Chapter 13

Cristina slowly became aware of the light coming through the windows. She must have forgotten to close the shades before she fell asleep last night. A grave mistake, really. She couldn't think of anything worse as the sun beamed onto her face. In an attempt to cling to sleep, Cristina tried rolling over and burying her face under her pillow. That was when she realized that there was an arm flung across her body, keeping her from moving, and her eyes shot open. Well, I guess sleeping in isn't an option.

Cristina turned her head to face the still sleeping Owen next to her. He was breathing slowly with his mouth slightly open. Cristina smiled at herself. This definitely doesn't beat sleep, but it's not a bad way to wake up either.

After exploring the face next to her for a while, Cristina finally decided that she was getting bored and was awake enough to go make coffee. Now for the escape plan. Cristina tried moving Owen's hand aside, but instead of cooperating, the man groaned and pulled her closer to him, while intertwining his feet with hers. Are you kidding me, Hunt? What have I ever done for you to keep me away from coffee like this?

"That's it," Cristina said aloud. "I tried being considerate, but if I have to be awake, then so do you."

But Owen didn't even stir at the sound of her voice.

Cristina started pushing him away, but once again got nowhere.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up," she repeated as she managed to get her feet free and began using them to push his body.

Cristina wasn't particularly sure what she thought would happen, and if she was being honest with herself she had secretly hoed for this outcome, but Owen rolled off the bed and landed on the floor with a yelp.

Cristina laughed triumphantly and crawled to the side of the bed. She had to make sure she hadn't caused any serious damage after all.

"Are you alive?" she said, peeking down from the bed.

"No," Owen groaned, still face down on the ground.

"Oh, don't be such a baby. How else was I supposed to wake you up? Your deep sleep is seriously inconveniencing and mildly disturbing."

"I'll have you know that my sleep is just fine."

"Owen. I had to kick you out of bed."

"Maybe you're just a bad waker upper"

"Nice comeback. You're really killing it this morning."

"Shut up. What time is it anyway?" Owen asked, finally pushing himself up and resting his chin on the bed.

"Good question," Cristina replied and rolled back to check the clock on her nightstand. "7:15"

"Damn it's early. Why are we awake so early?"

Cristina thought about explaining about the rays of death coming in through the window but opted for crawling back to where Owen was sitting and lying on her stomach so that their noses were almost touching.

He looked into her eyes and decided his question wasn't important enough to pursue.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hey yourself."

They were so close that Cristina could feel his breaths on her face. Instinctively, she licked her dry lips, attracting Owen's gaze. But just as he was leaning in to kiss her, Cristina quickly pulled up her hand between them.

"Morning breath! No kissing," she ordered.

Owen pulled her hand down, "I don't really care. I think I got seriously injured when I fell so I'll need someone to kiss it better."

Cristina smirked, "Will you now?" Then she leaped out of bed and headed towards the kitchen. "In that case I'll try to find someone willing to help you out with that."

Cristina walked into the kitchen and flipped the coffee machine on. Now that coffee was being taken care of, she started looking through the fridge in the hopes of finding something edible After all, she hadn't eaten in a while, what with the disastrous date and all. Just as she pulled out a takeout box to smell if it was still good, she felt Owen's hands wrap around her waist and his chin rest on top of her head.

"How about you let me take you to breakfast," he said.

Still in his embrace, Cristina closed the fridge and turned around to face him.

"I suppose I could be persuaded. Care to persuade me, Hunt?"

Owen bent down and kissed her gently, before pulling back.

"That wasn't very persuading, if you ask me," Cristina frowned at him.

Owen smirked and bent down a second time, this time pulling Cristina flush against his own body in the process. As she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, Owen moved his hands to her thighs and lifted her to sit on the counter. Now that they were at the same height, Cristina found it easier to deepen the kiss. She nibbled on Owen's lower lip, eliciting a low growl and prompting him to move his hands under her shirt. Owen began tracing patterns on her soft skins and Cristina used her legs to pull Owen closer.

"Cristina, hang on…" Owen tried to mumble. But Cristina moaned at the loss of contact and pulled him back into a kiss, preventing him from continuing.

After a while, Owen made another attempt at pulling back.

"I might regret saying this, but shouldn't we talk first? Before we go any further?"

"Why talk when kissing is so much better?" Cristina replied.

"While I do agree with you there, I know you pretty well and I also know myself. And we definitely have things to discuss."

"Ugh, why do you always have to be so reasonable, Hunt?" Cristina replied. She gently pushed Owen away and hopped onto the floor.

"And why do have to make 'reasonable' sounds like a bad thing?"

In response, Cristina stuck her tongue out at him.

"Okay, well I'll get going then" Owen said, looking around for his shoes.

"You're going?"

"Aw, are you going to miss me? That's adorable," Owen grinned.

"Shut up, Hunt! I was just surprised that's all. I thought we were getting breakfast."

Owen forgot about his shoes and walked back to Cristina. He slowly stroked her cheek:

"You're blushing too."

"No I'm not!" Cristina shouted. "I'm just really hot. You're suffocating me with your bear hugs"

Owen laughed but dropped his arms:

"I need to go home and change, but I promise I'll be back to take you to the best waffle house in Seattle."

Cristina looked pretty pleased at the promise of waffles. And good waffles at that.

"Deal," she replied. "Now get out of here because I'm starving and need food as soon as possible."