Disclaimer: L&O CI Not mine ... too bad, Season 8 they would be on a "ship." ;)

Chapter 8 Love and Snark

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The Morning After

Alex, wrapped up snuggly in Bobby's arms, doesn't want to move, but it's time for work and she needs to call in. Leaving Bobby was not an option, their night together was perfect. They told each other that they loved each other, foreplay was cautious but just right for their first time. They made love, missionary style, also perfect for their first time and then they cuddled, facing each other, never leaving for a drink or a bathroom break. Just wrapped up in each others arms and then the perfect ending to the perfect night … they fell asleep.

She slipped away without disturbing him and called in sick … coughing and hacking in the phone like a teenager trying to convince a parent that they needed to stay home from school. She hung up and started to laugh. What the hell am I doing? He's made me completely crazy … I have personal days … I'm not 13. She slips back in his arms again.

"Where did you go? Is there coffee?"

"I called in sick. She starts coughing and hacking again. It's early, do you want coffee?"

Laughing, he pulls her in closer and pulls the blankets around them.

"No, more sleep … I haven't slept this good … well … I've never slept this good. Can we… will you stay and snuggle with me? I could use about a years worth of rest."

Delighted to snuggle, she wraps her arms around him and buries her head into his chest, he immediately falls asleep. The love and trust that he has given to her at that moment gives her chills, after all, this is Bobby … the same Bobby that had cut her off and out of his life, choosing to deal with his mother's illness alone and alienating her and his friends in the process. The best part about it, he was smiling while he slept.

A couple of hours later she awoke to an empty bed but a wonderful aroma … Bobby did know his way around the kitchen. He was cooking up a breakfast fit for a queen … his queen.

"Hey you … what happen to sleeping for a year?"

She places a hand on his back and peers around him to see what's cookin. He leans over to capture her mouth in a tentative yet familiar kiss. This is still all new to them.

"Are you kidding? Eight hours feels like I slept for a year, then an extra couple … I'm a new man … in more ways than one."

He kisses her again to emphasize what he means by that.

"What are we doing Bobby?"

"Loving each other Eames. Are you regretting last night?"

"No … not regretting. It was wonderful."

"Then why the question?"

"We're happy right now, doesn't that feel weird to you. It feels too good … I like it, I could wake up like this every morning."

"I don't know Eames, that's a nasty cough you have there."

He places their breakfast on the table and pulls a chair out for Alex, she sits, he sits and it all seems so normal, he nods his head.

"What?"

"It does feel good … being here with you, but your question, what are we doing? What do you want?"

"More of last night, more of this morning. All of you … can you do that and not run away?"

"I have no place to run to. Where am I running?"

"Away from a relationship."

"Okay … lets put our cards on the table. I'm still not the marrying kind of guy. But … you have me … I won't stray … I love you Alex."

Hmm, number four.

She finishes her breakfast and places her dish in the sink, as she walks by him, she runs her hand through his hair and continues on into the living room and puts on the TV. He stays in the kitchen reading the paper and thinking about the conversation. Did she want to get married … he really didn't. Would this end something that barely began? He rose up from the table and headed into the living room.

"Marriage isn't something that you wanted, is it?" He's leaning up against the door frame chewing his thumb nail.

Now, she's chewing her nail and they're staring at each other. She didn't, but what about a year or two down the road if they were still together? Was he stead fast in his conviction to never get married? Would she be able to accept that in the future, was their present happiness worth future pain? The longer she stared at him the more nervous he got. He started doing the Goren shuffle. She decided to put him out of his misery … kind of.

"The sex wasn't that good Bobby."

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Thought I would end this short chapter with Bobby's mouth open catching flys! Hope you like it!! RandR please. Thank you all very much for the reviews! keep um coming ... Thanks for reading ... Judeey ;)