The next morning.
Natasha yawned and walked into the kitchen, she was surprised to see Dom there making his signature pancakes.
"Good morning Natasha," He turned to her in a sing-song tone.
"What are you still doing here?" Natasha asked. She blinked, she noticed that he was wearing casual clothes and the kitchen was a mess.
"What do you mean what am I still doing here? I'm making pancakes, in my kitchen," Dom replied.
"Aren't you going to work?" Natasha asked. She sniffed, she had a massive headache, her time of the month had come unexpected and she was truly not in the mood to be annoyed.
She walked to the kettle on the stove and proceeded to make herself some tea.
"No, I'm not going to work today. I made sure to finish every massive project that needed my attention yesterday. I'm only going to work from home till the afternoon and after that I am completely free for a weak!" Dom said excitedly.
"Hmm, good for you," Natasha said sipping her tea.
"Are you alright? You don't seem fine?" Dom was quick to notice. She seemed more irritable than usual.
"I'm alright, I just have a headache, it will go away on its own," Natasha replied simply because she knew he would continue to ask until he was satisfied with her answer.
"Are you sure that's the only reason?".
"Why do you ask?" Natasha frowned.
"Oh, it's just that... you are flushing a bit, and your skin looks a bit red. Are you sure it's not allergies?" Dom asked.
Natasha shook her head and scoffed. She was annoyed at herself right now. Why did she suddenly have to start flushing?
"No, it's not allergies, I am perfectly alright, stop making a fuss and seeing things where there are none," She scoffed.
"Sheesh, fine, okay, I get it, relax please," Dom said, he was not ready to enter into a fight so early in the day.
Natasha moved out of his way as he tried to grab a plate.
"So tell me, what about you?".
"What do you mean?" Natasha sipped her tea.
"I mean have you settled most of your work issues so you will be free for the weekend and week?" he asked.
"I am as free as I can be at the moment," Natasha replied.
"Alright then, because if you aren't Joy is going to be so upset," Dom said.
"Believe me, I am well aware of that, she is so excited about this trip. She begged me to allow her start packing yesterday," Natasha laughed.
Dom laughed, "Yep, that sounds like Joy alright. I don't blame her for being excited, it's nice to see her so excited.".
"I agree, so when are we leaving?" Natasha asked.
"Well, I was thinking we can leave right after dinner, or before dinner it depends on you," Dom said.
"Well, which is better?".
"I want us to leave early so we can beat the traffic, and if we leave before dinner, we might make it just in time for dinner at my parent's house, and then tomorrow we can begin the full mini-vacation experience," Dom smiled.
"It seems like you already know what you want to choose.".
"I do, but I still asked your opinion, what do you think? Because I am considering the fact that if we leave before dinner, Joy might fall asleep before we arrive and she will go to bed hungry," Dom said.
"You are right about that, with how excited she was about leaving she will be all tired out." Dom nodded. He could already imagine her sleeping so cutely and peacefully in her car seat.
"Well, you're right about beating the traffic. I don't want to spend the entire evening stuck in traffic, so we should definitely leave before dinner time, you don't like driving at night either." Dom nodded in response. Driving at night was not something he liked to do.
"We'll just have a late lunch, and I can pack some snacks for Joy that way she won't be hungry if she falls asleep before we arrive," Natasha said.
"Good idea Natasha, good idea, I agree a hundred percent," Dom smiled.
"What about Lulu, is she coming with us?".
"Yes, she is, she will come with her own car though, on her way from work, which means we will be leaving the house empty when we leave," Dom said.
"Then who is going to take care of the house while we are gone? We are going to be gone a full week, we can't just leave it empty," Natasha frowned.
"Don't worry about that Natasha, I already took care of it. I called one of the maids that took their summer leave. I doubled her pay and she's going to stay in the house and make sure it remains clean while we are gone," Dom smiled.
"Alright then," Natasha said. Dom rushed to the stove and flipped a pancake he had left.
"Are pancakes all you know how to make?" she asked mockingly.
"You know Natasha, you should know that by now. They are my favourite food," Dom turned to her.
"More like the only food you know how to make without stress," Natasha scoffed.
"You know that's not true Natasha, it's not true at all, I know how to cook other things. I just wanted to give Joy a treat this morning," Dom smiled.
"Oh please, this isn't a treat, you always make pancakes, always," She rolled her eyes.
"Yes, but the thought counts and I know that my princess is going to appreciate my pancakes unlike some people," Dom said.
"Oh please, you are going to get tired of pancakes one of these days.".
"I will never get tired of pancakes, they are delicious, easy to make and you can add anything to them. For example, I added bananas today and they are simply delicious," Dom praised himself.
"Yeah right, I for one am tired of pancakes, I am just going to make myself some toast," Natasha said switching on the toaster and placing four pieces of bread in it.
"Yeah, you do that while my daughter and I enjoy my wonderfully, delicious pancakes!" Dom said filling some more water into the kettle and switching on the stove.
"Whatever makes you sleep at night," Natasha replied casually.
...
Joy yawned, she opened her eyes and a big smile was plastered on her face. She gasped, it was Friday! They were going to leave today and she just could not wait.
Hurriedly she got out of bed, rushed into her bathroom, brushed her teeth, washed her face before running out of her room down the stairs. She could smell the fresh scent of hot banana pancakes and she knew who was making breakfast.
Only her daddy made pancakes for breakfast and she knew that it was late, which meant he was not going to work.
"Good morning daddy!" Joy rushed into the kitchen. Dom turned around and smiled, he caught her when she jumped on him.
"Good morning my princess, how are you?" Dom laughed.
"I am good daddy, you are not going to work today?.
"No, not today my princess, I am going to work from home a bit and then when I'm done, we can leave," Dom smiled.
"Yayyyyyy!!" Joy shouted in happiness. She was so happy to hear that.
"Wow, it seems that you have forgotten all about me," Natasha said. She did not like to admit that she was feeling a bit jealous, but she was.
"I can never forget about you mommy, never!" Joy said. Dom put her down and she ran to hug her mother.
"Well thank you for reminding me of that fact my darling," Natasha picked her up and hugged her.
"How are you mommy?".
"I am good my darling," Natasha smiled running her fingers through her daughter's hair.
"Daddy, those pancakes smell so delicious!" Joy said.
Dom looked at Natasha telling her 'I told you so' with her eyes. Natasha scoffed at him.
"Why thank you my princess. Your mommy does not want to eat them so that means more for us!" Dom said.
"Yayyyyyyyyy!!!" Joy raised her hands in excitement.
"At this rate pancakes will start growing on both your heads," Natasha laughed.
"They should start growing mommy, that means I can always have a snack by my side at all times," Joy said.
"Isn't that right my princess?" Dom asked raising his hand for a high five and Joy raised her hand as well.
"Right!".
"You two are birds of a feather when it comes to pancakes. Well, I am going to eat my toast in peace," Natasha said putting Joy down and getting a plate to put her toast in.
"I'll be in the dining room," Natasha said.
"Okay mommy, please enjoy your toast," Joy smiled.
"I will darling, thank you," Natasha smiled at her before leaving.
"Would you like to see a trick princess?" Joy turned and nodded.