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Kate loved every part of Elle. Everything about her made the woman swoon. Every line on her face, every freckle, her hands, her perfect figure, her legs, those gorgeous pots of honey that she would stare into in the early hours of the morning. Her favorite thing was to tell Elle how pretty she was, watching her face grow pink and look down as she smiled. Elle’s perfect smile could make any day better, it always lit up the room. Her perfectly white teeth and red-painted lips curling into the most beautiful thing Kate had ever seen. Kate also loved Elle’s hair, how silky it was, the way it bounced when she walked or laughed, and how she could mindlessly play with it as the other woman laid her head in her lap while they watched TV. Sure, she’d told Elle how much she loved her features, but never how much she loved her. She had come close, things like “I love you…r eyes,” “I love you… in those pants.” Kate had seen how good Elle was with Meg, and her heart swelled. She saw how the taller woman would spend an hour at the dining room table helping with her homework. Multiple times she’d caught her asleep over the girl’s biology textbook, trying to learn so she could help her. She’d made Meg after school snacks, helped her with laundry and chores, and even taught her some simple recipes. She had become close with her before Kate had even begun to think about asking Elle on date. Now, it was 6 months after she decided it was finally time. Everything was perfect. They had a rocky start, learning the ins and outs of one another; things that stressed them out, things that made them happy, what not to say in certain situations… they’d talked about it all. Their first date was something Kate thought about often, how lovely it had been. She had taken Elle to the park for a nighttime picnic. She’d put up fairy lights, had the gingham blanket, and picked up her favorite takeout. They’d talked for around 2 hours, until Kate turned off the lights and they laid next to one another, watching the stars. They reminded her of the constellations that lived on Elle’s perfect skin. When the older woman had started sleeping over, Kate often times found herself tracing lines between the freckles while her head rested on a perfect golden chest. Elle would run her fingers through short, chocolate curls and over a soft, bare back. It was so peaceful between the two; breathing in the scent of each other and basking in the warmth that radiated off of them. Those were her favorite moments, where she didn’t have to worry about work or anything else other than the sound of Elle’s heart. She found it difficult to sleep if the other woman wasn’t underneath her, caressing her with nimble fingers. On nights when Elle stayed at her own place, they’d both lie awake, staring at their ceilings and wishing they were together. She missed when she could hear the raspy voice whispering sweet nothings in her ear, and Elle missed the gentle weight of Kate’s head on her, keeping her grounded. They became each other’s rocks, seeking solace in each other.
Elle saw Kate as perfection. It was as simple as that. She loved her laugh, her sass, her silly comments, her hourglass shape; she loved it all. She had even grown to love Meg; the kid she didn’t know she wanted. She had almost cried the first time Meg said “I love you,” when hanging up the phone. She absolutely adored the shorter woman and how her head was always placed perfectly when they hugged. Kate was safe and warm. She was like a feisty little blanket of happiness. Elle didn’t know if there would ever be anything as beautiful to her as Kate’s smile. The way her nose scrunched and her eyes squinted made Elle soften each time. Elle loved her caramel eyes, the way her pupils would dilate when she looked at her. She loved how strong she was, physically and emotionally. She loved the way her perfect curls bounced when she walked. Kate was strong willed, fierce, protective, and one hell of a woman. She had been crushing on Kate for their entire friendship, but respected the fact that Kate might need time, with Meg and all. When Kate had asked her on on their first date, she had been so excited she nearly pumped her fist into the air when the short brunette had walked away. Elle couldn’t remember how many times she’d found herself in JJ’s office, rambling on about the woman. She had told JJ how funny she was, how sexy she was, how cute her laugh was, how her hugs felt like coming home, how sweet she was, and how much she wished they were more than friends. The blonde had been so happy for Elle when she came bounding into her office excitedly: “She kissed me! I kissed her!” She had laughed and given the woman a high five. It might’ve been childish, but Elle hadn’t been that excited about anything in a very long time. Besides, they were good for each other. Kate made sure Elle ate, drank water, slept, and smiled. The third or fourth time Elle had slept over, Kate could tell she was upset. She rolled over onto her stomach, resting her chin on her hands. She’d asked what was wrong; of course Elle had been reluctant at first, not wanting to “bother” her, but Kate pushed a little more and she had told her that she’d been stressed over a file she stole from Morgan. Kate had consoled her, telling her that nobody should go to sleep upset. So they didn’t. Every night from then on, they’d talk before they went to sleep. They talked about good things and bad things, laying everything out on the table. They’d talked each other down from the beginnings of panic attacks and cheered each other up from numerous bad days.
Kate and Elle were perfect for each other. Having Meg to worry about had postponed their getting together, but it was so worth the wait. Elle and Meg were practically joined at the hip, the girl even staying with Elle by herself sometimes. She’d always come back excited to tell Kate what all they’d done: “Mom! Elle taught me how to make empanadas!” Meg practically had her own room at Elle’s place. Kate almost wasn’t surprised when the teen had told her she needed to date Elle. Meg had been right, she did need to date Elle. She’d come to realize this as the months went on. Over the past 6 months, she had fallen in love with this woman. Fallen for everything about her.
That’s why today, she’d admitted to this love. She’d been holding it in, waiting for the right time. They were sitting on the couch, Elle’s head in Kate’s lap, watching TV. Kate was tenderly stroking through her hair. “I love you, you know?” Kate spoke so softly Elle almost couldn’t hear. She turned to look at her, doe eyes staring up at her and lips painting a smile.
“I love you too.” She concludes, pulling her down for a kiss.