The Expansion of the Universe {Completed}

Sixty-Four | "Let's snuggle."

Liza hadn't realized just how poorly she'd been sleeping at the hospital until she was tucked safely inside Elijah's condo. She wasn't sure when he'd done it, since he had been at her side almost every minute, but he'd moved some of the minimal décor from her condo (including the ridiculous Mona Lisa adaptation he'd given her) to his to "make it feel homier, babe, obviously."

Seeing as how their condos were almost identical in layout and she had not decorated much, it was easy to pretend Elijah's condo was hers without the extra effort, but she appreciated it, nonetheless.

Still, since she had never stayed overnight at his condo before, she'd been surprised at how easily she'd begun to doze while sitting in the living room on one of his large recliners, which sat across from his couch.

Seeing this, Elijah asked from his spot in the chair beside hers, "Time for bed, pretty girl?"

Stifling a yawn, she nodded. "Did you already put my suitcase in the guest room?" Elijah stiffened, and she eyed him strangely. "What?" she asked, unsure of why he looked so tense.

"Well, babe, I may have been a tad presumptuous," he confessed, grinning sheepishly as he rubbed at the back of his neck.

"Why? What'd you do?"

"I put your suitcase in my bedroom."

Oh. Oh.

"Oh."

"Yeah," he blew out a sigh and shook his head as he stood, as though reprimanding himself inwardly. "I'm so sorry, my Liza. I wasn't even thinking, really. I just did it naturally. I'll go move it, though, doll. I didn't mean to pressure you. I want you comfortable here."

Before he could move past her, Liza reached out and stopped him by snatching up his hand. "Wait."

He shifted and eyed her with concern. "What's wrong?" He asked immediately, and she could feel his eyes trailing over her figure carefully.

"Just . . . you can leave it," she decided. "I want to try. But . . . I may not be able to do it." They'd taken naps together on her couch, but they'd never slept together overnight in the same bed. Even at the hospital, Elijah had been too large to fit in the bed beside her.

Liza had never felt uncomfortable when they rested next to one another on the couch, or when she'd had his presence in the corner of the hospital room, so . . . Well, she was willing to try, at least.

Elijah crouched in front of her, bringing her hand to his lips and dusting kisses over the back of her palm. "Liza, I mean it when I say there's no pressure. If you truly want to try, then that's more than enough, doll. If you get overwhelmed, kick me in the shin or something, and I'll go to the guestroom. You get the bedroom, regardless."

"Elijah," she began, feeling guilty that she was displacing him, but he was quick to stop her protests with a single, scolding look.

"My Liza, it's not a problem. Seriously. Besides, Milo specifically asked for the largest room in the condo, and I can't say no to him—he might chew my toes off while I'm sleeping."

At the sudden change of topic, Liza released a startled laugh. "What?" He was so ridiculous sometimes, this man whom she adored so dearly.

"I'm serious," Elijah pouted. "Look how scary he is." A glance to where her dog was settled by her feet showed that his muzzle was in between his paws, and he was watching Elijah curiously.

"Very scary," she agreed, unable to keep the amusement from her voice.

"Terrifying," Elijah nodded firmly. "A true beast. Anyway, now that we've got things sorted, shall we head up?"