She shifted awkwardly.
"I never meant to hurt him," she whispered, tears forming in her eyes.
"Hey. It's okay. He's happy now, with you. I'm serious. I've never seen him as happy as he's been the past few days. Have you noticed the way he looks at you?" Jordan asked softly. Fatima smiled a little.
"He doesn't seem that different from when we're at work," Fatima said quietly.
"Yeah, silly. It's because he's with you. He's totally fallen head over heels in love with you. He's obsessed," Jordan said. Fatima was blushing, but she tried to hide it. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Jordan's eyes widened and she launched herself across the room to her bed. "You can come in," she called out sheepishly. Devin opened the door and smiled. He knew exactly what Jordan had been saying, but he didn't mind. He was completely and totally unashamedly in love with her.
"Hey, I was just going to tuck you two in," he said sweetly. Fatima smiled as he went over to Jordan. "I know what you were telling her," he whispered in her ear. Jordan's eyes widened and she tried to pull away, but he smiled. "You're just lucky I don't mind," he whispered. He went over to Fatima and smiled. "Hey there, pretty girl," he murmured. Fatima giggled. "Everything she told you is completely true, you know," he whispered. Fatima blushed.
"Really?" Fatima asked shyly.
"Absolutely. I am most definitely obsessed with you," he whispered. Fatima giggled a little, unsure of how to respond. She pulled him on top of her and kissed him firmly. Devin smiled and crawled off, then settled on his back and pulled her on top. Fatima was straddling him now.
"Can you two please not do this in front of me?" Jordan whined. They both awkwardly climbed off the bed.
"My room?" Devin asked Fatima.
"Of course," she replied, following him out. They went to his room, then closed the door and made their way to the bed.
A few hours later, they were still snuggling. Fatima sat up a little and smiled.
"I'm going to get some water," she whispered.
"Okay, baby. Come back to me after, okay?" he whispered back.
When she came back, Devin was under the blankets. He'd located Fatima's stuffed bunny and her blue blanket, and he made sure the bed was ready for them to sleep.
"Actually, I'm going to grab some socks," she said. She walked back into the other bedroom and saw Jordan, who was curled up in her bed. "You okay?" Fatima asked.
"I'm good," she replied without looking up. Fatima raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure?" she asked nervously.
"Um, yeah. It's just... It's just a little weird knowing that my friend and my brother are, well, you know," she said quietly. Fatima went over and took Jordan's hand in hers.
"I'm sorry this is making you uncomfortable. We won't do anything where you can see or hear, okay?" she whispered. Jordan nodded a little.
"Thanks. I'm sorry if I'm being rude," she said quietly. Fatima softened.
"You're not. I get it, it's weird," she said quietly. She gently squeezed Jordan's hand, then walked out with a pair of socks in her hand. She crawled back into the bed with Devin and smiled a little. Devin pulled her close and gently kissed her cheek. Fatima snuggled into him and rested her head on his chest.
"You okay?" Devin asked gently.
"Yeah, I'm good," she whispered. "You want to tell me more about what you told Jordan about me?" she asked sweetly. Devin thought about it.
"Fine. I told her that there was a very pretty girl I was working with, and I was interested." They talked for a few hours before Fatima was starting to get drowsy.
"Get some sleep, my queen," he whispered, running his hand up and down her back. Fatima smiled.
"Good night Tree," she whispered sleepily.
"Good night, beautiful girl," he whispered. Fatima smiled and snuggled into him. She loved the way he wrapped his arms around her and provided a feeling of love and safety.
Three hours later, Fatima woke up. She realized that for the first time in almost two years, she wasn't waking up because of a nightmare. She smiled and crawled out of the bed, leaving Devin with a gentle kiss and a promise that she'd be right back. She wandered into the kitchenette and quickly made herself a glass of water. After a bit, she wandered back to Devin's room. She crawled into the bed and immediately found her stuffed bunny and blanket, then snuggled into Devin. She hugged him gently and smiled.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently. "Did you have another bad dream?"
"Actually, no. I just woke up, but I'm okay," she whispered back.
"Okay, are you sure you're alright? I don't want to go back to sleep if you need me," he whispered.
"I'm good. I promise. I didn't mean to wake you up, I just wanted some snuggles," she whispered back.
"Then snuggles you shall receive, my queen," he whispered.
"Don't," Fatima said quietly.
"Don't what?" he asked, suddenly concerned.
"Don't, like, give me all these pet names. One or two is okay, but it just feels, I don't know, extra? I want our relationship to be natural. And, based on us, and not sex or whatever," she said quietly. Devin smiled.
"Understood. I guess I understand. And of course our relationship is based on us, and nothing else," he whispered. Fatima smiled and snuggled into him.
"Thank you," she whispered. Devin nodded and kissed her head.
"Of course, baby girl," he whispered. "Those are my two. Sweetheart and baby girl." Fatima giggled and hugged him.
"Am I allowed to give you any pet names?" she asked. Devin smiled.
"You can if you want to," he said sweetly.
"I guess 'handsome hunk of a man' is off the table?" she asked sweetly. Devin laughed out loud. He was very grateful that nobody was around to hear.
