Work Text:
Stevie groaned as he moved things around in the cabinet under the bathroom sink.
“Grace!” He called out as he walked back towards their bedroom. “Where have you put it?”
Grace was in the middle of making their bed when she turned around with a nervous smile.
“Put what?” She chuckled.
“You know what!” Stevie laughed.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She also laughed as she watched him step closer.
“No? Is that your final answer?” He grinned at her, stepping even closer so he could reach out for her and placed his hands on her waist. She smiled back, biting her lip as she nodded.
- 2 days earlier -
“How are you feeling about your exam tomorrow?” Grace sighed through the phone as she searched around for his hoodie.
Stevie had specifically worn a hoodie all day the day before he left for his course so he could leave it with Grace. He knew how much she loved wearing his clothes when they smelt like him. She pulled the hoodie on over her head and inhaled his scent.
Steve had been away for three weeks on his training course to be a sergeant. Three long weeks away from each other. The longest they’d been apart since they started their relationship – since they’d met, in fact.
“I’m feeling alright. Not too bad. Of course I’m nervous, but that’s okay. It means I care. Which I do. I’ve been aiming for sergeant for so long now, and it’s so close. I’ve almost got it.”
“I know you’re gonna smash it out of the park. You’re gonna be amazing, both in your exam and when you get back and do it every day.” Grace smiled as she closed her eyes.
“Thanks, darling.” Stevie sighed softly. They sat in silence for a few moments before Stevie whispered, “I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Stevie. I can’t wait for you to get home. It’s been so long that your hoodie almost doesn’t smell like you anymore.” Grace chuckled softly.
“I can’t either. I’m missing your morning cuddles.” Stevie replied to her. “How’s work been?”
“It’s been pretty crazy. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just never-ending. Especially when I’m not working with you.” Grace told him. She heard Stevie chuckle on the other end of the phone.
“I’ll be back soon, Grace. Literally tomorrow evening.” He sighed.
“Yeah, but I wanna cuddle you now.” Grace whined, causing Stevie to laugh loudly.
“This time tomorrow you will get to, okay? I’ll be home by the time you finish work.” He told her. “If you want, I can even come in to the station as soon as I get back.”
“That’s probably not a good idea; otherwise I’ll just want to go home early, and I won’t be thinking straight.” Grace chuckled softly.
“Okay. How about I cook us a nice dinner? I’ll have it ready by the time you get home.” He suggested.
“Yeah? Okay. That sounds perfect.” Grace grinned excitedly. “I’ve hardly cooked properly the entire time you’ve been away. I can’t wait.”
“I can’t wait either, sweetheart.” He sighed softly. “I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise? Really. Is it a good one?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. You’ll either love it or hate it.” Stevie chuckled quietly.
“What does that even mean?” Grace giggled sleepily.
“You’ll see… I should get to bed; I’ve got an early start tomorrow. And you’ve got work. But it’s the last sleep before I’m home.”
“Okay, love. I’m really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. I love you.” Grace whispered to him.
“I love you too, Grace. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.” Stevie said before the call ended.
Grace smiled softly as she watched his contact picture disappear from the screen – it was a photo that his mum had shown her of Steve at his high school prom; she always teased him about how adorable he looked.
She made sure that her alarm was set and on silent before locking it and putting it on charge on her bedside table.
Grace had made it through the entire day at work. She had an hour left before it was time to hand over the shift, then she could finally go and see Stevie after being apart for what felt like forever.
Her phone buzzed with a message from the man himself – it was a picture of some ingredients with a caption:
Stevie:How does a carbonara sound? Oh, and I’m home! xx
She smiled widely as she read the message. Time couldn’t move any slower now that she knew Stevie was home – time always seemed to work like that.
“What’s got you grinning like mad?” Annie chuckled from the driver’s seat.
“Huh? Oh… Stevie’s home. He just texted me. He’s cooking tonight too.”
“Ooh, exciting night for you then.” Annie smirked across at her.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Annie. I’m genuinely just excited to have him home. Things just don’t feel right when he’s not here, and we’ve never been apart this long. We will both probably be too tired for that anyway. I’ve had a long day at work, and he’s sat an exam and then travelled a couple of hours to get home.”
“But you wouldn’t say no…” Annie grinned across at her. Grace just rolled her eyes. “You didn’t say no! Grace is riding tonight!”
“Annie… seriously?” Grace groaned as she ran her hand over her face. Annie just laughed as she pulled back into the station car park and turned off the engine.
“You’re such a prude.” Annie cackled as she turned to face her colleague.
“No, I am not!” Grace chuckled. “I just like to keep my work life and sex life separate.”
“Bet it doesn’t help that your sex life is at work though.” Annie grinned cheekily as she got out of the car.
Grace shook her head and rolled her eyes again in response to Annie’s cheekiness.
“You’re lucky you don’t live with me anymore. I’d be tempted to change the locks and never let you back in.” Grace told her once she had also gotten out of the car. Anne just laughed and followed Grace back into the station.
The final hour seemed to drag as Grace worked through the paperwork that had built up through her shift. As soon as the night shift arrived, she wasted no time in logging off, getting changed and going straight out to her car.
Seeing Grace move with such urgency had Annie in stitches.
Grace turned off the engine of her car once she had parked in the driveway and made her way into the house as fast as she could. She didn’t realise seeing his car in the driveway would make her so happy.
She ran up to the door and made her way inside, quickly closing the door and locking it behind herself. She could hear the radio on in the kitchen, so she went straight through.
“Grace!” He called out to her before she entered the room. She walked in to see that he was standing waiting at the door.
A massive smile grew on her face as she looked over him. He hadn’t shaved since leaving, so he was sporting a beard, and his hair was a bit longer and therefore a bit messier.
She didn’t even stop to say hello; she wrapped her arms around his neck to kiss him gently. He smiled widely and welcomed her into his arms.
Once they separated, Grace stepped back and looked at him.
“Hmm… something’s different, but I just can’t decide what it is.” Grace grinned sarcastically as one hand came up to cup his cheek.
“Surprise. You’ve always said it’s weird you’d never seen me with a beard.” He chuckled softly. “How do you like it?”
“How do I like it?” She giggled before biting her lip and allowing her eyes to roam over him again. “I love it. You better not get rid of it anytime soon.”
“Oh. I was gonna get rid of it before going back to work in a couple of days. I was gonna go for a haircut too.”
“You’re not getting a haircut either.” Grace told him before leaning in to kiss him again. He chuckled as his arms snaked around her waist.
“Am I not?” He asked her once they separated from each other again. Grace grinned and shook her head, causing him to roll his eyes playfully. “Right, taste this sauce; let me know what you think.”
He stepped away from her and turned to the stove, where a pot was simmering with the carbonara he had spent the evening preparing.
He turned back to her with a spoonful of the sauce and lifted it to her mouth. They maintained eye contact as she tried it, a smile growing on her face as she nodded.
“That’s so good!” She told him.
“Hold on, you’ve got a bit…” Stevie told her as he reached up and wiped some of the sauce from just under her lip with his thumb.
She watched him as he sucked the sauce from his thumb and smiled.
“Are you trying to kill me?” Grace laughed as she stepped further back from him, trying to maintain what little self-control she had left.
“Not intentionally. I think I’d get in trouble for that. Why don’t you go get changed? I’ll get dinner served.”
“Okay, love.” She whispered as she leant forward and kissed his cheek before leaving and going upstairs. She changed quickly into some jogging bottoms and his hoodie before going into the bathroom. She took off her makeup and searched through the cupboard for his electric razor.
Once she found it, she hid it at the back of one of her drawers, hoping it would deter him from getting rid of his beard. She wasn’t as fussed about the longer hair; maybe it would work with the beard, but she knew now that he wasn’t shaving off the facial hair.
She made her way back downstairs and acted casual. She knew that he wouldn’t realise it was missing until tomorrow night when he went to shave for work the following day.
- present day -
“Keep the beard. Come on. You look so good with it!” She pouted at him as she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer.
“I would, but I know everyone’s gonna have shit to say about it. I can’t be arsed. Plus it makes me look older.”
“It does not make you look old. And why does that matter anyway?” Grace shrugged as her right hand moved up to his cheek, stroking along his cheekbone. “I can’t make you keep it, obviously. But I really think you should. It’s a good look for you… like a really good look… like wow.” Grace shook her head to emphasise her point. “But I love you either way.”
Stevie rolled his eyes, leaning down to kiss her.
“I’m gonna do this. I’m doing it just for you. That shows how much I love you!” Stevie smirked back at her as his arms tightened around her. “Can I have the razor to at least tidy it up? I look homeless at the moment.”
Grace frowned softly as she pondered on it.
“Okay. But if you shave it all off, you’re sleeping on the sofa!”
“I won’t, love. Don’t worry.” He laughed as he watched her slip out of his arms and walk over to the wardrobe. She searched through her drawers and turned to him.
“I can’t find it.” She mumbled. He frowned softly at her as he stayed to walk over. “I’m kidding. Should’ve seen your face!” Grace giggled as she pulled the razor from the drawer.
“Ha ha. Really funny.” Stevie shook his head with a smile as he walked over and took the razor from her hand. “I won’t be long. Love you.”
He leant down and kissed her cheek.
“Love you too. I’m trusting you.” She told him before walking over to the bed. He laughed loudly before disappearing into the bathroom.