(Author's note at bottom)
DAWN
(An 8x08 post-ep)
She wakes alone, the cold air of the apartment almost as cold as the sheets next to her. A glance to the clock tells her she'd only slept for about an hour, but she feels refreshed and rejuvenated, because she's home. After six long, lonely weeks, she's home.
And, despite their planned upcoming fake separation, she's not going anywhere. She's never leaving her husband. Ever again.
He, however, seems to have caught a bit of insomnia.
She grabs his shirt from its heap on the floor, where she'd dropped it as they made their way into the bedroom earlier, and buttons the two middle buttons after she slips it over her shoulders. It's cold in the apartment but her feet remain bare, and she pads into his office, where she'd noticed the light.
When she notices him, she stops, leans against the bookcase that serves as the barrier between the office and their bedroom. He's standing by the window, worn jeans low over his hips, his hands stuffed in the pockets. From here she can see the flop of hair over his forehead, and she wants to approach him, brush his hair back, and kiss whatever he was thinking out of his mind.
But she stays where she is, just watching him, wondering what's going through his mind.
Eventually he seems to sense her and turns, his eyes finding her immediately, and she sees the storm in his eyes, the uncertainty written all over his face. And she hates herself for it, hates that she put that on his face, has caused him to doubt her commitment to him.
She approaches him slowly, her arm coming out to wrap around his back when she's close enough, and she leans into him, tucks her head under his chin. "You okay?" she whispers into his chest, her cheek against his sternum.
He rests his cheek on the top of her head, his lips brushing her hair. "Better," he admits on a sigh, "now you're here."
She leans back enough so she can look up in his eyes, and she reaches up to caress his neck, traces her thumb along the shell of his ear. "I'm not going anywhere, Rick. Ever again." She pulls his head down and meets his lips in a soft kiss, a contrast to the rough, passionate kisses they'd shared earlier in the night. She nudges her nose against his when they part, her eyes closed, and breathes him in.
"But what if—"
"No," she interrupts sternly. "No more running off, no more leaving. Partners in crime and in life, Rick. I meant it then and I mean it now. I mean it always."
He rests his forehead against hers and inhales sharply through his nose. He might believe her, she thinks, eventually. But she knows that it will take time, and work, and it won't be easy. But they'll get there. She'll do whatever she needs to for him to trust her again. Because he's her happily ever after, her soulmate, her home.
Her always.
And they'll be okay.
A/N: Originally posted on Tumblr. This little drabble was written for E on her birthday, aka random-ship on Tumblr, who blesses this fandom (and others) with wonderful fan art that both amazes and inspires the fans and authors alike. The drawing for this one is called "Dawn," and can be located at random-ship dot tumblr dot com slash post slash 22514478208. It's also on my Tumblr at i-prefer-west-side.