it's a long way from l.a. Harry/Gemma ficlet
The cab pulls up in front of the house and Harry takes a deep breath. He hasn't been home in so long. It looks like something out of a post card, the windows are icy and there's snow hanging over the edges of the roof. Â He pays the cabbie and jumps out. It's so fucking cold, not like LA at all. Snow's already sticking to his coat and his teeth are chattering as he gets up to the door. He fumbles with his keys, he checked three times before he left but he can't seem to find the right one.Â
It doesn't matter though because the door swings open and Gemma's standing there, in rumpled pajamas and a huge smile on her face.Â
"Er, sorry, must have the wrong house," He says, his grin must match hers, dimple and all. Â She rolls her eyes,Â
"Come here, you idiot," Â She says and wraps her arms around him. She's warm and soft and makes him forget the chill that set his bones as soon as he'd landed, "I missed you so much," She says, quieter this time, face pressed close to his neck. Harry squeezes her a little tighter before they break apart and she drags him inside.Â
Harry drops his bag and shucks his coat and hat, both wet from the snow. While he's wrestling his boots off, Dusty tries to ribbon through his legs, she almost trips him but he manages to keep upright. Â Gemma leans against the wall, watching him.
"Mum waited up all night, you know. She's well excited," She says quietly, Harry smiles, he can't wait to see his mum but this time with Gemma - he's so happy it's just them right now.
"And you?" Â He asks, finally out of his boots, picking up Dusty for a cuddle. The cat protests quickly and jumps down.
"I was the sensible one and went to bed so I could wake up early," She says giving him another little cuddle that makes him feel better after being snubbed by the cat, "Tea?" Â
He doesn't want tea, he wants to go to bed and stay there for a hundred years but Gemma's already pulling him toward the kitchen and maybe he could have tea.Â
He watches her put the kettle on before hoisting herself up onto the counter, smirking at him and chattering about how Mum's been talking for days about making all of his favorite foods. He leans against the counter next to her, happy to just be in her space, "Are you listening to me?" She asks after a moment, he sort of zoned out while she spoke.Â
"Huh?" Â He says and she rolls her eyes at him, "Hey, I brought you something, d'you want it now?" Â He asks, thinking about it, it was a turquoise ring he'd seen in a little shop and it made him think of her. Â He covers her hand on the counter with his, rubs his thumb over the soft skin there.Â
"Nah, you're the only gift I need right now," . She replies, voice low, she tilts her head to the side, her hair's so long now - and light. It's different but good different. He misses her so much when he's away. She turns her hand over, her palm warm under his, her fingers are so much smaller than his when they thread. Â He can't stop looking at them for a moment.Â
"Gem-" Harry whispers, finally looking back up at her, she's looking at their hands too. Her skin is pale compared to his. It's weird and it's lovely. She's lovely. He reaches up to see what it looks like against her face, her cheeks still a bit pink from sleep. Gemma blinks at him and raises her eyebrows, "Sorry, is it okay?"Â
"It's fine," She says, it's so low, almost inaudible over the bubbling in the kettle. He leans forward to press his lips to hers, just a small kiss. She squeezes his hand as he pulls back and tugs gently, pulling him back toward her. She kisses him back this time, her mouth minty from cleaning her teeth. Harry sighs against her lips and tangles his hand in her hair. There's no chill anymore, there's just Gemma's warmth and the feel of her tongue against his. He kisses her and kisses her until the kettle shrieks and the sound of footsteps padding down the hall gets loud enough. Â
When Mum comes into the kitchen they're just hugging each other again, giggling at each other, fighting over who gets the favorite mug. He rams his hip into hers but she manages to shove him out of the way. He wraps his mum up in a hug while Gemma makes the tea.Â
