His Lovable Klutz (Completed)

Segment Thirty-nine.

♥ Morning Sickness ♥

      Stefan finally pulled into his driveway, the tension of the night weighing heavily on his shoulders. He sighed deeply, resting his head against the steering wheel for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. The night had been a complete disaster, and the smell of Coby's vomit still clung to his clothes. He muttered under his breath, before he spoke.

      "Coby, we're home," he said, expecting some kind of response. But there was only silence.

      Stefan turned to see that Coby was fast asleep. Her body was slumped against the car door, her cheek pressed against the window. Her mouth was slightly open, and she was snoring softly, the sound almost like a tiny, rumbling motor. Her lipstick was smudged, leaving a faint red stain on the glass. One of her hands dangled awkwardly in her lap, and her hair was a tousled mess from the evening's antics.

      Stefan couldn't help but shake his head, amusement and exasperation crossing his face. "Unbelievable," he muttered to himself.

      He sighed again, resigned to the situation, and removed his suit jacket, tossing it into the back seat. He got out of the car, walked around to Coby's side, and gently opened the door. As soon as he did, her body tipped over, and Stefan quickly bent down, catching her before she could tumble out of the car. Her head landed squarely against his chest, and she continued to snore, oblivious to the world.

      Stefan rolled his eyes as he carefully tried to shift her weight. Coby's mouth, still slightly open, was producing the most ridiculous little snores. He grimaced and gently pressed his fingers against her lips to close her mouth, thinking it would stop the noise. For a moment, it worked, and there was blissful silence. But then, as if on cue, her mouth popped open again, and the snoring resumed.

      "Seriously?" Stefan whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

      He pressed her mouth shut once more, this time with a bit more determination. Thankfully, the snores ceased, and he breathed a small sigh of relief.

      With Coby's snores under control, Stefan carefully maneuvered her out of the car. She was limp in his arms, her head lolling against his shoulder as he adjusted her to carry her inside. He nudged the car door shut with his foot and began the trek toward the house, Coby's weight more of a burden than he cared to admit.

      As he carried her up the stairs, her eyes fluttered open slightly, and she looked up at him, bleary-eyed and dazed. "Stefan?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

      "What?" Stefan asked softly, though he knew she wasn't fully sober and probably wouldn't remember any of this in the morning.

      Coby smiled lazily up at him, a warm, content smile that made Stefan's heart do an unexpected flip in his chest. The way she was looking at him, with such softness and trust, made his pulse quicken. For a moment, he found himself lost in her gaze, his mind betraying him with thoughts he couldn't quite control.

      But before he could even process what he was feeling, Coby's eyes drifted shut again, and she slipped back into her slumber. Stefan let out a slow breath, shaking his head at himself as he carried her the rest of the way to her room.

      He gently laid her down on the bed, taking a moment to arrange her so she was comfortable. As he sat on the edge of the bed, he found himself watching her sleep. Her face, though smudged with makeup and framed by messy hair, was peaceful and, in its own way, adorable. Her lips, now free of the forced silence, were slightly parted, and her breathing was steady.

      Stefan hesitated, then slowly reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her lips. They were softer than he had imagined, warm and delicate under his touch. He fought the sudden, inexplicable urge to lean down and kiss her. The impulse startled him, and he withdrew his hand slightly, but he couldn't bring himself to pull away completely.