Aarmau: Remember Me, Remember Us, Just Remember

Chapter 197

The second Aaron is gone Aph uses her magic to move wood into the fireplace and then lights it. It doesn't take long for the heat to reach her and as she burrows deeper into the covers she rests her head against the back of the couch and falls asleep.

When Aaron makes it back upstairs he glances over at Aph and noticing the burning fire he puts the lasagna on the kitchen counter and decides to check on her. He made it a point to fix the door handle while he was down there and knowing how cold it is inside the locker he's lucky he didn't lose her.

Moving around to the front of the couch he looks down and sighs seeing that she's fallen asleep. He thinks back on the experience at the lodge and his chest tightens thinking how many close calls they've had.

He doesn't want to wake her but he can't fight the sudden urge to hold her close. He gently lifts her up off the couch and smiles down at her as she stirs enough to sleepily look up at him.

He sits back down on the couch, repositions her in his lap, and pulls her close. He's worried that she's still too cold and pulls the covers around them. "I just need to hold you for a little longer."

Aph slowly nods as she snuggles against his chest, kisses him, and then closes her eyes. Feeling her instantly fall back to sleep Aaron rests his cheek against the top of her head and finally gives in to the tears that have been burning at the back of his eyes since he pulled her out of the locker.

Only a couple of minutes pass before Aph reawakens to hear Aaron quietly sobbing. She desperately pushes against him to see his face and seeing him crying triggers tears of her own.

Cupping his face between her hands she starts placing gentle kisses all over his face and forces him to look at her. "Aaron?"

Aaron shakes his head, "I didn't mean to wake you. I don't even know why."

He trails off shaking his head even more and her heart hurts for him. She turns in his lap until she's facing him, straddles his lap, wraps her arms around his neck, and pulls him close.

She feels him bury his face in the crook of her neck, tighten his hold on her and start crying even harder. Such emotion from Aaron is not something she's used to and she has no hope of holding back her own tears.

Several minutes later after they've both calmed down and are simply resting in each other's arms her stomach growls really loud and she feels Aaron start to laugh. She feels him slip his hand between them and gently rub her stomach.

She leans back so she can see his face and when he finally looks at her he starts laughing even harder. "I think the pups are hungry."

Aph rolls her eyes at him and shakes her head, "They're always hungry. That's why I went down to get the lasagna."

The reminder causes him to flinch, "Are they alright? You were in there too long."

Aph places her hand over his and sighs, "I think they're alright. I'm pretty sure they were much warmer than I was and I was able to keep the space around me warm for a little bit before you came downstairs. While I was stuck in that room I realized I've been too careless with them and I promise to think of them before I do anything else from now on."

Aaron tilts his head and gives her a doubtful look, "What about the marathons?"