#the breakfast is eventually eaten dont worry central just wants to cuddle for a bit

[one-that-had-to]

Respites

John stretches as he wakes enjoying being curled in his own bed for once. As fantastic as the last week had been with Tatiana’s family, he was exhausted. He rolls over onto Tatiana’s spot only to meet nothing but pillows and faint lingering warmth.

He opens his eyes to look at the clock, but even with him having slept in, it was still earlier than she usually liked to get up. Reluctantly, he crawls out of bed to go find her. He hesitates for a moment before leaving, then grabs one of the blankets to wrap around his shoulders.

It’s not hard to find Tatiana — she is sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table, her laptop open for her to type away, and a cat curled happily in her lap. She doesn’t even look up as he sits down beside her, draping one side of the blanket around her.

“I made breakfast, might want to warm it up a little. Started some coffee for you, too,” she says.

He mumbles something incomprehensible in reply and presses his face into her shoulder. He doesn’t move for a long moment until he feels Tatiana’s arm wrap around his waist. “Back to work already? How are you not tired?” he asks blearily.

She laughs and presses a kiss to the side of his head. “I do this multiple times a year. I know how to handle jet lag,” she teases. “Maybe I should get that coffee for you.”

John presses a bit closer to her before she can get up, effectively stopping her in her tracks. “Not just the jet lag. You hang out with that many people every time you visit?”

“Most of the time,” she replies. “They’re my friends and family, I can’t not spend some time with them.” She glances down to look at him, a slight frown crossing her face. “It wasn’t too much, was it?”

He hesitates for a moment, then leans up to kiss her. Lying wouldn’t do any good, and Tatiana would see through him regardless. “A bit,” he says, settling back down against her shoulder. “But I’m glad I got to meet them all.”

“I won’t drag you to meet everyone next time. Supposing you want to come with me again —”

“Of course I do,” he interjects quickly. “You’re… different over there. Happier, almost.”

Her frown deepens for a second and despite her best efforts she cannot disguise the heartbreak beneath, then she steels herself once more. “Glad to hear,” she assures. “We can make more time for ourselves next visit.”

He leans up and steals another kiss. “I’d like that.”