After the Christmas Event - Florence & Declan
Declan smiled as Delilah ran off with Teagan, "She's an amazing kid," he told Florence.
"She really is." Florence smiled as she watched the little ones play in the snow with Lorelai.
"You think she's okay? I noticed the frown on her face when Teagan mentioned her daddy.."
Florence turned to look at Declan, unsure what to say before clearing her throat and looked back at Delilah, "Every little girl wants a daddy." She spoke almost too quietly, thinking of her own dad.
Declan frowned, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. She's just attached to you and loves you like her own dad." She smiled a little as she continued to watch her little girl run around. It's hard not telling Declan her whole story starting from when she was little.
Declan nodded, "Does she uh...does she know her dad?"
Florence bit her bottom lip, feeling as if she got the wind knocked out of her. She shook her head slowly as she avoided eye contact, "No."
Declan nodded and looked down, "Sorry.. I don't mean to pry."
"It's okay." She muttered quietly as she kept her gaze on Delilah. Unsure on what to say now.
Declan placed a hand on her back and rubbed her back soothingly, "Well you raised an amazing little girl."
Florence attempted to smile a little as she continued to watch the little girls run around. Then she turned to look at Declan, "I can't believe you're still not judging me."
Declan looked at her and grinned a little bit, "Why would I judge you? I respect you and the way you're making a good life for yourself and Delilah and raising her so well. And I think everything happens for a reason and that little girl is a huge blessing."
Florence smiled even bigger this time. She glanced at Delilah then back at Declan, hugging him tightly.
Declan smiled and hugged back.
"Thank you." She mumbled and hugged him a little longer before pulling back and gave him a teasing look, "So what's my present?"
"You're welcome," he said quietly as she finished hugging him. He laughed when she asked about her gift and told him, "That would ruin the surprise. You'll have to wait and see."
"Declan, you know I hate surprises!" Florence whined playfully as she shoved him and laughed.
Declan nodded laughing and told her, "And I've never understood that. It's Christmas! Surprises are fun!"
"Ugh! You suck." She laughed before watching her daughter run up to them. "Tree!! Tree!!"
Declan laughed as Delilah ran over and then scooped her up, "Does someone want to go see the tree get lit up?"
"YAS!" She squealed and kicked her legs happily as she held onto him causing Florence to laugh. "Let's go see the tree light up baby girl!"
Declan smiled and lifted her up in the air, "Yes! Let's go!"
Delilah squealed and giggled loudly as he held her up in the air. "Higher! Higher Clan!!" She squealed happily causing Florence to smile widely as they walked over to the tree.
Declan laughed and lifted her up like he was going to toss her in the air but didn't really and then brought her back down like he was catching her and then told her, "We gotta hurry! We can't miss the tree lighting!"
Loud squeals left the toddlers lips as she couldn't stop laughing and squealing. It was the best sound that Florence could listen to all day. By the time they got to the tree, the countdown began.
Declan tickled her belly as they started counting down, "10...9...8...7..."
"Tree! Two! One!" Delilah squealed as she watched the tree light up before squeaking happily while Florence just smiled and looked at all the lights.
"Yay!!" Declan called out as he lifted Delilah up to sit on his shoulders so she could see everything.
Delilah squealed and giggled as she clapped her hands watching the lights. Florence laughed as she poked her daughter's feet. "Happy baby."
Declan looked up at Delilah squealing and clapping and laughing. It was music to his ears. He loved to make that little girl happy.
Delilah couldn't stop squealing and laughing excitedly at the sight. Florence grinned as she noticed everyone leaving. "Ready to go munchkin?" Delilah pouted and clung to him. "Clan come!"
Declan pulled her off his shoulders and held her, "You want me to come?"
"Yes!" She squealed and tried to hold onto him with her dear little life.
Declan laughed, "Okay, but only if you're a good girl and do everything mommy says. Deal?"
"Deal!" She squealed causing Florence to laugh.
Declan smiled and tickled her tummy, "Okay then."
Delilah giggled and held onto him as they walked over to Florence's apartment. She lived near so it didn't really need a drive. She walked inside with them following behind and took Delilah so she could get out of her little jacket. "Alright monkey, time to change into jammies." She squealed and ran. "Jammies!!"
Declan laughed, "That kid is hilarious."
Florence chuckled and nodded, "She's a crazy little one. I love her to death." She grinned as she plopped into the couch, wrapping a blanket around herself.
Declan moved and sat next to her on the couch, "Me too. Who wouldn't? She's adorable."
Florence smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder as she offered to share her blanket with him.
Declan felt his heart skip a beat when she leaned in close to him and rested her head on his shoulder and gave him part of the blanket to share. He wrapped his arm around the back of the couch and around her shoulder and just sat there with her. It felt so nice to hold her close like that.
Florence kept close as she made sure the blanket wouldn't fall. She felt very comfortable, like she got in his arms. Before she could say anything, Delilah came out with a teddy bear. "Kiss me nighty night!" She squealed before running back in the room. Florence chuckled and moved away to get off the couch. "I'm sure Delilah wants you to kiss her goodnight too."
Declan laughed and got up and followed Florence back to Delilah's bedroom to kiss her goodnight.
Delilah was already tucked in causing Florence to laugh and kiss her multiple times as the little toddler squealed happily and held her mommy's face and kissed her nose. "Love you mommy." Florence grinned and held onto her, "I love you to baby girl." Then Delilah turned to look at Declan and held her arms out.
Declan smiled at Delilah and held out his arms and hugged her tight, "Goodnight, Princess."
Delilah giggled and cuddled him, "love you Clan!" She giggled then curled into her bed and immediately shut her eyes.
Declan smiled and pulled away as she curled up and went to bed, but before he got up, he leaned down and kissed her forehead before following Florence out of the room.
Florence grinned as she walked out and shut the door before going back to the couch and tugging on the blanket. "Had fun today?"
Declan nodded, "Of course. I always have fun when I'm with you and Delilah. Did you?"
"Always." She grinned and rested her head on his shoulder and shared the blanket with him again once he was next to her.
Declan smiled and cuddled up with her again. It was so nice sitting here with her in his arms."
So there's no chance on you telling me the surprise?" She pouted playfully as she stayed curled into his side.
Declan smiled wider and shook his head, "It's a /Christmas/ present. You have to wait until Christmas."
"You suck!" Florence laughed and shook her head as she tried to keep warm.
Declan smiled, "You love it."
Florence laughed as she curled into him more,” Yeah yeah yeah."
Declan laughed, "Don't deny it. We all know it's true."
"Sure." She laughed and shook her head. "Thanks for not judging me."
"I don't have any right to judge you. I'm not interested in going that," he told her.
She couldn't help but smile as she stayed curled into him. Feeling way too comfortable to move.
Declan smiled and held her, "Thanks for letting me hangout with you two today."
"You don't need to thank me. We love having you around."
Declan nodded, "And I love being around."
A smile crept on her lips before she looked up at him, "Want some hot coco?"
Declan grinned, "Sure."
Florence smiled and got off the couch and made her way into the kitchen humming and started making hot chocolate.
Declan got up and followed her, "I would say you should let me make it for you because you've had a long day, but you make it better so..."
Florence laughed and continued to make the hot chocolate, "You're just being nice."
Declan smirked, "It always tastes better when you make it."
"Are you just saying that to be on my good side?" She teased with a playfully smirk and continued to make the hot chocolate.
Declan smiled and walked closer to her, "Are you saying I'm not already on your good side?"
Florence tilted her head to the side as she kept the playful look on her face, "Yes I am." She teased.
Declan smirked wider and stepped closer, "Well what do I have to do to get on your good side?"
"That's something you'll have to figure out on your own." She smirked as she looked up at him. "Why make it easy for you?"
He stepped closer and hunched his shoulders and gave her a sweet, innocent expression, "Because you love me and you want me on your good side?"
Florence shook her head as she grinned playfully, "You're going to have to try hard to get on my good side."
Suddenly before he even thought about it, he took her hand and pulled her closer until their noses were almost touching, "I definitely will."
Florence was definitely surprised when he pulled her. In a blink of an eye she was pressed up into his chest where their noses were touching. She could feel her heart stop. "How are you going to do that?"
Declan caught himself by surprise and suddenly he was so close to her. He nearly lost his breath as he stared into her eyes and glanced down at her lips. All he could think about doing now was kissing her and that's exactly what he did. He leaned in and kissed her lips quickly, but sweetly.
Florence could feel her heart beating rapidly. She blinked and now his lips were on hers. She was caught off guard and stood still for a moment before returning the kiss.
Declan smiled when he felt her return the kiss. He was about to pull away until he felt her kiss him back and instead, he just pulled her closer and kept kissing her because he didn't want this to end.
Florence couldn't believe what was happening but she felt sparks igniting in her as she returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Declan wrapped his arms around her waist as he kissed her and was not wanting to ever let go. He had thought about kissing her so many times but this reality definitely exceeded his expectations.
Florence continued to kiss back as she pulled him closer to her. Not once did she ever think that he would share the same feelings.
Finally once they needed air, he pulled back from her, but only slightly. He smiled at her, "Well...that was...something."
Once they pulled away, she blushed deeply, biting her bottom lip shyly. "Yup."
Declan looked at her and tilted her chin up to face him, "Did I mess things up between us?"
She bit her bottom and shook her head. Then she heard the hot chocolate boiling and immediately turned it off.
Declan bit his lip and waited as she turned off the hot chocolate. "I guess we got a little distracted..."
Her cheeks were red as strawberries as he spoke while she glanced in the pot. "Well, it's burnt." She then turned back to face him.
Declan smiled at her, "That's okay. I found something I want more.." And with that, he leaned in and kissed her again.
Florence couldn't stop blushing the more he spoke. She was weak at the knees as she felt his lips on hers once again, letting her arms wrap around his neck once more.
Declan leaned into her close, backing her up against the kitchen counter as they kissed. Now that he knew she returned at least some of the feelings he had for her, he wanted to be as close to her as possible. He wanted her for his own.
Florence was getting lost in the kiss, to which feeling the counter on her back shocked her a bit but that didn't stop her from kissing him. It was as if she was already addicted.
Declan kissed her more and more passionately the longer their kiss continued until finally, he just picked her up off the ground as he continued to make out with her.
She continued to kiss him back, letting her legs wrap around his waste as he picked her up. Her lungs were on fire and the fireworks were irrupting in her stomach. Her fingers running through his short hair.
Slowly, he walked over to the sofa and placed her down on it and laid on top of her as he kissed her. He wasn't thinking about anything, he was totally lost in the moment and lost in her.
It was as if the both of them had so much air in them that they didn't need to pull away to breathe. Once her back was pressed up against the sofa, she didn't pull away but she did pull him closer.
Declan couldn't help but smile as he felt her pull him closer and kept kissing her as his hands glided down her body.
His touch was fire to her as she grinned against his lips as she continued to kiss him back. Her fingertips gently tugging onto his hair.
Declan wanted to go even further. He forgot where they were or anything else happening around them. All he knew was that he wanted her.
She knew they've barely just kissed each other, but she was already addicted. His lips were like a drug. She gripped onto his short hair gently as their lips continued to move against each other.
As he kept kissing her, his hand slipped behind her back and under her shirt, lifting it up.
By the time she felt his hand touch her skin, chills went down her spine. But suddenly she heard Delilah start crying. Immediately she pulled back breathless. "Sorry." She spoke as she moved out from under him and immediately rushed to her daughter. "Delilah?" She called out as she ran to her daughter's room.
Declan pulled back as Florence pulled back and slipped out from his grasp. He stood up and straightened his clothes before following her to Delilah's room and standing in the doorway.
Delilah was tossing and turning and Florence immediately shook her gently and watched as she woke up and clung to her. "Baby, what's wrong?" Delilah whimpered as she rubbed her eyes, "I dream that you don't want me no more." She pouted and Florence shook her head as she hugged her tightly. "Baby! That's not true! I love you so much." She kissed her head. "Want to sleep with me?" Delilah nodded and glanced at Declan. "Clan too."
Declan's eyes widened. He was supposed to sleep with Florence and Delilah now? He looked at Florence not sure what to say.
Florence glanced at Declan then back at Delilah, not sure what to say. But the tears and sadness in Delilah's eyes made her weak. Delilah looked at Declan as she sniffled.
Declan frowned, hating seeing the sadness on that sweet little girl's face and made his way over to them and sat on the edge of the bed and hugged the little girl, "Okay, Princess. Whatever you want. Just know that your mommy loves you more than anything in the world and she would never leave you. And neither would I."
Delilah whimpered and curled into her mom. "Come on, let's go cuddle." Florence kissed her head and brought her while Declan followed to her room. Setting her down on the bed right in the middle. "I'll just change." She kissed Delilah's hand and grabbed some pajamas and went into the bathroom. Delilah looked at Declan and opened her arms.
Declan smiled and sat next to her and hugged Delilah and kissed her head, "We've got you, Princess. Mommy and I will be right here to chase all the bad dreams away."
Delilah whimpered and cuddled close to him. Shutting her eyes tightly as she sobbed. Florence came back in her sweatpants and oversized shirt as she made her way to the other side of the bed watching Declan and Delilah.
Declan just sat in bed holding Delilah and trying to comfort her. He hated hearing and seeing this little one in pain, so quietly he started to singing to her, "Hello beautiful how's it going, I hear it's wonderful in California. And I'll be missing you, it's true."
Delilah continued to sob and whimper, but once he sang she cuddled close to him while Florence rubber her back and listened.
Declan kept singing the song to her as he held her, "But tonight, I'm gonna fly Yeah tonight, I'm gonna fly 'Cause I could go across the world And see everything and never be satisfied If I couldn't see those eyes." He looked up and looked into Florence's eyes during the last line of the chorus as he kept singing to her daughter.
Florence continued to rub her daughter's back as Delilah was cuddled into Declan's chest. She watched as he sang and looked at her with those eyes causing her to blush and look down at her daughter as she watched the little one calm down.
Declan smiled and looked back at Delilah, "I love you, princess," he said before leaning down and kissing her head. Soon enough Delilah was sound asleep.
Florence smiled as she rubbed the little one's back before looking back up at Declan and smiled before whispering, "Thank you."
Declan looked up at Florence and smiled at her, "You're welcome. But you don't have to thank me."
"Yes I do." She smiled as she looked down at her daughter who was now sleeping peacefully.
Declan looked at Delilah, "I'd do anything for her. I love her."
"She loves you too." She replied as she rubbed her daughter's back.
"She's an amazing little girl," he told her. "Just like her mother," he said as he looked up at her.
Florence smiled shyly as she rubbed her daughter's back and glanced up at him again with a wrinkled nose.
Declan looked at her expression and raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Nothing." She smiled and looked at him. "About the kiss, though?"
Declan smiled, "Well...I liked it."
She couldn't help but blush at his words. "Me too."
Declan smiled at her and looked into her eyes, "I like you, Florence. I have for a while... And I'd like to go out with you sometime. ...If that's something you'd want?"
Her cheeks turned in a much more darker shade of red and bit her bottom lip shyly. "I'd like that." She grinned. "And I like you too."
Declan smiled and grabbed her hand, "Good. I'd like it too."
Florence grinned and squeezed his hand. "Goodnight." She spoke and watched as her daughter squirmed in her sleep, wrinkling her nose causing Florence to giggle and kiss her head before watching the little one lay in the middle, her back on the mattress and her little arms laid out in both sides.
Declan smiled at Delilah and looked up at Florence, "Should I go?"
"I think Delilah would be mad at you if you did, but it's up to you." She chuckled and looked at her daughter.
Declan shrugged, "I don't mind staying and I don't want the princess to be mad at me, but I don't want things to be weird with us either..."
"We practically made out on the couch." She chuckled a bit, "I mean, it's up to you if you want to stay or not."
Declan chuckled a bit, "Yeah, that was fun. I'll stay. ...if you're okay with that?"
"I'm okay with it." She smiled and yawned tiredly already feeling sleepy.
Declan squeezed her hand, "Let's get to sleep." He reached over and kissed her hand.
Florence smiled as he kissed her hand and felt her eyes going heavy. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, beautiful," he told her before laying down and sweetly rubbing Delilah's back.
It was now the morning and Delilah were still cuddled and sleeping.
Declan woke up and opened his eyes to see Delilah cuddled up to him and Florence on the other side and he just smiled.
The two girls were fast asleep, with no sign of waking up. Delilah seemed to move closer to Declan while Florence stayed put in her sleep.
Declan gently caressed Delilah's cheek and kissed her little head as he watched the mother and daughter rest.
Florence stirred in her sleep, her face wrinkling as she dreamt in her sleep. The more Florence dream, the more of a nightmare it becomes. Her face scrunching up as she twitches a little, turning her head slightly.
Declan's eyebrows furrowed as he watched her face and saw that she was struggling with something.
In the nightmare, all she could see was her mother being abused then her father abusing her. Florence began to squirm slightly in her sleep as her eyebrows furrowed.
Declan could see that she was struggling with something so he gently reached over to Florence and touched her arm to wake her up.
Just by the gentle touch, she sat up breathing heavily. Panting as she rubbed her eyes and glanced around to see Declan sitting there watching her. "Sorry.." She muttered quietly, attempting to not cry right there.
Declan looked at her, worried, "Are you okay?" He tried to sit up slowly without waking Delilah and reached over and squeezed her hand.
"Yeah, I'm fine.." She smiled weakly as she climbed out of bed. "Um... I'm gonna make breakfast."
Declan frowned as she walked out of the room and sat there for a second trying to think if he should get up and follow her or not risk waking Delilah, or having her wake up without them there. He wasn't sure what he should do.
Florence started making breakfast, trying to control her emotions. She has never spoken about her family at all. Nothing about her past. She was breathing heavily and soon dropped a pan causing her jump and shriek and dropped a glass bowl as well watching it shatter. Panting she ran her fingers through her hair as she kneels back down and picked up the pieces.
Declan was still trying to decide whether or not he should follow her in there, but once he heard a pan drop, he quickly and quietly slipped out of Delilah's grasp and hurried into the kitchen, "Are you okay? What happened?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine." She spoke repeatedly as she picked up the pan and broken pieces of glass from the bowl that fell as well.
Declan got down and started helping her pick up the pieces of broken glass, "Let me get this. I don't want you to cut yourself. Do you have an empty box we can put this in?"
Florence nodded as she got up and walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a box and handed it to him and smelled something burning. "Shit shit shit!" She muttered as she turned off the stove.
Declan finished cleaning up the glass as she turned off the stove and tried to save the breakfast from burning. Once he moved the box of broken glass out of the way, he walked over to Florence and turned her around to face him, "Hey, look at me.. What's going on? Is this about that nightmare you had? Talk to me."
"It's nothing." She mumbled, "I'm just tired."
"Florence... I'm not an idiot. I know it's more than that. Why won't you talk to me about it? He asked out of concern.
"It's not important." She mumbled. She's been paying more attention to help people instead of herself.
He cupped her face to have her look at him again, but this time, he just kissed her. He wanted her to feel comfortable with him and like she could trust him.
Florence was about to speak but felt his lips on hers causing her to kiss back.
Declan pulled her closer and kept kissing her as he wrapped his arms around her. He wanted to comfort her and he also just really wanted to kiss her.
Florence kept kissing back as she draped her arms around his neck.
Declan kept kissing her a little more before pulling away just slightly and asking her, "How about when Delilah wakes up I take both of you out for breakfast?"
Florence by her bottom lip and nodded as she sucked in a breath.
He held her close, "Do you feel comfortable with me?"
Florence nodded as she kept her eyes on him.
Declan looked at her, "You sure?"
"Yeah." She nodded.
Declan nodded, "Just checking. I want you to know you can always talk to me if something's bothering you. But I want to respect your privacy so I'm not going to push you."
She nodded and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
He kissed her cheek and whispered to her, "You're beautiful."
A shaky breath left her lips as she shut her eyes tightly as she kept close to him.
He held her and kissed her cheek before asking her, "Wanna go lay down for a while until Delilah wakes up?"
Florence sniffled and nodded. "Yeah.. I just have to clean up the burnt breakfast."
Declan shook his head, "I'll do it. You go lay down and rest and I'll come join you in a minute."
A sigh left her lips as she knew there was no point in arguing as she made her way out of the kitchen.
Declan quickly cleaned the kitchen and made sure all signs of the burnt breakfast were gone before making his way over to Florence and laying down next to her and wrapping his arms around her and kissing her cheek.
Florence cuddled close to him as she let out a few shaky breaths. She couldn't tell him her past. It wasn't important.
Declan held her in his arms and pulled her as close as he could and kissed her forehead. He hated that she felt like she couldn't tell him what she was going through. A part of him wondered if they were still just friends and hadn't kissed if she would've told him by now. He was worried that he ruined some things by kissing her and taking their relationship to the next level, but he couldn't regret it for a second.
Florence just took in his warmth as he held her. She couldn't tell him her past. She couldn't tell anyone. No one knew except Jodi. Florence was never the type to have people worry about her. She's always the one worrying about others. Looking up slowly, she saw him looking at her. She moved closer before pressing her lips to his.
Declan immediately kissed her back. He never wanted to stop kissing her and he certainly couldn't resist when she kissed him. He knew he had to let go of the need to know what was going on with her, but it was hard because he wanted to be there for her.
Her fingertips wrapped around his neck as she continued to kiss him, moving closer as if she needed him to just be there to hold her.
Declan kissed her until he had to pull away to breathe. She was like a drug to him and he was addicted. He couldn't get enough. He had feelings for her for a while, but now that he had let them out, he was falling hard and fast. "I really like you," he whispered to her as he held her.
Florence opened her eyes once they pulled away. She kept her gaze locked with his as he held her in his arms. "I really like you too." She spoke softly.
He smiled at her, "Good. Because if you didn't that would really suck," he said with a slight chuckle before pecking her lips again.
A smile was able to form on her lips as she giggled a bit and pecked his lips back.
Declan smiled at her and caressed her cheek, "You really are so beautiful."
Florence blushes deeply and hid her face in his chest. "Lies." She grinned shyly.
"Nope. I wouldn't lie to you," he told her.
She wrinkled her nose but kept the shy smile on her face as she moved her head to look up at him.
"What?" He said with a smile as he looked at her and pecked her nose.
She scrunched up her nose and giggled. "I'm not that pretty."
He looked at her and shook his head, "It breaks my heart that you actually believe that."
She bit her bottom lip as she cuddled closer to him.
He kissed her again and cuddled her, "You're the most gorgeous girl I've ever seen."
Florence kissed back and before she could say anything she heard a little voice. "Mommy?" Delilah called blinking cluelessly as she stared at the two.
When Declan heard Delilah's voice, he turned and quickly sat up and turned around, "Hey princess! Did you sleep okay?"
Delilah just blinked and pointed, "You kissed mommy."
Declan bit his lip and looked at Florence and then back at Delilah, "Um... Yeah, sweetie. I did..."
Florence was now blushing knowing she was caught by her daughter. "Why?" Delilah scrunched up her nose confused.
Declan blushed a little and looked down and then back at her, "Well, because I really like your mommy... Come here, sweetie," he said as he held his arms out for her.
Delilah was still confused but made her way over and crawled onto his lap while glancing at the both of them.
He put his arms around Delilah as she sat on his lap, "You know how Belle and the Beast really liked each other?"
Delilah nodded as she listened while Florence tied her hair in a ponytail while watching.
Declan smiled, "Well, that's how I feel about your mommy. She's beautiful and kind and smart and I care about her a lot. And I care a lot about you too," he said as he tickled her little tummy.
Florence was now blushing as he spoke and Delilah gasped and giggled before clapping her hands. "Is mommy your princess?"
Declan smiled while laughing and nodding, "Yep... I mean, I want her to be."
Delilah was now squealing happily as Florence laughed. "Clan, me want food."
Declan laughed, "Okay, love bug. We were just waiting on you to wake up. Let's get you dressed and I'll take you and mommy out for breakfast."
Delilah squealed as she jumped off his lap and grabbed Florence's hand and dragged her down the hall to get dressed.
Declan looked at Delilah and walked over and tickled her tummy, "Are you a happy girl today?"
"Yes!" Delilah giggled while Florence laughed and kissed her head. "Ready to go?"
"I'm ready if you two are! Let's go get some yummy breakfast," he said as they headed for the door.
"Ready!" Delilah squealed and they started walking out the door.
Declan smiled and said excitedly, "Then let's go!"