AN: If you're reading this: Thank you for sticking with this story. We're almost there ;) Special thanks for redisthenewblackington for being amazing! I keep throwing fics at her and she keeps beta-ing as quickly as ever! Please enjoy.

Disclaimer: See earlier chapters

Chapter 6

"You have beautiful hands."

Alan looked at their entwined fingers and then at her face. They were sitting on her couch, with one of his arms around her shoulders, while she was playing with his hand.

"Strong, but gentle."

"You think so?" He asked, letting her turn his hand over, so she could inspect his palm.

"Mhm… very soft hands."

"I also happen to have very soft lips. Wanna touch?"

She grinned and reached up to run her fingers over his mouth, but he caught her hand and pulled her into his chest, capturing her lips with his instead. He let go of her fingers and ran his hand over her smooth thighs. He loved it when she wore shorts. He had absolutely no problem imagining her long legs wrapped around his hips. How good that would feel.

He pulled her onto his lap without breaking their connection. The way she smelled, the way she tasted, the way she felt. It was incredible. Alan couldn't remember feeling like this and it made him wonder if he had ever loved before at all. He wanted her, wanted her in every possible way and for once in his life, he wasn't afraid to lower his walls.

Winding his arms around her back, he pushed his tongue past her teeth, massaging hers and taking control over the kiss. He could feel his excitement pressing painfully against the inside of his zipper and he knew, knew that she could feel him too, but she had yet to break the kiss. Instead she settled more of her weight on his lap, while her fingers were tangled in his hair, tugging on it.

"Lizzie…" He moaned against her.

With a smack their lips parted and both were left panting. His hands had somehow found their way under her tank top, caressing the skin of her back.

"I'm sorry," she said, crushing his hope of finding release anytime soon.

He almost groaned at the sheer unfairness of the situation as she climbed from his lap. He stood once she was sitting back against the couch, knowing that her eyes were on him now. "I'll be right back," he said, without looking back at her. The tent in his pants was clearly visible and he had to get himself back under control.

Closing the bathroom door behind him, Alan went to the sink to splash some water onto his face. It was almost freezing cold against his heated skin. Only slowly he managed to get his pulse back to normal and his excitement grew soft again. Towel drying his hands, he stroked a hand through his hair and then exited the room. She wasn't where he had left her sitting on the couch. Instead, his Lizzie was standing by the window, arms wrapped around herself and overlooking the dark city.

He walked up to her and hugged her from behind. "I'm sorry." He heard her say.

"What for?"

"This. All of it. I know it isn't easy, but I… I don't… I mean… I…"

"Sweetheart," he said softly, placing a gentle kiss to her neck. "It's okay."

"It's not."

"I said whenever you're ready, Lizzie."

She sighed, but leaned further into his embrace. "Why are you putting up with that?"

"Because I want to." He blindly found her hand and began tugging her away from the window. "Sit back down with me." Gently pushing her onto the couch, he moved her so he could lie down between her legs, resting his back against her and laying his head against her chest.

She laughed at that. "Now what's that supposed to be?"

"It's a common misconception that only women like to be held like this. I, too, enjoy it a great deal. Now hold me." He took her arms and wrapped them around his body. He could feel her chuckle before she placed a kiss into his hair, resting her chin on top of his head.

"Since when are you so sweet?"

"I'm always sweet."

They stayed like that for a long while, both had their eyes closed and were simply contented to be close to each other. Liz would bury her nose in his hair and breathe in his unique scent, the scent she would think of when she lying awake in bed late at night. Thinking of her bed made her yawn and Alan gently squeezed her arms.

"Tired, huh?" She nodded sleepily. "You should go to bed. Get some sleep."

"Would you like to stay?"

"Stay?" He asked, unsure what exactly she had in mind.

Liz nuzzled his hair some more. "Hold me while we sleep," she clarified. "What do you say?"

A warm smile spread over his face. "I'd say that sounds wonderful."

She hugged him when they were both standing and then she pulled him towards the bedroom. He looked around, finding the room tastefully decorated. Only his Lizzie would decorate an apartment she wouldn't be staying at for that much longer. It hurt thinking about that, so he shoved the thought to the back of his head. That trail of thought would only keep him up all night.

"So?" Liz asked, sitting Indian-style on the bed.

"I like it. It's very you."

She smiled and beckoned him closer. He followed the silent order and came to a stop in front of her. Reaching up, Liz started loosening his tie, pulling it from his neck and throwing it in the general direction of a chair. He raised a brow at her.

"You want me naked, huh?"

"Surely you wouldn't want to sleep in your suit."

"I'd prefer if I didn't have to."

Giving him another smile, Liz got to her knees and started unbuttoning his shirt. Their eyes met and neither looked away. It was then that she noticed the speckles of green and blue were the colors that made his eyes so unique.

"You have beautiful eyes," she whispered.

"Isn't that my line?"

She shrugged and continued unbuttoning until the shirt was fully opened. "Really. Another shirt?"

"So, you do want me naked."

"Oh, shush."

He leaned forward and kissed her soundly. Then he took the few steps towards the chair, unbuckling his belt and taking off his pants, leaving him in a white shirt and his boxer shorts. When he turned around, he noticed that she wasn't in bed anymore. He was confused for a few seconds, until he heard the faint noise of someone brushing his teeth. Walking towards the bathroom, he leaned against the doorframe, watching her watch him in the mirror.

"Here," she spoke around the toothbrush in her mouth while holding out a still-packaged toothbrush.

"Thank you, sweetheart." He took the offered item and started the nightly routine himself.

She was finished before him and kissed his cheek before leaving the bathroom, and even though this all seemed very domestic, Alan didn't feel pressured or uncomfortable. He wondered if it was because Lizzie was one of a kind. He quickly finished brushing and splashed some water on his face before walking back into the bedroom. He found her lying under the covers already, looking at him.

"What?" She asked.

Alan shrugged. "I like this," he said and earned himself a wide smile. She lifted the covers for him and he slipped in, turning on his side, facing her. "So."

"So?"

"Is cuddling in bed off-limits?" Instead of answering, Liz scooted closer and snuggled into his chest, one arm thrown over his waist to hold him to her. He hummed in appreciation and put his own arm around her. Since she was already lying on the other one, he wrapped it around her back and placed a kiss into her hair.

"G'night, Alan."

"Goodnight, Lizzie."