if you can’t make it.”

As for why people watched romcoms and what they had established, Janelle could only chuckle again and turn her head to plant a quick kiss on Erik’s cheek before laying her head back down on his shoulder.

”That’s exactly what we established.”