As the cruiser moved through space, you anxiously watched out the window until your eyes fell on the lights. It was the perfect time to see them.

       Rick pulled the cruiser closer, flying straight into the middle of the lights. All around the craft, colors danced, looking as though they were actually living, breathing, dancing. Your eyes widened as you took it all in, your jaw dropping. "No way," your voice was breathy, full of awe. "Can I?" You motioned to your window. Rick nodded and you lowered it, sticking your hand out and moving it through the bright streak of violet near you. You moved your fingers around, watching as the light danced around them.

       It was absolutely beautiful. In the distance, further away from the cruiser, bright stars twinkled in the backdrop, shining through the vast colors. It was amazing, better than anything you'd ever imagined. It was everything you ever dreamed of. All around, vibrant colors twisted, spiraling around one another and mixing to create more color. It was truly a wondrous sight to behold, and you couldn't believe you were here now, after everything that had happened in your life, everything that had happened today.

       You stuck your other hand out the window, twisting your body to move your fingers around. Your hands began to swirl around in the color as you waved them through the violet hue, watching the light dance behind and around your body. You weren't just witnessing the lights, you were interacting with them, touching them though there was nothing to feel, grabbing them though there was nothing to hold on to.

       "It's amazing." You pulled yourself back into your seat, staring all around you. It was a majestic sight, invigorating and revitalizing. You felt as though, in this moment, everything was right. There was nothing wrong in your life, nothing hurt. You were whole again, something about the hues that pieced your very being back together, sending it off with a kiss and watching over you. The colors were welcoming, inviting you to relax and live again, to forget and love.

       Your eyes continued moving along until they fell on Rick. He was looking out the windshield as well, looking every bit as content as you felt. His eyes moved along, following the colors as he turned his head slowly. You admired the view, watching the colors dance around him. They surrounded him, wrapped him in wondrous beauty. 

       His eyes slowly met yours, the blue every bit as warm, welcoming, and electrifying as it had been on the very first day you'd gazed into them. The feeling was nothing like when you'd first met the Rick of your dimension. This feeling was different, much more overwhelming. Something stirred within you and you smiled. Rick smiled back at you, that same crooked smile that made your breath hitch, stopped your heart, and made you feel whole again as you lost yourself in it. You couldn't help but give a small smile in return. You felt heat rise in your cheeks as you slowly peeled your eyes away and looked back out the windshield.  

       The two of you sat in silence, watching the colors move around for the longest time before you'd each had your fill. You yawned slightly, the view every bit as beautiful as it had been when you'd first arrived yet you were still exhausted. Rick slowly shifted gear, giving you a moment to take it all in and add it to your memory yet again before he began to soar off, the lights disappearing behind you. 

       "That was absolutely breathtaking." Your voice was soft as you quickly found yourselves back in the garage. You stepped out of the cruiser, slightly tired yet still filled with an indescribable, amazing, feeling. Rick walked around and made his way over to his desk, standing near it as he set a few things down. He turned around to face you, smiling softly after a moment. "I'm glad you enjoyed it." 

       "Are you kidding? That was the most wonderful thing I've ever experienced. That was absolutely, breath takingly inspiring. I can't even describe how I feel right now. That was just... amazing." Rick smiled wider, "It was amazing."

        You had no idea what to say to him, no idea how to convey just how much this meant to you. You had been promised, at 17, that you would see the lights like that. But that was before it all changed. Now, nearly 5 years later, you'd seen it with somebody else, somebody that filled you with a similar, indescribable feeling, somebody that made you feel important, safe, special.

       There were so many things you wanted to say to him, so many words that could describe exactly what you were feeling in this moment.

       Thank you.
       That was beautiful.
       I loved that.
       I love you.
      That was amazing.
      Nobody's ever done something like that for me.

       You settled for a hug, moving over to Rick and throwing your arms around his middle. You pressed yourself against him, your cheek pressed against his shoulder and you held him tight. After a moment, his arms came up and wrapped around you as he reciprocated the gesture. A smile crept onto your face and you felt a few tears roll down your cheeks. You were absolutely overjoyed in this moment, absolutely loved, adored, everything you'd ever wanted. 

       You pulled back after a moment, wiping at your eyes and drying your cheeks. Your heart absolutely swelled as you smiled slightly up at Rick. "I'm glad you liked it," he said softly. He smiled back at you, but there was something in his eyes, something small, yet sad, like he wanted something he knew he couldn't have. It was such a small thing, something barely noticeable, and you couldn't help but wonder what it was that could burden such a man so much.

        As you felt around your pocket for your key, knowing it was late, you were filled with a feeling of dread, for several reasons. One of them being that you didn't want to leave right now. Another was a fear that Evil Rick and Morty would show up at your apartment in the middle of the night, and you'd be unable to fight back this time. There were several reasons swimming in your thoughts before you looked back up at Rick.

       "Would it be asking too much," you smiled sheepishly, "if I asked to stay here, with you? I don't want those two showing up at my apartment or anything, and it just... feels wrong, to leave right now. I don't know why, but I just feel like I need to stay here." You rubbed your arm, biting your lip as you stared up at Rick. He smiled after a moment, that small something in his eyes fading slightly. He nodded, "Sure, (Y/N)."

       You smiled up at him, pulling him into another hug. This time, it hadn't taken as long for him to wrap his arms around you and hold you tight, like he was afraid you'd disappear if he let go. He released you after a moment. "You can use my room, if you want. I can sleep on the couch or something."

        You let out a small, awkward laugh, "Could you.. If I'm not asking too much tonight, could you, um, stay with me? If you, uh, don't mind." Rick shook his head as he closed his eyes and chuckled, "Sure."

       He led you out of the garage and up the stairs, opening a door that apparently led to his room. It was small, but nothing too bad. There were papers on the wall with strings attaching them, and a small, cluttered desk. You walked in and Rick followed. "Do you want me to leave the door open?" He turned to you, his hand resting on the side of the wood. "You can do whatever you usually do, I don't mind either way." Rick shut the door after turning on the light. You stood in the middle of his room, looking at the papers on the wall for a moment before yawning. 

       "If you want, you can use these." Rick held out a pair of pajama bottoms to you, fuzzy and grey. You took them, "Are you sure? I don't mind staying in this." You were currently in jeans and a t-shirt, not the most comfortable of sleeping clothes. Rick nodded, shrugging out of his lab coat. "I would go to the bathroom and change, but I think, at this point, you've seen me in the least amount of clothing enough times for me to really not give a shit anymore." You laughed lightly as Rick did the same before you changed your pants, pulling Rick's on and enjoying the soft warmth. 

       "Do you mind if I take my shirt off? I'm trying not to push too many boundaries here." You stood awkwardly for a moment. Rick laughed, "I don't mind. Do whatever makes you comfortable." He paused, "Would you prefer I changed in the bathroom?" He glanced over to you. "Well," you chuckled, "you've seen me in my underwear enough times for it not to be awkward anymore." You couldn't help but laugh at the memory of the first time he'd shown up in your room.

       As you pulled the shirt over your head, you spoke, "Remember the first time you popped in to say hello? I was drunk off my ass and lucky for throwing that blanket over me. You were so weirded out." You giggled, "Now you just don't care anymore. That's development for you." 

       You couldn't help but watch, through your peripheral vision, as Rick shrugged out of his own shirt. You proceeded to fold your clothes absentmindedly, noticing that he may appear to be similar to your first, but he was definitely built differently. He leaned over to grab another set of pajama bottoms, stepping out of his shoes as he grabbed them. His shoulder blades were prominent as he held them up and made sure they were what he wanted. You noticed the small scars that lined his body, most likely from dangerous situations he'd been in. 

       You grabbed your lab coat and folded it up as best you could, avoiding dropping anything from the pockets, as you continued to watch Rick. You couldn't help it, your eyes were drawn to him and it was impossible for you to look away. As he changed his pants, you saw that, as he had his back turned to you still, he was definitely, noticeably, built differently than your first love. This one was different.

       He was different in almost every way, except for the hair and those flawless, pained, crystal blue eyes. You finished folding your shirt and set your clothes on his desk chair before wandering over to his bed, sitting on the edge of it. You set your phone on the small nightstand near it, making sure to silence it as Rick wandered over and sat near you.

       "I dunno how you want this to work, kid." He ran a hand through his hair, a tired yawn escaping as he did so. He stood once more and switched the light off, the room illuminated slightly by the light cast by the moon through the window. You continued to sit on his bed, watching as he moved slowly, yet swiftly, going through what seemed to be his normal routine. He crawled onto his bed and laid down, leaving space for you as he laid on his back.

       You twisted your body and bit your lip, trying to figure out how you wanted to lay. You moved to the side, setting yourself up comfortably. "I hope you don't mind," you moved closer to Rick, "but I'm a bit of a cuddle bug, myself." Rick hummed in response, adjusting himself slightly. You laid down, pressing your head lightly to his chest. You laid partially on your stomach, your belly pressed against him as your chest pressed against his middle. You threw one leg over his and laid as close to him as you could, placing your hands beneath your head and sighing. The sound of his heart beating was every bit as relaxing as it had been when he'd helped you all that time ago. 

        Rick let out a very content sound as he moved only very slightly, placing a hand on the small of your back. You couldn't help but smile softly as you drifted to sleep, feeling extremely safe in this moment.