PROMPT: "QUICK! We need fluff! Can you drabble the first "I love you"'s? "
Gail fidgeted as she sat on Holly's couch, nestled into one corner as she waited for her girlfriend to return with their drinks. It had been just over two months since their reconciliation and tentative reset of their relationship. It had been a bit awkward at first, but that had quickly passed and they'd fallen easily back into the way it had been before.
It had been two months (more if you counted the time before the breakup), and Gail was tired of holding it in. It was weird, really, how she'd awoken in Holly's arms just that morning and studied her as she slept, soft rays of morning sunlight falling across her slumbering form. She'd never been one for the creepy 'stare at someone while they sleep' bit, but she couldn't help it; Holly was beautiful. But nature had called and ruined the moment. As Gail had been washing her hands in the bathroom, she'd caught sight of her face in the mirror. She was all… smiley and glow-y.
Oh, shit, she'd thought to herself. I'm in love. Which is an odd think to be surprised about, when she really thought about it. She'd been in love with the other woman before they'd even properly kissed. Not that she would have admitted it at the time, of course. But that was why Holly's "fun" comment had stung so much.
Gail had said the three little words before. And at the time, she'd meant them. Or she thought she had. But she'd never felt quite like this before. Is this what it was supposed to actually feel like? If she was forced to spend more than one night away from the forensic pathologist, she got cranky (er, crankier than usual) and counted down the hours until she got to see her again. The four days that Holly had been away for a conference in New York had been torture. Thank god for Skype.
And the nights they were together were something out of a cheesy romance novel. And it wasn't just the sex, though it was also vastly more intense and intimate than she'd experienced with previous partners. No, it was just being in Holly's presence that made her turn into some mushy, alternate version of herself. Or, maybe this was just her, stripped of all her outer roughness. Maybe it was just her in real, actual love.
Holly returned then with beverages, handing Gail a glass as she sat on the couch next to her. Gail took a sip, hoping it would calm her nerves so she could be eloquent.
"I love you."
So much for elegance, Gail thought as her eyes widened in surprise before she shifted her gaze to study the amber liquid of her drink. The words had just tumbled out of her mouth without her brain's permission. Well, it was out there now. There was no going back.
A few seconds passed, making Gail cringe. Suddenly, Holly laughed, and Gail looked up in surprise. "You're laughing?" she asked incredulously. She made a move to stand and find a corner in which to lick her wounds, but Holly gripped her wrist to keep her in place.
"No, wait. I already knew that, dummy," Holly rushed out. "You just looked so shocked and cute all nervous and I couldn't help but laugh."
Gail glared at her for the 'cute' comment, but didn't speak. Holly grabbed both their drinks and placed them on the coffee table before cupping Gail's cheeks and kissing her slowly, moving her lips over Gail's, tangling their tongues together.
Holly pulled back and placed her forehead on Gail's, making sure their eyes met so Gail would know she was serious.
"I love you, too."