Liz Gillies Requests

Midnight (Liz&Michael) - Request ★

Liz's POV
I wake up alone in bed to the sound of crashing from downstairs. I pull on my robe and walk downstairs to the kitchen.

Michael is stood in front of the coffee machine with his back to me.

"Michael?" I ask.

"Oh hey." Michael says, turning to face me.

"'Oh hey?' What the fuck, Michael?" I ask.

"What?" Michael asks.

"Do you know what time it is?" I ask.

"Not really." Michael says.

"Why are you drinking coffee in the middle of the night?" I ask.

"I can't sleep." Michael says.

"That's probably because you're drinking so much coffee." I say.

"Hmph. Maybe." Michael shrugs.

"What's goin' on?" I ask.

"Nothing." Michael says, turning away.

"No, there is something. What's up?" I ask, stepping in behind him and wrapping myself around him, resting my chin on his shoulder.

"I'm okay." Michael smiles weakly.

"Babes, you're a terrible liar." I say, turning him around to face me.

"It's alright, I'm okay." Michael repeats.

"You're not." I notice aloud.

"Really Liz, I'm alright." Michael says, turning away again.

"Please talk to me." I say softly.

"I don't know what to say." Michael says quietly.

"You can say whatever's on your mind." I say.

"I don't wanna put any more pressure on you." Michael admits.

"Oh, hun. Come on, let's sit down." I take his hand and lead him to the couch in the kitchen.

We sit down and I rest one of my hands on his thigh and hold the other against the back of his neck, playing with his hair.

"I-" Michael starts but quickly sighs, looking down.

"I know you find it hard to talk about your feelings but we can take it slow. I'm here to listen." I comfort him, running my fingers through his hair to calm him down.

"It's just- well, here's the thing....I can't quite... but you get it, I know- you know what I mean, right?" Michael stumbles.

"Not in the slightest." I say honestly and he laughs quietly.

"I don't know how to say it." Michael sighs.

"It's okay, Michael. Think carefully about what you actually want to say and then you can speak." I explain, looking deeply into his eyes as he stares back at me.

It's silent for a couple of minutes as Michael's eyes dart about before settling on his lap.

"This whole not working thing is really getting to me." Michael says.

"In what way, babe?" I coax.

"You go to work in the mornings and I'm just stuck here, feeling useless for the day and when you come home each night I'm so happy to see you but I can't even find the motivation to cook, or do laundry or help around the house or do anything! And it, well, it makes me feel like I'm failing you as a husband."

"Michael, sweetheart, you're not failing at anything. And certainly not at being a husband." I say softly.

"I feel so useless, Liz." Michael whispers.

"Listen to me, you are not useless, okay? You have a purpose, and it's a very important purpose, and you're doing a great job." I assure him.

"It was okay when we still had Bubba... he was here with me all day and I could walk him and I knew that I was being helpful.
But we don't have him anymore now and-" Michael cuts himself off and I see his eyes tear up.

"Oh, hun. You don't have to say any more." I lean forward and sit in his lap, wiping the tear from under his eye.

"I miss him so much Liz." Michael chokes out.

"Here." I hold my hand against the back of his head, resting him in my neck and rubbing his back.

"It's-"

"Shh, you don't have to speak." I kiss his shoulder lightly.

"I'm not crying." Michael lies as I feel tear drops on my shoulder.

"I know you're not." I whisper, lying back.

After about ten minutes I gently take his head away from me and we stare into each others eyes as I wipe a few stray tears from his cheeks.

"I'm sorry." Michael apologises.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm proud of you for talking about your feelings." I tell him.

"Thanks." Michael says quietly.

"Do you want to go back to bed?" I ask.

"I'm not very tired." Michael says.

"Let's watch a movie and maybe you will fall asleep watching that." I suggest, running my fingers gently behind his ear.

"Alright." Michael nods.

I lean forward and kiss him.

"I'll say it again, I'm so proud of you, Michael." I whisper.

"Thank you. I love you." Michael whispers.

"I love you too." I smile.

I take his hand again and we slowly walk upstairs and into our bedroom.

Michael picks out a movie once we're settled in bed.

A few minutes into the movie, Michael turns to me.

"Are you sure I didn't put any pressure on you?" Michael asks.

"No, you didn't. We're a couple, we take each others problems and we deal with them together. We're a team, babe." I say, rubbing up and down his arm.

"Okay." Michael smiles.

I cuddle my side up close to his.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"I'm so bouncy." Michael says.

"That's the caffeine, Michael." I laugh softly, giving him my hand which he immediately starts fidgeting with. "Is that better?"

"Yeah." Michael smiles.