like sunshine in the morning [with ofthecubs]

[theunpressuredclub]

When they both stay up as late as they did the night before, Rachel's usually the one that's the first to wake up. She's used to less sleep, most days, and in any event she likes having a few moments to just revel in the quiet of the morning.

It's easy to get breakfast going, once she's had a cup of tea to start the day of well. It's easy to let herself hum absently as she puts the pan on the stove.

Easier still to smile as she hears the approaching footsteps and feels her boyfriend's nose nuzzle in between her shoulder blades. One hand moves from holding the pan steady to rest over one of his once his arms wrap around her waist.

"Mornin'."

Comments

[ofthecubs]

There's always a touch of nerves when he wakes up alone. It's impossible not to have that tiny moment of jolting doubt.

It helps that he can hear the soft sounds of cooking beyond his bedroom door. It helps that the warm scent of breakfast in the making is drifting through into his room. It helps that, when he's gotten his mind fully awake, he completely trusts Rachel Caustello.

And it helps most of all that his trust can be rewarded this way, by having the shuffle to his door rewarded with the beautiful sight of the young woman he loves standing by the stove and looking entirely at ease.

Wrapping his arms around her waist is a given. Nuzzling in against her shoulders and neck also is, of course. Clearly there hadn't been enough cuddling in bed and now it needs to be made up for with cuddling at the stove. "Mornin'. Y' get up too early, Rach."

[theunpressuredclub]

She can take cuddling now, even if it has to be slightly distracted cuddling because she does want breakfast to turn out well.

Which is another reason why she's the one that makes breakfast, really. She may be terrible at soup, but scrambled eggs are a specialty.

"I do not," she says with a soft laugh, settling into his hold contentedly, "You just wake up too late."

[ofthecubs]

"'s ridiculous. I sleep the perfect amount of time."

He presses a firm kiss against the back of her neck before he shifts to hook his chin comfortably over her shoulder. Clearly his concern for their morning meal is slightly less pronounced than hers.

"Makes it impossible t' surprise you on your birthday, y'know. Only yourself to blame for that."

[theunpressuredclub]

A huff, then, though not one with any real heat to it.

"Could always decide to sleep in on my birthday, y'know."

Likely would, because that would mean early morning birthday snuggles. Much more important than breakfast.

Although early morning snuggles today are slightly less important than breakfast. Her wiggle is done without any real intent to shake him off, but just to convey to him her sense of protest.

"Might burn our food 'f I don't have full range of movement, y'know."

Somehow she doesn't really sound like she's complaining.

[ofthecubs]

Best of all, of course, is the fact that it's a treat for both of them when their days of mutual sleeping in line up. There's honestly not much of a better way to wake up.

There's also an entirely pleased hum on his lips as he curls closer, briefly, to press a nuzzling kiss just under her jaw before relaxing his hold around her waist just a hair.

"I'll eat all the burned stuff. Promise."

[theunpressuredclub]

The kiss to her jaw earns a happy hum.

"Good," she says with a contented smile, "But 'm still gonna try to make it all not burnt. 'd like us both to have a nice breakfast."

An acceptable goal, surely.

[ofthecubs]

"Or, alternately?"

Swaying is an entirely gentle thing. Nuzzling is also entirely gentle, lips pressing now against the back of the shell of her ear.

"You could let this whole thing burn and we could start again in half an hour."

[theunpressuredclub]

"Oh, yeah?"

And there's a pleased hum as she instinctively curls in a little closer, eyes shutting briefly in contentment as his lips find her ear.

"An' what d'you propose we do in that half an hour?"

Not that she doesn't have a feeling. She just likes him actually saying these sorts of things aloud, sometimes.

[ofthecubs]

There's an incredibly pleased hum in his throat for that. His teeth just briefly, just lightly nip at her earlobe.

"Go back to bed." His lips find the join of her jaw to murmur against. "Or maybe just to the couch. Or-- honestly, the kitchen table."

The stove, clearly, being just a little too dangerous, despite the immediacy.

"I want you."

[theunpressuredclub]

"Mmm."

And it's a soft sound that easily captures the thrum of her desire. The shifting away is only because she needs to turn off the stove and move the pan. She'll be turning around to wrap her arms around his neck and lift her lips to his as soon as that's accomplished.

"Want you, too." As evidenced, surely, by the way she's molding her body against his, "Anywhere, Ed."

Except the stove. That would be a tad too dangerous, even for them.

[ofthecubs]

It's absolutely worth the sacrifice of these eggs for this. They can buy a dozen dozens of eggs after, surely.

"Oh yeah?"

It's not that he doesn't trust her completely these days with this kind of offer. It's just an old hold over from when things had been a bit more dicey.

These days, it's accompanied by a firm nip of her lower lip as he tugs them both back toward the door.

[theunpressuredclub]

"Yeah."

And it's still nice, to be asked again. Still nice to know that he's always going to check, no matter how much things have improved.

It makes it even easier to kiss him back hard-- and maybe let her hands wander, just a little-- as he tugs her along.

[ofthecubs]

It's entirely likely that they'll be married with multiple children years from now and he'll still be asking gently like this. It's also entirely likely that all that will be true and he'll still be laughing with this much joy and dragging her with this much urgency to the couch for an early morning fumble.

And it's 100% true that, no matter how many years they're together, he'll be completely needing to enjoy a good deal of snuggling once the passion is addressed.

[theunpressuredclub]

One of the best parts of all this, really, is that once the desire is taken care of, they come back to this. That at the heart of things, being together is just as much about the way she curls in close to him now as it is about the way he can make her gasp his name.

Kissing him is a slow, soft thing, "Love you."

[ofthecubs]

The way she gasps his name makes him delirious. The way she whispers 'I love you' makes him delirious as well. It's impossible, in his mind, to be any happier than he is when he's with her in any fashion at all.

"God, I love you." It's important to murmur against her lips. "So much, Rach."

[theunpressuredclub]

"More'n there's words for, Ed."

She doesn't know if she could ever tell him just how much. Luckily, they're both incredibly good at showing.

[ofthecubs]

"More'n I've got, anyway."

Which, thankfully, she never seemed to mind. Which, amazingly, she sometimes matched him in lacking. It's part of how he's certain they belong.

"'m gonna make you amazing pancakes."

[theunpressuredclub]

They fit together, in more ways than just the way that their bodies always seem to curl together just right. Their personalities-- their very souls, really-- match so well there's no question they were always meant to end up exactly like this.

Her laugh is bright and entirely pleased at his words, lips pressing against his cheek fondly.

"Sounds great, Ed."

This is all an entirely wonderful way to start a morning, really.

[ofthecubs]

"In a minute, though."

Because, for a minute, he just needs to hold her tight. For a minute, he just needs to breathe her in and know with absolute certainty that she's here with him.

[theunpressuredclub]

"Perfect."

Because she'd really rather be held tight, for now. She'd really rather be able to nuzzle in with complete and utter contentment.

[ofthecubs]

It's absolutely perfect, just like this. It's everything he's ever wanted or needed in the world to have.

"Hey." It's a quiet murmur against her temple, almost unconscious. "'m gonna marry you, some day."

[theunpressuredclub]

Her smile is soft against his skin.

"I know," she says warmly, "And we're gonna be so happy."

[ofthecubs]

"We are." It's easy to repeat when he can feel the curve of her smile against his skin. "Just like this. 'cept with a big ol' ring for you."

[theunpressuredclub]

A quiet giggle, then, her lips never drifting far from where they touch his skin.

"Exactly what I need."

Except not, because everything she needed, she already had.

[ofthecubs]

"Perfect."

As is being allowed to squirm around slightly and press her lips with his. There's nothing more perfect in the world.

"I'm serious, you know?"

[theunpressuredclub]

"Know y'are," she answers, humming contentedly against the kiss, "I am, too."

[ofthecubs]

"And then pancakes every day."

For the rest of their lives. It's absolutely a part of the master plan.

She's his master plan.

[theunpressuredclub]

"And scrambled eggs," she concurs.

Because isn't everything better if they work together?

[ofthecubs]

There's a bright laugh for that. There's another sweet, contented kiss pressed to her lips.

"Absolutely. Just-- absolutely."