Who, Being Loved, is Poor?

(OOC: I can feel the rambling coming on. Apologies)


With the anticipation of the day to come, Avery found herself waking up repeatedly in the night, as if she would miss the time she needed to wake if she didn’t do so. Each time she woke, she would find herself curled around her husband again, not entirely sure how she got there. A teasing voice suggested that he was actually the one pulling her over to use him as a pillow, but Avery was fairly certain she was still a little concerned about everything that had happened in December. It didn’t matter that it had been over a month since the attack and his sudden return to her side, or that she had been staying the night in his room each night since. The idea that nothing but a fight could ruin them still made her shiver and cling to him for warmth.

Since moving her things back into his room, Avery almost always woke with her arm curled around his, with it lying over his torso, or with Robin’s arm draped over her. She felt almost bad about it, noting that the first time she had seen him asleep was at Brunch, when he’d been on his stomach. He probably didn’t like sleeping on his back, for all she knew.

The fact that her mind was even going over this hinted to Avery that she was not going to be able to fall back asleep. As tempted as she was to lean over and wake Robin up with a kiss on his nose, she had things she had to do before she could let him leave the room.

After the blankets were pushed back, she found it impossible to ignore the chill of the air that hit her legs. Perhaps the boy shorts and slip had been a bad idea. Glancing over at Robin as he slept, though, she nearly smirked at the direction of her thoughts. It had been a good while since she had even considered allowing her thoughts to divert in such a way. Since the attack, probably. Avery wasn't sure. Honestly, it probably had something to do with the challenge they had given each other as well as the knowledge that the day would bring nothing but wonder and affection. He had been treating her as if she would break should he hold her too firmly, or fall apart if he let her alone. So, while nothing had actually come about because of her choices thus far, it didn't mean that she couldn't suggest to him that things could change, finally.

Tiptoeing over to the closet, she pulled out a fluffy robe and shrugged it on as she headed out to set up everything she needed. It was far too early, if she was being honest, so preparations were hasty but thought out. By the time she finished, she still managed to hold onto a precious half hour extra of sleep. Avery settled back into the blankets, slipping off the robe before doing so, and made sure to give Robin the space to spread out if he wanted it.

Her alarm woke her, forcing her to open her eyes again. Rolling to look at him, Avery smiled to herself. He had no idea what was coming, and she loved it. When they first met there was always some element of wonder and curiosity and while that hadn’t died out, moments where it shone through made her almost giddy. She debated over waking him before deciding that she could just hand him her letter rather than leaving it for him. Besides, if he didn’t see it, then what would she do?

“Robin,” she whispered, with an almost sing-song tone. Lifting herself on her hand, she leaned over to set her free hand on the other side of his head. She nipped playfully at his nose before pressing her lips against the pulse point of his neck. “I’m sorry, baby, I know it’s early, but I have to leave soon.”

When he seemed reluctant to move, Avery rolled her eyes and sat up to frown at him. Letting out a huff, she swung a leg over his waist, settling herself on top of him. Her fingers ran over his chest, and she leaned down to run her lips over his jaw and pressed them against his own. “I have something for you. But if you don’t want it I guess I can just leave…” She let her voice trail off, lifting herself up so she hovered above him. “I’ll see you tonight, love.”

Smiling to herself, she reached over to the table to snatch the envelope and set it next to his hand so she could swing her leg back over and off the bed. Not quite wanting to leave, she took her time to extend her hand and toyed with the parchment, eyeing it and pretending she wasn’t hoping he would ask her to stay a bit longer. Avery hadn’t told him, but she was getting off work ridiculously early, even for a Sunday. The day was full of surprises - and she would be mightily surprised if he beat her. Biting her lip, she picked up the envelope and moved to lower herself atop him once more.

Robin's least favorite part of the day had always been waking up. But if it happened like this every day he might have to reconsider.

One minute the sweet clutches of sleep held him in a soft embrace, the next he was being rudely awoken by neck kisses. Robin opened his eyes to a vision of golden hair dancing around his face as Avery leaned over him, her legs straddled around his waist. He let out a mock groan at her weight, the sound obscured as her lips pressed against his, a gesture which Robin returned, rising his head up to meet hers.

Avery's fingers were running down his naked chest and suddenly Robin was not-so-sleepy. This sudden display of affection threw into light how long it had been since they had been so intimate and Robin was pleasantly surprised by her indelicate touch. Avery's lips left him and a piece of parchment was being dangled in her hands as she threatened to leave him there. With a devilish smile Robin sat up and grabbed the paper, stealing a kiss.

He casually threw the paper to the empty side of the bed, pulling Avery down with him back towards the bed. He deepened the kiss, his smile never disappearing as he took advantage of the moment, almost forgetting the delicate care that he had been treating her wife. In this second Avery didn't feel breakable - no, she felt soft and warm and solid where his hands traced her shape.

Robin rolled the pair of them, propping himself up on his hands so he looked down upon her but held his own weight. He lowered himself down and gave Avery another slow, lingering kiss, intimate in it's own right. His lips trailed to her chin and neck in a reverse path of where hers had gone. They lingered just on the edge of her chest before he pulled away. "Call in sick." Only the slightest tinge of sleepiness lingered in his throat and his attempt at puppydog eyes couldn't mask the mischievous glimmer underneath.

Robin's hand snuck Avery's robe to trace over the small bump that had started to show as the first visible sign of their daughter. He removed his hand and pushed himself up until he was positioned over her lips again. "No one will ever know." he grinned wickedly, staring down at his wife and feeling almost like himself for the first time in months.

Avery offered a mock-pout as he snatched the letter away without a glance; he was losing that last hour of sleep she had offered before he was expected to follow the rules of her Valentines plans. At the same time, she was nowhere near wanting to complain about his actions. Instead, her fingers pushed into his hair, tugging gently as she leaned over him and met his attentions with equal fervor.

A quiet gasp escaped as he flipped them, but it only brought up a smile as his lips met hers again. Avery’s back arched as her head sank further into the pillow, giving him the access he suddenly wanted. Well, she mused, she had done her job right if he had finally realized she wasn’t going to fall to bits if he tried anything. It wasn’t entirely her fault that she wanted it back, though, honestly. Pregnancy did strange things, as evidenced by her unusual appetites and apparent need for him to help her get things back to normal.

Call in sick. Merlin, she wanted to. More than she had wanted anything in a long time. His expression made her smile, one hand reaching up to brush over his cheek as her gaze danced over his face. Avery hoped he noticed how adoring her expression was. “What would Fergus say?” She teased, ducking her chin so she could look at him through her lashes.

Robin’s wandering hand distracted her, heart soaring as it passed over her middle, his eyes taking in the fact that she had started to show. It wasn’t the first time he had noticed, but Avery couldn’t remember the last time he allowed himself to be distracted from the possibility of her staying in bed with him. When he moved up to hover over her again, she let her hands trail over his back and properly take in the feel of him for the first time in far too long. Deciding that it would be perfectly alright to stay around the house on a day that was so pivotal for them, Avery just nodded as she looked up at him. She could stick around and ensure that he kept up with her plans. Whatever he had plotted out could undoubtedly be done from home, right? If not, she could head in for an hour or two and then return home early as intended.

“Okay,” she whispered, hands drifting to his hips and pulling him against her. Her fingers delved beneath the edge of his bottoms, curling into the skin there. A quiet sound of appreciation left her as she arched into him again and ran her lips from his neck to his jaw, before pressing them against his own. It was rather amazing, she mused belatedly, that waking up with the promise of an exciting day had turned her around so suddenly and completely. Clearly, Robin had caught on to her mood and was rather on the same boat. One leg hitched around his waist as she smiled into the kiss. Avery pulled away just long enough to push her hips against him and breathe his name, before claiming his lips as hers once more.