She was asleep. Her hands clutched his shirt tightly as her face was burrowed into him. The soft strands of her hair were a bit of a mess. He could see the lashes of one of her eyes. Slightly trembling in sleep.
Arrion grinned to himself. His wife was adorable. And he liked how she had such a grip on him. He found himself rather happy with the fact that she had wanted him close tonight.
Originally, he had thought to give her some space. He had wanted to be considerate. But he was thrilled to know that she had pretty much demanded his presence.
Arrion admitted to himself that he rather liked it when she bossed him around. They both knew that he was the one actually in charge of their family, but he was more than willing to listen to her. Especially when she was asking him for something that he was more than happy to give.
Like holding her to sleep like this.
Arrion snuggled her close, happy just to be near her. Lowering his head, he planted another kiss against her hair and leaned his head against hers.
He was not really tired, or maybe he was just too happy to feel it. It had been so long since he had held her in his arms like this and it was making his entire being alert.
Still, he closed his eyes as he listened to her breathing.
He might still not be able to remember everything about himself, but it didn't matter all that much. He knew the important stuff, and enough to function. Even if he had had no clue about being a shapeshifter.
He couldn't even remember anything about that. How did it work? How did he even do something like that?
He pushed the thoughts away, focusing again on Dawn. What did it matter when he was holding his wife?
Of course, it didn't. His wife was far more important. More important than any ability he might have forgotten.
And… she actually loved him. She really did. That knowledge made him feel utterly satisfied. It had been quite the sore spot in his heart, thinking she didn't. But she did.
A soft puff of laughter left him and he rubbed his nose against her hair. The fine hairs tickled his nose, a feeling he rather liked. Dawn shifted in his arms.
One of her hands loosened its grip on him and the other tightened. Her head burrowed even deeper against him as if she was trying to push herself into him in her sleep.
He could feel his features reflexively softening up at her behavior. How could he not adore this woman? Even when she was more apathetic to him he had found her adorable. Dawn had never actually been utterly cold towards him, even if she had subconsciously pushed him away. At least she had relied on him, just a bit. And he was sure she had trusted him.
Just that had not been enough. He had wanted her to come to love him. And now that she had he really couldn't be happier. Well, there was one thing that could, but that was something that could wait for later.
He wasn't sure how long he stayed awake just happily being in the moment but eventually he did doze off with a smile still on his face.