The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. Victoria stirred awake, her hair a tousled mess from the night before, and she was still wrapped in Caitlin's borrowed sweatpants and shirt. The warmth of the bed and the lingering scent of Caitlin's perfume made her smile as she stretched slightly.

As Victoria sat up, rubbing sleep from her eyes, she heard the bathroom door open. Caitlin stepped out, her hair still damp from the shower, she was wearing a sports bra and sweatpants. Her toned muscles  caught Victoria's gaze, and she couldn't help but admire how stunning Caitlin looked.

Caitlin's eyes lit up when she saw Victoria awake. "Good morning pretty girl" she said with a grin, her voice soft and affectionate. She crossed the room  and leaned down, her lips brushing gently against Victoria's in a tender morning kiss.

"Good morning," Victoria mumbled against Caitlin's lips, her own smile growing as she wrapped her arms around Caitlin's neck to pull her closer.

Caitlin laughed softly, the sound filling the room with warmth. "You look so cute in my clothes," she teased, her fingers playing with a strand of Victoria's messy hair.

Victoria rolled her eyes playfully, still holding Caitlin close. "shut up" she said, but her tone was filled with affection. "But thank you."

As they stayed there, wrapped in each other's embrace, the morning felt perfect. Victoria, still smiling from the tender morning kiss, tugged playfully at Caitlin's hand. "Come here," she said softly, her eyes sparkling with affection.

Caitlin raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "just can't get enough of me huh?" she teased, but there was no mistaking the warmth in her voice.

Without waiting for an answer, Victoria pulled Caitlin down onto the bed, shifting to make room for her. Caitlin, caught off guard, laughed.

Victoria wrapped her arms around Caitlin, drawing her closer until they were nestled together, Caitlin's weight comfortably pressing against her. The warmth of Caitlin's body, the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest, and the sound of her laughter was extremely comforting for her.

"we have to go down soon" Caitlin murmured, her voice filled with affection as she rested her head on Victoria's shoulder.

Victoria grinned, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on Caitlin's back. "just a minute" she replied, her voice soft and sincere.

Caitlin nuzzled closer, her laughter subsiding into a contented sigh. "yeah okay" she whispered, her breath warm against Victoria's neck.

Victoria's heart swelled with emotion as she tightened her embrace, her lips brushing against Caitlin's forehead. 

As they lay there, wrapped in each other's arms, the world outside faded away. As they lay entwined in each other's arms, the morning light casting a warm glow around them, a question that had been lingering in Victoria's mind bubbled to the surface. She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding, before finally voicing her thoughts.

"Cait," Victoria began softly, her fingers gently stroking Caitlin's back. "What are we?"

Caitlin lifted her head slightly, meeting Victoria's gaze with a mixture of surprise and tenderness. Her eyes softened as she considered the question, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Well," Caitlin said thoughtfully, brushing a strand of hair away from Victoria's face. "I was hoping you'd be my girlfriend."

Victoria's breath caught in her throat, her heart swelling with a rush of emotion. The words she'd been longing to hear hung in the air between them.

"Really?" Victoria whispered, a smile spreading across her face.

Caitlin nodded, her own smile growing wider. "Yeah, really. Vic, will you be my girlfriend?"

Victoria's eyes sparkled with joy as she pulled Caitlin even closer, their foreheads touching. "Yes," she whispered, her voice filled with happiness. "I'd love to be your girlfriend, Cait."

Caitlin's laughter was soft and joyous as she leaned in, capturing Victoria's lips in a sweet, lingering kiss. When they finally pulled back, both of them were grinning, their hearts full and their futures intertwined.

"Good," Caitlin murmured, her voice filled with affection. " because it would be quite awkward if you said no"

Victoria laughed kissing Caitlin once more, sealing their new beginning with a promise of many more mornings spent in each other's arms.

After their tender moment, Victoria reluctantly slipped out of Caitlin's embrace and headed to the bathroom. She flicked on the light and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes widened as she saw the faint, purplish marks dotting her neck and collarbone.

"Caitlin, are you insane?" Victoria called out, half-amused, half-exasperated. She touched one of the hickeys lightly, shaking her head with a mix of disbelief and affection.

She walked back into the bedroom to find Caitlin lounging against the headboard, a smug, shit-eating grin plastered across her face. .

"What's the matter, Vic?" Caitlin asked innocently, though the glint in her eyes said otherwise.

Victoria crossed her arms and tried to look stern, but the corners of her mouth twitched with the effort to suppress a smile. "Look at what you did," she said, gesturing to her neck.

Caitlin's grin only widened. "Oh, those? ," she said, her voice teasingly sweet.

Victoria rolled her eyes, finally letting her own smile break through. "You're impossible," she said, walking over to the bed.

Caitlin reached out, grabbing Victoria's hand and pulling her back down beside her. "you weren't complaining last night" she murmured, her tone softening as she looked at Victoria with genuine affection.

Victoria sighed, her mock irritation melting away. "oh shut up," she admitted, leaning in to kiss Caitlin softly.

As they settled back into the bed, Caitlin wrapped her arms around Victoria, holding her close. Victoria snuggled into Caitlin's embrace, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. Despite the playful teasing and the unexpected marks on her skin, she wouldn't have traded this moment for anything in the world.

As Victoria snuggled into Caitlin's embrace, she sighed contentedly. Then a thought crossed her mind, and she looked up at Caitlin with a playful pout.

"How am I gonna hide these from your parents?" Victoria asked, her voice filled with mock complaint.

Caitlin chuckled, tightening her arms around Victoria. "its not that bad" she said, her tone light and teasing. "You could always wear a scarf. Or a turtleneck."

Victoria rolled her eyes, laughing softly. "Yeah, because a scarf at breakfast wouldn't be suspicious at all"

Caitlin grinned, pressing a kiss to Victoria's forehead. "Or we could just tell them you got attacked by a very affectionate vampire," she suggested with a wink.

Victoria groaned, burying her face in Caitlin's shoulder. "You're terrible," she mumbled, though her voice was filled with affection.

Caitlin laughed, the sound vibrating through Victoria's body. Victoria lifted her head, meeting Caitlin's gaze with a soft smile. 

"Don't worry," Caitlin said, her tone turning reassuring. "We'll figure something out. Besides, they love you. A few hickeys won't change that."

Victoria sighed, her mock irritation fading away. "Alright," she said, snuggling back into Caitlin's arms. "But next time, maybe go a little easier on my neck?"

Caitlin's laughter filled the room again, and she kissed the top of Victoria's head. "Deal," she promised, holding Victoria close as they both drifted back into a comfortable silence, enjoying the warmth and comfort of each other's presence.

Later that morning, Caitlin and Victoria made their way downstairs for breakfast. Anne and Brent had gone out shopping, leaving the house in the hands of Caitlin, Colin, Blake, and Victoria. The four of them gathered around the kitchen table, chatting and enjoying the warm, homey atmosphere.

Victoria sat next to Caitlin, her hair strategically covering the hickeys on her neck. She hoped no one would notice as she focused on her plate, but as she turned her head slightly, Colin's eyes widened in surprise and amusement.

He couldn't contain his laughter, a sound that immediately drew everyone's attention. Blake and Caitlin looked at him with puzzled expressions.

"What's so funny?" Blake asked, raising an eyebrow.

Colin, still chuckling, pointed at Victoria. "You got attacked by something, Vic?"

Victoria's face turned crimson, and she quickly tried to adjust her hair to cover the marks again. Caitlin, biting back a laugh, reached out to brush Victoria's hair away from her neck, exposing the hickeys fully.

"Colin!" Victoria groaned, her cheeks burning.

Caitlin grinned mischievously. "I outdid myself," she said, winking at Colin.

Blake shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "I don't need to know about that" he said, his tone a sarcastic disguisement. 

Victoria sighed, leaning into Caitlin's side. "You guys are never gonna let me live this down, are you?"

"Not a chance," Colin replied with a grin. "But hey, at least you're loved, right?"

Caitlin chuckled, wrapping an arm around Victoria's shoulders. "Definitely loved."

Victoria couldn't help but laugh along with them, despite her embarrassment. 

"Alright, alright," Victoria said, rolling her eyes. "I guess I'll just have to wear a scarf next time."

Colin's laughter rang out again. "Or maybe just tell Cait to take it easy!"

"Hey, no promises," Caitlin replied with a wink, making everyone laugh even harder.

The time had come for Victoria to head back home, much to Caitlin's disappointment.  Caitlin stood in the driveway with her, clinging to her as if letting go would make her disappear. Caitlin's arms were wrapped tightly around Victoria, and she kept planting kisses on her lips, each one accompanied by a murmured "One more."

Victoria laughed, the sound light and happy, though tinged with the reluctance of parting. "Cait, if you keep saying 'one more,' I'll never get home," she teased, her own arms wrapped around Caitlin's waist.

"Maybe that's the plan," Caitlin replied with a mischievous grin, pulling Victoria closer for yet another kiss. "Just one more, I promise."

Victoria giggled, kissing Caitlin back before gently pulling away. "Alright, but I really have to go," she said, though her tone was warm and affectionate.

Caitlin sighed, her grip on Victoria tightening. "One more," she said, leaning in to kiss her.

Victoria laughed softly, the sound a mix of amusement and affection. "Cait, we've already had about a dozen 'one mores'," she teased, but she didn't resist, meeting Caitlin's lips with equal enthusiasm.

Their kisses were slow and sweet, each one filled with the longing of having to part and the promise of being together again soon. Every time Victoria tried to pull back, Caitlin would protest with another "one more," drawing her closer and kissing her again.

Victoria's laughter bubbled up again, both of them swaying slightly as Caitlin kept pulling her back. "You're impossible," she said between kisses, her eyes sparkling with affection.

Finally, Victoria managed to pull back just enough to look into Caitlin's eyes, her hands resting on Caitlin's shoulders. "I really have to go now," she said softly, though it was clear she didn't want to leave either.

Victoria laughed, the sound light and happy, though tinged with the reluctance of parting. "Cait, if you keep saying 'one more,' I'll never get home," she teased, her own arms wrapped around Caitlin's waist.

"Maybe that's the plan," Caitlin replied with a mischievous grin, pulling Victoria closer for yet another kiss. "Just one more, I promise."

Victoria giggled, kissing Caitlin back before gently pulling away. "Alright, but I really have to go," she said, though her tone was warm and affectionate.

Caitlin sighed, resting her forehead against Victoria's. "I know. Just... text me when you get home, okay?"

"I will," Victoria promised, giving Caitlin one last hug before finally getting into her car. She waved as she drove away, Caitlin standing in the driveway, watching her with a fond smile

When Victoria arrived home, she parked her car and walked inside. She found her mom and grandmother, sitting in the living room, chatting over cups of coffee.

"Hey, Mom. Hey, Grandma," Victoria greeted them, setting her bag down and walking over to give each of them a hug.

Her mom smiled warmly. "Hi, sweetie. How was your time with Caitlin?"

Victoria's grandmother, Coach Bluder, observed her closely, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Hello vic she said, her eyes twinkling. "I see you're wearing Caitlin's sweater."

Victoria glanced down at the familiar hoodie she had borrowed from Caitlin, a small blush creeping up her cheeks. "Yeah, she insisted," she said, unable to hide her smile.

Coach Bluder chuckled softly. "I see you took my advice" she remarked, her tone gentle and approving.

Victoria's mom nodded in agreement. "It's good to see you so happy, Vic. Caitlin's a wonderful girl."

Victoria's heart warmed at their words. "She really is," she replied, thinking back to the driveway and Caitlin's playful insistence on just one more kiss.

When Victoria finally got to her room, she wasted no time in grabbing her phone and flopping onto her bed. She immediately dialed Jada's number, her heart still fluttering from the day's events. Jada picked up on the second ring.

"Vic! How was your day?" Jada's voice was bright and curious.

"Oh my God, Jada, you won't believe what happened," Victoria said, her excitement bubbling over.

"Spill!" Jada demanded, laughing. "What did Caitlin do this time?"

Victoria grinned, even though Jada couldn't see her. "We kissed. Like, really kissed. And then she asked me to be her girlfriend."

There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end before Jada let out a squeal. "Vic, that's amazing! Finally! I've been waiting for this forever."

Victoria laughed. "I know, right? It was so perfect. And last night she left a bunch of hickeys and then this morning, she was all sweet and cuddly. I can't she's gonna kill me"

"Wait, what?" Jada burst into laughter. "Caitlin left hickeys? Oh, Vic, you're going to have a hard time explaining that to everyone."

"I know!" Victoria groaned, but she was still smiling. "Colin already noticed and teased me about it."

"Oh, I bet he did," Jada said, still giggling. "So, how do you feel? About everything?"

"Honestly? Amazing. A bit nervous, but mostly just really happy," Victoria admitted. "It feels right, you know?"

"I'm so happy for you, Vic. You deserve this," Jada said sincerely.

"Thanks, Jada"  Victoria replied, feeling a warmth spread through her chest.

After hanging up with Jada, Victoria immediately dialed Gabbie's number. Gabbie picked up, sounding a bit out of breath.

"Hey, Vic! What's up?" Gabbie greeted her.

"Gabbie, you'll never guess what happened today," Victoria began, her excitement palpable.

Gabbie chuckled. "Let me guess, it involves a certain basketball star?"

Victoria laughed. "You know me too well. Caitlin asked me to be her girlfriend!"

"No way!" Gabbie exclaimed. "Finally! I knew it was just a matter of time."

"Yeah, it was so perfect. And this morning was so sweet too. She even gave me her hoodie to wear because I was cold," Victoria said, her voice filled with happiness.

"Caitlin's really got it bad for you," Gabbie teased. "How are you feeling about everything?"

"Really good. Like, really really good," Victoria replied. "It just feels right."

"I'm so happy for you, Vic. You and Caitlin are perfect for each other," Gabbie said warmly.