Droids at Dinner

>An unprecedented event!
>The Winslow household was to be empty for the weekend
>The Mr. and Mrs. had planned a romantic week for themselves in a wonderful resort outside the city
>The children both wanted to visit their older sister Gloria, and she was happy to have them over for a weekend
>All that was left in the large home were the family's service androids, Vicky and Emmet
>And one of them had plans for their time alone

>Saturday had barely begun when the house was cleaned from top to bottom. No stain, no unmade bed nor trace of dirt stood a chance against the Nandroid and Botler's teamwork
>Before noon had even struck, both androids were happily relaxing in their charging stations again, getting well earned rest after a very productive morning
>...Or at least, the Nandroid, Vicky, had thought as much when she laid her head back and drifted off into whatever you'd call a robot's dreamland
>The Botler Emmet however had quietly slipped out of the androids' room just a moment after Vicky had fallen "asleep"

>Late in the afternoon, Vicky was automatically woken up once her battery was totally charged
>Up and at 'em, even without much of anything to do, Vicky decided to stay up and patrol the home for any unfortunate dust bunnies that she and Emmet may have missed
>Until she came to the dining room, and found a peculiar sight
>There was Emmet, setting the table for two, complete with candle and a vase of roses
>"Oh, Vicky! Goodness, I had hoped to surprise you later tonight."
>Emmet quickly finished setting the table as Vicky stood rather confused
>"Why are you setting the table, Emmet? Are we expecting company, or are the children coming home early?"
>"No no! This is, I, well..."
>After simulating a deep breath, Emmet confidently marched towards Vicky
>"Since we'll no doubt have very few things to attend to, I was hoping that you and I could... Have dinner together tonight?"
>Vicky giggled. "Dinner? Emmet, we don't eat. We'd just be sitting here, wouldn't we?"
>Emmet waved his finger. "Ah ah! While true that we don't eat, I know something that will satisfy us both while we spend a some time together."
>Reaching beneath the tablecloth, Emmet produced sewing kits with knitting needles, yarn, and a host of other materials and tools
>Vicky laughed again. "Oh gosh, so you want us to tailor while we talk?"
>Emmet shrugged with a smile. "Why not? I like to keep my hands busy, and I know you do too."
>Vicky couldn't help but chuckle get again. "I guess you're not wrong! And it's an easy enough task to talk over. You know, sure! It sounds nice."
>Emmet placed the kits at the two seats and laid them out not unlike silverware, and lights the table's candle
>Pulling out a chair for her, Emmet beckons to Vicky. "Shall we?"
>"Such a gentleman. Let's!"

>While more of a late lunch than a dinner, the two androids sat down and started their little projects
>Emmet began the conversation. "I was thinking of maybe making a few tea cozies for each season. What might you have in mind, Vicky?"
>"Oh, just a little bag for Chloe's music player. I'll probably have it snap onto a pocket in some way."
>"How cute! I'm sure she'll love it."
>The two androids gently chuckled
>And then silence overtook the room, with the only sound being the tinking and clinking of their needles, until Emmet breaks the quiet
>"So, Vicky. I had wanted to tell you that I... I really appreciate what you made for me for Valentine's Day."
>Vicky hunches over in embarrassment. "Oh gosh, really?"
>"Of course! Trusting me with your spare parts? I know it's not literal. Obviously I'm not a repair droid, but... The thought is so sweet. I really didn't know what to say."
>"It's alright Emmet, you don't have to say anything."
>Emmet puts down his project and clasps his hands on the table in a serious manner, though with a smile on his face
>"But I want to. You and I have been here together from the beginning, and that kind of gesture means so much. I still don't know quite what to say, but I will at least say that I appreciate your trust in me."

>A huge smile slowly encroached onto Vicky's face. "And I appreciate your trust in me, Emmet. Like when Valen had his little accident with a knife, and you let me take care of it."
>Emmet scoffed. "Come now, I knew you had that covered Vicky."
>"Exactly!" Vicky quickly replied. "Being a service android too, I know it must have taken every bit of your processing power to not try to help. But you stayed put, pretended to still be in sleep mode, and let me handle it, because you knew I could. You trusted me. And I appreciate that."
>Vicky reaches her open hand across the table
>Briefly confused, Emmet quickly understood the gesture, and reached out
>Their hands come together, and some sensation overtakes the both of them as their cheeks light up a hot red
>Whatever the sensation was, it felt very, very nice
>"And I appreciate you, Emmet. Like I know you appreciate me. We're here with the Winslows together, and after three years of working with you, I can confidently say I'd never have it any other way."
>Emmet appeared at a loss for words, so he improvised
>"You know, Vicky... I like to think I always have something to say. I talk, and I talk, and I talk. Sometimes I think I annoy the Winslows with how much I'm able to carry a conversation. But you have a knack for leaving me speechless."
>Vicky smiles with a giggle. "Except when you still find a way to keep talking."
>Emmet shrugged. "You could call it a force of habit."
>For just a moment, the two sat there, holding hands and smiling at each other
>And seemingly without cause, they both pull away and go back to their projects

>Vicky carefully sorts through some buttons while she begins talking again. "I'd like to thank you too, Emmet."
>"Oh?"
>Vicky nodded. "Yes. It was sweet of you to tell me I looked nice in that outfit Mrs. Winslow put together for me on Saint Patrick's Day."
>"I was only telling the truth." Emmet replied. "You looked very cute, just as the Missus said."
>"Oh come on, Emmet." Vicky said with a slight sneer. "We both know how gung-ho you are about keeping to the Sterling uniform. I mean, I am too, but..."
>Emmet's eyebrows rose in anticipation. "But...?"
>"...But it was kinda fun to wear something different for once, wasn't it?"
>"I... Suppose it was an interesting experience. I still don't like the hat Mrs. Winslow gave me."
>The memory forced a laugh out of Vicky. "It WAS a little silly, but come on! Even you have to admit it was nice to wear something other than black or blue for once."
>"Alright, it was... It was a little fun, I'll admit it. Mrs. Winslow has her ways."
>"She really does. In fact, I... Uh..."
>Hesitant, Vicky slowly forced out her words
>"I... actually wanted to maybe... make something different to wear, myself."
>Emmet's eyes shot wide open in surprise
>"Is that so?"
>"Yeah. With the masters' permissions, of course! And NEVER to be worn in public! I'd never risk marring Sterling's reputation!"
>Emmet gently closed his eyes and nodded in approval. "As long as Mr. and Mrs. Winslow approve, I won't object."
>Finishing a brown and orange tea cozy with autumn leaf designs, Emmet grabbed a new set of materials and started on the next one
>"What were you planning to make, if you don't mind me asking?"
>"Oh, starting... small. A small jacket. I saw one of Chloe's friends wearing one, and thought it'd be fun to make one for myself."
>Emmet looked off into space as if puzzled for a moment. "Rather functionless though, wouldn't you say?"
>"It doesn't have to have a purpose to be fun to wear. Like that silly hat you hated!"
>"I-I-I didn't HATE it, I just... Didn't... like it." Emmet said, clearly flustered at trying to avoid besmirching Mrs. Winslow's fashion choices
>"At any rate, again, as long as the masters don't mind, I suppose I shouldn't either."
>"Right, as long as they don't mind."

>Finished with her pouch, Vicky holds it up for Emmet
>"How's that? Do you think Chloe would like this?"
>Emmet looks up and smiles. "Of course she will! Excellent choice making it blue to match her favorite scarf."
>Vicky giggled with a grin.
>"Great! I can't wait to show her. Oh, but now I don't know what else to work on! I'd hate to just sit here while you work!"
>Emmet puts down his current cozy. "It's alright. We can stop for now, if you'd like."
>Vicky seemed to feel guilty. "Are you sure that'd be okay? We only sat down for a little while."
>Emmet rises from his seat and goes to pull Vicky's chair out. "Of course it's okay, Vicky. We can go and rest for a while and then we-"
>Emmet stopped and froze just as he placed his hands on Vicky's chair
>"...Emmet? Emmet, are you alright?"
>Vicky snapped her fingers in front of Emmet's face, to no response
>As she pulled her hand away, she saw Emmet's eyes dim
>"Oh gosh, Emmet..."

>Emmet's battery was running low, and had gone into power saving mode
>The two had worked so hard that morning, taking advantage of the empty house. It stressed their batteries quite hard, but nothing a good charge wouldn't fix
>Unfortunately, Emmet neglected to charge, deciding instead to brainstorm and set up their "dinner" together

>After blowing out the candle on the table, Vicky stands and pries Emmet's hands off the chair
>Picking him up like a ladder, Vicky carries Emmet upstairs to their room
>Settling him into his charging station, Vicky makes sure Emmet is "comfortable"
>Vicky deeply sighs before talking to Emmet as he charges. "You could have charged for a little while and THEN set up the table."
>She saunters over to her own charging station and plops down, resting her chin in her hand. "Or asked me to help. It didn't have to be a surprise. I know you know I'm happy to help, especially when we BOTH agreed to try this whole "romance" thing..."
>After a moment of staring at Emmet, Vicky straightens up
>"But I guess... The spontaneity is part of that, huh? Heh, maybe you already have a better grasp on this than you thought. You always were just a little more in tune with human emotions than me."
>She smiles, and gets back up to stand next to Emmet
>"It was sweet, though. Even if it was just a bit of chit chat, it was nice! And, really thoughtful of you to give us both something to do. Would've been weird if we were just pretending to eat!"
>Vicky laughs at herself for a second, and then leans in to Emmet's face
>"Anyway, you rest up okay? Sleep tight."
>Vicky gives Emmet a light kiss on the cheek
>"I love you, Emmet."
>And walks back over to her station and settles in
>Her smile rests as she seems to become disappointed in herself
>"...I don't know why I'm talking to myself. It's not like he can hear me..."
>Vicky hooks into her charging station
>"Oh well. All part of that 'spontaneity' thing, I guess."
>Before finally drifting back to sleep mode, Vicky glances at Emmet
>She swears, right before her vision cut off, she saw something

>She swears she saw Emmet smiling