His greatest love.

Chapter 43.

The morning light crept in slowly, gracefully painting the walls with its golden warmth. The house was quiet except for the soft breathing of two souls who had fallen asleep in each other's arms on her very comfortable and beautiful couch. She stirred first, still curled into him as the blanket tangled around them causing the robe to slightly slip off her shoulder.

She blinked lazily, confused for a moment,until she looked up and everything that happened the previous night flooded her memory.

He was still asleep, his arm draped protectively around her while his hand rested just above her hip with his fingers slightly twitching in his sleep. His head was leaned back against the couch cushion, hair a little tousled with his mouth barely parted. He looked so peaceful and she really took in a minute to analyze him.

She had never seen him like this.

So real and vulnerable. Not the dangerous man that walked in gun blazing in her OR months ago. Just so mesmerized by how handsome one man can look.

By instinct, his arm tightened slightly around her as he slowly opened his eyes blinking against the light.

"So we passed out on the couch," she whispered lightly.

His voice was still husky with sleep. "It is a very comfortable couch."

She chuckled lightly, tucking her face to the crook of his neck and he tightened the hold around her warmly.

"Good morning," he murmured into her hair his heart at peace in a way he couldn't explain.

It was soft. Familiar.

"Good morning," she said lightly the ease of the moment creeping in like something she didn't know she needed until it settled around her like sunshine.

As if on cue a tiny, high pitched fuss, barely a cry came from the baby monitor.

She sat up instinctively but before she could move, he was already shifting.

"I'll help," he said gently and she chuckled lightly.

"I'll get her then you can have her," she said standing up to her feet as she slowly disappeared through the hallway. She took her baby in her arms and changed her before walking back down with her to the living room only to find the blanket folded neatly and the window panes drawn allowing the full beauty of the morning into the beautiful structure.

"Let me help you," he said as she walked up to her and she smiled sweetly before handing him the baby. 

"I'll go freshen up and don't think of running with my baby..." She said lightly and he chuckled.

"You would have caught me, I know.." He said teasingly as she went to her room and freshened up. She wore some baggy sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt and held her hair up in rough  bun before returning downstairs.

She slowly walked down the steps when she heard laughter. A soft delighted kind of laugh.

She padded quietly down the hall leaning against doorway of the nursery and what she saw made her chest tighten.

Not out of fear but pure admiration.

He stood beside the the window, his shirt still wrinkled from the night as the sun rays gently shone on them. He was whispering something soft and silly, his voice lighter than she had never had before as the baby cooed.

"You're not scary at all are you??" He whispered gently as he swayed with her. "Just a good set of lungs and a better attitude than most of the people I know."

She watched as he gently lifted the baby into his arms, his movements careful, but not awkward. Like he had studied her from afar and remembered every detail.