Work Text:
122 days. It might as well have been an eternity, it felt almost as endless as the sea she had sailed in. Phone-calls, texts or emails were a poor substitution to the solace of proximity to her soulmate and the comfort of home.
Lucy hovered briefly at the apartment door, juggling with her bags as she pushed the door open. 175,680 minutes (and counting) of seperation from Kate, but she needed this final interlude before their reunion just to recenter herself before the excitement of anticipation would overtake her. She steadied herself with a deep breath, chiding herself to stick with her plan.
The apartment (their apartment), was more-or-less exactly how she had left it; neat and tidy. The flowers on the worktop were new (seasonally appropriate, of course). She spied the latest stack of paperwork and a laptop waiting for its owner return, a sign that her girlfriend was reverting to old and bad habits. Kate’s work pumps sat by the door, in a neat row next to Lucy’s neglected work-boots, Kate’s Uggs were missing in an otherwise orderly arrangement. Kate was characteristically organised and everything was in its correct place, as Lucy scanned their home, in fact only Lucy’s mess or latest baking project was conspicuous in its absence. Their fridge was devoid of anything other than salads and the weird assortment of healthy ’treats’ that her girlfriend failed to enthuse Ernie on. I must buy Kate flowers and chocolates.
Lucy found herself magnetically drawn to the bedroom. Their perfectly dressed bed wouldn’t have looked out of place in a home decor catalogue. Lucy sank into a reclining position, inhaling the scent of her partner. The cosy bed afforded much more room than her rack on the Ronald Reagan, but naturally she gravitated towards the place where she knew Kate had lay just an hour ago. She buried her head tightly into Kate’s pillow trying to absorb the last of her warmth while her perfume still lay redolent in the air. It only served to heighten her longing for her girlfriend.
The anticipation was killing her, it was like having the chance to enjoy the world’s finest gelato after months of licking a photocopied picture of a melting ice cube. Lucy had felt the physical pangs of pining from the initial seperation. She felt the withdrawal symptoms of each long day apart; she was a little worried that she would struggle to maintain an even keel when she saw her girlfriend in the flesh, four months of pent-up desire was hard to keep tamped down. She wondered idly if she could barricade the doors and spend the rest of the weekend in the arms of her girlfriend, but she couldn’t bare to wait for their reunion any longer. It was Saturday, so naturally she knew were her girlfriend was.
* * * * * * * * *
The beach was not a place that Lucy had ever appreciated but today it was the most blessed place in the world, as she knew she would find her girlfriend there. Lucy had zero understanding of the mechanics of surfing; only the bits she learned by osmosis via the begrudgingly overheard snippets from Jesse and Kai’s exploits. Today, there was the fundamental pleasure in watching someone who is annoyingly good doing that thing that clearly sparked joy in them. The ambience of beach and Hawaiian sun elevated the experience, but for Lucy the focal point was seeing her girlfriend in action. Lucy had understood implicitly that Kate was a good surfer, regardless of her own normal girlfriend-biased opinions. But seeing her now; in the vibrancy of action; she knew Kate was in fact a great athlete. She could see the other surfers were impressed while watching as the FBI agent carved her way through waves. Her poise was immaculate; as her perfect balance ensured she rapidly accommodated the latest roiling wave; a barrelling blue behemoth as if it was as trivially easy as breathing. Lucy knew it was impressive, the casual mastery shown blew her away, she liked seeing this side of her girlfriend, she basked in the thought that she had learnt something new. Her nerdy ex-lawyer girlfriend could shred waves with the best of them.
Seeing Kate in action on the beach was a pleasure Lucy could scarcely believe that she deprived herself of before and now she reconciled herself to the fact that Kate’s Surfing Saturdays would be her Surfing Saturdays too.
* * * * * * * * *
Lucy watched as Kate made it to shore, detaching the surf leash as she gathered the 'board from golden sands before carefully navigating her way to her towel and clothes. Lucy smiled broadly she had dreamt of a reunion as soon as she had landed in the aircraft carrier in the middle of endless ocean. She mused about the imminent reaction of her girlfriend, knowing that her early return would be a surprise, but hopefully her plan would push it into what Ernie would describe as ‘grand gesture’ territory. Lucy could feel her nervous tension building as the blonde continued cleaning her surfboard, obliviously working wax off the colourful fibreglass, as unbeknownst to her Lucy drifted closer, her Texas girlfriend trying to ignore the beachgoers focusing her attention on her surfer girlfriend.
Kate scarcely noticed the soft strumming of ukulele strings at first. The tinkling music washed over her as she worked on her ‘board. Kate dimly recognised the melody, the particular song Their Song always hit her deep in the feels. She felt that familiar pang of loneliness, knowing she would be heading home to an empty apartment. With the time difference it would be several hours before she could check-in with Lucy. Kate redoubled her efforts working the wax comb with unnecessary force, as if she could scrub away her dour mood.
Kate cast a sharp look towards the long shadow blocking the sunlight, the familiarity of an unconfident singing voice hadn’t fully registered. Kate’s heart skipped a beat, when she saw her girlfriend, strumming on the strings, styling her way through their song with slightly odd lyrics. Her first thought was she was hallucinating. Kate’s mouth continued to hang open in plain surprise. Discarding her busy work with the surfboard she knelt upright and placed tremulous palms on the Texan’s chest; closing her eyes; feeling the very real heartbeat telegraphed through her trembling hands. She breathed in the scent, inhaling deeply before she cupped her girlfriend’s face drinking in her petit features, so exquisite in real life.
A look crosses Lucy’s face that Kate hasn’t seen before, one that makes her panic. She thinks for a terrifying moment Lucy might start crying as her singing falters, but the micro-expression turns into a watery smile, a forced clearing of her throat, as she feigns bravado to enquire: “Missed me?”
Kate felt like she wouldn’t be able to control her own leaky tear ducts. She can feel a fat tear well in her eyes as she opens her arms wide; inviting Lucy to fall into the embrace. “Are you really back?” The words are almost more confused then they are hopeful. Lucy allows herself to be wrapped up by her girlfriend, her forehead resting against the curve of the FBI agent’s collarbone, allowing the already wet material of the rashguard to absorb her relieved tears. Something in Lucy settles, completing again her trifecta (work, gym and her relationship with Kate). A feeling of comfort and relief washes over her now with the knowledge that she is home Kate had waited.
Despite her desire for a grand gesture and many hours practising her ukulele, the instrument is abandoned incongruously beside the surfboard. Lucy reacquaints herself with the tactile feel of every inch of Kate available to her. She basks in the softness and warmth of their embrace, happily lingering despite the ocean-wet surfing gear.
Finally Kate makes a moves touching Lucy delicately on the chin, tilting her face slightly upwards so they had eye contact, so she could look directly into matching emotional brown eyes. She used her thumb to brush a final errant tear that meandered down Lucy’s flushed cheek. “I missed you so much”. Lucy left the observation unremarked, even though she agreed with the sentiment wholly, she didn’t trust that she’d be able to express herself verbally. She re-engaged into a deep hug. She had plans to wine and dine her girlfriend but in the present moment, she could think of nothing more than she wanted to do then remain lost in the comfort of Kate’s arms.