"Charles..."

No response. A poke to his forehead.

"Charles."

A slight snort. Another poke.

"BABE."

He releases a sound that's a cross between a grunt and a groan and buries his face in her neck. His breath tickles her skin, and strong arms around her waist pull her just a little closer.

She sighs.

"Charles. Let go. I have to get up, you know that."

"Why...?" His voice is muffled, and she squirms a little as the vibrations from his voice tickle her skin all the more so. "Shadow needs to go out." She mutters.

Another snort. "He can hold it."

"And we need to eat."

"I'm not hungry."

She's getting a tad frustrated at this point.

"Boo, I need to SHOWER."

"You smell fine."

"UGHHHHHHH!"

His shoulders begin to shake a little, and she looks at him with an irritated and incredulous look on her face. He's laughing at her. The lovable, tall, dark and handsome idiot is LAUGHING at her.

"Damn it, Charles! Seriously, let goooooooo!"

She squirms, wriggles, all to no avail. All the while, her husband is still laughing. She knows she's pouting. And she hates it, but she can't help it. She was serious about that shower, damn it!

"Hon...Calm down~" He lifts his head, his eyes shining with amusement as he notices her bottom lip poking out in irritation. With a soft chuckle, he gently rests his forehead against hers. "Seriously, what's the rush? You're acting like the bed's on fire." And he is oh so tempted to add a suggestive comment at this moment, but he refrains. No need to get her COMPLETELY riled up.

"I have things I need to DO, Charles. As much as I'd love to spend the entire day in bed with you-" He allows a small smirk to cross his lips. And for that, she glares at him and blushes. "Shut up."

"I didn't even SAY anything!"

"You were THINKING it!"

He laughs.

"So what, is my wife psychic now~?"

"No, she just knows her husband too damn well." She mutters.

Annnnnd she's pouting again. He sighs a little, a smile still on his face. "Look, just...let me enjoy this for a little while? Mornings are the only time I get to see you like this." There are a few moments of silence in which a look of confusion flickers in her eyes. "Like...what, exactly?"

A warm smile. A strand of hair being brushed from her hair.

"I don't know how to describe it with words, actually. It's just...a glow. A specific glow that you only have right after you wake up."

His arms pull her closer still.

"It's beautiful. And I love it."

For a long moment, they just stare. At each other. Into each other. There isn't much she can say. The sound of her heart beating fast drowns out any thoughts that could possibly be translated into words. She instead settles down in his arms and hides her face in his chest.

He smells a bit of electrical wires, faintly of cologne, and completely of just...himself. She has memorized this scent. Just like she has memorized the feel of his arms around her. And the feel of his lips on her forehead. And the steady rhythm of his heartbeat that always seems to be in perfect time with her own. And his...love.

"...Fine." She mumbles.

He relaxes yet again, now that he is sure that she will do the same. This is why he loves mornings.

The way he sees it, the entire world could be collapsing around them. Even then, he wouldn't let go.