Getting back to "Normal" | Rhekker

Chapter 36- Bar

As the weeks went on Connor and Ava's relationship just got better and better. Ava was still sleeping in his room every night. From having been a couple before and living together for a few a months it was easy for the them to blend the two.

Ava ran a hand through Connors hair as he cuddled into her chest. He lightly traced stars across her chest with his fingertips, studying the pink scar on her breastbone. Connor sat up suddenly, kissing down that straight line. Connor looks up, finding Ava's flushed face softly smiling back at him. He leaned forward, planting his hand next to her head on the pillow he found her lips, moving his softly against hers.
Ava sat up, cupping Connors cheek she returned the kiss, pulling the sheet over her bare body. Connor pulled back to gaze down at her, Ava kissed him quickly, slipping off the bed.
"Where are you going?" Connor turned back to look at her.
"Getting ready for work" Ava told him, tightening the sheet around her as she wandered back into her room where her clothes were.

Connor groaned at having to be away from her before getting up to get ready for work. Ava came back into his room to collect her phone from the nightstand, Connor was stood shirtless in front of his wardrobe. Ava watched him pull his shirt on, how his mussels moved and how the ink on his skin bent.
Ava was still stood there when Connor turned back around. He smiled and came up to her, wrapping his arms around her he sat in the bed and pulled her onto his lap.
"Like what you see?" He kissed down the bend of her neck.
"Connor, we have work" she squirmed on his lap.
Connor raised his eyebrows and looked up at her, Ava rolled her eyes, "you know the answer to that, now come on. we'll be late!" She jumped off the bed.
Connor smiled and followed after her.

*

"Hey everyone's going for a few drinks after shift, do you want to go?" Connor asked coming up to Ava. "Sure" She smiled.
"Okey well my shifts over now, I need to do some things at home. I'll meet you at Molly's" they were out in the open on the CT floor so Connor just discreetly put his hand over hers before leaving.

Ava got a ride from Will and Nat to Molly's, sitting in the back seat with Owens car seat. When they got their the team already had a booth. Connor spotted Ava and smiled, he moved his jacket from the bench next to him and Ava sat down.
"Hey" she smiled.
"Hi" he grinned back at her over the noise.
Connor slid a beer over to her and Ava thanked him, taking a cold sip of it.

They talked and laughed for hours with Connor constantly throwing glances to Ava, watching her smile and how her noise crinkled when she laughed. Connor desperately wanted to wrap his arm around her, or have her rest her head on his shoulder, be they hadn't even talked about what they were, never mind if they want to go public. In one drunken mishap Connor did grab her knee while laughing, pulling it towards his. He let go as quick as he hand touched it, worriedly turning to see Ava just laughing along with the others.

"I'm going to get another drink" Ava whispered in Connors ear over the noise. She went up to the bar and order two more beers, fidgeting with her card as she stood there. From across the room she caught the eye of Dr. Charles who was sitting with several other psychiatrists from the hospital. He glanced between Ava and back to Connor behind her, Ava tuned her head quickly to avoid meeting his eye again, knowing he must have been watching them the entire time.
"Ava" someone joined her next to the bar.
"Hey Will" she smiled, welcoming him as a wanted distraction.
"How are things?"
"Good, yeah, And you?"
"Yeah, I'm doing okey" She nodded, "happy to be back at work"
"Yeah, I don't blame you. By brother was asking about you, wanted to know how you were doing"
Ava blushed, still embarrassed that out of all the cops in Chicago the one on her case was the one she'd slept with.
"Yeah, I haven't seen him since I was in hospital. You can tell him I'm doing okey"
"That's good"
"Two ice cold beers" Herman called, sliding them to Ava.
Ava leaned over Will a little to pick them up. Will paused as she passed him, smiling. He could still smell the Vanilla from her skin.
"Natalie......" he said in shock, turning to make a bee line for her.

*

Connor waited outside while Ava went to the bathroom before they left. She came out and they waved goodbye to their Colleagues. When they were a few blocks away Ava hung out of his arm, resting her head on his shoulder like he'd wanted her to all night.
"Did you have a good time?"
"I had a very good time" she looked up to him.
"Daniel was watching us like a hawk"
Connor hummed, "I noticed that, I gather he's still not entirely approve if of you living with me, never mind sleeping with me" he laughed.
"Connor!" Ava hit his arm slightly to shut him up, not wanting the whole of Chicago to know her business.
"But yes, your correct, at lest he doesn't know about the latter"

They walked the next few meters in silence before Ava piped up again.
"I think Will and Nat are giving it another go"
"What makes you say that"
"They were making out in the women's bathroom when I went in" she laughed.
"That's why you were so quick" he laughed, pulling her closer.
They walked on ahead when Connor stopped her suddenly, pulling her back to his chest.
"I want you to be my girlfriend" he told her.
"What?" She laughed keeping her hands on his chest.
"Ava Bekker, I want you to be my girlfriend. And I was to be able to kiss you in public and wrap my arms around you and not care who knows or sees" he proclaimed.
Both there faces were already flushed from the drink but Ava still managed to blush at his words.
"I don't care what Daniel thinks, so long as your happy" he said softly.
Ava brought her lips crashing to his.
"I would love to be your girlfriend, Connor" she smiles, the faces warm this close to each other in the Chicago cold.
"In that case we'll have to go out again soon" he plays with her fingers as he holds her hand.
"Why?" Ava asks as they walk.
"Because I'm taking that Gala dress off your properly this time" he leaned in to whispered in her ear.

They hurry back to get out of the storm brewing outside. Ava strips off her outerlayer of clothes and takes off her shoes while Connor goes to get ready for bed.
"Connor?" Ava calls as he comes out of her bedroom.
"Yes?" He asked, from the bedroom door.
"Where are my clothes?"
Connor reaches out and takes her hand, pulling her into their bedroom. Connor slides open the wardrobe door to where all of Ava's clothes are stored, in the same order that they were in her wardrobe.
"I missed getting ready with you every morning" he wrapped his arms around her from behind. She liked this, she was happy. She was living with Connor in their apartment, her clothes were in his wardrobes and she slept in their bed.

Connor sat down in the bed, leaning up against the headboard he nodded for Ava to go ahead. "Perv" she joked, shaking her head as she turned her back to him. Regardless she lifted her arms up and pulled the sweater she'd been wearing over her head.
Before Ava could unbutton her trousers two strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into bed.
"Connor!" She laughed, as her head hit the pillow.
Ava never made it into pyjamas that night, but slept at ease in one of Connors shirts; snuggled into his chest.