Falling In Love

I'd like to thank the council and the fine folks of the TNN discord for their support and their assistance with this fic. Couldn't have done it without y'all, so thank you.

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Wise men say
Only fools rush in

It was too early. They had only been seeing each other for a few weeks. She couldn't be falling in love with him already. Except... except there was something about the way he looked at her. He looked at her as though she hung all the stars in the sky, as though she was a delicate treasure that he dared not break, as though she was the most precious thing he had ever laid eyes on, as though she was the most beloved and treasured being he had ever held in his hands. She tried to resist, she tried to convince herself that it was far too early, but she found herself craving his presence like one craves water in a desert. He was the earth and heaven for her. She could try to keep it hidden and keep kidding herself, but she knew eventually he'd see right through her. And that's what scared her – the idea of someone knowing her as well as she knew herself. She didn't want to rush into things with him, but she couldn't help but be drawn to him.

His feelings for her shouldn't be this strong so early on. It hadn't even been 3 weeks since they started seeing each other a few days after their hookup after that Halloween party, after she had complimented the way his hips moved... and then complimented the way he moved in other ways. He couldn't help but find himself attracted to her, like two magnets swirling in the ether, always attracted to each other no matter how far apart they were. He found himself drawn to her any time he saw her, little looks as they passed by each other in the hall, little smiles as she looked into the toddler room as he worked, little winks as he looked into the office as she typed away, little touches anytime they were together in the staff room or the car, little and not so little kisses when they were finally together in their private bubble and away from prying eyes. Their secret, a beautiful and precious and magical thing, as they orbited around each other, always gravitating toward each other. He knew it wasn't wise to move too quickly, but he was mesmerized by and infatuated with her.

But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?

Autumn and Winter found themselves spending yet another night together at her house. A long day at the nursery had worn both of them out and neither had the energy to cook so they settled on some Chinese takeaway for dinner. They both picked at their food listlessly, too tired to even want to eat as they enjoyed a quiet evening free of angry parents and interfering board members. They sat in comfortable silence, relishing each other's company and the quiet comfort each brought the other. Autumn, despite a day full of angry phone calls and paperwork, sat with a soft smile and Winter, despite a day of being shouted at by needlessly irate parents, mirrored the happy look on her face. Neither of them quite knew how to say it, but they couldn't enough of these quiet evenings in where they could just be Autumn Knight and Winter Fortune, not the deputy manager and the room leader, not the owner's daughter and the teacher, just people having a wonderful night together. Just the simple act of sitting next to each other, feet up on the coffee table, takeaway container in hand with a silly comedy filling the silence was enough to lift their collective mood and make a miserable day that much better.

After their food had grown cold, their appetites barely there after a stressful day, the couple cleaned up after themselves and settled on the couch to watch a movie. Autumn leaned against the couch's armrest, her legs laying on Winter's lap as he ran his hand up and down her shin, his warm, gentle hand sending shivers up Autumn's spine as sparks ignited in her body under his touch. Winter smiled at her as he picked up the remote to pick a movie. "Autumn, what would you like to watch? Any preferences?" Winter asked, holding out the remote for her to take.