Five Nights at Henry's

Posted on Wed Dec 3rd, 2025 @ 6:13am by Ensign Henry Taylor & Tessa di'Orion

Mission: Lower Decks
Location: Henry's Quarters

Night One:

"Welcome home, Angel," Henry said, smiling softly. He moved down to match her rising up and their lips met again as they held each other.

They stayed that way for a while until Henry finally managed to disentangle them from each other long enough to give them each a few minutes to change and get ready for bed. Henry sat back on his bed in a simple pair of shorts and tshirt and watched as Tessa emerged from the bathroom in the same pajamas she'd worn the first time she'd been to his quarters.

Henry immediately moved over to his side of the bed and made room for her to slide in next to him. As she pressed against him, he let out a sigh of relief and felt his body relax for the first time in days. As he felt her head nuzzle under his chin, he tilted his head, kissed the top of hers, and fell asleep nearly as soon as his head hit the pillow.

***
Night Two:

Henry had spent the better part of the day after their shift helping to haul Tessa's personal items to her new quarters. As he carried in the last two cases, he put them down with a grunt of discomfort, glad they were the last ones. He looked around at her quarters and the unpacking she had to do, and didn't envy her.

Tessa stood in the middle of the quarters and spun in place, her eyes full of mixed emotions. It was small, meant for two crew members, she’d been told, even though the Operations petty officer that had removed the second bed had told her it was at the Captain’s orders. Even still, they were bigger than Henry’s despite the containers and bags that filled half of them. Once unpacked, there would be some more space, just not in the closet. She walked the handful of steps between herself and Henry, giving him a hug as she rested her head on his chest, “Thank you, Henry. I know this was a lot of work, but I promise it’ll be worth it.”

Henry kissed her head, then marshalled the last of his strength and reached down, swinging her up in his arms and placing her sitting on a couple of containers, bringing her up to his eye level. "Forever," Henry said, breathing hard, reminding her of their new timeline. "Together forever....that makes all of this worth it." His smile was genuine despite the discomfort and he leaned in, kissing her again, his hands resting on her knees, but his legs trembling a bit as he leaned in. It had really been a lot of heavy containers.

Her hands on his sides felt the tremble even as she enjoyed the kiss and her eyes showed the concern as they parted. "Are you all right? You feel like you've been running a race beyond your endurance?"

Henry nodded. "I'm, um...I'm okay. That was just...a lot of heavy things. And it's been a long day. I could use a good sonic shower and a lie down in my bed." He smiled at her and kissed her again. "Don't worry about me."

"Too late," she told him after that particular kiss was over, nudging him backwards a step and sliding off the containers. She took a glance to her bed, which was covered with things and gave a scowl of disgust, then took one of his hands in both of hers and squeezed it gently. "Let's get back to your quarters and take a look at you. Mine are a mess right now. Does it hurt?"

"Not too much, Doctor," Henry teased, although his wince as they walked into the corridor betrayed him. "Okay...maybe I pulled something with that last run."

"Priestess," Tessa teased him right back. "It's going to take a long time before I earn the title of Doctor, but I'm happy Kally is going to help me with that." She resisted the urge to try to discover precisely what was wrong on the way to his quarters, which involved a couple of corridors and a turbolift ride. The closest crew quarters that were available had been on Deck 4, near the edge of some of the enlisted quarters, unlike the ones that Henry had close to Sickbay. "But yes, we'll have you take that shower first. You did work rather hard."

"Sorry if I offend," Henry said as they stepped into the turbolift. He leaned against the wall, squeezing her hand a bit and when it stopped a moment later, he walked stiffly out and down the corridor to his quarters.

He stepped in and breathed a sigh of relief the journey was over. He went to his dresser and grabbed some sleepwear and walked to the bathroom. "Back shortly," he said.

"Of course!" Tessa agreed, resisting the urge to suggest they save time and become clean together, but Kally had said to wait on things like that. Somewhat. So she walked over to his dresser and smiled as she opened the drawer that was apparently still hers. Then felt a moment of sadness at the memory of how she'd abandoned him.

Ten minutes later, he stepped out, walking a bit smoother, but still looking tired. "All yours," he said, stroking her cheek lovingly as he walked by to collapse face down on his bed.

"I'll be just a few minutes, but that shirt had better be off by the time I get back! You're getting an examination and I'm sure your back muscles are going to need some attention." She'd had her own pajamas in hand as she stepped into the bathroom herself.

"Yes, Ma'am," Henry grunted, struggling to remove it without having to actually get up. He finally wrestled it off of him, still lying on his front, and his mind finally caught up and he realized what she'd said, and what he should've said back if he'd had half a brain. He blushed at his own thought, then chided himself for blushing about his own girlfriend. Is she my girlfriend? he thought. They hadn't actually discussed it. Then again, she wasn't exactly back just for her studies. His back twinged again and he put the thought aside. She was there, with him. That's all that mattered then and there.

Only a few minutes later she was out and the sweat she'd incurred gone from the time she'd stepped out and she smiled radiantly at him before sinking to her knees next to the bed and reaching out to his shoulder before running her hands gently down his back, "You're going to tell me where it hurts, aren't you?" She asked before running her hands up to his shoulders again and starting to probe his muscles, to feel where they were knotted and where more serious strains may be.

Henry sighed as the warmth of her hands met his back. "You have my word I--OKAY RIGHT THERE," he said, tensing up and wincing as she pressed a muscle near his lower back. He grunted in pain and gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry, Tessa. That took me by surprise." He reached back and rubbed his neck. "Left side of my neck as well is tight," he said.

"Don't be sorry; I can't help if I don't know where it hurts." Tessa smiled beatifically towards him even if he couldn't see her, probing up around his neck before gently massaging the area. He was right, this one was just a little tight and easily rectified with some judicious pressure in just the right areas and after a couple minutes she felt the muscles relaxing under her fingers.

Henry let out a sigh of relief. "That...is wonderful, thank you," he said.

"Now for the other one." Tessa got to her feet and climbed onto the bed, straddling him as she focused herself inwards. She rubbed her hands together slowly as she began to murmur in her native tongue, the words flowing together in a prayer to Urd. The room noticeably brightened as she began to glow a soft gold, tinged with an emerald hue as her tattoos also made themselves known in their brightness. She pressed her left hand first against the skin of his back, an elevated heat than just the hand itself seeping into the muscles as she slowly began to move them across his back and apply the pressure required.

Henry saw the glow through his eyelids and his eyes snapped open as he felt the warmth on his back. He couldn't roll over, but he could tell where the shine was coming from and he turned his head to look at the mirror on his closet door. His eyes went wide as he saw her on top of him, her body and tattoos glowing as she rubbed his back. She really is an angel, he thought. His back slowly unwound and relaxed and he felt the pain drain away. He couldn't believe the sensation, and he made a mental note to ask her about it later.

When he felt the heat subside and saw her glow lessen, he closed his eyes and let out a long, pain-free sigh. He felt her hands move back up his back as she laid down on top of him and kissed his cheek, her fingers playing in his hair. "Tessa," he sighed, "do your people believe in reincarnation?"

"Yes, we do to a degree." Tessa said softly into his ear, a wave of exhaustion coming over her that she knew would pass in a few minutes, "There is an old prophecy made by a Light of Lind about five hundred years after her death that tells us that the Gods will return into new bodies to lead Tial into a new Age of Glory and Expansion." She chuckled melodically, "Prophecies don't always come true, though."

"Some cultures on Earth believe in it for all peoples," he said. "And they have this idea called 'karma'. A believe that actions in one life cause good or bad things to happen in the next." He wriggled under her until he'd turned over and pulled her up to look in her eyes. "I have no idea what I must have done in a previous life to deserve you," he said, "but I'm so glad I did."

Tessa digested the words as he spoke and thought she understood what he was saying, a mischievous smile on her face from a bare couple of inches away, "So you think you must have been a mass-murderer to deserve me?" She asked with humour in her voice, "Then the dead should sleep easy. But more likely you kicked a small animal and this 'karma' led me to you."

Henry rolled his eyes and gave her a half smile. "You are in no way a punishment, " he said, yawning. "Totally worth it, remember?"

"Then you won't mind if I stay the night... To monitor you for complications." Tessa made an excuse to not have to go back and clean off her own bed, sliding off his chest and to his side, one arm and leg draped over him, but freeing up his breathing for sure as she snuggled into him. "Wake me if you feel bad?"

"I don't see how I could feel bad, " Henry said, closing his eyes and drifting off feeling her heartbeat.

***
Night Three:

She had only spent half a day in sickbay this time, Kally having told her that she should take some time to unpack her things and make her new home into a home for herself. That had been one of the sweetest things she'd ever heard and had almost asked for some help in the process, but knew that if she'd borrowed Henry for the task that she'd never have actually gotten any work done in there.

Instead she got to work herself and carefully unpacked and began to hang the tapestries she'd brought, the crest of Light's End one side of the wall a silver banner with a golden sigil of the sun falling beneath a horizon line, the other side with her father's crest of River's Crest, blue with a surging wave over a rock, the middle a blank spot ready for another one. Her own little armory was arranged in a corner, rapier and daggers, bow and arrows, plus her entire set of armor arranged for use. There was even a larger sword that took a rear point in it, not that she'd really have much use for it.

The closet was full to bursting with the dresses that she'd brought along, formal as well as informal, the 'casual' wear that she'd typically wear around the castle, fur coats for warmth, shoes and cloaks. Another corner of the room was devoted to an extensive set of jewelry of all kinds and colors, because her mother refused to send her off without the little things. That mostly left empty boxes and containers that she could get rid of rather quickly. And then she looked at the clock and realized just how late it had gotten. Resolving herself to get some sleep and finish in the morning before her shift, Tessa changed into a set of pajamas and laid down on the relatively comfortable bed to try to sleep.

She failed miserably. For nearly thirty minutes she tossed and turned, trying to will herself into slumber, but jitters in her stomach just wouldn't let her. Finally she rose and made a decision, leaving the room and making a remembered path through the hallways to the turbolift. A few enlisted crewmen who were on the overnight shifts passed her with a few questioning looks, but no comments at the young woman in the halls. She finally found herself at the familiar door and hesitated, waiting there with hand outstretched before finally crossing those last few centimeters to knock on the door.

Before her hand could make contact, the sensors registered her presence and the doors opened. Henry looked up from his bed, only somewhat surprised. "Hey," he said, smiling, then saw her expression and stood up. "What's wrong?" he said, coming over to her quickly.

"Well, I... I just finished unpacking and was trying to get to sleep, but I really couldn't. I just felt so alone." Tessa stated as she stood there, barefoot. "I really didn't want to impose, but... Can I-"

Henry pulled her to him and held her protectively. "Say no more," he said, leading her inside and letting the doors close. "You are always welcome here. That's actually why..." he paused and gave a slight grin. "I was going to tell you. I added you to the authorized entries for my quarters. You can stop by here any time you need." He shrugged and grinned. "Surprise."

Tessa squeezed him tightly, "You know I'm going to take you up on that, right? But if you're sleeping, I'll try to keep from barging in, or at least do so really quiet-like. But thank you, Henry, I really appreciate this, I really don't want to be a bother ever."

"I, for one, hope you never stop 'bothering me'," he said, smiling. He walked over to a shelf in the wall and pulled out the book she'd given him. "How about a cuddle and a story until you're ready to fall asleep?" he said, sitting down in the bed.

"So this time it's my turn to read you a story?" Tessa smiled as he brought the book from home over and she sat on the bed. "Would you like an adventure story, or a sad and sappy one?"

"I didn't think your people did 'sappy'," he teased.

"We don't." She accepted the book from him and patted the bed next to her and tried to remember what story she'd wanted to share with him. "Let's see... Sad and sappy, Tialan style? 'The Lone Champfe' would be the best one for that. It's a story about a Champfe, one of our higher predators, who went off on his own to a new territory and struggled to survive."

Henry pulled some pillows up against the headboard and sat back, pulling her against him and wrapping his arms around her, protecting her from whatever bad feelings had spooked her as he closed his eyes and let her voice warm the room like the glow of a fire.

Tessa leaned back into his embrace and prepared herself to translate, "The depths of the forest were dark and damp as the Champfe stalked through the undergrowth, following his family as they traversed the wild..."

***
Night Four

"And, checkmate," Henry said, grinning. The lounge was fairly quiet around them. They'd been enjoying a table near the viewports. After their shift, Tessa had gone back to her quarters to finish disposing of the shipping containers she'd left there, and Henry had gone back to his quarters to get some chores done. Once they'd finished, they'd agreed to meet in the lounge, first having dinner, then enjoying a game of chess together. Tessa had given Henry a run for his money that time, and if he hadn't snuck a pawn by her to reclaim his queen, she'd probably have had him on the run. As it was, she came very close to a stalemate the first game, and a victory the second. At the rate she was going, Henry figured she'd start winning within a month or so, unless he learned to up his game as well.

It didn't help that with the table they were at, he couldn't easily distract her by grabbing her knee, but she could run her foot along his calf and bat her eyes at him all she wanted, making him repeatedly have to reestablish his focus on the game.

"I almost had you there!" Tessa scowled, even with a smile on her face, "Next time, I promise I'll beat you! Or the time after that, and I still have to teach you our own. That way I'll get a win sooner rather than later?" She sat back in the chair as let him start to pick up the pieces. "So, what's next on the schedule? I think we've got a couple more hours before it's time for bed."

He put away the board and stood up. "Wait here," he said, grinning. He walked over to the replicator, said something quietly and a moment later, returned with a plate and two forks. "Some dessert to console you," he said, placing the same apple-caramel cheesecake he knew she loved in the center of the table. He picked up a fork and sat down in his seat, looking up to find the plate now securely on her side of the table.

Tessa rubbed her hands together as she eyed the cheesecake that she'd brought over to her side of the table, "Consider me properly consoled, milord!" She said as she had to resist drooling at the sight and poised her fork over the dessert, then noticed he hadn't put a plate of it on the table for him, but held a fork in his own hand. "I um..."

Henry smiled at her patiently. "Perchance, milady, we could share?" he teased. He reached over and drew a line with his fork across the top, sectioning a 30% portion of the cylinder on his side. "If that isn't asking too much?"

It was with clear reluctance that Tessa slid the plate much closer to the center of the table so that he could access the thirty percent that he'd drawn the line across, "I suppose... This time?" She said, sticking her tongue out at him playfully, "But don't you know it's a fool's errand to stand between a woman and her cheesecake?"

"Which is why I'd placed the cheesecake between us in the first place," he said, grinning. He took a small forkful, popped it in his mouth, then as he chewed, stood up and quickly walked to the replicator to get himself a small serving as well. He came back to their table and sat down, pushing her plate back to her and grinning. "But far be it for me to deny Her Grace anything that makes her smile."

Tessa slid the plate even closer to herself with a giggle that seemed almost like a cackle and dug her fork into the creamy dessert greedily, "You really shouldn't deny a Baroness her just due!" She agreed happily.

Henry choked on a mouthful of cheesecake, swallowing hard, tears forming. He coughed and took a sip of his drink. "A what now? Baroness?" He got a look like he was trying not to seem horrified. "Is your mother all right?"

"Oh..." She paused for a moment and thought back, no, she hadn't told him yet. "Well, that? Mother's fine, she's pregnant again, if you didn't know and apparently in several months I'll have a new sister." Tessa shrugged. "And before I left, Mother kind of gave me one of the islands off the coast; said that she was going to arrange it as the first part of my own lands... I've decided to call it 'Heart's Forge'. Mother is going to have work started on the citadel and start developing it for me."

"I....am at a loss for words," Henry said, genuinely awestruck. "That is phenomenal! Congratulations!" He beamed at her. "What...does a Baroness need to do?"

"Normally to oversee her territory and make sure her people are taken care of, but I can't do that while I'm out here in the wide galaxy. Still, mother is going to handle that situation." She took a moment to eat another bite of her cheesecake before she went on very casually, "The other main thing a Baroness has to do is provide her lands with an heir."

Henry choked again and put his fork down. A few responses came to mind, and he mulled each of them over, but there was one question that rose above the others. "Tessa," he said, quietly, looking her in the eyes, "there's only one thing I need to know. Do you want to have children? More than just because it's your 'duty,' I mean." He leaned forward and put a hand out towards her. "Do you want to start a family? Something we build together?"

Tessa continued to eat her own dessert as she listened to him, her free hand reaching out to his to grip and squeeze his, "Of course I want to have children." She said as if it was a normal thing for every woman to actively desire, "Back at home, when I met Kosac for the first time, I was more than willing to pair with him for an heir to Light's End, but I was sad that it wasn't you. Because it's you I wanted to sire my children, all of them, not just one. But Kally told me I had to wait before I talked to you about this."

"I'll have to ask her to kindly butt out," Henry said. He stood and pulled his chair around, sitting next to Tessa, not letting go of her hand. "We've still got things to talk about with regards to it," he said, then smiled at her, "but I do want a large family as well, and I want it with you." He leaned over, his free hand to her cheek as he moved in to kiss her.

"Then we'll have to start soon!" Tessa stated, visibly bright before she leaned into the kiss, but then suddenly broke it off as he continued on, glancing around the lounge at the others who were minding their own business, then hissed into his ear, "But we can't do it right here, silly! What would everyone say?" She took the moment to shovel in the rest of her cheesecake and then while looking at him in the eyes, reached out with her fork to stab his on it's plate and expertly move it over to her plate without looking at it, "If you wanted to, we could even start tonight?"

Henry couldn't help imagining swiping everything off the table and showing her he didn't care one fig what anyone else had to say. Thankfully, he was more level-headed than that. Still, he realized he was silent for longer than he should have been when she squeezed his hand.

"Two things," he finally said, clearing his throat as his voice cracked. "I had a monthly injection to...well to make sure I didn't accidentally get anyone pregnant. Kally kind of insists on it for all the males on board," he said, deciding not to mention why that was. "So it'll be a few weeks before our efforts would have any results." He swallowed and licked his suddenly dry lips. "But...before we start down the road of having children," he shrugged a bit. "Call me old fashioned, but we should talk about marriage."

"Why would we do that?" Tessa asked bluntly, remembering that the custom of 'marriage' had been likened to the 'life bond' of the Sentar. For the Korashe, it was something that wouldn't even be considered because of their traditions. "This 'marriage' thing isn't required to have children, is it? I just don't don't see the need for it." She stabbed her fork into the new bit of cheesecake on her plate and lifted part of it to her mouth with a shrug.

Henry looked at her, trying not to let his feelings show. He was hurt, but he didn't react at first. He knew this was a cultural clash. He had been half expecting it, given he'd known this would be her attitude about it. Still, it hurt to hear. But that didn't change how he felt about her, and he knew it wasn't representative of how she felt about him. He also knew it wouldn't be solved that night.

"It's more complex than that," he said. "But it'll take some time to explain. For now, let me put it this way." He reached over and took her dessert plate, starting to pull it away. "You don't need cheesecake to have a meal," he started, then stopped quickly as her fork landed threateningly in the center of the remaining cheesecake, her blue eyes never leaving his. He smiled gently. "But it makes things better when it's there." He returned her plate and brought her hand to his lips, kissing it. "Let's table it for now, but give me the chance to tell you more about it later, please?"

"I can agree to that, we can talk about... But later, definitely." She gave the last bit of cheesecake a side eye, then made a decision as she lifted it towards Henry, offering it to him instead of consuming it herself, "And if we can't actually start having kids, maybe we should wait just a little bit? But it doesn't mean we can't snuggle up for the night, if you're feeling up to it?"

Henry accepted the offering and chewed thoughtfully, watching her expression. "I am always willing to snuggle with you, Angel," he said finally, smiling softly.

He stood up and grabbed the dishes in one hand, and held out his other hand for hers.

She happily took it, half-skipping as they went back to his quarters; she could always go back to her own later. Perhaps she could surprise him with something, even if they didn't start working on at least practicing for a child yet.

As they slipped inside his quarters, he immediately swept her off her feet and into his arms playfully, kissing her. He set her down again and grabbed a change of clothes and once again got ready for bed. As he came out, he kissed her quickly before tumbling into his bed, watching her and grinning.

Tessa stuck her tongue out at him playfully as she sashayed into the bathroom to change, theatrically working her shirt off slowly baring her midriff just before leaving his sight, tossing the shirt out the door a moment later, followed by the skirt. The giggle echoed out to him as she couldn’t hold that back, but she was out after a couple minutes in a new set of pajamas before sidling into the bed with him and immediately kissing him hungrily.

Henry responded in kind, his hands rubbing her back, one eventually venturing down and squeezing her rear end in a gentle massage.

She responded favorably to that, squirming her way around slightly and her free hand drifted lower down his stomach until it stopped and came to rest at his waistline, then paused there.

Henry's breath caught in his lungs and his hand squeezed her rear again in agreement as his other hand held the small of her back, keeping her close. He knew they were playing with fire, but he was determined to keep control and not let things get out of hand even as they got in hand.

Her hand went down on the outside of his shorts, rather gently a few times as she frantically tried to remember back to that story that one of the ‘older’ contemporaries, her name was Marau, she thought she’d remembered, three years older and with an infant son at the time, had said her Pairing had asked of her. She withdrew her mouth for a moment, biting her lip as her hand found its way inside his shorts and grasped him firmly.

Henry's eyes bulged slightly as Tessa attempted to manually reverse the blood flow in his body and he grabbed her wrist through his boxers. "It's attached, Tessa," he choked out.

Tessa’s eyes opened wide as she suddenly released after only an attempt at manually stimulating him, wondering what she’d done wrong. Marau had been very explicit with the instructions and... “I didn’t hurt you badly, did I? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...”

Henry felt his eyes water and as she let go he took a deep breath. He saw how spooked she looked and immediately hugged her tight. "It's all right," he said. "I'm okay." Thank God she didn't attempt oral, he thought.

“I could try again?” She asked, tentatively, worried now that she wouldn’t do things right, but practice was always a solution to that.

Henry kissed her and shook his head. "Let's...give it a night. Let the bruising go down," he teased. His hand moved back down to her rear and he gave it a playful squeeze as he grinned. "We don't need to rush. We'll take an evening together and we'll take things slow and careful. I want you to enjoy all of this, and I'd like to come through it with as little permanent damage as possible."

Tessa pouted as she realized she’d actually hurt Henry and she snuggled deeper into him in an effort to comfort her significant other. “I’m really sorry, I guess I just don’t know enough about all of this to do a good job, but if we can try again tomorrow night… I’ll try to be gentler.”

Henry's hand, still on her rear, gave her a squeeze. "We have plenty of time to learn," he said. "Both of us."

He looked at her frown and gave her half a grin, bringing his hand back up to her back, rubbing it gently. "Human tradition five," he said. "Kissing someone to make them feel better." He put a hand on her cheek and leaned in, kissing her lovingly.

When that kiss ended, Tessa murmured softly, "Tradition number five works..."

***
Night Five

Another morning waking up with Tessa in his arms, breakfast together, and off to another shift. Afterwards, they'd spent some time in the lounge talking with Kally and Doctor F'arra, had dinner, then walked back to Henry's quarters. He held Tessa's hand as they walked in silence, not even bothering to make an excuse to stay together.

They walked into his quarters and he waited while Tessa picked out some pajamas and stepped into his bathroom. A few minutes later she emerged and he didn't hide how much he appreciated how beautiful she was. He kissed her quickly then grabbed his own sleepwear and went to shower and change. A few minutes later he stepped out, seeing her already lying in bed, smiling.

He walked over and leaned down, kissing her and moving gently over her, lying down next to her and holding her against him.

As they broke apart for a moment, he kissed the tip of her nose. "I know at some point you need to actually sleep in your quarters," he said, "but I'll admit, I have gotten to enjoy waking up with you."

"But why would I have to do that?" Tessa asked, her eyes glittering at the man that was just opposite of her, "I like it here just fine. If you really insist that I sleep in my own bed, I think you should be in it with me as well, don't you?"

"Fine by me," Henry said, grinning and tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "And I'm not saying you have to sleep there, but since the Captain went to the trouble of getting you those quarters, we should honor that." He yawned deeply and held her close, his hand running down her side, resting on her hip. "Just as long as you're in my arms."

"I don't care where I am, so long as I'm with you." Tessa reached up to cup his cheek, "I know in the time I've gotten to know you, I haven't had so much fun in my life. I think my favorite thing, though, was you reading to me. We're going to have to make it a habit to read to each other, especially you with the reading."

Henry smiled, thinking back on it. "As much as I loved reading to you," he said, "feeling you asleep in my arms was the best part, by far." He yawned again, his eyes closing. "That was the moment I knew."

He'd stopped as he was fading away and Tessa snuggled in closer to him until her head was on his chest. "What did you know?" she asked him.

"I knew I was in love with you," he said quietly before he drifted off, holding her again.

That itself caused Tessa to wake up from her own drowsiness a fair bit as his breath turned to regular and deep breathing, because of his words. 'He's in love with me? But... I thought he wanted to have children?' The words worried her and for a moment she almost nudged him back to wakefulness to explain himself.

But she couldn't do that, he was too tired. Still... He loved her? Did that mean he wanted to be a father figure to her? Love was familial, it was parent to child..." She rolled over and snuggled back into him, feeling his hand readjust to her hip automatically again. Time enough to ask about it tomorrow, maybe Kally would know...