Chapter Text
“So what’s he doing now?” The backs of his fingers stroked up and down her back. She kissed the corner of his mouth ever so lightly.
The shyness staining her eyes fucking killed him.
“On scholarship at University of Chicago. He’s about halfway done with his second year. Physics major.”
“Met a girl yet?” They lay side by side on their stomachs, heads propped on arms.
“He has actually. He let me meet her and everything. I like her a lot. What about your little girl?” She caught his hand. He let his fingers fall between his, tracing her thumb with his.
“Kalia…she’s turning four this Friday.” He nodded towards the framed photos papering the wall. “She loves green and puppies and dancing. She takes ballet and does these incredible drawings- you know how it is.”
“Yah,” Another kiss.
“Caroline’s just a few blocks over, she married a good and boring real estate guy a few months ago. I get my baby every weekend and school holiday. Dinner every other night.” His facial hair tickled her cheek as he ran his lips across it.
“She looks just like you.” God, it was good to see her smile.
“You should know-I uh-her…her middle name is Sarah Rose. Kalia Sarah Rose.”
“Jesus Christ Holder…”
“Calm down yo, Rose was a family name on Caroline’s side and I uh- I- really want you to meet her.”
“I’d love to…if you’re serious abou-” He was all around her, over her, and under her all at once. She sucked in a breath and whispered his name, wrapping her arms around his neck. The rain tapped on the windows outside but she was sheltered. So sheltered.
In more ways than one.
He was so warm. He wasn't gonna let her be washed away again. They were facing the wrong way on his bed and one of his old sweatshirts was swallowing her up almost to the knees. He pushed it up to her hips and grabbed at her thigh, plundering her mouth and pressing his tongue against hers.
“I missed you.” He sighed, ending the kiss, intent on memorizing her wide eyes and quiet whimper.
“I- well- obviously…” He laughed low in his chest, stroking her hair back.
“You wouldn’t be blushin’ on me now would you?”
“Shut up,” She scrubbed a hand over her face. He just laughed again and tugged her hand away, lacing their fingers together again and dropping them above her head.
“I prayed for you.” He admitted as the thunder rumbled and the windows rattled. She bit her lip and scanned his face.
“You really wanna see me cry don’t you?” He took on a fake offended look.
“I’m just being honest. I prayed.”
“You know you’re too nice for your own good you bastard.” She turned her head to yawn. He kissed her cheek hard enough to smush her face against the mattress. She made a choked, surprised noise and pushed him off, unable to suppress another real laugh as she fought off his hands and buried her face in a stray pillow. “God you are SO weird.” He reached for all the covers that had been kicked to the floor, kissing the back of her neck, self satisfied grin plastered to his face.
They rearranged themselves. He left bed to lock up his house and turn off lights, pulling boxers on as he went. He collected the clothes that had been left behind.
All over the goddamn place.
There were shoes by the door and shirts in the kitchen. He found their pants in the living room. He had to hunt for socks and underwear. They were pretty well spread out.
He fingered her pale blue scarf with a smirk.
She was curled on her side, eyes closed when he came back. He dumped his clothes and hung hers up over the closet door before joining her again. He played with her hair and tugged the blankets up, propping himself on an elbow next to her.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.” He dropped to a whisper, feathering his lips over her temple.
“I'm thinking that...I made the right choice. If I even had one in the first place- I made the right choice.” He thought carefully.
“It’s always gonna be your choice.” She opened her eyes again.
She sat up and pulled off the sweatshirt, sliding easily into his arms.
He wondered how he went so long without knowing how soft she was, how she could have hidden so long behind cable knits, crocheted Nordic monstrosities, and icy glares. Parts of her were riddled with scars, inside and out. Her legs were strong from running but there were firm curves under her naval, around her ribs, and wrapping her hips that must have been from her change of pace. And food. Toned and part of her.
But shit she was beautiful.
He let himself get lost in all that warm, white skin of hers.
She nearly whimpered when she started thinking coherently again. She thought about every twist, bump, ditch, and collapsed bridge in the road that led to this. She mumbled something along those lines out loud. He paused, curling hair behind her ears.
There were new, unfamiliar lines bracketing his eyes and his mouth but he was smiling and his shoulders weren’t slumped over anymore, like something inside him was wound up too tight. And they were touching each other more tonight more than they had in the long years they’d known each other. And she just wanted more.
She hitched her legs around his hips and slipped her hand up his chest and around the back of his neck.
“Stephen,” He wrinkled his nose and she bit her lip. They smirked. It wasn’t them. “Holder…”
“Sarah Linden,” He dropped his face to the crook of her neck and took a deep breath. He drug his teeth over her shoulder and she let out a needy kind of gasp that drove him absolutely nuts.
They were back to it like they never started.