A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating. It's been a crazy week between a funeral, my grandmother needing a wheelchair, and telling my parents I have a boyfriend for the first time…yay! Anyway, I hope you like the new chapter. For the sake of continuity with canon, assume we're about mid-way through the semester, so there are midterms on the horizon (hence Nick studying and being stressed before) but Kurt is still at Dalton. Please read and review!

Nick heard his alarm going off like it did on any other morning, and he began to move to silence it when he was interrupted by an unexpected resistance. Groggily, he opened his eyes to see blond hair standing out at odd angles from Jeff's head. What the devil is going on here…pondered Nick's sleepy brain. As he stared at the angelic face of the slim boy still in his arms, his pink lips parted slightly and his bare chest gently rising and falling, Nick thought he was one of the luckiest guys in the world. Sadly, Nick knew it was a school day and that they both needed to get ready for class. Jeff could usually sleep through anything, so the alarm had not disturbed him. Nick thought of a much better way to rouse his new boyfriend. He gently hugged Jeff in a little tighter and leaned in to kiss him on the lips. Jeff sighed as he felt the warmth of Nick's lips on his own, and his hazel eyes fluttered open to see Nick's face hovering over his own. Jeff pushed up into the kiss and shifted so he could bring his arm up around Nick's neck. Then Nick withdrew enough to whisper "Good morning, beautiful" to Jeff, who rubbed his eyes and smiled wide. "Good morning to you too, handsome" said Jeff."

"Did you sleep well?" inquired Nick.

"Oh yea. I could get used to this" said Jeff, turning to face Nick as their heads settled beside one another on the pillow.

"Me too. I don't want to get up, but we need to get ready for class" lamented Nick.

"Mmmm I wanna stay. You're so comfy" groaned Jeff, nestling in closer to Nick.

Nick grinned knowing that his boyfriend was happy to simply be with him. "Well, I'm going to go shower, so if you want to stay here…"

Jeff laughed and started to get up. "When you put it that way, it's time to rise and shine buddy."

As they pulled the covers down and got out of bed, Nick looked over at Jeff. "It looks like someone's already risen." Jeff blushed slightly, realizing he had a bit of morning wood, but then he just wiggled his hips playfully to swing his cock back and forth. Nick chuckled as he strode off to start the shower. "I've created a monster" said Nick mostly to himself, but knowing Jeff overheard. The slim boy followed him into the bathroom. "Monster? That's a little bit generous, Nicky, but I'm flattered." Nick shook his head. "You know that's not what I meant." Nick glanced down. "But you should know I think you're perfect just as you are."

Jeff felt his mouth get dry. He'd been called many things before, by many people, but hearing those words so earnestly from Nick meant more than anything he'd heard before. Jeff had been afraid for so long that he would never really figure himself out or find someone for him, and then he had found Nick. And now they were a couple, and Jeff felt so happy and safe that he had to share it with Nick, so he rushed forward to hug him. Nick was slightly surprised as Jeff wrapped his arms tight around him. "Thank you" whispered Jeff. Sensing that this was something significant, Nick squeezed back, then looked up to meet the slightly watery eyes of the blond boy. "For what?" asked Nick. "It's you I should be thanking. If it weren't for you manning up last night, who knows how long it would have taken us to realize how we really felt?"

Jeff smiled down at the dark-haired boy in his arms as he remembered how everything finally clicked last night. "Well, we don't have to worry about that now, do we? I'm just glad my hunch was right and you didn't freak out on me. C'mon, let's get cleaned up." They shaved quickly and then hopped into the shower, once again stealing kisses and the occasional playful caress.

"You know, I think I could get used to starting my mornings like this" observed Nick, hugging Jeff close and cupping his firm butt.

"Me too. And we can save water too. It's a win-win" chuckled Jeff. Nick laughed along with his new boyfriend. Jeff's sense of humor was one of Nick's favorite things about him. When they first met, Nick was shy and spent most of his time studying, but Jeff sparked a new sense of adventure in him and they had been inseparable partners-in-crime ever since. But this new chapter in their adventures together would have to be paused briefly, as Nick realized they had been in the shower longer than planned and they needed to double-time it to get down to breakfast before class.

"Crap! We gotta get a move on, Jeff, or Blaine will eat all the pancakes before we get to breakfast!" exclaimed Nick.

Jeff narrowed his eyes. "He dare not deny me of my pancakes!" Jeff hissed, only half in jest.

They finished their morning routines and threw on their uniforms before heading down to join their fellow Warblers at their usual table.

"Hey guys!" called Kurt, gesturing to Nick and Jeff to come sit with them. "Hi Kurt!" called Jeff, and then he surveyed Blaine's plate and the mountain of blueberry pancakes piled upon it. "Hello Blaine" he said coolly. Trent was sitting with them and followed Jeff's icy stare at Blaine and his breakfast. "Relax, Jeff, there are plenty of pancakes left for you too. Kurt won't let Blaine eat them like he used to—hey!" he grunted as Kurt elbowed him and Blaine colored slightly at the all-too-public knowledge that Kurt had him pretty well whipped already. Jeff's face lit up and he dashed off to claim his share of the breakfast booty. Nick grinned widely and then followed him.

"Interesting," said Kurt as he popped a strawberry into his mouth. "What?" said Trent and Blaine almost in unison. "I may be imagining this, but is something different about them this morning?" Blaine looked puzzled. Emotionally clueless as ever, Trent thought before saying "You mean Nick's adorable longing grin every time Jeff does something? I'll alert the media, because that's never happened before." Kurt thought a moment. "Maybe you're right. Their bromance just scrambles my gaydar sometimes." Blaine nodded in agreement between forkfuls of pancakes and sips of coffee.

Nick and Jeff returned with their breakfasts and sat down next to each other. They joined in the conversation about the upcoming rehearsal schedule and schoolwork, but they found each other stealing grins and jostling one another more than usual. Their antics did not go unnoticed by Trent and Kurt, who signaled their suspicions by simply cocking an eyebrow or rolling their eyes. "Could someone pass the pepper?" asked Trent innocently. Nick and Jeff both reached for it at once, and their hand brushed together. Nick got there first and passed it to Trent, but not before he and Jeff both flushed slightly and revealed matching goofy grins. Even Blaine caught this little exchange and looked to Kurt for his reaction, but Kurt was acting like nothing had happened. If his suspicions were correct, the last thing he wanted to do was to spoil a budding relationship by bringing it into the open too soon. The students at Dalton were very accepting, but that didn't mean everyone wanted to go public immediately.

"I'd better head off to class" said Kurt finally. "Come on, Blaine. See you later Trent. 'Bye Nick, 'bye Jeff." "See you later guys" called Blaine. "Bye guys!" called the trio remaining at the table. Then Trent excused himself too, leaving Nick and Jeff together alone again.

As they got up to put their trays away, Nick turned to Jeff and said "Have a good day, bud. I'll miss you." Jeff's heart swelled and he resisted the urge to hug and kiss Nick right there in the dining hall. "I'll miss you too. I can't wait to see you later!" With that, they parted ways and went to their respective first classes, separating for the first time since the eventful start of the previous evening.

Hope you liked it! Should I continue? More tender moments, or back to M-rated?