Together We'll Fall Down
((Post-series future fic; romance - Rating: T; Words: 818))
can be read either as a stand-alone or as a follow-up to Grey Sky Morning, if you so choose
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When her father has a heart attack, Mindy drops everything to take the first flight she can back to San Diego. Drake's there. In town, that is. They haven't seen each other in over two years and they've barely spoken but he comes to the hospital to check on her and her family. He comes by every day until her father is released. She insists on taking Drake out to dinner as a thank you for being there for her when he didn't have to be.
"If you need me, I'll always be there for you. It doesn't matter if we're not together."
She still loves him and he still loves her and she can't remember why that wasn't enough at one point but now it is all that she needs.
"Can we go back to your place?" She doesn't have to explain and he doesn't ask; he's more than happy to take her home because there is no question in his mind that this night is going to end with her back in his arms (where she's supposed to be – the only place she was ever supposed to be).
And just like that they begin again.
As Mindy awakens the next morning, she feels fingertips tracing over her back, lips against her shoulder and she smiles before she opens her eyes because it's almost as if the past four years didn't happen at all.
No mistakes, no arguments, no "this is goodbye, this is for the best," no trying to move on, no trying to move past each other. There were no others for either of them during this time they've spent apart. There was no time apart.
Their bodies still fit perfectly, and move perfectly, together.
"Good morning."
Mindy rolls onto her side. "Morning."
Between pressing a trail of kisses along her collarbone and up her neck, Drake asks, "When does your flight leave?"
"Not until this afternoon." She threads her fingers through his hair.
"So we have plenty of time," he mumbles, lying on his back and easing her on top of him.
It's like no time has passed. Nothing has changed. They're together, and they're meant to be and they've never let anything or anyone stand in the way of them. Nothing else has ever mattered. It's her and it's him; it's only them, just as it always should have been.
Drake's hands move from her hips up her back and he wraps his arms around her when Mindy rests her head on his chest.
After a few minutes of just lying there, basking in the afterglow, basking in the perfection of the two of them being together, shut away from everyone and everything, Mindy speaks. "So what do we do now?"
He nuzzles the top of her head. "I think that we should just stay here until you have to go to the airport."
Mindy picks her head up and rolls her eyes. "I know that. I meant, what do we do about us."
"Do you want to get back together?"
She looks down, biting her bottom lip. "I wouldn't mind if we reconciled."
"Isn't that what we were just doing?" His voice is smooth and low. Honey. Seduction.
She looks at him, just a hint of exasperation in her eyes. "Drake..."
"What? You know me, Mindy." And there's the break. Solemn. Honest.
"I do."
His voice is strained. It pains him to admit it but it hurts even worse to think that this moment might be a fluke. "I want us back."
Mindy glances down at her left hand, the noticeable tan lines around her ring finger. "My divorce will be finalized soon."
"Good." He moves his head forward as he tangles one of his hands in her hair and brings her lips to his. "We'll make it work this time."
"No promises this time, Drake. I don't want either of us trying to live up to unreasonable expectations. We both know what we're getting into this time around. No promises, no excuses."
"I promise," he says with a chuckle.
She lays her head back down on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "We'll make it this time," she insists softly. She needs it to.
He kisses her forehead and begins once again tracing a pattern on her back. He repeats the pattern of cursive letters over and over again. His smile grows a fraction with every short light giggle that occasionally comes from Mindy.
There's the familiarity of him writing the word 'love' on her skin with his finger. She has never forgotten that. She hasn't yet deciphered the other letters and words that he's added. She won't – not today, not before she has to leave. But she will, in several months after she's moved back across the country and they've christened every room of her apartment. As they're drifting off to sleep, he'll whisper in her ear:
always my love
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Your words are inked on my skin
The marks of incredible love
- "Incredible Love" by Ingrid Michaelson
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*** Finis ***