Marti hadn't felt so warm in a long time. It wasn't the kind of heat-wave warmth she was used to in southern Tennessee. It was that cozy, comforting feeling only to be found in the bed and arms of another person. She felt... save. And strangely at home.

But there was something that...

"You are staring," she murmured into the pillow, trying to shield her eyes from the sunlight coming in through the blinds.

"Yes, I am," Julian replied, amusement dripping from his voice.

"It's creepy."

He chuckled right into her ear and a shiver ran down her spine. "I told you I wanted to wake up with you."

Not quite opening her eyes yet, Marti turned in his embrace, inhaling his morning scent. "When you said that I was thinking more like coffee and bagels in bed and not creepy serial killer stare."

She felt his hand drift across her cheek, his fingers threading into her hair. "How about a good morning kiss?"

Marti squinted one eye open, looking at him. "I'd like that."

Julian leaned into her, capturing her lips in a slow kiss. She melted against him, the memories, images and sensations of last night flooding her senses. It had been everything and more and they had fallen asleep in the very early morning, exhausted and sated.

Marti groaned as she pulled away. She didn't want the kiss to end but oxygen was a priority after all. "I will take that coffee now."

He raised an eyebrow in mock disapproval. "What do I look like to you? Your manservant?"

She grinned from ear to ear. "I'm going to comment on that."

"Good." He gave he a quick kiss. "Two coffees coming right up." He disentangled himself from her and the bed sheet and rose, slipped into his boxers to get their breakfast.

Marti looked after him, glad he didn't see that ridiculous foolish spreading on her face. This was exactly how a morning-after was supposed to go. She had missed this non-awkward feeling of content, knowing she had done the absolutely right thing.

Since nature took it's toll, she got up and slipped into Julian's shirt. It smelled so deliciously like him that she tugged the fabric tighter around her body and went into the bathroom. After she was done, she quickly brushed her teeth and splashed some water on her face.

When she went back out into the bedroom, she noticed a framed picture on the dresser by the bathroom door. It was a picture of Julian, Nikki and Kate.

Kate was indeed beautiful. She had long auburn hair just like Nikki with delicate features. She was the kind of woman men looked after but who wouldn't look at just anybody. Which was no surprise since she had managed to grab Julian. What did surprise her, though, was that she and Kate were nothing alike. Julian didn't seem to have a type.

"We took that on Nikki's third birthday. A couple of weeks before we got the diagnosis."

Marti flinched at Julian's words. She hadn't heard him come back upstairs. Now he leaned in door, two cups in one, two bagels on a plate in the other hand.

"I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snoop." Marti felt heat creep on her cheeks.

Julian shook his head, shrugging with one shoulder. He set the plate down on the edge of the bed and approached her, holding out the coffee cup.

She accepted it, inhaling the strong scent, feeling his presence behind her. He was so close that could lean against his chest, finding comfort in his warmth. "She really was beautiful." Her fingers gently touched the frame.

Julian shifted behind her, clearing his throat. "We can... I can put it away if... it's awkward."

Marti shook her head. "No, it's fine." She turned halfway to him, meeting his gaze. "If you had wanted to put it away, you would have done so earlier. You're not ready yet."

He looked at her, one eyebrow raised.

Her eyes dropped for a moment before she looked up at him again. "When my dad died... supposedly... I kept a picture of him on my bedside table for years. Wanda would tell me that it would be better if I put it away so that I could move on but... even when she stashed it in a drawer, I would take it out at night and I would tell him about my day. You know, kindergarten, school, my gymnastics meets... I knew that he couldn't hear me or anything but... it helped." She drew in a long breath. "Until one day, I didn't need it anymore. So that's when I put it away. And until you reach that point... that picture stays right there."

A beat passed between them in which he looked at her in something close to disbelief. With his free hand, he reached into the back of her neck and kissed her.

There was something in that kiss she couldn't quite name. It was a thank you, she could feel that, but there was more than that. And it took her breath away, literally and figuratively.

Julian broke the kiss, leaning his forehead against hers. "I have to stop dating women who are smarter than me. You're putting me to shame."

Marti looked up at him, grinning. "You enjoy it. And you have since I walked into your classroom."

He nodded, smirking. "You got me there. Especially since you were wearing that washed-out, cut off AC/DC t-shirt."

She arched a brow. "Lawyer and a fashionista? Could you be any more perfect for me?"

His smirk turned into a grin. "Successful lawyer, mind you. And heavy metal fan."

Marti's mouth dropped open. "Don't make me fall in love with you, professor."

"I thought you already did."

She shrugged suggestively. "Details." She took a sip of her coffee, batting her eyes up at him. "So, what do you say, we round up Nikki and the three of us grab brunch?"

"Hm, no." Julian shook his head. "I thought we could stay in bed a little longer." He gently nudged her towards the bed until she had to sit down on the mattress.

"Why? Are you suggesting..." She wriggled her eyebrows at him.

"Marti," he made a dramatic pause, "eat your bagel."

#

An hour and bagel crumbs in various, unseemly places later, Marti snuggled into the curve of Julian's body, draping his arm around her middle.

He nuzzled his face into the back of her neck, pressing a kiss to her skin. "I'm glad I made it."

She chuckled under her breath. "Come on, you're not that old."

"Thank you very much." Julian pinched her in the side, making her yelp. "But that's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" Marti rubbed the now sore spot at her waist, turning back around to him.

He looked at her for a long moment, then leaned down to kiss her. "I'm glad I made my way back to you."