you're my favorite time of day
Barry's favorite part of the day is that stretch of time between going to bed and falling asleep.
There's nothing he loves more than sinking into bed, filled with the satisfaction of a day well spent, content to know that everything he holds dear is safe and sound and that the world will keep spinning forward for the next few hours at least.
Of course, the very best part of those magic minutes is the person who sinks into bed beside him and cuddles in close, threading herself into his arms with the warm ease of familiarity and feeling for all the world like home.
He loves this time of day best because it's just them: him and Caitlin in their own little world, talking about everything and anything that they can think of. Some nights the conversation is nothing more than a conclusion to the day, final thoughts on their adventures (and misadventures), updates on anything they missed, an extended analysis of some event that hadn't occurred until later. Some nights they talk about their pasts, skittering around all the little pieces that have brought them together until one day, finally, they'll both be able to appreciate the whole puzzle for the picture it's making now. And some nights, his very favorites, they talk about the future and his heart beats heavy in his chest at the way those talks are littered with 'us' and 'we' and 'together'. He always falls asleep smiling, lulled under by the steady music of her breathing.
Caitlin's favorite time of day is that stretch of time between waking up and getting ready.
There's nothing more she loves than waking up in a warm bed, filled with the satisfaction of a good night's sleep, content in the knowledge that the world around her is peaceful and quiet and slowly waking up to a beautiful new day, filled with possibility.
Of course, the very best part of those magic minutes is the person she gets to wake up beside, cuddled in close with his arm slung around her waist and his nose buried in her hair, pulling her tighter with each move she makes, feeling warm and familiar and like just like home.
She loves this time of day best because it's just them: her and Barry in their own little world, talking about everything and anything in that sleepy, sluggish morning voice he has. Some mornings, the conversation is nothing more than their plans for the day: a delicate balance of work to be done, errands to run, lives that may need saving, groceries that need to be purchased, the banal, everyday chores that build a routine that seems so much less routine because they do it together. Some mornings they talk about their nightmares, skittering around all the little details that hold fresh pain, until one day, finally, they will both ready to deal with the reality of whatever fresh heartache they've suffered, so that they can move through it together. And some mornings, her very favorites, they talk about their dreams and her heart beats heavy in her chest at the way those dreams are littered with 'us' and 'we' and 'together'. She always meets the rest of her day smiling, warmed by the memories of those conversations and all the possibilities that they hold.
This was written for Snowbarry week's 'opposites' prompt. I decided to go with a dichotomy of their favorite times of day and capitalize on the idea that they like opposite times of day for the very same reasons, hence the large amount of repetition.
Hope you guys enjoy, feedback & suggestions more than welcome.
Take Care & Best Wishes!
AOR