When Nora woke the next morning, she and Leonard were in the same position. She couldn't remember the last time she slept so soundly. Careful not to wake him, she turned in his arms until she was facing him. His lips were slightly parted.
Nora draped her leg over his thigh and adjusted her body so that they were as close as possible. When she moved her hips closer, she felt something firm against the top of her thigh. A smile pulled at her lips, even though she knew that it wasn't really a sign of arousal at the moment. Part of her wanted to turn it into one, but the other part of her didn't want the first time she touched him that way to be while he was asleep. She wanted to see his face, to be looking into his eyes, the first time.
She touched his arm and slowly ran her hand up, over his shoulder and onto his chest. Her fingers traced the swells and dips of the muscles under his shirt. She stared at those parted lips and couldn't resist the urge to kiss him. Leaning forward, she pulled his bottom lip between her own and paused, waiting to see if he responded. Leonard didn't move, so she pressed more firmly against his lips. She traced over his lips with her tongue before kissing him fully.
A tug on his lip pulled Leonard from his deep sleep. When he felt the fullness of a kiss, his eyes fluttered open and he found himself staring into Nora's eyes. As his sleep-addled brain processed what was happening, he pulled her closer and began to kiss her back.
Nora sighed as Leonard's tongue pushed past her lips. She felt his hand move from her back to the leg that was draped over his. His fingers dug into her bare thigh before moving to her chest. The hand found her breast and gently squeezed. Her lips parted in a silent gasp, and she moaned into Leonard's mouth.
The sound went straight to Leonard's already hard member. He pushed her onto her back and held himself above her, supported on his forearms. Nora's hands fisted the front of Leonard's shirt as they continued to kiss. Leonard finally kissed down her jaw, to her neck, before pulling back. Still on his forearms, he let her hair slip through his fingers.
"I must be dreaming," he said.
"I had that same thought when I woke up," Nora said.
Leonard placed a tender, almost chaste kiss on her lips before rolling onto his back.
"Come here," he said.
Nora smiled and moved to his side.
"What do you wanna do today," Leonard asked.
"I was already doing what I want to do," she said.
"What happened to moving slow?"
"Len... I know now that I love you." Her fingers grazed over his face. "You're what I've always imagined."
"Divorced," Leonard questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, so, you're not perfect," she said, "but, who is? I've come to a point where I can't see my life without you in it."
"Same here."
"So, then you should understand why I'm ready now. I want you... completely."
"I do understand, but I have something else to consider."
"What?"
"You're my best friend's sister... and I haven't told him how I feel about you."
Nora nodded. "If Jim is against us being together, will it change how you feel about me?"
"No," Leonard said with a furrowed brow.
"Will you stop seeing me?"
Leonard didn't answer as quickly. The creases in his forehead deepened, and Nora knew it wasn't a decision he would take lightly.
"You don't have to answer that now," she said.
"Nora, I'm sorry, I just-"
"Don't want to feel like you're betraying your friend. I get it. It's who you are... and one of the things I love about you. You're loyal. That's nothing to apologize for."
Nora pressed a gentle kiss to his lips and slid from beneath the covers. When she disappeared into the bathroom, Leonard knew he had to be sure before they moved forward. He had to talk to Jim. He went into the bathroom after Nora. She wasn't in bed when he came out, so he got dressed and grabbed his wallet. He walked up behind the couch, just out of reach if Nora turned to him.
"Hey," he said. "I have an errand I have to run. I'll be back later."
Nora looked at him standing there, fully dressed. "You didn't mention any errands before."
"I know. I forgot about this. I'll be a few hours. You'll be here when I get back?"
Nora was beginning to worry, but the look on his face, as if the thought of her not being there upset him, eased the concern.
"I'll be here," she said.
"Good. I'll see you later."
"Okay."
Jim had given both Leonard and Nora the information on where he would be staying, just in case they needed him. Leonard knew, with it still being before eleven in the morning by the time he arrived, that Jim was likely asleep after a late night. He stood knocking for several minutes before the door opened. Jim stood there in boxers and a t-shirt, his hair completely disheveled.
"Bones? What are you doing here? Is Nora okay?"
"Nora's fine. I need to talk to you."
Jim stepped aside and motioned to a chair beside the bed, but Leonard didn't sit.
"I, uh... I guess there's no elegant way to say this."
"Say what, man?"
Leonard took a deep breath. "Nora and I have been seeing each other."
Jim's eyes narrowed, then grew wide. "What?"
"For a while now."
"You've been 'seeing' my sister? What exactly does that mean?"
"We've been spending a lot of time together, Jim. Partially your doing, by the way."
"My doing?"
"Yeah, running off and leaving me to look out for her."
"Look out for her, not hit on her."
"I never hit on her, Jim. It just, sort of, evolved."
Jim ran a hand over his face, and turned his back to his friend.
"We were talking this morning," Leonard continued, "and I told her-"
"Where were you this morning," Jim interrupted.
"What?"
"When you two were talking this morning... where were you?"
"In our room."
"Where?"
Leonard knew where Jim was going with this, and the answer would make Jim think he was right. Leonard sighed and set himself to give a quick explanation.
"In bed, but we-"
Leonard couldn't even get the words out. Jim's fist flew through the air and made contact with Leonard's jaw, sending him stumbling. Jim planted his hands on Leonard's chest and shoved him hard into the wall.
"You son-of-a-bitch! I told you she had a crush on you! I told you not to lead her on."
"Dammit, Jim, it's not like that! I love her!"
Jim's fist was pulled back, ready for another swing, but the words stopped him.
"What?"
"I love her, Jim... and I told her. It just didn't feel right going forward if we were hiding it from you. You're her brother... and my best friend. I tried to tell you before. It just... I don't know."
Jim put on a robe and walked out of the room without a word. Leonard didn't know what to do. Jim couldn't go far in a robe, but him leaving that way didn't seem good. Leonard sat on the chair and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. Jim was back a few minutes later with a bucket of ice. He went straight to the bathroom, and came out a moment later with a full towel, which he handed to Leonard.
"Ice," Jim said. "Your jaw is starting to bruise."
Leonard held the makeshift ice pack to his injured jaw. "Jim, I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner."
Jim sat on the edge of his bed, across from Leonard. "You slept with my sister, Bones."
"Slept... key word."
"You're telling me," Jim said in a skeptical tone, "that you spent the whole night in bed with a woman, and nothing happened."
"What I'm saying is that Nora and I never had sex."
Jim cringed. "Well, spare me the details of what doesn't count as sex." He shook his head. "I never thought I'd have to worry about you with my sister."
"I'm sorry, Jim. I didn't plan on being attracted to her. Definitely didn't plan on falling in love with her. She's an amazing woman."
"She is," Jim agreed. "She deserves a good man."
"She does," Leonard said, sounding slightly defeated as he stared at the floor.
"I'm glad she found one."
Leonard looked up, surprise evident on his face. "Thanks, Jim."
"Sorry about the jaw," Jim said.
"I guess I kind of deserved it."
"No, you didn't. If you two really love each other..."
"We do."
"Then I'm happy for you. Both of you."
Leonard stood and handed Jim the towel. "I'm gonna go."
"Tell Nora I love her," Jim said, "and I'll see you guys in two weeks."
"Thanks."
Nora tried to watch television while Leonard was gone. She knew her question rattled him, and he had to think, but she was worried about what his decision might be. There was more at stake than her future with Leonard. His friendship with Jim was on the line. She also had to consider that this could changer her own relationship with Jim. How would he react when they finally told him?
When the door to the room slid open, Nora stood and went straight to Leonard. She immediately saw the bruise and reached to gently touch it.
"What happened?"
"I went and talked to Jim."
"Jim did this?"
"Yeah... before I told him that I love you."
"You need ice," Nora said. She started to walk toward the kitchen, but Leonard grabbed her hand.
"I already had ice on it."
Nora leaned up with a hand on his face, and gently kissed the bruise, barely letting her lips touch.
"Come on," she said as she led him to the couch. "Tell me what happened."
Leonard filled her in, and she visibly relaxed by the end of the story.
"So, he's okay with it," Nora asked.
"Yeah, I think so."
"I can't believe he hit you."
"He thought he was defending you. I won't hold it against him," Leonard said with a smile.
"I'll find a way to make it up to you."
"I'm sure you'll think of something." Leonard softly kissed her, careful to avoid his jaw. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
"I could eat," she said.
"Get dressed. I'll take you to lunch and we'll have another day out."
Nora ran a thumb gently around Leonard's bruise. "Thank you for talking to Jim. I know that wasn't easy, and I'm sorry he hit you."
"It's okay, darlin'. It was worth it."
