A/N: Yes, this is very short, and I apologize, but I wanted to get the proverbial morning after out of the way and move on. So apologies for the shortness, more will follow! Thanks for reading and once again, much to my disappointment I was told by tptb that Blood Ties doesn't actually belong to me. What's up with that?

A New Light

Part 3

He woke up tangled in sheets and comforter, with the sun trying to make its way into the morning sky. And Coreen.

She was wrapped around him like ivy on a trellis. And he liked it. It was a nice feeling to wake up with someone. There had been one night stands, but they had only filled a part of the need in him. He always woke up feeling restless, the urge to go always so much stronger than the urge to stay. This morning, he wanted to stay. It had been a long time since he had felt contentment when his eyes opened. He could feel her, breathing softly on his chest and he quietly grinned, moving his arms just a little tighter around her, then stopped. What if she regretted last night? Everyone's emotions had been running high and he thought, no, he was afraid she'd wake up and be sorry about what had happened. He knew he wasn't, but life with Vicki had always been such an emotional roller coaster, he didn't know what to expect with this woman beside him now. Vicki had been the main woman in his life for so long now, he wanted to be prepared for Coreen's possible rejection of him. He felt her eyelashes on his chest as her eyes opened slowly. Felt her mouth form a smile.

"Are you awake, Mike?" She whispered.

"Yeah, just for a minute or so though." He moved his mouth to the top of her head and grazed his lips on her hair. She still smelled like fresh rain. And sex. And him. "Are you okay?"

The grin spread across her face, "I'm so much better than okay. It's been a long time since I woke up actually happy." Her face looked up at him. "What about you?"

"I was afraid." He was stunned that the works came out of his mouth. I'm a strong Italian male! I can't be afraid. Or at least admit to it out loud.

"Why?" He could feel her frowning against his chest.

"Afraid you'd be sorry. That you'd think this was a horrible mistake and that we'd never be comfortable around each other again."

She raised up on her arm and put her hand on that square jaw. "Don't be. Ever. Last night was amazing, and even with my makeup smeared, my hair crazy and morning breath, I feel even more comfortable now than I did before. The only question I have, and I know this is such a chick thing, is what happens now?" She raised an eyebrow as her hand slid underneath the sheets to find him already waiting for him.

"I have an idea or two about that." He leaned over her, brushing her face with his mouth, finding her lips, then her tongue, pulling away to tell her, "And after that, we'll go get breakfast." He kissed her. His morning stubble scratching her skin. She thought it was one of the most erotic things she'd ever felt. "And after that, whatever you want to do today is fine with me." He kissed her. "I'm off for the next two days. We'll go as slow or as fast as you need to." His hands tangled into her hair as his mouth searched for what he had found last night and didn't want to let go. When he pulled her into him, she went willingly. They made it out of bed around noon and headed for brunch, to satisfy the other hunger they'd found with each other.