BUBBLE

14 - inseparable

Warmth and silence was what Agnetha had awoken to on the fourth day of their stay, the day before their return back to a very quietly busy life. Her eyes had blinked a few times and had spotted the details of Björn's face as he slept. His arm was around her still, as if perhaps he was afraid she'd leave his side at any point during the night. She could see the grays on his beard, and she had counted the blemishes on his cheek because on this morning she had the time to. He was surprisingly asleep still, and she had the freedom to watch him without him paying any attention to her staring in such a way. It was growing late into the morning, she was surprised they both slept in, much later than the morning before.

The woman who admired him felt a deep inhale that turned into a yawn, making her freeze. He was beginning to wake up, and though she wished for a few more minutes of that quietness, the calmness they so rarely felt together, she was glad he woke up. His shift caused her to move and he became aware that she might have been awake already. Björn sleepily smiled after one peek towards his shoulder and he closed his eyes again in the comfortable cradle he had her in.

"Is it your turn to watch me sleep?" he asked, in a throaty voice. Her shy snicker had her bury her face more into him.

"It's unbelievable to think we are waking up like this. Waking up like this again," she corrected. "So yes, I will watch you sleep because I don't remember the last time I did." His satisfaction with her had him stretch with an audible sound, turning over and extending over her body, just perfectly enough for her to be sheltered beneath him by whole.

"What if we wake up like this every morning from now on?" he suggested warmly, not missing the way her eyes began to sparkle. She was blushing all over again, like he never gave her a break. "Is it okay with you?"

"More than okay."

"Would it be good for you?"

"Fantastic," she purred back.

Outside and a few hundred feet away, a small group of family members were gathered together for breakfast, finishing the very last bit on their plate. They had checked the time, finding it near 9 am, and oddly for a second morning, have not heard responses from the elders. They were surprised they had not made it to breakfast yet another morning, and no text messages were responded to for an update.

Ten minutes did not prove any changes to their state, or the curious and puzzled minds the two had made of their family. What could occupy these two so early in the morning? The children knew their parents were early birds, people who are up and beginning their day immediately, but these two days had not reflected that habit one bit. And those children had their children who were a little less clueless and a tad bit more speculating, especially with holding in mind the fondness their grandparents expressed the day before.

Tilda and Ester's narrowed eyes to one another as they had their ears to the door of the suite, focused and aiming to mutually understand what could be heard from their grandparents' room. No sound of the TV running, no sound of communications, music, or phones to indicate they could be spending their morning being occupied with any of the possibilities. Their surprise was not invoked by Björn or Agnetha, but to their heart's fright, being interrupted by the two women who'd stepped in behind them.

"What are you doing?" Linda asked, her voice raised to do precisely what the outcome had been.

"God!" the startled daughter of hers exclaimed. Ester sighed, placing a hand over her heart. They were asked again more calmly, a question being brought out with ease.

"What are you doing?"

"Just checking if they're there," Tilda answered casually. "We missed them at breakfast, so we thought we'd check on them. I don't think they're in there."