Originally, his plan had been, once the cake was done, to surprise Astre in bed with a cup of tea, maybe a few biscuits, and then to follow him and light the candles, or what passed for candles in this world. But the apartment was small enough, smaller than their house had been in a world before, and scents travelled far and fast. If the noises of him moving about in the kitchen didn't wake Astre before the cake was done, the smell would have.

Another time, he thought. It wasn't the only chance he would have to surprise the teen. "I wouldn't mind a nap myself. Old age tends to take a lot out of a person, you know."

His humor, something he would have continued to play off of... had Astre not asked what he did. For once, and the first time in a long time, Astre had stunned him to momentary silence. "Ah... Kiss me, my lord?"