101 That Happy I'm Alive?

Dawn had not slept all that well, but she still came wide awake as soon as her turn for watch came around. She went outside with a smile creeping up her face.

It was a bit chilly out, but there was a clear sky with a full moon and twinkling stars. Dawn rubbed her arms to get rid of the goosebumps that the chill was causing.

As soon as she saw her husband, she ran over to him and nearly flung herself into his arms. He caught her, as a look of surprise crossed his face and then pulled her so she was sitting in his lap. Dawn settled into him with a sigh. She felt a lot warmer with his heat right up against her.

"Good morning to you too, my love." A kiss on her cheek accompanied her husband's greeting, "Did you miss me?"

"Of course. I don't sleep nearly as well without you all over me."

"Do you want to sleep a bit more? I can easily keep watch by myself."

She ducked herself deeper into his arms, "Nah, I want to enjoy talking with you while everyone else is asleep."

"Heh." She felt pressure on the top of her head as her husband planted his head on top of hers. "Well, what did you wish to discuss?"

She was entranced as she felt his hands entwine themselves with hers. She turned her head up to look at him.

His eyes were so gentle as he looked at her, and she felt her heart squeeze in her chest. Tears prickled her eyes all of a sudden as her emotions took over her being.

Arrion panicked, moving his hands up to cup her cheek, "What's wrong? Don't cry. Everything will be alright."

She giggled, and burrowed into his chest, "I'm just emotional. I thought you were dead… but you're alive and here with me and it's a little overwhelming."

"Not only for you, I'm a trifle overwhelmed by how you're acting so lovingly towards me. It's vastly different from what I remember…" A kiss pressed against her forehead. "Not that I don't like it. I do."

"Well, I probably won't act quite like this the rest of our lives, but I'll always try to make sure you know I love you…"

He kissed her on her lips, pulling her even closer to him than she had already been and running his hands down her sides.

He pulled away, too quickly for Dawn's liking and whispered in her ear, "Thank you. For coming to love me, for wanting to avenge me."

Dawn curled herself into his arms and settled herself down. This was exactly what she wanted, her husband gripping her close and tight, his breath against her head as he gazed at her. Moments like these were everything to her.

They fell quiet for a while. Just enjoying being near each other.

After a while though, Dawn broke the silence, "Hey Arrion."

"Mmm?" The acknowledging sound was accompanied by a pat on her arm.

"I was wondering… just how long did you know who you were before saying something?"

Silence, complete silence for almost a full minute before he spoke faintly, "About when my eyesight came back… I recognized you and well, from there I pieced together from what I could remember…"

"And you said nothing all that time? You knew I was hurting from thinking I had lost you, and you said nothing!?"

"Yes. I was pretty confused, you know… and well, a part of me wanted to tease you…"

"Arrion." She craned her head to look at him, "Seriously? Something is wrong with you." Then she sighed, "But I already knew that."

He kissed her cheek, and then looked at her with a bit of trepidation, "Mad, dear?"

"I would be," She sighed, "Except right now I find it really hard to stay mad at you."

"Wow… you really are happy I'm alive, aintcha?"

She ignored the question and leaned back against him instead. What was the point of answering a question with an obvious answer? There was none.

She would forgive him for this, at least this once he would get a free pass. Just she hoped he never pulled something like that again on her. She would forgive it this time and chock it up to him being befuddled, not that that excused it. But, after how much pain she had to have put him through she could handle this one thing.