[22]

                                    

                                          
The thick curtains blocked the sunlight from pouring into the room but the ringing of the alarm on the bedside table woke her up. She reached out to dismiss it, not wanting to leave the comfort of the bed and her partner too soon.
She was pulled back into the heaven of his arms shortly after, his lips tainting her shoulder with a soft kiss. A smile played upon her lips as she turned to face him, taking in his sleepy features. 
He had stayed with her that night and made her cherish each second with him. That was probably the best part about him; he always made up for all the time lost between them due to their professional life as well as his duties as a vigilante.
His pale blue eyes were looking at her lovingly as she drew in for a kiss, feeling his grip tighten on her. 
"Good morning," she mumbled as she broke the kiss, her hands trailing down to his chest.
"I love waking up next to you," he remarked, fingers tugging loose the brown curls that framed her face. She laughed as she leaned in to kiss him again, making the moment longer than the previous one.
Holding her close to him, he could only think of how lucky he was to have her as his wife. He might not get to say that often but he loved Calmia deeply and could do anything to keep her safe and happy.
She was probably the most understanding and kindhearted woman he had met, with her heart overflowing with love and comfort that she offered freely to the people around her. Holding her in his arms, even he could forget the terrors of Gotham that he fought against each night.
It was all worth it if he could come back home to her loving arms and gentle kisses.
Calmia was becoming his home and safe place and he need not ask her to know that he was becoming hers.
Just the thought of her getting angry with him had made him worried about what would happen if she left. And he had tried to do his best to make things right because he couldn't even stand the thought of waking up to an empty bed, of having a life without her.
It was both endearing and somewhat terrifying how much she had started to mean to all of them in just a short amount of time that by then he couldn't imagine his life without her and he felt the rest of his family thought the same way too. Endearing because she was the kind of person who had fit in so well with them as if she had been there all along and terrifying because the sense of having something precious brought with it the fear of losing it.
She felt his grip tighten on her and a shudder pass through him so she gently cupped his face, brown eyes looking into blue, "what happened?"
"Nothing," he mumbled, letting himself live in the moment instead of dwelling on fears of the future.
"Don't you have to go to work today?" She asked, running her fingers through his dark messy hair, combing through the greying streaks near his temples.
"I do," he sighed softly, eyes taking in her beautiful features as he added, "though I wish we could stay like this a little longer."
"Then let's stay a little longer," she replied, her chin resting on top of her hands that she had folded over his chest.
A smile played upon his lips at that remark and he agreed, staying in bed a little longer. They seldom got time to spend with each other in such comforting bliss and now that they were together, they didn't want the seconds to tick by.
"Calmia," he spoke up at last after silently admiring her, "I love you so much that it terrifies me."
She raised an eyebrow, "terrifies you? But why?"
"It terrifies me that I will be the one messing things up," he mumbled, his voice low from the insecurity seeping through, "that I won't be able to give you all the happiness you deserve."
Her eyes softened to see that lovestruck look in his eyes being clouded over with a layer of fear and he held her close not wanting to let go.
"Bruce, I am very happy with you. And you're not messing anything up," she spoke reassuringly, her comforting voice making his racing heartbeat come to the usual steady calm, "there's no need for you to worry about that."
His hand gently caressed her cheek, brushing past to get entangled in her soft brown curls, "I don't want to lose you. Ever."
She leaned closer, connecting their lips in a sweet kiss, "and you won't. Don't worry about that."
Her words were like a promise and he felt all his fears dissipate as he kissed back, dissolving in the loving warmth she offered. He wished that moment would last forever but the alarm on his phone shattered the comfortable silence.
Calmia smiled as she pulled apart and said, "we're both late for breakfast now. We should get up."
He nodded, sitting up as she had left the bed and drew open the dark curtains, letting the sunlight wash over the room. The golden rays made her appear even more beautiful and once again he found himself thinking that she was the most precious blessing he could have ever received and he wanted her to guard her with his life, making sure nothing dark snuffed out her light.
"Come on, Bruce," she took his hand and tugged him out of the bed as well, "Alfred will have prepared breakfast and we shouldn't keep the others waiting."
He nodded, placing a light kiss on her cheek as he let her go to the bathroom first to freshen up. Her fragrance still wafted around him as he stepped into the closet to see what to wear.
"The blue shirt," she called out and he smiled, taking out the one she had referred to, "you look dashing in it."
"And what other colors do I look dashing in?" He asked, the smile widening to see her step out after a while.
"Every color," her eyes twinkled in happiness, "now hurry up, you will have to drop me off at my office too."
"That would be an honor," he remarked playfully, watching her laugh.
***