Chapter 4
Aaron awoke to a loud thump a few feet away from her, realizing she'd fallen asleep on the floor. Blearily she opened her eyes, her vision adjusting to her living room being lit by only the fire place . She turned her head to the sofa and saw that Rachel was reclined on it sleeping. She heard a muttered curse to her left and swiveled her head to the sound. What she saw there made her muffle a giggle. Jack was on the floor in front of the love seat tangled in his blanket. She saw arms flailing and legs kicking, causing her to have pity on him and offer her assistance.
She flung her blanket off and crawled over to him on her hands and knee, still too sleepy to try to stand. When she reached him, she grasped the edge of the blanket that had somehow gotten twisted around his head. Pulling it down, she smiled when she saw the look on his face. He looked shocked, and embarrassed that he'd been caught in a humiliating position.
"What happened?" She whispered.
Jack groaned, "I fell."
"I can tell." Aaron laughed and Jack lightly swatted her on her shoulder. She tried to laugh, but ended up yawning.
"Come on," Jack stood up and picked her up bridal style. She squealed, and then blushed at what she did. Jack laughed. Slowly, he sat/laid back down on the love seat and Aaron snuggled against is chest, already half asleep. Carefully, Jack covered both of them with the blanket.
"Aaron..."
"Hmm?" She mumbled looking up at him. Something in him snapped, for the next thing he knew, he was kissing Aaron, and she was kissing him back.
He pulled back when he'd realized what he'd done, blushing furiously. "I'm going to go." Aaron said and tried to get out of Jack's hold, but he kept his grip.
"Aaron, don't go."
"Wha?" He extended his palm, resting it against her cheek.
She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. This was like nothing she'd felt before. Sure she'd had boyfriends and made out and stuff. But nothing prepared her for the onslaught of emotion that overwhelmed her at just his simple touch.
She leaned towards him and felt his warm breath caress her skin. She parted her lips instinctively knowing and wanting what was going to happen next. She felt the first hesitant brush of his lips against her own. The gentleness nearly brought tears to her eyes. She was overcome by the intenseness that was conveyed in his tender kisses. She brought her hand to his neck, threading her fingers through his short hair.
When they pulled apart, they both had smiles on their faces.
Aaron yawned.
"Go to sleep baby." Aaron mumbled an agreement and rested her head against his shoulder, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Love you Jack."
"Love you too, always." Aaron fell asleep feeling safe and secure and cherished in the arms of the man that caused her revelation in the early twilight hours of Christmas morning.
Jack woke to a sensation that he had not experienced in a long time, too long, the feeling of another warm body spooned against his. It was almost enough to make him forget his aching back, and the fact that there was no feeling whatsoever in his arm. He certainly wasn't about to complain.
Aaron moved against him, snuggling deeper into his arms as she murmured quietly in her sleep. Now, this is what life is all about, he thought to himself as he slid his arm across her belly and buried his face in her hair, unwilling to wake up completely.
"Merry Christm-," a cheery voice sounded from the doorway, "What the HELL?"
Jack jumped at the sound of the Theta's sharp, and extremely surprised voice. He lifted his head, forcing his bleary eyes to open and look at the man whom he had come to think of as a friend. The look on the older man's face made Jack' stomach crawl into his throat.
"Oh, hi Doc," he said lamely, noticing that his voice sounded slurred even to his own ears.
Theta's cheeks seemed to redden slightly as he stepped into the living room and loomed above them. "Aaron, wake up!" he barked.
Aaron jumped in his arms, the top of her head impacting Jacks' nose and lip. He grunted in pain, his hand shot up to cup his nose. She slid out of his hands, sitting up and still seemingly oblivious of Theta's glaring presence above her. "Oh Jack! I'm sorry. Let me have a look!"
She reached out and pulled his hands away from his nose, concern written across her face. Jack couldn't help but let her tend to him. His eyes drifted up to Theta, whose eyes had widened to the size of teacups. Was that steam coming from his ears?
"Your nose is bleeding Jack."
"Aaron!" Theta's voice was severe, and angry.
Jack watched as Aaron flinched and turned to look at the Time Lord. "What's up bro?"
He was amazed at how calm and nonchalant that she could come across. She seemed unperturbed by the fury that showed on Theta's face, or at least she appeared to be. In fact, she looked like honey wouldn't melt in her mouth. She just continued to fascinate him. He, himself, was growing increasingly nervous and uncomfortable by the looks that Theta kept firing his way.
"Would you care to explain this?" Theta asked, his tone rising yet another octave as he motioned between Jack and her.
Jack jumped as Aaron's hand snaked over and her fingers intertwined with his. Is she trying to get me killed? He couldn't help but noticed the way that the Time Lord's eyes narrowed menacingly as he watched them, his eyes flashing back and forth between them.
"What's there to explain?" Aaron responded, a little too sarcastically for Theta's liking.
Theta's mouth opened and snapped back shut again in disbelief.
"Oh, I think there's a lot," he said, his tone cold, but his voice raising even further.
"Theta? What's going on?" Rose's soft voice called from the hall. She appeared at the living room door and her eyes fell on Jack and Aaron. "Oh."
A small smile graced Theta's face as he glanced up at Rose, but it didn't last long as he fixed his cold stare back on the couple on the love seat. "'Oh' is right Rose. I came in here to find these two wrapped about each other."
"Oh," she responded quietly as she walked to stand next to him.
Aaron got out of the love seat and made her way to her wheelchair. She then made her way over to her brother.
"It's not against the law Theta!" Aaron snapped. "And it's none of your business! You are not my father! He died years ago! You cannot stop me from loving Jack!" She said, fighting the tears. Jack went over to her and pulled her into his lap.
"Fine," Theta growled finally, "I'm not keen on the idea, but we can't stop you. But Jack, I swear if you do anything to hurt Cassie in anyway you'll be answering to me. Is that clear?"
The warning in his tone was unmistakable, but he barely noticed it in his sudden, overwhelming glee. Next to him, Aaron squealed and -as best as she could- threw herself into his arms. He couldn't help but hug her tightly back in his own excitement. he knew that Rose and his disapproval wouldn't have stopped them, but it did make it a lot easier on them now.
She grinned madly at the other couple sitting opposite them. "Thank you … and Merry Christmas."
"Finally!" A voice said from the kitchen. Rachel was leaning against the counter with a cup in hand. "God every since you came here, you two cant keep your hands off each other!" Aaron blushed and Jack smiled. "Now, lets start Christmas!"
