Chapter Text
Henry’s alarm clock was an analog relic that looked like it belonged in an old Disney cartoon. It was brass plated with roman numerals on the front and was loud enough to wake the dead. However, even it was almost no match for the sleeping prowess of Jo Martinez. Henry leaned over and grabbed the clock to silence it’s shrill ringing. He placed it back on the nightstand, flopped back down on the pillow with a groan and glanced at the sleeping form to his left. A cascade of brown hair covered the pillow and he could see the number on the back of the old NYPD softball t-shirt she wore with oversized shorts to bed. Jo had taken most of the blankets with her as she turned away from the piercing alarm and morning sun.
“Jo?” He asked quietly. His inquiry was met with silence. “Jo?” Henry asked again a little louder. He propped himself up on one arm and turned sideways to put an arm around her. “Darling, it’s six o’clock.” This information was met with a small grunt. An evil thought crossed his mind and he leaned in a little closer. “Josephine..” He narrowly avoided the elbow that shot out of the covers towards his ribcage. He smiled knowing he had won.
“ I hate that name.” Jo muttered. “And you know it.” He leaned forward again and kissed her shoulder.
“You’ll forgive me in approximately five minutes.” Henry said getting out of bed. “ I’m making coffee.” He slipped his feet into his slippers, added an undershirt to his pyjama pants and made his way to the kitchen. He boiled water and filled the french press with coffee before returning to his room to finish getting dressed. By this point Jo was sitting up in bed checking news on her phone.
“ Still cross?” he asked with a smirk.
“ It hasn’t been five minutes yet.” She countered smirking right back.
“ My mistake.” Henry pulled a grey shirt,red tie, black pants and sweater from his wardrobe. Jo enjoyed watching him get ready in the morning. Unlike her strategy of lazing about until it was almost too late and then getting ready in a hurry, Henry’s moves were measured, calm and precise. “Your coffee is probably ready by now.” He said catching her eye in the mirror as he did up his tie. She smiled again and made her way over to him. She gave Henry a proper good morning kiss, slow and sweet, before padding to the kitchen in bare feet.
“Ah I knew he wasn’t making the good stuff just for me.” Abe commented from over his paper as she entered the kitchen.
“You can thank me later.” Jo commented over her shoulder as she poured a cup. She wrapped her hands around the mug and inhaled the scent of dark roast before taking her first sip. She hummed in appreciation as the caffeine hit her system. She put it down just long enough to pour Henry a cup and put it on the kitchen table at the spot next to Abe.
“Ya know, the table’s not a men’s club. You could have a seat.” Abe offered. Jo shook her head.
“ I wake up faster if I’m standing.” She took another long sip.
“Well I’m out of your way now if you want to start getting ready.” Henry said joining Abe at the table and grabbing a section of the paper. “Morning Abe.”
“Morning” His son answered. Jo rounded the table and put her hands on Henry’s shoulders
“ By the way, I’m pretty sure I forgot socks so I’m probably stealing a pair of yours.”
“ Well if you must.” He replied with a hint of fake annoyance.
“You wouldn’t have this problem if you just moved in already.” Both the younger adults looked up at Abe quickly.
“Abraham,” Henry said in an almost parental tone.
“What? It makes sense. She wouldn’t have to keep carting a gym bag back and forth, you wouldn’t keep losing your socks and with the mortgage split three ways I could settle into a nice semi retirement.” He shrugged ignoring the daggers his father was currently shooting at him over his paper. Jo coughed slightly and let go of Henry’s shoulders.
“ I think I’m going to go get dressed.” She said grabbing her coffee and excusing herself from the increasingly awkward breakfast. Once the door to Henry’s room shut, he put down the paper.
“Really Abraham?” Henry asked exasperated.
“Oh what, you’re going to play the old fashioned card on me? You and Abigail lived together for years before you got married and that was when it was taboo.” He said quietly.
“The difference is Abigail knew. Jo-” This time it was Abe’s turn to look annoyed.
“You should have told her a long time ago. She’s your partner, your best friend other than me and now you’re in love. She deserves to know.”
“ I will when I’m sure.” Abe sighed.
“Fine, but can you be sure soon? The rest of us aren’t getting any younger.” They heard the latch of the bedroom door opening again and quickly returned to their newspapers.
Jo reemerged, her hair up in a ponytail, wearing a blue blouse and black pants and carrying the overnight bag Abe found so pointless. She glanced between the two men who obviously were still annoyed at each other. “Ready when you are.”
“Right, yes.” Henry folded up his paper and downed the last of his coffee before grabbing his coat. They said their goodbyes to Abe and headed out towards Jo’s car.
“I hope that wasn’t, uncomfortable.” Henry said apologetically. Jo looked at him and shrugged. “Abe, he-“ Henry sighed.
“He worries about you. It’s cute.” Jo said.
“ He likes you.” He said as they approached the car.
“ I like him too. But, I also get why your eyes bugged out of your head when he suggested that.” Henry looked intrigued as they got into the vehicle and put their seat belts on. “We’ve only been together for six months. That can be considered a little early to be having the ‘live with me’ talk.”
“So you don’t want to.” He clarified. “Move in I mean?”
“ Eventually, it might not be a terrible idea.“ She paused. “ But I think we need to wait until we are both one hundred percent sure and aren’t just looking for a break in the bills.” He smiled at the joke and nodded. Jo put the car into drive and headed in the direction of the 11th street precinct to begin another day.