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"Since when did I become the designated chef?" grumbled Olivia.

"Since you decided you don't want to have to replace our microwave – again – after I set it on fire," replied Alex firmly.

"Alex," whined Olivia. "I'm tired of making all the meals all the time. Just heat up some of the pasta I made yesterday and put together a salad. What can go wrong?"

"If it's so easy, why can't you do it?"

"I'm tired," Olivia told her. "And sometimes I feel like I'm being taken advantage of."

Alex gave Olivia her sweetest smile and leaned in for a kiss. "But you love me anyway."

"I do," agreed the detective. She patted Alex's head. "Now for the first time this entire month, please take care of dinner."

Alex stomped into the kitchen, wearing her most petulant expression. She felt very much like a six-year-old being ordered to finish her chores.

She took out the pasta and dumped it in a bowl, growling to communicate her displeasure to Olivia, who'd clearly heard because she chuckled. Alex hated cooking. Alex hated kitchen appliances. Alex hated eating anything she cooked because she usually managed to ruin it.

She covered the bowl so the pasta wouldn't explode and make a mess. She put the bowl in the microwave and pressed start. And then she went out to the living room where Olivia was sprawled out on the couch and rested her head on Olivia's stomach. And she waited.

A moment later, there came a tortured sound that resembled what Alex felt a dog being electrocuted would emit. Both of them stared at each other in trepidation and ran to the kitchen. Sure enough, the microwave was on fire – again – and it looked like fireworks were going off. It was actually quite a sight to behold. When the microwave was on fire, it actually flashed different colors – orange and blue and pink and –

"Alex!" screeched Olivia as she took out the fire extinguisher and put out the fire, then examined its source with abject disapproval written all over her face. "How many times do I have to tell you not to put tinfoil in the microwave? Didn't you learn anything the first time?"

Alex tried her best to look apologetic, but couldn't quite manage to keep the smirk from playing at her lips. She wasn't going to be allowed near the kitchen for awhile yet.

Mission accomplished.

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