Chapter One Hundred and Nine: Light Up The Sky

You light up up the sky to show me

That you are with me

The Afters - Light Up The Sky

The early morning springtime sun was streaming through the gap in Antonio's bedroom curtains as he lay on his back in his double bed, Maggie and him twisted up in his sage colored sheets. Her lithe form was tucked in against his side, his protective arm wrapped around her body holding her close as he listened to the sound of her even breathing. Her palm was resting upon the space where his heart resided, her fingertips splayed across his grey wifebeater, his left hand was resting on top of hers, holding it in place. Antonio buried his face in her tousled curls, inhaling her soft floral scent deeply.

He had missed this, missed being with Maggie in every sense of the word. He could spend forever lying here, just memorizing the peaceful expression on those pretty features of hers. Since having her in his bed he had slept the night through for what seemed like the first time in eons. He suspected it was the same for her after the text messages they has exchanged last night. They hadn't talked about their nightmares, they didn't have to. The two of them had endured something awful together, that shared experience meant there were some things they didn't need to vocalise. They were the only two people in the world who could understand the trauma of what had happened and in time he hoped, they would continue to help each other through it.

They were healing slowly, both separately and as a couple. There was no doubt in his mind that they loved each other, they always had, always would but when he had walked away he had betrayed their relationship. At the time he couldn't live with himself knowing he had brought that down on the both of them, that Maggie had suffered because of him. There were parts of him that were shattered deep inside, seeing Jack Cooper take the knife to her like that had decimated him. Knowing that she had almost died...

At the time it was all too much and that shameful guilt had borne down on him until it crushed the light inside of him and the darkness had swallowed him up. He had known when he looked at her, seeing that struggle in her eyes, that valiant effort to keep herself together, that he had to leave otherwise this thing that was building up inside of him, fighting to take over would eventually destroy them both.

So he had left...

And now the two of them were living with the consequences of his actions. Their relationship had been demolished but slowly they were starting to lay down the foundations again for something new. It would take more time and effort than it had before but he was willing to go the distance and just by being here he knew Maggie was as well. The past couple of weeks had been a series of steps, hopefully in the right direction. He'd enjoyed the time they spent together doing simple things with no expectations. The truth was it was good to have her in his life again, it made his world brighter and helped to lift that dark cloud that threatened to stifle him day in and day out.

Maggie began to stir, the soles of her bare feet gently rubbing over his cool ones as she stretched out along the length of his body. Despite the fact they had shared nothing more than fleeting touches over the past few weeks, Antonio still wanted her and that feeling of her pressed against him was borderline erotic. He shifted his hip slightly away from her, in order to hide the growing state of arousal underneath the fabric of his CPD sweatpants. Physically he craved her touch like nothing else, he had spent long lonely nights recounting the creative ways they had made love through the course of their relationship, imagining her hands and mouth running all over his skin had driven him into frenzy more than once. Emotionally though they both weren't ready, the scars that covered their bodies were an issue, making the prospect of sex daunting for Antonio. He was still broken inside as was Maggie. Leaving her when she needed him the most was something that could not be so easily forgotten and he would spend the rest of his days proving to her that he was someone that she could rely on, no matter what. They had made a good start repairing their relationship, however it would take a while before the level of trust they had cultivated could ever be restored.

"Good morning." Maggie murmured, propping her head up with one arm on the pillow as she reviewed him, that pretty smile of hers tilting up at the corners of her pert pink mouth.

Her chestnut curls had become unruly from sleep, they fell across her pale features whimsically as her fingertips doodled a tiny pattern along the line of his collarbone. Antonio sighed blissfully, his muscles unfurling as her warm fingertips traced along the seam of his wife beater. His dark eyes fastened on Maggie's amused expression as she watched his response to her ministrations.

"It is definitely a good morning." he agreed, that handsome smile curving across his features as she used her fingertip to prod him in the chest.

"You owe me for last night." she told him, arching her eyebrows mischievously as Antonio captured her hand and entwined their fingers together. He used their connection to gently tug her until she was pressed against his inviting form entirely.

"Oh yea?" he teased, tilting his head so he could look into those stunning cobalt eyes of hers. "What do you want?"

Maggie's gaze lowered to the decadent shape of his mouth, she had lost track of the amount of times she had wanted to kiss him over the past few weeks. Right now he was carefree and tranquil and it reminded Maggie how easy it was to lose herself in this man, how alluring he truly was. She wanted him, there was no question of that, but she wanted the intimacy that came with making love with Antonio and the truth was they weren't there yet. His diagnosis of PTSD explained his behavior in the months after their attack but it didn't take away the hurt she'd felt when he had essentially cut her off. She trusted Antonio with her life but at the moment she was still learning to trust him again with her heart.

"Breakfast." Maggie suggested, her lips forming a sultry pout as she spoke. "And the use of your shower, with the fluffy towels, not those ones you bring home from the gym."

"That is a tall order." Antonio informed her, shaking his head as if thinking it over.

"I did come in my pajamas." Maggie pointed out, lending more weight to her side of the negotiation.

"Yes you did." Antonio conceded before questioning her reasoning. "But is it really worth both of those things?"

Maggie poked him in the ribs with her forefinger, this time harder causing him to laugh and yelp at the same time.

"Ok, ok!" Antonio responded, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I can whip up some pancakes. I'll make while you shower?"

"That sounds like a suitable arrangement." Maggie agreed before withdrawing from him reluctantly before forcing herself to ask the awkward question. "Do I still have stuff here?"

"Same couple of drawers." Antonio answered, his tone quieter now as he slipped out of bed and watched her approach his dresser. "It's almost like you never left."

I'm so chuffed today! I managed to get myself tickets to Imagine Dragons!

Amber: I had to show the two of them slowly getting to the point where they want to be together but they still need to be apart. Thank you for your review.

Lauren: I could literally just imagine Maggie being the only person he could turn to in his time of need. Both couples are in limbo but we should be seeing what happens with both quite soon.

Soccer: I remember writing this chapter and being at this moment where I knew they couldn't be together but I really wanted them to get it together. Everyone needs to murder Mike he completely deserves it.

Anime: Maggie was the only person (besides Jay) that I could imagine him turning to, they have that unspeakable bond and they were both there for the actual event. She would always do anything for him even when he was married. I adore Gabe and Kim. I think I just adore Gabe over everyone because he's so good natured and kind hearted.

Haymoo: Thank you for taking the time to review, I'm glad you enjoyed it and you found it loving :)

Nat: I know they both aren't ready, when I was writing the chapter I could feel how much they wanted to be together but they just weren't at that stage. I want the best for them all too. I expect to get major Antonio inspiration next week when the show starts up again so I'm going to put off watching it until I've finished something else I'm working on.