"I have a feeling that I am going to be the guy in this relationship,"

I turned my head towards Hayden, arching an eyebrow. "Why? Do you have a penis too?"

"No, you idiot." She was quick to deny, my questions earning me an exaggerated shake of her head.

"How come then?"

Pulling her legs up under her, she turned towards me. "Because the first six months of every relationship are always the guy going: 'You haven't seen this movie? Well now we have to watch it!' But instead I will be the one having to get you to watch movies."

"I have seen plenty of movies." I answered slightly defensively. I had been in the Army after all, not dead.

My comment didn't seem to impress her much, challenging me, "Oh? What was the last movie you saw?"

Glancing away, I pondered her question. It was a struggle to find an answer, internally rifling through my memories.

"Um... I think it was the last Hobbit movie?" I said, unsure. My mind fixated on the answer, a memory slowly infusing me. I could remember the dark barracks, the light cast off from the makeshift cinema screen as the men around me devolved into boys once more - the fantasy created by Tolkien still very much alive. "Yes, it was definitely the last Hobbit Movie."

"The Battle of the Five Armies," Hayden stated, glancing up from her phone. "Which came out in 2014."

'Fuck, had it really been that long?'

Shrugging, "So maybe it's been awhile."

She just stared back at me, unblinking.

"Okay, it's definitely been awhile." I finally relented.

She nodded once, a smirk emerging as she appeared satisfied with winning our little engagement. I watched as she grabbed the television remote off the coffee table, turning it on before saying, "Now watch your woman work."

'My woman,' I thought, the giddiness like that of Christmas morning as it settled upon me.

Reclining against the cushions, I was content to simply watch Hayden as she hunted through the myriad of movies on Netflix. She hummed and hawed softly to herself, occasionally pausing at a title, reading the synopsis, before moving on with a shake of her head.

"Do you have anything to drink?" She asked absentmindedly, her gaze remaining fixated on the television.

Pushing myself to my feet, I wandered into the kitchen before pulling open the fridge. Glancing inside, I quickly took stock of what I had.

"What are you in the mood for?" I called out, half turning towards her.

Her gaze met mine, those piercing green eyes nearly blowing away every thought I had.

"Well what do you have, silly?"

"Um..." Glancing back towards the fridge, I began listing what I had. "I got Coke, water, apple juice... Milk?"

"Any alcohol?" She asked coyly, a grin following her words.

Nodding, "Just a bottle of Jack Daniel's." It had been a housewarming gift from my mom.

"Ooo, Jack and Coke. Yes please."

"Planning on getting even more drunk?" I teased.

"Well how else am I supposed to stomach sleeping with you?" She countered with a smirk, eyes flashing.

"Fucking hell," I mumbled softly. "It's as if we're married already."

As I made my way back to the couch, drinks in hand, I asked "What have you settled on?"

She turned towards me, smiling as she took her drink from me. "Thank you." Taking a sip, she sighed her pleasure before setting it down. "And how does A Quiet Place sound?"

"Sounds pretty quiet."

Hayden's sigh was loud, her eyes narrowing in disapproval at my pun.

I chuckled unrepentantly. "What's it about?"

"Um, it's like the end of the world. And there are these monsters that kill anyone that make a noise."

With a smirk, I replied "So what you're saying is you wouldn't last thirty seconds?"

"And what is that supposed to mean? Huh?"

"Oh... Well because you are just so beautiful, and frail." I was quick to backtrack, the frown that had emerged upon Hayden's face a threat all unto itself.

A smile of satisfaction returned, her eyes glinting approvingly. "That's better, mister."

We lapsed into silence as the movie began to play, Hayden cuddling up against my side before reaching blindly back to pull my arm around her. The sigh that she emitted was heartfelt, my fingers absentmindedly stroking along her arm as she pulled herself tighter against me.

I smirked as Hayden got up to refill her drink halfway though the movie, offering me a sheepish smile as she returned. She moved on unsteady legs, wobbling slightly as the drink in her hand nearly sloshed over the sides.

"Oops," She mumbled softly, almost a giggle, as she practically threw herself down on top of me.

"Making yourself comfortable?" I grunted out, the elbow wedged against my ribs being anything but comfortable.

"I just want to be close to you." Hayden whined softly, her pale eyes like that of puppy dog eyes as they turned up towards me.

'How could any man resist a woman looking at them like that?' I thought, all too willing to acquiesce to her, shifting slightly so she could lay half on me.

She sighed softly as she shifted further down the couch, her head coming to rest atop my lap.

"Let me grab you a pillow," I offered, waiting for her to lift her head slightly before sliding it underneath.

"Thank you,"

"Of course." I answered, though internally I was relieved. The heat of her body, the feel of her hand on my thigh, had an immediate effect upon me. All I needed was to ruin the night by having my hard cock pressing into the side of her face.

The rest of the movie passed in silence, Hayden occasionally moving as she reached for her drink. I didn't say anything when she polished off mine as well, grumbling softly to herself about being too lazy to get up for a refill.

My cheeks ached from grinning, all too aware that she was likely completely plastered. How could she not be after three glasses of wine with dinner and now nearly three glasses of Jack and Coke.

My thoughts proved true as the movie ended. Hayden pushed herself up lazily, giggling at some hidden joke. On unsteady feet she stood, turning to glance at me before she fell back down to the couch - rambunctious laughter spewing forth.

Her face was flushed, eyes lidded.

"You're quite the mess, aren't you?"

Her hair sashayed from side to side, her lips parting in rebuttal before her mouth slammed shut. In an instant she was on her feet, bumping into the coffee table as she sprinted towards the stairs.

I followed at her heels, nearly tripping in my own haste as her ass proved to be all too distracting.

Whose idea was it to make jeans hug a woman's curves like that? I thought with a shake of my head - my own jeans suddenly feeling far too restrictive around my growing member.

Turning the light on, I knelt beside Hayden as she began to retch into the toilet. Bundling her hair up, I held it up as she continued to empty the contents of her stomach.

Every few seconds she would pause, moaning softly, sniffling, before heaving once more.

I risked a glance into the toilet bowl as she raised her head, blanching as I saw the results of her sickness.

"Christ, what did you eat? A ten pound bag of carrots?"

"Gray!" Hayden whined, the noise plaintive. She turned slightly to shove my chest, as if she hoped to budge me. "Stop it!"

Her eyes were red, tear streaks coating her cheeks as bile rimmed her mouth.

I chuckled as she turned away, my hands quickly gathering her hair up once more as the sounds of retching echoed up from the toilet bowl.

"Kill me, please." She groaned, her face unnaturally pale as she leaned back.

I rubbed her back soothingly as she dry heaved several times. Her stomach having long since been emptied.

With toilet paper in hand, I went about wiping the remnants of her sickness that ringed her mouth.

"I can do it," Hayden said softly, clearly embarrassed. "I'm not a baby."

I paused as I leaned back slightly, arching an eyebrow. "Oh, are you not?"

"Well maybe I'm your baby." Hayden answered shyly, confidence wavering.

I was all too willing to agree, hating the slight hesitation in her expression.

"Of course you are," I answered just as softly, cupping her cheek in my hand. The way she nuzzled into my palm tore at me, like an ache manifesting within my heart.

We sat in silence for several minutes, Hayden heaving slightly from time to time yet her nausea appeared to have subsided.

"How about I take you home now?" I finally asked, lowering my hand.

"I'll just stay here for the night." Hayden stated, giving me no room to argue as she got to her feet and flushed the toilet.

"Are you sure?" I asked as she went about rinsing her mouth out with water, leaning heavily upon the sink.

Not even sparing me a backwards glance, she moved out of the bathroom. It appeared my question wasn't necessary, her mind clearly made up.

She turned towards me, leaning against the wall as she did. Her exhaustion was plain to see, her pallor still evident as her eyes appeared sunken in and dim - the spark of her personality having been laid to waste by her throwing up.

"I trust you, Gray." Was all she said, turning before pushing my bedroom door open.

I followed her in, stumbling blindly past her before turning on the bedside lamp.

"Didn't make your bed? Bad boy," Hayden mumbled as she plopped herself down right in the middle, sighing softly as her eyes closed.

I believe she was asleep before I had even pulled the blanket over her prone form.

Opening the window, I allowed the cool night breeze to stir the blinds before I set the waste bin beside the bed in case she woke up and needed it.

Kneeling beside the bed, I took in her face as she slumbered. She appeared so peaceful, so vulnerable. The storm of her personality no longer on display as she slept.

Even with her cheeks flushed, face appearing gauntly and sweat still lingering upon her forehead, she was still the most beautiful woman I could have ever imagined.

She was an angel given flesh. The goddess Athena incarnated.

Leaning forward, I kissed her gently on the cheek as she murmured softly in her sleep. The slight curve of her lips, a ghost of a smile, tugged at something within me. I wanted nothing more than to climb into the bed beside her, to draw her against me and feel her warmth. To not be alone as the darkness of the night crept into my being.

Yet I knew that I couldn't. Not yet at least.

I shook my head slightly, caressing her hair gently before turning the lamp off and moving towards the door. With one last parting glance, noting the small smile that still graced her lips, I allowed it to be the last image of my angel before I closed the bedroom door behind me.

With a pillow and blankets in my hands, I went about making the spare bed in the office. It was nothing more than a faux leather pullout couch, yet it would have to do for the night.

It was a long time before sleep finally claimed me, my thoughts of Hayden eventually slipping away.

As my eyes finally closed, I awoke to find myself back in Afghanistan. My friends, with smiling faces, yet haunted eyes, were there to welcome me as the war consumed me once more.