peter & cora } { of mate bonds and trying things

[impetere]

Peter: [and it'll be his day off from whatever he's doing, sitting in the living room with a good book, his coffee, some nice jazz playing in the background. Totally chill]

Cora: [makes her way closer and knocks lightly against the doorframe] Hey.

Peter: [looks up and smiles] What a delightful surprise. I didn't think you'd be coming by today.

Cora: I was in the area, and there was something I wanted to talk about, so I figured I'd see if you were home.

Peter: Well, I'm here and available. Would you like something to eat? Drink?

Cora: [she shakes her head as she goes to sit on the couch across from him] I'm good.

Peter: Alright. [and he will mark his place in the book and put it down, giving her his full attention] What's on your mind, sweetheart?

Cora: [and here's the awkward pause because while she knows what she needs to ask, she doesn't know what the best way to phrase it is] ... Was Mom still a beta when she and Dad got married?

Peter: Yes, she was. It wasn't much longer after that when your grandparents died, but she was still a beta then. [tilts his head a bit] Why?

Cora: [and her eyes drop a bit] Because Stiles and I have been talking about ... stuff regarding us and ... stuff we have to do to have certain things ... [have you caught on to where she's going with this, Peter?]

Peter: [nods, leaning back a bit] And you're worried about turning him.

Cora: [she shakes her head slightly] Not at this point. But if I do turn him I don't want it to be like that, and I want it to be something he wants so he's thinking about it but ... I don't know.

Peter: [leans forward and reaches to take her hand] And what would your plans be if he chooses not to turn?

Cora: Work on my will power?

Peter: There may be another solution.

Cora: Another solution that isn't break up with him? [because that is not what she wants to hear right now]

Peter: To forming a mate bond without turning him into a werewolf.

Cora: How?

Peter: Well, first would be to turn him into something else. [smirks] But since most creatures are born, he wouldn't be able to take advantage of that unless he's something we don't realize he even is.

Cora: So not a viable solution.

Peter: Which leaves us with magical solutions. And for that, I need to go to the bunker to look at my mother's journals.

Cora: [she nods] Okay. [so possibilities but no actual answers. okay.] I just feel like it's not supposed to be this complicated.

Peter: Life is always complicated, Cora. But there are always loopholes in complications if you look in the right places.

Cora: I hope you're right.

Peter: Come on, let's go see what your grandmother wrote on the subject.

Cora: [nods and takes a deep breath as she gets to her feet to follow him]

Peter: [and once they are there, he will go to look through the journals and pulls one down] Your grandmother always felt that any lesson an alpha learned was worth being recorded for future generations. I remember when I was still young that she met a woman who had been an alpha since she was four.

Cora: [her eyes widen] Four?! How was she even a wolf then?

Peter: Losing her mother and being the only heir activated it all. The thought of a preschool werewolf is not a pretty one.

Cora: Poor thing.

Peter: Your grandmother helped her a bit understanding werewolf puberty, and she wrote down a lot of those notes. [smirks] She almost tried to marry me off to her, but I was five and she was twelve at the time. We didn't hit it off well at all.

Cora: [she laughs] Is she still around?

Peter: [nods] Last I checked, her pack was in Vegas. She got to like the desert life.

Cora: Good for her.

Peter: [and he is flipping through his book, and then stops and reads a page] Okay, looks like there are a few options for preventing or curing a human of a werewolf’s bite.

Cora: [pushes up on her toes to try and read over his shoulder] Like what?

Peter: It looks like there is a rare form of wolfsbane in South America that can return a werewolf to a human state before the change sets in and their first full moon has passed.

Cora: How rare is rare?

Peter: [reads] Like an impassable mountain range on the sunny side along the Pacific Ocean.

Cora: [dry] Great.

Peter: You could ask Deaton and see if he has access or can get access to it.

Cora: [reaches for her phone to take note of the name] What else?

Peter: There is a very complicated spell that can be done through a tattoo that the person could wear that would prevent him from being able to be turned. However that's never been tested on a mate bond, just on turning in general.

Cora: [she's about to ask what the difference was when it comes to her] You don't know if it will block the bond too.

Peter: Correct.

Cora: Well, if anything, we could test it. [makes note of that too]

Peter: You could. [turns the page, and then nods] And here's the one I was thinking of. You know what the meaning behind our family crest means, right?

Cora: A wolf can rise or fall within the pack.

Peter: [nods] So, that is also an option, through a series of spells to transfer the alpha power to another in the pack, and then to transfer it back.

Cora: [her brow furrows] Has anyone ever done it before?

Peter: A few. The problem isn't the transfer out... it's always the transfer back. The power surge to the beta often leads to them refusing to cooperate to the return of the power, and the alpha needing to kill their beta to regain their power. If they can. It's a risky move, and needs to be short term and done with a beta who does not value any form of leadership or power role.

Cora: [she's turning it over in her head for a moment, but makes note of it anyway] Okay.

Peter: That's about all here that would be of worth, but you're welcome to borrow this journal and read it on your own.

Cora: [she nods and reaches forward to take it] Thanks. I'll think it over and talk with Stiles.

Peter: So, does this mean I need to start putting together a dowry? [teasing smirk]

Cora: [and there's a mild look] Nothing's official yet. But might as well be prepared, right?

Peter: You do know I'm happy for you, right?

Cora: I do. Maybe you'll finally stop trying to terrify him every time he comes over.

Peter: If he does decide to become a werewolf, it won't work anymore anyway. Tell him he can add that to his pro column.

Cora: I will do that. [she gives him a small smile before leaning in to kiss him on the cheek] Thank you for the help.

Peter: Always. [and he will look up at a shelf and grab a small box, sliding it into his pocket quickly]

Cora: [and with a 17 she spots that] What's that?

Peter: Something that I have been looking for and just found.

Cora: Oh. I should get home, but I'll see you later?

Peter: I'll see you later. [and he will head back home, and slide Talia & Thomas' wedding bands into a drawer for some time in the near future]

Cora: [and she will had back to the loft because she and Stiles had agreed to meet there tonight since they're taking a day trip with Scott and Kira the next day. and she'll sit on the couch and go through her grandmother's journal, reading through each of the options again]

Stiles: [and he will come strolling in with his bag over his shoulder, jacket and aviators still on as he smiles at her on the couch] Hey beautiful.

Cora: [glances up with a smile] Hey. Good day at work?

Stiles: Yeah, saved two lives and even rescued a kitten in a tree. [he totally did]

Cora: You are a great hero and should be proud.

Stiles: I am proud. And I even got a smiley face sticker. [which is on his shirt, thanks to the kitten's 4 year old owner]

Cora: [she laughs] You have now received the highest honor as a first responder.

Stiles: Yes. The stick out tongue winking emoji. [and he will lean over the back of the couch and take off his sunglasses, then kiss her] How was your day?

Cora: [kisses him back] Good. I went saw Peter.

Stiles: Oh? And what piece of wisdom did you pull from his scary head.

Cora: Not his. [holds up the journal in her lap] My grandma's.

Stiles: Oh. That's different.

Cora: She died before I was born, but she took notes of all the different alphas she encountered, and she even mentioned stuff related to mate bonds.

Stiles: Uh huh. [and he is going to shrug out of his jacket and lay it on top of the bag, and then go into the kitchen to find himself something to drink]

Cora: So ... if you decide you don't want to be a wolf, we do have options.

Stiles: What kind of options? And do you want a beer?

Cora: Yes. [there's a deep breath as she flips back to the original pages] There's a super rare form of wolfsbane that we may not be able to find that prevents turning. And there's a runic tattoo that blocks my ability to turn you but we don't know if it will block the bond or not. [then there's a beat as she looks up again] And there's a spell that allows me to transfer my alpha power to another member of the pack so I'd be a beta again - temporarily anyway.

Stiles: So wolfsbane, ink, or hoodoo. [holds out an opened beer bottle to her] I'm so glad I don't have a normal life or I'd think you're crazy.

Cora: [she smirks a bit at that as she takes the beer] But, another item for the pro column - if you become a werewolf, Peter's ability to intimidate you decreases.

Stiles: Is he saying that to lure me into a false sense of confidence?

Cora: I think it's more that you'll be able to tell when he's full of shit.

Stiles: Ah. But he will still be older, stronger, and faster than me. And he's pretty scary even without fangs.

Cora: Maybe. But ninety percent of the time when it comes to you, he's full of shit.

Stiles: You keep saying that. I keep imaging fangs and blood and a shallow grave in the preserve.

Cora: He wouldn't do that because he knows how I feel about you. And he's happy for us. He just likes you being scared of him.

Stiles: I'm sure he does. [flops down on the couch] so, which of the ideas do you think may work?

Cora: Well, the wolfsbane is going to be hard to find, I can ask Deaton but he may not have it or know where to find it. The tattoo is probably the safest in you not becoming a werewolf, but it's possible the mate bond won't work. [and she'll hesitate before going into the next one because there's a swirl of uncertain feelings there]

Stiles: And I'm pretty sure I don't want to know what it would do to you to not be an alpha, even if it's temporary.

Cora: I'd be fine. Physically anyway. Peter's worried about me finding the right person who won't challenge me for the position and keep my power from me. [but that's not what she's worried about, necessarily]

Stiles: [blinks, thinking] So that's Scott or your brother.

Cora: [she nods, before being quiet for a moment, and picking at her jeans] What if I don't want it back?

Stiles: [and he thinks about it for a moment] I don't think anyone would blame you, but wouldn't you feel like you were abandoning them all?

Cora: That's the thing. I don't know.

Stiles: I guess it's more along the line of... do you want to be an alpha?

Cora: I never really wanted to be in the first place. I mean, we all get responsibilities that we don't want but Laura was supposed to be the heir. And then it would go to her kids. I was never prepared for this and I was really young when I started and ... sometimes it feels like it's all people really see anymore.

Stiles: [and he sits up to look at her] You really think that?

Cora: [she glances over at him before shaking her head] Not you. You actually see me, but aside from you and Scott and my family, everyone else met me after I was the alpha. And sometimes it feels like people forget that that isn't all I am. I have to be on and aware all the time, and in some scenarios everything I do is a stupid political statement.

Stiles: Like taking a vacation up north.

Cora: [she nods] I just didn't even know that giving it to someone else was an option. I thought I'd have to just deal with it for the rest of my life, but ... [she shakes her head, her eyes clouding a bit] It's dumb. It's more of a what if really than anything else. [she knows herself and she knows she's too responsible to let it go permanently. but it's still a lot to think about]

Stiles: [and he will shift closer and pull her into him, holding her]

Cora: [sighs as she closes her eyes and relaxes against him] I'm sorry. This probably isn't what you wanted to come home to.

Stiles: No, it's fine. But Cora, if you don't want to be alpha any longer... you need to talk to your brother and Peter about that. Maybe one of them would be willing to take it on for you?

Cora: Maybe. I'll think about it.

Stiles: [kisses her gently] And so you know, not going to change how much I love you.

Cora: [and she smiles softly at that] I'd hope not.

Stiles: So, if we went the tattoo path, do I get to choose what it looks like, or is it like a really crappy looking tattoo that I'm going to get grief about?

Cora: [reaches for the journal and flips through the pages to show him a picture of the rune, tapping it with her finger] That one.

Stiles: [and he is going to look at it and his eyebrows are going to go up] Well, at least it's not a my little pony.

Cora: Nope. It's probably druidic, like the triskele.

Stiles: It looks like a backwards five to me.

Cora: [that makes her look at it again, before her eyebrows go up] Oh. It's Japanese.

Stiles: The Japanese have magic?

Cora: Everywhere has magic. Kira is a kitsune, you know.

Stiles: Yeah, but the supernatural and like, magic... they aren't dependent on each other I thought.

Cora: Well, they're not, but that doesn't mean they're mutually exclusive either. Where one goes, the other can probably be found too.

Stiles: Okay, but can someone not Japanese do Japanese magic?

Cora: Yeah. I mean, in this case it's not about the person doing the magic, it's about the symbolism of the rune. This is the kanji for "self."

Stiles: OH. So it would be something I guess that would protect me and keep me being myself?

Cora: Exactly.

Stiles: Huh. I'll think about it.

Cora: [she nods] We have a lot of options, and it's not like we have to decide anything right now.

Stiles: No. I mean, I still haven't decided on that myself which way I'm going but... [licks his lips] part of me thinks I should stay human now. For one important reason.

Cora: What's that?

Stiles: So you'll never have to worry about the day when I stop seeing you as you, but as my alpha instead.

Cora: [she glances up at him for a moment, her expression a bit unreadable before she finally settles on gratitude as she leans up to kiss him soundly]

Stiles: [and he will grin against her lip and kiss her back, leaning back so she can totally cuddle on top of him]

Cora: [and she will take that invitation, shifting to rest over him before she eventually breaks the kiss and pulls back] Thank you.

Stiles: [cupping her cheek with his hand] No problem.

Cora: I love you.

Stiles: I love you too.

Cora: [she takes a deep breath as she shifts to rest her head against his chest] You're probably starving. Do you want to order a pizza or something?

Stiles: Pizza sounds amazing. With all the meats on it.

Cora: You got it. [and she will push up just enough to grab her phone and call the pizza place]

Scott: [and he will come in and see them and shake his head] Get a room you two.

Cora: [looks up and sticks her tongue out at him] You want pizza?

Scott: Will you judge me if I ask for one with pineapple?

Stiles: Don't we always?

Cora: We only judge out of love. [but she'll order him the pineapple one anyway]

Stiles: [and it's not like Kira won't help him eat it]

Cora: [yep, and she will reluctantly sit up so that she and Stiles aren't just rubbing in their couple-y ness in front of Scott] So how was work?

Scott: I'm covered in cat fur and a hamster bit me. I'm doing great.

Cora: [she laughs] If you want to go shower, the pizza should be here by the time you're done.

Scott: Sure. I'll leave some cold water for Stiles.

Stiles: Cruel, bro.

Cora: [winces in sympathy]

Stiles: I should probably go stow my bag anyway. Be back in a minute.

Cora: [nods and gets up to give Stiles room to move]

Stiles: [and as he gets up, and then he will lean over and whisper in her ear] though you could also bring the pizza up to me when it gets here.

Cora: [glances back with a smirk] I thought we agreed that was too messy.

Stiles: Scott is leave me cold water.

Cora: [she smirks] We'll see when it gets here.

Stiles: Well, it will depend on if I come back or i lay naked on your bed.

Cora: Oh really?

Stiles: I'm not allowed to lay naked out here.

Cora: No you are not.

Stiles: So I'll have to come back with clothes on.

Cora: So you're saying that since you do not want to have clothes on, I should bring you the pizza instead.

Stiles: Unless you don't want to make a mess, then I would have to keep my clothes on.

Cora: Can I trust you not to have to make me wash my sheets tonight?

Stiles: You can never trust that from me. [nibbles on her ear] Just depends on what you want to clean up.

Cora: [her eyes close at that before she looks up at him] We'll see what happens when the pizza gets here.

Stiles: Guess so. [and he will get up and go grab his stuff and head upstairs]

Cora: [and Kira will come home and they will chat and divide the spoils from the delivery man before going back to their respective boyfriends. You win, Stiles, she's bringing the pizza to you]

Stiles: [which is good, because he is in the process of sorting his clothing from Cora's pile of his clothing to see what needs to be washed and worn again. And yes, he is naked.]

Cora: [smirks when she sees him] Having trouble deciding?

Stiles: Well, I'm trying to make sure you have a fresh supply of things that smell like me.

Cora: [smiles at that as she places the pizza down on the bed] Lucky me.

Stiles: Looks like it's dinner time. [and he will fold the sweatshirt up and toss it into the laundry bag before heading to the bed]

Cora: [and she will go to sit with him, flipping open the box and grabbing a piece or herself]

Stiles: [and he will cross his legs, reaching for a slice and putting the top of the box in his lap which, while blocking her view, will make it a way to catch any oil dripping]

Cora: [but that means she can sit next to him and lean against his shoulder and enjoy her pizzza]

Stiles: [and he will grin and lean over to kiss her between slices]

Cora: [and eventually the pizza will be finished and placed to the side, and she'll make kissing him the main event]

Stiles: [mmm, yes he is happy for this main event, and he will shift to stretch out on the bed] You are way overdressed.

Cora: Well, sounds like you should do something about it.

Stiles: Yeah, but I already took all of my own clothes off for you.

Cora: [she glances down] I noticed. But it's no fun when I do it all by myself.

Stiles: Well, then come closer where I can reach you, and I'll see what I can do from here.

Cora: [and she will do just that, leaning in to kiss him as she gets closer]

Stiles: [and he will go to work on getting that shirt off her while kissing her back, his fingers taking their time slipping under the bottom edge before working upwards]

Cora: [she hums at the feel of his hands against her skin, only breaking the kiss when he's ready to pull the shirt over her head]

Stiles: [which he will eventually do, and once that if off, the bra will follow quickly]

Cora: [and once that falls to the floor, she'll shift her hips and roll them, moving to rest on her back so that he can get at her jeans]

Stiles: [yes, but he is going to take his time, kissing his way own her body, his lips and tongue teasing her skin on the slow path down]

Cora: [sighs as she stretches out under him, closing her eyes to enjoy his touch but before he can get too low, she stops him] Wait.

Stiles: [and his head will look up] What?

Cora: [she sits up a bit, slightly hesitant before] I want to try something.

Stiles: [and he will push himself up to kneeling on the bed] What do you want to try?

Cora: I know, when you brought this up before I kind of shot you down, but I was still trying to figure out what I liked, so ... I don't know if its technically changing my mind, but ... do you still want to tie me up?

Stiles: [blinks] Now?

Cora: If you want? Or later, if you want to think about it. Just ... bringing it up as an option.

Stiles: Well, part of it would be the surprise of not knowing when it would be happening. But if you want to try it out to see if you could handle it when you're not expecting it...

Cora: That would probably be better, as I've never done it before so surprising me might not end well.

Stiles: [nods] Alright. Then lay back and give me a minute.

Cora: [and she will do that. She's a little nervous about this but she trusts Stiles, so she hopes it works]

Stiles: [and he will look in the closet and find some scarves, and then come back.] Close your eyes

Cora: [and she will do that too, closing her eyes with deep even breathes]

Stiles: [and as he leans over her to guide her arms to the headboard, he will kiss along her neck, and arm, and then the wrist as he gently ties each of them down]

Cora: [she tips up towards his lips, keeping her eyes closed and while her instincts first want to fight against being tied down, she reminds herself that she trusts Stiles and she safe here]

Stiles: [and when he is done with her arms, he thinks for a moment and then goes to take the rest of her clothes off and gently tie her ankles together, kissing along her thighs as he does so.]

Cora: [her brow furrows slightly as he does, because that seems ... counter intuitive]

Stiles: [and then he is going to straddle her chest, leaning down to kiss her] You can open your eyes now

Cora: [and she does, looking up at him and the nerves are clearly still there but she's doing her best not to strain against the ties]

Stiles: [smiles and leans down to kiss her] You know, you're totally mine now. I can do whatever I want.

Cora: [kisses him back] You can. I trust you.

Stiles: [and he will smile, looking at her and debating before shifting up a bit, and he's never done it before but has always been curious about it. So he's going spit in his hand, rub his shaft, and then lay his shaft between her breasts. then his hands will grip her breasts and press them up to press against his shaft as he starts to slide back and forth so that his shaft is thrusting between her breasts and, if she looks down, the tip will be near her chin]

Cora: [she does, before her brow furrows in confusion again because what are you doing, Stiles?]

Stiles: Yeah, I know it's weird, but I've always wanted to try this. [and his hands are going to massage her breasts, gripping them tightly with each thrust]

Cora: [and what he's doing with her breasts does feel good, and occasionally she will arch up into the thrusts when he gets a good spot]

Stiles: [and it does feel good, and when he makes deeper thrusts she will feel his tip hit her chin as his hands squeeze hard]

Cora: [to which she will tip her head back a bit out of the way with a soft moan at the way he's touching her]

Stiles: [and he will keep going before he has to stop as he has no real source of constant lube and lean forward to kiss and suck on her nipples]

Cora: [which she likes better to be honest, getting more responsive at the feeling of his lips against her]

Stiles: [and his hands are going to slip between her legs to start teasing her. He has tied her ankles in a way that her legs can butterfly open still]

Cora: [she tries to give him as much room as she can, moaning softly at the attention]

Stiles: [and when he's certain she's ready, he will find a condom and slip it on, and then shift off her and to her legs. He's going to smirk and lift her legs, tossing them over hit shoulders with the ankles behind his head, and then he will scoot forward to bury himself inside of her, the half-closed legs making her just that bit tighter]

Cora: [And that draws a surprise gasp and a pleased moan from her, her leg squeezing slightly in response]

Stiles: [and he will groan as she does that, leaning forward and lifting her hips up off the bed she angles in to get deeper as he thrusts in hard]

Cora: [and she can't really do anything but hold on for the ride, rocking her hips as much as she can as he thrusts into her]

Stiles: [and he will pretty much give her a hard ride, and when he could feel himself getting close, his fingers will find her clit and rub at her]

Cora: [and that will push her further, and it honestly won't take long before she's arching up against him and falling over the edge]

Stiles: [and feeling her go will be his cue and with a hard series of thrusts he will join her, his free hand gripping the headboard to keep him up as he cums]

Cora: [and eventually she will drop down against the bed with a sigh, relaxing slowly under him]

Stiles: [and he will be sweaty, panting, looking down at her. He will eventually lift her legs and lay them n the bed beside him so they don't cramp, and then shift to pay beside her.] So?

Cora: [she shifts to face him before giving a small shrug] I didn't hate it? I wasn't that fond of what you did with my breasts, but the rest of it wasn't bad.

Stiles: Yeah I mean it felt good, but it got dry too fast. I actually don't think I like it myself with you like this...

Cora: You don't?

Stiles: [shakes his head, going to reach up and start untying her] Not really. I didn't like you not being able to touch me.

Cora: [and she'll rubs her wrists a bit as they're freed, before moving her hands to his shoulders to rest against him] I didn't really like that either.

Stiles: But that's why we try things - to see if we like them or not.

Cora: Very true. And we can stick to what we like.

Stiles: And you don't need to tie me down. If you want me down, you're strong enough to do it yourself [chuckles, his hand gently running along her stomach]

Cora: [she laughs] It's true. And I like you touching me too much too.

Stiles: So I guess we can scratch bondage and boob sex off the list of things we tried and decided aren't worth it.

Cora: Officially off the list.

Stiles: We'll find our own kinks eventually. Until then, I'm just happy being with you. [and he will go and kiss her, his hand sliding up to caress her breast as he does so]

Cora: [sighs softly as she kisses him back, letting her hands slide down his chest then around to scratch lightly at his back]

Stiles: [and eventually he will get them back to making love, making sure her ankles are untied and condoms swapped out, kissing and caressing each other as he slides himself back deep inside of her]

Cora: [moans as she arches up into him, her legs squeezing his hips as she's better able to match his thrusts]

Stiles: [and he's not in a rush to get to his orgasm now that he's had his first one, so he will just make love to her for a long time, wanting her to get multiple orgasms, maybe even slowing to let her rest between them]

Cora: [And she will roll through each one, riding the waves until she's too sensitive to go further whimpering a bit as she grips his shoulders] Stiles ...

Stiles: [and he will stop, nodding] Alright. [and he will pull out, still hard but good for a short break]

Cora: [and once he's out, she'll lean in to kiss him again, shifting softly and moving so that she's resting over him]

Stiles: [which he is fine with, his hands going to her hips to keep her close]

Cora: [and evenually she'll break the kiss and start trailing her lips down his chest slowly]

Stiles: [and he is going to close his eyes, his hand going to her head to gently thread his fingers through her hair]

Cora: [and she'll drop down below the belt, slipping the condom off and replacing it with her mouth]

Stiles: [and he will groan, his head falling back into the pillow more]

Cora: [and she will do just that, making sure he enjoys himself even if she's not going to come with him]

Stiles: [oh, he's enjoying himself because really, they don't do this a lot since he usually is good coming with her. So it won't take her long with her tongue doing that thing he loves where he will be there, his fingers gripping her hair as a warning he was close]

Cora: [and she'll take the warning but keep going, swallowing it down as he finishes, before pulling off with a small smile] Good?

Stiles: [catching his breath] Always.

Cora: Good. [and she will inch up to lie next to him, leaning in to kiss him again]

Stiles: [and he will kiss her, not overly used to that taste but hey, she tastes herself because of him all the time so he can deal. He's smiling against her lips]

Cora: [she pulls back with a smile before glancing at the clock] We should probably sleep so we can be up early tomorrow.

Stiles: Yeah. That work thing.

Cora: No the day trip thing with Scott and Kira.

Stiles: .... Oh yeah. sorry, you must have blown my mind. I forgot what day it was. [smirks]

Cora: [she shakes her head, before shifting to curl up under the covers next to him] Night, Stiles.

Stiles: [cuddles up with her] Love you, Cor.

Cora: [smiles] Love you too. [and with that, they'll drift off to sleep]