Author's note: Hey thanks for coming back for more! Sorry this chapter is a mix of too many things, but oh well. Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for being patient!
xxxxxx
Later that month
The aroma emanating from the barbeque grill filled Bo's senses with delight. She checked her watch once more before flipping open the lid. The instant wave of heat radiated across her face, causing a trickle of sweat to form across her forehead. With care to avoid burning herself, Bo pried open one foil pouch and peered inside, checking on the progress. Of course, the food was just not ready yet.
Quickly Bo folded the pouch closed again, creating a seal to help steam the contents within. She quickly closed the grill lid again before swiping the back of her hand across her face to stop the sweat from running down her cheek. With a glance to the night sky, Bo laughed quietly at the irony of the moment. Even with the sun tucked away for the night and Bo at home rather than fighting a fire during work, the heat from the grill was still making her sweat.
Bo grabbed the dirty, empty plate and walked across the back patio of her home. She crossed through the sliding glass doors to return to the cool interior. The air conditioned space gave her lungs a break; breathing the air inside simply felt easier than sucking in all that hot air filling the night time air outside.
Lauren was sitting on the living room floor with their daughter crawling all over her lap. The two were giggling about something as they were engaged in some version of peek-a-boo. Every time Lauren moved her hands away from her face, Charlotte's laughter grew louder.
Bo smiled heavily as she appreciated the sight. She really did love her family fiercely, and those two lovelies occupying the space nearby fit the very definition of family. Her partner and her daughter. There was simply nothing in this world Bo would not do for them. Nothing.
"We still have another ten minutes to go until the salmon and vegetables are ready," Bo announced as she tossed the used serving plate in the kitchen sink.
Lauren stood up from the carpeted floor, scooping Charlotte into her arms. She followed Bo into the kitchen and placed a thankful kiss to the brunette's cheek while the Fire Chief washed her hands.
"Thank you hon. I appreciate you entertaining my late night craving for grilled food."
Bo smiled as she graciously received both the kiss and the thanks from Lauren. Yes, Lauren may have been the one to suggest having a late dinner on the grill, but Bo was the first to jump at the idea and fire it up. That back patio and the oversized steel grill occupying it was one of her favorite spaces to spend time. She was more than happy to show off her grilling skills anytime it was requested, even at this hour. Bo took a quick glance to the wall clock nearby before smiling at her partner and her daughter by her side.
"You're certainly welcome. But speaking of late night, it is way past Charlotte's bed time."
Bo washed away all the soap from her hands and shut off the running faucet. Lauren promptly handed her a towel to dry her hands while snuggling Charlotte with one arm like a seasoned parent. Lauren furrowed her brow as she replied.
"I know, but she's so happy to see her mamas. I sometimes think our night shift work is going to cause major problems with her sleep patterns."
Bo dried her hands as she made silly faces at the wide eyed little girl.
"She always sleeps well when Cassie is here. I mean, we are her parents and yet she only sleeps when the babysitter is here. I don't get it. I hope this isn't teenage rebellion starting before she's two years old."
Lauren bounced Charlotte in her arms and nodded.
"I don't get it either. I'm just glad Cassie is here more often than not."
"You and me both," Bo agreed.
Cassie did maintain a frequent presence in their home since Charlotte was born. As many new parents do, both Bo and Lauren took time away from work to spend at home with their newborn in the days after Charlotte's birth. Those days quickly turned to weeks and returning to work appeared fast on the horizon. Neither woman had wanted to leave Charlotte with strangers at a unknown childcare center, but both women had known getting back to work was the right thing for them both. It took some late night, lengthy discussions but eventually Lauren and Bo mutually agreed upon home childcare while Charlotte was young. The biggest obstacle at that point became finding the right individual to trust with their daughter.
The vetting and hiring process was something Lauren would rather forget, but fortunately Bo had worked tirelessly through a professional agency for such a need. She reviewed well over one hundred possible full time nannies until Bo secured the one that eased their initial worries and jived extremely well with Charlotte.
It wasn't easy to leave their daughter in the care of another, but Cassie was a natural with the little one, and her credentials eased Lauren's mind enough to take that first step back to work. Couple that with the fact that Cassie was a part time student working toward becoming a paramedic, and Lauren quickly embraced their decision.
Cassie wowed them in the first few months, seamlessly moving Charlotte through a more routine daily and nightly schedule. She balanced time extremely well, even when Lauren and Bo both arrived home late from work on multiple mornings. With Lauren and Bo enjoying their night shift careers, Bo and Lauren relied on Cassie greatly. Fortunately, Cassie was the best sitter either of them could have ever wanted. She had not only become an asset with Charlotte but an extension of their family.
While Cassie may have been a natural with children, Bo and Lauren were still navigating the early years of parenthood. They struggled to get Charlotte to sleep at a reasonable hour on many of their days off work, and it probably didn't help that they liked when Charlotte was awake at night because it afforded them more time with their daughter. Neither woman could deny their appreciation for such.
Bo smiled as she thought that this was yet another late night keeping Charlotte awake. She hung the towel back on the cupboard handle and made one more silly face at their daughter. The little one rubbed her eyes and buried her face in Lauren's shoulder, instantly prompting Lauren to snuggle Charlotte closer. Both Bo and Lauren smiled to one another as they shared this simple but happy moment together.
"I'm going to lay her down and see if sleep is in the cards for her. Meet you outside?" Lauren whispered.
Bo nodded but refrained from speaking, fearful that any further conversation may bring Charlotte's drooping eyelids to widen again. Bo stood in the kitchen for another moment, watching Lauren walk toward Charlotte's bedroom. Charlotte had not lifted her head from Lauren' shoulder as they rounded the corner down the hallway. That was a hopeful sign that sleep was definitely in the cards for the little one.
Bo glanced at her watch, calculating minutes to ensure the proper length of grilling time. Carefully, she pulled a clean plate from the cupboard before quietly crossing through the kitchen and living room to return to the back patio and resume grill duties.
She closed the sliding glass doors quietly behind her as she stepped outside. Bo immediately missed the cool air conditioning inside their home, but the smell of grilled salmon with a mango and pineapple marinade made standing in the warm summer night air worth every second. As she walked toward the grill, Bo glanced to the night sky. The giant oversized evergreen trees surrounding the front and west side of their property blocked part of the moon from sight. All the birds were silent at this hour, but several crickets were echoing across the lawn like a full symphony. It was simply another relaxing moment that Bo appreciated beyond words.
After lifting the lid on the grill, Bo began the process of carefully peeking inside the foil packets. She was careful to avoid any steam burns, all the while her mind wandered through a number of random thoughts. The first thing Bo considered was if Charlotte was too young to enjoy a swing set if they were to install one in the back yard. Imaging that little blonde girl crying as she slid down a sliding board quickly made Bo decide against it. While she was certain Charlotte would love the swings, the fire chief was just not ready to see her little girl fall down and cry, which was bound to happen with every child on a sliding board at some point.
As with overactive minds, that thought then led to another thought: of a recent occasion when Charlotte did fall down and cry unlike anything Bo had ever heard before. While the little one was merely trying to walk from the sofa to her toy box, she stumbled over her own wobbly feet and rolled on the living room carpet. She wasn't hurt from the spill, but she cried like she was on the sinking Titanic. While in reality, Bo realized kids would cry and fall down routinely, Bo was still a mother who wished her child would never have to cry again.
As the thought made Bo decide she would wait on the swing set for another year, the Fire Chief shut the lid to the grill and took one step back to lessen the impact of the heat emanating from it. She took another glance to the sky and inhaled deep enough to relax her shoulders on the exhale. Dinner was almost ready, and spending a late night at home with Lauren and their daughter brought a joy to the brunette unlike anything else could. Yes she loved her job, and yes she loved her muscle cars, but she would give up everything in the world for her family. Lauren and Charlotte filled Bo's heart beyond compare of anything else in her life.
The sound of the sliding glass doors behind her pulled Bo's attention from the sky to Lauren now exiting their home. The patio lighting allowed Bo to see the baby monitor in her hand and the smile on Lauren's face. The sound of absolutely nothing echoing through that little box told Bo that Charlotte was successfully asleep.
"She is sleeping?" Bo asked.
Lauren nodded. "Yes she is."
Bo took Lauren's outstretched empty hand and threaded their fingers together comfortably. She placed an appreciative kiss to Lauren's cheek.
"Good job, mama bear."
Lauren smiled at Bo's playful use of the phrase. She was indeed a mama bear. Lauren knew Bo would be the stricter parent when the little one grew to be a teenager, but Lauren's medical knowledge had her overthinking every little action and reaction from their child since the day she was born.
"Thanks hon." The doctor took a deep breath and savored the aromas filling the airspace. "Damn that smells great, Bo."
Bo kissed the back of Lauren's hand. "Tell me about it. I've been standing out here growing hungrier by the minute. Thankfully it's almost ready."
"Excellent!"
Bo leaned closer to Lauren, placing a few gentle kisses along the blonde's jawline.
"Mmmm," Lauren whispered as she enjoyed the attention.
"Favor?" Bo whispered in her ear.
"Mmmm anything," Lauren replied.
"Wanna pour me a drink and I'll meet you inside with the food?" Bo asked playfully.
Lauren rolled her eyes and laughed.
"I suppose it's the least I could do since you are cooking me this wonderful meal."
"Thanks babe," Bo replied.
Lauren pulled Bo's hand to her lips and placed a quick kiss to the back of her hand. Without another word, she cradled the baby monitor as she returned inside their house and made a direct line to the kitchen. Consciously, Lauren walked a little softer through the living room, certain that she did not want to be held responsible for making excessive noise and waking Charlotte a few minutes after she had fallen asleep.
Once in the kitchen, Lauren opened the cupboard located to the left of the refrigerator. Living with Bo for a few years had taught Lauren the brunette's beverage preferences, so she didn't hesitate to open the liquor cabinet and extract a bottle of whiskey. Placing it quietly on the counter next to the baby monitor, Lauren reached for two glasses and lined them up on the counter.
The oak scent hit her nose the moment she pulled off the bottle cap. It smelled good enough that she poured a second glass for herself. Lauren wasn't much of a whiskey drinker, but she would occasionally have one with Bo if the mood struck her. Tonight was one of those nights.
Lauren glanced over the label on the bottle and smiled. Tamsin had gifted this particular bottle to them several months prior, for no reason other than she busted a large robbery ring hitting up local liquor stores and several owners had rewarded her with gifts of a few bottles. Bo was certainly thrilled to accept it from Tamsin as this brand was her favorite.
Holding the bottle in hand, Lauren's stomach dropped momentarily as she thought about Tamsin. Their lives had been intertwined for more years than Lauren could remember. Through the good and through the bad, Tamsin was always a fixture in Lauren's life, at least until six months ago. Lauren sighed heavily as her sadness formed an ache deep within her. The doctor could not deny she missed her best friend dearly. It had been six months since she had heard from the detective, and despite the good reasoning for it, Lauren did not like her absence at all. Not having Tamsin nearby was an adjustment Lauren continued to struggle with daily.
During those past six months, there were moments when Lauren picked up her phone and dialed the detective's number just to listen to her recorded greeting and then leave a voice mail message. She had done so a few dozen times and the mail box never filled up, so she knew Tamsin, or someone, was getting the messages. Despite never hearing from Tamsin since the day she left, Lauren still wished for a return call one of these days.
With a heavy heart, Lauren released her tightened grip on the bottle and recorked it. She returned the whiskey to its resting place in the cupboard as the back doors to the patio slid open again. Lauren glanced over her shoulder to see Bo maneuver her way inside with a plateful of foil packets. Lauren took a deep breath and pushed aside her sadness. She watched Bo carry their grilled dinner to the dining room table, smiling and looking utterly adorable. Lauren did not want to cast a cloud over their enjoyable night at home, so with a practiced perfection, Lauren smothered the unsettled tug at her heart from missing her best friend and brought her own happiness back to the surface.
Lauren prepared two large glasses of water in addition to the glasses of whiskey and joined Bo at the dining room table for their late night dinner for two. After the beverage glasses and plates were placed on the table, Lauren put the baby monitor on the table as well. Thankfully the only sounds it echoed yet were sounds of silence.
Lauren glanced at the food Bo dished out to each of their plates.
"Bo this looks and smells amazing. Thank you again."
Bo smiled as she ripped open the last foil packet and carefully dumped the contents on a plate.
"You don't have to thank me, Lauren. I'm just glad we can have a nice quiet dinner together, even if it is ten o'clock at night."
Lauren slid into her seat and laughed quietly. It was rather late for dinner, but considering they both usually worked night shifts and this just happened to be their night off, the hour was not an extreme oddity for them. The plateful of food now resting before Lauren was certain to stop her stomach from growling. She reached for her fork as Bo lifted her whiskey glass and sniffed.
The brunette stopped shy of drinking it. She smiled wide and shifted her eyes to Lauren.
"I finished the open bottle last week, so this must mean you opened the new bottle. The one from Tamsin?"
Lauren nodded that Bo was correct. She opened her mouth to reply with just a simple yes, but her throat was dry and no words formed as Lauren felt the weight of Tamsin's absence again. The doctor squeezed her fork a little tighter and she took a slow, steady breath, hopeful her sadness would leave her on the exhale.
Just as Lauren had learned a lot about Bo over the years, the fire chief had also learned a lot about the blonde. When she shifted her eyes down and to the left, Lauren had something on her mind. When she remained quiet and shook her head slowly, Lauren was searching for the right words to say. And when she pierced her lips together and swallowed hard enough that Bo could visually see the movement in Lauren's throat, the brunette knew everything Lauren was thinking without her uttering a word.
Without taking one sip of the alcohol, Bo returned her glass to the table and slid her hand on top of Lauren's. She squeezed it gently, offering support without being asked. It was an offering of her attention to Lauren's feelings despite the doctor never saying a word. A moment of quiet simply sat between them until Bo spoke.
"Hey. It's okay to miss her, Laur."
Lauren exhaled a deeper breath. It was not just sadness that weighted Lauren's heart, but it was anger and frustration too.
"I don't want to ruin our night."
Bo tilted her head. "You never ruin our night. You haven't mentioned her in a few weeks, but I know it's bothering you. I hope you know I always want you to talk to me about anything bothering you. Including Tamsin."
Lauren nodded and squeezed Bo's hand as a thankful gesture. She stared blankly at her plate until finally looking up at Bo.
"I know, and I do miss her. A lot. I keep telling Evony to please have her call me, but all I ever get is the same line about how that's not an option."
Bo nodded, allowing a moment of quiet between them before replying.
"Well I'd say that's just Evony being Evony, but we both know this is also a part of Tamsin's job. I don't really understand how the whole undercover thing works, but it must be a really big case to have been going on this long."
Lauren knew Bo was right, but it did not make it any easier on her.
"Yeah. It just sucks."
Bo nodded. "Yes, it does."
With her free hand, Bo lifted her whiskey glass and held it in the air. She stared at Lauren quietly before the blonde finally realized Bo wanted her to do the same. Lauren smiled and lifted her glass as well. It was only then that Bo clinked her glass to Lauren's.
"To Tamsin. May she hurry home soon."
Lauren smiled. "I completely agree."
The short conversation about Tamsin was enough to clear the heaviness of the moment and bring Bo and Lauren back to a comfortable, happy space. Without wasting anytime, both women tore into their dinner. The salmon was damn near perfect. Lauren marveled at Bo's talents as the grill master of the house. Bo happily accepted her compliments. Conversation turned to much lighter fare and the two enjoyed the full extent of a "dinner date at home" until the last bites were consumed.
Lauren took the final sip of her whiskey, savoring the taste and the warmth it created in her cheeks. One drink was Lauren's limit for the night, despite wanting to pour a second. Since becoming a mother, Lauren kept her alcohol consumption lighter these days. She blamed her incessant need to remain in control, and that was not necessarily a bad thing.
"So Kenzi stopped by my office the other day and said we should get Charlotte's pictures taken professionally. She claims that a good aunt insists on lot of pictures."
Bo's leaned back in her chair and smiled. Kenzi had certainly been vocal about all the things she demanded as an aunt: mostly providing Charlotte with excessive toys and a lot of playtime. She also had a few babysitting overnights with the little one when Cassie was not available. Bo recalled Kenzi mentioned photos to her several months ago and she had even picked up some brochures from a local photographer one day, but the conversation had slipped her mind until Lauren just reminded her.
"Oh yeah Kenz mentioned that to me at one point too. Guess I forgot. Wait, why was Kenzi at your office?" Bo asked.
Lauren tossed her used napkin on the table.
"Uh, I think she had a therapy appointment. She still goes at least once a month."
Bo nodded, allowing herself to get lost in thought from a brief moment until Lauren continued on about photographs.
"I guess we could maybe look up some different places we could take Charlotte. There's one in the mall I think," Lauren replied.
Bo nodded. "There is. There is also one down by the station. I have a few brochures I picked up, but they're at work. I'll make a note to bring them home so we can review them."
Lauren smiled. "You already collected some brochures? Damn, I swear I'm the worst parent. I didn't even think about getting her picture taken."
Lauren looked away from Bo and glanced in the direction of the hallway leading to Charlotte's room. She really did not think about scheduling photos for Charlotte, and now that Bo and Kenzi both considered it already, Lauren felt critical of her own lack of planning. This certainly wasn't the first time the doctor felt this way. She had recognized her own lack of child rearing expertise. While Lauren could ensure all of Charlotte's organs were healthy and working properly, Lauren had very little instinct on the best way to be a parent. It was trying at times, mostly because Lauren was hard on herself. She wanted to be the best mother; she just wasn't even sure what "the best mother" looked like.
Bo playfully tossed her napkin at Lauren.
"Hey, you are not the worst parent. You are a wonderful mother. And I'm happy we get to be moms together."
Bo's encouragement brought Lauren's smile back. Lauren even threw the napkin back at Bo.
"Thanks Bo. Well let me know what I can do, or if you want me involved, to help plan the photographs."
Bo took Lauren's hand resting on the table. "Baby, of course I want you to help plan the photographs. I'll bring the brochures home in a few days when I go back to work and we can go over them together."
"Sounds good to me," Lauren replied.
Bo smiled.
"Now I just need to remember where the brochures are at."
Lauren laughed. "Maybe under a stack of papers at work?"
Bo nodded. "Maybe. Speaking of papers at work, guess what else I have piled up on my desk?"
Lauren looked at her curiously and shook her head, having not even a guess.
Bo continued. "Applications for the open position."
Lauren's ears perked up.
"The open firefighter position?" Lauren asked.
Bo nodded.
Lauren knew there was a process to fill an opening, but it rarely happened. Station 55 was a solid team, and rarely did anyone want to leave.
"So how do you fill the job? You must have tons of applicants."
Bo relaxed into her chair and began to explain the process. She shared much information with Lauren and some of the highlights about the potential new fire fighters that may join Station 55 in the open slot they needed to fill. There was an excitement in Bo's voice as she explained it. The crew at Station 55 was like another part of the family. Even Lauren knew all the men who worked with Bo, and some even joined them for dinner on Sundays periodically.
While Bo followed a certain process to choose the best candidate, she also hoped that individual was a good fit for the whole team. There were written exams and practical exams, and ultimately those scores would allow Bo to make a sound decision for who got the job anyway.
Conversation carried on for a little while longer into the night. Both women cherished their time spent together. Their pleasant dinner at home was quite a spontaneous date between the two of them, especially after they finished eating dinner and Bo pulled Lauren into her arms and danced without music in the middle of the living room. Even Charlotte waking and crying so loud they did not need the baby monitor to hear it did not disrupt the night. If anything, it just made it that much more complete.
While Lauren cleaned up the dishes from dinner, Bo took upon the task of rocking Charlotte back to sleep. The chief walked in circles in Charlotte's bedroom with the little one in her arms. She whispered gentle words to her daughter, telling random stories about giraffes in the zoo and muscle cars in the garage. At one point, Bo walked in front of a mirror and stared upon the reflection. Bo's upper body muscles were incredibly well defined. Even at one year old, Charlotte appeared so tiny in her strong grasp. Fortunately, no one was there to witness Bo appreciating her own physique except Charlotte, who at this point had ceased all crying as she had drifted off to sleep once again.
Finally getting Charlotte to sleep again, Bo tucked her daughter in and stared at her child in the dimly lit bedroom. Charlotte had all of Lauren's facial features: her light blonde hair, the doctor's nose, and the same adorable chin. Charlotte was a mini version of Lauren, and having both of them in her life for the just the past few years gave Bo more reasons to smile and feel grateful that almost all the years before that.
With the gentlest of movements, Bo placed a kiss to her daughter's forehead.
"Sleep tight, peanut. Love you bunches."
Her whispered words were heartfelt. Just saying them aloud never dulled. She never quite knew love like this before, and despite not giving birth to Charlotte or being biologically related to her in any way, that was indeed her daughter just as much as Charlotte was Lauren's. No one would ever deny Bo that feeling.
With the quietest of motions, Bo pulled Charlotte's bedroom door closed and walked down the hall. As she stepped into the kitchen, Bo saw that Lauren was placing the last of the dishes in the dishwasher.
"Charlotte is sleeping again," Bo whispered.
"I know, thanks to this nifty baby monitor."
Lauren nodded to the counter nearby, where the baby monitor sat quietly. Bo glanced at the monitor, realizing Lauren was privy to her whispered words to Charlotte as she fell back asleep. Bo smiled, but held back her embarrassment from becoming visible. Her mind filtered through all the things she said to Charlotte, and if anything, Bo was most grateful that she had not been singing to Charlotte this time.
"You heard?" Bo whispered under her breath.
Lauren dried her hands before looping her arms around Bo's neck. "You're the best mother," Lauren replied.
Bo's hands were now fixed on Lauren's waist, trailing her fingertips gently under the hem of Lauren's shirt.
"No, you are," Bo replied.
Lauren placed one gentle, loving kiss to Bo's lips before pulling the Fire Chief into a full blown hug. She rested her chin on Bo's shoulder, closed her eyes and allowed the warmth of Bo's love to envelop her.
Bo held Lauren close, doing much of the same as she appreciated the quiet moment between them. It was only when she heard Lauren yawn that she knew it was going to be an early night.
"Come on Laur, let's go to bed."
Lauren yawned again as she stepped out of Bo's hold.
"Sorry I'm so tired. Staying up all day on a day off sure has wrecked my sleep habits."
Bo took Lauren's hand and walked toward the bedroom.
"Me too hon. No wonder Charlotte doesn't sleep well."
Once inside the bedroom, Bo eased the door almost fully closed behind them and Lauren placed the baby monitor on the dresser. The doctor couldn't stop yawning as she stripped out of her clothes and slipped on a pair of soft shorts and a tank top to sleep in. She looked at the clock, recognizing it was now one am. Despite her usual bedtime being closer to eight in the morning, tonight she was very much ready for sleep.
Lauren popped into the bathroom to brush her teeth and Bo was right behind her. Despite the doctor's exhaustion, she caught sight of the fire chief in one of her many, tight Station 55 t-shirts. It accentuated both the brunette's muscular physique and feminine curves. Lauren may have been tired, but she certainly wasn't dead. The sight put a huge smile on her face, enough that she almost choked on the toothpaste in her mouth when Bo caught her staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
Bo playfully smacked Lauren's ass and smirked as she grabbed the toothpaste.
"Still tired, doctor?"
Lauren finished brushing her teeth and put her toothbrush back in the wall mounted holder before turning to face Bo. The chief's biceps bulged from under the shirt sleeves, and even Bo's deltoids showed their definition through the grey cotton. Lauren would never deny that Bo's physical form was quite a turn on.
The doctor knew what Bo meant by that phrase, and Lauren wished she had enough energy to say she was now wide awake and take full advantage of the fire chief that night. Lauren slid her one hand over Bo's arm, tracing the muscle with the tip of her finger.
"I'm afraid I will be of no excitement tonight, but if I sleep well, I will make it up to you in the morning."
Bo trailed her eyes over Lauren's fingertips outlining her muscle definition. The combination of Lauren's touch and her words made Bo wish for morning to arrive quickly. The fire chief's words failed her. She said nothing as the smile spread across her face and she flexed the muscles in her arms playfully.
Lauren not only saw that flex but felt it against her wandering fingertips.
"My, my. Someone has been working out."
Bo accidentally squeezed the tube of toothpaste a bit too hard, squirting the minty paste all over her toothbrush and into the sink below. She looked at the mess she had just made and blushed.
"I, uh, I increased my reps a few weeks ago. I'm happy to see you noticed."
Lauren gave Bo's shoulder a playful squeeze. She leaned in and kissed Bo on the cheek before whispering into the brunette's ear.
"Have I ever not noticed?"
Bo smiled, staring at Lauren's reflection in the oversized mirror.
"Just one of the many things I love about you."
Lauren smiled again but another yawn quickly took over her expression. She quickly covered her mouth and left Bo to wrap up brushing her teeth. Lauren sauntered back into their bedroom and tugged the blankets down on the bed. It wasn't two minutes later that Bo was crawling into the bed next to her. The doctor wasted no time in snuggling up against Bo, even as the brunette reached to shut off the bedside light.
Cast in darkness, Lauren reveled in the comfort of their closeness. She exhaled a deep breath as her chin rested on Bo's shoulder and one of the chief's strong arms curled around Lauren and held her tight.
"Mmmm, I had such a wonderful day and night with you Bo."
Bo placed a loving kiss to Lauren's forehead and tightened her grasp around the doctor.
"Me too hon. I'm glad you had a craving for grilled salmon. Was fun to get the grill fired up again."
Lauren slid her hand over Bo's taut abs and sunk further against the chief. She wished desperately for a second wind to take full advantage of her girlfriend and their privacy before Charlotte woke up again, but Lauren's exhaustion was just too great. She used most of her remaining energy to respond to Bo.
"Mmmhmm. Maybe we can grill out again for Sunday supper when the family is over this week."
Sunday supper: the phrase Lauren started using after she moved in with Bo a few years ago. It became a weekly ritual for their extended family to come over every Sunday and enjoy family time together. Not just Kenzi, who was the only blood relative to join them, but Hale, Tamsin, Evony, Cassie and any of their guests no matter the occasion. Sometimes some of the fire fighters even popped in. It gave them a real sense of family connection that had become routine and valued to them both.
The thought of grilling out for Sunday supper put a big grin on Bo's face. Her brain immediately went to work on all the fun food she could grill out for the family. She rambled on about several different items she could throw on the barbeque, but Lauren drifted off to sleep so quickly that none of Bo's ideas were ever heard.
The Fire Chief finally quieted, recognizing Lauren's breathing pattern had changed. With that, Bo smiled and squeezed Lauren a little tighter in her arms before whispering a quiet good night and I love you. It wasn't much longer after that when Bo drifted off to sleep as well.
xxxx
When Lauren was tired, her body and mind shut down at equal paces. Basic functionality such as walking or thinking about what the outside weather would be like became chores. But when Lauren was well rested, her thought processes were sharp and her physical movements were full of energy. Rarely did Lauren live in any middle ground: she was either completely exhausted or she was wide awake.
Her eyelids flipped open in the dark bedroom. She rolled and reached toward the night stand. A quick glance at her smartphone said it was five am. Despite having another day off work, her internal clock told her to get up and start the day. She may have fallen asleep half on top of Bo just a mere four hours prior, but the doctor slept hard: hard enough that she awoke full of energy.
She shifted her gaze to the baby monitor resting on the nearby dresser. The tiny red light indicated it was functioning properly, and Lauren smiled as she enjoyed the sounds of absolutely nothing echo through the device. She knew Charlotte would be awake within the hour as the little one always squeaked out her first sounds of their days off work somewhere between five thirty and six am.
Comfortably next to Lauren, Bo stirred slightly in the bed. The brunette may have still been unconscious, but she always stirred when Lauren woke. It was a morning ritual of which Lauren had become quite familiar. The doctor rolled into the fire chief, accepting the warm embrace the brunette subconsciously offered. Lauren always enjoyed the comforts and peace from a quiet morning with Bo, but her mind and her body had other ideas that made an escalated pulse more enticing than anything calm.
The faint light trickling in the window from the nearby street lamp provided a hint of visibility in the room; enough for Lauren to see the tight Station 55 t-shirt tugged tight against Bo's chest. Not that she needed any fuel thrown on her pre-dawn fire building within, but the knowledge of what lie beneath that thin cotton material lit Lauren's morning fuse.
Lauren rolled further into Bo. With kisses placed gently along Bo's neckline, Lauren began a slow process of waking the brunette in one of her most favorite ways. Truthfully it was one of Lauren's favorite ways to wake as well, and there were certainly no losers when it came to mornings like this.
Bo's breathing changed, alerting the doctor that Bo's mind was starting to wake. Lauren was certain the brunette's subconscious already understood the doctor's body weight now on top of her; Lauren's hands nudging Bo's shirt up higher, Lauren's lips trailing kisses around Bo's navel. The doctor knew the scientific process for how Bo's body and mind escaped the deepest of sleep and would gradually come to full consciousness, but this course of treatment was far from scientific.
As the blonde shifted lower on the bed, she pulled the sheets down with her. Intentionally uncovering Bo, Lauren hooked her fingers on the edges of Bo's boy shorts and tugged.
Bo's eyes remained closed but the quiet murmurs escaping her lips told Lauren she was partially awake and partially aware of the doctor making good on her late night promise. After all, Lauren did say that a good night of sleep would bring about a good morning, and this was certainly the best way she could make up for her exhaustion the night prior.
With a firm tug, Lauren slipped Bo's boy shorts down. She looped her arm under Bo's right knee and lifted it slightly. The bend more than affording enough space to slid the brunette's leg out of the shorts completely. Lauren immediately moved her lips against the skin of Bo's leg. Up her shin, over her knee, and lingering on her muscular thigh, Lauren's kisses brought out the loudest sighs from Bo heard so far that morning. Lauren smiled into Bo's leg as the sound of the fire chief's appreciation floated through the room.
With another shift in her position, Lauren settled against the bed while her trail of kisses led her down the inside of Bo's thigh. It was immediately made evident that Bo was wide awake now, her hand connecting with Lauren's hand now resting on the fire chief's exposed hip. The brunette may have not had any strength to say any comprehendible words, but she squeezed Lauren's hand with an urgency that spoke volumes.
A well placed swipe of Lauren's tongue brought Bo's words to light. The fire chief's earlier sighs quickly morphed into whispered phrases of praise and compliments. Lauren loved catching Bo off guard in the best of ways. Having days off together and making time for one another may not have been as frequent as it had been when they first started dating, but neither woman was ready to throw in the towel and let their sex lives diminish. Sure they now had a daughter that was their absolute priority. Charlotte took time they may have otherwise spent sequestered in the bedroom, but when quiet moments like this provided the opportunity, Lauren always showed Bo that her desires for the brunette were just as strong now as they were when they first met.
Bo pulled a pillow over her own face to muffle her rising voice. Lauren's arms remained fixed in place, anchoring the chief exactly where the doctor wanted her. Bo may have had a physical strength advantage over Lauren on any given day, but in this position, Lauren held a power over the brunette to which Bo always willingly bowed.
It took very little effort for Lauren to keep Bo's flexing hips pinned within her grasp. The doctor's approach to waking Bo continued with strategically placed strokes, swiping her tongue just this way or that to keep the fire chief hovering on the edge. The room may have only had the street light peering through the window, but it was plenty of light for Lauren. Her open eyes glanced over the rippled muscles in Bo's abdomen, and the rise and fall of her chest where the edge of that thin cotton t-shirt remained.
Lauren appreciated the view immensely, so much that she released one hand gripping Bo's thigh and slid it higher: high enough to snake under Bo's fire fighter t-shirt and allow her fingers to explore Bo's breasts.
The sensation overload created from the combination of Lauren's mouth and her hand sparked Bo's release to quickly follow. With a strong arm, the brunette threw the pillow away, freeing her face from the object. She arched off the bed before covering her mouth with her hand to further muffle the vocal match to her body's eruption. Bo's eyes locked with Lauren's as a euphoric high flooded her nervous system.
Lauren knew Bo's responses well enough to not relent. She pushed Bo further over that crest until the fire chief could not take it anymore and collapsed back into the mattress. Only when Bo reached for Lauren and touched her cheek did the doctor cease her actions.
Lauren turned her head slightly to the right and placed gentle, loving kisses to Bo's thigh. She caught her breath as Bo did the same before giving in to Bo's tugs on her arm to join her further up on the bed. It took quite a bit of self-discipline to give Bo a few moments to enjoy the sensations still coursing through her body. Rather than pounce on the glowing brunette, Lauren crawled over her and laid down partially on top of her.
Bo wrapped her arms around Lauren and held her close, burying her face in Lauren's neck as she smothered the doctor with pecks and happy sighs.
"Good morning," Lauren whispered.
Bo laughed; literally laughed out loud. Yes it was certainly a good morning, better than she could have ever anticipated. While this wasn't the first time Lauren had woken her in this manner, Bo never tired of it. Her senses were always most sensitive in the morning; it always made for a quick and explosive climax.
"Dear gods I am the luckiest woman alive," Bo replied.
Lauren laughed as she nuzzled against Bo's neck.
"I'll take that statement as this was worth the wait?"
Lauren didn't expect an answer. She knew Bo was happily floating above ground at the moment and simply wanted to afford her the time to enjoy it.
"I'd wait lifetimes for you, hon."
"Aww, I bet you say that to all the girls."
Bo playfully smacked Lauren's ass before she rolled the doctor on to her back. She intentionally placed kisses on the most ticklish spaces along Lauren's neck, eliciting a round of giggles from the blonde who now squirmed under her grasp.
On several prior occasions, Lauren had dropped a similar comment to Bo: about other women who would easily throw themselves at someone like Bo. And while Lauren was completely secure in their committed, monogamous relationship and only meant those remarks as a joke, Bo always followed up with a tickle or playful touch and some verbal statement of reassurance.
The fire chief slowed her ticklish kisses, allowing Lauren to catch her breath. Bo arched over Lauren, just enough that she could see the love in Lauren's eyes staring up at her.
"It will always and only be you, Lauren."
Lauren nodded her head slightly, enough to show Bo she already fully believed that statement. In fact, since the first time Bo said it, Lauren never doubted it once.
Bo shifted slightly, pressing her weight on to her elbow against the soft mattress. Still partially on top of Lauren, the brunette slid her finger under the strap of Lauren's tank top. Bo smiled as her fingers brushed softly over Lauren's skin. She looked down at the rest of the tank top, catching sight of the Station 55 emblem. While Lauren made it a habit of borrowing any number of shirts or tank tops from Bo's fire fighter shirt collection, this particular tank top was Lauren's. It was one of the promotional items Bo's fire station included as giveaways in the gift bag from the Firefighter's Ball last summer.
Bo widened her grin as she realized the annual event was fast approaching. She shifted her eyes to Lauren's again.
"You know, the annual Firefighter's Ball is in two months. Be my date. I'm sure there will be more fire fighter tank tops or t-shirts in the gift bag again."
Lauren's eyes lit up with excitement. She had been to the annual event with Bo every year since they became a couple, and it was always a wonderful night for the two of them. Truthfully, Lauren found it the perfect excuse to buy a new dress. Walking in to a room full of service men and women on Bo's arm made Lauren feel like the luckiest woman in the world. And there was denying it: Bo rocked her Fire Chief attire better than anyone else could.
Lauren found Bo's playful approach to offering an invitation to the event absolutely adorable. Being asked on a date reminded Lauren that Bo never took their relationship for granted, and Lauren loved hearing Bo ask her on a date anywhere. It always gave Lauren those teenager-in-love jitters.
She tucked a strand of Bo's hair behind her ear and smiled.
"Chief Dennis are you bribing me to the Firefighter's Ball as your "plus one" with the allure of a free tank top or t-shirt?"
Bo slid her hand down Lauren's side before sliding it under the fire engine red tank top. She rested her hand against Lauren's heated skin, holding back her desires until she had Lauren's verbal commitment to attend the event.
"I'm asking you to the Firefighter's Ball because it will make me the luckiest woman in the word to have you on my arm. The free t-shirt is just an added bonus."
She tossed Lauren a wink as the blonde tightened her hold on Bo's waist.
"Then there is only one answer I could possibly ever give."
Bo raised her eye brows. She knew the answer but had to ask anyway.
"And that answer would be?"
Lauren leaned up to Bo, preparing to kiss the woman and continue their early morning antics before Charlotte woke and pulled them out of the privacy of their bedroom for the day. She licked her lips, staring deeply into the eyes of the woman who she, too, called her one and only.
"That answer would be yes."
xxx
