Seven Years: an interlude

...

Author's note: This story takes place between chapters 176 and 177 of Mother Nature.

...

Gemma needed to blow off steam. She usually went for a run when she felt this tight and restless feeling under her skin, but she still hadn't worked out where to run in Maxville. Besides, she'd promised her father to send him the route she planned on taking. Gemma was almost positive as soon as she did, the Admiral would have someone access the CCTV footage to ensure she stayed safe. Therefore, running indoors would do for now.

Changing into her running clothes, Gemma grabbed her water bottle and towel then headed down to the building's gym. It was still early enough in the afternoon that other adults were either at work or dealing with their kids, and the kids in the building tended to go to the playground rather than the gym, so she hoped to have the place to herself.

The gym was still new enough that the machines looked pristine, though she knew they'd been used by others in the building already. Heading straight for a treadmill, Gemma set her towel on the handle, her water bottle in the stand, and looked at the various options available on the machine. It was a newer one with different scenery options, an option for music, and even included a few basic games. Ignoring the games and music, Gemma navigated to the scenery options, and chose a simple road. Setting her preferences for speed and incline, she stepped onto the machine and started a gentle jog, her thoughts slipping away as she focused on the road and her run.

By the time the third incline kicked in, Gemma was no longer alone. Champ and Ex were taunting each other on the mats, sparring while Killer and Baby watched.

"C'mon, Champ. You've gotta beat me at least once before your shift," Ex said with a broad grin.

"Oh, I'll beat you."

"Mm, kinky."

Champ grinned. "Yeah, I know. Now shut up and put your fists up; my shift starts in half an hour."

Gemma could hear the noise from the security team but refused to focus on them, instead concentrating on her run. She was almost at the last incline she'd set for herself, then she could stop and go home to have a hot shower.

Maybe she'd spoil herself by changing into lingerie and masturbating. It had been a while since she'd had time to relax like that, and the very thought of it made a swirl of heat pool in her belly. It had absolutely nothing to do with Ex being sweaty or Baby being shirtless, not at all.

"Ooh, and you're down!" Ex crowed, grinning at Champ and offering a hand to him.

Champ took it and let Ex do the heavy lifting to get him off the mat. "I'm going to beat you one day."

"You've been saying that for years, Champ. Ain't happened yet! No one here can beat me; I'm unbeatable!"

Baby took the dollar note from Killer, rolling his eyes at Ex's familiar gloating; they went through this every damn time.

"I'll do it." All four men looked over at Gemma in varying degrees of surprise. She looked back at them unflinchingly. "Well? You said no one here can beat you; I'm here, I'll do it."

Baby looked between Gemma and Ex, wondering if this was a good idea. Ex was super competitive and Gemma clearly hated him. Someone could get hurt and he didn't know who it would be.

Ex grinned. "All right, sunshine. You're on. Try and beat me, if you can."

Gemma rolled her shoulders, cracked her neck, and headed over to the mats. "Do or do not, there is no try."

Ex's grin broadened at the Star Wars quote and Baby knew that they were both in trouble. Again.

"All right, sunshine. Ready?" Ex asked.

"Are you?" Gemma asked, even as she moved forward.

She ducked his fist, swept down low, and knocked his legs out from under him. Ex fell to the mats with a thud. It was over in fewer than fifteen seconds, and the others just stared for a good thirty seconds in disbelief.

"We didn't even get a chance to bet on it," Killer muttered to Baby, who just nodded.

"Lady, I love you! Anytime you need anything, just ask and I'll make sure you get it!" Champ said, laughter littering his words as he saw Ex's stunned expression from his position on the floor.

Gemma felt a little better but not as satisfied as she'd hoped. She bit back a disappointed sigh and decided to just leave already; there was no point hanging around now that she'd finished her run, and besides, she had a date with herself. She plucked the dollar note out of Baby's hand and headed back to the treadmill. "Bye, guys," she said over her shoulder, grabbing her water bottle and towel on the way out.

"Bye!" Champ called brightly, then grinned down at Ex, still stunned and on his ass. "So... why're you calling her sunshine?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"All right, that's enough. You've gotta get ready for your shift, Champ. Ex, go shower, would you?" Baby said, pushing Champ towards the door.

Champ would have protested, but Killer took his hand and led him out of the gym, and teasing Ex didn't seem all that important anymore.

...

Barney looked between his two youngest, confused, but not willing to show it. They could be just like Aleph in that way: if they sensed weakness, they would attack. "You're sure you want to wear these dresses again?" he asked, just once more to be sure.

Rain had almost had a tantrum when Daren had brought them last week for Halloween, and now he wanted to wear it when he didn't have to?

"Yes, Pepe!"

"We want more chocolate," Storm added with a broad smile.

Barney's eye twitched; the twins had eaten so much chocolate last week that they'd had tantrums that lasted as long as the sugar crash. Neither had been pretty, and he was fairly sure Decima had simply thrown out the chocolate-stained linen. He was almost positive Thana and a contamination site had been involved at one stage.

"Please, thank you, fuck, Pepe?"

Barney felt his eye twitch at the sentiment as it always did.

"We'll share the chocolate!" Storm added, eager and innocent.

"The ones we don't like," Rain added, which probably meant he'd be getting chocolates that had large bites taken out of them and sticky wrappers that had the lollies returned to after a few seconds of sucking.

Barney sighed. At least it was a week after Halloween and no one was likely to have much chocolate left, anyway. "All right. I'll take you and - "

"No! We can go on our own!" Rain said adamantly.

"All right. But you're staying in the building, right?"

Storm and Rain both nodded.

Barney knew he was going to regret this, but he also knew it would be so much worse if they didn't at least try to have a second Halloween on their own. Thankfully, he had the security room's direct number and could ask them to keep an eye on his youngest children while he organised dinner for Decima and the rest of their children. "Okay, let's get your bags for your chocolates."

Rain and Storm both smiled brightly and hugged him tightly, and that made the impending tantrum, sugar crash, and potential sticky messes more bearable.

...

Ex knew Champ was fucking with him because he'd won their sparring match and Champ was a sore loser. He'd changed the elevator level, even after Ex had pressed the lobby button, and now he'd locked the door leading to the stairs so he couldn't even walk down instead.

"Open the goddamn elevator, Champ! Or the doors at least! What if there's a fire, huh?"

There was no response from the cameras, and Ex turned around, intent on going to the service elevators instead. Champ couldn't shut those down as easily, and he had his override swipe card that would work in an emergency.

As he headed down a hallway, Ex realised that this was the floor Gemma lived on. He didn't know which apartment, since he wasn't a creeper like Champ, but he'd seen her go to this level enough that she either lived here or visited someone who did. He didn't like the thought of Gemma visiting anyone else, even though he had no claim on her or had even had a chance to show his interest. It was just his luck that he'd like a woman who could kick his ass from here to Sunday, and she would loathe him entirely.

Stuck in his thoughts, and absentmindedly rubbing his chest, Ex didn't realise what was up ahead until he heard the phrase.

"Come play with us, Danny."

Stopping short at the phrase, Ex stared at the two psycho twins from The Shining, real and in the flesh right there down the hall. He turned abruptly, glad they didn't materialise behind him, and tried an apartment door frantically, desperately trying to get away. He hated that movie and those kids and that goddamn phrase. He had liked horror movies when he was younger, had spent hours laughing and incredulous at the people scared by them, but now he was one of them. He couldn't handle the dark for too long these days, either, terrified he'd be buried down in that darkness like Gramps had been.

"Come play with us, Danny."

Jesus fucking Christ, they were getting closer. He bolted for the next door, his heart pounding, refusing to look in the direction of the kids, and terrified they'd be dismembered by an axe if he did. He couldn't see that, not again. He couldn't... he needed... He needed to be somewhere safe and as far away from them as possible

There were only two doors left. He tried the next one, almost surprised when it swung open. Ex fell into the apartment, slamming the door closed behind him, and locking both the bolt and the deadlock, and pressing his trembling body up against the door.

What if they had an axe? They could get in... Ex shuddered, throwing himself up onto his feet and running into the apartment, looking for something, anything, to block and barricade the door with.

"Hey! What the hell?"

Ex's attention was drawn to the feminine voice, just in time to see Gemma armed with a baseball bat. His eyes widened and he held his hands up. "They're after me. I need... I need somewhere to hide. Please."

Gemma's head tilted to the side as she recognised the pure fear in Ex's voice. She didn't know him well enough to know whether he was joking or not, but she sure as hell recognised PTSD when she saw it. He was frightened, on the edge, and if he didn't get somewhere he deemed safe, who could say what he would do?

"What's safe for you?" Gemma asked, lowering the baseball bat, and trying to keep her tone calm and kind. However she felt about Ex had no bearing in this moment.

Ex swallowed hard. Baby was the one he went to when he was like this, but he didn't have a choice now, did he? "I need... I need something soft. Like a blanket or pillow. Please," he added.

Gemma nodded and turned to go to her room. She wished she'd had the sense of mind to put a bathrobe on before going to attack someone, but it hadn't been a priority when she thought someone was breaking into her brand new apartment. Ex hadn't made a comment or sound about her lingerie, and Gemma didn't know whether that was a relief or concern. She glanced over at him once more before entering her room. He was still staring at the front door, like he was expecting it to be knocked down and the Commander himself to stride in.

What the hell had happened out there?

Grabbing an old tee and leggings, Gemma slipped them on as fast as possible, then grabbed the soft blanket from the end of her bed and returned to her lounge room. "Ex? I've got a blanket for you."

He didn't seem to hear her, still hyper-focused on the door, his shoulders tense, and his hands clenched by his sides like he was ready to fight whatever was out there.

Gemma moved to block his line of vision and held up the blanket. "You're safe, Ex. I promise."

Ex took the blanket, but rather than wrap himself up in it like she'd expected, he clutched it to his chest tightly. He clenched his eyes shut and sank down to the floor as his knees gave way, and gripped the blanket. Forcing himself to feel the soft material under his fingers, not dirt, not metal, not the scratchy sensation of every kind of military linen and clothes.

This kind of softness meant he was home, he was at peace, and he didn't need to fight. He was safe.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Gemma offered, not really expecting an answer.

Silence reigned for so long that Gemma wondered if he'd even heard her in the first place.

"My friend was kidnapped a few years ago so our team went to rescue him. A... a few of my friends were killed right in front of me. I... I almost died. It's... " Ex breathed, the sound far too audible, and far too shaky and unsteady for his liking. "It's been a long time since I've felt safe or sane, really. Everything around that time is blurry and... well, all I know is, if it wasn't for Baby, I wouldn't be alive today."

Gemma blinked, surprised by the raw sound of his voice and the unexpected answer. "Wow. Thank you for telling me," she said, knowing how private people's traumas could be. A thought hit her suddenly, ugly and uncomfortable, and she kept her gaze ahead and her voice as steady as she could. "Uh... how long ago did this happen?"

Ex clenched and splayed his fingers, trying to work the tension out of his hands without losing his grip on the blanket. "About seven years? I'm better than I was. Well, Doc says that I am, but it doesn't always feel that way," he muttered.

Had it really been seven years? Jesus, it felt like it had only been a few months ago. She hadn't exactly stood by idle in that time, she'd even dated here and there, but even Gemma knew she'd compared everyone after to Baby and Ex, and they'd all been lacking. Seven years of comparing relationships with a one-night stand? Fuck, it sounded pathetic when she thought of it that way. She sounded pathetic.

There was a knock at the door.

"Trick or treat!"

Ex's eyes widened as he recognised the voices of those damn twins, and bolted for the bedroom. A mattress would be soft. He was safe, he was home, he was safe, he was home.

Gemma frowned after him, then went to the door.

"Hey, there's got a red ribbon on the door. That means no trick or treating, okay? The next one's green, see?" Baby coaxed the twins, slipping the red ribbon over Gemma's door handle.

Rain and Storm both frowned at him and the obvious placement of the red ribbon, but Baby just stood in front of the door so they wouldn't try to knock again. He'd gone into the security room to find Champ almost choking on his laughter, and had seen Ex frantically trying to get away from the twins from The Shining on the security screens. Recognising the pure and utter fear in his expression, even as Ex slammed his way into Gemma's apartment, Baby had cuffed Champ on the back of the head then ran for the elevators. He used the emergency access card to get up to the floor before Champ did something stupider or Gemma or Ex did something they'd eventually regret.

Rain and Storm figured they weren't getting anything from the apartment with the man standing in their way and moved on to the next door. Rain glared back at Baby for making them miss out on chocolate and silently swore his revenge.

Baby waited until the twins were preoccupied with a small crowd of the orphanage kids before turning to knock on Gemma's door softly. "Ex? You in there?"

Gemma unlocked and opened the door, raising an eyebrow at him. "What the hell is going on out there, Baby?"

Baby stepped back and indicated over to the twins. "Two kids decided to have a second Halloween while dressed as the twins from The Shining. Ex is legitimately terrified of them."

Gemma frowned, glancing out just as the twins did their catchphrase, and she shivered. "Don't blame him. Come on in. Ex is hiding in my room."

"Thanks, Gemma. Is he okay?" Baby asked.

"Is anyone okay when they're hiding in a room?" Gemma asked pointedly.

"Fair enough."

Gemma paused as she led Baby down to her room. "He told me what happened with your friend seven years ago."

Baby cursed internally, running a hand through his hair.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"We were stuck in the hospital for nearly a month after we got back. By the time we got out, you weren't answering my calls. He... he doesn't remember you or what we did... " Baby sighed. "Or me."

Gemma remembered how pissed she'd been when she saw Baby's name appear on her phone, almost two months after their night together, and how she'd rejected every call and deleted every voicemail. She had thought... Well, honestly, she had thought lots of things at the time, but she had been truly hurt. They had left her alone in the middle of the night, hadn't called for two months, and then she was supposed to drop everything because Baby tried calling ten times in one day? She had refused to let herself be that weak and then blocked Baby's number entirely when her resolve hardened. She wondered what could have happened if she'd just listened. Would he have told her the truth, even back then? Gemma swallowed hard and looked from Baby to her bedroom door.

"I'm sorry he doesn't remember you the way I do, Baby. I'll give you two some space."

Baby opened and closed his mouth, then nodded. He wanted Gemma to be there with him, to help him remind Ex, to not let the night he'd finally confessed his love to just be a distant memory that only he remembered. Gemma had obviously moved on and she didn't want either of them. Forcing himself to keep his mouth shut so he wouldn't beg or plead or apologise a thousand times all over again, Baby passed Gemma into her room to find Ex curled up on her bed, pillows surrounding him and a blanket clutched to his chest.

"Ex? I'm here, Exxie. You're safe," Baby said, squeezing his shoulders gently before reaching down to take off his boots and join Ex on the bed.

Gemma watched them for a moment, feeling like she was intruding on a personal moment and yet wishing desperately that she could be a part of it. But it had been seven years, and they all had to move on, so she forced herself to look away and go sleep on her lounge.

It was going to be a long night.

...

Seven years ago

Ex had been busy getting hot and heavy with some nameless person when Baby had wrenched the guy away, manhandling Ex in a way that he would have loved at any other time. The guy he'd been making out with had eeped and run away on seeing Baby's murder face, and Ex had been pissed. He'd needled and whined, but it seemed like this was the final straw in Baby's endless mountain of patience. Maybe because the guy had had the same blue eyes as Baby or similar hair, but whatever it was, Baby had finally realised that all of Ex's teasing had been more than that.

Baby had admitted he loved him and they'd kissed and Ex had been ready to rip Baby's clothes off right there and then, but he knew that Baby deserved better. He deserved somewhere warm and soft and safe, an environment opposite to Ex entirely. He'd been the one to pull away, Baby making the best noises as he tried to chase him with his mouth and hands, even as Ex had promised a hotel room with a mini-bar and bed and whatever else Baby wanted.

"I only want you, Ex," Baby murmured, something settling in Ex's chest that he could hear those words and feel loved rather than used.

"You deserve it. C'mon, Baby, let me treat you right."

Baby had nodded, breathless, and Ex had led him towards the strip where hotels and neon lights were a dime a dozen. He'd bypassed the smaller hotels, despite the muttering and groaning from Baby, and walked straight to Four Seasons, setting his black platinum credit card on the counter and getting a suite in a matter of minutes.

They'd passed through the hotel, Ex automatically looking through doorways, as was drilled into him through military and Special Forces to ensure he knew all exits and entries. Baby did the same beside him, stopping short and tugging Ex's hand when he didn't continue to move along with him.

"Baby? Everything okay?" Ex murmured, wishing he hadn't left his gun behind. He stood with Baby, following his line of sight, and his jaw dropped when he saw the woman he was staring at. "Brunette?"

"In the little black dress," Baby confirmed. "How about we have dinner before skipping to that suite?"

Room service was a phone call away but it didn't include a brunette in a little black dress, and Ex was easily convinced to step into Vinoteca, the famed Italian restaurant. They'd been seated near the brunette at Baby's request, the menu barely glanced over considering their tastes were far more carnal than hunger. Ex stayed seated while Baby ordered their drinks at the bar, both of them watching the brunette. She was seated on a stool at the bar and tapping at her phone with an annoyed expression, and Ex wondered who had pissed her off and hoped it wasn't a lover.

Baby had charmed her in a matter of minutes, and their table for two was soon a table for three. Gemma introduced herself to Ex before she announced her friends were the absolute worst to leave her alone on her twenty-fifth birthday after dragging her out to party in the first place. Ex had toasted to celebrate Gemma's birthday, both he and Baby watching the blush spread across her cheeks. They'd spent hours talking and eating after that, the food becoming far more enticing when Gemma moaned around forkfuls of pasta and sauce.

Ex had spent a lot of time with women and men, but no one had challenged him in quite the same way Gemma did. There was a sense of mischief to her, and a steel spine that would break lesser men, and she was so goddamn passionate about topics that Ex found himself wanting to rile her up just to see that spark in her eye. Baby kept touching him under the table, grabbing his hand or stroking his thigh or knocking his knee, and Ex didn't know if he wanted to stab him with a fork or jump him. He knew Baby could debate like the best of them and he was giving his all with Gemma.

Where Gemma was passion and fire, Baby was a cool balm that could drown the unprepared. Gemma looked like she'd been born prepared to handle Baby - Ex smirked at the euphemism. He wasn't quite sure who had suggested it, but they'd made for the elevator and the suite somewhere around midnight, nearly seven hours after first meeting Gemma, and the restaurant staff behind them were pleased to finally see them leave.

The first time was a blur, desperation and anticipation making Ex think of snapshots: a heel lost here, Baby's jeans over there, someone unbuttoning his shirt, and lips on his. He remembered the second, third, and fourth times like they'd been recorded in perfect HD, his brain playing them on repeat and Gemma's screams of their names still ringing in his ears, almost eight hours later.

They'd had to leave LA earlier than either one would have liked. Ex had woken up, an arm wrapped around Gemma, and his hand held loosely in Baby's, a soft blanket covering them. They'd ruined half the suite, their clothes strewn around the oddest places (he was certain that a lacy black bra was hanging off the bathroom door), and he blinked in the darkness, trying to work out what had woken him. The buzzing sounded again, Ex realising it was his phone and his stomach plummeted.

The only person who called him besides Baby these days was Boss, and if Boss was calling...

"We found Gramps. You ready to go, Ex?" Boss said, his voice firm and not a question.

Ex looked at Gemma who was still sleeping peacefully on the bed, and hated himself for wishing they'd found her at any other time. "We're ready."

Baby wrote a note for Gemma. They couldn't say where or where they were going, only that they had to go, but they'd exchanged phone numbers the night before, and he promised to call as soon as they could.

They'd boarded the plane within an hour, and two hours later, Ex grinned and winked at Baby before jumping off that plane with his parachute firmly attached to his body. He didn't feel like he needed it, not after last night with Gemma, and Baby finally admitting he loved him. Ex could fucking fly with that feeling.

Baby had landed nearby along with the rest of their squad, and they'd trekked through enemy territory to find Connor. Along the way, they lost three of their friends. Ex had seen Tiger's head explode right before Baby pushed him down to avoid the same fate. By the time they found Connor in a hole underground and slowly bleeding to death, they'd lost Rock Star and Big Guy, too, and Ex's mind had retreated to where it was safe to protect him until he could deal with everything that had happened.

Now, seven years later, he still couldn't deal with what had happened. The time before and after finding Connor was still a blur that he couldn't focus on long enough to make clear. If he tried, all Ex could see was Tiger's head exploding before his eyes, and Connor's broken body and his god-awful screams as they took him out of that hole into sunlight for the first time in god knew how long.

His mind forgot the good and the bad and only gave him snapshots of the ugly, especially after his PTSD was triggered by things that scared him: the dark; giant and yet still-too-small holes in the ground; horror movies, and especially those freaky fucking twins from The Shining. Nightmares plagued him on the nights he'd been triggered, far worse than the other nights of the year. Ex often spent those nights alone, screaming himself hoarse over things he'd rather forget and forgot about come morning.

To combat the fear, he returned to his pre-Gramps self: fucking anything that breathed and showed an interest in him, before kicking them out so he could fall asleep and fall prey to his nightmares alone. It rarely worked, but sex was something he was good at and gave him a few hours of peace, so he kept doing it.

Tonight was one of the rare occasions where Ex hadn't had sex and yet he wasn't alone. His screams woke Baby and Gemma in an instant. Gemma was at the bedroom door within seconds, her eyes wide as she tried to work out what was happening. Baby was making soothing sounds, stroking Ex's arms gently, obviously knowing what would help him after their years of friendship and being Ex's roommate.

"Can I help?" Gemma asked hesitantly, her voice soft.

Baby looked over, surprised to see her, then nodded. "Can you stroke his other arm? Long motions, like this. He needs... "

"Something soft," Gemma said with a nod, moving to sit on Ex's other side, stroking in the same motion as Baby.

Ex's harsh breathing became slower, calmer, his chest no longer heaving and gasping for breath. Sweat covered his face, and Gemma grabbed a tissue from her nightstand to dry his skin. Baby watched her for a long moment, surprised again. For someone who supposedly hated them, Gemma sure was being nicer than he expected. She could have thrown Ex to the twins, slammed the door in Baby's face, kicked them out of her room and bed, and yet she hadn't done any of that.

"Gemma?"

"Hmm?" she asked, glancing away from Ex to see Baby looking at her, his expression serious. "What is it?"

"Thank you. For everything," Baby said.

Gemma blinked and frowned. Where the hell had that come from? She turned her attention back to Ex, who was much calmer now, and threw the damp tissue on the nightstand.

"Would you mind staying a while longer? This is the fastest he's ever calmed down before, and I don't want to risk him starting up again." Baby knew he was asking a lot, but he truly meant it; it usually took an hour to calm Ex down, not twenty minutes.

Gemma bit her lip, reminding herself that it had been seven years. She couldn't keep hanging onto their memory like this; she needed to move on, and yet... "All right."

"Thank you."

Baby wanted to reach out and hug her, or kiss her in thanks, or even just touch her hand, but he couldn't breach the gap and wall between them. Neither one was physical but they were still there; besides, he didn't know if Gemma even wanted them anymore.

Lying down beside Ex, Baby continued to stroke his arm gently. He felt movement on the bed and looked over to see Gemma lying down as well. Baby barely dared to breathe in case she left again. Keeping his attention on Ex, Baby kept stroking his arm until he fell asleep.

...

Ex woke up with someone pressed against his back and another someone pressed against his chest, their arms wrapped around him. They were all covered in a soft blanket, and the scene reminded him of something, though he wasn't entirely sure what it was.

Opening his eyes, he saw Gemma lying beside him, his eyes widening as he tried to figure out what had happened and why he was in bed with two people. The two people part wasn't exactly uncommon, but Ex usually remembered how; right now, he didn't remember much about the night before, everything was still hazy with sleep. As he tried to look over his shoulder to the other person, they nudged him gently and pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder.

"You're safe; go back to sleep, Exxie."

Oh, it was just Baby, Ex thought, closing his eyes once more. His eyes flew open a moment later. Baby?!

Baby froze when he realised what he'd done and said, wincing when Ex turned around to face him.

"What the hell, Baby?"

"Shh, don't wake Gemma."

"You kissed me!" Ex hissed at him.

"Yeah, so?"

"You don't kiss me. Even when I'm drunk and trying to kiss you."

"That's because you're drunk, Ex," Baby said, rolling his eyes.

Ex was silent for a long moment, as though trying to gauge how serious Baby was. "What if I wasn't drunk?"

"You'd be interested in someone else," Baby said, bitter after seven damn years of waiting and watching Ex fuck everyone but him. Again.

"You're shitting me, right? I woke up to see the most gorgeous woman in the damn world, and I turned around to see your face. What's that tell you, Baby?"

"That you're an idiot."

"Don't fucking do that! You always do that!" Ex hissed.

"What?"

"As soon as I get serious, you turn into an idiot. I wish you'd just... " he trailed off and turned his head so it was buried against the pillow, his groan muffled.

"What, Ex? You wish I'd what?" Baby asked, tugging his hair gently to reveal his face so Ex wouldn't suffocate.

"You don't look at me anymore, Baby. I wouldn't go near any of them if you'd just look at me."

"What? Ex, you... " Baby bit his lip so the words wouldn't spill out.

"We save Gramps and I come back with these scars and I get it, I don't look the same, but fuck, I'm still me, Baby. You look at me like I've lost more than my face."

Shit. He hadn't known Ex felt that way. He hadn't known he'd been so obvious to read, either. Doc had said if he told Ex the truth, it could damage the safe and calm Ex had built around his mind. He had to do it naturally and in his own time.

"We wake up next to the most gorgeous woman in the world and I'm staring at your face. What's that tell you, Ex?"

Ex swallowed hard. "You mean it?"

Baby cupped Ex's cheek, running his thumb along one of the more prominent scars, and leaned in to kiss him slowly and thoroughly. "I mean it, Exxie."

Gemma had kept quiet for as long as humanly possible. "Guys? Not that this isn't lovely and all, but can you move? I need the bathroom."

Baby let out a cry of surprise, falling backwards off the bed, taking Ex down with him.

Gemma grinned down at them. "Not quite what I had in mind, but thanks!"

Baby and Ex both sat up to watch her go to the small ensuite, the door closed behind her quickly.

"How much do you think she heard?" Baby whispered.

"Does it matter? You meant it all, right?" Ex asked.

Baby frowned at him. "Of course, I did."

Ex sighed in relief and moved to straddle Baby's hips. "Good. Now, c'mere."

Baby grinned and tugged Ex close to kiss him until Gemma returned.

...

Gemma forced herself to concentrate on her breathing. If she thought for too long, she'd overanalyse everything.

The most gorgeous woman in the world?

Shit. She wasn't meant to be thinking about it. Breathe in and breathe out. That's all she was doing.

"C'mon, Gem, don't fall for it. They probably say it about everyone they've slept with," she muttered to herself, even though she could feel her cheeks burning red.

Even though they hadn't done anything more than sleep. Neither one had known she was awake and would hear them. Would they really bother with lying like that? Did they truly mean it?

"Gemma? Are you okay?" Baby asked, knocking on the door gently.

"We've been making out for twenty minutes and you're still in there. Do you need x-lax or something? I think Frank's opened the convenience store downstairs," Ex added.

"No. I'm fine! I just need... privacy," Gemma said, burying her head in her hands.

Dear god, how had she made it sound worse?!

"Okay. We'll wait in the lounge room," Baby said.

They weren't going to leave?!

"Actually, can you both go? I have a routine in the mornings and I really need to get things done."

"It's five in the morning, Gemma."

"Early bird gets the worm," she quipped, overly cheerful and completely fake.

Oh, dear god, now she was quoting her father. If he ever found out about this, she'd never hear the end of it...

"Um... all right. We'll give you your space."

"It was great waking up in your arms, Gemma. We should do it again sometime," Ex said.

She couldn't see through the door, but Gemma just knew that he was winking at her.

Cocky bastard. She didn't know why she liked him.

...

Ex spent a lot of time showing Baby just what he'd been missing out on, to the point where he was almost late for work.

Champ glared at Ex as he entered the security room. "How the hell are you late to work, Ex? You live in the damn building."

"It's a skill, Champ. It's also payback for putting me on the same level as those kids. You're an asshole."

Champ rolled his eyes. "I didn't know you'd lose your shit over 'em. Was funny as fuck though."

"Yeah, yeah. Get outta here and go have a shower. You look like shit."

Champ gave Ex the finger as he left the security room. Ex just grinned and sat in the chair, glancing to Gemstone's every so often.

Someone tried to steal from Ammie at gunpoint and by the time Ex had dealt with that clusterfuck - and messaged Sport about it - Gemstone's store was open and surprisingly busy.

Ex didn't really understand the fuss over jewellery - it was shiny, sure, but there were better ways to express love and affection in his mind - but these citizens seemed to be losing their shit over it. Maybe it was because Gemstone herself had made it? he mused, curiously.

The number of people in Gemstone's - and far too close to Gemma for his comfort - kept Ex busy, watching the cameras intently to ensure Gemma would be safe. Whether it meant her livelihood, her life, or the store itself, Ex wasn't going to let anyone hurt Gemma if he had any say in it. It was an odd feeling of possession, especially after knowing her for such a short amount of time, but all Ex knew was the hurt feeling in his chest lessened whenever he looked at her. She was as safe to him as Baby, as blankets and pillows and all things soft, and he didn't want to question it.

Not yet, at least.

...

The end.

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it!