Sometimes, words weren't needed.

"Hey Shizuo." Kyoko said lightly; she smiled up at Shizuo from her seat on the couch. He did not smile; he stomped over to the couch and sat down with his arms crossed.

"Bad day, huh? Wanna talk about it?"

Shizuo grunted roughly.

"Want some dinner?"

He shook his head and sank deeper into his seat with a frown.

"How about some milk?"

Shizuo huffed and shook his head.

Kyoko thought for a moment. "Sexy time?"

Shizuo hesitated, but shook his head with an apologetic sigh.

"That bad?"

He grumbled and crossed his arms tighter across his chest; Kyoko leaned into his side.

"How about we just go upstairs and snuggle for a bit?"

Shizuo nodded slowly; he picked Kyoko up and she clung to him in a koala-like fashion.

Sometimes little efforts meant the most, even if they didn't always come out right.

"Shizuo, you really don't have to." Kyoko said for what she thought was the tenth time that day; Shizuo shook his head stubbornly.

"I'm staying to take care of you."

"It's really not that bad. Besides…" Kyoko trailed off.

Shizuo looked at her questioningly. "What?"

"It's just...well…"

Kyoko hated to admit that having Shizuo around while she was sick might be more stressful than him being gone; she appreciated him wanting to help, but she was a bit worried about the state of her kitchen after today.

"I can just heat up soup and tea by myself." Kyoko replied. "And I feel bad making you miss work too."

"No. You're going to be my wife; I'll take care of everything." Shizuo kissed her forehead. "I'll be right back. Besides, how hard can it be to make rice porridge?" He chuckled.

Kyoko settled back into the bed; an hour later, Shizuo woke her up carrying a bowl on a serving tray. His sleeve was on fire.

"How did that even happen!?" Kyoko asked as Shizuo blew on the fabric; he set down the tray with a proud smile.

"Don't worry babe. The kitchen's a bit of a mess, but I think the porridge came out great."

"Um, Shizuo?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't think it's supposed to be brown." Regardless, Kyoko took a bite; she winced.

"You hate it, don't you?" Shizuo sighed.

"Yeah, it's a bit...burnt." Kyoko smiled and held Shizuo around the waist. "But I love you."

"You won't after you see the kitchen…"

Sometimes, things got awkward.

"Uh, Shizuo?"

"Huh?" Shizuo held his arm tighter across Kyoko's waist; in his opinion, spooning was the best cuddling position. He got to hold her against him and she was kept warm and covered up by his larger body. Not that it didn't have it's drawbacks.

"Are you...hard?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Oh. Did you want to…?"

Shizuo blushed. "No. It just gets that way sometimes when I feel comfortable. I mean, you're all soft and warm, and it's just feels nice. I don't want to do it right now though...not that I don't like it when we do it, but-!"

"Shizuo, it's okay." Kyoko smiled. "I don't mind, I was just curious."

"Oh. Sorry, did I wake you?"

Kyoko smiled at him awkwardly. "Well, you were kind of grinding against me."

"I was?!"

Sometimes, things got a bit crazy.

"Shizuo, wake up." Kyoko shook his shoulder gently. He snored on obliviously. "We have to be at your parents in two hours."

"Damn he's a heavy sleeper." Kyoko marveled. "He's so sweet looking. Oh, he's drooling again."

She moved to wipe it off, and started when she heard him mutter.

"No….it's my milk."

Kyoko held a hand to her mouth to muffle her giggling; she took a breath and tried to listen carefully.

"Asshole….Kyoko, make him…."

"What does he want me to do?"

"What? You can't, I drink it all the time!..."

Kyoko shook his shoulder again; nothing.

"Maybe I should get a wet rag again."

Shizuo grabbed her arm just as she got off the bed; his eyes were half open.

"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!"

"What?!"

"You can't divorce me and take all the milk!"

"I'm not!"

Kyoko looked at him with wide eyes as he slowly laid back down.

"What the fuck?" she whispered as Shizuo slept on peacefully; one of his legs twitched. After a moment, Kyoko left and doused a rag with cold water; she patted his face with it. Shizuo yawned and woke up.

"Hey babe." Shizuo stretched his arm; Kyoko burst into laughter. "What, did I say something funny?"

"What the hell were you dreaming about?!" Kyoko held her stomach as she bent over, struggling to breath.

"I was dreaming?"

Kyoko kissed his cheek and held him close. "Oh god I love you." she chuckled breathlessly. "You know I'd never divorce you and take all the milk."

"Oh….good."

And other times were incredibly precious.

Shizuo had just come home from work; he and Tom had been out all night collecting money and he was exhausted and grouchy. He sighed heavily as he walked into the dim apartment.

"Kyoko?" he called out tentatively; no answer. "She must be asleep."

Shizuo couldn't help feel a tiny bit disappointed; he wanted Kyoko to get her sleep of course. She had a regular day job she needed to get to in the morning; still, he couldn't say he didn't like the times where he had found her dozing on the couch, waiting for him to get home with a sleepy smile.

There was a light coming from their bedroom; Shizuo went inside as quietly as he could. Kyoko's reading lamp was still on, but she was fast asleep under the covers. Shizuo crept over the the dresser and slowly pulled out the drawers with his t shirts and underwear.

"Okay, gotta be quiet." Shizuo thought to himself as he slipped off his tie. "She looks knocked out, but I don't want to wake her up. Kyoko needs her sleep."

He was right in the middle of pulling on his shirt when he heard Kyoko speak to him.

"Shizuo…."

"Sorry babe." Shizuo quickly put his clothes on the hamper and turned to face her. "Work went later than I-"

Kyoko's head was still buried in the pillow; her eyes were closed and her mouth fell open slightly. "Love you….."

"Kyoko?" Shizuo asked softly; he sat down on the bed, the mattress sinking under his weight, but Kyoko didn't stir. He laid down beside her with a confused gaze.

"Are you awake?"

"Shizuo…?" Kyoko breathed; her voice was so soft, he wouldn't have been able to hear it otherwise if he hadn't been straining to listen.

"She's sleep talking." Shizuo realized. "She's dreaming...about me?"

"Love you Shizuo…" Kyoko held the blanket closer to her with a little moan.

Shizuo couldn't handle it anymore; he felt his heart melt as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. He couldn't remember the last time he wanted to hold her so badly, but he swore already to let her get her rest.

"Kyoko." Shizuo sighed into her hair; he wasn't going to say it back just yet.

He wanted her to be awake when he told her, for that time and every other time to come.