The First Punch [t.h.]

Chapter 16 - Parental Figures

SJ's body is warm with Tom's arms wrapped snugly around her body. The sound of him softly snoring fills her ears and she smiles to herself with contentment. She wiggles the grip of his arms loose enough so she can turn around and face him. Tom lets out a groan and his grip tightens.

"No, don't go." He mutters, face scrunching.

"I'm turning around." SJ chuckles, finishing facing him.

Tom peaks an eye open and a tired smile comes to his face. "Oh."

SJ shakes her head as she curls into his chest. Tom's arms pull her as close to him as possible before his fingers brush up and down her back. SJ lets out a satisfied sigh and she'd give anything to stay like this. It's like they're in their own little bubble. It's just the two of them in his living room, curled up under a thick blanket, and it feels like the safest place there ever could be. There's no Arthur, no fighting, it's just them being together, arms around each other and legs intertwined. What would it cost to just stay like that?

Tom's alarm starts going off and both him and SJ groan. Tom leans over her and to the floor, grabbing his phone and shutting the alarm off. He leans back and is met with her stare. She looks almost timid, kind of like she doesn't really know what to do or say and there's this small part of Tom that almost finds it a bit comical. SJ's quick-witted but right now, nothing. She's looking at him and waiting for him to say something more and Tom is in love with her.

"'Mornin', darlin." Tom smiles and brushes a few strands of hair away from her face.

"Morning." SJ blushes.

"You stayed." Tom whispers and his face softens.

"I told you I would."

Tom shakes his head and a smile splits his face before he leans in and kisses her. SJ kisses him back and Tom can feel her smile against him and it's like he's moved an entire mountain. He's been addicted to her since day one and she couldn't care less. It's taken a lot but she cares now and it's the best feeling.

"Hey," SJ pulls away and she dodges his stare. "Um, thanks...for not leaving." SJ bites her lip and it means the world because everyone always leaves.

"I'll never leave you." Tom says and there's not an ounce of hesitance in his voice because he means it.

SJ can pull anything at this point and Tom wouldn't turn his back on her. He's not everyone else. He cares about her and he'll be right there even if she doesn't want him to be because no one deserves to be alone. He's with her through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

SJ's cheeks a pretty shade of pink as she kisses him again and she likes kissing him like this, not heated or needy. Just kissing him to kiss him.

"I've to get ready for work." Tom mutters against her lips. "What time you've to go in?"

"Oh.." SJ pulls away. "I got laid off for the week."

Tom's heart sinks as SJ tells him. "What happened?"