The Sweetness

Chapter One:

"Hey You"

Kokoro woke up in her bed the next morning, the sun shining through her window. She was almost scarred to open her eyes, but she felt the sunshine and so she opened them and peered over at her alarm clock, it was half past ten. She smiled that her "coming back" wasn't a dream but the leaving was the dream. She slid out of bed with energy and a smile, she smelled breakfast too, and she was hungry. She walked down the hall and into the kitchen, he mother turned to her with a cheerful smile.

"Ah, now one of you is awake." Miyako smiled.

"Is Matthew not awake yet?" her mother shook her head. "That's weird, he's usually up by now or at least it seems so."

"He was awake late, I mean early." her mother explained.

"When did he fall asleep?"

"Long after midnight, he put you in your bed at eleven or so."

"Oh. Why?" Kokoro said after a thoughtful pause.

"He wanted to make sure you were ok and that if you needed him, he would be awake." Kokoro smiled.

"Aw, that's really sweet. Isn't it?" Kokoro asked her mother with a smile. Her mother nodded in agreement.

"I told him to go to bed and I would look after you, even though I was tired too, but he noticed I was tired too, I guess and insisted that you and I get some rest and that he will be awake if we needed him."

"And?" Kokoro said after a pause, but spoke when it was evident her mother was done.

"And what? I went to sleep. I took him up on his offer." Miyako said with a thoughtful smile. There was a pause in conversation as Miyako got her daughter's help setting the table. When they were done a few moments later Miyako abruptly hugged Kokoro. "I was worried about you last night. Don't ever scare me like that again. Got it?" Kokoro blinked for a second, but hugged her mother warmly.

"Alright mother, I will do my very best to stay conscious if there should be another explosion or traumatic event in the near future. I'm sorry I passed out this time." she said with warmness, and sarcasm. Her mother squeezed her tightly. "I love you mom."

"I love you too, dear." her mother released her, and took a step back. "Now, breakfast is ready," she paused and looked at the table and then around for anything that she might have missed. "You should go wake up Matthew," Miyako paused briefly again. "And try not to take all morning." she said with a smile. Kokoro smiled and winked at her mother playfully as she backed up and twirled around and skipped down the hall.

When she reached his door she knocked softly, but loud enough for him to maybe hear it. There was no answer, "Hey, Matthew, I'm opening the door." No objection or response again. She slid the door open to find him laying on his bed, but not in it. He wasn't even under the covers, and he was to one side, the side closest to the door. The bed was big enough for two, it was made for two. They had it in case they had a married couple visit them. She went around and crawled on the bad as softly as she could and when she was next to him she slid his head on to her shoulder, he didn't stir so she didn't wake him. "You should get a few more minutes. Mother would understand. Two more minutes isn't all that long to wait, after all." she whispered to him with a smile. After a few minutes she leaned close to his ear and whispered to him, "Matthew," she nudged him and he stirred at the movement and his name, "it's time to get up, okay?" A sleepy moan was all she could get from him, but he made the effort to get up. She smiled. She hugged him as he sat up, "Hey you. Good morning." she said with a smile, her lips to his ear as she spoke. He rubbed his eyes and turned to look at her but she placed her forehead against his to keep him looking ahead.

"Good morning, Kokoro." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. He smiled and there was a pause, "What was that for?" he asked playfully.

"Because mom told me you stayed up a long time last night to make sure we could rest." She kissed his cheek again and put her hand to his chin. "Because you are sweet." she said and then she turned his face to hers. He started to speak, but she kissed him on the lips before he could say anything, she kissed with intensity. She pulled away, "And because I can." she said with an elfish smile. "Now come on, breakfast is ready." he nodded and stood and took her hand as she stood up and led him to the hallway and then he followed her to the kitchen. As they go to the table Miyako was already at the table, she was smiling at the two as they entered. Kokoro noticed she, specifically, was being studied. The two sat down.

"Did you sleep well Matthew?"

"I slept well enogh, how did you sleep, ma'am?" he responded cheerfully.

"I was very tired last night, thank you again for staying awake for a little while, but I slept well." Miyako said and turned her attention to her daughter, who was, as usual, mixing fruit juices, "How did you sleep Kokoro?"

"I slept really well, I was exhausted last night. And thank you for staying up, Matthew." she said with a smile and a playful push to his shoulder. He smiled.

"It was nothing, really." Kokoro pushed him again.

"Well, it was a wonderful gesture all the same." Miyako said with a genuine smile. The three of them ate with no major words, they felt as though Matthew knew his actions were well received but it looked as though he did not want to be thanked, but they wanted to thank him. So breakfast was quiet but with smiles, even if one was tired. After breakfast Kokoro took Matthew back to her room.

"Here, lay down." Kokoro said motioning to her, still unmade, bed as she led him in her room. "Go to sleep, you've earned it." He gave her an inquisitive look. "What?"

"I can sleep in the guest room." She turned to him, and took his wrist.

"You could, but I want you to sleep in here. I have some stuff I have to work on, writing and stuff, but I want to spend some time around you today. So will you sleep in here?" she said embracing him. He nodded his head and smiled. "Good, my bed is probably more comfortable anyway." she said putting her nose to his. He smiled but with a raised eyebrow. She pulled away slowly and pushed him on her bad. He fell back, surprised at the push. She stood in front of him and put her hand on his shoulder and made him lay down. "Just sleep, okay?"

"Alright," he said with a smile, "And your bed is comfortable."

"Isn't it?" she leaned down over him. "Despite what it may seem like, it isn't because of the bed itself."

"Oh?"

She put her nose to his again, "Yeah," she paused and just looked in to his eyes for a moment. 'He has pretty green eyes. I wonder what he's thinking,' and she smiled wide. "It's actually because I sleep here. No lie."

"I'll buy that." She kissed him gently, and straighten backup and sat down at the desk next to her bed, a stack of papers on its surface. "You aren't going to let me sleep all day right?" he said after a while of nodding off.

"Nope." she said flatly. The room was silent for a moment. "Matthew," she paused, "did I weird you out with what I said last night?" He sat up to look at her and she turned to look at him, a little surprised.

"What, specifically, did you say? I mean, you said a few different things." She smiled a little, and put down the pen in her hand and stood and moved over to her bed and sat down, he was sitting beside her by the time she sat down. She put her head on his shoulder.

"I said that I love you. Did I say it too early?" He put his arm around her. She looked up at his face. "Well?" she said after a moment of silence.

He finally looked down at her. "You meant it?" She nodded. "You don't regret saying it?""

"No, I meant what I said. I'm just wondering if I should have waited to tell you. If saying it would have been better on the whole."

"Well, honestly I didn't exactly know how to take it at first, but you meant it. As I said last night, as long as you meant what you said, it's perfectly okay." She smiled and slid her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"I meant it." she whispered.

"I know you did." he whispered. "Are you so worried about this?" She nodded. "Why? It's all okay. Don't worry." She squeezed tightly.

"Can I say it again?"

"I would say no to something you wanted to say?"

"I love you, Matthew." He rubber her back. There was a pause as they sat in silence in each other's arms. "Can I take a nap with you? I'm still tired." There was not response other than a slight squeeze. She pulled him down with her and they lay down she rested her head on his shoulder.