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"And that's it I think, guys!" Ben exclaimed as he finally turned off the recording equipment. "We don't have anyone else, right?"
"Nope, all done Benito." Ed smiled, leaving back in his chair. "I guess that's a wrap on this series."
James breathed a sigh of relief at these words. It'd been a long day; himself, Ed and Ben had come together that morning, intent on making a final push to complete the new series of Off Menu. They'd been heavily booked, with each guest arriving almost as soon as another had left. On top of that, there were the intros and outros to record and edit.
To put a long story short, the three of them had not stopped all day, especially the ever enigmatic hosts. However, that energy had soon begun to fade, the repetition hitting them like a ton or two of bricks.
"Well done guys, you did really well." Ben smiled. "Now all you two need is a well deserved break."
"You said it." Ed smiled, his phone now sat in front of him as he went to text his wife, Charlie. "I'm just going to let Charlie know we've finished, and then I'm off, I think."
"Yeah, I need to sort the equipment and then I'm going not long after." The producer said, starting to unplug the microphones. "How about you, James? Are you alright getting home?"
James hadn't heard them; he was off on another planet, his hand absentmindedly running through his hair. He was growing increasingly agitated, having been ready for going home hours ago.
"James, you alright?" Ed asked, getting his attention. "You've gone quiet."
"Hm?" He murmured, a little startled. "Yeah, sorry. I'm just tired, you know?"
"Yeah, we all are mate." Ed said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "But hey, we're done now; you can just go home and crash."
"Yeah, I think I will."
Not long after that, Ed gathered his things and went to leave, saying his goodbyes before driving into the night. After waving him off, James followed suit. Despite his exhaustion, he was like a machine as he gathered his own possessions together.
"Right, I'm going." He eventually said. "Are you going to be alright sorting stuff?"
"Of course I am, don't worry mate." Ben said reassuringly as he packed the never ending piles of equipment away. "You get home and get some rest."
James simply nodded, already halfway out the door. "Alright then. See you soon."
"Bye, James."
And with that, he was out. The cool night air hit his skin, a much needed contrast to the growing warmth inside. His car was waiting for him, and within seconds the ignition was turned on and the vehicle roared as it came to life.
The radio blared suddenly in the background as he drove out of the studio car park, startling him a little. He rushed to turn it down, music well and truly being the last thing on his mind. After that, he simply drove, his racing mind being grounded and reassured by only one thought. Getting home.
Getting home, and getting to you.
You'd had a relatively quiet day. The morning had been spent peacefully, lazily lounging in James' arms, your bodies entangled in positions that suggested a night spent in quiet solitude. After he'd left, albeit reluctantly by the way he picked up yesterday's clothes and found new ones with a dazed, unshakable laziness, you'd made yourself a coffee, finished a few tasks on your ever shortening to do list, and by evening you were curled up on the sofa, reading a book.
You were still sat there when James returned home, and you looked up with excitement instantly shining in your eyes.
"Hey, love." He said tiredly, barely having time to move before you were up and clinging to him.
"Hello, sweetheart." You murmured against his chest. "I've missed you so much."
He chuckled, stroking your hair and planting a kiss on your head. "I've missed you so much too. More than you'll ever know."
There was a twinge of exhaustion in his voice that shone through his loving, calm entrance, and you noticed it straight away. You pulled back from where you were rested against him, your arms still around him as you looked deep into his tired blue eyes.
"How was recording?" You asked, deciding to gauge how far to push him on it.
"We got everything done that we needed to do." James said. "But if I'm honest love, I'm bloody exhausted."
You nodded understandingly, removing yourself from him and taking his hand, holding it with one and stroking it with the other.
"You have been out all day." You said softly. "I can't imagine the amount of people you've had to interview."
"Yeah, it was a lot." He murmured. "You were the one thing keeping me going towards the end."
Your heart swelled with love at this proclamation, and you gently planted a kiss upon his lips. He smiled into it, despite his tiredness, and when you pulled away the tiniest hint of disappointment glistened in his eyes.
"What?" You asked, looking deep into them.
"I just love you so much, do you know that?" He asked.
You smiled. "Of course I do."
You both stood there for a moment, a little unsure what to do with yourselves, when James suddenly removed himself from your grasp in order to stifle a yawn.
"Sorry." He mumbled. "I am just so, so tired."
"Come on." You said, smiling understandingly. "Let's have a sit down."
You took his hand back in yours and lead him to the sofa where you'd been sat before he'd returned, only letting go to allow him to lounge out along it. He stretched and groaned, his tall, lanky frame making it a struggle at first to find comfort. Once he did however, his head rested on one arm and his feet rested on the other, every inch of his body slouched and sank into the cushions.
You stood at one end, beginning to gently massage his shoulders with an expertise gained from years of doing it. He looked up at you, his tired smile growing a little with every steady movement of your hands.
"Is that nice?" You murmured, leaning in closer as his hair tickled your cheek.
"Amazing." James simply replied, his voice trailing as he released a shuddering breath neither of you had realised he was holding.
You leant in to kiss him, and as your lips lightly grazed against his, you could see the tiniest blush creeping across his cheeks.
"Do I really still make you all flustered and flushed, even after all this time?" You asked, and his blush only darkened.
"Every single time." He replied, his eyes half closed in pure domestic bliss. "I'm crazy about you, love. Always will be."
You rested your chin upon his head, never stopping the gentle massage. Kissing his cheek, you emerged as you felt him relax further.
"Who did you talk to today then?" You probed softly, genuinely interested.
"Well, we had Nick Frost..." James murmured, his voice soft.
"He must've been a fun one." You said encouragingly.
"Yeah, he was really cool." He agreed. "And we had Garth Marenghi..."
"Oh yeah?" You chuckled, picturing the character vividly in your mind.
"And d'you know who else we had on it today?" He asked, his eyes lighting up a little.
"Who, love?"
"Steve-O."
"Wow, really?" You asked, excited for him. "The Steve-O?"
"The one and only." James confirmed. "He was just as we thought he'd be. So cool, but so lovely."
"Was he the highlight then?" You asked, knowing the answer.
"Absolutely."
You chuckled, still continuing to massage his shoulders as he asked about your day. You explained everything with a matched ease and enthusiasm, encouraged by the enthused glimmer in his eye. Eventually though, your spontaneous masseuse skills began to take their toll, and James soon found himself drifting, his eyes growing heavy.
"Sweetheart?" You murmured, noticing the growing distance in his gaze. "Have you eaten anything yet tonight?"
He shook his head, though he at first seemed tempted to insist he wasn't hungry.
"Do you fancy a takeaway?" You asked. "Or just something light?"
"Takeaway sounds good." He smiled sleepily. "Surprise me."
That was all you needed to know. You softly stroked his hair, getting up to sift through the many takeaway menus you'd saved as James finally sat up. He rubbed the beginnings of sleep from his eyes, pushing some hair out of his face as he stretched from head to toe.
Eventually you returned, having successfully ordered a little something for the both of you. Joining James on the sofa, you reached for the remote and flicked through the channels. You had nothing particular in mind; you just mindlessly scrolled as James rested his head on your shoulder.
"What do you fancy?" You eventually asked, finding yourself getting nowhere.
"Dunno." James mumbled, the many options on the screen blurring as he fought to keep his eyes open. "Something mindless..."
So you picked just that: something completely mindless, that didn't need too much paying attention to. It was just a comedy series, one you'd watched more times than you could count, but that didn't matter. All that really mattered was the simple act of being together, living so utterly and completely in the moment.
You laughed at all the old jokes, the warmth and enthusiasm the same as it'd always been during previous watches. Even James, despite being enveloped in exhaustion, soon felt the usual passion for your old favourite.
However, the experience was soon interrupted by the arrival of the near forgotten takeaway. You sighed wistfully, planting a kiss on James' head before leaving to collect it.
After the pleasant enough exchange with the delivery guy, you set to work spreading out the food meticulously on the table. By the time you'd finished, James was barely managing to hold back.
"Right, let's dig in." You smiled, and his hand reached out towards the mouthwatering spread.
You ate in a comfortable silence after that, the tranquility only being interrupted by the soft rustle of containers and the occasional laugh at a joke made on the television. No words were needed, not really; James was exhausted, and you were content to simply sit and just exist in his company, safe in the knowledge he loved you, and you loved him.
Another hour passed, and as darkness swept along the quiet streets, you and James found yourselves in the exact same position you'd been in before the food had arrived. His head was rested upon your shoulder, soft tufts of hair tickling your cheek as he began to drift in and out of consciousness.
"Sleepy, love?" You asked, the show long forgotten in the background as you gazed into his eyes.
"Mhm." He murmured, desperately trying to keep his eyes open.
"Come on, let's get you in bed."
"Don't wanna move." He mumbled. "Just resting my eyes."
"I know sweetheart, but it's more comfortable upstairs, isn't it?" You asked, holding back a chuckle.
"Suppose."
"Come on then." You said softly, taking his hand in yours and helping him up from where he sat.
Though he wobbled a little precariously on his feet at first, the journey upstairs was mostly harmless. When you stepped into the bedroom, he was quick to change out of his usual attire of some style of checkered shirt and much loved corduroy trousers, slipping into something a little more comfortable. The day's outfit was soon discarded on the floor, just as he'd done the day before, and he clambered into bed with a practiced ease that was only slightly hindered by his growing exhaustion.
James sank into the mattress, his eyes only half closing as you joined him in bed. He pulled you up against him, your head resting on his chest as you felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat in your ears.
"I've missed this." He murmured, nuzzling your cheek. "Laying here with you."
You chuckled. "That was only this morning, idiot."
"Not an idiot." James mumbled, bringing the covers closer to him. "Just tired."
"Well either way, you're mine." You murmured. "You're my weird, wonderful, loveable, sexy idiot."
The room filled with silence, and for a moment you weren't sure wether he'd heard you. But then he chuckled weakly, having taken a moment to come up with a response. Or maybe, you thought, he'd at first been to flustered to even try.
"You're sexier." He simply said, planting a kiss on top of your head.
After that, you simply laid there. No words were spoken - there was no need. All you needed was to just lay there, safe and warm in each other's love and undivided affection. Eventually though, you felt a need to break the silence.
"James?"
You waited, but there was no answer.
"Love?"
You waited again, but for the second time, no answer came. You felt the rise and fall of his chest against you, his deep breathing filling the air, and it was when you finally looked at him that you realised he'd fallen asleep.
You smiled at the sight, gently brushing a few stray hairs out of his face with the tips of your fingers. Then, you planted a kiss on his cheek, your lips barely grazing his skin.
"I love you, James, more than anything in the world." You murmured, your face hovering close to his. "Now sleep well, my angel. You're my everything."
Though he didn't hear you, the words lingered in the air, filling the room with a warmth that further soothed your already grateful soul. And as you joined James in a peaceful sleep, you felt lucky. Lucky to feel such love for him, and lucky to have him in your life.
And deep within your heart, you knew that James felt the exact same way.