His eyes open to the glare of an orange sunrise. It leaves amber hues coloring his wife's skin. Turning it to honey he thinks, but murky with dreamlike haze. Dreams were all that was left. His eyes drop to the woman pushed against his chest. Her warm chestnut hair falls over her pillow in light ringlets, a few dropping against the tanned skin of her neck. His fingers move against his will. He shouldn't wake her, but he promises to be soft. Flicking the curls away, he brushes his knuckle down the soft expanse of her neck. She is here with him now. That's all that matters.

     The beginnings of a smile sluggishly fall over her full lips, pulling them back and into her cheeks. His fingers still as he notices, dragging away sharply. She sighs into the pillow. Thinking he has escaped her notice and hoping she will acquiesce to sleep, he threads his hand across the side of her waist. Sliding it to drift across her stomach, before settling behind her once more. He was ready to enter sleep once more.

"She'll awake soon," Bethan mumbled into the pillow. He jerks slightly, pushing against her stomach hard enough to recognize the silent chuckles not completed. Loosening his arm, he let his face come to drift over her shoulder and into her line of sight. She lazily turned and stared at him expectantly. He drank in the sight of her, not desperate for more, but thankful for what was given. A tentative smile replied to his gentle eyes. Turning onto her back, Bethan reached for him. She found herself having to touch him throughout the day, reminding herself that he was still here; still by her side. Her hands met at the back of his neck, fingers slipping into his limp hair. Connecting his eyes with hers, he lowered his head. Drifting his gaze shut, their lips meet in a firm exchange.

    His thinks back to the time when they first met. Truly met. She was young, used to running, afraid of care, and as ill-looking as he'd ever seen. He had been lonely; she filled that void. It wasn't instant love. He didn't believe in the possibility of that. No, he fell in love with her spirit, her personality, her fire. And more recently, her docility. She followed in his lead. Didn't question his every move, but instead quietly reaffirmed his place as leader. He knew he could always count on her to inform him of a possible error in his ways. She had learned patience, and she was infinitely patient with him. She had changed. He knew if he gave her time, she would. There were times he missed her fire though, and for him, she would let it loose. Mostly when he deserved it. Maybe after an ill-fated accident or imprudent decision on his part. She was protective of him, fiercely at times.

    Releasing her lips, he smiles at their rosy color. Her cheeks share the same shade of pink. He chuckles softly and she smiles in return. How glorious she looks, joyful and happy with the golden sun resting on her rosy skin. She is beautiful and he is man in love. Intoxicated by her very being. Their silence is refreshing. No words pass their lips as they converse. Expressing all the love and gratefulness that fills their very beings.

    An inaudible shout drifts to their private room. His head rips to the door as it bursts open. A little thing comes hurling through it, before clambering to the large bed in the middle of the room. The little girl, no more than three or four, doesn't slow down. It's as though she has done this routine a thousand times. Cassius belatedly realizes she might have. She jumps on his back before he can move away from Bethan. His elbow slips on the slick sheets and he collides with his wife, who was reaching for the little girl. All three collapse on the bed. Bethan against the sturdy cotton mattress, which has felt these battles all too often; Cassius onto Bethan's chest, careful to not crush her; and the little girl, sheltered on her Papa's strong back. A pregnant pause ensues.

"This is certainly a situation we have not experienced before," Bethan states, not the slightest uncomfortable while her husband hovers above her. He may have fallen on her in the shock of the moment, but he lifted himself off her immediately following. She finds herself smiling and shaking her head simultaneously at her husband and young child. Cassius had jokingly said their daughter was as rambunctious as he in his childhood. She never let him hear the end of it after. Never failed to remind him of it when the little girl bounced over the house and he chased after her, trying to avert the damage she was causing. Neither would ever think of letting her go.

"Sorry, Mama," a little voice confessed apologetically. Cassius and Bethan's eyes met for only a moment before laughter shook their very beings. He reaches for the little girl still resting hesitantly on his back. He maneuvers to his back, careful to not crush his wife or drop his little girl. He smiles to reassure her, she still looked a little repentant. Her bright baby face lights up immediately and turns to giggles soon after he softly wrestles her with tickling. Bethan watches on with quiet amusement and a smile before a soft gurgle grapples her attention away.

    Cassius is not prone to being hard, but his is strict with his daughter. At four she is disciplined, hard-working, and generous to a fault. He loves her dearly, and she is well aware of his love, of both their love. He watches Bethan as she drifts back to their bed, a small bundle resting easily in her arms. She took to mothering naturally. Gazing at his small family, soon to grow larger he hopes, he knows he could live the rest of his days in peace here.

He wakes with a start. Bethan curled to his side and the sun rising with a golden hue. It was only a dream.

"Papa!"

Or was it?

1/18/2017

A/N Thanks to everyone whose been reading these little stories. You guys are awesome. You know who you are. :) I'm sorry I haven't updated sooner, I've been sick with some sort of stomach problem. Anyway, I hope you like this, it was my favorite to write so far. Happy Reading!

Note: This is from Deliver Us from Evil