The Night Before – Chapter 3

The Next Morning

Brettsey – Chicago Fire

*I do not own the rights to these characters. Purely for entertainment.

There is a moment before waking when half-thoughts and dreams mingle in such a way that the dreamer cannot distinguish between the two. Were the events of the night before true, or merely amalgamations of hope-filled wishes laying before the sleeper's mind's eye? Had bodies met in moments of pure passion or was it manifested between moments of wakefulness to appeal to the heart's innermost wants?

Sylvie needed only to feel Matt's arms wrapped around her waist, the warmth radiating off him tingling her soft naked skin, and the way his legs cradled her close to him to believe that their activities the night before were more than just a dream. Sunlight filtered through the curtains creating lines that seemed to cast over the lovers as if nature approved of their coupling. A contented moan escaped her throat before submitting to the needs of her body. She rolled towards him to create enough space beneath his arm so that she could gently move towards the edge of the bed. One last look at his sleepy smile and she was on her feet, heading towards the bathroom.

Matt was still asleep, but in his soul he knew Sylvie was no longer in his arms and that was all that was needed to begin the waking process for him. He opened his eyes the moment he heard the click of the door behind her, running his hand over his eyes and through his hair, he rested with that arm above his head and the other on his chest as he turned over, lying with the one sheet left on the bed over his lower half. He smiled, thinking of the night they shared and felt a stirring within him. It had never felt like this before, with anyone. It was so easy and yet the road to get here had been so doubt-filled it wouldn't be unfair to say that he never thought this would actually happen. Yet somehow, he knew this was only a beginning.

When Sylvie walked out of the door their eyes met and it was a few moments before either of them spoke. Only when his eyes traveled down to admire her still naked body in the morning sunlight did their loving look end, and she couldn't help but enjoy the scene of the man she loved lying in bed admiring her. She giggled happily and cleared her throat.

"Coffee?"

"Yes please." Matt rose out of bed and walked over to her, pulling her in close. "But first…"

Sylvie wrapped her arms around him and began to run her hand through the back of his hair as they kissed. He ran his hands up and down her body, only stopping when she gently pulled away from him.

"Okay, okay." She said still smiling. "I really need some coffee now."

"Sounds good." He said looking down into her bright eyes. "I can make us some breakfast too if you like."

"Mmm. Food." He laughed at that.

"Anything in particular?"

"Whatever you want to make sounds perfect to me."

"Alright, how about bacon and eggs?"

"You get the eggs, and I'll get the coffee."

"Meet you out there."

Sylvie walked over to the dresser and grabbed some clothes while Matt went to grab some pants that had been tossed onto the floor the night before and went into the bathroom.

She stepped into her kitchen humming to herself as she prepared to make a pot of coffee for the two of them. After years of working together in the firehouse she knew exactly how he took his, setting out two cups in preparation. She also brought out a skillet from the cabinet knowing he would need it. As the first drips of the brew began to fill the pot. She heard Matt's footsteps coming closer to her and loved the feeling of his arms wrapping her from behind as he kissed her neck.

"I could get used to this." She laughed. "But, for now, probably best not to greet me like this at the station."

"Hmm, probably not." He agreed. He headed towards the fridge to grab the ingredients he would need for their small breakfast. As the skillet heated up, he whisked the eggs in a small bowl preparing to scramble them after placing a few strips of bacon down.

"So, what's on the agenda today?" Sylvie asked handing him his cup of coffee and taking the first sip from hers.

"I have a few things to do this afternoon, but nothing for this morning." He looked at her, wondering if she had anything planned. "You?"

"I'm going to call Scott and check in on Amelia sometime today, but other than that and a run to the grocery store I'm completely free."

"I hope they're doing okay."

"Last time I called Scott sounded happier. I think he's finally settled into being a dad. He loves her so much." She smiled lovingly as she thought of her little half-sister.

"That's great!" Matt said, placing the bacon onto their plates that Sylvie had set out for him to use. "I'm really happy for them, and for you Sylvie."

"For me? What do you mean?"

"That was such a hard decision to make when Amelia was born, but you knew what was best for everyone, and things turned out so great. You seem happy, and that's all I want. For you to be happy."

"Thank you, Matt."

"You're welcome. Sylvie." He said as he placed the eggs onto the plates and turned the stove off.

"You know that's all I want for you too, right?" she asked him.

"I do now, but you know what makes me really happy?" he asked as he put the food down on the table.

"What's that?"

"Waking up with you."

At that Sylvie was completely enamored and found herself forgetting the food entirely. She wrapped herself around him and felt him sink into the embrace.

"You make me happy, Matt." She said, pressing her palm against his cheek and forcing him to look deep into her eyes, willing him to know how true the statement was. She saw the soft blush on his cheeks, and she adored the boyish glow it seemed to give him as if he had never heard the words before.

"I love you, Sylvie." He spoke gently, but firmly.

"I love you, Matt." They kissed deeply. This wasn't filled with the passion they had shared before, though it lingered just beneath the surface. This was more of a confirmation, that what they had was true and not born out of pleasures purely of the flesh. That aspect was important and natural, but this was born out of a friendship. Lovers from friends, friends to lovers, this is the kind of thing dreams only dare to explore. So rare and yet so profound, when it hits a person it can be frightening, and Matt wouldn't be too far off if he had said that he had resigned himself to loving his once close friend from afar after admitting everything to her.

When Sylvie admitted to him on that cold night that she loved him too, he knew that every time the words crossed her lips for the rest of their lives that a small part of his heart would clench at the thought that this may have never happened. And Sylvie's heart would always have a small part that still couldn't believe that Matt loved her. No matter how many times he would tell her, the affirmation of the words spoken aloud would be needed to allow themselves to unleash the passions they do feel for one another as if they were a coded password.

No matter the circumstances that life could bring, these two were simply meant for each other, as once prophesized by a friend. Why it took the two so long to figure it out would still be somewhat of a mystery, but the half-eaten breakfast and empty coffee cups left behind with a trail of clothing leading towards the living room suggested that they were enjoying the process of discovering what they had been missing and boded well for the future. Whatever that future these two could build together, it was sure to be that of what dreams are made of. Even if those dreams can hardly be admitted until it was almost too late.

Or perhaps the timing for these two was just right…

I hope you enjoyed this! Leave a review if you liked it, and let me know if you have any suggestions for future stories or scenes you may like to see. Apologies for not writing this before the new premiere, but for now this story seems finished. I'll keep it open to potentially add more.