And Then There Was You (Chris Evans AU)

June: Thirty Four Part One

Chris- Babe, I'm sorry.

Daphne- I love you. I'll see you later.

Chris- love you more.

With a sigh of defeat I put my phone on the nightstand again. To say I screwed up would be an understatement. This is not how I expected the day to go.
After feeding Dodger and taking a quick shower I jump in the truck to head to my in-laws home. A tan colored envelope catches my eye as it rests on my dashboard. 'Christopher' it says in the handwriting I've come to recognize so easily. Tearing open the envelope I'm met with a handmade card.

Seeing the simple words 'I choose you' reminds me again of my stupidity last night. There is truly no excuse for me choosing sleep over a few sweet moments with my wife. Opening the card I pull out a small metal rectangle that has been engraved, a tiny heart has been cut out at the corner.

Setting the item down next to me, I crank the truck and barrel down our dirt road in an effort to find Daphne and mend this rift I've caused.

Arriving at the Jeffries home I see that Daphne's car isn't in the driveway so I drive on by. I pass by both James and Oliver's home but still come up empty.

There's only one other place she might be. I turn down Mulligan Street, driving towards Daphne's house. I can still see For Sale sign still sitting in the front yard and off to the side is Daphne's car.

I pull the truck off onto the side of the road. A battle arguing within my brain. She obviously wants to be left alone. But I 'wanted to be left alone' last night and look where we are now. I decide to bite the bullet and walk up to the house. I knock before turning my key, in order to not scare her.

Upon opening the door I'm taken aback. There in the middle of the empty living room floor is an air mattress covered in blankets and a pillow with my sweet Daphne asleep in the middle of the makeshift bed.

I crouch down next to the mattress, careful not to startle her awake. Tenderly I kiss her cheek, and rub my hand across it. She releases a soft sigh as a small smile plays upon her lips. But it's short lived as her brow furrows into a scowl and her eyes snap open at an alarming rate.

"It's just me," I assure her, sitting down completely next to the bed now.

"What are you doing here? I told you I'd see you later," she tells me, sitting up.

"Because I'm stupid, sweetheart," I admit. "Incredibly stupid...with two o's."

"It's fine. I shouldn't have woke you up," Daphne says with a sniffle. It's now that I realize her eyes are red rimmed.

I shake my head. "I want you to wake me up, whenever and for whatever," I confess. "I just wasn't thinking clearly." I hold her hand in mine, hoping she doesn't pull away. "How long have you been here?" I ask.

"Since about four," she says, chewing along the corner of her cheek. "I couldn't sleep and didn't want to disrupt you again."

   As kind hearted as my wife is I sometimes forget that she is also very tender hearted. My simple want of sleep last night has completely shattered her and lead her to believe that I rejected her.

  "I'm so sorry, Daphne," I say again.

  "I should've known better after the shift you had yesterday," she says, again thinking of other people rather than herself.

  I pull her closer to me, attempting to hold her gaze with mine. "No matter how crappy my shift is, no matter how exhausted I am, when I get home I should always make you a priority.  I'm sorry I didn't."

  She lets me hold her against my chest, feeling her relax against me. "I'm gonna cancel with Scott and spend the day with you."

  "No, you're not. I'm okay now, I promise," she assures me. "I will however go home and crawl into our bed and try to get some decent sleep."

  I help her pack up the blankets and air mattress, loading them into her car. " it's a shame that cupcake went to waste last night," Daphne says. "It was your favorite from that bakery in Miami you like so much."

  I hang my head. "I thought it looked familiar. Guess I deserve that."

  Daphne reaches up to place a sweet kiss on my cheek. "Guess it's a good thing there's a dozen in the microwave."

  " I love you so much, crazy woman," I say squeezing her tight.