The stairwell was redolent with a spicy scent and Stella could have found her way blindfolded to Anton's apartment. So, he was the savory type, she thought, not a pastries and Danishes for breakfast kind of man. She  stored the information for future use, and arrived before his door, seeing it slightly ajar. A sudden flutter of butterflies made itself known in her belly and she stopped shy of opening the door as she watched the shadow of a small feline, Licorice, brush against the door welcoming her in with meows.<br/><br/>Somehow the whole thing felt deeply intimate, more intimate than anything she could put a finger on. Not sex intimate, but intimate in a deeper way. Here was a man who had tragically lost his wife, and son spending the evening with her and then asking her to come for a breakfast he had cooked for them. Not 'let's go out and have some pain au chocolat, beignets, and coffee at Nolly's down the street, but something he went to the kitchen to make.  Cooking for someone, in her opinion was an intimate act, much like when she knitted something for a friend, like a hat, or socks, or a scarf. As one was creating this, whether a dish or a wearable item, one was involved in thinking of that person, aware that every stitch had to be right, or the seasoning perfectly balanced. Just like the night before when she made the scones, hoping that she'd see him bite into one and watch his eyes light up as the balance of starches, and sugars mated with the scent of lemon and tart and yet sweet berries spilled over his tastebuds.<br/><br/>"Yup, homey be cooking for you," said the angel  trying the Snoop Dawg drawl.<br/><br/>"Be cooking for his shorty," echoed the devil who was noticeably burdened by bling.<br/><br/>"what has gotten into you two?" hissed Stella still balancing the plate of scones.<br/><br/>"nooooothing, said the angel innocently,  'we are trying different guises is all, it was her idea,' and he pointed at the devil.<br/><br/>'so what? I was watching Martha and Dawg, and thought they were kinda cute?'<br/><br/>Stella just rolled her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath and opened the door with a 'hellooooo, it's me!' and was greeted by Lics and Tesla who jumped off the window seat and did his tiger stretch, his maw wide open as he yawned demonstratively before he ambled over to her and purred against her leg.<br/><br/>Stella walked into the kitchen after placing the scones on the dining table, and greeted Anton.<br/><br/>"Oh my," she said, "it smells amazing in the stairwell, but in here it takes on a whole new meaning of wow!" She looked around and asked, "anything I can help with?"