When it came to the high end of luxury, the 'creatively named' Brookhaven Complex wasn't anything to write home about. But that didn't mean it was a rundown tumbling shack either. At just the right price and location it was ideal for the many students coming and going to the nearby university.

Many of the apartments were rather well maintained, thus requiring little in the way of maintenance from their tenents. Something that Charlie and John considered a blessing whenever they returned to their little three-room apartment. It was situated towards the back of the complex and with their only nearest neighbor being another tired university student it was a rather quiet area that they both enjoyed the relative privacy of.

They'd barely been back inside for a minute before Charlie made for the bathroom. The only word she said before closing the door being a hurried call of "dibs!" John hadn't even considered arguing though, even as he heard the shower turn on because Charlie had been the one working all day, while he'd been stuck in various classrooms. Plus he preferred morning showers over evening ones, so it wasn't a big deal to him as it gave him time to try and finish his homework and free up the weekend.

Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. While he'd initially been blazing through the assignments there'd been one that stopped his progress cold. He growled under his breath as he scribbled down his latest attempt at a haiku

"Fall is coming
The leaves dying and falling.
To the ground below'

John counted the syllables in his head before tiredly crossing out the haiku with a groan. He looked across the paper and realized that the last Haiku had taken the last free space on the paper. The entirety of the paper was coated in his other failed haiku's and peppered alongside them were little notes he'd made which what exactly had gone wrong.

But for the most part, it was always the syllable count being just a bit off.

`I don't get why my teacher thinks this will make me a better writer.' John crumpled up the paper with a disgruntled sigh and then tossed it over his shoulder, but then he heard a startled yelp and he turned. Just as the paper was returned to him, in the same manner, he'd disposed of it. He blinked as it Lightly hit his forehead before falling to the floor by his foot.

"Sorry, that was supposed to just hit the table!" As John completed turning around he saw Charlie standing behind him with damp hair and wearing her "favorite pajamas." Though they were actually just a shirt that used to belong to him with some pajama pants. She'd grabbed the shirt from the laundry one day and she'd been using it ever since. But If John was being honest, he didn't really care because he'd barely worn it anyway.

Charlie knelt down and scooped up the paper, then tossed it into the nearby trash can with a bit of nervousness of laughter."Sorry I probably should have done that instead of returning it to sender." She said apologetically

"Don't worry about it, I shouldn't have thrown it in the first place," John said as Charlie walked over and pulled another chair over to sit next to him.

"What are you working on that's gotten you so frustrated?" She asked and John rubbed at his temples.

"I'm trying to write out some Haikus."

"Gesundheit." Charlie laughed at her joke while John rolled eyes. But the laugher was short and once she'd finished, she reached out and squeezed his hand "I'm kidding, but it sounds like you need a break." She stood up and pulled John to his feet.

"But I want to get this done now so the rest of the weekend is free," John feebly protesting, doing little though to stop Charlie from moving him towards their small living room. Once they'd gotten there she reached up to his face and placed her hand on his cheek.

"No, you're trying to force it out and if you do that you'll end up not only unhappy but also with a bad grade." John leaned into Charlie's hand and thought about what she'd just said. His hand reaching upwards and clasping hers as he smiled warmly.

"That's actually good advice, did you come up with it on your own or is it another pearl of wisdom from Aunt Jen?"

"I may tell you if you agree to take a break with me." Charlie teased, stroking her thumb along John's cheek and nose. She failed to contain the grin as John melted from the positive touch. John let out a deep sigh and shyly looked down.

"Okay, I give." He said after a minute. Charlie victoriously grinned and then guided John over towards their couch. she made him sit down first then flopped down next to him and then lightly pulled his head to her shoulder. Then she wrapped an arm around his back to stroke his hair. She reached for the remote to turn on the TV but John reached out and took ahold of that hand. Charlie flushed as he gave it a light squeeze.

"I take it that you're vetoing that?." She giggled and squeezed his hand back while John closed his eyes and chuckled. He quietly rubbed his thumb across her fingers along the bottom of her hand and Charlie forward to kiss the top of his head.

After that, they became lost in the moment and they didn't know how long they stayed like that wrapped up in each other's arms. Of course, they didn't really care either as their entire world condensed into just their quiet moment together. But eventually enough they swapped positions and Charlie became the one receiving the most affection. With her head resting against John's chest and their arms wrapped around each other.

They'd hardly spoken a word between them after, except for an occasional re-affirmation of their love for each other. This was compounded with John always finishing by kissing the top of Charlie's head and causing her to quietly giggle.

As time wore on they both began to feel the peaceful pull of sleep wash over them. Charlie snuggled into John's chest and he fully laid back as they both yawned in sync. After John had fully reclined Charlie looked up to him and smiled sleepily

"Feeling better?" She asked and touched his face again. John smiled and made an affirmative sounding noise while his eyes began to full close. Charlie pulled her hand away and proceeded to bury her face into his chest

"See, I told you this would be good...for both of us." She yawned into his shirt. John wasn't able to give much of a reply though as his head pressed into the armrest. Tilting sideways as his breathing started evening out.

But just as they were both ready to embrace their urges to sleep, John suddenly shot his head upward and gasped loudly. The sound stirring Charlie as she quickly pulled up her head from his chest. Brushing away some hair she looked at John's determined face.

"What's up?" She asked while doing her best to shake away the tiredness

"I know what I need to do for the haikus," John whispered back, his eyes lighting up with determination. Charlie smirked as she began pulling herself up, allowing John to free himself of both her embrace and the couch. He scrambled off and dashed back over to the table. Chalie quietly watched on before she stood up and quietly stretched. After taking another look back at John, she made her way towards their shared bedroom to collect a pillow and a blanket.

By the time she'd returned John was just finishing up his second to the haiku, mumbling under his breath while he counted out the syllables. Setting down the pillow and blanket, Charlie walked over and peered over his shoulder at his work, grinning softly.

"Have anything to say to me for helping you out?' She asked teasingly. But John didn't say anything, instead, he leaned upwards and gave Charlie a quick peck on her lips. Causing her to let out a surprised squeal before he returned to his work. Charlie looked away with a shy chuckle. "That works too...a little better actually."

But John wasn't quite done yet as he quickly scribbled something down onto the paper. Once it was finished he tapped it with his pen to draw her attention too it. Her gaze traveled down to the paper and there finding a haiku written just for her

'Ten long years that I
Spent so far away from you
Never to again.'

Charlie read over the haiku and looked back at John. He stared expectantly back while she could only think to suck in a tense breath. She gave him a thumbs up and chuckled weakly. "Uhm, thank you I give it an A+ for effort."

John shook his head, laughing while he began to erase the haiku from the page. Charlie let go of the breath she'd taken and joined in on the laughter. After it was fully erased, John began writing down his last haiku for the project. Charlie nodded but then playfully stroked his hair and pouted.

"Aww, but what will you woo me with if you can't write poetry?" She slumped dramatically and then giggled, kissing his cheek while standing back up. "It's totally fine, never really been a fan of big sappy poems anyway." Once John finished his writing, he put the paper into a folder and turned back towards Charlie, wrapping his arms around her midsection and smiling up at her.

"Well, do you like stories then? Because I have plenty of those to spare." They both grinned at each other before John stood up and Charlie guided him back towards the couch.

"Those, I'm always up for."

Unfortunately, the story John crafted would become one that was unfinished. Combined with their dual warmth and the coziness of the blanket they quickly returned to sleep. Though neither of them paid any mind to that fact. More than happy to just be with each other, and let the rest of the world fade away. Their only concern becoming their time with each other and how to spend it meaningfully.