Redefining Redemption (Joan H Watson and GJLestrade)

Joan's nightmares lessened the passing night, though she still had her usual tremors in her sleep but she felt relatively peaceful once she woke up in Greg's arms. She hadn't had someone's arms wrapped around her in a long time, especially someone who was in her bed. She shifted comfortably, not really wanting to move, but not really wanting to go back to sleep. The light kisses to her neck made the hair on her neck stand up and she felt goosebumps rise up on her skin. "Mm...."She murmured, turning to face Greg before whispering in his ear, "Give me a minute." She didn't want to totally be comfortable with him in terms of "what I want you to see of my morning routine" and dating. So, she carefully slipped out of bed, still feeling awkward as she traipsed into her bathroom naked and wanting to wash her face and brush her teeth at least. Once she did that, she slunk back into bed, wrapping her arms around Greg once more. "Sorry, bout that.Don't want to shatter the illusion yet." She teased.

Greg laughed. "Don't worry about that." He ran his tongue around his teeth. "Think I might shatter it for us both." He swung his legs out of bed and sat, then scrubbed his fingers through his hair and scratched his scalp. "Won't inflict my morning breath on anyone. I'm sure mine can strip paint off the walls." He got up and padded to the door but stoped with his hand on the handle. "Um...do you figure it'll be safe to go get my bag? I left it in the living room. Mrs Hudson won't come up, will she?"

Joan chuckled, sitting up in the bed and resting against the back of the iron frame. "Strip paint off of walls? That's intense."She paused, "I always keep extra mouthwash under the sink if you need it, no, I don't think she'd just walk right in. Usually she knocks." She looked down. Mrs. Hudson used to waltz right in when Sherlock was here, Sherlock hardly noticed at all until Mrs. Hudson spoke up. But now the woman knocked, courtesy Joan supposed, she appreciated it.

Greg decided that discretion was the better part of valour and went into the bathroom, grabbed a towel and wrapped it round his hips, tucking the top. At least it covered his modesty. He padded quickly down to the lounge and grabbed his bag, trotting hurriedly back to Joan's room and rummaging through the contents for his wash bag. He retrieved toothbrush and paste and disappeared into the bathroom, rushing through the necessaries as fast as possible. He was more than eager to get back under the covers with Joan.

When he did, he slid an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "This is nice," he said, kissing her hair again. "So...where do we go from here?"

It was strange sharing her bed with Greg, then again, Joan supposed it was quaint at the same time. When Sherlock was alive, Joan had found herself wishing he had just plantonically shared a bed with her, she didn't need the consulting detective to comfort her if she cried or discuss topics late at night, she just needed someone there. Now, Greg was here. It's not that Joan settled for Greg, she knew she had always secretly wanted him, and she had her chance to have him now. She wanted him. She wanted all that he could give and she wanted to give all she had. She wanted this to work.

She ran a hand through her short light brown hair once Greg returned. She leaned into his hold, murmuring slightly as he kissed the top of her head, "Where we go? In terms of a relationship or just this day in general?" She teased. "I would want to see us staying together in the long run, healing fully from Sherlock's death, becoming semi-functioning members of society."

"Semi-functioning? I intend to be fully-functioning, thank you. I actually thought I was." He grinned, flirting with her. "Actually, I know I said a load of stuff last night about us being on the rebound...at least, I think I did...but I also meant what I said about life being too bloody short. I've made mistakes before, not going to do so again. I am not letting this chance with you pass me by."

"You were fully functioning last night." Joan returned with a coy smile before nodding in agreement, "You did but I did too." She paused, "I meant what I said, I want us to be together, I think you're loving and patient and handsome and....just what I need."

"Now I have to reply that you are kind and compassionate and pretty and amazing in bed..." Greg tried to keep a straight face, then chuckled. "I'm a bloke, I have to remember to complement you regularly. If I forget, kick me, okay? Seriously, you deserve complements, you're worth it. You are a lovely woman, Joan. Never forget that."

"Don't think you aren't deserving of compliments either." Joan told Greg with a serious smile before rolling her eyes at his compliment, "Thanks, you're pretty amazing in bed, didn't know you had it in you." She teased, grinning, "Thanks Greg, really." She turned her head to give him a firm kiss on the lips.

Greg smiled at the kiss. It was heartfelt and honest, loving. He loved her gentle teasing.
"I could get used to this," he admitted. "You know... I don't really want to go home. There's nothing there, it isn't a home. Unless... you could come back with me, but frankly...I wouldn't bother. It's a crappy little flat." He shrugged, giving her an apologetic grin. "So...you want breakfast? Then we could go let Mrs Hudson know you're okay. Do you want to tell her about us yet?"

Joan kissed Greg once more, letting her lips trail over his in a teasing manner, "Mm, I could get used to this too." She admitted as well, "We can stay here, I don't mind. My bed's pretty comfy." She smiled, "I do want breakfast, but I'm not so sure if I'm that hungry now, you know?" She arched an eyebrow teasingly, "I say we go see her. IF she figures it out, she figures it out."

"Okay then, your call." Greg kissed back, nipping her bottom lip teasingly. "So, if you're not hungry right now..." He raised an eyebrow, suggestively. Then he yawned. "Best to get some more sleep then. I'm knackered." He shuffled down the bed and rolled over, tugging the covers up, looking for all the world as though he intended to go back to sleep. "You're right,by the way. This is a comfy bed."

It took him all of ten seconds to start laughing. He surfaced, unable to maintain a straight face, knowing the look that his ex-wife would have had if he'd done the same to her. He had done, once. He rued the day he tried. She had not been pleased and had refused to see the funny side, giving him the cold shoulder for the rest of the day. Not so with Joan...he hoped.

"Mm...."Joan murmured as Greg kissed her back and nipped at her lip. The familiar surge of warmth ran through her depths and the pull of sleep tried to call her back. No, she would enjoy this moment. She chucked lightly, a quick expression of confusion and surprise gracing her face as she saw Greg shift back under the covers. "It's the comfiest bed I've ever had." She informed him, pretending like she was ignoring him now as she shifted back underneath the covers and turned away from him. She waited a few more seconds before turning back to look at him as she propped herself up by her elbow, "Tosser." She muttered as he burst out laughing. But, she smiled and laughed as well. She was glad Greg could kid with her and she was glad she could laugh again. "So...."She started, "Since we're not getting out of bed anytime soon...."She whispered against his ear teasingly. She supposed they had the whole day for whatever they wanted, breakfast, dinner, seeing Mrs. Hudson, staying up late to talk about their grief, figuring out what their lives were like before the detective.

Greg rolled and pinned her, propping himself up on his elbows, settling between her thighs. Her reaction was perfect. He could have fun with Joan. "Yeah, I'm a Tosser, but you love me..." the words were out before he could stop them. "Sorry, don't answer that. Can't expect that from you. So...where were we?" He dipped to kiss her again, mouth trailing kisses along her cheek, jaw, neck and shoulder. He nipped at the soft skin along her collar bone, licking and kissing and tasting. He felt himself getting hard again, pressing against her. Damn it. He pulled back, aware he had no more condoms.

"Um...not got any more condoms on me...you wouldn't have any here, would you...?" He could see their activity being curtailed until they had been out shopping.

Joan's blue-gray eyes widened as Greg pinned her. She felt the familiar rush of wanting and longing in her core when he settled between her thighs. She grinned up at him before her expression faltered at his words. He didn't mean it like that. No, the detective inspector did not love her. Her eyes shown concern and she wanted to say something, anything, not I love you but something like that. Instead she stayed quiet.

When he leaned down to kiss her lips, Joan arched into him, a slight whine escaping her lips. She wanted him again. As his kisses trailed down her jawline and neck, she moaned softly squirming beneath him only to find his hard length press against her core. She sighed at this discovery, "I want you." She whispered lowly in his ear, nipping at his lobe gently.

She murmured in frustration at the lack of condoms, "I....."She wrinkled her nose. Had she any?
Didn't Sherlock use something with condoms for an experiment. did they have any left? "I might have some. But, she didn't really want to leave the bed. "Do you want me to search?" She whispered, blue-gray eyes searching his, "I could always search for something else...."She murmured in a matter of fact tone as her hand trailed down between their bodies and stroked his length.

His eyes closed as her hand found it's mark. "Oh...God...that's..." he swallowed. "Well, there are other things we can do, I guess. Might have one in my bag though...oh, keep doing...that, yes," he gasped. Her hands on him felt so good.

Joan had not done this sort of thing in awhile. She hoped that Greg wouldn't think her inexperienced. It had just been a while. "You're so hard." She swallowed thickly, the rush of longing feeling her depths once again. She still couldn't believe that her and Greg were agreeing to this...relationship. She was happy for it though.

Joan rolled over so Greg was laying down against the mattress. She sat down on the back of her legs and gripped his length once more with her right hand, thumb running over the head. "What do you want?" She whispered lowly, hand idly stroking him. She wasn't sure if he was a man that was overly enthusiastic about this sort of thing.

"what do I want...?" Greg nearly choked. Nobody had ever asked him that one. He threw his head back against the pillow. "Darling, anything you want to give me. What you're doing feels pretty bloody amazing. Just...do what you want. I've never been shy of trying new things. Never been shy, full stop." He chuckled. "You're amazing already, luv."

Joan saw the surprise in Greg's eyes when she asked him that. Had no one asked him that? This saddened her. "Same here. I'm pretty used to routine though." She admitted, just in case Greg needed to know that down the line. "I just don't want you to think I'm shite." She chuckled lightly, "Just....tell me if you hate what I'm doing, okay?" Her eyes met his, "OR let me know you like what I'm doing." She smiled.

She situated herself accordingly, now leaning down a bit with her bum slightly raised in the air. "I...I learned a few things from Irene, oddly enough." She told Greg, a little embarrassed by this hoping he wouldn't be freaked out. Greg was pretty hard, instead of using her hands, Joan now leaned down to lick at his head, murmuring slightly at the bittersweet taste of him. She panted softly against his length, "You're so hard." She hummed in her throat. She didn't realize how much she wanted him until now.

"Joan...don't feel you have to do this...I mean...oh, hell, do what you like to do. I'll tell you if I have a problem. Not got one yet though..." Her tongue flicking out to lick made him jump and gasp. Christ, that felt so good. He grinned. "You...learned from Irene? Oh, Jesus. I died and went to heaven."

"Mm-hmm." Joan grinned at Greg as he hissed through his teeth. She gave him a wicked look before she enveloped him fully in her mouth, running her tongue around his head and holowing out her cheeks as she sucked.

Greg stuttered on what he had been about to say and gave up trying to make a coherent sentence, instead letting his body speak for him. He moaned something which at least sounded appreciative despite not being a recognisable word. Reaching down, his fingers found her hair and trailed through the short strands, trying to hold back from pushing her head down.
"Jesus, your tongue..." he gasped out. "It should be illegal..."

Joan hummed deep in her throat as Greg moaned and his fingers burrowed their way through her short hair. She felt the pool of longing ignite in her depths, each moan and exhale of breath Greg emanated echoing in her ears. This only urged her on more. Her one hand gripped the base of his length and gently twisted upwards while her mouth engulfed around his hardened muscle. She hummed and sucked harder.

"Ungh..." So this is what I've been reduced to? She was good, alright. He lifted his head a little to watch her with heavy-lidded eyes, her head bobbing and her cheeks hollowing, eyes dark and hands busy. She was enjoying herself, judging by the rapt look of concentration on her face. That he was the object of her attentions just about short-circuited his mind.

Joan couldn't believe she was doing this-- not saying she didn't want to because she wanted to-- but to think that they both had reduced themselves to this wanting,this urge to have something more out of the sadness that surrounded them made her chest tighten with anticipation and feeling. She felt an overwhelming rush of emotion hit her along with the sheer lust that was transpiring from the echoing moans of the detective inspector. She hollowed her cheeks out further, exhaled sharply through her nose and sucked lightly and expertly until he reached his breaking point.