Fall is here and I can't stop thinking about these two in that setting: red leafs around them, rainy days, sharing tea and reading books.
I have ideas for 2 more chapters, rating might change later, we'll see.
a special thank you to someone very wise who helped me with my quest of a title. I wasn't planning on a rainy day but listening to Enya "It's in the rain" inspired me both for the fic and the title.
Hope you'll enjoy
Andy walked out the shower to the ensuite bedroom, toweling his hair and ready to praise the wonderful sprays when he noticed Sharon wasn't there. Surprised, he grabbed a fresh pair of boxers, put them on and went to find her before finishing to dress. It was easy enough, the cottage was relatively small: One bedroom, one bathroom, a small open kitchen and a cozy living room. The more prominent feature of the place, the reason why he rented it was a beautiful stone fireplace. Sharon and him discussed a lot missing the east coast weather and more than anything not feeling each unique season here in LA like they used to. So he decided to surprise her and rented that small cottage near Sequoia National Park. They would go for a hike or two during the weekend but planned essentially to enjoy the quietness and being together.
Surely enough he found Sharon near the fireplace, her favorite place there. The fire wasn't very strong, a few small flames but mostly embers. It casted a nice orange glow and a pleasant warmness in the room. She layed on the carpet in front of the hearth, her legs bent, they swayed gently in the air. Entranced in her novel, she didn't seem to hear him. Lying on her belly, she was facing towards the fire and not him. Amused, he rested his shoulder against the doorframe and observed her. It reminded him of the very first time she read in his company.
It was under less agreeable circonstances back then. Rusty had left her home a few hours ago, after his encounter with Wade Weller. Worried for her, as much as for her safety than for her well-being, the team decided that they would watch over her as well. Of course, he took the first shift, and all the others. She was at her most vulnerable, she needed a friend. Plus they all knew how private she was. Opening her home and her heart wasn't something she did under normal circumstances... He was more than happy to be there, though. He didn't know back then that he loved her, not like that anyway. He felt something profound for her, he knew that, an attraction too but she was a beautiful woman, he thought it only natural.
Not seeing her cry when he arrived had both surprised and not surprised him. She was strong, the strongest he knew but he would have understood, even expected it with the current situation. No. She wasn't crying. She welcomed him into her home. He could feel how relieved she was to have someone with her, someone to distract her and maybe, he hoped, give her some comfort. It was a bad, shitty, stormy day. The rain was pouring outside, loud thunder would crush every now and then, making her jump each time. She was on edge. Wanting to help change her mind, he turned on the tv. A second later, a lightning strike illuminated all the city and the lights went out.
He really thought she would start crying at that moment. Instead, she went to grab the water that was starting to simmer and prepared them tea. Then she retrieved her kindle and went back to the couch with him. She offered that they both read her book but he felt she needed space. He stated that he had a few emails to get to instead. She lied down at the opposite end of the small uncomfortable sofa and opened her ebook. The glow of the screen was low, only visible in the reflection of her glasses.
He wondered at that moment how he thought she was made of ice for so long. Now that he knew her, that he knew the depth of her love for her children, that he knew how tender and sweet she could be, he had a really hard time reconciling her with the woman he feared for so long. How could Darth Vador turn into his best friend? How did the Wicked Witch become his most trusted superior officer, one he never doubted the decision, one he believed in so wholeheartedly?
Another thought came to his mind, the ease between them and how glad he was to be there for her. He doubted she would have been that comfortable with Julio or Amy. It was such an intimate thing to do: being together on her sofa, close enough to touch, surrounded by darkness, the only sound the rain pounding against the windows. It was far more intimate than brunching or exercising. Yes, he had been at her place numerous times, he even had breakfast with her there a few times. But never before did they stay for so long without talking, content in each other's presence, so comfortable they didn't need to fill the void. He felt humbled. He couldn't tear his eyes from her.
She had the most expressive face. He'll always remember how an outline of a smile appeared on her lips a few times as she lost herself in her book, or as she frowned at a line she read. He recalled how she caressed her mouth with her index, biting on her fingertips, a habit he found very endearing, maybe because he too wanted to caress her mouth. More than anything, what stuck to his mind was what he thought to be small shivers. He extended his arm, grabbed the folded blanket that laid on one of the single chairs and put it over her. His hand encountered something wet and he noticed then her red shiny eyes. She mumbled a "She lost her baby", visibly speaking about the heroine of her book but he knew better.
Without thinking, he pulled her to him, her head on his chest as she let everything out. She didn't cry for a long time but very hard, soul wrenching sobs that tore at his heart. He felt at that moment, and she confirmed it later, that feeling safe and held open a dam where all pains, current and past, were expelled. It was a crucial moment in their friendship too. The very first moment where he felt useful and finally able to repay all her kindness. The very first time he turned her down too as he felt her lips on his neck and her hand moving between his legs. Gently, he circled her wrist and placed them back on his chest. Tenderly, he tucked her head under his chin and held her close. He was there for her. Surprisingly, it wasn't hard to resist. He knew what he needed to do, could feel what she needed from him.
It had brought them close, of course. As well as the other 5 days they spent between his house and her home, alternating from one place to another. They grew incredibly close and even more comfortable with each other at that time. It was the only good thing in his mind that came from this whole ordeal.
Now thought, they were closer as ever. Friends, confidants, lovers, partners… He never felt that happy and in peace in a relationship before. He tried to enjoy each moment. Once more, he looked at the woman lying in front of him, in her green nightgown, her beautiful legs in full display. He couldn't help but feel a pang of want. Not yet, he thought, he would let her read for as long as she wanted, they had all the time in the world. Needing distractions, he looked outside. He saw that it was raining and smiled.