Joan's POV

Jocelyn, as per her usual routine, was still in a significantly deep sleep when I rubbed the sleep out of my own eyes and turned over to look at her. The sight brought a smile to my face as I quietly sat up, not taking my eyes off her. God, I love watching her sleep.

I sat up gently, trying my best not to shift the covers too much and accidentally wake her when a loud scratching began scratching at the otherside of the door from one or more of the dogs, probably Winston. I sighed, shook my head, and made my way to the door, followed by Sammy who had previously been asleep next to Feather off in the corner of my room that was closest to my bed.

I opened the door, and sure enough, Winston immediately quit his violent scratching and looked right up at me as if he hadn't in fact been doing anything.

I shrugged and knelt down to pet him. "You gotta be quieter." I whispered. "Jocelyn's still asleep."

"No she's not." Jocelyn yawned from across the room. "...She just likes watching you when you think she's asleep."

I gave Winston one more head scratch before standing back up on my feet. "Oh, is that a fact?"

She nodded, sleepily. "Yeah, you're really cute when you're shushing dogs."

I chuckled at that

"What's he doing here, anyway?" She continued. "Isn't he usually in with your dad."

"Generally." I agreed. "Probably got shut out by accident when Dad went out to use the bathroom or something."

"...Or went out sleepwalking again." She added.

"Yeah…" I sighed, reaching my hand to give Winston another head scratch and getting a particularly eager lick in response. "...there's also that."

Before either of us could say anything else, Winston took off running when he heard Dad's door open from across the hall."

"Forget something?!" I called out to him.

He chuckled, greeting Winston with a head scratch when he reached the doorway. "Guess so."

He redirected his attention back to me and Jocelyn, who was now standing behind me and rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

She offered a small wave. "Morning."

"Morning." Dad replied. "Either of you hungry?"

"Starving." Jocelyn nodded.

He chuckled. "Well, let me just let these guys out real quick, and I'll get something started."

"Thank you!" Joce called out as he headed for the stairs.

"So…" Jocelyn began as she slipped some eggs down to Feather, who was obediently seated on the floor next to her seat at the table. "Where's this new dog you were telling me about? I half expected to see that one plus like five others after you texted me." She smirked.

I shot her a look as I took a bite out of my own eggs.

"...okay, fully expected." She chuckled. "Satisfied."

"Very."

"Good." She chuckled as she attempted to fend off Feather, who had placed his entire top half in her lap in an attempt to get more food from her. "Knock it off, I just gave you some! Geez, you act like I never feed you!"

"Tell me about it, I'm starting to get worried over here." I teased.

"Well, anyhow…." She giggled as she finally managed to nudge him back onto the floor. "Your dad just left for the day…..aaand my mom's not expecting me back home until tonight…"

"I like where this is going." I interjected with a smirk.

"Jesus, get your mind out of the gutter." She laughed. "Anyway…..what do ya wanna do today?"

I shot her another smirk. "I kinda just implied what I'd like to do today…...and my name's not Jesus."

"Ha ha."

I held my suggestive stare toward her. "You think I'm kidding, don't you?"

She considered for a moment before she spoke. "...True. I should know better than that by now." She snickered as she took a sip of her coffee. "Finish your breakfast, then maybe I'll let ya prove to me that you're not.

'Is that a promise."

"It's a maybe." she corrected. "Hence the usage of the word."

"If you say so…." I smirked.

Jocelyn sat back up, from laying across the couch with her head in my lap, when we heard my dad's car door shut outside and looked at her watch.

"Ahh, shit. It's later than I thought." She announced with a snicker. "I'm surprised my mom doesn't have the police after me yet."

"Well, just wait for my dad to get in. She may have called the FBI instead." I teased.

"Very funny." She chuckled, picking up her jacket before going upstairs to collect the rest of her things. "You coming to help me, or what?"

"Oh, I'll come…" I smirked. "Are we coming back down is the question."

She shook her head. "Man, you are just terrible tonight."

"Juuust tonight?" I tried my best to look like I was offended.

She rolled her eyes. "Alright, all day. You happy?"

I held my stare at her til she sighed.

"Alright, you're always terrible. Happy now?"

I nodded as I stood up to follow her. "Very."

Jocelyn and I were coming down the stairs with her things when my dad walked in the door.

"Ahh, Jocelyn. Leaving so soon?" Dad joked as he shut the door behind him, petting the dogs as they all rushed up to greet him.

"Yeah, I know. I was just about to ask you if my mom called you to report me missing or something…...FBI, and all."

Dad offered a chuckle when he got the joke. "You, uhh...need a ride home? Orr...?"

Jocelyn shook her head. "It's not that far, I can walk."

"Are you sure?" Dad asked. "It's awfully late."

Jocelyn nodded. "I'm sure. Feather's been pretty cooped up today, he can use the exercise."

"Alright, if you're sure." Dad agreed reluctantly as he opened the door to let the dogs out.

I kissed Jocelyn before she took off. "Text me when you get there."

She smiled back at me. "Always do."

I nodded and watched her walk away until she faded off into the distance