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The crisp October air whistled around Noah where he sat in the tree, the leaves rustling around him. He reached up, grabbing a good looking apple froma higher branch, listening for the satisfying snap of the fruit detaching from the tree. He brought it down to eye level, inspecting it on all sides to make sure it was good.
“You ready to catch?” Noah called down to Harry.
Harry quickly stood up from where he had been sitting in the grass. Once he was standing underneath Noah he called back, “Ready!”
Noah gently tossed the apple down, which Harry caught easily. Harry placed it in the basket with the other apples before sitting in the grass again as Noah dropped down from the tree.
“Are you okay?” Noah asked, seeing Harry leaning against the tree with his eyes closed.
“Yeah.” Harry smiled weakly.
“Do you need a break?” Noah sat down next to his boyfriend.
“Would you mind?” Harry ran a hand through his hair.
“Not at all.” Noah scooted closer to Harry until their shoulders were touching. Harry leaned his head against Noah’s shoulder, closing his eyes again. Glancing over at Harry, Noah noticed beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “Move your head,” Noah said softly. Confused, Harry lifted his head off Noah’s shoulder. Noah turned so he was facing Harry before placing his hands on Harry’s waist, gently turning him so he was faving away from Noah. “Let’s get this hair off your neck.'' Noah combed his giners through Harry’s hair a few times before dividing it into sections. His hands softly moved the hair, forming a braid.
“Mmm, thank you,” Harry said, feeling the breeze on his neck.
“You’re welcome.” Noah secured the braid with one of the hair ties he kept on his wrist. Harry liked to put his hair up when he got overheated from overexertion, but he rarely had a ponytail on hand, so Noah had gotten into the habit of holding onto a few. Noah repositioned both himself and Harry so Noah was leaning back against the tree and Harry was leaning back against Noah.
The two sat in comfortable silence, with Noah’s arms wrapped around Harry’s waist. Noah used to hate PDA and, honestly, physical affection in general, but after not being able to touch Harry for five years, after Harry didn’t have a body for five years, all his preconcieved notions of relationships went completely out the window.
“I’m sorry,” Harry said, picking pieces of grass out of the dirt.
“For what?” Noah asked.
“That my stamina is still so… shit.”
“Hey, no, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
“No, I know, it’s just… I know how excited you were for today and I feel like I’m kind of ruining it.”
“Harry, part of the reason I was so excited was because you were coming. You’re not ruining anything. You couldn’t.”
Harry rolled his eyes but smiled. “You’re so cheesy.”
“You came back from the dead; I’m allowed to be cheesy.” Noah pressed a kiss to the back of Harry’s neck causing him to laugh as Noah’s breath tickled him.
“Okay, fine, you win.”
“Win what?”
“The argument.”
“We were arguing?”
“Oh, shut up.” Harry stood up, turning to face Noah. Let’s move on to the next tree.”
“You sure you’re ready?” Noah asked, looking up at Harry.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
Noah smiled and stood up, holding Harry’s hand as they walked to the next tree. The two continued their routine of Noah climbing into each tree, throwing the fruit down to Harry. Noah made sure to watch Harry for signs of fatigue, insisting they take breaks whenever he looked too tired. By the time they left the orchard, Harry was exhausted, but happy and fell asleep in the passenger’s seat as Noah drove them back to the cabin.
~~~~~~~
When Harry woke up the next morning, he found the bed empty and his muscles sore. Despite the pain, he forced himself out of bed, trudging down the stairs. Approaching the kitchen, he smelled apples and cinnamon and found Noah standing at the stove.
“Good morning.” Harry rubbed his eyes, sitting down at the kitchen table.
“Technically, it’s afternoon,” Noah responded.
“What?” Harry checked his phone which read 12:04. “Oh, shut up .”
“Just saying.” Noah smiled.
“What are you making?” Harry asked. “It smells good.”
“Apple jam. But it just needs to simmer right now, so what do you want for breakfast? Preferably something apple-themed.”
“Apple-themed?”
“Please, we have so many apples.”
Harry laughed, making grabby hands at Noah, who blushed, but complied, walking over to Harry and standing in between his legs. Harry grabbed onto his waist, looking up at him. “How about… apple crepes?”
Noah cupped Harry’s face in his hands, leaning down to press a kiss to his lips. “Hmm, you know I love making crepes.” Noah smiled before going back to the counter and getting the ingredients.
Harry laid his head against the table, watching Noah as he worked. When Noah was done, he placed the plate in front of Harry and sat down next to him. Harry picked his head up, looking at the dish in front of him. It had three perfectly shaped crepes stacked in a pyramid, with a dollop of cinnamon whipped cream.
“Is this your homemade whipped cream?” Harry smiled.
“Of course it is.”
“You’re too good to me,” Harry said, cutting into the dish.
“I’m really not.” Noah looked to the ground.
Harry reached over, covering Noah’s hand with one of his own. “Noah… look at me.” Noah slowly lifted his head. “I love you. And you are an amazing boyfriend.”
“But–”
“No. No ‘but’s. I love you and you are an amazing boyfriend. Okay?”
Noah smiled shyly. “Okay, fine.”
Harry smiled, going back to his food. He could never get tired of Noah’s cooking.
“And Harry?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you too. And you’re an amazing boyfriend.”