"Eww...is she snoring?"

"No," Girlish giggles.  "She's purring.  Along her back is her favorite place to be petted."

Pause then, "Is you uncle wearing a shirt?"

"I don't know...Why is he cuddling your mom?"

"Maybe they had a sleepover like we did."

"I guess...Maybe your mom had a nightmare again?"

"Could be...sometimes that happens."

A sharp inhale sounded from one of the lumps, more specifically from Lincoln.  Eyes fluttering open heavy with sleep, an odd weight buzzing lightly on his hip. His lips curved into a lazy smile seeing Brooke's sleeping face snuggled up against his chest.  Arms tightening around her, Lincoln was very content.  That movement caused a gasp to sound from near his feet.

Lazily lifting his head, two girls sitting cross legged behind him caught his attention. Especially because each invader had a hand on a large, gray furry ball perched and purring loudly on his hip.  With a single finger against his lips, the two girls giggled, hands over their mouths to silence the sound.

"Did you girls have breakfast?" Lincoln whispered as quietly as he could.

Melody shook her head.  "I can reach the cereal, though."

"OK," He nodded.  "Go eat.  I'll get your mom up."

Both girls grinned, nodded then cautiously scrambled off the bed.  Reaching over his hip, Lincoln gave a friendly scratch along the spine of the cat he recognized as Misty perched on his hip.

"I can see why Brooke likes to snuggle with you."  In response, the cats hips rose, eyes closed and purr grew louder.  A soft chuckle rumbled through his chest.

The stirring beauty in his arms inhaled sharply, squirming with her arms tucked against his chest.  Instinctively Lincoln drew a trail u then down her spine, earning a small mewl from the other furry bundle curled up behind Brooke's back.  That sound had Brooke's eyes fluttering open. 

At first, her eyes zoomed in on the bare, toned chest she was pressed up against but then her lips curved into a sleepy smile, fingers uncurling to flatten her palms on his pecs.

"Good morning," Lincoln's husky voice rumbled as he pressed a kiss atop her head.

"Morning," Brooke mumbled shyly.  "Are the girls awake?"

"Mhmm."  The sharp gasp filling Brooke's lungs broke Lincoln from his reverie.  "What's wrong?"

Tears glistened in her eyes but Brooke was looking off the the side, one hand slipping from between their bodies to drape over the gray fluff ball on Lincoln's hip.

"She's...sleeping on you."

The way Brooke half laughed the statement confused him.  "Is...that bad?"

"No," She chuckled, rubbing the cat down her back earning a hip lift and the purring grew louder than ever along with short chirps.  "It's wonderful."

Adding to the affection, Lincoln stroked the cats back in pattern with Brooke.  "I'm confused.  Why is this making you emotional?"

"Because..." Her voice cracked.  "The abuse wasn't just on me.  He-...Dorian kicked her.  It's why she walks with a limp.  She won't go in Melody's room, they both run from her and they didn't sleep with my mom either, only me.  So the fact that she's on the bed let alone your hip means..."

"She trusts me," He finished.  "So what about the other fur ball?"

Peering over her shoulder where Lincoln tilted his head, Brooke gasped again, reaching behind her to pet the orange fluff ball.  "Hi baby," She cooed to Bullseye, rubbing along the cats spine much like she had done to her sister.  That ones hips also rose.  "Aww! Kitty elevator!"

Both erupted into giggles while lavishing attention on the furry companions.  Pattering feat followed shortly after.

"Mommy! Mommy!  Mommy!" Melody chimed, pouncing onto the bed with Elise climbing up next.  Both cats scrambled away.  "It's zoo day!  Can Elise come, too? Pleeeease!"

Brooke's eyes went wide as she gasped, "It's zoo day!  What time is it?"

"Um, almost 7:0?" Lincoln answered, peering at digital clock.

"We have to leave here in forty five minutes to get there when the zoo opens!  It's a special members early entry day."

"Can Elise come too?" Melody repeated.

Brooke cast a glance at Lincoln.  "I don't know if they have plans today..."

"Nope," He grinned.

"Then I guess so!"

"Yay!" Both girls cheered.

"Go brush your teeth and and get dressed!"  Brooke declared as they scrambled out of the bedroom.  "I need to shower."

"You go first, I'll make sure the girls get dressed then I'll take my turn."

"OK," Brooke agreed.  "I'll pack up lunches while you shower."

"Sounds like a plan."  Planting a quick kiss on her lips, they detangled themselves and set to getting ready.

****

"Thank you for driving," Brooke commented as they crossed the parking lot toward the large zoo gates.

"I didn't leave you much room to argue, did I?" He winked, interlacing their fingers as they walked behind the two skipping girls.

"That's the lawyer side of you again."

He sent a teasing wink to her with a wide grin.  "You know it."

Following the crowd as they opened the Members only gate,  Melody and Elise joined hands, staying not more than a few feet ahead.  Their first stop was Reggie the alligator as Melody explained his famous story being found in the area and several escape attempts.  Even Lincoln was intrigued.

Next was off to the petting zoo where one goat in particular was fascinated with Lincoln.  It always followed him, nudged his hips with its head and bleated for food from Lincoln's hand.  When he ran out of food, the goat nudged him when Lincoln was bent over, sending him to fall onto his hip.  Brooke had tears falling from laughing so hard. 

"You think that's funny, huh?" Lincoln growled.

Brooke couldn't answer.  She only held her stomach laughing harder.

"I'll get you for that!"  Rising to his feet, Lincoln dashed for Brooke, successfully wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Ahh, Lincoln!" She squealed, wriggling to get out of his grasp.

"You two!" The docent called, causing both of them to freeze.  "No rough housing around the animals.  It could scare them."

Hand in hand, heads down, Lincoln and Brooke mumbled their apologies and made their way toward the exit.  Once out the gate, Brooke turned on Lincoln visciously tickling his sides.

"You got us kicked out of the petting zoo!"

He just laughed.  Unable to resist, Brooke laughed, too.

Once all their food was gone, the two girls exited and found their adults then took off skipping off toward the next section.  Taking off onto the trail, the foursome decided to go uphill first Lincoln and Brooke hand in hand behind Elise and Melody.

After the bird show, picnic lunch watching the giraffe's and an hour stealing kisses while the girls played at the central playground, they finished their trek. 

Now driving back to Brooke's house, the girls sound asleep each tightly snuggling a stuffed animal purchased in the market, his adventurous day had felt like a normal routine for this group.  A day that could be a routine now that their heart beat together, made amends and agreed to move on together.

Head leaned back on the head rest, Brooke smiled as she watched Lincoln's serious face while he maneuvered the car through LA traffic.  Lips pursed, one hand at the top of the wheel, the other resting on his thigh, brows slightly dipped.

As if sensing her gaze on him, Lincoln turned glancing at her, lips turning into a smirk.   "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," She replied, smiling wider as her hand rested atop his.  Instinctively their fingers entwined.  "This was an amazing day."

"Yeah, it was."

"I want more."

Lincoln grinned, eyes still watching the road.  "Me too."

"So...yes."

"Yes, what?" He half chuckled.

"To being your girlfriend."

Brooke grinned watching Lincoln's eyes widen, brows rising as he pulled the car to a stop at a red light now off the freeway then shifted in his seat to face her absolutely giddy like a kid in a candy store.

"Really?"

"Really."

Both chuckling with glee, Lincoln cupped Brooke's cheeks in his hands leaning in to seal this official agreement with a kiss.

"EWW!" Came a squeal form the backseat. "You were gonna kiss my teacher!"

"Eww!"

Sighing heavily, Lincoln gave a pointed glare at his niece who was sticking her tongue out, nose wrinkled in an expression of discuss twinned with Melody.

"I can kiss my girlfriend whenever I want, too!" He countered,winking at the girl who gave another round of sounds declaring their disgust.

"Guess we'll have to settle for hand holding," Brooke snickered.

"For now," Lincoln growled under his breath.

****

Warm hands gripping the sides of Brooke's hips startled her.  Jerking upright, she flipped the off switch on the hair dryer spinning in Lincoln's grip.

"You scared me!"

Pressing his front to her back, soft lips found the back of her neck.  His warmth seeped through the thin fabric of her camisole.  "The girls are sound asleep."

"Thank you for doing that."

Chuckling, his hands roamed appreciatively down then up the curve of her sides, then wrapped around to her front.  "They loved the book about the kid with too many toys."

Leaning back and laughing, Brooke laid her hands on his.  "Did you read it with the grumpy voice?"

"Per Melody's fervid recommendation."

"Ohhh, that's my girl," Brooke groaned playfully.

"You're ok with taking Elise to school tomorrow?" Lincoln questioned, lips peppering kisses along Brooke's bare shoulder.

"Mhmm," Her eyes rolled closed reveling in the attention.  "Do you have to go back to San Diego tomorrow?"

"Unfortunately," He groaned, arms tightening around her waist.

"When will you be back?" She asked softly, tongue jetting out to lick her suddenly dry lips.

Emerald gems locked onto her in the reflection of the large bathroom mirror, lips tilting into a smirk.  "Couple weeks?  I've got a big case starting Tuesday."

"These next two months are going to be craaaa-zy," Brooke groaned again, not so playfully.

"I'll come back to help relieve that stress," Lincoln smirked, one hand sliding lower to cup her front.

"Lincoln..." Brooke began, already breathless.  "What are you doing?"

"Showing you what I want to see when I video chat my girlfriend late at night."

With a sharp gasp, Brooke rolled her head back, grip tightening on Lincoln's wrist as his fingers sunk into her panties.

Could not resist the playfulness lol

Happy Friday!

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