The End

Chapter 45: Chaos and Fun

Their first morning together had started in a burst of chaos. Anything but normal. Juggling their soon to be ex's and navigating what it meant to be allowed to wake up together. Lucky for them, Patrick was a great juggler.

Ellen's robe hung off her shoulders as she ran product through her wet hair. Patrick brushed behind her. His hand pulling at the tie at her robe, "Are you 20 years old..." she remarked at his stamina.

"Maybe," his breath warm on her neck, "3 times over."

She giggled at his joke but withdrew from his pursuits, "Cool, it Dempsey," Ellen's voice was playful, "I have to pick up my kids in a half hour. You have to go."

He groaned at the rejection and then "Oh my god," his voice totally surprised, "Where am I going to go?"

"What?" she questioned him and then, "Oh," her eyes a little concerned.

"I guess I'm house hunting today..." he pulled on his very worn pants, "And clothes shopping."

She laughed at him as he appeared in the bathroom doorway wearing only his dress pants. "I'd offer you a t-shirt but..."

"I'm not wearing your t-shirt," Patrick laughed, "Or worse..." He was referring to wearing any of the clothes Chris had left behind.

"Wait," Ellen froze and then scurried across her room to her walk in closet. She pulled something from the very back of the bottom drawer. It was a grey crewneck t-shirt. She tossed it to him.

"You took my t-shirt?" he was both surprised and endeared. "This is old," he continued. He pulled it over his head, "It still smells like cologne."

"Don't let it get to your head," she said playfully.

"Too late," Patrick's tone was cheeky. "When was this from," he leaned against the counter where she was doing her makeup.

"I don't know," she lied.

"Sure you do," his head was the size of a beach ball. Patrick lingered too close.

"Get out of here," she nudged him playfully.

"I'm serious," he stood his ground, "when."

"It was our second time," Ellen refused to look at him. Afraid she'd become victim to the nostalgia.

"Our second time what?" He played dumb. She shot him a dirty look, "oh," he smiled. "Our second time."

"Early season two," she confessed.

It was funny how they pieced their lives together in seasons of television. It was like grades in school. The years and ages seemed to blend together but the seasons marked the chapters of their lives, and even more so their relationship.

"What did I wear home?" He asked with a laugh.

"It was wardrobe," she rolled her eyes at him.

"And you thought... this is a nice shirt. I think I'll keep it for 20 years?"

"Stop it," she laughed, "I was like 12 years old. And you were very charming."

He settled against her again. Taking his default position of wrapping his arms around her waist, "You weren't sure we were in it for the long haul..."

"We shouldn't have been," Ellen leaned into him.

"I'm glad you were wrong," he kissed the side of her face, "But also glad you kept the t-shirt." He joked. His phone buzzed against the bathroom vanity. He glanced to it. His personal assistant, "I gotta go," his voice hesitant.

"Me too," she smiled turning to touch his chest lightly before flitting to her dresser to put on a pair of gold studs.  "Don't forget your watch. It's on the night stand."