when you get too close

Reine followed him quietly, realizing almost immediately when they walked into the spare room that it didn't feel even remotely as comforting and welcoming as their room had. Forcing the thoughts aside, Reine climbed onto the bed when Luke pulled the blanket back and, after lying down, she tried to get comfortable and her eyes slid closed as she listened to Luke, finding his singing to bring her a comfort she hadn't expected, amazed by his voice, drifting off.

Michael smiled as he watched Leigh and he pulled the blanket aside so that he could cover her up later, he climbed onto the bed to sit next to her. Taking her hand back in his, he gave it a gentle squeeze, running his thumb over the back of her hand, across her knuckles, he watched her, hoping she would sleep well. "I love you, Leigh," he reminded her quietly, needing her to know, even if she couldn't return the words, but also because he felt like, if he didn't tell her in the peaceful moments like this, he'd run out of chances to tell her.

Luke sung Long Way Home, hoping it would keep Reine's anxiety at bay, wanting nothing more than for her to be safe. He watched as she drifted off to sleep, and even though she no longer required him to be there, he stayed, just watching her. "I love you, Reine." He murmured, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "More than anything in this world. You've always been the one."

Leigh squeezed Michael's hand back, being gentle. Hearing Michael's words, Leigh didn't know if it was reflex, but she looked to him, needing him there, realising that she loved him, as well. "I love you too, Michael." She murmured as she drifted off, falling into a light sleep. And what else could she call the pull she felt towards him, the incredible feelings he made her feel when he was around, other than love?

Michael blinked with surprise, staring at her with mild shock, though he could feel his heart swelling with hearing her voice saying the words back. Squeezing her hand gently, he leaned over to kiss the top of her head gently, happy and relieved, and it made him all the more sure that they'd get through all of this together, no matter what.

Luke text Tanya quickly to let her know that Reine was home safe, and he stuck by Reine's side, not wanting to leave her, in case she woke up afraid.

Michael had stayed on the bed for several hours, watching Leigh sleep, just wanting to give her company, but also just wanting to be near her. It was only when he realized the time that he forced himself to stand from his spot. As much as he wanted to sleep next to Leigh, he'd agreed to let her use the spare room so that she would be comfortable and he didn't want to make things weird by still being there when she woke up. Leaning to press a kiss over her forehead, he watched her for a moment, stroking her face gently, glad she was home and safe, even if it meant they wouldn't sleep together. At least she was there. He kissed her forehead once more, mostly to give himself a reason to stay longer, before he pulled back with a heavy breath and went to their room, climbing onto the bed to get some sleep, despite how empty the bed felt without Leigh there next to him.

Luke had sat for a long time, sitting cross legged at the foot of the bed to give Reine her space, but still ensuring that she was safe, she was breathing, and she was alive. At around 11pm, when Luke's phone was at 1%, Luke decided that it would be best to get his own energy back up. Although his body and mind craved to be beside Reine, he'd let her make her own decision to where she wanted to sleep, and he didn't want to force her to do anything she wasn't ready to do yet. Standing reluctantly from the bed, Luke pressed a gentle kiss to Reine's cheek, and then the other cheek, before disappearing next door.

Leigh woke up just after 3AM (according to the alarm clock next to the bed), seeing Michael had gone. Although she understood he needed sleep, Leigh felt his absence and felt the anxiety build in her chest. Standing from the bed, Leigh walked down the hallway, looking at photos scattered across the walls. Smiling, Leigh spotted the only door that was cracked open a tiny inch, and she assumed that's where Michael was. Knocking the door gently, Leigh toyed with her lower lip.

When Reine woke up, she felt Luke's absence before she even saw that he wasn't there. She felt her heart sink and twist with anxiety before she saw the time on the clock on the nightstand. 3AM. He must have gone to bed, she realized, but it didn't take away the anxiety. Shifting, she climbed off the bed, unable to really stop herself, as though her body and soul just craved Luke's presence, and before she really understood what she was doing, she was at the door to hers and Luke's room, knocking on it lightly.

Admittedly, Michael had been having trouble sleeping, having tossed and turned and woken up plenty of times, concerned about Leigh and wanting her in his arms, but he'd left his door slightly open so that he could hear her if anything happened. The knock on the door had startled him awake, sending adrenaline through him as he immediately worried that something was wrong, and he quickly stood up and headed to the door, swinging it open quickly, before pausing, seeing Leigh there. "Are you okay?" he asked immediately, concerned, but glad to see her face.

It had taken Luke a long time to settle, and an even longer time to begin to attempt to sleep, nevermind actually sleep. He'd finally drifted off at about 1AM, but he felt as if he was in a state of semi consciousness, his instinct leaning towards wanting to protect Reine, in case she woke up afraid. Luke woke up as he heard a knock on the door, and his heart began to pound a little faster. Going to the door, Luke pulled it open and couldn't help the smile that spread across his face when he saw Reine. "Hey, you. Are you okay?" He opened the door fully.

Leigh nodded at Michael's question. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." She promised. "It's just..." She toyed with her lower lip even more. "I woke up and I couldn't go back to sleep because you weren't there, and I - I was wondering, I guess, if you'd be okay, you know, letting me crash with you." She looked at him hopefully. "I don't want to be away from you, Michael."

Reine paused, blinking at the smile on his face, and she could feel her heart swelling, but she swallowed and nodded slightly. "I'm okay," she assured quietly, shifting a bit as she dropped her gaze, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. I mean, I kind of did, but..." She made a face and shrugged slightly. "I dunno, I woke up and you were gone and it just... Didn't feel right and I found myself coming here before I could really think about it." Shifting, she wrapped her arms around herself slightly before she peered up at him. "Can I, um... Can I sleep with you? Would that be okay?"

Michael blinked several times, though he grinned slightly, taking her in, a sense of happiness and relief filling him quickly. "Of course you can," he assured her quietly, gently taking her hand to pull her into the room gently before he pressed a kiss to the side of her head. "I love having you beside me, in my arms, so I have no complaints. I only left because I didn't want to upset you and make things weird when you woke up when you'd chosen the guest room and I didn't want to intrude on that. I'm sorry." He ran his thumb over the back of her hand gently as he watched her. "Come on, let's get in bed, yeah?"

Luke smiled, unable to stop himself, glad Reine asked and she was taking things at her own pace. "Of course you can." He placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently as he moved to allow her into the bedroom. "Climb in, get comfortable." Luke invited, closing the bedroom door once more and trying to make sure that Reine was comfortable. Climbing in next to her, Luke laid down, letting Reine make the first move. "Comfy?" He asked softly, leaning to press a kiss to the top of her head.

Leigh smiled. "Don't apologise, I just..." Her cheeks reddened. Approaching their double bed that they'd shared before the accident, Leigh gravitated to the left side, wondering if her memory was telling her something. Climbing in, Leigh got comfortable, exhaling her anxiety out as she felt a comfort wash through her; so familiar and yet so strange at the same time. Watching Michael climb in, Leigh didn't hesitate to move towards him.

Reine offered a small smile, relieved to hear it, and she nodded slightly, wandering into the room. While she couldn't see much, she managed to maneuver her way through the room and to the bed without a problem and she wasn't sure if it was by luck or memory. Climbing onto the bed, she pulled the blanket over herself and she watched Luke for a moment before she shifted closer, curling up to him, and pressed her face to his shirt. "I am now," she confirmed quietly, "Thank you, Luke."

Michael watched her, smiling to himself when she climbed onto her own side of the bed, admiring her, really acknowledging just how amazing she was. Even without her memories, there were so many things she did that made him feel like some parts of her, deep down, could remember some things or at least that some things were instinctual for her. Making his way over to the bed, he climbed in, blinking when she moved to him and he grinned, wrapping his arms around her to hold her close, rubbing her back gently. "Better?" he asked her quietly, grateful to have her in his arms.

Luke grinned to himself when he saw how easily Reine had maneuvered herself around the room, his heart bursting with pride. He was almost certain that, deep down, her memories were just locked away and not completely forgotten, and the hope that one day, it would all come flooding back, made Luke smile even wider. Luke tucked Reine in, ensuring she was comfortable, before wrapping his arms around her, one hand stroking through her hair. "You don't have to thank me, baby." He murmured. "I'd do anything to help you, because there's no one else I love more than you." Luke paused. "Do you feel better?"

Leigh rested her head against Michael's chest, nodding. "Much." She murmured, focusing on his heartbeat, grateful to hear it. "Thank you." She looked up at his face, barely visible in the darkness, but still, she swore that she could trace his lips from memory, despite having none of that left. "Thank you." She smiled weakly. "Alright, have we ever woken up in a dumb position before?" She asked as she closed her eyes, tired, knowing Michael was probably exhausted too.

Reine relaxed under his touch, watching him quietly for a few moments, surprisingly content with just this quiet moment, so close to him, so safe and comfortable. "I do feel better," she assured him quietly with a small nod, "It feels a lot more comfortable in here, with you, in your arms." She felt her cheeks warm slightly, but she figured honesty was best here.

Michael smiled as he held her close and he shook his head, kissing the top of her head as he played with her hair gently. "You never have to thank me, Leigh," he assured her quietly as he watched her, "I promise. Just having you here in my arms in gratitude enough." He grinned teasingly, but offered a quiet chuckle. "Uh... The first night you moved in, we woke up, almost sideways on the bed."

Luke nodded. "We used to sleep like this all the time." He told Reine gently. "And the nights we couldn't sleep, we were on the balcony." He explained. "I'm just glad you feel better." Luke told her, pressing a sweet kiss to her forehead. "My arms will always be a safe place for you, Reine, because your arms are my safe place, too." And boy, was that the truth. Luke had always found solace in Reine, and he always will, no matter the hardships they faced; Luke knew that Reine was his forever.

Leigh smiled as Michael played with her hair, the whole gesture relaxing her, making her worries dissolve into the air around them. She closed her eyes, focusing on his heartbeat, laughing as he told her about their first night in the same bed. "That doesn't sound comfortable." She told him, drawing patterns on his chest, through his t-shirt, with her fingers, her touch feather light, hoping it relaxed him, too.

Reine smiled slightly as she listened to his words, finding it easy to imagine such a thing being possible. With being in his arms like this, she was sure that there was nothing that she enjoyed more, nothing that put her more at ease, when she'd had her memories. "You really are amazing, Luke," she murmured quietly as she watched him, examining him for a few moments, "I really hope I told you that a lot with my memories. I don't know how I got so lucky, then or now, but I'm really, really glad I have you in my life."

Michael grinned, unable to help it. "It wasn't, for the most part," he admitted, "But you were still right beside me and I couldn't have asked for anything better." Shifting, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head, loving the comfort holding her in his arms brought him, but also loving just how comfortable she seemed in his arms right now. Smiling with feeling the patterns she was drawing into his chest, he relaxed easily under her touch, finding it easy to do so. "It was a pretty amusing morning, though, that time. We were running so late and rushing with everything." He grinned teasingly, peering down at her. "And you were so damn distracting."

Luke smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of Reine's head, brushing the stray strands from her face carefully. "You told me every day." He promised. "I'm pretty sure we said 'I love you' at least one hundred times a day." He chuckled. "And I'm so glad you're in my life too, Reine." He promised. "Since the day you come into my life, all the way up to now, you just made everything so much brighter, I couldn't ask for anything better than what we have." Luke smiled. "You know, I used to tell the guys that you took half my heart, and you haven't given it back since, and I don't mind one bit." He smiled. "I still believe that to this day."

Leigh's eyebrows furrowed in amusement as she looked up at Michael, although she loved it when he kissed the top of her head. "Distracting?" She questioned, tracing love hearts into his t-shirt, wondering if he would feel and get the hint. "How?" She asked with a laugh, pressing a kiss to the base of his neck, where his shoulder met his neck, knowing he wouldn't mind. Showing Michael any kind of affection made Leigh feel whole, and she loved it, how he reacted to her. "And what were we late for?" She laughed slightly.

Reine smiled slightly, relieved to hear that she'd told him that he was amazing often, since he definitely needed to know. She made a joking face, though. "Oh, we sound ridiculous," she joked lightly, though it made her heart swell with knowing that they mattered that much to each other. "Who said 'I love you' first?" Watching him for a moment, her expression softened, and she offered a small smile. "You still believe all of that, even with everything going on?"

"Because you were such a tease," Michael teased lightly, grinning as he held her close, relaxing under the feeling of her tracing hearts, and he watched her, rubbing her back gently. "You'd keep kissing me and I'd get really into it, then you'd remind me that we have to get up and get ready, but you'd kiss me again." He grinned with the memory of it and shook his head slightly, though he shuddered a bit with the kiss, unable to help it, and smiled. "We were late to a practice session. You'd come with me to them and you'd just encourage me so much and just having you there made it even more fun that it already was."

"I did." Luke smiled at her question. "I remember - it was Ashton's birthday party, we'd only been together a couple of months, my Mom used to say we were going through the honeymoon period." He laughed at the memory. "We were dancing to this slow song, and in that moment, there were people around us and all I could see was you." He told her, smilng over at Reine. "I kissed you, and I told you I loved you, and you kissed me and said it back with no hesitation." Luke bit his lip. "That's how I knew you were my forever." He paused though, at Reine's other question. "Of course I still believe that." He reassured.

Leigh laughed, burying her face into Michael's shoulder as she did, not even embarrassed by the fact that they used to be intimate. "I bet you hated me for that, even with no memory, I'm not even sorry about it - I bet you'd be fun to get a reaction out of." She grinned. "Did we have like, traditions we did as a couple? Other than the birthday meal thing." She smiled at Michael. Frowning at a thought though, Leigh sat up slightly to look at Michael, studying him. "Together for almost four years." She paused. "Were you my first time?" She stopped tracing patterns into his t-shirt, instead laying her hand over his heart.

Reine listened to him quietly, wishing she could remember it, even trying to search her brain for the memory, partially trying to force it, but nothing came besides a headache. Shifting, she buried her face against his shirt as she thought. "I can't imagine moving in with somebody unless I felt the same way, that we'd be forever," she admitted quietly, "Even without my memories, I know that much."

Michael laughed, holding her close as he rubbed her back gently. "I didn't hate you at all," he assured her quietly, grinning as he lifted a hand to run his fingers through her hair. "You kept me on my toes and I love you for it." He grinned, winking a bit, but hummed in thought. "We'd binge-watch tv every Saturday with a ton of snacks. The first day of every month, we'd just have the day to relax." He smiled, but blinked as he watched her sit up but lifted his hand to rest it over hers, giving it a small squeeze. "I was," he confirmed quietly, "You have no idea how many times I asked if you were sure it was what you wanted."

Luke rubbed circles into Reine's back gently. "I remember the day I asked you to move in." Luke chuckled. "I was at your house for dinner with your parents, and I asked them if I could steal you away - you understood pretty much straight away and you tackled me." Luke laughed a little louder this time. "By the next weekend, you were moved in completely and you've been in charge since." Luke grinned. "I love watching you, how at home you are here." He confessed. "It makes my heart happy. You make my heart happy, you make me happy." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

Leigh nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, remembering a small detail about her Dad and Michael not getting along. "Of course you would, you're so... perfect." Leigh smiled, settling back against Michael's chest. "It's so easy to see why I fell in love with you in the first place." She confessed. "Even without my memories; I - I feel it, you know?" She asked, going back to tracing patterns in his chest with her finger. "Binge-watching TV every Saturday? No where else I'd rather be." She confessed, looking up to Michael, studying him for a moment.