Amanda closed the door and sighed, she walked into the kitchen, lifted 2 bottles of beer and returned to the sofa. She dropped down onto it still holding both bottles. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and heard Nick returning to the living room and stopping. I'm not sleeping she said, I'm just resting my eyes, and she held up a bottle for him, here, she said, sit yourself down. You've earned this today for successfully staying awake this long. He laughed and she felt his hand on her head, you, he said slowly, should really go to bed. You're exhausted. What like you? she said opening one of her eyes to see him walking around to sit down beside her. And don't deny it Amaro, I know you remember? I know when you're tired, and you've been trying to hide it all evening. Nick said nothing but he smiled and took a swig of beer. OK he said, guilty. But, he added in a serious tone, you won't let me go home. And now I'm the one who is worried about what's wrong with you he said. She opened her eyes again and sat herself up straight. OK, she said, he took another drink and said, should I be worried Amanda? No, she said and smiled, I promise. Nick laughed, giving me back my words again he chuckled. She smiled. And she turned around on the sofa put her legs up and nestled them under his thigh. OK he said, he lifted her feet onto his lap and rested his hand in them slowly stroking one with his thumb. OK what's wrong? She cleared her throat and looked at him in the eyes. You're not just here for a visit, are you? He smiled, what here at your apartment? No, she said in her sarcastic voice with her Georgian accent. You know what I mean. He put his hand on her legs now and moved to sit up straighter. And why would you think this? he asked, sneaking a coy look at her. Well for a start, she began, as she sat up again, that's not a rental car parked in the garage, and why would you buy 2 brand new car seats for a visit that may have only been used for today only? He said nothing but smiled and looked at her, as she went on, and that house, you're planning on living there aren't you? He took another drink of beer and laughed quietly. Well? she said, am I on the right track or climbing up the wrong tree? She had moved herself beside him now, he could feel her arm touching his. As he sat his beer on the table he sat back and let out a sigh. She turned round to look at him, and he looked at her smiling. You're right he nodded; I can hide nothing from you Amanda Rollins, trying not to laugh. No, it's not a rental car, the car seats I needed as I knew I was taking you and the girls out and was hoping more than once. And….. she pushed on, and what he asked? Nick Amaro, I swear to God if you carry this on, I will shoot you myself. He laughed, I've already been shot once so I don't fancy that again, and I'm pretty sure there's a little girl in there who would be very annoyed at you he teased… Nick she said sternly. He sighed again and rubbed her back. If I tell you, you cannot breathe a word of it to anyone he said seriously, not even Liv or Fin he added, not yet anyway. Amanda took a deep breath in, OK, now I am worried she said. Nick are you sick? Nick looked at her straight in the eye and saw her worry, I'm not sick babe, he took her hand in his, I told you, there's nothing to worry about he said. She smiled shyly. Look, he said, yes, you're right, I am planning on moving back home, she looked at him quickly, and by home, I mean here, New York, and yes, I'm planning on moving into the house. She took a deep breath, is it because Zara wants to come back? What? oh no he said, I've been thinking about this before covid even hit. You're the only one who knows about my plans. She smiled, well you and one other person he said, she looked up. Who? The Chief he said. She turned slightly and leaned against the back of the sofa beside him, leaning her head on her hand. He turned his head and took a breath in. There's a new unit being set up, a Cold Case unit, I've been doing some studying and degrees while in LA, the Chief's brother is involved, we got talking, he mentioned me to the chief, that I was doing the research etc and the chief contacted me a few weeks ago asking if I would be interested in joining this new unit. I came down to do the interview and complete the paperwork on Friday. And when do you find out about that? she asked cautiously. He smiled, yesterday evening, everything's going ahead, he said, smiling at her. She couldn't control the grin that appeared across her face. She reached over to him and hugged him. Oh, Nick that's great news she said excitedly and kissed his cheek. Congratulations she said smiling. He hugged her tight and laughed as he kissed her temple, well this has made things a whole lot easier, he said grinning. She sat back slightly, arms resting on his shoulders, she had a puzzled look on her face, what do you mean? she asked worried. He sighed and smiled slightly; well, you were the one I was most worried about telling he said and looked at her. I wasn't sure how you would feel about me coming back he said shyly. Amanda smiled and leant into him again, kissed his cheek tenderly and resting her cheek against his, said, Nick I am ecstatic. She grinned and hugged him tightly. Honestly, you have no idea how happy and excited I am for you she let go again and he kept his hands on her back. Really? He asked. She smiled and nodded, really, she replied, and leant in and kissed him on the lips. He returned the kiss and after a few seconds they pulled apart. Oh, Nick sorry, Amanda blushed, I don't know what came over me there, he smiled and held her cheek in his hand, shhh he said quietly, would you stop apologising he chuckled. Come here, and he pulled her into a hug again, thank you he said with a sigh, you have no idea how much lighter I feel now. She kissed his neck and said, you were really that worried Nick? Yeah, he said, I didn't know how you would feel about it all. She kissed his neck again and let go of him. She stood up and smiled, I think this calls for some wine she said cheerily, we're celebrating. Nick laughed, I thought the deal was, you were going to bed and I was going home to bed. I don't remember making a deal like that she scoffed, she returned with a bottle of wine and 2 wine glasses. Here she said, make yourself useful for a change she teased. Amanda really, he said, you're exhausted, you need sleep babe, and I need to drive home. Amanda pretended to huff, and looked at her watch, it was just after 8pm, you had enough of me today? she joked. No, he said as he poured the wine, I'm just saying you need to go to bed and so do I. Nick it's just past 8pm, my bedtime is later than the girls she laughed. He laughed back and looked at her, you're allowed to go to bed early if you want you know. You're the boss. She laughed, Ok, she said, after this glass of wine she said, then we can both sleep I promise. He laughed as he sat back, and she joined him, lift your arm then Amaro she said, Jesse's not the only one who likes snuggles with you, you know. Oh, I remember he said as he raised his arm so she could get comfortable. He heard her let out a contented sigh as he put his arm around her and rested his hand on her head and started to play with her hair. So, she said, taking a sip of her wine, anything else you won't tell me? He laughed, no, not at the minute he said, you know everything about why I'm really here now he whispered still playing with her hair, except that my plans have changed, and I now need to get a taxi home. She tightened her arm on his chest, why don't you stay here? she said softly, he pulled his head back a bit so he could look at her, she looked up at him, well you can sleep on the couch she said if you want, it's not as comfy as yours she joked, but it's comfy, or she said slowly, there's two sides of my bed she said, you can sleep on the other side. Liv has done that so it's nothing new she shrugged. He gave her a small smile; you don't think that's rushing things? He asked softly still playing with her hair, well, she said, I don't know what we're rushing, just 2 friends hanging out after 6 years she said, he smiled sadly, although, she continued, with your exciting news she said slowly looking at him, who's to say sometime down the line, we can't give us another go? I mean, it's not as if we technically broke up, she said joking, like Ross says, we were on a break. Nick chuckled, and we had a couple of flings during that break, he smiled. Yeah, she said shyly, as long as you're OK with me having 2 kids during that break. He pulled her closer to him, and kissed her forehead whispering, would it be wrong to say I was grateful for that break? She looked at him confused, well he said, you've gotten 2 beautiful girls out of it haven't you? And you could never be without them now, she pretended to consider that one, well, that depends on when you ask me that one, she teased. He laughed and kissed her lips softly. He continued whispering, I'd like to get to know them better, I really enjoyed being with them, and you, today he said, she lay back down to rest on his chest, I loved it she sighed. She then moved to look at him again, does this mean we're at least thinking about it? He grinned, I guess it does he whispered, and she grinned, they both leant in for another kiss and she then rested her head on his chest again. This right here, is my favourite place to be she said, right here with you. I've missed this. Me too mi querida he said, me too. They sat there for what felt like hours, just listening to each other breathing and holding each other. They had finished the bottle of wine a while ago, glasses were sat on the table a while ago too, they were just on the sofa holding each other talking quietly, playing with each other's free hand, soon He sensed her starting to doze off, so he nudged her, hey come on he said, off to bed with you, he whispered. OK she said, as she got up, she kept hold of his hand, you coming with me? He looked at her and smiled, Amanda you have no idea how much I would love to join you, he whispered sadly, but jeans in bed are not comfortable at all, trust me he laughed. He was holding her hand tightly and rubbing the back of it with his thumb looking at her, she smiled, don't worry about that, you are allowed to take them off she said shyly, or if you don't want that, I've still got some of your stuff in my wardrobe she whispered blushing. He cocked his head and couldn't hide his smile, you do? Yeah of course I do she said, I couldn't get rid of them she said, I always hoped they would come in useful for something she smiled again. He chuckled and shook his head, ok then he said, let's go to bed, he said gently, and they walked into her bedroom without a word.
When Nick closed the door to her bedroom, he heard her moving hangers in the wardrobe. She looked around the wall to him and smiled, here you go she said, a pair of your lounge pants and t-shirt, if you want it, she smiled. He couldn't stop smiling, why on earth do you still have these Rollins? he chuckled quietly in surprise, well, she shrugged, I may or may not sleep in them from time to time she said embarrassed, He stood and looked at her, now you're just kidding me he said laughing, no, when I've had a real tough day I'll put something of yours on she blushed, it's kind of like a hug she said shyly. He couldn't stop smiling, OK, just out of interest what else do you have belonging to me? She gestured for him to look in her wardrobe, not much she said, he looked at a shelf on the side, where she had his clothes sitting, I looked for this hoodie everywhere when I moved to LA, he said in shock, I couldn't for the life of me remember where I'd last had it, now I know, he said laughing. Yeah, you can't have that back she said, that's mine forever. He put his hand on the clothes, Well, at least I have a change of clothes for the morning he laughed, that'll save any questions from Jesse he joked. She took a breath in, yeah, she said, let's not think about the morning just yet she said. He took his top off and put the t-shirt on, then as she went to the bathroom, he took his jeans off and put the lounge pants on him. He went out to the bathroom next and returned as she was climbing into bed. Does this door need to be locked? he asked. erm, yeah lock it she smiled, she doesn't usually come in during the night, but this will be the night she did she laughed. He locked the door and walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. He then climbed in and lay on his back, as Amanda stayed on her side of the bed. They lay there for a bit and he said, you sure you're Ok? Yeah, she said, are you? Yeah, he smiled and reached his arm over and rubbed her leg through the duvet. She smiled at him and she reached to turn the light out as she lay back down, she said oh screw this, and moved closer to him, she lifted his arm and lay her head on his chest. He chuckled; you feel better now? he asked amused as he put his hand on her hair as normal. Much better she said sighing, you ok with me doing this? He kissed the top of her head, I'm more than Ok with it he sighed, she kissed his chest through his t-shirt and made a soft sound. Goodnight Nick she said quietly, he smiled, kissed her head once more and whispered, goodnight beautiful. Within minutes both of them were sleeping soundly.