Title: Midnight Thunderstorm (If you've got a better one, please, let me know.)
Author: Dixie
Rating: NC-17 (smut) I think this qualifies as PWP
Summary: Greg learns how to forget about thunderstorms. An honourable mention goes to Nick's Woobie.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Seriously.
Feedback: appreciated

Greg hated thunderstorms. Lying in bed, he watched the bright lightning flash outside, illuminating the otherwise dark room, and felt the thunder shake the house. Looking at the calm and peaceful body beside him, Greg wondered how Nick could possibly sleep through a storm like this. The wind that howled outside made Greg shiver and a loud crack of thunder made him whimper.

Not wanting to disturb Nick, Greg reached under the bed and grabbed the small, soft blanket waiting there. After Nick returned from the hospital, his childhood comfort sat waiting for him at the foot of the bed. They soon found that the "Woobie" helped both Nick and Greg sleep better at night. Nick had wrapped the blanket around Greg's shoulders and held them both tightly against his chest. Feeling the other man's warmth so close, feeling the soft and steady rise and fall of his partner's chest against his own had calmed both of them.

Gradually, as both Nick and Greg continued to recover, the Woobie had made its way back to its resting place, just out of sight, but not out of reach, under the bed.

Now, even as Greg silently chastised himself for allowing a thunderstorm to shake him up, he pulled Nick's Woobie close to his chest and tried vainly to sleep.

Nick finally stirred awake as an exceptionally loud "bang" made Greg let out a strangled cry.

Nick found Greg shaking slightly. "Cold?" he asked as he moved to pull a discarded blanket up over Greg. He stopped when he noticed what Greg was clutching.

"Greg, what's wrong?" Nick asked, concerned. Just then, a flash of lightning lit the room, followed immediately by a clash of thunder that made Greg jump. Nick propped himself up onto his elbow and smirked down at Greg.

"Aww, Peanut," Nick said with laughter in his voice.

"Don't belittle me, Nick," Greg said, irritated at being found out, and at Nick's response.

"I'm sorry, Greg. It's just… cute."

"Cute? Well I'm glad that my being afraid amuses you."

"It's just a storm, Greg. It ain't no big thing," Nick drawled. Greg pouted and Nick held him close.

"Ever since I was a kid, I've hated thunderstorms," Greg admitted quietly. "I know it's a silly thing to still be afraid of, but I just can't shake it."

"The key to getting through a storm as bad as this one is to concentrate on something else." Nick whispered next to Greg's ear before placing soft kisses on his neck, forehead, cheeks, and finally Greg's mouth. Nick knew, once they got started, it wouldn't be difficult to keep Greg's mind off the storm that continued to rage on outside.

Nick's hands roamed over Greg's body while still managing to hold him tightly. They kissed slowly, taking the time to savour each other, something they so rarely were able to do. Greg pressed his whole body against Nick as if he could melt into him, his hands planted firmly on the back of Nick's shoulders, the Woobie now trapped between the two men. Breaking away from Greg in order to breathe, Nick grabbed the blanket and tossed it to the foot of the bed before rolling onto his back, pulling Greg on top of him.

Greg was what Nick called an "intense" lover. Really, Greg was an intense person all around. He never did anything half-heartedly, why should sex be any different? During sex, he always focused all of his attention on Nick.

Greg began his mapping of Nick's body with his mouth, starting at Nick's ear and working his way down his neck and across the jaw line. Nick's fingers ghosted over Greg's exposed back, causing him to shiver. Greg continued down Nick's body, his lips seeking out the soft flesh on Nick's chest. He licked and sucked gently on all of the spots that he knew Nick would appreciate. His eyes darted to the window at the next flash of light and clash of thunder, but he was already beginning to forget about the storm outside.

Nick caught Greg's chin on his finger and pulled him in for another slow kiss. Greg slid a hand between their bodies and curled his fingers lightly around Nick's hard shaft and began stroking languidly. Nick rubbed his fingertips against Greg's lower muscles in a massaging manner before softly tugging Greg's hips forwards with an unspoken, but obvious, need.

Without words, Greg found all he needed in the bedside table to proceed. Returning his attention to Nick, their fingers of one hand laced together, Greg slicked the fingers of his other hand to loosen Nick's body. Nick picked up the condom that Greg dropped on the bed and ripped the package open with his teeth. Carefully, with his free hand, he slid it onto Greg's stiff cock, silently informing Greg that he was ready to continue further.

Positioning both himself and Nick, Greg entered him in one swift motion. With both of their hands now intertwined, Greg rested his head against the curve of Nick's shoulder and neck and waited for the tight muscles to relax around him. After a moment, he began to move slowly in and out of Nick's body.

Nick had found out early on in their relationship that Greg, known for his constant flow of words, was next to silent during sex. He let his body do the speaking for him; the only sounds he made were quiet moans and heavy pants. The only word Greg ever spoke during sex was Nick's name, exhaled on a long breath as he came.

Instead of talking, they kept their eyes locked together. Watching what the other was feeling through their eyes told them more than any words ever could. The ability to read each other's souls was a skill that brought them closer together as friends, and as a couple.

Nick tried to be as quiet as Greg was, but more often than not, he found himself giving in to the urge to be heard. Usually when that happened Greg would kiss him thoroughly before making shushing sounds.

Now, Nick was concentrating on Greg's rhythmic movements and his own quickened breathing. He was trying to do everything that he knew Greg enjoyed; he arched his hips into Greg's gentle thrusts, tightening and relaxing his muscles.

He brought their laced hands to his mouth and kissed Greg's fingers, watching the way Greg's pupils dilated further as he sucked one of Greg's fingers lightly into his mouth. Nick swirled his tongue around the sensitive fingertip and felt Greg squeeze his other hand tighter.

Greg slid his finger from Nick's mouth and kissed him, slowly and thoroughly, feeling Nick's moans deep in his throat as he increased the speed of his thrusting. Greg could tell he was brushing over Nick's prostate with every inward motion now; Nick was moving his hips faster, and although they were still kissing, he was making every effort to form loud words. He squeezed Greg's hand before letting it go in order to stroke the back of Greg's neck. Greg broke the kiss, pulling back only inches from Nick's face.

Their breath came in short bursts, filling the small space between them in the moments leading up to their climax. It ripped through them both at the same time, Nick yelling out Greg's name, Greg whispering Nick's name against his ear as he allowed himself to collapse against Nick's body.

Breathing heavily, Nick wrapped his arms around Greg's waist and kissed the top of his head. "Storm's passed," he whispered.

Looking up through heavy-lidded eyes at Nick, Greg said, "I forgot all about it."

"So I guess you won't be needing my Woobie for a while then?" Nick asked, grinning.

Greg snuggled in tighter against Nick's chest and, yawning, said, "Not so long as you're here the next time a thunder storm hits."

Nick pulled a blanket up to cover them both and told an already sleeping Greg, "I'll be here."

*fini