Sunlight drifted softly in from the between the small slits in the blinds, as if it were trying to catch a peak of what was going on inside. A woke slowly, the sweet taste of last nights indulgence still on my lips as I swallowed and moistened them with my tongue. The warmth radiating from beside me caused me to shift slightly, squirming away from the heat that was causing my skin to sweat in that one specific spot where my leg rested against my own personal heater.

I smiled at the thought, my own personal heater. Looking down I saw that as was typical of most mornings, the blankets were no longer covering me and instead of laying neatly across the bed, they were jumbled around my feet, a tangled mess. I considered reaching for them and pulling them over me again, to use them as a shield against the light from the windows if nothing else, but the effort that it would take to work them into some semblance of order was more than I wanted to put forth.

Glancing at the neon red numbers on the clock beside the bed, I noted that was approaching noon. I had been asleep for less than six hours.

By the time the police had finished with us it was almost four in the morning. Then after some serious alone time, well anyway.. it was decidedly late, or very earlier by the time I finally drifted off to sleep. I remember being completely and utterly exhausted when I closed my eyes, but it was the kind of exhausted everyone should be when they finally sleep, the totally fulfilled, extremely happy kind that stays with you all night and taints your dreams with vision of lollipops and pumpkin pecan pie.

" Morning, beautiful. " a drowsy, sleep roughened voice came from beside me.

" Good morning. " I whispered, laying a soft kiss against Cappie's check as I nestled myself into the crock of his arm.

He shifted, turning towards me and pulling me closer still. " I still can not get used to waking up with you being the first thing I see. " he whispered into my hair.

" Why do I look that bad ? " I smiled, " I mean, I know my hair must be a mess and I probably have morning breath, but it can't be that bad. "

He laughed. " I think I like you best in the mornings actually. With the sleep still in your eyes and everything a mess, that's when you really are the most beautiful. "

I giggled at the compliment. " You think I look my best with wild hair and no make up, wearing your smelly old shirt. "

He sighed, " I think it's the one time of the day that I get to see you like you truly are, with no smoke or mirrors. It's just you, nothing take away from what you naturally are. "

I laughed, " So you'd rather I walk around with no make up and stop brushing my hair ? "

" Oh no, " He kissed the top of my head. " I like that this look is just for me. I'm the only one that gets to see you like this. "

" I love you. " I told him, though it was slightly muffled as I was placing a kiss against his shoulder, the one that wasn't bruised.

" I hate telling you I love you. " he said, maneuvering until he was face to face with me. " It sounds so mundane and meaningless. "

" What ? " I asked, a little shocked.

" It's just that I tell my mom, I love you. I tell my little sister, I love you. This is so much more than that. It hardly seems adequate. " he tried to explain.

" Okay, how about, I adore, worship, cherish, need you ? Is that better ? " I teased.

" It's a bit of a mouthful. I think from now on I'm just gonna say, I, you know, you. That way you can know that I mean everything you just said, plus so much more. "

" I, you know, you. " I laughed. " It'll be our thing. No one will have any idea what we're talking about. That could be fun. We'll have our own language. "

" And we can keep it all a secret. Not tell anyone what it really means. It'll drive them insane. " he picked up right where I left off.

" I really have missed waking up to find you have once again stolen all the covers and kicked them to the foot of the bed. " I commented, sliding my arms around his waist.

" I've really missed having you nag at me about stolen blankets every morning. " he smiled. Then he laughed out loud suddenly. " It must be love. I actually missed you nagging me. "

I joined him. " I missed having someone to nag. "

" Are you telling me, you never nagged at Chambers ? " he asked, looking at me in disbelief.

" He never gave me much of a reason to nag. Besides, I rarely stayed at his house. The other Brother's really didn't approve of stay over guests. It wasn't gentlemanly. "

" Well, this house loves having you here and you know you're welcome anytime. Hell, as far as they're all concerned, you are one of us now. " he assured me.

" I feel like one of you. " I shifted slightly, and he rested his leg across the top of my thigh. " You know since I came here, I've been searching for my place. A place I really felt like I belonged. That's how I feel here. "

" You do belong here, Casey. We are your people, the real people. No one here is ever going to try to change you or mold you into something your not. We won't expect anything from you. " he said, seriously. " You don't have to pretend here. "

" I'm considering resigning from the house. " I said, quickly, like I was removing a band-aid.

" What ? " he was clearly stunned. " Why would you do that now when you just about have everything you've always wanted ? "

" Because I don't want to pretend anymore. I want to feel like I can breath. Just walking up those pretentious steps sucks the breathe out of me now. I don't fit in there. I don't belong. That isn't how I am now. "

He was silent for a long time. Then finally he looked into my eyes. " You know I'm okay with whatever you decide to do. But if you're giving up your dreams of presidency for me, please don't. I know how much that means to you. I know how much you want it. I couldn't live with myself knowing I caused you to make a decision that made you miserable. "

I kissed him, hard. Could he have said anything more perfect than what he just did ? It was exactly what I needed to hear, and yet I knew from the look in his eyes that he wasn't just saying it because I wanted to hear it. He meant every word. He would stand by me, no matter what decision I made. He would love me no matter what road I took.

Finally, in that one statement, I got it. I got exactly what I had been searching for for longer than I could remember. Acceptance and Support, no matter what. He had no idea the gift he had just given me. To him, he was simply telling the truth, letting me know that whatever I wanted was okay. To me, it meant everything.

I felt like I needed to repay him for that. Make him see that I felt the same way. I pulled back and smoothed the hair from his face. " I know it doesn't always look like you are the most responsible person in the world. I know it doesn't look like you have goals or plans, but I want you to know, that I know better than all that. I'm okay with whatever you decide to do as well. Whatever your plans are, I'm with you, totally on board. If you want to spend the rest of your life running a shack on the beach selling inflatable toys and surfboards, then I'll be right beside you, working the register and stocking the shelves with sex wax. "

His eyes were surprised then doubtful. " You can't tell me that would really make you happy. " he said after a moment.

" Being with you makes me happy. That's all that matters to me. " I said firmly.

" How about instead of you giving up your dreams so that I can have mine, how about we makes our own dreams and plans together ? A future both of us, can not just settle for, but love. " He smiled, " My dreams are a little bigger than a shack on the beach by the way, although picturing you wearing a bikini to work everyday does sound wonderful. "

" I, you know, you. " I whispered against his lips.

" I, you know, you, too. " he answered, before kissing me throughly.

" I think it's way too early for such a deep conversation. "

" I agree. " he answered simply as he shifted until I was laying beneath him, his warm body pressed against mine, his hands roaming my sides, gliding over my skin.

I draped my arms around his shoulders as we continued to kiss, each one becoming more intense, more passionate than the one before.

It was two hours later before we made it downstairs, in search of food and refreshments. I was still wearing Cappie's shirt, a bright orange one with flames on the front that smelled so much like him I never wanted to take it off. I had however slipped on a pair of shorts, and tried to tame my wet hair after a quick shower.

Cappie hadn't bothered to dress either. He wore a pair of jeans that rode low on his hips and nothing else. His hair was still wet from his own shower. I noticed how clean and fresh he smelled as we grabbed a few stolen kisses as our breakfast cooked.

He had me pinned against the counter, his lean, long body pressing into mine.

" There you go again, looking like you're trying to eat my SISTER alive. " Rusty interrupted as he entered the room. " It's nice to see you out of bed. I was about to call the calvary to go up and make sure you hadn't died up there. "

Cappie pulled away from me reluctantly and turned to Rusty.
" You know, Spitter. I think I'm going to introduce you to my sister. Maybe you'll hit it off and we can be even. " he told him.

Rusty was about to deliver what was sure to be a snappy retort when Wade and Beaver came into the room as well.

" Well, well, well. " Beaver smiled at us. " Look who finally emerged from their den of sin. " He came and placed a quick kiss on my check, which surprised me a little, but I didn't say anything. " You're looking rather lovely this morning. "

I smiled and thanked him.

It was one of the happiest breakfasts I'd ever had. Beaver shooed us out of the kitchen when he saw all we were having was toast and coffee. He instead, with Heath's help, prepared for all of us a delicious, eye popping feast to top all feasts. We were served, eggs and bacon, Pancakes and sausage. There was toast, juice and coffee. He even managed to throw in some cinnamon rolls. It was wonderful.

I sat at the huge dining table with Rusty on my left side and Cappie on my right. Everyone was there. We even called Ashleigh over to joins us.

The conversation was light and breezy, filled with jokes and stories. Wade even managed to relate the events of the night before to Ashleigh in such a way we were all very nearly rolling on the floor by the time he was done.

Looking around at all the people that surrounded me, I knew I was right earlier. I had found the place where I belonged, where I was accepted and most of all where I was happy.

The End