insert really cool title that I can't think of
2.
Confide in Me
When she opened her eyes in the morning, she found that she was still smiling. Taking in a deep breath, she felt his arms wrap tighter around her and knew instinctively that this was the reason for her happiness. The fact that this was the morning, that she was waking up and he was still here, the fact that he had ever been here at all... her life was finally beginning to make sense.
Gently removing herself from his grasp, she slipped out of the bed, finding his rumpled shirt on the floor and drawing it on, liking the way the loose material enfolded her and gave her the feeling that he was still hugging her to him as she made her way into the kitchen.
She tied her hair into a messy bun, smelling the scent of Vaughn that the shirt emitted at her movement, and took out the frying pan and eggs. Today, she was feeling domestic.
It was when the coffee was being poured that she felt warm arms take hold of her waist, encircling it tightly and bringing her in contact with a body behind her. And she knew then that there was no possible way that wearing his shirt could ever compare to his. His head leaned on her shoulder, kissing the side of her neck quickly before murmuring "Good morning."
She turned and kissed him back, her 12-hour-old smile still intact. "Good morning," she said, laughing." Guess how long I've been smiling."
"Nearly twelve hours."
Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. "How did you know?"
"You were smiling when you fell asleep. And you looked so peaceful that I thought I'd get more rest just watching you sleeping that if I actually went to sleep myself. It worked for a couple of hours anyway and I'm just guessing that you never stopped."
If possible, her grin got wider and he smiled back at her, pressing his upturned lips against hers until he heard an intrusive beeping coming from the bedroom.
Groaning loudly, he pulled away, running his hands through his disheveled hair and giving her a look that explained everything before rushing off to the bedroom.
When he still hadn't come back five minutes later and there was dead silence in the bedroom, she put a lid over the frying pan, walked back to the bedroom and leaned against the doorway.
The room was still dark, shaded from the sun, and she could make out the outline of his body as he sat on the bed, as still as Death. Her brow furrowed as she watched his immobility for a few moments, not sure if he was even breathing. "Vaughn?"
There was no response.
Softly biting her lip and tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she moved away from the door frame, the hem of his shirt skimming across her thighs as she moved closer to him. She got onto the bed beside him, alarmed that there was still no movement or response from him. Slowly, she placed her hands on his shoulders, frightened suddenly at how tense they were. "Vaughn?"
He didn't answer.
Nonsensical terror alighting her eyes, tears sprang into them for a reason she couldn't explain or begin to define. In a voice so soft that it was almost indistinguishable from the surrounding air, she called his name again. "Michael?" Despite the lack of response that followed, she could feel the slight jump in his muscles as he heard his first name erupt from her lips. She didn't know how to comfort him when she had no idea what was wrong, didn't know how to soothe when there was seemingly no reason to. She bent her head and softly laid a kiss on his shoulder, and then another, begging an answer from him with her lips.
His hand reached for hers as he finally turned, tears glinting in his own eyes.
"Michael, what's wrong?" She felt fear growing and spreading throughout her body. "Baby, please tell me what's wrong."
The voice that answered was cracked and hoarse with pain. "It's gone."
"What's gone?"
His eyes met hers, his hand still clutching her own. "Syd, I- I have to go... I'll... talk to you later."
"Vaughn! What's going on? Why can't you tell me what's happening?"
"Sydney, please! I will tell you- I have to tell you... but I need some time. Okay? Just... just give me an hour. Okay?"
Absent-mindedly he pulled on his pants, turned his head looking for his shirt until she unbuttoned it and handed it to him, shivering from the sudden exposure to the cold air.
Taking it, he looked at her, infinite sadness in his eyes, telling her how much he wanted to tell her and his frustration at not being able to confide in her. Not yet anyway.
Softly, he traced her cheek with a finger without a word, the sadness radiating from him saying it all.
"I'll see you later, alligator."
It was only after the door closed that she found her voice, only to find that there was no one to listen.
After a while, crocodile.
tbc
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