The back alley was surprisingly cold. Camila hadn't realised how hot the bar had been until the door swung closed behind them.

Lauren remained silent. Pacing back and forth.

Camila gulped and leaned against the rough wall of the bar.

"You saved my life that day?" Lauren asked quietly. Camila chuckled nervously, running a hand through her hair.

"I mean, didn't you notice my favourite hoodie isn't around anymore?" she replied with an awkward smile.

Lauren didn't smile back. Instead she stopped and stared at Camila; an unreadable expression on her face.

The silence drew on and Camila shifted.

"Look Lo-"

Camila didn't get much further.

Lauren moved closer and cupped Camila's neck, tilting her head back slightly and pressing her lips softly against Camila's. Camila let out a squeak before slowly curling her arms around Lauren's neck.

They separated briefly. Just enough for their eyes to flicker open and smile at each other. Then Lauren's hand was tangling in Camila's hair and tugging her closer. Their lips enclosing over each other's and barely leaving room to breath.

It was over a year coming and boy did it feel good. All the flirting, chasing and general teasing finally being let out and Camila was more than happy to let Lauren take control for once.

It was only when Camila felt Lauren's hand sneaking under her t-shirt that she grabbed Lauren's wrist.

"I thought you said we needed to talk," Camila breathed out, trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart.

"Talking can wait."

"Lo-" Camila said with a sigh.

"I've been wanting to do this for over a year, Camz, please," Lauren whispered, her lips brushing Camila's cheek.

Camila lost track of time in that cold alleyway. Everything was overshadowed by the warmth coming off Lauren. The feel of her body curving into hers, the way her breath hitched and washed over Camila's cheek when Camila kissed down her neck.

It was all too much and not enough at the same time.

"Anyone gonna be surprised by this?" Camila chuckled when they finally broke apart and grinned at each other. Lauren shrugged and intertwined their fingers.

"Probably not," Lauren hummed, "might have to break it to my parents in a delicate fashion."

"Woah, bump the brakes Lo," Camila choked, "bit fast there."

"Sorry," Lauren ducked her head sheepishly, "I've thought about this a lot recently."

"Yeah?" Camila asked with a bright smile. Lauren nodded and Camila squeezed her hand. "Me too."

"Wanna talk now? Or after we socialise?" Lauren asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Later," Camila breathed out quietly, "I need to recover."

Lauren smirked and pressed a kiss to the back of Camila's hands.

"Whenever you're ready Camz."

----

'Ready' was apparently about two minutes after they got to Lauren's apartment.

Or it would've been had Madison not had to stick around and clear the flat for Lauren.

"My mum worries," Lauren muttered as Madison did her job. Camila snickered and covered a smile with her hand.

"You're a mob boss."

"I know," Lauren sighed, "it's embarrassing."

"And I can hear you dear," Mama Jauregui appeared from the kitchen, glanced at Camila before focusing on Lauren, "I'm not having you shot down because you were too busy flirting with law enforcement."

The pair of them had the decency to glance away and look around.

"I'll be around if you two need anything."

"Mum!" Lauren hissed.

"Nice to see you on friendly terms Cabello," Mama Jauregui shot Camila a wry smile before disappearing into her office.

"Cool. Nice. What just happened?" Camila squeaked.

"Mum has known about our little... thing for a while," Lauren mumbled, "she was not your biggest fan for a while but I think that means you're in her good books now."

"Oh thank God," Camila sighed.

"Mads you done yet?" Lauren called out. Madison ambled out of the kitchen with a milkshake in her hand.

"Oh yeah," she sipped on the straw, "all clear boss."

"For fuck- Mads," Lauren huffed. Madison shot her a wink before pointing to the guest bedroom.

"I'll be in there tonight, have fun ladies."

The apartment fell silent as the pair avoided eye contact.

"Do we have to-"

"Yes, yes we do," Camila interrupted with a huff. She crossed her arms and finally looked at Lauren. "You wanted to talk, so... let's talk."

----

Camila peered around Lauren's bedroom, smiling at the posters hanging on the walls. Lauren lounged on her bed as Camila poked around, giggling at the knick-knacks scattered across her desk.

"I honestly don't know what to say," Lauren said quietly. Camila leaned against the messy desk and smiled at Lauren softly.

"You could say thank you?" Camila teased. Lauren rolled her eyes.

"Fine, thank you for saving my life," Lauren replied, going as far as bowing her head. Camila's shoulders shook in a silent laugh. "What even happened that day?"

Camila shrugged and took a deep breath.

"Eilish had somehow convinced a guard to let her into the corridor outside of the visitation rooms, I'd almost got to the security door when I heard yelling," Camila winced as the memories flooded back, "I saw you on the ground, blood already everywhere. Beckett and the other guy had Eilish restrained so I just... ran to you. I don't even remember taking my hoodie off but there it was, pressed against your side."

Lauren gulped, sitting up straighter as Camila took another deep, shaky breath.

"I waited until the paramedics arrived, they wouldn't let me in the ambulance with you but I sent Beckett along. I figured she was your contact on the inside so I could trust her," Camila continued, clenching her jaw, "your sister messaged me once you were out of surgery, but I couldn't visit. Only time I'd regret leaving the force."

Camila let out a soft sigh and wiped at the corner of her eyes. Lauren slowly stood up and moved to stand in front of her; her hands cupping Camila's face.

"Thank you," Lauren murmured. Camila smiled gently and closed her eyes, revelling in Lauren's soft touch.

"Wasn't about to let you die, I'd have to start all over again," the pair of them laughed softly, their foreheads resting together.

"You know," Lauren cleared her throat quietly, "I never thought I'd feel like this."

"Me too," Camila whispered.

"Least of all a cop."

"Not a cop," Camila rolled her eyes. Lauren smiled and cupped Camila's cheek.

"Really don't care anymore," Lauren closed the remaining distance and pressed a soft kiss to Camila's lips. There was a newness to the touch, a gentle, slowness, not the rushed heat they'd had in the past.

Camila pulled back slightly, her thumb brushing against Lauren's neck, feeling the steady thrum of her heartbeat. Camila's eyes flitted over Lauren's face, drinking in every vulnerable emotion on her face. Her eyes were bright, loving and calm. A long way from the smug, cocky criminal she'd met all those years ago.

"You know," Camila started quietly, "this won't change much." Lauren shook her head with a grin.

"I know, in fact I was kind of hoping it wouldn't."

"Really?"

"Oh come on," Lauren snickered, "sneaking around is fun, why do you think I like being a mob boss."

Camila rolled her eyes.

"Technically that's an admission of guilt."

"Gonna cuff me Cabello?" Lauren teased. Camila pursed her lips and stared into Lauren's eyes, watching as the cocky smile drifted from Lauren's face. "I mean-"

"I'd rather we had a date first," Camila replied slowly. Lauren blinked at her.

"I thought our first date was fun."

"And what exactly do you count as our first date?"

"Uh, how about the time you chased me for the first time?"

"No."

"First time you arrested me?"

"Nuh uh."

"The first time you visited me in prison?"

"Come on Lo."

"Day you saved my life?"

"Really? Not very romantic."

"How about, the night we were both really drunk and made out for the first time?" Lauren sighed. Camila paused, remembering the night with a slight fondness.

"Sure, that was a good first date," Camila admitted. Lauren laughed quietly and shook her head.

"We've been through a lot haven't we?"

"Worth it in the end," Camila shrugged.

"You wanna... go to bed?" Lauren asked nervously, "Just to sleep, I really would like to do this right."

"Not even cuddles?" Camila pouted. Lauren smiled brightly.

"Please, they're like mandatory in my bed."

----

Lauren was waiting under the covers while Camila changed. It felt unreal, that after all this time, they were finally here, trying to date. Or at least Lauren hoped that's what was happening.

She shook her head.

Of course that's what was happening. They'd been dancing around it since they first met; if Lauren had it her way Camila would be running the business with her, the queens of Brooklyn.

Curse Camila and her strong morals.

The bathroom door opened, pulling Lauren from her musings.

The world stopped.

Camila was looking down at her phone, chucking her clothes at the foot of the bed absentmindedly. Lauren felt her eyes widen, looking in awe at the woman in her room. Her own sweatshirt ever so slightly too big on Camila's lean frame, her sweatpants drooping around Camila's hips. Her hair up in a messy bun had Lauren almost drooling.

Never in her life had she seen someone so gorgeous.

"What?" Camila asked, finally looking up and seeing Lauren's expression.

"You're stunning," Lauren blurted out, her cheeks burning pink. Camila smiled and crawled into the bed next to her.

"You're not so bad yourself Jauregui," Camila replied, nudging her shoulder against Lauren's.

Lauren swallowed roughly and smiled crookedly.

"Cuddling?"

"Just cuddling," Camila said with a cheeky smile. Lauren nodded and shuffled down the bed, leaning her arm up on the pillows. Camila curled into her side, her head resting in the crook of Lauren's neck. Lauren let out a deep breath and tugged Camila closer, feeling the warmth of her body against hers.

"This feels good," Lauren whispered. Camila hummed, pressing her lips against Lauren's neck fleetingly.

"Feels right."

"We could-"

"Go to sleep? Agreed," Camila interrupted. Lauren felt her smile against her skin and chuckled lightly.

"I was going to say talk some more, about anything and everything, but sleep works too."

"You were so not going to say that," Camila snorted.

"... I could've."