Chapter Text
At 6.28 in the morning, Shen Lihua was already halfway through her second cup of coffee. The apartment was quiet except for the soft hum of the rice cooker and the steady rhythm of rain tapping against the kitchen window. Dawn hadn't fully broken yet, leaving the little apartment washed in cool blue light. Lihua stood on the tips of her toes to reach the highest cupboard.
"..." She frowned. Still too high. She stretched a little farther. Nothing. Without even turning around, she called softly, "Caleb..."
No answer. She sighed leaning onto the counter, palm resting against it, "Top shelf, please."
A pair of long arms wrapped around her waist, pressing a solid hard chest behind her head before a sleepy voice mumbled against the top of her head, "Morning, Pip."
His chest was warm against her despite the early hour. Caleb had clearly only just woken up. His dark hair was hopelessly messy, and his bare chest on full display with a pair of sweatpants hanging from his waist. Even when half asleep and hunched over, he towered over her by more than a foot.
He left a small peck on her hair and rested his chin on top of her head, "What do you need?"
"The soy sauce," she replied with a small smile as she held his arm wrapped over her abdomen.
"You know you could've waited," his voice still hoarse from just waking up.
"You were sleeping, " she mumbled turning towards him fully, coming face to face with his chest— more like face to chest.
"So?" Caleb looked down at her with half lidded eyes
"You flew yesterday," bringing her palms towards his face, she brought him closer to her and left a small peck on his lips.
"I can still reach shelves," he lazily extended one arm over her head smirking and grabbed the bottle without even looking.
"Here, Pip. And I want a reward," his arm trapped her onto the counter.
"Thank you," she accepted it with a smile which turned into a smirk. "What? Want me to suck you off? Was yesterday not enough?"
"Shush. Just let me hold you," instead of letting go, Caleb tightened his embrace muttering her name.
"Hm?" she hummed into his embrace, feeling his length poke onto her abdomen.
"Five more minutes."
"I leave in thirty," she finally wrapped her arms around Caleb's torso, resting her head onto his chest. He made absolutely no effort to move. She laughed quietly, "If you're trying to make me late, it's working."
"I'm trying to make you stay home," Caleb sulked.
She leaned back just enough to look up at him. His eyes were still half closed. "Caleb, you have training today."
"I know," he muttered eyes still closed.
"..."
"..."
Neither moved. Eventually Lihua reached up and gently pinched his cheek, "Get off, I need to prep breakfast."
He finally released her with an exaggerated sigh and looked at her placing a small peck on her lips before muttering, "You're cruel."
"You'll survive few hours without me."
"I fly fighter jets. I'd rather face Mach 2 than lose morning cuddles," Caleb brought her into his embrace again before moving them both off the kitchen counter, still holding onto her.
She rolled her eyes, her body being carried by Caleb onto the couch in living room. "You're dramatic, but I'll tolerate it. You big baby."
"You love it," he grinned, placing a long wet kiss on her lips which she responded back with equal vigor both fighting for dominance. He pretended to lose, letting her take control and explore him with her tongue as he lied back down onto the couch, her settling over his mid-section. Finally pulling away, Caleb's hand rested on her waist.
"Oh, shush!"
—
Breakfast was simple but heavy, considering both of them did not have a fixed lunch schedule after they both clocked in. Rice, soup, eggs and grilled salmon. Caleb insisted on washing every dish afterward despite Lihua protesting that she'd do it after work.
She crossed her arms as he smiled. She knew that smile. It was the same one he used whenever he intended to win an argument through sheer persistence.
"Ugh! Fine," she gave up trying to convince him, turning towards their shared bedroom.
"I knew you'd see reason."
"Shut up, I didn't!" she protested as she walked away to get ready.
"You absolutely did," he sing songed, annoying her even more.
—
By 7.30 they were standing at the apartment entrance. Lihua slipped into her white sneakers while Caleb tied the laces of his boots. He glanced outside.
Still raining.
Without saying anything, he opened the umbrella before she even reached for hers.
"You don't have to walk me. You'll get wet," Lihua mentioned grabbing her own umbrella trying to open it.
Caleb grabbed the umbrella with his bigger hands and prevented her from opening it, "I know."
She sighed and placed it inside her bag, "You've already decided."
"Obviously," Caleb smirked as he guided both of them towards the rain.
Their apartment was only a ten-minute walk from the subway station. Caleb held the umbrella over their head in light rain, and Caleb also held Lihua. More specifically, his hand rested comfortably around hers inside the pocket of his jacket because her fingers were cold. It was simply habit.
At a crosswalk she looked up at him stifling a laugh, "You shaved and missed a spot."
"I did?" Caleb looked at her, eyes searching hers, as if he could see the reflection in them.
She reached up. At her stature, even standing on the curb she barely reached his jaw. Using her thumb, she brushed away the tiny bit of shaving cream he'd somehow left behind. "There."
He shook his head, "I would've gone to work like that."
"You would've."
"My squadron would've laughed."
"Maybe," she held onto his hand tighter, walking forward.
—
Outside the subway entrance he stopped walking.
"So."
"So," she stood before him, hand still wrapped with his.
"Do you finish at 7 tonight?"
"If nobody gets admitted in the last hour," she nodded, looking up at him.
"And if someone does?"
"Don't ask."
"I'll pick you up anyway," Caleb smiled at her, slowly separating their hands and ruffling her much tamed hair into a mess.
She grunted at his antics as she reached up to keep them in place, "Caleb!"
"I'll text you, Pip," despite her protest, he rested his palm over her head looking at her with loving smile.
"You better!" She stood on the tips of her toes.
He bent nearly in half, pressing a soft kiss onto her forehead and sighed. Just a quiet moment before another long day.
"Fly safely," Lihua mumbled with her eye closed.
"You too," Caleb teased back.
She laughed, "I'm a nurse!"
"Exactly, Pip."
"You say that every time!"
"Because I mean it every time."
—
The ward was already busy by the time Lihua arrived, after taking handover of the patient's assigned to her today, she sat down to go through patient's chart. Her colleague, Alice, hurried toward her in what looked like pure exhaustion.
"Morning, Alice."
"Morning?" Alice looked horrified. "Don't say morning like it's peaceful."
Lihua blinked, "What happened?"
"We got six admissions before seven. 417's son keeps arguing with everyone, and 412 pulled out his IV again," Alice plopped herself onto the chair. "And Zen called in sick."
Lihua nodded once before looking back at her charts, "I'll go look at 412 after I'm done going through my patients."
Alice could have cried, "I love you!"
Lihua was not much special at work, she clocked in, completed her work as best to her abilities, interacted with her colleagues and had good relation withe everyone. The only thing nobody knew... was anything about her personal life. During lunch breaks conversations usually sounded like this.
"My boyfriend forgot our anniversary."
"My husband snores."
"My girlfriend wants a cat."
Someone would inevitably look at Lihua. "What about you?"
She'd continue eating, "What about me?"
"Dating anyone?"
"Mm, no," which was technically true. She wasn't dating. She had been in a committed relationship for over 4 years. Nobody asked the follow-up question. And she never volunteered information. Eventually everyone just assumed she was happily single.
—
Meanwhile— thousands of meters above the ground, An F-16-style fighter sliced through brilliant white clouds.
"Falcon Two, maintain heading."
Caleb's voice remained perfectly calm, "Copy."
The roar of the engine vibrated through the cockpit. His hands moved almost automatically across the controls. Years of training had transformed every movement into instinct. There was no room for distraction or hesitation. Only sky, mission and wingman. And of course return home. After all someone was waiting.
—
At precisely 12.37 pm., Lihua finally sat down for lunch. Her phone vibrated.
Caleb 🍎
Did you eat?
She smiled before replying .
Just started.
Three dots appeared immediately.
Good. Also drink water
She sent a photo of her lunch.
Five seconds later—
Where's the fruit?
She sighed.
Caleb, I forgor.
Another message instantly arrived.
I packed strawberries.
She froze. She had definitely forgotten the small container sitting in the staff refrigerator. She went to retrieve it before answering.
Found them. Happy?
Very.
Proud of you, my little apple of my eye.
Her ears warmed slightly. Across the break room, Alice looked up, "What're you smiling at?"
"A funny video," she reasoned and calmly put her phone away. The wallpaper— one of Caleb asleep on the couch with their void of a black cat sprawled across his chest—remained unseen. No one noticed.
—
The afternoon passed in the blur familiar event to every nurse. Medication rounds. Discharges. Admissions. Family questions. Call bells. By three o'clock, Lihua had walked over nine thousand steps without ever leaving the ward. And by six-thirty, everyone was watching the clock. Lihua, however already learned never to expect a shift to end on time.
Sure enough— the ER called. Two admissions. Groans echoed around the nurses' station. Min, another nurse assigned in the shift, dramatically leaned against the counter.
"I jinxed it."
"You absolutely did," Alice replied with a tut.
Lihua simply picked up the admission paperwork, "I'll take one."
Min looked at her with genuine gratitude, "Are you an angel? You've never said no to helping."
"I have," Lihua deadpanned.
"When?" Alice joined in.
"I said no to working New Year's Eve."
"Oh yea."
—
It was nearly 7.30 when she finally changed out of her scrubs. Her shoulders ached. Her feet hurt. As she walked through the hospital lobby, she instinctively reached for her phone.
7 missed messages.
All from the same person.
Caleb 🍎
(7:05 pm) Finished?
(7:10 pm)Take your time
(7:20 pm) Still alive?
(7:25 pm) I'm outside.
(7:28 pm) No rush
She smiled. Only Caleb could send multiple messages without making her feel pressured. Every single one was simply... waiting. The evening air smelled of rain. Streetlights reflected on the wet pavement. Across the road stood a very familiar figure. Six foot two. Hands tucked into his jacket pockets. Leaning against a black motorcycle. The moment he saw her, his entire face lit up. The kind of smile reserved for one person. He crossed the street before she could and brought her to his embrace. Hand placed over her head while the other wrapped around her shoulder, he pressed his cheek on top of her head inhaling her scent, "You look tired."
"I am."
"Hungry?" he mumbled above her, not letting her go.
"Very," she felt limp against him.
"I made dinner."
"Already?" Lihua asked, her stomach grumbling agreeing with the idea of good food.
"Mm," Caleb simply hummed and held her hand guiding her to the vehicle, naturally taking her backpack before she could protest. He slung the bag over one shoulder. She didn't argue. She simply glanced at their interlocked hand, hers disappearing within his much larger ones.
—
The convenience store downstairs from their apartment had become part of their routine. Caleb grabbed a shopping basket.
"We need milk," Lihua said as they walked through the aisle of the store
"We have milk," Caleb replied in a serious tone, following behind her like a puppy with basket in tow
"What? Where?"
"Is mine not enough, after all the 'milk' you had yesterday?" Caleb leaned forward and whispered right onto her ear, lips dragging along the shell of her left ear.
She gasped and slapped his arm— face red with his reply out on the public, "Caleb!"
"Aww come on! I know you like my milk, in fact you're even begging for it every night," he added, smirking widely at her flustered state as she looked around to see if anyone heard it.
—
The elderly cashier smiled as they walked up to her, "Back again?"
"Good evening, Auntie Lin"
"You two worked late today?"
Lihua nodded, "Yes."
Auntie Lin sighed dramatically, "Young people these days work too hard."
Caleb laughed while placing their items onto the surface, "We're trying not to."
"You should take your little wife on vacation."
Lihua nearly choked on absolutely nothing, "We're not married!"
"Not yet," the cashier winked at Caleb.
He merely smiled, "One day."
Lihua pretended to study the selections of snacks to hide the warmth spreading across her cheeks.
—
Their apartment smelled faintly of ginger and soy sauce. The moment the door closed behind them, Lihua kicked off her shoes, "I'm home."
Caleb answered automatically while placing the groceries on the counter "Welcome home."
Those two words, no matter how exhausting the day had been always made the apartment feel warmer. Dinner was simple. Braised chicken with steamed rice. Stir-fried bok choy and egg drop soup.
—
After dinner she stood to clear the table. Before she touched a single plate, Caleb gently nudged her toward the living room, "No."
"Shush, I'll help," she stood her ground as she tried to take other dishes.
"Mm, no," Caleb wagged his index finger at there face before pointing it towards the living room. "Out you go. You've been on your feet for 12 hours."
"We always do dishes together. Besides you worked too!"
"I sat in a cockpit."
"You flew a fighter jet."
"I still sat."
—
By the time he'd finished washing the dishes, the apartment had gone suspiciously quiet.
"Lili...? Pip?"
No answer.
He walked into the living room. There she was. Curled up sideways on the sofa. Still wearing one of his oversized hoodies. Fast asleep. The television hadn't even been turned on. She hadn't made it five minutes. Caleb stood there for a long moment. Then smiled softly.
"So stubborn," he knelt beside the couch. A loose strand of hair had fallen across her face. He tucked it gently behind her ear.
She stirred, "Caleb...?"
"I'm here," he caressed her cheeks, too soft to not do it.
"...Didn't mean to fall asleep."
"I know."
"I'm helping with dishes tomorrow,* Lihua whined.
"You can try," he stared lovingly at her, eyelashes gently fluttering over her cheeks and lips closed, chest rising and falling. She mumbled something completely unintelligible. Within seconds, she was asleep again. He chuckled quietly, "You always lose this battle."
With practiced ease, he slipped one arm beneath her knees and another around her back. Despite lifting patients every day at work, Lihua was astonishingly light in his arms. She instinctively curled closer against his chest without waking. "Home," she murmured sleepily.
He looked down at her with a small smile, looks akin to how one looks down at a puppy. "Yeah," his voice was barely above a whisper. "We're home."
He carried her down the hallway toward their bedroom, the apartment settling into a peaceful silence around them. For tonight, there were no fighter jets, no hospital alarms, no responsibilities demanding their attention. There was only the quiet comfort of coming home to each other. And that was exactly how she preferred it.