Steel Ethereal

Ch. 37 Theft of the Vanishing

            

Rob

            It was two weeks after mine and Luciana's escapade to the North.

            I'm in Charlie's bedroom lying next to her, watching her cling the pillow. Knowing her, she thinks it to be me in her sleep. I yawn loudly knowing more sleep won't be a possibility. It's the second day sleep has evaded me.

I rise from the bed we share. It's still the cramped twin bed, but I find no better comfort without my Charlie. I pull my jeans on over my goose bump ridden skin. Winter is in full swing and the chill seeps through Charlie's closed windows. I prepare to brew coffee. I'd make her breakfast when she woke up.

"Mmph, Robby?" Charlie calls sleepily as I'm at her doorway. I turn to her to see her eyes barely peeked open. I look to her, my sleepy love.

"Rob, it's seven in the morning. Come back to sleep with me," She says weakly. Her hand is outstretched.

I walk to the bed, "I'll be back, just get some sleep, love." I say. I feel a bit of embarrassment at my choice of words. I've never called her that. Worrying about what she'd think or say, I pull a sheet over her head.

She stirs from the sheets, giggling and leaps from her spot to pull me onto the bed. We wrestle for a bit and our match ends with her limbs wrapped around me.

We settle for a second for her to blow a strand of stray hair from her face.

She sits up and kneels, I can't help but be perplexed by her beauty.

She kisses me.

"What are we?" She asks. It's the second time she's asked me.

"I... I... don't know..." The question catches me off guard. I had thought about the question and planned to bring it up myself. But for her to do it so soon? My words I had planned are thrown out the window.

"Well, you sleep with me? Not anyone else, right?" She asks, cradling my face in her hands. Her face changes to solemn and sincere. I want her to smile or crack a joke. I'm so nervous.

"No!" I blurt out, "I never could. Well, that and I don't know anyone else..."

"Luciana or Jenna. Even Sam." She mentions.

"No. They wouldn't be you. Charlie, I couldn't..."

"Point for you," She says smiling, "You do spend day and night with me. Here and at your place too."

"You mean when I'm not out and about getting gravely injured." I mutter.

She shuts me up with a kiss to my lips then to my neck. Her hair is a jumble in its messy bun. I think she's beautiful and nothing would change that.

"There is something here, I..."

"I love you." I blurt out. Her hands are still cradled around my cheeks.

She giggles, turning a bright shade of pink. "I love you too."

She has me, and when we're done we sleep a bit longer. It's two hours later when we wake up and I make breakfast for the both of us, admiring the love I have before me.

The next day is our next day to return as officers. Charlie is deemed able to return to service, having escaped Liam's order to remain off her feet and avoid strenuous activity.

Charlie put in her request to back out of Apex. Though Riley seemed a bit let down, he respected her decision and the two shook hands.

I was taken off standby and would be able to return to my normal work hours.