Jason stirred awake, feeling a soft weight against his chest. Blinking in the morning light, he glanced down and found Aubrey snuggled into him, her face buried against his neck, her breath warm against his skin. His heart swelled at the sight of her, the peaceful expression on her face as she slept. He couldn't help but smile, the memory of last night replaying in his mind.

They had fallen asleep in each other's arms, and sometime during the night, their positions had shifted. Now, she was practically wrapped around him, her leg draped over his waist, and her arm thrown across his chest. Jason couldn't help but wonder how that had happened, but he decided not to think too much about it. Instead, he gently leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

Aubrey stirred, blinking slowly as her eyes fluttered open. She tilted her head up slightly, meeting his gaze, and a sleepy smile tugged at her lips. Her eyes softened as she took in the sight of him, the sunlight illuminating his face, casting a golden glow across his features.

"You're gorgeous," she muttered sleepily, her voice thick with the remnants of sleep.

Jason chuckled, feeling a slight blush creep up his neck. He wasn't used to compliments like that—especially not from someone like Aubrey. "Good morning to you, too," he said softly, his voice full of warmth.

Aubrey smiled, her face glowing with a mix of affection and amusement. She snuggled deeper into his chest, content to stay wrapped up in his warmth. Jason shifted slightly, wondering again how they'd ended up like this, but the thought quickly faded as he realized he didn't really care. He gently turned, rolling so that Aubrey was lying on top of him, her body pressed against his.

He threw one arm behind his head, using it as a makeshift pillow, while his other hand drifted to her back, tracing light circles on her skin. He could feel the subtle ridges of her scars beneath his fingertips, the reminders of battles she'd fought—both physical and emotional. Jason remembered her mentioning a tattoo on her back, and the thought crossed his mind to ask if he could see it someday. But for now, he was content to simply admire the woman lying on top of him.

Before he could dwell on the thought, their quiet moment was interrupted by the soft padding of paws. Jason looked over just in time to see Gypsy and Outlaw leap onto the bed. Both cats looked mildly unimpressed by the humans taking up their space, and Gypsy, in particular, seemed determined to remind them who the real owners of the bed were.

Gypsy wasted no time stepping directly onto Aubrey's back, earning a soft oof from her, before the cat curled up on the other side of Jason's chest, purring loudly. Jason laughed softly, watching the scene unfold. Outlaw, on the other hand, stood at the edge of the bed, looking a little left out.

With a grin, Jason momentarily lifted his arm from Aubrey's back, reaching out to pull Outlaw closer. "Come here, buddy," he said softly, bringing the reluctant cat closer to Aubrey's waist, where he promptly curled up, though still pretending not to care.

Aubrey made a small whining sound at the loss of his touch, shifting slightly against him. Jason chuckled, his heart warming at the way she reacted so naturally to him. "Relax, I was just grabbing Outlaw," he teased, running his hand along her back again.

Aubrey hummed in response, clearly content as she settled back against him. Jason looked around at the scene—the woman he cared for lying on top of him, two cats curled up beside them, and the peaceful quiet of the morning sun filtering through the windows. He couldn't help but laugh softly to himself.

"Six months ago, if someone had told me I'd be laying in bed with a woman I loved and two cats, I'd have told them they were tripping balls and asked who was selling something that potent."

The words slipped out before Jason even realized what he was saying, and for a moment, he froze. His heart stuttered in his chest as the weight of the confession hit him like a freight train. Loved. He had just said he loved Aubrey.

She had simply hummed in response, not truly hearing him. He was grateful, he wanted the moment he told her to be special.

Because, as the thought settled in his mind, Jason realized that it was true. He did love her. He loved the way she made him feel—safe, cared for, like he belonged. He loved the little life they had begun to build together, the small moments of normalcy they shared. And more than anything, he wanted to protect it. He wanted to keep her safe, to take down whoever was threatening them so they could have a future free of danger.

Determined, Jason's mind wandered to their mission. He resolved to find a way to dismantle the gangs and uncover the threat of the Waterkindle so that Aubrey could be safe. He wanted a future with her—one where they could figure out their next steps together, without the constant threat of danger hanging over their heads.

With those thoughts swirling in his mind, Jason allowed himself to drift off again, his arms still wrapped around Aubrey as the morning light bathed them in warmth.

A couple of hours later, Aubrey woke up to find herself alone in bed. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, panic settled in her chest as she reached out, only to find the bed empty except for the two sleeping cats curled up beside her. She quickly pushed the covers off, her heart racing, but the soft sound of Jason's voice reached her ears, calming her almost instantly.

She slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to disturb the cats, and padded down the hallway toward the kitchen. The smell of bacon and eggs hit her first, followed by the sound of Jason talking on the phone. She stopped in the doorway, her breath catching slightly at the sight before her.

Jason was standing at the stove, shirtless, his back to her as he cooked breakfast. His muscles shifted as he moved, the scars on his back only adding to the rugged appeal. He was talking to his brother, Dick, about the evidence they had found during patrol last night.

Aubrey leaned against the doorframe, admiring him for a moment before a small smirk crept across her face. She watched as Jason, distracted by the conversation, almost burned himself with the pan while trying to pull the bacon off the stove. She couldn't help but chuckle softly at the sight.

Deciding to help, she stepped into the kitchen just as Jason hung up the phone. He turned at the sound of her approaching, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. Without missing a beat, he grabbed a steaming mug of hot chocolate from the counter and handed it to her.

"Morning," he said, his voice soft but warm.

Aubrey took the mug with a smile, taking a slow sip of the rich drink before glancing up at him through her lashes. "This is officially my favorite way to wake up."

Jason raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a teasing grin. "The hot chocolate?"

She shook her head, grinning as she stepped closer to him. "No, it's you—shirtless in my kitchen."

Jason blinked, taken aback for a moment before a smirk tugged at his lips. But before he could respond, Aubrey turned with a smile, heading toward the bathroom to freshen up.

Jason stood there for a second, processing her words. She really said that, he thought, shaking his head with a grin as he turned back to the stove. But just as he started to refocus on the breakfast, he nearly forgot about the eggs. "Shit," he muttered, quickly pulling them off the burner.

A few minutes later, Aubrey returned, her hair neatly fixed and her face freshened. She joined him in the kitchen, slipping seamlessly into their routine as she helped him finish cooking. It felt natural—like they had been doing this for years. Jason couldn't help but glance at her as they worked, admiring the way she moved so effortlessly around the kitchen.

As they finally sat down to eat, Jason couldn't resist the grin that tugged at his lips. "You know, you're my favorite way to wake up, too," he said, his voice teasing but filled with genuine affection.

Aubrey rolled her eyes, though her cheeks flushed slightly. "Shut up and eat," she muttered, shaking her head at the grinning man across from her.

They fell into an easy rhythm as they ate, chatting about the case and everything they still had to figure out. But as they finished, Aubrey set her fork down and sighed softly.

"I have work today," she said, sounding reluctant.

Jason looked up, tilting his head curiously. "Work? We never really talked about our... civilian lives," he admitted with a chuckle. "What do you do?"

Aubrey smiled, leaning back in her chair. "Besides running my business? I volunteer as a nurse every now and then."

Jason's mind immediately wandered to less-than-innocent thoughts, and Aubrey caught the look in his eyes. She raised an eyebrow, smirking as she shook her head. "Don't even think about it."

Jason laughed, raising his hands in mock innocence. "What? I wasn't thinking anything."

Aubrey scoffed, clearly unconvinced. "Sure, you weren't."

He leaned forward, his grin mischievous. "Maybe I'll have to get banged up today just so a pretty volunteer nurse can patch me up."

Aubrey rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "You're impossible."

Jason chuckled, standing up to help her clear the table. "I'll probably head to the Manor, see what I can do with the cases while I'm killing time."

Aubrey nodded as they moved around the kitchen, washing dishes and putting things away. Their chatter was light and easy, the kind that came naturally when two people had grown comfortable in each other's presence.