Thank you for all the nice reviews and thanks again to Vicky for being my beta reader!
The next morning Sasha's senses gradually began to kick in as the warm morning sun softly touched her pale skin. Slowly, she woke up from what felt like her first deep and peaceful sleep in ages, knowing that she didn't have to get out of bed and head to work. Even though her head was feeling a bit better, Sasha kept her eyes closed and enjoyed the moment of silence as her mind started to replay the moments of last night. She recalled just how sweet and tender Tom had been, despite her stubbornness and her continued mocking of him. When he had later asked if she wanted to meet his children, it made Sasha realize just how serious Tom was about their relationship.
It was a few days after they had made it back to St. Louis when Tom had opened up to her and told her about the time after Darien's death and his feelings for Rachel. He had told her that he had spent a great length of his first 5 months in St. Louis working through his grief and the he was now ready to move forward and build up something new with her. Since that day Sasha wanted to ask Tom if she could meet Ashley and Sam, but she never brought up the topic by herself, because somehow she was afraid that it would be too soon for his kids and too fast for Tom.
She was afraid that she would push him into doing something that he didn't want to do at least for now. She was afraid that if she would ask that things would go down just like they did over a decade ago when Tom had asked her to settle down with him. She still remembered the day when he had brought up the topic during dinner, at first Sasha thought that he was just testing the water, looking how far she was willing to go with him, but then she realized that he was serious about taking the next step in their relationship so she did what she thought was right at that point in her life. Having just turned 22, Sasha had been light years away from settling down and starting a family. She had other plans and wanted to have that career that she had already worked so hard for she wanted travel and see the world. Most of all she wanted to have a life of her own before she would be able to settle down and become a wife and mother She still remembered the pain she felt that night when she made the decision that it would be the best for them to go separated ways from now on. Even though she loved him from the bottom of her heart, she wasn't willing to give up her life and dreams just to be with him. But at the same time Sasha didn't want Tom to give up his wish to settle down, so she did what she thought was right.
Now, years later, she had a different view, she had grown up, had a career in the Navy and a life on her own before the pandemic had hit. Even though she had never completely forgotten Tom she had found love again and she learned the hard way how fragile and short life and love could be. Even though she wasn't the kind of woman who start to think that the universe had brought them back together again, she somehow started to believe that there was a higher power that had given them a second chance even though the circumstances hadn't been ideal. It was second chance that she was willing to take and to do whatever it would take to make it work because she still loved him.
A violent sneeze brought her back to reality, so she slowly opened her eyes and looked around for the tissue box on her nightstand, but as soon as she had her eyes opened an saw the bright morning sun shining into the bedroom her throbbing head ache returned again. So much for feeling better, Sasha thought as a long groan escaped her lips while she dropped her head back into her pillow, causing her head to spin.
"Damn it!" She muttered while she covered her eyes with her hands before she pinched the bridge of her nose.
For a few minutes Sasha laid on her back as she tried her best to ignore her throbbing head, her sore throat and her spinning head while she silently cursed her cold in every language she knew. Once she felt that the spinning started to fade she slowly rolled over onto her side where she expected Tom would be but to her disappointment he wasn't close enough. Sasha was afraid that the spinning in her head would get worse again, so she kept her eyes closed as she reached out and started to pat down the mattress looking for Tom's warm body so she could snuggle up against him and fall back asleep with him, but she only found an empty space and cold sheets next to her. For a split second Sasha felt the panic rise and she almost started to question her sanity when she heard a rattling noise coming from the hall.
Kitchen, Sasha exhaled a breath of relief as she slowly opened her eyes this time giving them some time to adjust to the sunlight. She was a bit surprised when her head ache wasn't as bad as it was a few minutes ago, but she still didn't want to jinx it so she slowly crawled out of her bed. Once she had reached edge she sat down for a few seconds before she got up. After Sasha had taken her first step towards the door her head started to spin again so she quickly reached for the bedpost to steady herself. She lowered her head to take a few deep breaths while she waited for the dizzy feeling to fade again. It took a few minutes until she was feeling better and even though she had thought about staying in bed and wait for Tom; she was determined to sneak in to the kitchen surprise him. So she carefully lifted her head up and walked over to the door and once she had managed to open it without making any noises Sasha tip toed out of her bedroom, down the hall towards the kitchen. She had to stop herself from entering the kitchen as she saw him standing by the counter only wearing a pair of black boxers. So she leaned against the doorframe and crossed her arms in front of her chest while she watched him fumbling around with her automatic coffee machine. After a few minutes had passed Sasha noticed the tension in his body language and she could tell that he was getting frustrated by whatever he was doing to her beloved coffee maker. So she decided that now was the best time to sneak in and pull him out of his Captain vs. Coffee maker situation. Sasha quietly tip toped over to the counter while she silently prayed that he won't notice her presence until she had wrapped her arms around him and then the second she had him within reach Sasha wrapped her arms his firm body. At first she felt him tense under her soft touch but the moment she had placed her hands onto his chest she felt him relax again.
"Hmm, good morning." Sasha whispered against his skin as she trailed a series of soft kisses across his shoulder. "I thought we wanted to sleep in." She added once she had placed her head into the crook of his neck and cuddled herself up against him.
"Morning." Tom turned his head and kissed her cheek before he focused back on to the automatic coffee machine that was still giving him troubles. "I thought we agreed that you would stay in bed today?"
"And I thought the man who brought the cure to the world and fought China's president would be able to make coffee on his own." Sasha couldn't help but tease him as she watched him pushing the same button again.
"Not if you need a scientific degree just to turn that damn thing on." Tom sighed frustrated and she felt him tense under her hands again as let out a soft chuckle.
"Maybe you should try and read the manual which is in the drawer over there or you could do something totally crazy and ask your girlfriend to show you how this awesome thing works." Sasha had a grin on her lips as she tilted her head so she was able to look into his face.
"Please?" Tom asked giving her his cute puppy stare that made her sigh.
"Fine, I'll show you. First off all you need a cup." Sasha said as she removed one hand from his chest and reached up and got a cup for him out of the board above the coffee maker. "Then you have to put it under the spout and then…" She stopped after she had placed his cup under the spout of the coffee maker and took his hand into hers. "You turn it on by pushing that button up here." She explained while she led Tom's hand to the top of the machine where she let him push the button. "Then you'll wait until she's ready and then you turn on the rotary switch until the word coffee appears in the display." Sasha stopped again and thought about spelling the word coffee for him, but then she figured that it would probably be too cheeky so she continued. "And now you can push that button in and voila you have a cup of freshly brewed coffee." She smiled not only because the coffee maker suddenly came to life and started to fill the room with the aroma of fresh coffee, but although because she was happy that her voice was still working even though her throat was still sore.
"You are enjoying this, aren't you?" Tom asked when turned his head and noticed her grin and the sparkles in her blue eyes. "I am." Sasha shrugged as she let go of his body and walked around him to stand between Tom and the counter where she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for the tender good morning kiss she had been waiting for since she woke up. The moment Tom felt her lips against his he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer towards his body deepening their kiss. When they parted again for some much needed air Sasha placed her head onto his chest and closed her eyes as she listened to the steady beat of his heart, content to just enjoy the simple pleasure of being with the man she loved.
"I take it you're feeling better?" Tom broke the silence as he was still holding her in his arms.
"Not really." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she felt like she couldn't ignore her head ache anymore.
"Then why didn't you stay in the bed? I thought you would take the day off." Tom murmured softly.
"Cold, alone and bored." Sasha muttered against his chest hoping that he would get the message and stop talking so she could go back to listening to the comforting sound of his heart beating again "You should get back to bed." Tom told her while gently brushed his hand through her silky hair on the back of head.
"Don't want to. Have to get to work." Sasha replied even though she knew that with the state she was in, she wouldn't get done anything, if she would make it to work in one piece.
"Sasha." Tom sighed. "Nothing is wrong with taking a sick day. You do know that you don't have to proof anything to anyone because everyone already knows that you're a strong badass woman. I know that I can't tell you what to do, but you should take the day off, besides…" Tom stopped as he Placed a finger under her chin, making her look up at him. "I would feel a lot better if you would stay at home and rest."
"Fine." Sasha resigned her protests because she knew that Tom was right.
"Then let's get you back to bed." Tom said and then without a warning he lifted her up in his arms and carried her back into her bedroom where he carefully set her down on his side of the bed.
"So what do you want for breakfast?" He asked her once he had her tugged in. Sasha remembered yesterday's lunch where she had a tuna sandwich that thanks to her cold tasted like she was eating a cardboard, so she was about to tell him that she wasn't hungry. Knowing that Tom wouldn't let go and would most likely force her to eat something she had to come up with something.
"Pancakes, the dough is in the fridge." Sasha replied quickly as she felt her eyes grew heavy within a few seconds.
"Pancakes it is." Tom smiled and then he bended down and placed a soft kiss on to her forehead.
"Don't fall asleep." He whispered against her skin as he had noticed that Sasha was struggling to keep her eyes open. He was about to leave the bedroom when heard her again.
"Thank you for taking care of me." Sasha's voice was hoarse and barely above a whisper.
"You're welcome, love." Tom smiled and then he headed back in to the kitchen to prepare their breakfast.
For the next 5 minutes Sasha tried her best to stay awake as she kept on telling herself that she could sleep for the rest of the day after Tom had left. 10 minutes later Tom went back into the bedroom to check on her and ask her if she would want coffee or tea, but Sasha had already fell asleep. For a few minutes Tom stood next to the bed and watched her sleep. She was lying on her side curled up in the blanket, facing the door with her eyes closed and she a soft smile on her face as she took slow and steady breaths. He ought to wake her, whilst her breakfast was still warm, but he couldn't bring himself to disturb her dreams, so he head back into the kitchen where he quickly cleaned up and placed the pancakes into the fridge. Once he was done he got dressed and ready to head out for work before he checked on Sasha again. She was still asleep so he wrote her a note that he placed on to her nightstand before he placed a soft kiss on to her forehead again and then he left for work.
Before you leave, Feedback is as always is highly appreciated!