[EEL Fic: That Home]
Taylor climbed the stairs to the flat above the bar wearily; tonight had been a long one. Darin would follow him shortly, after he'd shut off the lights and locked up. He opened the door to his room and saw Nora fast asleep in his bed. He smiled, she always looked adorable all curled up like that. Careful not to wake her, Taylor kicked off his shoes and trousers, turned out the light and crawled in next to her, wrapping his arm around her torso. Nora stirred, moving her arm so that she could hold him closer. "Didn't mean to wake you," he said softly, nuzzling the back of her neck. "Mm no I'm glad you did, sorry for being such a bore tonight," she replied sleepily, reaching around to run her hand through her boyfriend's hair. Taylor smiled down at her, "Don't apologize, you're probably exhausted and it was crazy tonight," his eyes closed involuntarily at Nora's touch, gods he loved it when she did that. "I am," she confirmed, "But only one more week and you'll have a legit Auror for a girlfriend." Taylor felt a surge of pride, and instead of responding verbally right away he leaned in and kissed her deeply. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered against her lips, and he felt her answering smile. He kissed her again and Nora shifted herself around so that they were facing each other, snaking her arms around him. Taylor was all for late-night sex, but he had something he needed to say first. As he broke their kiss he trailed a few up her neck before whispering against her skin: "Nora, I want you to move in with me." Nora's eyes flew open as he lifted his head to look at her. "Really?" she asked hopefully, with a hint of nervousness. Had she heard him right? He wanted them to live together? Gods, she wanted that more than anything. Taylor nodded, intertwining their hands. "Yeah, I mean, I've been thinking about it loads, and once you start working I'll be going out of my mind worrying about you..and I just think it would be better if I knew you would be coming home to me at the end of the day so that if something ever happened to you I'd know right away.." he trailed off. "I just want to..keep you safe." Nora reached up to stroke his cheek. "You are so adorable," she said. "Gods I love you. Of course I want to live with you. And I know you're going to worry even if I tell you not to, but I'm going to be fine. Derek will be there too, don't forget."
"I love you too," he replied, "And I know Derek'll be there but yeah, doesn't change the fact that you're going up against the people responsible for the bloody mess that's happening out there right now," he motioned around his head to indicate 'out there.' Nora frowned. "No it doesn't, but I can look after myself, I promise. Don't be such a somber git, this is exciting!" she exclaimed, shoving him lightly. Taylor had to laugh. "Yes it is," he said with a grin, leaning down to kiss her again. "Brilliant, even." Taylor had a brief flashback to his sixteen year old self, and how disbelieving he would be if he could see his future self, asking a girl to live with him. He expected that regardless of his previous vow to remain a single bloke, eternally breaking hearts, if he was going to change that for anybody it would've been Nora. They just..made sense. They belonged together.
"Mm, I can't wait to wake up with you every morning." Nora said, snuggling closer to him.
"Yep, and make me breakfast every morning, pour my coffee, hand me my morning paper.."
Nora snorted. "As long as you do the dishes." Taylor put on a face of mock horror. "Moi? Clean up after myself? I'm afraid you are quite mistaken my dear. You are just going to have to learn to behave in the presence of the man of the house," he indicated to himself. "Oh, of course, how could I ever have been so foolish to think otherwise!" Nora replied, and they both laughed at this.
"Seriously though love, is the only reason you want me to move in with you so that you can keep an eye on me?" Somehow that made the whole thing less meaningful. "Of course not," Taylor answered, "It was just what made me finally ask you. The final deciding factor I s'pose. I get to have you all to myself and make sure you're home safe and sound at the end of the day. Win win," he grinned. "Win-win," Nora echoed.
Heeheehee I found this hiding in a notebook. I think I wrote it back in the summer of '10. Ooh good times for EEL.