Watching her react so sweetly, so bashfully, earned an even bigger grin from him. He would never tire of it. Of her. When she snuggled into his side, his heart beat a little quicker, a little harder.

Du wirst nicht enttäuscht sein, meine Welt. (You won’t be disappointed, my world.)

With that, he carefully guided her from the room, offering a grateful nod to Mal, who had agreed to watch the little ones. Stepping quietly down the hall, he reached the room he had prepared and opened the door for her like a proper gentleman.

Allowing her to slip past him, he followed her inside and closed the door firmly behind them.

Not exactly the romantic setting I would’ve hoped for, he admitted, a faint grimace tugging at his mouth, but with slim pickings in this damn cold, I did my best.

There was a subtle undercurrent of nerves, of embarrassment, as he moved toward the prepared nest. Retrieving the gophers and fermented berries, he laid them out for her with a sheepish expression.

I figured a meal and a drink might be nice. Give us space to talk and just… exist. No pressure. No responsibility. Just each other.

Settling into the nest, he patted the space beside him in quiet invitation, wanting her close, wanting her warm.