UPSTEAD ONE SHOT(S)

Ever Since Then

Gist: I don't even have one, it speaks for itself

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Stiring awake at the faint sound of gentle traffic outside, a very happy smile crawled across Jay's sleepy face at the fact he'd woken up next to his favorite girl once again. She was wrapped tightly in his arms, the duvet hooked under her chin, as she slept peacefully within him. That was when Jay was the most happiest- no doubt about it.
As much as he loved having his world sleep peacefully in his arm's, he knew they'd have to be awake soon for work, and he definitely didn't want a morning where they rushed around; so, he placed a delicate trail of kisses down Hailey's jaw line and shoulder to wake her up. She soon awoken to the tender feeling of her boyfriend's lips trailing along her side, however, she pretended to stay asleep so Jay would continue kissing her the way he was. Unfortunately for her that planned failed miserably, when an irresistible grin pulled her lips and didn't go unnoticed by Jay.

"I know you're awake" Jay whispered in a giddy tone.

"I'm not"

"Well, are you now?" Jay asked, turning Hailey's sleepy head around and kissing her on the lips.

"Yeh, I am now" She smiled, flipping her whole body to face Jay.

Neither of them said anymore for a while, they just gazed into each others giggling eyes and drew patterns on each other's bare skin. It was wonderfully perfect for them.
"What you drawing on my back?" Hailey questioned, feeling a deliberate pattern being traced by Jay against her back. "Try figure it out. I'll go slower" Jay replied, slowing down his motions. Shaking her head playfully at Jay's antics, she started to try and place together what Jay was tracing. "I can't figure it out, Jay" Hailey confessed after a few minutes, not having the clue at all. "You really wanna know?" Jay teased, his right eyebrow kinked upwards. "Yeh, I do" Hailey nodded.

"I love you" Jay declared confidently, looking into Hailey's eyes for a reaction.

A nervous chuckle escaped Hailey's mouth. It wasn't that she didn't feel the same way- because, boy was she ridiculously in love with Jay- she'd just never had anyone tell her that. Anyone exept her mum and a couple dodgy boyfriend's, anyway. "You don't have to say it back, I don't want you too if you don't mean it. I just wanted you to know that I love you. All of you" Jay clarified, not wanting to pressure Hailey into saying something she wasn't ready to say. Jay was fully aware of Hailey's wall- he knew it right from the get to. He accepted it and was happy to be patient with her, never taking it personally when she didn't feel/wasn't ready to admit to feeling the same way. Jay had Hailey and that's all he cared about. "I..I" Hailey stuttered, finding Jay's bullet scare and tracing her finger over it. "Shh, don't say anything you don't want too" Jay shushed, once again stopping Hailey from doing something she didn't want to. "Jay...the bullet. The day you were shot last year. Right here next to your heart, that was the day" Hailey said, her voice slow and raspy.

"What day?" Jay asked.

"The day that I let myself accept that I was in love with you. The day Vanessa pointed it out to me, making me realise I couldn't ignore it any longer. The thought of losing you was unbearable, I was a complete mess. Partner's had been shot before, yet I'd never been such a mess in my entire life over one as I was with you. That was when it sunk in, but, when Vanessa said it out loud, it hit me like a truck. It made it all so much worse, ya know. The fact I fell in love with an man who was on his death bed almost, and I might never get the chance to see his face again. Hear his voice again. Or tell him that I loved him so much" Tears pooled in both their eyes, the rawness of Hailey's words breaking them both. She definitely never thought she'd ever be so open about her feelings, and Jay didn't either. But it made it even more pure because of that, though. "I'd never have left you. Never. Honestly, I don't think I'dve pulled through if my heart and mind didn't have you in it" Jay admitted, being 100% honest. "You don't know that though, non of us knew that" Hailey rambled, letting her hand fall over Jay's heart. "I did. You know how? Because the first thing I thought when I woke up was Where's Hailey?" Jay said, folding his hand over hers.

"Really?" Hailey couldn't quite believe how she was front and centre of an amazing person's mind, especially when they'd just came round from anesthesia. "Absolutely. I love you, Hailey. I have done for a very long time, and for a long time to come aswell" Jay promised, kissing Hailey's fourhead.
"I love you, too, Jay. More than anything" Hailey's broken voice managed to squeeze out, she was capable of doing anything for Jay.

"Come here" Jay pulled her in tighter, wrapping his muscular arms around her perfectly tiny frame. She felt like the safest woman in the planet in Jay's arms, and he felt like the luckiest and strongest guy when she was in his.

A/N: Hope ya'll enjoy this as your wee easter gift (if you celebrate it), and, if you don't, just enjoy it anyway. Don't forget to comment and vote (if you want, but it's always appreciated😉) down below.