Jemma lit up the room as she walked into her apartment early the next morning. After cooking and eating breakfast with Leo, he insisted on giving her a lift home, and after a very long kiss goodbye she practically flew up the stairs with the elegance of a gazelle. Being careful not to wake Daisy (it was before ten on a Sunday – she'd almost certainly still be asleep), she slowly closed the front door and placed her bag on the kitchen side before hearing a series of screeches from the corner of the room. She turned in the direction of the noise to see Daisy sat on a chair and shuffling it around to face her, the legs of the chair scraping the floor as she did so.
"Mooooorrrrniiiiinnnnng." Daisy said with a huge grin.
"What are you doing up this early?" Jemma asked, trying to change the subject before she blushed too much.
"I wanted to be up when you got in and watch you do the walk of shame. It would have been cooler if we had a swivel chair. We should get one." Daisy explained, standing up and taking a few steps closer to Jemma with a smirk. "How was your night?"
"Wonderful, I'll have you know." Jemma blushed.
"I bet it was. Look at you, getting a taste of Scotland without actually going there."
"Daisy!"
"Do you like the taste of shortbread? Getting the hang of playing the bagpipes? Itching to buy a tartan dress?"
"Stop it! I never do this when you come home after staying elsewhere overnight." Jemma said as she sat down on the couch, Daisy joining her.
"Those are all one night stands, Jem! This is you sleeping with your boyfriend for the first time – that's always a huge deal. Speaking of which, did he have a huge deal?" Daisy smirked.
"You're awful." Jemma chuckled, shaking her head at her friend's words.
"Okay, okay…seriously though, how was it?" Daisy asked, her tone now letting Jemma know she was in 'serious friend' mode. Jemma's red face and wide grin told her all she needed to know.
"It was incredible, Daisy. Really, really incredible."
"I'm so happy for you, Jem! I knew it would be. He has that kind of energy about him, you know? On the outside he's a bit daft and clumsy but when it comes down to it he knows what he's doing." Daisy commented.
"He certainly does." Jemma smirked.
"Right then, just one more thing I need to know. Seriously this time." Daisy stated, pressing her two index fingers together then slowly moving them apart, the length between them getting longer with each passing second. Jemma watched her and chuckled. After a considerable number of seconds, Daisy stared at Jemma with wide eyes.
"Now I'm starting to worry for you."
"You have no idea." Jemma sniggered, standing up to make herself a cup of tea. Daisy smiled before reaching for her laptop. Jemma looked at her in confusion.
"What are you doing?"
"Ordering a swivel chair."
…
Leo was sat on the couch with a smile on his face; the TV was on but he wasn't really paying much attention to it. He was living in his own personal bubble of happiness. The apartment door opened and Lance walked in. The two men made eye contact and nodded at one another, saying nothing.
Still in silence, Lance closed the door and put his wallet and keys on the kitchen table, Leo still facing but not really watching the TV. Lance turned towards his bedroom door and began walking towards it. As he reached the couch, Leo raised his arm in the air.
Lance high fived Leo, never stopping as he made his way into his bedroom and shut the door.
…
Jemma's phone rang while she checked her emails on her laptop; she quickly answered it, expecting it to be Leo.
"Hey!"
"Mooooorrrrniiiiinnnnng."
Even though she couldn't see her, Jemma knew Melinda was smirking on the other end of the phone.
"Good morning, Melinda. How did you know?"
"Know what?" Melinda asked, feigning innocence.
"You know what." Jemma smiled, blushing once again.
"I knew you had a date with Leo last night; I just assumed things may have happened. I assumed correctly, by the sound of your voice." Melinda said happily.
"…I never thought I'd get a call from my boss asking me about my sex life."
"I didn't ask a thing, you brought it up. I was just curious to see how the lovebirds I put together got on. I'm very happy for you, Jemma." Melinda said happily.
"Thank you, Melinda."
"Well, I'll let you get back to your weekend! See you tomorrow, Mrs Fitz." Melinda chuckled.
"Oh, hold on a minute! I just got an email from that guy who phoned for you before." Jemma said.
"…Andrew?" May said after a long silence.
"Yeah. He seems very eager to see you."
"I told you what to tell him, Jemma. There will be no meetings or contact of any kind." Melinda said sternly.
"…May I ask why?" Jemma wondered, but was met with silence. Melinda had hung up.
…
"She ripped my shirt off, mate. Like a wild animal. Bloody amazing. It's properly torn down the sleeve." Lance recalled, awe in his eyes as he and Leo tucked into a pizza.
"She doesn't come across to be the type to do that when you talk to her." Leo stated.
"That's why it's bloody amazing. I mean, it's different, but I'm very happy to get used to it." Lance smiled.
"Jemma was incredible too. I can't get over how lucky I am." Leo said.
"That's because you don't give yourself enough credit, mate." Lance said.
"Because you spend most of our time together insulting me."
"No I don't, you bloody prick." Lance smirked.
"I just…I really think this could be it, Lance. No one else could ever dream of coming close to her perfect she is." Leo smiled.
"I'll drink to that." Lance nodded.
"…We don't have anything." Leo said, noting that neither of the men had a drink nearby.
"Let's fix that." Lance said, hopping up and heading to the fridge. Leo watched him go for a moment; his thoughts returned to Jemma and he smiled.
…
"Did he, like…take photos? You know, of…of you two…?"
"NO! It's his profession, he's not a weirdo!" Jemma exclaimed.
"Woah, okay! It's not as uncommon as you think. Vicki from work said she found a photo album her parents kept and there was a photo for every position they -"
"-NEVER FINISH THAT STORY." Jemma ordered. She and Daisy were sat at the kitchen table tucking into a meal she'd cooked.
"…Do you think I'll ever find it with someone? What you and Leo have?" Daisy asked eventually and solemnly.
"Of course you will. It's not about if, but about when." Jemma said softly, squeezing Daisy's hand supportively.
"Thanks, Jem."
The two women smiled sweetly at one another before eating in silence for a minute or two.
"…So tell me about Melinda and this Andrew guy."
"That's the thing; I have no idea what the deal is with them…"
…
Leo chuckled as he read another text from Jemma. They'd been texting practically all day, a mix of compliments and gossip, from Melinda and the mysterious Andrew to Bobbi and Lance. After sending a rather flirtatious reply, he began the extensive process of cleaning his camera in preparation for Thursday's upcoming job for Melinda. He had wipes, sprays and brushes all laid out in front of him.
Lance walked into the room and stopped. Leo looked up at him.
"What?"
"All I saw was you, the box of wipes and a bottle of gel. I wondered if I was interrupting something I really didn't want to see." Lance smirked.
"Oh, shut up." Leo chuckled. Lance sat down in the chair next to the couch Leo was on and smiled at his best friend.
"You've never looked happier." He said.
"I was gonna say the same about you." Leo grinned.
"It's funny how life can turn around just like that, huh?"
"Yeah. Thank God it did." Leo nodded.
"Amen." Lance agreed, taking a swig of a beer on the table.
"That's mine."
"You're busy; I'll look after it for you."
…
"Goodnight, Jem." Daisy smiled as she popped her head out of her door.
"Goodnight. Sure you're okay?" Jemma asked.
"Always." Daisy nodded before closing her door gently.
Jemma sat back into the couch, spreading her legs right across it and basking in the comfort. She thought she'd felt true happiness before, but she hadn't until that moment. She'd never been so glad of being alive.
Her thoughts returned to Leo and she smiled.