Nico's POV

As I tossed what would likely be the last of my necessities into my suitcase, I began to rattle my little checklist back off to Elijah, who was watching intently from my bed on the other side of the room.

Both Leon and Imogen were out on a hunt and would be out of the house for the day, leaving us with the house practically to ourselves except for whenever Liz would get back from the movies with Collette, and allowing me ample time to pack for Ainsley's wedding.

"Alright, lets see…." I muttered to myself. "Hair products, couple books, some changes of clothes….anything I'm forgetting?"

Elijah leaned over to get a better look.

"Oh yeah, I think you need about five more masks, and at least fifteen more Stephen King bo- "

I took my copy of Doctor Sleep from its spot in the suitcase and chucked it at him.

"I hate you!" I laughed.

"Ouch." He laughed, as if it actually hurt, as he tossed it back to me. "Well, too bad. Don't you know you're stuck with me?"

"It is a curse I bear." I teased back. "...but I bear it with honor."

"Good."

"...Usually.." I finished with a smirk.

"Usually, he says." He teased back, in a more mocking ton, as he picked up a magazine from my nightstand.

I shook my head to myself. "Remind me why I brought you here in the first place? I mean, besides me being under the assumption that you were gonna behave."

"Don't look at me." He chuckled, turning to the next page of the magazine. "...I'm still trying to figure out what gave you the impression that I was gonna behave."

"I am dating a goddamned child." I chuckled under my breath. "Wanna toss me that magazine too, when you're done with it? I promised Liz she could borrow it."

"Do I wanna know what that makes you?" He snickered, peering just his eyes over the magazine.

"I rest my case." I sighed, zipping up one of the inside compartments.

He rolled his eyes, just before tossing it to me. "Oh, now who's the child? Here!"

"Thank you." I chuckled, catching it mid air and setting it off to the side. "Anything else….for real, this time?"

"For real, this time?" He mocked back with a snicker.

"Please." I chuckled.

He shook his head to himself with another snicker. "For real, I think you covered it all, Babe."

"Thank you." I laughed. "Now, was that so hard?"

"The worst."

"I'm sure." I teased back, zipping the suitcase up before going over to kiss him.

—

"It was." He insisted with a snicker, kissing me back. "..So, how long did you say you have the house to yourself for, again?"

"Ourselves…" I corrected with a chuckle. "...as long as you stay behaved, that is. Aaaand I honestly don't know, but Liz should be back in another hour or so, and Leon and Gen will probably be out for the rest of the night, so I'd say at least until midnight."

"...I see, and uh…" He placed his hand beneath my chin. "...just exactly how well do I have to stay behaved?"

"We'll see." I whispered, turning his cheek to kiss it.

"Mmm...such a tease." He smirked.

"Yeah, but you love that about me."

"...and that is the curse I bear." He snickered proudly, mocking my earlier remark.

I shook my head. "Goddamned riot….I live with a goddamned riot."

"Oh yeah, well, whose fault is that?" He kissed me on the cheek, just before hopping off the bed and going over to skim over my movie collection, as if he hasn't seen it at least a thousand times, by now. "...so, your stuff is packed, house to ourselves for a good while, we gonna watch a movie or what?"

"Or what, with that attitude." I teased, hopping off the bed and grabbing the magazine from earlier off the floor. "Fine…. you come up with some choices, while I run this over to Liz's room."

"Deal." He chuckled, not even taking his eyes off the DVD case.

"Good boy." I teased. "Alright then, be back in a few."

When I got to her room, Liz was just getting in through the window, having just been dropped of by Collette.

"Ahh! You're home early."

"Mmmm, not especially. The movie ended about a half hour ago, actually.

"Right…" I chuckled. "I knew that."

She rolled her eyes with a laugh, as she set down her stuff.

"Mmm...you didn't, but we can pretend you did."

"Right."

She smiled. "So, letting Elijah pick your guys's movie, I see, while we're on the subject."

I rolled my eyes. "Can you stay out of my head for two seconds, Liz?"

"Aww, now, where's the fun in that?"

"I don't need this." I chuckled. "..not between you and him." I pointed down the hall.

"Fair enough." She laughed. "It is a force of habit too ya know."

"Yeah, yeah." I sighed. " Anyway, did you want this magazine still, or not? I was coming in to leave it for you, but since you're here now…"

"Please! Thank you!" She beamed.

"It's all yours." I laughed, handing it to her. "Apologies, of course, for the wolf stink. Someone else couldn't help himself."

"I'll deal." She laughed, cracking it open and skimming over a few pages, before closing it again. "Seriously, thanks."

"Don't mention it." I chuckled.

"Alright, well, I'll let you get back to him then."

"Assuming I wanna rush back to him." I chuckled."But yeah, I guess I shouldn't keep him waiting too long."

"Have fun."

"Oh, I intend to." I chuckled again, as I shut the door behind me. "Later."

"See ya."