They wake up at the same time, most mornings. It comes from habit. Felicity always spends a little longer in bed; by the time she comes downstairs, Caitlin's already making breakfast. This morning is the same as every other morning, except for the fact that it's practically Hanukkah and Christmas - just a few more hours to go.
Ordinarily, Felicity would be excited- not necessarily about seeing her relatives. Her mother's side of the family was warm enough, but the few times she'd seen her paternal grandparents had been a little difficult. This was hardly going to be the first Hanukkah in years she hasn't spent with relatives.
However, today, her head wasn't aching and her mouth felt raw. She tested her upper jaw with her tongue and regretted it.
An hour after Felicity woke, she found the energy to make it down the stairs and into the kitchen. Caitlin was stirring her coffee with a spoon. "Happy almost-Hanukkah," she said.
"Happy almost-Christmas," Felicity said, sliding into her customary seat with a little less control than usual. "I feel awful."
"I can see that." Caitlin's hands had folded around the mug-handle. "Are we going to talk about this?"
Felicity didn't have to ask what she was talking about. "Yes," she said. "I mean, now's a good time, right? We're celebrating."
"You look tired, though. Maybe we should just - "
"Maybe." They were quiet. "Are we - it's not as though we have to move in together."
Caitlin sounded tired, too: "Oliver called last night."
Something twisted painfully - a reminder of what might have been. "What did he say?"
"He was happy for us. He knew."
"Did everybody know? They've probably been making bets about us."
The curtains were tangled in the window. Felicity untied them - always useful to have something to do with her hands. The street below was quiet in the dark and early hour. There wasn't any snow - not yet - but she was still hopeful that, by the evening, there would be.
Caitlin touched Felicity's back. She wrapped both arms around Felicity's waist and rested her head in the hollow of her shoulder. Felicity slowly lifted her hands from the windowsill and touched Caitlin's; she overlaid them, lacing their fingers together.
"I don't think it'll snow," Caitlin said. "You don't have to look so sad about it."
"There's still a chance," Felicity said. She turned around, touches Caitlin's waist as lightly as she could. Caitlin's hands came to rest on her upper-arms. Somewhere, there were sirens. Caitlin's face flashed blue - once, twice - and the noise faded. Felicity laughed: "Am I ever going to stop listening for that?"
Caitlin's fingers pressed against her lower jaw and Felicity tilted her head back. They kissed gently.
Caitlin broke it first. "We said we'd go and visit Barry. He'll probably just run over here and fetch us if we don't."
"I'd quite like to know what that felt like," Felicity said. "Super-speed..."
"Don't even think about it," Caitlin said. "One of us with powers is enough. I can tell you right now, it's not good. And no, before you say anything, I can't make it snow."
"But if you practised..."
"Maybe next year," Caitlin smiled.
