This Time's An Aquarium (a Grimalkin Academy: Kittens HEA Scene)
Full disclaimer: There is a Grimalkin Academy: Kittens HEA book planned covering Mona and Ryan's time on a dig (mentioned in Fifth Time's A Crisis) but I thought it'd be fun to have some bonus scenes with Thomas and Caspian until then!
This fits after the events of the series (but before the epilogue) and is in Mona's third year of study at Grimalkin.
Also, the sharks are partly in hommage to my good friend, Bea Paige, and to The Deep (my local aquarium) which has a tunnel like this.
Start the series here: books2read.com/firsttimesacharm
Copyright Laura Greenwood 2020. This is an unedited bonus scene. Contains spoilers for the Grimalkin Academy: Kittens series.
***
"How did you arrange this?" I ask Thomas as he slips his hand into mine.
"I have friends in high places," he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
I snort, but go with it. I love watching the sharks, and being able to do it when no one else is around is a definite plus. He guides me through the rooms, and we stop and stare at some of the fish as we do. With only the workers around, we can spend as long as we want looking at them all.
The large tank full of huge sharks and turtles rising up in front of us, and it's all I can do not to run towards it and press my hands up against the glass and stare in at the fish. This is supposed to be a romantic date, not me acting like a five-year-old seeing big fish for the first time.
"You'll want to come down to the tunnel," Thomas says.
I cock my head to the side and look back at him. "Why?"
"You'll see." A teasing glint enters his eyes.
What's he up to? I haven't seen him this secretive since...well, ever. He wasn't even like this when we were running around and doing black magic behind everyone's backs. Well, not everyone. Caspian, Ryan, and Daphne were all in on it too, but we're the only ones. Hopefully, no one will ever find out about it.
He guides me past the huge tank window. A pang of regret fills me as we move away, but then I remember we're on our own here, and I can simply come back after Thomas' surprise is over.
Light dances on the wall, the reflections of the water rippling across it. Faint music comes from the tunnel. I frown, then flash another look at Thomas. What's he up to?
"Go on," he urges.
I step into the tunnel, and marvel at the set up in front of me. "We're having a picnic?" I ask, though the answer is evident. There's a blanket and pillows stretched out in the middle of the tunnel, and a hamper sat by it. The music is coming from a set of tiny speakers next to it.
"You keep saying you never have enough time to enjoy the tunnel when we come. So I thought we'd have a whole meal of it," Thomas says.
A large smile stretches over my face. The aquarium is far enough away from Grimalkin that I don't think anyone has ever noticed I come with a teaching assistant, but even so, we like to be careful. Given our 'service to the academy', I doubt there'd be any consequences from them finding out about it, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
"It's wonderful, thank you."
I ignore the fish for a moment, even though it's hard, and make my way to Thomas. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in for a kiss. He returns it within moments, and I melt into his arms. While it's fun to hang out with all three of my boyfriends at once, I cherish the one on one time I can spend with them.
Thomas breaks the kiss after another moment. "I thought about inviting the others, but then I decided I wanted some alone time with you before you jet off halfway around the world."
I flash him an easy smile, hopefully reassuring him that I don't plan on forgetting any of them any time soon. "I'll still be able to video call," I point out, though secretly I'm glad to be able to spend some time with him, and hopefully with Caspian, before Ryan and I leave for the dig.
"You chose right. I think Caspian wants to take me on a date on Thursday."
"Yes, he mentioned something like that." Thomas directs me to the blanket, and I drop myself down onto it, leaning against one of the pillows and staring up at the fish as they swim overhead.
One of the sharks passes over us, his body swaying back and forth with an elegance that can't be denied.
"Did you know sharks have a sixth sense?" Thomas asks.
I laugh softly. "Yes. It's to do with sensing the electrical fields that other animals make."
"Well, there goes any chance I have of impressing you," Thomas jokes.
"You know that's not the case." I sit up and place a hand against his back in what I hope is a reassuring gesture. "You've already impressed me, you don't have to do it again."
"Mona, I'm never going to stop trying to impress you. I love you. Your happiness is the most important thing in the world to me."
My heart flutters hearing the words, even though I have countless times. "I love you too," I reply. "But your own should be just as important," I remind him. It's a conversation we have regularly. Mostly because he's a workaholic and sometimes needs reminding he can do things for fun. I hope I've been good for him on that front.
"I know."
A hammerhead shark swims past, reminding me of his shark fact. "Did you know that hammerheads have the best sixth sense of all the sharks?" I try.
He chuckles. "I might have seen that when I was looking up facts to impress you with. They have three-sixty vision too."
Another one joins the first, as if called here by the subject of our conversation. We lapse into comfortable silence as we watch the fish swim around above us. It's beautiful, and peaceful. Like nothing I've ever experienced before. He's going to have to get a private viewing of the aquarium for us again at some point.
"Meow."
Oh no. I'd recognise that sound anywhere.
The two of us exchange a knowing glance before turning our attention to the picnic basket.
"Did you..." I start.
Thomas flips open the lid of the picnic basket, and small furry striped head pops out of it and looks around.
I sigh. "He is impossible." It doesn't take a genius to work out that Rhubarb has been up to his usual mischief, and that Thomas had no idea the kitten was there.
I scoop him out of the basket and set him down on the blanket.
"If you've eaten our dinner, Rhubarb, I'm going to be cross," I threaten, waggling my finger at the kitten and not meaning a word of it. How can I be mad at him when he's so cute?
"I should have known better than to try leaving him in your room," Thomas mutters.
"You really should." I kiss him on the cheek so he knows I don't blame him for the kitten's misbehaviour. No one is to blame for that except Rhubarb himself, the sneaky kitty.
Thomas unpacks the picnic, spreading the food out around us. After pulling out a thermos, he hands me a mug of tea. I clasp my hands around it and blow across the top. This date can't possibly get any better. Privacy, hundreds of square metres of water above our heads, and tea. Perfection.
Rhubarb seems to have found his feet again and heads off in the direction of the tank. It takes him a couple of attempts, but he manages to balance himself on the small ledge next to the glass. He bats it with his paw as a dark fish with whiskers coming from its face. The two creatures stare at one another.
"Is he in a staring match with a catfish?" Thomas asks.
"I think so." I smother a laugh. This is right up there in the list of silly things Rhubarb has done.
Thomas settles back onto the pillows, then pulls me into him to watch the fish and the kitten.
"How long have we got here?" I ask.
"Until ten." He kisses the side of my head.
I relax further into him. "Good."
This is perfect. One of my boyfriends, fish swimming overhead, and even one of my kittens. Life really is perfect.
