the angst train is pulling into the station...

Also, because so many of the drabbles on tumblr had the same title, I'm changing a few (this was originally "Mittens pt. 3")

"Sleepover"

Friday night...

"What about these?" Tom held the pair of child's mittens for Sybil to see. They were the water-resistant kind that she had wanted to get for Suzy, though they were the brightest shade of neon orange he had ever seen.

Sybil laughed at the sight of them. "Well, it would be impossible to miss her hands if she were waving at someone," she giggled.

Tom frowned as he examined the mittens. "Her coat is pink; think they might clash with it?"

Sybil's eyebrows lifted with amusement. "I didn't realize you were so fashion conscious…" she giggled.

He rolled his eyes and put the mittens back on the sales shelf before proceeding to search for a different pair. He felt her watching him even before he looked back at her. "What?"

The teasing light that was in her eyes from just a few seconds ago had melted into something softer and sweeter. She put down the scarf she had been examining and walked over to him, and much to Tom's happy surprise, proceeded to wrap her arms around him, before lifting herself up on her tip toes and brushing her lips against his.

It was a pleasant surprise because with the exception of Sybil putting her arm around him and holding his hand when they were at the park the day they told Suzy they were a couple, Sybil seemed to shy away from displaying affection in public. Certainly all of their kisses had been in private; not even Suzy had seen them kiss.

"What brought this on?" he found himself dreamily asking, when her lips drifted away from his own. "Not that I'm complaining, mind you," he was quick to add.

Sybil was blushing brightly, and even lowered her eyes somewhat bashfully, before answering, "It's been so long since I felt like this…" she murmured.

Tom felt his heart squeeze at her confession. "Like what?" he dared to ask. Safe? Appreciated? Loved?

She lifted her eyes and looked directly at him. "Happy."

His heart squeezed even more. "You deserve to be happy," he whispered. He lifted his right hand to touch her cheek, marveling both at the warm softness of her skin, as well as the comprehension that somehow in some way, he was able to help her feel like this.

She smiled before closing her eyes, leaning her face into his touch and letting out a peaceful sigh. When she next opened her eyes, he saw tears glistening there. "You know what?" she whispered back. "You're right; I do."

He found himself chuckling at that, and then leaned his face down, until his lips were centimeters away from hers, allowing her to close the gap and smiling against the warm softness of her mouth as she did.

The kiss began soft and gentle…but it didn't take long for Tom feel their passions growing. When they parted, he noticed that her eyes had darkened, and her breathing was heavier. "Get the mittens," she told him.

Tom's eyes widened. "The orange ones?"

Sybil just nodded. "Suzy will love them no matter what; especially when she learns you found them."

That did make Tom laugh, as well as cause his heart to overflow at the thought. Both he and Sybil went on the mittens, and after the cashier handed them back the bag, Sybil told him she was finished with shopping for the night, which was fine with Tom because he was just as eager to get back their building as she was after their last kiss.

He laughed as Sybil practically dragged him out of the cab, nearly tugging his arm off. They raced up to their floor, at which point Sybil pushed him against the corridor wall before robbing him of his breath with the insistent pressure of her mouth. "Your place," she managed to gasp, and Tom had to keep himself from swearing when he was having difficulty digging his keys out of his pocket (while her hands were busy undoing his trousers).

They didn't even make it to the bed. But Sybil didn't seem to care, she laughed afterwards as they lay on the floor, catching their breath. "I…I…I don't know what's gotten into me," she managed to gasp between giggles.

It was a beautiful sound, and Tom knew he would never tire of it. He looked over at her and grinned, though in his mind he was recalling how not that long ago, the expression she most commonly wore was one of sadness, caution, and even a little pain. So help me, I will do everything in my power to make sure she doesn't feel that way again.

He leaned up onto his elbow, and looking down at her, brought his left hand to cup her face. "Sybil, I want you to know that I'm happy too…so happy, and I know that you're the reason for my happiness, both you and Suzy."

She looked up at him and lifted her own hand to touch his cheek. Now it was his turn to lean into her touch. "Tonight was wonderful…" she told him.

He looked back at her and made a bit of a face. "They burned your shepherd's pie—"

"It was still lovely," she insisted. "And besides, every 'first date' needs something memorable…and speaking of 'memorable'…"

She leaned up as if she were going to kiss him, only to tickle his side and catch him off guard. She then leapt to her feet, and shedding the rest of her clothes, dashed to his bedroom, with him right at her heels, shedding his own clothes as he went.

They made love three more times that night, and every time seemed to get better and better. After the third time, Tom didn't think he could feel the bones in his body; he was beyond exhausted. But it was a wonderful kind of exhaustion, the sort any man would long to experience, made all the more wonderful because it was with the woman he loved.

"Thank you…" he found himself gasping as he held her close. "Thank you for coming to Dublin…" Truly, he had never felt so happy either.

Saturday morning

"Suzy? Your ride's here!"

Suzy heard Mrs. McKenna's voice from her friend Moira's room. She waved goodbye to her friends, before grabbing her coat and backpack and hurrying down the stairs, bursting with stories that she couldn't wait to tell her mother and Tom. Mrs. McKenna smiled and handed Suzy her purple "Irish mittens", and Suzy thanked her, before hurrying out the door, her mouth open, ready to begin relaying the previous evening—

The words died in her throat.

"Hello, sweetheart…"

Her eyes widened.

"…Daddy?"