Chapter Text
Eleven Years Ago
He’d known there was a chance this could happen. Known this was the most likely chance so he had no one to be upset with besides himself. And he wasn’t, he was just… disappointed. Not with her, Tess had no control over her operation timeline and he wasn’t going to wish for her to be done faster just for his sake. Not when the memory of her bruise covered back was still so vivid, it was just…
He missed her.
Yeah they’d celebrated Christmas early and yeah it’d been better than the actual day with his family, by a long shot but he was looking forward to spending an actual holiday with her. And Valentines Day was the biggest. Sure he’d spent every other one thinking it was a marketing ploy to sell candy and cards and skimpy lingerie but aside from Ali in senior year he’d never been with anyone for it. And maybe he didn’t have as much as a sweet tooth as she did, or Greg who was planning on stocking up on goodies on the 15th but it wasn’t like he thought those were bad things to spend money on. Especially on Tess. Especially that last one.
Jay sat up before he could give into that line of thinking, then did anyway until a half-hearted head shake had him catching sight of his clock. Two thirteen a.m. He’d been afraid when Tess left two months ago that his nightmares would return with her absence but they hadn’t. Not the same way; he still dreamt of his friends but now whenever he saw their faces it was after he’d been doubting himself, or the path Tess had set him on.
To go from ranger to officer.
A different kind of soldier.
Not the one who left, but the one who stayed- the one someone else came home too. Still, it was both habit and a lingering guilt to not let their other brother down that had him checking on Mouse, unsurprised to find him still playing video games in his room. He hadn’t figured out his path yet but he had started looking into some freelance work so hopefully that led to something. Jay was in the middle of deciding if he should go for a walk or ask to borrow a controller when he heard something that made his heart jump, then freeze. A key in the lock. For a second he’d convinced himself it was one of the apartments around theirs but then he caught the click and the soft shuffle of feet, another click followed by two quiet thuds.
Only barbarians, aka Americans wore shoes inside.
It felt like he blinked and she was in front of him, blinking back in shock before she let her bag fall from her shoulder and then she was in his arms. Her own wrapped around his neck and he actually shuddered when he heard how deeply she breathed him in before her legs wrapped around his waist. Tightly, just like he held her, just like last-
“I’m fine.” Tess mumbled, rubbing her head against his as she dragged her fingers through his hair- his kitten. “I’m home.”
Home.
With his heart back in his chest he carried her to his bedroom, reluctantly putting her down though the task got easier when she instantly raised her arms, his fingers already gripping her jacket before he gave them the order the move. She was fine. Every layer he removed proved that, no cuts on her arms when he slid off her blouse, nor her abdomen or back when her shirt came off next. Nothing but the smattering of bruises that were inevitable, a couple more on her legs but there he did find cuts. Felt because he was working by the light of the streetlamp but the way she instantly flexed then shifted awkwardly told him he was right.
“I might’ve shaved on the plane.” She muttered and he did try to stop from laughing, he really did but it was too easy to picture; her bent like a pretzel in that tiny bathroom, so flustered but still so determined. But he quieted himself in her, long, slow kisses that were designed and succeeded in soothing the insecurity that had driven her.
“You could be Big Foot and I’d still find you sexy.”
Tess let out her own chuckle, so breathy it made his chest tighten, then his sweats when her fingers curled under his jaw and tugged him up. “Big feet are not what I’m thinking about right now.”
That smile was going to be the death of him.
Or the giggle she let out when he scooped her back up but either way Jay would die a happy, happy man.
She was fine.
She was safe.
She was home.
She was so fucking pretty- she’d fallen asleep around three and he’d followed not long after but he’d still woken at six thirty and had been here happily for the last two hours. What else was there to do? What was better than getting to watch her? When she’d rolled from pressing against his front, where she’d gone after being spread across his chest, and trapped his arm under her head so thoroughly it felt like he’d trained for it. Like this was the real reason he’d spent hours practicing not to move a muscle, not to avoid being spotted by the enemy but to keep her in peace a little bit longer. For a second he thought that was about to come crashing down when he heard Greg leaving his room but when he didn’t immediately start banging on his door Jay realized he knew she was here. Now that he thought about it her bag was probably still on the floor where she’d dropped it.
He'd grab it later. She could wear his clothes today.
Actually… she could wear his clothes this morning- he had plans for later.
The excitement had him shifting onto his side but he made himself cool it as he looked her over; he had several plans but they all hinged on her being up to going out. He wouldn’t care if she wasn’t, all that mattered was making her feel pampered but it would be nice if she was. It seemed like she would be, she wasn’t injured and she’d slept well, not as deeply as last time but he took that as a good thing. He was still learning her but from what he’d experienced the less she moved the more run down she was.
A low whistle coming from the kitchen caught his attention, and hers, her hand making its way to his chest before her eyes fluttered open and she gave him a sleepy grin. “Hi.”
One word and his heart started racing.
“Happy Valentines Day.” Jay whispered and he swore he fell more in love with her as her cheeks turned pink and her smile got shy, her eyes fucking shining as she pulled him down for a kiss.
Fuck he’d missed her.
Fuck he loved her.
“Put on clothes lovebirds!!” Came a shout from the hall, followed by a heavy foot against his door. “And open up cause my hands are full.”
Her giggle made pulling away worth it and he tossed over her blouse before slipping on his sweats, giving his friend a grateful look when he realized he’d made them coffee and tea. No doubt, he had the worlds best roommate. Definitely the most understanding.
Just also one of the most annoying.
“So.” Mouse started with a teasing grin, slipping past him to sit beside Tess as he passed over her tea- and kept the coffee for himself. “Happy Valentines Day.”
“What a lucky girl am I to have two such studly men looking out for me?” She answered with a laugh, pressing a firm kiss to his cheek, which he noted made even his friend blush, before she shot him a bright but still shy smile.
Fuck he’d missed her smile. He hadn’t realized how instantly it made the tension he hadn’t realized he was carrying disappear.
“Well I won’t spoil his plans, but I know you’ll enjoy them. Especially since I helped him.” Mouse replied with a smirk, shooting him a wink before he wiggled her jaw- not just his brother. “But I get you for breakfast.”
“I love you.” Tess said brightly, so simply Jay felt like the light around them warmed as Greg smirked.
“I know.” He said giving her a one armed hug before he stood, saluting him with his coffee that he still took a full swig of knowing he would hate it, because like Tess he loved sugar.
Fuck he loved this family.
After a quick clap on his shoulder as he finally passed him the mug Greg slipped back out and Jay reclaimed his spot, feeling his heart do that pitter patter thing when she took his hand. “You feel like going out today?”
“Of course! I just… you made plans even though you knew I might not be here?” Tess asked softly, genuine surprise in her question which was why he had to hide his answering sadness.
He wasn’t going to say it but his new mission was to make sure she lost that quiet shock in her voice whenever someone did something for her.
Him to start but he wanted her comfortable in the spotlight.
It was where she belonged.
“I knew you might be.”
Fuck he loved when her eyes did that.
When they got bigger and bluer like a damn Disney princess, fucking sparkling before they fluttered shut right before he kissed her. Fuck he’d missed her.
He was going to make today amazing.
This might be his new favorite holiday.
Everything he had planned was all stuff she’d done before, and would do again any day because Tess was, in her own words, ‘a girl of simple pleasures’. But that didn’t mean it was any less special. He took her back to the Aquarium because she loved it there, and now that two of them were looking to make connections among the staff it hopefully wouldn’t take too long before she was allowed in the otter exhibit. Though he did really enjoy coming up with plans to get in there themselves. He took her to the Riverwalk because it was one of their favorite places and every time she was here it was like someone turned the key in a music box because she just went, filling his ear with the most delightful chatter until she finally exhausted herself. And then he wound her up again.
He took her to the magnificent mile, not because he enjoyed shopping but because he knew she would. She’d mentioned going a handful of times with Lydia, more to window shop which still ended up being most of what they did. Most because he did manage to buy her a grey silk dress he’d caught her eying, which he’d paid for twice. First the initial cost, then when she bought him a navy blue bomber jacket she’d caught him eying.
‘Tit for tat soldier boy. To whatever end.’
Fuck he loved this woman. His heart felt like it was in overload, clenching whenever she held his hand or rested her head against him, squeezing when he watched her interact with anyone else, from sales people to passerby she made eye contact with. Jumping whenever she turned her attention to him, when she gave him that soft smile with those big wide eyes. And of course tugging. He could never forget the tugging- the only woman in the world who’d ever made his heart beat to a rhythm that wasn’t his own. It was why he felt it as soon as she rolled away but when he heard her padding into the bathroom he relaxed. Her face when he’d bought the dress had been one thing, similar to when she saw the restaurant he’d booked for dinner; shock at being thought of and discomfort over being spoiled slowly fading in favor of delight. But her expression when she realized they weren’t just eating at the hotel but staying here?
That was what made this mission worth it.
So if the price tag was high enough to give his dad a heart attack if told he didn’t care. Plus it wasn’t like he was doing anything with the money he’d saved from his time in the Army. If he was going to spend it on anyone, it was going to be her. And being here, with no roommate, no old mattress, no creaky bed frame, with food neither of them had to make, clean, or put on clothes for?
That was worth every fucking penny.
The mattress dipping caught his attention, specifically where, on either side of his feet and his eyes shot open just in time to watch Tess grin like the Cheshire cat as she crawled up the bed. Up him which was ten times better, her knees settling beside his hips like it was second nature, like she didn’t still blush whenever he pulled her on top.
Much as he loved that pink one day she wasn’t going to be shy around him about anything.
“Good morning.” She whisper-sang and he damn near moaned when she slid her hands into his hair before kissing him.
This was a great fucking morning.
She laughed, that bit of pink deepening as she leant back, the way she nibbled her lower lip distracting him until she sat back up. “You know how you spoiled me yesterday?”
“I do. I loved every minute of it.”
“Good. Cause today I am going to spoil you.”
That wasn’t how this was supposed to work.
“Valentines Day is over.” He tried but she just grinned and shook her head and he knew nothing he said would change her mind. And… did he really want to?
Yeah he didn’t like people paying attention to him, or doing anything for him, but if it was her…
That actually sounded nice. Right.
Fair.
If he wanted to see all of her Jay had to show her all of him.
“What’s my first present?”
Tess just laughed again, so bright and bubbly he couldn’t stop himself from rolling over so she was tucked underneath him, a treasure that was his to protect. “Well it’s not a present, but I got us a late checkout.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmm. Tomorrow morning.”
Tomorrow.
Warmth filled him but the word rang cold in Jay’s mind, not just fear but steel. That was all they had. When they went home, when she went back- that was their promise. They would be here for every tomorrow.
To whatever end.