A/N: Katie and Ned deal with the issues of living far apart :)

Ages:

Delia - 49
Melinda - 45
Ned - 23
Katie - 20
Hannah - 20

Katie had a slow morning. She'd gotten up at seven, showered, and gotten dressed. It was a cold and rainy day for September in New York, but Katie didn't mind.

She loved it when it rained in the city. That meant she could grab her converse and hop over puddles to not get her feet wet. She'd done it successfully and even stopped for some coffee and got a parfait for breakfast because she'd had the time.

She'd caught up with Harriet because it had been a while since she'd stopped by the little cafe. She'd wanted to know more about the mystery man Ned that she'd mentioned the last time. Katie had promised to bring him in but hadn't come back.

"I will bring him in," she laughed, taking another sip of the chai tea she'd treated herself to. She still had fifteen minutes until she had to start walking to class. "I promise. He hasn't come up since the summer. He has to work a lot and if I'm going to see him it will be me going home."

Her phone buzzed and startled Harriet. It was a text from Ned. They will be celebrating their one year in December. She smiled, grabbing her phone and reading it.

I hope you have a great first day! Have time for a phone call?

She blushed and called him, loving the sound of his laugh as he answered the phone. "I missed you too," he said. "How has your morning been?"

"Good? Was just catching up with an old friend of mine," she sipped her drink, finishing it as she stood up. "But she's gone now."

"Sorry," he said softly. "I'm just about to get out of the truck and go to work."

"Oh. I'm about to leave too. I just stopped for a drink and something to eat. I have a full day." She explained, putting her coat on and grabbing her bag as she pressed her phone to her ear. "But you know that."

"Yes. You told me," he said. "I hate being so far away from you. I wish I could've applied to the NYPD, but I missed the deadline."

"You shouldn't move your dream to New York for me," she said as she walked out of the cafe. The rain had stopped, but a wind had come in and Katie pulled on her jacket. "I would've come home to you this year if my grant wasn't two years. It's just stupid not to use the money they are giving me."

"I agree that staying in New York is the best thing for you right now. You deserve to be in the city you love." He said, sighing. "As lonely as I am in my apartment all by myself."

"Ahh poor baby," she giggled, stopping and waiting for a stoplight. Just across the street was the entrance to the NYU and the big steps up to the main courtyard and Union building. From there you could get to any department and Katie's luck, the English department was just an elevator ride to the second floor and down the hall from there. She'd be there with plenty of time. "At least you're finally out of your mom's. I'm so proud of you. We'll have to plan you a housewarming party."

"A what?" He asked. He wasn't too keen on anything like that.

The light told her it was clear to go and she jogged across the street and up the steps. She stopped Hannah with Brandon walking inside and they came over, still finishing a conversation between them too. She'd hadn't seen them this morning before she'd left and it had seemed pretty quiet for them to be home, but last night they had said something about leaving early to work out at the campus gym.

"A housewarming party," she explained. "People bring things you need for the apartment and come over for drinks and snacks. It would mean you taking time off though and you can barely get anything off." She sighed, knowing they probably wouldn't be able to do it He was just so busy at the department as a rookie. They were running all of them ragged, to see who lasted and she knew he would never back down from a challenge. "I'm still so proud of you."

She also knew he needed her support and she'd planned on coming home to surprise him soon, but she needed to finish all of her homework for this weekend today if she was going to be able to drive home to see him and spend the weekend with him.

"Yeah, I am pretty busy at work. I'm on a double patrol all of today and tonight with Jamison. We're surveilling a few different people, so he'll be driving. So just text me when you get home. I'll be bored out of my mind by then." He explained and she heard him get out of his truck. "You better get to class. My shift starts in ten minutes, and there's a briefing so I'm gonna go grab a coffee from Village Java. Usually, if I'm in uniform someone buys me a coffee."

"Still milking the small-town aspect of Granview I see," she chuckled, tossing an eye roll to Hannah as they walked up the steps to the union building. "I'm about to walk into the union, so I'll lose service soon."

"Alright. I have to let you go too. Did you get all of your books and stuff? Your parents are helping with that right?" He asked quickly, worrying suddenly. He couldn't remember if she'd gotten everything she needed.

She smiled, loving that he was checking up on her like that. "Yeah. It got really expensive last year buying them from school, but mom and I went online this summer and it was half the price. I'm all prepared, Ned. Don't worry about me." She explained, stepping inside into the warm building, unzipping her jacket almost immediately. "I have to go baby, but I love you and I'll text you later."

"Okay. Sounds good," he laughed. "I love you too."

She hung up, tucking the phone back into her pocket as she and Hannah walked into the writing class. Hannah wasn't usually one for writing classes, but it was required to take one for her degree this year and Katie was in it too, so she chanced on a creative writing class. Plus Katie was good at giving her inspiration.

They found seats in the lecture hall and Katie pulled out her notebook, reading her pen for any notes as the professor walked in moments later. He was ready to start, despite a few students talking amongst themselves.

He cleared his throat and started talking about his grading policy and Katie took notes as he talked. The girls in the front row continued to chat despite his obvious annoyance. He stopped, looking at them as he began passing the syllabus' out.

"I suppose I'll just drop your names from my roster. You don't seem too intrigued by my teaching." The professor said, skipping them over and passing out syllabuses behind them.

The girls got up, scoffing and leaving. Katie could tell, she was gonna love this class.

"Long-distance sucks," Ned huffed on the phone.

She had her phone connected on the dash and was talking on the speaker. He wasn't off for another two hours.

She'd finished her homework with plenty of time. She'd packed some clothes and other things, wanting to leave some stuff at Ned's apartment for the next time she was there. She'd taken a bath, shaving her legs and trimming herself the way Ned liked it. She'd caved and grabbed herself a toasted sandwich in a Panera drive-through on her way out of the city. She was just getting onto the highway towards Grandview now, taking the last few bites of her food as she talked to him. He still didn't know.

She'd be getting to Grandview by the time he was just falling asleep. It would be the best surprise ever. She would use her key that he'd given her and slip into bed naked. That would definitely wake him up.

"I know, but it could be worse. Imagine how it could be if I was in a different time zone or something. At least I'm a reasonable three-hour drive away!" She explained, merging successfully and relaxing into her seat.

"Do you have to be so annoyingly optimistic all the time? Why can't I just whine about how much I miss you?" The phone crinkled and she laughed, smiling over at him. "Did you get my key I mailed you? I forgot to give it to you the last time I was there."

"I miss you too, but it's only been two weeks since you were here love. We just skyped last night too and yes, I got the key today." She breathed, smiling.

"Good, you should use it." He sighed and she could see him slumping into the seat. What a dramatic. "Because by the time you finish that essay I will be home, in bed, naked and you could use your key to get in, but you're all the way in the city."

She laughed, so hard. He always did that for her. He made her laugh like he was the funniest person in the world. And that's why they were so good together. Because she was on her way to see him right now. To surprise him. "I for one think I should get brownie points. I stripped for you." She played it off, the words sliding off her tongue.

He chuckled, low and deep in his voice. It was so sexy. A shiver ran through her at just the way he talked, let alone when he laughed like that. It reminded her of the way he'd looked at her last night when she started to unbutton the shirt she was wearing.

When he'd messaged her, she had just gotten out of the shower and had pulled on a button-up he'd left one time. She totally wanted to mess with him, and she did. What she hadn't seen happening was his internet glitching out. He ended up only seeing her naked for a few seconds before he lost connection.

"Definitely was the sexiest skype call I've ever been apart of, even if I lost connection. Damn spotty internet." He cursed, sighing then. "I have never been more pissed in my life. You looked so good for the two seconds I saw you."

"You realize I skipped out on finishing a paper last night because of you, right? I was sacrificing precious time and you lost connection. I was upset for you too," she laughed, easing over into the fast lane and cruising up to seventy miles an hour before putting her cruise control on. She was about to tease him further when another call popped up on her phone. It was her mother. She'd texted Melinda about possibly coming home and she was definitely checking in. "Hey Ned, my mom is calling."

"Ok. I have to get out for a pull-over. I'll text you," he said, hanging up.

She looked away from the road, pressing accept on her mom and hitting the speaker button. "Hey mom, I'm on the highway what's up." She settled back into her car, listening to her mom talk.

This was going to be a long drive, but so so worth it.

It was late when she pulled into his parking lot, putting on the parking pass clip Ned had given her as she parked next to his truck. She took her keys out and grabbed her phone, putting both of them in her jacket pocket, then grabbing her bag and purse from the front seat as she got out of the car.

She closed the door and made her way to the entrance quickly. She used the elevator, going to the third floor, and finding his apartment. She fished her keys back out and swung her purse over her shoulder as put her weekend bag on the ground, unlocking the door. She quietly came in, seeing his shoes and keys, putting hers by his as she left her bag by the door and peeled her coat off, grabbing her phone from the pocket as she took her shoes off and hung her jacket over the back of the couch as she made her way to the bedroom.

The bedroom door was open and the bathroom light was on, the door closed and steam coming from under it.

He had just gotten home.

She quickly slid her pants off, taking her sweater off too and tossing them on the side of the bed where he wouldn't see them The shower turned off as she tossed her bra by the door, a little hint as she slipped into the bed, closing her eyes.

Now she waited.

The door opened and she heard him stretch, his back popping in a few places. Footsteps, followed by the sound of something swooshing to the floor, like clothing.

She was facing the opposite wall and felt the bed dip, his body warmth present.

"You came," he whispered, his hand wrapped around her, his lips touching her shoulder. "I love you." He turned her, smiling at her. "You look pretty," He said, simply. "I haven't seen you look this…" he paused to search for the word. "Delicate. Not since this summer."

She leaned into him, kissing him. She'd missed this bed, spending time with him as she did in the summer. They'd hardly left this bed the first two weeks she was home. He'd saved all of his time off for those two weeks.

"I missed you," she whispered, pulling back as she laid on the pillow.

She looked over him as he relaxed next to her, his hand moving up her side, tracing the skin. He's filled out some, and isn't quite to the shape he was when they first got together, but his muscles were still rock hard. Determination and hard work shows.

Ned's skin was also soft, but still tougher than hers. She touched his scars from skateboarding accidents and the one from training at the academy. Her fingers hovered over his navel. His stomach was firm, rising and falling with the rhythm of his rapid breathing. She rested her hand there, registering that this most innocent touch had somehow made her knees tremble. His hand covered hers.

"Do you know what you do to me?" He whispered.

He sat up and she felt every muscle in his stomach move and then he slid her hand back up to the center of his chest. He leaned his head toward hers, capturing her lips as he laid her on her backside, chuckling as she saw the panties she wore.

A red pair he'd given her for her birthday.

"Nice touch," he said, his mouth latching onto her nipple as she arched into him, her leg hooking him down to press up against her. The friction. Him against her, hard, and exactly where she wanted it.

She cried out, grasping his hair and feeling his mouth at her shoulder. Her neck, sucking there. Then her jaw, nibbling there. Her mouth, kissing her, tasting her.

His hand grasped her panties, pulling them down her hips as his fingers spread and dipped inside her, curling the way she liked her.

"Oh Ned," she moaned, so loud he knew his neighbor heard it. She grasped his shoulder and kissed him again, moaning against his lips as his thumb touched her center. "Yes… oh yes."

He kissed her neck, feeling her hips roll against his hand. God, he'd missed being with. Doing things like this with her.

"Mmm," she hummed, running her hands through his hair more. If she were in her right mind, her hand would be there, grasping him. But as he moved quicker, her pleasure hitting its peak as his thumb moving quickly over her center. "I want you. All of you."

Katie could feel him shifting against her and she wondered if he wished she were touching him instead. For a brief moment, she considered the mechanics of touching him while he touched her, but she was too focused on his hands to entertain the thought of doing anything else.

He had two fingers inside her now, pressing and pumping. Her hips were moving, her heart was racing, and every muscle in her body was stretched taut, ready to snap.

Ned knew how to get her there. How to do it quickly or to do it slowly. "Don't stop," she gasped, as her fingers spread inside her, her hips sliding toward him. "I'm almost there."

She's done this countless times before, on her own since she'd moved out. She'd never dared before her senior year though. It was nothing compared to what it felt like with Ned's fingers inside her, his body over hers, his lips brushing against hers.

She hooked a leg around his waist before he could move, drawing him impossibly closer. Her breasts sat flush against his naked chest, and it was enough to make him forget about grabbing a condom as he reveled in the feeling of her against him. She ground herself deliberately into him, sending a jolt of pleasure through his body, already thrumming with anticipation.

Finally, he gave in, pulling his hand back and thrusts into her hips in return. Her legs opened wider to accommodate him and he could feel the heat pulsing from her core.

"Take me," she gasped.

It happened in a hazy blur of lust and pure desire. Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, his lips met hers again as he pressed into her. She was wet enough that he slid into her in a swift, sure motion. It's all he can do not to cry out loud at the sensation. Katie arched into him, her breasts heaving into his chest and the long column of her beautiful neck exposed just for him. His lips moved to the skin under the line of her jaw. He could feel the rapid bounding of her pulse beneath his tongue. He kissed a trail down her neck to her clavicle, punctuating each kiss with a thrust of his hips.

"Ned," the word curled up from the back of her throat, intoxicating him like a flute of the finest champagne. Her legs wrapped firmly around his back to hold him in place: he knew it was unlikely she would let him go.

"Katie, I love you." He gasped.

Her hips ground into him with each of his subsequent thrusts and he was all too aware that he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer. But she had to come first. She deserved that, and he was determined to make it happen.

Ned brought his mouth back to hers, wasting no time before drawing her tongue into the heat of his mouth. The vibrations of her moans reverberate through him and he shuddered in pleasure. His hand met her between her thighs, moving furiously in small, tight circles, and just when he thought he couldn't hold onto his sanity any longer, she came.

It was her unintelligible cry of ecstasy into the black of the apartment that was his final undoing. He pulled out of her just in time to spill onto her stomach. She had never looked more beautiful to him than she did now, sprawled beneath him with her hair messy and still moaning with the aftershocks of her orgasm.

The pair lock eyes as their bliss faded to be replaced by a sated relaxation. He was quick to wipe the sticky mess off her stomach as her eyes began to drift closed. He couldn't blame her for falling asleep. It was very late and she'd driven three hours to see him at night, despite hating to drive at night.

He loved this woman more than anything. He tucked her into his chest with waning strength, wanting nothing more than to stay in this moment forever. Right now, it seemed almost possible. His eyelids slid closed, and he slept with her tight against his chest.

But morning dawned, swift and sure, the sun streaming in brilliantly through the open window. He found himself awake earlier than he would've liked for it being his only day off until a dewy smile crossed the lips of his companion when she saw that he, too, was awake.

"Good morning," she whispered, her hands coming up to his chest. "I'm glad you gave me a key."

At her words, the events of last night come flooding back to him in a hazy rush of sweat and skin and pleasure. He pressed his lips against her as she laughed and he caught the sight of her dusky nipples, moving there a moment later. He just knew there was no way a morning like this could lead to a bad day. No way at all.

Katie had never been comfortable admitting to herself just how much she enjoyed looking at Ned.

Obviously, he was attractive. That goes without saying- his face, his height, and his body were the main attractions. Ned was her man. He was the only person that could leave her speechless. But it's not just his physical appearance that had her flustered.

It was the way that he carried himself, the ease with how he moved in his uniform at work or how he walked with her through the square in shirts that were cut to flatter his chest and bulging arms or even the fitting pants that he wore, not caring for the few who did turn their heads to look at him as he walked by. It's a sort of nonchalant confidence she found both totally hot and also really fascinating about him. He'd always been like that, even before he was a man. As a child and a teen, he was just cool and collected as some said.

Days, where she came home like this with Ned, were always wonderfully simple. Dating him could get complicated and messy with living so far away from each other, and the constant drama of her gift and the looming specter of the supernatural was forever in the background but at the moment when it's just the two of them enjoying each other's company, their time together was always wonderful.

Getting to be with him, sitting in the square on a bench. To touch and kiss him was also really wonderful-and if she was being honest, she took every opportunity to do it that she could. Like now, after they'd shared breakfast together and walked off the greasy food Ned always made on Saturday's.

She'd settled on a bench with him to make out for what felt like ages, kissing until her lips were buzzing and she was lightheaded, smiling dazedly against his kiss-swollen mouth. She laughed, so sultry that he moaned, his lips moving down to touch her neck.

Katie didn't quite realize she'd been playing with the top button of Ned's shirt until it came open.

"Mmm, getting hot and bothered?" Ned asked, laughing a little as he said it, his smiling mouth pink and damp, and his shirt was just another thing to distract her.

It was absolutely ridiculous what that extra inch of exposed skin did to derail her brain. Without thinking, she let her fingers slide down from the hollow of his throat, just brushing against the exposed skin of his chest. He took a shuddering breath, and when her gaze darted back up to his face, Ned was staring at her, his mouth slightly parted and his eyes met hers.

"Katie?" Ned smiled a little at her. His voice was low, and a shiver ran down her spine at his words. "Are you… okay?"

Ned had always been careful with Katie, mindful of her limits, and she knew that the question was totally sincere. She took a moment to herself, steadying her breathing, the ache building low in her stomach, and nodded after a moment.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm-" She paused, licking her lips while toying with the collar of his shirt before she smiled. "I'm fine, babe. Just a little distracted by how good you look."

He smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Thanks," he whispered by her ear as he nibbled on it and she turned to her faced to look at him.

Their noses brushed up against each other's and they shared another kiss before they ended up walking to her mother's store together, hand in hand.

Delia was surprised to see Katie, mostly because she hadn't been home since her birthday, but Ned was a welcome surprise too. Melinda hugged her daughter tightly, whispering something about a vision and they were going into the back room, leaving the Banks' alone out front.

Just before closing the door, Katie glanced over and smiled at Ned, the look on his face, the love and trust there warmed her heart. She came out moments later with a post-it note and a ghostly mission for them.

"Should we go to the archives?" He asked as she took his open hand, walking with him to the door.

"I love how you know," she laughed, her arm moving up his back as they slipped out the doors, waving to their mothers.

"Ugh I can't look at them," Delia covered her eyes as Ned stole a kiss from Katie, but it wasn't long before he pulled away, placing small kisses along her jawline, and then lower still, his lips dragging along her throat as he leaned her into the lamp post. "Are they gone?"

"Yes, but they are now making out just as hard as they were on the bench earlier," Melinda concluded, looking through her calendar at the deliveries. "I should've given Ned the list of deliveries. Damnit. Well, I'll call later or do them myself."

"Ugh," Delia laughed, peeking. "They are cute. I'll give them that."

"And very happy," Melinda nudged the mother with a smile. "That's all that matters."