Sophia closed the bathroom door behind her.
For a moment she just stood there, towel in hand, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
Her hair was still slightly messy, her cheeks faintly flushed from the fever—and from Jane.
Sophia exhaled slowly.
"My girlfriend," she murmured under her breath, as if testing the words again.
The phrase still felt unreal.
Outside the bathroom, she could faintly hear Jane moving around the apartment, humming quietly to herself like she had completely settled in.
Sophia shook her head with a small, helpless smile.
Then she turned on the shower.
Warm water began to spill down in a soft, steady stream.
She stepped under it carefully.
The heat wrapped around her shoulders, easing the lingering tension in her body.
For the first time that day, she felt the fever truly begin to fade.
Sophia closed her eyes, letting the water run through her hair.
Jane's voice replayed in her head.
Your girlfriend is very stubborn.
Sophia sighed softly.
"That is very true."
After a few minutes, she washed quickly, not lingering too long like Jane had ordered.
Still… the warmth helped.
Her muscles relaxed.
Her breathing slowed.
By the time she stepped out and wrapped the towel around herself, she felt lighter.
Healthier.
And strangely… calmer.
She dried her hair a little, then changed back into another set of pajamas.
When she opened the bathroom door again—
Jane was leaning casually against the wall across the hallway.
Waiting.
Sophia stopped.
"You were waiting here?"
Jane shrugged lightly.
"I said ten minutes."
Sophia narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You timed me?"
Jane smiled innocently.
"I like being precise."
Sophia walked past her toward the bedroom.
"You're unbelievable."
Jane followed her easily.
"But you listened."
"That was not by choice."
Jane chuckled.
Sophia reached the bed and pulled back the blanket.
She hesitated slightly before climbing in.
Jane watched from the doorway.
"See?" Jane said.
"What?"
"You look better already."
Sophia settled against the pillows.
"I admit the shower helped."
Jane nodded, clearly pleased with herself.
"Of course it did."
She walked over and climbed onto the other side of the bed like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Sophia glanced at her.
"You really weren't joking about sleeping here."
"Nope."
Jane slid under the blanket beside her.
Sophia instinctively moved a little closer to the edge.
Jane noticed immediately.
"Hey."
Sophia looked at her.
"You're running away."
"I am giving you space."
Jane scooted closer.
"We don't need space."
Sophia blinked.
"We just started dating."
Jane nodded.
"And?"
Sophia struggled for a response.
Jane smiled gently and pulled the blanket higher around both of them.
"Relax."
Sophia looked at her for a moment.
Then sighed quietly and stopped resisting.
Jane shifted again until their shoulders touched.
Sophia stiffened for half a second.
Then slowly relaxed.
The room was dim now, lit only by the soft glow from the bedside lamp.
Jane turned onto her side to face her.
Sophia noticed.
"What?"
Jane studied her for a moment.
"You look cute when you're sleepy."
Sophia rolled her eyes lightly.
"I am not cute."
"You absolutely are."
Sophia pulled the blanket higher in defense.
Jane laughed softly.
Then she reached out and brushed a strand of damp hair away from Sophia's forehead.
The touch was gentle.
Careful.
Sophia's breath slowed.
"You're still warm," Jane murmured.
"The fever is almost gone."
"Good."
A quiet moment passed.
Sophia looked at her.
"Jane?"
"Hmm?"
"…Thank you for taking care of me."
Jane smiled softly.
"Get used to it."
Sophia shook her head slightly.
"You say that like you're planning to stay forever."
Jane didn't hesitate.
"Maybe I am."
Sophia blinked.
Jane leaned closer, her voice warm but calm.
"I told you," she said. "I know what I want."
Sophia looked at her quietly.
Then she did something small but meaningful.
She moved closer.
Just enough that their arms brushed.
Jane noticed.
But she didn't tease this time.
Instead she gently took Sophia's hand under the blanket.
Their fingers laced together.
Sophia didn't pull away.
The lamp clicked off a moment later.
Darkness settled around them.
Sophia spoke softly into the quiet.
"Jane?"
"Yes?"
"…You're holding my hand."
Jane squeezed it lightly.
"Yes."
Sophia paused.
Then said quietly,
"Okay."
Jane smiled in the dark.
And slowly, with their hands still intertwined, they drifted toward sleep.
The apartment was quiet.
The kind of quiet that only comes late at night—when the city outside had slowed, when the lights were out, when the world felt smaller.
Sophia lay on her back, staring into the darkness.
She should have been asleep by now.
Her body felt tired.
The fever had faded.
Everything was calm.
Except her mind.
Because Jane was beside her.
Very close beside her.
Their hands were still loosely intertwined under the blanket, warm and steady.
Sophia could feel Jane's slow breathing.
She turned her head slightly.
Jane had fallen asleep.
Her face looked softer in sleep—less playful, less teasing. Just peaceful.
Sophia watched her for a moment.
Then another.
She didn't mean to stare.
But something about it felt… safe.
Sophia shifted slightly.
The movement made the bed creak softly.
Jane stirred.
Sophia froze.
Jane's eyes opened slowly.
"…Sophia?"
Her voice was thick with sleep.
Sophia whispered, "Sorry. Did I wake you?"
Jane blinked a few times, trying to focus.
"No… I wake up easily."
Sophia hesitated.
"You should go back to sleep."
Jane hummed softly.
But she didn't close her eyes.
Instead she looked at Sophia, squinting slightly in the dark.
"You're awake."
Sophia sighed quietly.
"I can't sleep."
Jane shifted onto her side, now facing her fully.
"Still sick?"
"No."
"Headache?"
"No."
Jane studied her for a moment.
Then a small smile appeared.
"You're thinking too much."
Sophia didn't answer.
Jane chuckled quietly.
"Doctor brain."
Sophia turned onto her side as well so they were facing each other.
"It's not that."
Jane waited.
Sophia hesitated, then admitted softly,
"Today was… unexpected."
Jane's smile softened.
"Yeah."
"You kissed me."
"Correct."
"You moved into my apartment."
"Temporary expansion," Jane corrected.
Sophia almost laughed.
"And now we're sleeping in the same bed."
Jane tilted her head.
"You sound like you regret it."
Sophia immediately shook her head.
"No."
Jane watched her carefully.
"Then what's the problem?"
Sophia hesitated again.
Her voice was quieter when she finally answered.
"I've never done this before."
Jane blinked.
"Sleep?"
Sophia gave her a flat look.
"You know what I mean."
Jane's expression softened again.
"Oh."
Sophia looked slightly embarrassed.
"I've dated before," she said slowly. "But… not like this."
Jane didn't interrupt.
Sophia continued.
"I was always busy. Focused on work. Relationships never… lasted."
Jane listened quietly.
Sophia glanced at their hands under the blanket.
"This feels different."
Jane squeezed her fingers gently.
"It is."
Sophia looked up.
Jane's voice was calm now, no teasing.
"We're not rushing anything."
Sophia studied her face in the dim light.
"You say that, but you moved into my apartment in under twelve hours."
Jane grinned.
"That part was fast."
Sophia shook her head, but her lips curved slightly.
Jane lifted their joined hands between them.
"You know what this is?"
Sophia looked at it.
"Our hands."
Jane snorted softly.
"Yes, Doctor. Very observant."
Sophia nudged her lightly with her foot under the blanket.
Jane continued.
"This isn't pressure."
She brushed her thumb slowly across Sophia's knuckles.
"It's just… us."
Sophia felt something warm settle in her chest again.
Jane lowered their hands back onto the bed.
"You don't have to figure everything out tonight."
Sophia exhaled slowly.
"That would be nice."
Jane shifted slightly closer.
Now their faces were only a short distance apart.
Sophia's breath caught again.
Jane noticed.
Her smile returned.
"You're doing that thing again."
"What thing?"
"Looking nervous."
Sophia frowned.
"I am not nervous."
Jane leaned forward just enough that their noses almost touched.
"You are."
Sophia's voice dropped.
"You're very close."
Jane whispered back,
"I know."
For a moment neither of them moved.
The quiet stretched between them.
Soft.
Warm.
Sophia swallowed slightly.
"Jane?.…You're staring."
Jane's eyes flicked down to Sophia's lips.
"Can you blame me?"
Sophia's heartbeat picked up.
"You kissed me earlier."
Jane nodded.
"I remember."
"And now you want to again?"
Jane smiled slowly.
"Yes."
Sophia hesitated.
Jane didn't rush her.
She simply waited.
Then Sophia moved first.
Just a little.
That was all Jane needed.
She closed the distance gently.
The kiss was slow.
Sleepy.
Soft in the quiet darkness.
When they pulled apart, Sophia's voice was barely above a whisper.
"…Okay."
Jane smiled.
"Okay what?"
Sophia looked at her.
"Maybe I like this."
Jane chuckled softly.
"Maybe?"
Sophia squeezed her hand again.
"…Definitely."
Jane settled back into the pillow, still facing her.
"Good."
Sophia closed her eyes this time.
But she didn't let go of Jane's hand.
And after a few quiet minutes—
Sleep finally came.