Point Blank

Chapter Twelve

Chapter 12

Hayes leant back and popped his shoulders, his report blaring on his desktop screen. It was due in a couple of hours and he was going over the final draft and looking at the notes Felix had left after she had read it through. The pair had arrived at work particularly early this morning, finding themselves to be the first ones into the office this morning.

Flicking his eyes to wear his partner was sitting, he couldn't help the smile that graced his features when he saw Felix spinning in her chair, bopping her head to whatever music was playing through her earphones. It was something she didn't do so often now, but when they first started as the lead detectives, she would dance around the office on their late nights, hyped on caffeine.

Watching her properly without blatantly staring at her, Hayes watched his partner with curious eyes. Felix had her hair up in a bun, but the stray and short soft curls fell loose, framing her face but never taking away from her eyes. Those gorgeous eyes he couldn't get enough of.

Adults. He had said it to nearly everyone in his life at this point, both him and Felix where adults and what they did in their time ad whom they spent it with was their own business. If it was each other, why should it be anyone's business? However, in all honesty, he'd noticed a shift. How now he spent more time in her apartment but spending the nights talking, dancing in her kitchen and failing at making some sort of cake at two in the morning because Felix 'wanted icing but needs the cake as well'.

Felix had her knees pulled up to her chest, head rested on top of them. She could feel Hayes watching her but continued to bop along to the beat of the song playing in her ears as she typed a progress report for a media release. When he flicked his eyes back to his own screen, Felix tilted her head, watching Hayes type. His jacket, the one that she had given him as a birthday present after they had left the academy was hung on the back of his chair, the worn leather showed at the elbows but still held. He never wore it out in the felid for fear of damaging it. Mentioning his birthday made her remember that she needed to call into Hayes' Mothers house to drop off the cake. His birthday was tomorrow night and she hoped to surprise him with a visit from his brother, his brother-in-law and nephew for his birthday. Ryan would be arriving with his little family tonight and Mama would call Hayes over for a simple dinner.

The song changed to a more upbeat track, so Felix paused it and took out her earphones. Slipping from her chair over tot eh corner table where a random speaker sat, she connected her phone up and turned to her partner, who had followed her movements with his eyes, questioning.

"Felix what are you doing?" Hayes was confused, it was early, and his hyperactive partner was now grinning at him widely.

"Up we're dancing." Felix pulled Hayes up by the arm and pushed the table slightly over so there was room.

Without any hesitation, Hayes gripped Felix's hands and worked on remembering the steps Mama had taught him when he had a school dance. Spinning Felix around the tiny area, laughing as they went.

This is how the two passed the time for the next few tracks. Dancing, laughing and stolen kisses in the office, not caring if the blinds were up and the door wide open for the arriving officer members to see. Who wasn't complaining seeing them have their moment of fun and smiles.

∞

Honestly, he had no intention of doing much for his birthday other than seeing his Mother and maybe grabbing a bite to eat with Felix. He had plans for the upcoming weekend with some academy buddies, but nothing really planned for the actual day. He'd arrived at his Mother's a while ago, helping make some salad when there was a light knock at the front door.

"Mama?" He questioned when she gestured him to wait as she opened the door.

"Ah, my darling girl you look gorgeous, absolutely stunning. Xavier, baby, wouldn't you agree?"

Xavier choked on air when he looked up and saw Felix giving his Mother a warm hug, soft smile gracing her lips. He also couldn't help himself from letting his eyes wander for a moment. However, he averted his eyes up when Mama clicked her fingers at him. "Xavier put those eyes back in your head, I don't want them in my salad."

Felix let out a laugh and moved to give him a hug, to which he responded too by wrapping his arms tightly around her, savouring the feeling of her nails scratching the baby hairs at the base of his neck, a small shudder went through him.

"Happy Birthday Xavier." She whispered into his ear, having slipped her arms from around his neck to under his jacket, locked around his middle. "I have one more surprise."

Hayes looked down at her smiling features, still holding her when the back bedroom door opened and his nephew came running out, crashing into both of their legs and squealing loudly. Ryan and his partner Parker followed suit. Ryan having his hand in Parker's back pocket as they walked side by side.

∞

The small family ate dinner, minus the two-year-old who got it nearly everywhere but his mouth. Parker excusing himself from the table to give his son a bath. Felix quickly stood, helping clear the table and much to his Mothers protest, helped her wash the dishes.

This left Hayes and brother at the table. "Still cannot believe she didn't let it slip you were here, Mama sucks at secrets," Hayes spoke in some disbelief.

Ryan laughed, leaning into his chair. "Mama knows when things need to be said." Ryan coughed slightly before nodding his head to wear Felix was having a lively conversation with their Mother. "She fits with us, the family I mean."

Hayes nodded without a second thought. "I know you said not to go there with my work partner but Ryan, I can't help but want to, she's the only one I'd trust to be around Leo, to even be here at the moment. Felix, I can't describe it but, its Felix and I don't think there will be another her."

"I can tell you what your feeling is love Xavier, unbounded, full-hearted love. I know what I said, but that was before I saw you with her tonight. The way you hold her, and the way Felix holds you, it reminded me of one of my wedding photos." Ryan couldn't help but smile whole-heartedly at the mention of it. "If you don't take your shot with this Xavier, I will shove a sparkly rainbow boot up your ass."

Hayes laughed a deep belly laugh and flicked his eyes over to Felix again. Watching as she danced with his Mother around the little kitchen. Smiling so much her eyes crinkled. He could also hear his nephews giggle from where he was getting a bath. It was his little family. One he so deeply cherished.