Jennie watches her with complete adoration and says a quiet prayer to all the gods who listen, thanks them for giving her this.
She stretches like a starfish (the very first thing she does every waking day) then lets out a small whimper before she's turning to her left (where Jennie has been for a whole hour now) with her arms strung high above her head, her lips jutting out, her eyes shut close until her body relaxes. Only after that does she open them, and Jennie falls further in love with those dark brown eyes when they widen the moment she sees her. She falls in love some more when she just stares at her in disbelief.
Jennie holds back a giggle, nods her head down a bit as she waits for her to realize that she's really home and lying down there beside her.
A few seconds pass and there it is. A beautiful smile forms on her mouth until her eyes are half crescents and she's completely rolling to her side to tuck herself into Jennie's chest, under her chin, into her body. Her unruly hair was tickling Jennie's chin and her seemingly little arms that were thrown tightly around her neck made her cough a bit, but she only held her tighter.
"Good morning, baby," Jennie whispers before inhaling the smell of home, smiling at how her home had become a person and not a place. "Did you sleep okay?" She hears a soft hum in reply and feels arms tighten around her. "I missed you too, sweetheart."
When the hug loosens, Jennie she pulls them up the bed until her back is against the headboard. She settles her on her lap, both of them laughing as she peppers her face with kisses. Jennie locks her arms around her, smelling her hair and neck and laughing some more because ah, finally! And when she's had half her fill of the smell of the shampoo-and-bath they've used on her since she was an infant and a hint of some sweet floral fragrance, she squeezes her thighs lightly and caresses the skin that's soft and smooth and reminds her so much of what warmth and contentment feels like.
"I think I know that shirt," Jennie says teasingly, chuckling softly as she eyes her Calvin Klein shirt tucked in striped pajama pants that she's sure had a top of its own to go along with.
"It's yours!"
Jennie nods, rubs the back of her hand to the blushing cheek she's made a habit of biting. Not this morning though. She missed her way too much to risk upsetting her. "Is it comfortable to sleep on? Even if it's so big on you?"
"I like your clothes, mama." Liah's head tips to the side. "Mommy too."
"So, what, you both wore my shirts to bed?" She chuckles when Liah nods happily, beaming proudly at the innocent admission.
"Mommy said it's missing."
"What's missing?"
"I don't... remember..." Liah frowns, trying her hardest to recall what her mommy must have said to console her the night before. "Missing teribel?"
Jennie feels a tug on her chest like Liah's trying to pull her heart in all directions. She grins when it becomes a lot. "I think you meant terribly. I miss you terribly too." She holds the back of her head and leans in to press a kiss on the nose that's so identical to her mommy's.
"You smell nice, mama."
"Thank you, baby. That's very sweet of you." Jennie takes her in: her dark brown eyes, her complexion, her hair, the small scratch on her cheek she got from her own nail, and everything else that tells her she has Liah to love and care for, to look after, to live for. She exhales all the tension and discomfort, inhales everything that is this wonderful child. "How are you? What did you and mommy do while I was away?"
"I ran with Luca!"
"You did? Did you hop on his back like you always try to do?"
"No. Mommy said no, no— And! And mommy made cookies!" She continues, eyes brimming with excitement and something else that makes her the exact picture of a kid daydreaming about her most favorite thing in the world.
