Of All The Sidewalks - Gailey

177 Words

where did you go to end up right back here?

His request, though maybe a little intimate, didn't bother her any. It was the most normal she'd felt in the last ten years. Not because she was doing housewife things, although that was her normal, but because she was doing them for Gabriel. They'd practically lived together, only switching off between apartments depending on schedules. And Will. The brief memory of the surly fellow Brit made her grin and she realized she hadn't answered yet, "Oh, uh, yeah. No, it's fine. I totally don't mind." Maybe she sounded a little too into it.

Bailey chewed on her lip and glanced down at her feet briefly, "Uh, where at? Kitchen sink, or uh, I dunno this apartment that well." It wasn't like she could take him into the shower and do it, that would have been way too forward. Plus, she wasn't sure she was quite there yet.

when did you start to forget how to fly?

258 Words

where did you go to end up right back here?

Once he had everything situated, Bailey could feel her palms starting to get a little clammy. She supposed she was just glad that he wouldn't be able to notice since her hands were about to be soaped up. She couldn't figure out why she was so nervous about washing his hair. It was something she'd done countless times, and something he'd done to her back when they were together. But that was the problem, she had been eighteen years old when he left and now she was almost thirty and still single, seemingly waiting for this day to happen.

She tested the water with her hand and once it was warm enough she began wetting his freshly cut hair. Her hand circled the back of his neck to rinse off any hair that had clung to the skin. Her fingers massaged his temples and worked their way back and forth with the shampoo sudsing up. After a few passes, she rinsed through it and turned the water off. Bailey brushed her thumb across his forehead and smiled down at him, "Okay, love, you're all done." She grabbed the towel that she'd set aside and draped it over his face with a laugh before scooting out of his reach.

Bailey leaned back against the counter and folded her arms around herself, the awkwardness starting to settle over her again.

when did you start to forget how to fly?

212 Words

where did you go to end up right back here?

Bailey was hesitant when he tugged at her, but the smile on his face melted her hesitation and she let him pull her closer. Her eyes avoided his for as long as she could tolerate before she glanced at him and narrowed her eyes with a playful smile, "Whattaya want, Ducky?"

She could only really say what she wanted and it wasn't very helpful for their situation. It didn't change the fact that she was dying for them to pick up right where they'd left off. Bailey hadn't changed all that much, other than finishing school and becoming a nurse, but that had always been her plan. She still lived in the same place, wore the same clothes and loved him just the same as when he'd left. Her anger that she'd held onto had dissipated the first moment he said her name. Scratch that, the first moment he spoke to her.

Bailey reached out for his hand and her eyes dropped to the way his hands always made hers look so tiny. There was another thing that remained unchanged between them.

when did you start to forget how to fly?

266 Words

where did you go to end up right back here?

He might as well have plucked his words from her mind because that was exactly how she felt. She adjusted herself on his lap and leaned her head against his chest. She could feel his voice vibrating through his body and his words weren't lost on her. He had been gone for way too long and it wasn't fair for him to come back into her life like nothing had happened. But she hadn't made any moves to stop it either. If she was being fair to herself, she never would have agreed to their plans or suggested them in the first place.

She didn't want to be fair to herself though. Despite how much she knew it was going to hurt if he left again, it was still worth what little time she'd get with him. It was only everything she'd been asking for since he left. Bailey looked up at him when he kissed her hand and she could have probably guessed what his next words would be if she tried.

With a frown, she pulled her eyes away from his and looked down. "You have to know that I'd do anything you asked me to. Ten years apart hasn't changed that," But she was certain it was going to wreck her. Biting down on her lip, she peeked back up at him, "Why isn't this harder to do? It's like you never left...."

when did you start to forget how to fly?

196 Words

where did you go to end up right back here?

Bailey placed her hands on either side of his face and leaned in closer, "When have I ever done anything because I felt like I had to?" It wasn't her way. She did a lot of things for him and while she found it hard to say no more often than not, she didn't feel like she had to say yes. Her thumbs stroked his cheekbones and she gave him a small smile.

Before she got in her own head, she leaned forward closer and pressed her lips to his briefly, "I want to stay with you. I don't want to leave. And I want to spend the rest of the night talking like we used to and catching up on everything that we missed. And I'm aware of my rambling right now, but I don't care because it's you and I don't have to worry about acting ridiculous." That was probably the best part about them, they got each other much better than anyone else.

when did you start to forget how to fly?

225 Words

where did you go to end up right back here?

Her arms wrapped around his neck when he kissed her again and she smiled against his lips. It was easy. It was so easy. She didn't care that she had to be the one to kiss him, in fact, the more she thought about it, the more she was happy that she'd made the decision to do it. Her fingers stroked the back of his neck and she grinned again at the fact that she'd just cut the hair that would have been there otherwise.

"I can't imagine Will and I will be doing much talking, we haven't since you left," And she wasn't entirely sure that was a bad thing. She adored him, of course, but she knew that he was damaged goods and that he weighed down on Gabe. Of course, that had been ten years ago, she wasn't really sure now.

She tightened her arms around his neck and closed her eyes, "I'm glad I'm here, too, Ducky. And I'm glad I don't have to leave. And I'm also glad that I kissed you first because now I don't have to wait longer to do it again." Bailey giggled against his shoulder.

when did you start to forget how to fly?