Part Two

Something swiped at his nose. He cracked an eye open to see a grey feline face staring at him with intense green eyes. He muttered under his breath and glared at the cat. It didn't seem to do much good, however, since the animal reached out a paw and swatted him again. With a groggy curse, he shoved the cat off his chest. It gave him a particularly indignant look and curled up by Dom's feet.

"I thought you weren't going to let that thing in the house," he grumbled.

"Hrrrm? It's cold out," his partner replied sleepily.

"He has a fur coat."

Domino rubbed at her eyes blearily. "Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," she said, stifling a yawn.

"Someone woke up with a cat using his face as a source of amusement."

"He was just playing, I'm sure." She watched as the cat in question stretched languidly and hopped off the bed, sauntering over to the door, then glancing back expectantly. "Probably wants to be let out."

"He's your cat."

"Oh, fine. You are such a grouch." She climbed out of bed and went to the door, snagging a sweatshirt as she passed the dresser and pulling it on as she walked to the kitchen. She opened the back door and the cat scurried out into the yard. Shivering, she shut the door again and started up the coffee maker before wandering back to the bedroom. "Coffee's on," she said before burying herself under the blankets again. "Cold in here," she mumbled into the pillows, yanking the comforter up to her chin. He slid over a little and pulled her into his arms.

"Better?"

"Mm." She tucked her head under his chin, content to leech warmth from him.

"I should take a look at the furnace," he commented idly. "Maybe it needs tinkering with."

"You're assuming I'm going you let you leave." She curled up a little closer, slipping out of the ill-fitting sweatshirt.

He closed his eyes at the sensation of her warm skin pressed against his own. How she could be cold when she radiated warmth like a heater, he wasn't sure. He kissed the top of her head. "At least let me get coffee? I could get a fire going in the living room... that'd warm the house up some."

"Oh, all right," she relented somewhat petulantly, wrapping the blankets around her shoulders as he got up.

He paused, looking at her. "Not coming down with something, are you?"

"That would be just my luck," she replied dryly. "Hope not--for your sake, Mr. compromised immune system."

He didn't reply, a part of his mind noting idly that she looked rather cute clutching the comforter around her, sleep-tousled hair framing the pouty look on her face. Cute was not generally a term he applied to his partner--especially if he wanted to keep all his limbs--but at the moment, it was definitely accurate.

"I'm fine, really. Just cold--so hurry your ass up and come back."

Nate returned a few minutes later, noting with some amusement that she hadn't moved an inch since he'd left. Putting the two mugs down on the nightstand, he sat down on the edge of the bed and brushed her hair out of her face. Dom mumbled under her breath and tugged the sheets up over her head, and he had to laugh--she reminded him of nothing more than a particularly petulant child.

Grumbling, Domino cracked one eye open and fixed it on him. Nate grinned down at her, and she eyed him sourly. "You are way too much of a morning person, you know that?"

He glanced at the bedside clock. "It's ten a.m. That's not exactly obscene, when you consider the kind of hours we used to keep…"

"Sure. Mock me. And please, don't remind me of that..." She made a face, then blinked suspiciously at him. "Nathan, is there a reason you've been sitting there grinning like an idiot for the last five minutes? Or has the mental break finally happened?"

"You wound me."

She snorted. "Right. And you didn't answer my question."

Ignoring that, he turned, picking up one of the coffee cups from the bedside table. "Would the prospect of Jamaican Blue Mountain be enough get you out of this bed?" He asked teasingly, waving the cup under her nose.

She stuck her tongue out at him stubbornly, not quite willing to give up her warm cocoon of blankets yet. "That depends. It any warmer in here?"

"Well, I don't know. I'm not the one laying there in the buff--ow! What?" Dom tried to muster a glare, but failed miserably. Instead she pushed herself upright, grabbed the mug of coffee he was still holding, and leaned against his side contentedly. For a moment quiet reigned in the room, and she slowly became aware of eyes watching her steadily. She tilted her head up, meeting his mismatched gaze, and was instantly struck by the emotion she saw reflected there. It sent a warm spiral right through her that seemed to expand almost instantly, spreading throughout her body and settling around her like a blanket, and suddenly the cold was no longer a concern.

Nate just smiled at the look in her eyes. #Told you that you wouldn't have to worry about that if you'd just get up,# a warm, amused voice spoke in her mind. And despite herself, she couldn't suppress a shiver at the feelings he was projecting--'probably on purpose,' she thought amusedly. Deliberately leaning across his lap to return her coffee cup to the table, she grinned wickedly, then straightened up and pressed a toe-curling kiss to his lips. A long moment later they finally broke for air, and her eyes twinkled at him as she suddenly flipped the covers back, heading for the bathroom. "I guess I'll just have to start learning to take you at your word," she tossed over her shoulder, smiling.

Nate laughed and gave her an incredulous look. "I don't believe I just heard you say that. And, where d'you think you're going?" Dom noted with satisfaction that his voice had a little more than a hint of petulance now. She paused at the bathroom door and smirked.

"From the man who just spent 15 minutes trying to get me out of bed. I swear… Anyway. I'm taking a shower. But you're free to, ah, come help me wash my hair, you know…"

He was over at her side so fast, she had to wonder if he'd rediscovered bodysliding.

----

'Hey, can you come gimme a hand with something?'

#Sure, be right down.# He set the book he'd been contemplating back on the shelf, and headed towards the basement, where Dom had been sorting laundry. "What's up?" He asked when he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Help me haul some of this furniture up? It's not heavy, but it's a bit unwieldy."

"Sure..." He trailed off. "Why?"

"Gonna finally put something in that bedroom. Too weird having it empty now that the com stuff is down here." She jerked a thumb at the finished half of the basement.

Nathan idly pondered pointing out that it had been her idea to empty the room in the first place, but decided he was feeling rather magnanimous and let it pass. "And you didn't want me to touch your basement," he teased.

"I admit, you did a good job.... but if you ever do that 'Home Improvement' impression in Home Depot again, I'll have to hurt you."

----

There was a slight noise in the doorway, just enough of one to catch his attention. He opened his eyes, abandoning the attempt at meditation for the time being, and looked up at Dom, who stood watching him from the doorway.

"Didn't mean to interrupt," she said, with a look that seemed to convey a hint of curiosity.

"You didn't," he replied, stretching his legs with a wince. He really was out of practice, he thought wryly.

"Oh." She leaned her shoulder against the doorway, still watching him. "So... I haven't seen you do that in awhile."

"Been distracted. Busy." He shrugged. "Let the discipline slip." He eyed the keys in her hand. "Going someplace?"

"Oh, yeah." She straightened up again. "I was just gonna run into town, get a few things. Was going to see if you wanted to tag along, but I'll leave you to your... meditation. I won't be long. Need anything while I'm headed out?"

"Nope. I'm good."

"Okay, I'll be back in a bit. Don't ...fall on your head while I'm out or anything. That floating-upside-down deal has always weirded me out."

He chuckled. "I don't think I'll be trying that any time soon."

"Good. You don't need any more brain damage." With that, she vanished down the hall, and he closed his eyes again, listening to the sound of her jeep pulling out of the driveway.

----

"Well...aren't you two just adorable?"

Nathan cracked an eye open and scowled, muttering under his breath as he removed the cat from where he'd curled up on his chest. Why the animal insisted on using him as a perching spot all the time was beyond him. Dom reached down and picked up the cat as it sauntered across the floor indignantly and stood at her feet. "You just love to torment that big lug don't you?" She said to the tabby, who purred in contentment as she scratched him behind the ears. Nate, on the other hand, was still glowering. "Serves you right for falling asleep," Dom commented, turning her attention back to her partner. The cat jumped free of her arms and slinked off down the hallway. "Poor old thing. I should stop interrupting your sleep," she smirked.

He rubbed at his eyes as he sat up on the couch and frowned slightly, then shook it off. "Get what you needed in town?"

She arched an eyebrow. "I've been back for over an hour, Nate. You really must have been out of it."

"I--" He stopped. "Didn't realize I was tired," he finished.

Dom was still watching him intently, a vaguely concerned look on her face. He supposed that working with him for nearly two decades was enough to make anyone somewhat watchful, and she'd probably saved his skin more than once because of it. He got up and walked over to her, sliding an arm loosely around her waist. "I'm fine. Promise."

"Well, okay." The suspicious look was still in her eyes, though she seemed to be taking him at his word. "You gonna come see what I did with that room?"

"Sure."

She seemed to be pretty pleased with herself as she practically dragged him down the hall to the spare room. "Wait--okay, you can look now."

He looked around the room, taking in the work she'd done--her trip to town had obtained butter yellow sheets and a bedspread that went surprisingly well with the green on the walls, and a few other small items. Sparse--but then there really didn't expect to have much use for it, he supposed. G.W.'s comment from the day before came back to him and he gave his partner a sideways glance. "It's ...actually very nice, Dom."

"Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, given the way you dress--ow! That could be considered domestic abuse, you realize." He gave her a mock-hurt look, rubbing at the back of his head.

Dom snorted. "Right. All it'd take is 24 hours with you to convince anyone it's totally justified. 'He just needed smacking, your honor.' Besides, you like how I dress."

"Well, it does have its... appeal." She gave him a suspicious look, swatting his hands away and sinking down on the bed. "So, is there a reason you suddenly decided to attack this room too?" He asked, looking down at her.

She smoothed the bedspread with her hands. "Well... okay, so I know we're not exactly likely to have houseguests, but I figure, we already had the furniture, this gets it out of the basement and saves us a trip to the storage locker." She looked over the room. "Not bad. I thought it would take us longer to get this place into shape."

"When you put your mind to something..."

"Yeah, I know." She leaned back on her arms and gazed out the window. After a moment of silence, she got up again. "Well, I guess that's that." She moved past him out into the hall.

He took one last glance at the room, then followed Dom into the kitchen. "Might be useful having that room set up, eventually."

Dom shot him a quizzical look, arching one eyebrow as she walked to the coffee maker. "Oh?" She scowled. "Empty. You're supposed to make more if you take the last of it, bastard."

"Well, when Rachel's older..." He replied to her first comment, blithely ignoring the second, and the look she gave him because of it.

Dom shook her head. "No one will ever accuse you of being an inattentive brother..." She set her cup in the sink. "Let's just go out. Weather seems to be halfway-decent, finally." She grabbed their coats off the hook by the basement door.

Nate took his and shrugged it on. "She--the other Rachel..." He paused. "She was always there for me. I'm trying to repay that... somehow."

"I don't fault you for that Nate," she replied, grabbing her car keys and pushing open the door. "Though, if Scott and Jean aren't careful, all that attention's gonna go to her head. S'pose it can't really be helped... it's been awhile since there've been munchkins around Xavier's."

"We've all been reluctant to get back to real lives."

"Hey," she punched him lightly in the arm before opening the car door and climbing in. "What's this 'we' crap?"

----

"What next?"

"What do you mean 'what next?'"

"You've run out of projects. What are you going to do to keep from going stir crazy now?"

"Oh." She leaned forward on her elbows. "Dunno. I suppose I'll figure something out eventually. I wasn't expecting to need a retirement plan when I started this gig, y'know?" She sipped her coffee. "Why, you have something in mind?"

"No..." he reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. "But I know you've got the attention span of a four-year-old."

She made a face. "Do not."'

"Do--oath. I'm not starting that," he said with a shake of his head.

Domino smirked as she took another sip from her cup. "Honestly, I don't know. I--" She paused. "I don't think I can go back to the way we were before..." She shrugged, shoving back a niggling sense of guilt. "I guess the logical answer would be to do all the crap we never had time for, but I don't know that there is much." She frowned. "I suppose it's too late to ask the kids to let me come and kick their butts for a living, huh?"

Nathan chuckled. "Afraid they'll go soft without you?"

"Nah. Though, as insane as it sounds, I do sort of miss it. The chaos was always oddly comforting."

"You sure that's not just nostalgia?"

"For what? All the practical jokes Theo and I played on you guys over the years?" She smiled wistfully. "Maybe a little," she sighed. "God I miss him."

Nate reached out and took her hand. "I know."

"I just--he didn't deserve that, Nate. Out of all of us..." She trailed off, and tossed her empty cup into the nearby trash can.

"Hey--c'mere." He slipped an arm around her waist as they left the small cafe. She gave in grudgingly, letting him keep hold of her.

"Uh... Nate? The car's back the other way..."

"I know that."

"Well, I'm glad you're not going senile on me. So... what are we doing?"

"Walking."

"Walking? It's 30 degrees out, tops, and the sun'll be gone in another hour."

"Short walk. You don't have anything more pressing to do, do you?"

"Well, no..." She trailed off, walking in silence for several minutes as they walked down the quiet street. The weather ensured that few people were out shopping at the small businesses that lined both sides of the street. "Damn it's cold..."

"We can duck in here to warm up..."

"Yeah, okay." She turned and pushed the door open, bells chiming as she did so. The store was rather dimly lit, and she arched an eyebrow at Nate as he followed her inside. "Jewelry."

"Oh?" He glanced around at the cases. "Well, it's warm at least."

"Yeah." She shrugged and went to inspect one of the cases. There was a teenager parked on a stool near the back, apparently absorbed in a book. He hadn't so much as glanced up when they'd come in. Just as well, she wasn't in the mood to deal with pushy sales people. Nate was still standing near the door, occasionally glancing out the window, then back at her.

"See anything you like?"

"Me? Nah... Hell, you know me. Not really a jewelry person." She paused. "Why, you see something?"

"I'm not the one looking."

"Well... you could get your ear done..." He shot her an incredulous look, and she snickered. "Okay, maybe not. I suppose you don't need any superfluous metal added to your person." She slipped her hand into his. "C'mon, let's head back to the car before it gets any colder out there."

----

"Y'know... one of us really needs to learn how to cook." Domino poked at the remains of her TV dinner with undisguised disgust. "This is getting ridiculous."

"Hey, I can cook," Nathan pointed out, taking the plate from her as he got up to dispose of his own. "You just don't let me."

"Because it doesn't ever taste like anything, Nate. Would it kill you to add seasoning?"

"You liked the ribs I made last week."

"They were drowned in barbeque sauce. What's not to like?" She sighed. "Well, we've managed to live this long, I suppose we'll figure something out. Can't live off takeout forever, after all."

"No, I suppose not." He watched as Dom stood and pushed in her chair, glancing around the kitchen with a distant look on her face. "What?"

"Nothing. I--" She shook her head. "Just realized I have absolutely nothing to do," she replied with a lopsided grin. "This is getting to be a problem."

"Hmm." He nodded and reached over, pulling her around to sit in his lap. "I've been thinking about that, actually."

"Oh?" She arched an eyebrow at him. "Have something in mind?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe? You gonna let me in on this, or not?"

He chuckled. "Nothing drastic. Was thinking of getting some use out of that law degree of mine..."

"Hrm. That might be a good idea. It's a thought, anyway."

"Keep me out of your hair."

"You're not in the way, Nate."

"Not now," he replied. "In three months, you'll probably be ready to kick me out of this place."

"I'd never do that. It'd be too much work to find another bed warmer, after all."

"Knew there was a reason you put up with me all this time."

"Yes, Nate. I've stuck with you for the better part of twenty years because you keep my feet warm." She laughed. "Well...this still doesn't solve the problem of what to do tonight."

"Movie?"

"What's playing?"

"No clue."

"Oh, an adventure," she smirked. "Yeah, okay. I'm game. Let's go."

----

Nate stretched out on the bed, waiting for his partner to emerge from the bathroom. The movie had been a flop--they'd been forced to chose between a bad comedic romance and an even worse action movie--and they'd mocked it thoroughly. Dom had also taken the opportunity to complain that the theater was too chilly--the woman seemed to have a seething hatred of the cold. Not that he blamed her, but he was never quite as vocal as she was. Still, all things considered, it'd been a pretty good evening. He pulled himself out of the reverie as the bathroom door opened.

He blinked at Dom as she wandered into the room. "That doesn't match," He pointed out, gesturing to the camouflage tank top and faded purple pajama bottoms.

"I know it doesn't. Someone didn't do the wash like they were supposed to."

"Oh." He looked momentarily sheepish. "I'll do it tomorrow."

"Damn right you will," she murmured, crawling into bed and pulling the covers around her shoulders. He slid over a little and TKed the lights off. She curled up, tugging the covers more tightly around her shoulders, and he rolled onto his back with a sigh.

If he closed his eyes, he thought, the years would slip backwards on him. The woman next to him would be little more than a child with scars painfully obvious and utterly untouchable at the same time. And he'd feel guilty for letting himself get involved with her in the first place. But he couldn't feel guilty--not anymore. After all, he liked to think he'd broken even in the end--helped her at least as much as he'd hurt. There'd been mistakes, mistakes that simply melted into a mountain of them he'd made over his life, some worse than others. It was okay. Things had a way of working out, even if it wasn't the way he'd ever planned.
Thinking back on all their time together, he couldn't fault Domino for feeling a bit lost--it was hard to give up everything you knew in hopes of something better. It was never easy, no mater how long you lived. He couldn't blame her in the least for being afraid.

Domino stirred restlessly next to him and he reached out, touching her mind lightly over the psilink, comforting, until he felt her slip into a deeper, calmer sleep.

----

He hadn't slept. Not well, anyway. Too many images had haunted him after he'd closed his eyes and he kept waking, half-disoriented and uncertain of where he was. His partner had slept soundly and he was glad of it, despite the comfort she would have been. He stared up at the shadowed ceiling and let the weight of the present sweep over him, as if it could wash away the red-tainted tides of the past.

Winter sunlight glowed through the curtains. There was still so much he wished he could change. Dom's weight against him was light, her breathing soft. It had taken too long to escape the secrecy they'd wrapped themselves in.

He felt her wake, limbs stretching, muscles moving beneath his fingers. He was letting himself get carried away by his train of thought, he knew, but it was hard to care. They'd spent so many years pretending they hadn't loved one another, he felt he had a right to enjoy it. And if that made him a sentimental old man, so be it.

"Morning." She shifted so she could look at him.

He tangled his hands in the soft, dark curls, jet black and slick like satin between his fingers. There was a faint smirk of amusement on her face, the same look she gave him whenever she thought he was being strange, but was humoring him anyway. He had a sneaking suspicion she used it as an excuse to let herself enjoy it without having to compromise the rather un-romantic facade she wore. No, Nate was just a mook, and she put up with it. Somehow, he doubted it was much of a hardship.

"Sleep okay?"

He shrugged, pulling her close and closing his eyes. "Could hardly be a bad night with you here," he murmured.

"You're hopeless, you know that?" Her amusement glowed warmly across their link. "Honestly, if I'd known what a hopeless romantic you were..." She pulled away, sitting up. The comforter slipped from her shoulders and she swore loudly as the cold air hit her skin, shattering the quiet mood so totally he laughed.

"There's snow on the ground out there. I suppose I should have warned you."

"You don't say," she replied, fixing him with a murderous glare, then buried her face in the pillows. "Wake me when it's spring."

"You don't want to do that."

"Yes I do. Cold. Not moving. Make coffee, slave boy."

He gave her an incredulous look and for a split second contemplated hauling her out of bed and dropping her off the front porch. However, he also liked sleeping in his own bed, so the idea was quickly dismissed. He traced the side of her face lightly with a finger. "And why should I?"

"If you do, I won't be forced to hurt you?" She asked, a rather hopeful tone to her voice.

"Hm. Nope. Need a better reason than that."

"Oh, demanding sexual favors now?"

"Not demanding..."

She sat up, shoving tousled hair out of her face. "Riiight," she smirked. "Hey--" She reached out and caught hold of his wrist as he started to get up. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Coffee?"

"Get back here, you bastard," she replied with a grin, pushing him back on the pillows as she kneeled over him. She grabbed hold of his other wrist and held them both above his head.

"What happened to 'Don't wake me until spring?'"

"The pillow is a horrible conversationalist." She leaned down and kissed him hard.

"Oh, I see, you're bored, so I'm just supposed to entertain you?"

"Hmm. Yes." She released his wrists, running a hand back through his hair. She tilted her head back and sighed happily as his hands slid around her back, slipping beneath her worn tank top as he traced the column of her spine. She closed her eyes, biting her lip as brought his hands around, gliding along the curves of her breasts, finally removing the shirt all together. She dropped to the side, tugging him along with her as she rolled onto her back, slithering free of the rest of her clothes and kicking away the balled up bedding.

He leaned over her, exploring the contours of her neck and shoulders with mouth and hands, feeling the heat rising beneath her pale skin. She drew him back, kissing him hungrily, desire burning plainly in her eyes. He lowered himself slowly, savoring the low groan he elicited as he entered her, her back arched so that their hips met. He kissed her again as they settled into a steady rhythm.

She drew him closer, hands sliding over sweat-slicked skin, picking up the pace. A low groan escaped him and she kissed him hard, hands clinging to his shoulders. Pleasure ripped through her like liquid fire and lights exploded behind her eyelids. She heard him gasp, breathing ragged as he rolled away from her and lay back on the bed.

Once she'd caught her breath, she settled into the crook of his arm, shivering slightly as sweat dried on her skin. His fingers slid though her hair and she sighed. After another moment of silence, she shifted to look at him. "So, how about that coffee?"