Serena spent much of the drive home, and indeed much of the evening on the phone trying to find someone to fix the wiring and rebuild the kitchen at her house, and Bernie found she enjoyed this almost as much as the night before. It felt domestic, something she wasn't sure she'd ever wanted before, but something that suddenly felt right. She spent most of the evening sat on the couch with Jason watching quiz shows and failing miserably at answering questions. Serena was in the bedroom barking orders at people over the phone and then giving dramatic moans whenever she was put on hold, but every so often she would walk into the room and drop a kiss to Bernie's hair, finding the smell of her instantly calming.
With Serena otherwise occupied, it had also come down to Bernie cooking the dinner, and Jason soon realised that he was not the only one able to set fire to his food. The ready-made shepherd's pie from the shop soon made its way into the bin, and it was Jason who suggested they have cheese on toast instead. He knew how to make cheese on toast, and he wasn't sure Aunty Serena would be too pleased if he and Bernie burnt down her kitchen, too.
Jason had apparently forgotten all about overhearing them the night before, but when Serena finally gave up on phone calls and joined them for dinner, it was quite clear that she hadn't. Rather than taking the seat next to Bernie where the blonde had rested her plate, she picked up the dish and moved to the armchair.
Bernie instantly felt hurt, unwanted, like a mistake, but quickly she chided herself, reminding herself of Serena's words earlier. She didn't think last night was a mistake, or their relationship, she was just embarrassed at being overheard by her nephew. Bernie tried to imagine how she'd been if Cameron or Charlotte had overheard them, and felt the warmth of a blush on her cheeks. She felt proud of herself, then, for not panicking or voicing her worry but instead thinking it through thoroughly. Maybe Serena had taught her a thing or two.
"What are you smiling at?" Serena suddenly asked, eyes narrowed as she looked at the blonde who was apparently enjoying the history documentary on the TV a little too much.
"Just thinking that I'm glad I have you onside, because I'm not sure I'd want an expensive gift returned and shoved up my-"
"THAT'S quite enough, Major!" Serena interrupted, though her eyes twinkled with amusement. "And for the record, you'd better keep me onside, because like I've said before, I can hold a grudge."
"Oh, I intend to keep you very close indeed, Ms Campbell." Bernie responded, smiling again at the pink tinge that lit Serena's cheeks.
Bernie waited in bed rather impatiently that night, eyes on the door of the bathroom. Jason had gone to bed a short time ago armed with headphones, though Bernie had made sure Serena didn't see her passing them to him, and while Bernie wouldn't say no to a repeat of the night before, she was hoping they might talk. About what, she wasn't sure, and she had never been one to just want to talk, but she wanted to make sure Serena really was okay, and she knew that Serena liked to talk things through- what was happening with her house, what had happened with Jason and Robbie, where this relationship might be going.
"Bernie?" And suddenly there Serena was, stood in the doorway of the bathroom wearing the blonde's t-shirt again, her hand tugging the hem nervously and making Bernie forget completely about talking. "I think I might sleep on the couch."
Eight words that made Bernie's heart sink. "Oh."
"I just...this is such an upheaval for Jason, and I want to make sure he's comfortable here. He doesn't do well on little sleep, either..." Serena stared at the floor rather than at Bernie's face.
"...I'll sleep on the couch. You take the bed."
Bernie went to stand, but Serena was suddenly there beside her, one hand on her shoulder to stop her standing, and the other still toying with the hem of her t-shirt. "No. Not with your back. I'll be fine. I'll see you in the morning." With that Serena bent down to kiss Bernie on the lips, a whimper escaping when Bernie sat up a little higher and tangled her fingers in brunette hair to deepen it.
"If you're sure." Bernie whispered as she pulled away breathlessly, her forehead resting against Serena's.
Serena wasn't sure. Bernie's fingers in her hair and the feeling of her stuttered breaths against her lips didn't help. Finally, however, she managed to find it in herself to stand, avoiding looking at the blonde's face as she retreated. "Goodnight, Bernie." She moved to flick on the small night light the other woman had revealed to her the previous night before shutting off the main bedroom light.
"Goodnight, Serena."
Pausing in the doorway at the softly spoken words, Serena forced herself to keep going in the direction of the couch. Settling under the blankets she had laid out while Bernie had been changing, she lay on her back, staring blankly at the ceiling. This wasn't how she had imagined tonight when she had slipped out of the flat this morning. She let out a sigh. Today hadn't exactly gone as she had imagined it would either. The house. Robbie. The insurance company. Jason. It had been relentless. And now she didn't even have the comforting presence of the blonde to take her mind off of it all.
Still, it was for the best. Jason had been so good about the whole thing, coping surprisingly well with the upheaval. She didn't want to add to the huge number of things he was dealing with by adding she and Bernie's tentatively blossoming relationship into the fold. She realised then she hadn't even had the chance to ask the blonde about her earlier discussion with Jason. She imagined it wouldn't have been an easy discussion. Bernie, who never liked to open up, and Jason, who's understanding usually depended on it.
She shuffled on the couch, trying to get comfortable. Listening to the unfamiliar noises of the flat, she was surprised at how quiet it was. Her own experience of flat living had been noisy neighbours and unidentifiable thumps and bangs at all hours of the day and night. Here, however, she noted that she couldn't hear much at all, not even what had now become the familiar buzz of whatever show Jason would watch in bed at night. The stillness of the night, however, did nothing to settle her mind.
She buried her face in the pillow she had stolen from Bernie's side of the bed, breathing in the comforting scent. It wasn't as good as the real thing, but then, having woken up once wrapped in a loose embrace, the blonde curled around her, she knew nothing ever would be. She let out another along sigh. It was going to be a long night.
It wasn't that she didn't want people to know. Or didn't feel comfortable with Jason knowing, at least in broad terms. She just wished she could have let them know on her terms, rather than her relationship being reduced to something sordid by the rumour mill. She hoped Robbie had at least a shred of dignity in him and wouldn't add fuel to the fire, although if his behaviour today was anything to go by, she didn't have much faith. She tried to think where she would be if she had still been with him when the fire had occurred. He would never have simply opened his home to Jason without so much as a second thought. No, he would more likely have seen it as a chance to take here away for a dirty weekend somewhere while the work to her house was being done and farm Jason off on a carer.
Bernie, however...she had been there without Serena ever having to ask, silently sharing her burden, even if she did manage to burn a shop bought shepherd's pie. The memory of the blonde frantically waving a dishtowel at the smoke detector brought a smile to her face. She sat up, looking towards the open bedroom door over the back of the couch. She wondered if the blonde was still awake. She bit her lip as she continued to stare at the gently lit doorway. Her feet were on the floor before she even realised she'd moved. What use was it, anyway, her sleeping on the couch? The look on Bernie's face as she had exited the bathroom and her lingering kiss were all the indicators she needed that the blonde was more than happy to share her bed with her once more. And as for Jason, well, had already heard enough that even in his innocence he knew where she had spent last night.
Hugging the pillow to her chest, Serena silently padded towards Bernie's bedroom door, only to pause in the doorway. The corners of her lips tugged up in a smile at the sight of the blonde lying on her front across the bed, facing the door, her arms crossed under her chin. "I couldn't sleep," was all she offered.
Bernie gave a sleepy smile, pushing herself up to relax against the headboard before reaching out a hand. Serena took it, climbing in beside her, and Bernie was pleasantly surprised by the gentle kiss she gave her.
One hand on Bernie's cheek, Serena lay down and pulled the blonde with her, moving her kisses down to her neck and then her collarbone.
"Serena-" Bernie suddenly whispered as Serena lips moved to caress the pulse point on her neck, feeling the fast but steady heartbeat. When the brunette drew back, expecting a worried or questioning look, all Bernie offered was, "I love you."
Serena smiled widely, her fingers brushing down Bernie's cheek before ghosting over her lips. "Do you think you can last until i get to touch you tonight?"
"I'll do my very best." Bernie whispered back. And she did try, very hard, but Serena's progress down her body was agonisingly, perfectly slow, and as the blonde's head was buried in a pillow to quieten the noises she made, Serena didn't hear her pleas to quicken her pace.
Serena herself was so engrossed in uncovering and kissing every piece of Berenice Wolfe that she reached, it was only when she finally dropped a kiss to Bernie's inner thigh that she realised the situation, Bernie's whole body shaking with the effort. She pulled away then, looking up to find Bernie's chest rising and falling heavily, shining with sweat and a pink blush on her skin where Serena had nipped and kissed her.
She didn't know what she was doing, or if her attempt at guessing was even right, but suddenly the sight before her told her it didn't matter. Bernie was on the edge, she'd brought her there, and she wanted to watch the moment she finally fell.
Serena pushed herself back up the bed, turning Bernie's face from the pillow to kiss her, Bernie repeating her name in a desperate whisper as they parted.
Finally, one hand on Bernie's cheek to keep her still, Serena slid a hand between them.
When Serena touched her, it was like an electric shock through Bernie's whole body, hips thrusting forward in an effort to make the touch firmer.
"Bernie. Look at me." Serena murmured against her lips, pulling back just enough to make eye contact with perfect, brown eyes. And then it happened- Bernie broke. Her mouth opened and closed with wordless noise, her breathing began erratic and her fingers on Serena's still clothed body gripped and loosened in time with the feeling inside her.
It wasn't until almost 10 minutes later that Bernie managed to speak Serena's name, a sudden, overwhelming tiredness coming over her. "Are you sure you haven't done that before?"
Serena laughed, burying her blushing face into Bernie's neck and marvelling at how easily they fit together. "I may have googled a few things."
Bernie laughed her deep, perfect laugh, and in that moment Serena knew she didn't care what anyone might say or think- she needed to hear that sound every day for the rest of her life, and no one would ever be able to convince her otherwise.