An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Summary and A/N: A Staubrey Interlude that takes place during 'They Had Time,' the same night as the Bechloe Interlude – Chapter 11.
This started out as a Staubrey Week 2019 bed sharing story, but when I realized how key it was for their relationship, I had to take my time to get it right.
Hopefully I succeeded.So, if you haven't read Time… mini spoilers ahead and I hope it still makes sense without some of the backstory.
Seems appropriate to post this on Aubrey’s birthday, as per PP3 passports.
As always, a heartfelt thank you to @tiny-maus-boots for putting up with “what about this word, or is this one better” every single time.
Random snippet as a preview.
And Aubrey could have blamed it on the alcohol, but when she tentatively slid her hand out and touched Stacie’s cheek, she knew that wasn’t it at all.
“Aubrey?” Stacie had frozen beneath her fingertips, her eyes rising from where they’d been looking at Aubrey’s mouth to meet hers.
Instead of answering right away, Aubrey reached up and ran one fingertip over the very corner of Stacie’s lips. Feeling the shiver through her hand as well as the bed, Aubrey quickly pulled back. “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have… or asked first… or not done it at all.” She pushed herself backward. “I’ll go…”
“Aubrey.” Stacie said again, her own fingers wrapping around Aubrey’s wrist. “Aubrey. Just wait.” She didn’t try to hold Aubrey down or pull her closer, just held on gently. “It’s okay.” She licked her lips again and despite her worry, at those two words Aubrey found herself moving forward until they were almost touching. “I didn’t mind.” She slowly let go of Aubrey’s wrist. “I don’t mind.”
It’s okay. Two simple words often used even when it wasn’t. But to Aubrey they were a key to a lock she didn’t know was there. She knew it was too fast, but Aubrey believed Stacie and it calmed her. The pure, automatic acceptance of whatever she wanted to do or say was something she had never had before. It was… freeing.
Wondering if her pounding heart could be felt through the mattress, Aubrey touched Stacie’s cheek again. It was still light and hesitant, but she let herself do more, feel more.
She traced the strong jawline that she’d once wondered what it would be like to nibble.
Ran her thumb over Stacie’s bottom lip, feeling the shaky exhale of warm air across it.
Skimmed a perfect eyebrow before letting her fingers sink into soft dark tresses. She watched, fascinated, as Stacie’s eyes closed when Aubrey gently traced the shell of one ear.
She knew it wasn’t the alcohol when she closed that final distance between them and pressed her lips to Stacie’s.