A/N: Thank you for the reviews! =D
OK this is a fluffy chapter of sorts the next (if people are still enjoying it) will see more of the plot, creatures etc.
Again no beta I'm sad to say so I'm so sorry for any and all spelling and grammar mistakes!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
OOOO
Chapter Three: If you go down to the Woods Today Part 1
Monroe woke up the next morning, wrapped up in his duvet to pale light peeking through the wooden blinds signalling the early morning.
He groaned when he looked at his clock to see it was an hour later then he normally woke up. It was still pretty early and a time that most people would cringe at but still.
His routine was already thrown of balance today thanks to Nick. The Grimm had stayed on his couch again last night watching television before falling asleep in a position that should not have been comfortable but the man seemed to enjoy.
His head had been balanced precariously on a cushion with his body scrunched up into a ball one arm curled around his stomach almost a protective position and his other tossed out haphazardly. If his head had fallen just a little more he would have been in Monroe's lap.
Monroe of course had dragged a blanket over him trying to resist the very tempting sight and smell of the dark haired man who had curled himself up so trustingly on Monroe's couch.
If only he had known the wicked thoughts that had been dancing through his mind that had eventually driven him upstairs to his own room he would not have slept so soundly.
He had been half hard most of the night.
It was the sight of Nick wearing his clothes and smelling like his shampoo after his shower that had him stroking himself off, biting his lip to stop the cry that nearly split from his lips when he came harder then he thought was possible.
The wolf had growled in pleasure but was far from fully satisfied. It wanted its mate, needed him.
But luckily for Monroe it seemed to agree with him that having Nick as anything, even just a friend and keeping him around was by far the better option than risking it all.
After all Nick was his best friend, he had become the most important thing in his life; even Angeline had never evoked such strong and sure feelings in him.
He sighed getting up to start his morning routine of Pilates and a shower before he would go down stairs to make breakfast.
OOOO
He had the breakfast made and set out nicely on the table within an hour but there was still no sign of Nick.
Monroe swore that Nick had multiple inner alarm clocks set in his body. It seemed that on days he had to work or when on a case the man could wake up instantly alert, stay awake as long as need be or get up so early that even Monroe wasn't awake yet.
But then when he had a free day you could not get him out of bed (or well off the couch). The man on days like today would sleep through any alarm and would be completely out of it until at least his third cup of coffee.
Monroe rolled his eyes as he headed into his sitting room to play mother hen. No way was he letting his freshly made French toast and scrambled eggs go to waste.
"Ok come on wakey wakey" called Monroe shaking Nicks shoulder gently then a bit harder when the man still did not wake up.
He just grumbled and curled into his make shift pillow and snuggled deeper into the blanket.
Darn it all if Monroe was going to let an adorable sight like that put him off.
"Oh no come on man we are so not playing this game" said Monroe whipping the blanket off the detective.
"What? What's going on" mumbled Nick trying to recover the blanket.
"Its breakfast time!" said Monroe in a sarcastically cheery voice as he folded the blanket up and headed towards the kitchen.
After a few minutes, being lured by the delicious warm smell of breakfast, Nick came shuffling into the room yawning into the back of his hand.
His hair was standing up and he just looked so deliciously rumpled and sleep drenched that Monroe found it difficult to tear his eyes away.
His red lips against his pale skin and sleepy grey eyes were almost too tempting.
Monroe had to distract himself by digging into his breakfast with renewed vigour trying to act like he wasn't seconds away from giving in and pushing Nick up against the fridge to have his way with him.
Nick grumbled something drawing Monroe gratefully away from his thoughts.
"What was that grumpy?" asked Monroe sipping his coffee.
"I said thanks" mumbled Nick again.
Monroe couldn't stop the smile that split across his face.
"Whatever someone has to feed the martyr Grimm"
"I'm not a martyr!" said Nick or tried to. He was yawning widely so it was difficult to decipher the exact meaning.
"Well I'm guessing you're not going to work today after last night so what's the plan?" asked Monroe getting up to begin the dishes.
"I don't know what you want to do?" replied Nick.
"I don't know what you want to do?" growled Monroe.
Nick knew he hated this little game but no way was he going to give in.
Laughing Nick stood up stretching as he did so.
"How about we go to the woods for some training? We haven't had time over the last few weeks and it looks like it'll be a nice day" said Nick coming over to lean next to the sink and crossing his arms.
"Sure sounds good" said Monroe trying not to inhale. The man really had no sense of personal space, which just reinforced his theories of Nick having some sort of death wish.
"Great, I'll just run and get ready" said Nick beaming a huge smile up at Monroe before he headed upstairs to the bathroom.
When the detective came back downstairs twenty minutes later Monroe was both relieved and a little disappointed that he was wearing the spare clothes he kept left here in case of emergencies.
They had still been wet last night from the wash but were nice and dry now.
As they hopped into his yellow bug Nick chatted away about some book he thought Monroe would like.
They found out pretty early on that they actually had similar taste in reading.
Monroe was only half listening though. His mind was more focused on their destination.
He really did enjoy these training sessions with Nick. It gave him the chance to enjoy the outdoors with his friend and delve into some of his blutbad instincts while still maintaining control.
It also helped calm his mind when he saw the progress of Nick's Grimm skills developing so quickly since it meant he wouldn't be as vulnerable to outside threats.
However it had also begun to test his control like nothing else could.
After all rolling around on the ground, stalking and jumping each other and of course Nick acting like prey all contributed to a big "Take him now!" sign to the his inner wolf.
It could be difficult to ignore.
Monroe concentrated on the pros of this endeavour and the advantage it supplied to Nick. After all the thought of someone, creature or non creature, hurting his Grimm made him see red.
At least Nick had brought wolfs bane. That would help...well not a lot but it would be something anyway.
OOOO
Nick felt like he had been running for ages. The Baggins wood was his and Monroe's preferred choice to practice in since it wasn't too long a drive and was situated on the outskirts of Portland.
There was no chance of them drawing attention to themselves. However it had the most hills which meant after three hours of training Nick was starting to feel it.
His leg muscles burnt form exertion and he was covered in leaves, mud, grass and sweat from his many encounters with Monroe.
The man was fantastic at tracking and never failed to find him.
No matter how much wolfs bane he smothered on himself or how fast he ran it was never long before he heard a warning growl and was thrown to the forest floor by the blutbad.
Nick was getting better though. It was taking Monroe longer to hunt him out and he was getting in more blows that in a real fight would be fatal to his opponent.
Nick had to admit though he was nowhere near tired enough to call it a day. He loved being outside.
All the stress and tension from work and Grimm stuff was melting away with every footfall as he ran and he felt lighter. He was actually enjoying himself.
Although lately he realised that those feelings pretty much explained how he felt around Monroe all of the time.
It was difficult for Nick to be in his company and not feel at ease. He knew that when Monroe was around he didn't have to be on his guard twenty four seven. Even in a quiet lonely wood he felt safe knowing that the man was near.
But that's how most good friends feel for each other thought Nick.
Sure Nick would leap in front of danger for Monroe but he would do that for Hank too, hell for any innocent bystander. He was a cop after all.
The thing that Nick couldn't get off his mind was the knowledge that he had never felt that all consuming fear and sheer terror for any of his other friends that he felt when Monroe was in trouble.
He couldn't explain it exactly just that he wouldn't deal with it well if something were to happen to the man to put it mildly.
Nick's thoughts were cut off as he found himself again flat on his back with a grinning wolf on top of him before the creature's face shifted back to Monroe's.
"Dude next time take a bath in wolfs bane before we do this. It was like following a dotted line right to you".
Monroe's brown curls with a hint of grey were falling into his dark eyes that held laughter behind the mocking glare.
He was a lot more relaxed then when they had first started earlier on today. When they had first gotten out of the car Nick could have sworn Monroe was going to be sick.
The man had brushed off his concerns but Nick knew something was off. He suspected the clockmaker was afraid of losing control in their mock sessions and falling off the wagon sort of speak.
Nick trusted Monroe though and knew the man would never hurt him.
He had wanted to tell him so but he had already taken off on a different path of the wood telling Nick he would count to fifty so he had better start running.
Now he looked exactly how Nick felt.
"What are you staring at?" asked Monroe a curious expression on his face.
"You just look kind of happy" said Nick. He knew his smile was probably goofy but Monroe was still lying on top of him and for some reason he really didn't mind. Not at all in fact.
Monroe rolled his eyes and then seemed to realise their position. He quickly jumped up like Nick had burnt him.
"Yeah well it's pretty amusing watching you stumble around the woods like a new pup" grumbled Monroe brushing some dried leaves off of his clothes.
"Hard to take you seriously with leaves in your hair" smirked Nick still lying on his back.
"Not as bad has your nest of hair" replied Monroe reaching a hand down to pull him up.
Nick reached up to pick them out. He froze when Monroe's eyes suddenly turned a deep startled red.
Oops he forgot that Monroe liked his personal space. Nick sighed as he quickly plucked out the lingering leaf and stepped back quickly.
He wasn't going to lie he used to see himself as a personal bubble sort of guy as well but for some reason he just didn't feel like giving it to Monroe.
I'll have to try to remember it in the future he thought to himself.
Trying to break the tension before Monroe felt like he needed to explain his slip (after all it was Nick's fault) he piped up,
"Are you hungry?"
"What?" asked Monroe, looking a little derailed by the change of subject.
"Well I thought we could go get something to eat" replied Nick cheerfully making his way back to the trail that led out of the forest.
"Oh... ok" said Monroe who began to follow him.
"Since I still have the rest of the day off we could get something to take away and watch the game at your place?" asked Nick.
"Sure I guess" said Monroe
Nick got to the car first and suggested he'd drive since Monroe had driven them here. That shook Monroe out of his little mood.
He looked scandalised and quickly made his way to the driver's side laughing.
"Nice try man but I want to get there in one piece thank you very much" he said.
Nick frowned as he slipped into the passenger's seat.
"I'm a great driver!" he said.
"No argument there but you cops seem to think you don't have to follow us poor civilians speed limits"
Nick didn't have much to say to that so kept his mouth shut for now as Monroe tuned the old radio to some classical station.
A/N: Ok I hope you enjoyed it and that there wasn't too many mistakes, please let me know if it's like very unreadable!
More to come if people enjoyed it!=)