A/N: Why can't I make a legitimate one-shot anymore...Though you could argue this is an epilogue as opposed to a true second chapter? Yeah, I got no leg to stand on there...

I do not own, nor shall I ever own CBS's BrainDead, there would be a lot more of Aaron Tveit's face if I did...

There was a soft shuffling, then a louder click which slowly drew Laurel from her unconscious state.

The first thing she noticed upon waking, was that she had a terrible crick in her neck. The next thing she noticed, she was resting on a person, not her pillows in her bed, but she didn't panic because she recognized the smell. It reminded her of Old Spice, but she knew he never used it. It's just, that was what he smelled like. She smiled, snuggling deeper into Gareth's arms. It was still dark; she could take a little more time to enjoy the feeling. His grip around her waist tightened just a fraction in response to her movement.

She always enjoyed these moments, when neither of them was fully awake and she could pretend they were a normal couple. It rarely happened because they usually couldn't afford sleeping-in whenever they had a 'sleepover'.

Her bliss was broken when she remembered why Gareth was in her apartment in the first place. Pushing off his chest, Laurel looked around her still dark apartment for her infant niece, in a panic. The man under her groaned at the abuse, but steadied her with his hands around her waist anyway. He tried to pull her back down and turn over to go back to sleep no doubt, but Laurel pulled back.

"What's wrong?" His voice was rough from sleep, but the concern—that was always present whenever he asked this question—was still clear.

"Where's Lily?" Gareth's eyes shot open in a panic and he sat up with her, nearly knocking her off the couch in the process. He looked over to the bouncy seat and then the table and he let out a breath. Reaching over, one arm still around Laurel from steadying her, he snatched something from the table.

"It's a note from your brother," he said, relieved. "It says that you need to learn to check your phone?" He looked up at her confused.

"Oh, God, there must be a dozen panicked calls from him and Germaine!" She got up, retrieved her phone and sat back down on Gareth's lap, his arms circling her in what seemed an automatic gesture. "I can't believe I fell asleep when I was supposed to be watchi—" She almost dropped her phone when she saw the last text from her brother was a picture.

She hadn't fully processed until that moment, while looking at the picture, that her brother had been in her apartment! That wasn't an issue in and of itself, she had told him where she hid her spare key. It was the fact that she had been asleep, on top of her kinda, sorta, maybe, but definitely secret, boyfriend who worked for her brother's opposition!

"Oh, you have that cute face you make when you're dreaming. You mind sending that to me?" Laurel looked up to meet Gareth's gaze, wide-eyed with shock.

He looked back at her. "What? No, I do not creepily stare at you while you sleep, but you talk and move a lot when you're dreaming. It wakes me up sometimes."

"That's not the point, Gareth!" Laurel did vow to bring that up again, but not at that moment. "My brother has photographic evidence of the two of us together! Isn't that a cause for concern?!" She was so confused as to why he wasn't as scandalized as she was!

"Well, it's not like he's gonna release it to the press or show my boss. You're his sister, and you work for him. The girl will always look worse than the guy in this kind of situation. It would make him look like an asshole, and an idiot, if he did that."

Oh. Well that makes a lot of sense… Laurel thought.

"What? Did you think I was going to get all indignant?" There's that half-smirk, and Laurel ducked her head down. "Besides, it's not like we're doing anything inappropriate. I mean, he even got Lily in the picture, so it's kinda obvious what was going on."

"I guess you're right." She looked him in the face again. "Thank you, I actually do feel better now." He smiled back at her.

"Now, since we don't have anywhere to be tomorrow, or a baby to watch, can we move this operation over to a more comfortable venue?" The hopeful, yet suggestive, look in his eyes made Laurel giggle a little. She nodded as she stood, pulling him along to her bed by his hands.

0o0o0

The early morning light filtered through the very firmly shut, newly screened windows behind her bed. Laurel once again came to wakefulness slowly. She was curled up into Gareth's left side, her head pillowed on his shoulder, once again thoroughly enjoying having this moment of peace. But she could feel eyes on her.

"I thought that you didn't creepily stare at me when I'm sleeping?" She raised an eyebrow, and quirked her mouth in a half-smile, never opening her eyes. She heard him chuckle as he lightly ran his fingers up and down her arm, goosebumps forming quickly on her skin in their wake.

"I was not creepily staring at you sleep." He replied in a mockingly indignant tone, and Laurel opened her eyes to look up at him skeptically. "I happened to wake up and see this beautiful woman lying practically on top of me."

"Alright, alright, flattery will get you everywhere, but I'm not on top of you. I'm next to you." She smiled and, closing her eyes, snuggled back into a more comfortable position as he chuckled at her. She felt it rumble in his chest, and it sent little shivers down her spine. They lay there in a contented silence, until Gareth broke it a few minutes later.

"Hey, so I was thinking." She hummed in response. "What would you say to going on an actual date? Like, in public and everything?" Laurel's eyes immediately shot open and she popped up to really look at him. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, unsure what to say for a moment.

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah, I am dead serious." His ears started to turn a little pink under her scrutiny. "Like I said, I was thinking about last night." She raised a single brow. "Not that part. Though if you want to, I am definitely willing talk about that, or perhaps perform an encore?" His self-confident smirk was back in place as his hand slipped under the sheets to rest low on her hips.

"Gareth, I know I'm distracting, but task at hand." But she didn't do anything to move his hands.

"Yeah, yeah. I was talking about that picture your brother took. Or, well, I was thinking about my reaction to it. And I realized I truly wouldn't have cared if your brother showed it to anyone, including my boss." His hands slid up to her waist and he looked her straight in the eyes. "So, what would you say to going on a date with me, in public?"

Laurel felt the smile on her face slowly grow wider as she let everything sink in. Then she leaned down and kissed him. It started out soft, but deepened quickly and they stayed like that for several moments. Gareth pulled away first.

"So, while I enjoyed that immensely, is that a yes or?"

"Yes, you idiot, now shut up and kiss me."

"Sure, why not?" He shrugged, with that smirk that Laurel was completely determined to wipe off his face one way or another that morning, and she pulled his face back to hers.

Hope you like it! Good? Bad? Somewhere in between? Let me know :)