Paper in a File {Brollins}

Rebecca liked to think that there was a moment in every person's life when everything just clicked. Sometimes it would go unnoticed for a while, and it'd just be subconscious, but there would be a point where you felt it.

She'd been spending way more time with Mercedes and Pamela at Colby's place and theirs. She'd even been getting help from Jonathan about her PTSD and how to continue navigating it the way he did. Joseph even started coming around Colby's place more, to chat and teach Rebecca the ins and outs of sports like football and wrestling.

For Rebecca, this was that moment. Or at least the moment when she understood that she felt happy again.

She sat on the couch watching Colby fly Chase around the living room and hearing giggles and babbling from the baby boy and laughter from Colby. To Rebecca, as inconvenient and unconventional as it was, the three seemed like a happy little family.

"And we'll fly through the buildings." Colby swerved Chase around the room. "And past the pretty lady."

Their eyes connected for a second before Rebecca smiled, looking down into her coffee mug. They'd grown closer through the entire case, but now that Colby wasn't on the case—she was pretty sure there wasn't even a case anymore—she felt like they'd almost become inseparable.

Colby flew Chase into another room, and Rebecca hoped he didn't catch a glance at her reddened cheeks. The back and forth hadn't happened often, but when it did, on either side, tingles sparked down their spines.

She heard him whispering to Chase in the other room and was about to go see what they were up to, but Colby came waltzing back in, Chase in one hand and the other behind his back. Rebecca watched him place Chase in his playpen and sit next to her with a slightly sheepish look on his face.

"What are you doing?" Rebecca laughed, placing her mug on the couch-side table to her right.

"Well..." Colby brought his hand between them to reveal a simple-looking box. "We missed Christmas."

"And New Year's." Rebecca nodded, eyes looking between the box and him.

"So I got you this." Colby inched the box toward her hands until it reached her fingers.

"No, Colby. I didn't know we were gonna do that." Rebecca shook her head with furrowed eyebrows. "I didn't get you anything."

"That's okay. I didn't tell you." Colby smiled, "So I wasn't expecting anything."

Rebecca frowned, making Colby laugh. "What? You really don't want it?"

"Well, I mean..." Rebecca paused, and a smile spread on her lips.

"Look at that." Coby inched ever so slightly closer. "Smiling like a kid on Christmas morning. Pun very intended."

"Oh boy, it's my lucky day. First, a mystery present and then the present of puns? Could today get any better?" Rebecca clasped her hands over her chest in mock astonishment.

"Maybe." Colby meant for the thought to be mute in his mind, but the second the words escaped his lips in a barely audible whisper, his hands went cold.

Rebecca didn't know how to respond at first, laughing halfheartedly before what he said sunk in. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I dunno." Colby's mouth suddenly grew dry. "Maybe this is just the first of many presents."

"It better not be." Rebecca's face went stoic, "I'm serious, Colby."

Colby rolled his eyes, feeling slightly relieved that his training diversion tactics paid off. "Fine, fine. I'm joking."

Rebecca reached for the box in his hand, and he jerked it back last second. "Maybe."

She rolled her eyes with the smallest of smiles. "Colby-"

He pulled the box out of the way of her hand with every attempt she made to take it. "Enough with this chatter nonsense Rebecca. If you want this present, you better hurry up and take it before I change my mind and get a refund."

"Well, maybe if you'd..." She practically leapt forward to try and grab it. "Let me have it. I'd be able to take it."

Colby leaned back, head against the headrest, nonchalantly, still waving the gift around. "What? You've never had to work for a gift?"

"Can't say I have." She stuck her tongue out ever so slightly as she tried grabbing it.

Rebecca leaned over so far that she ended up hovering over him instead of beside him, having to save herself from completely squashing him by putting both hands beside Colby's head on the rest. Their eyes connected and suddenly, the banter diminished.

Colby let go of his tight grasp on the box as he became wholeheartedly focused on her. "Well... now you can."

"Bababa. Mamamama." The tense moment and the rushes of adrenaline immediately came to a halt when Rebecca heard Chase speak up. She instantly leaned back in shock, practically sitting on Colby while Chase continued. "Lalalalalalalala. Dadada."

"Oh, my God!" She exclaimed, practically jumping to her feet.

"Well, it's about time, little man!" Colby followed quickly behind. "You're a late bloomer!"

Rebecca scooped up Chase. "My baby! What a big boy you are!"

She could feel Colby's chest brush her back slightly. "Wait... which did he say first?"

Colby took him from her hands as he continued to bother her. "Mama or dada? If my memory serves me correctly, it was definitely dada."

Rebecca laughed, "Bullshit."

Colby gasped, "Hey! There are little ears present right now. Ones that know how to listen and make a tiny mouth repeat."

"Chase, can you say bullshit?" Rebecca tickled his neck, "Say dada's full of bullshit!"

"Woah! Don't tarnish my pure and innocent baby's mind!" Colby turned Chase away from Rebecca disapprovingly.

"C'mon, little man." He continued as he walked out of the room. "We need to have a discussion about your traitorous words."

"Now, wait just a minute!" Rebecca chased after the two, quickly forgetting about the box that had fallen on the floor. "Don't go trying to brainwash him!"