She woke with the first creeping tendrils of dawn.
It was still dark, the sky was heavy, pregnant with clouds, but a few tiny slivers of soft light peeking through the darkness caught her attention.
Eyes bleary, body lethargic, muscles spent she fixed her eyes on the changing sky as she climbed slowly through the layers of consciousnesses.
Once her mind was at least partially alert she assessed her situation.
She was comfortable and warm; safe in Joe's embrace. Her cheek seemed to be one with his chest, her hand splayed low across his tummy. As always his breath rattled lightly, sinuses slightly clogged and the tiny, almost imperceptible gurgle in his throat was a comfort; a trio of sounds as familiar to her as her own breathing.
His exhalation came a little deeper, a little louder and her eyes flicked to his face.
His hand, lying solidly on her back moved a little and he gripped her shoulder; she smiled in response, he always wanted her as near as possible.
She wanted to kiss him.
Wanted to waken him and make love to him and watch the sun rise above the city of Paris with him. She peered outside again to judge the progress of the new day and she realized that she could do all of those things. She had time. The sun wouldn't appear for another long while.
Adjusting her body slightly she ran her leg along his, feeling a ripple inside her body as the hair of his thigh prickled against her smooth skin.
Joe had settled again and she pressed a kiss to his neck then laid her cheek back where it had been and tucked up against him, angled so she could watch the sky outside their bedroom window, atop the Eiffel Tower.
The only light inside the apartment came from a small lamp they had left lighting near the entrance to the en suite. In the near total darkness it reflected off the burnished case of the telescope reminding her of the science trip last night, of the amazing conversation with the astronauts, the incredible journey through space.
She ran her fingers gently through the hair of Joe's chest, his thoughtfulness and kindness were her two favorite character traits of his but he had truly gone above and beyond for her with this experience. She moved again, wanting to be as close as physically possible to him.
Wrapping her legs around his she pressed her ear to his skin, feeling peace as the steady boom, boom of his heart filled her senses. Her whole body relaxed. Flooded with love and calm she wanted nothing more than to lie here in the stillness, her body aligned with his and let this whole experience become imprinted on her soul.
Knowing that she was truly, truly loved, loved more than she could ever find the words to articulate, she lay there for almost an hour, gently stroking his body, listening to the sound of his heart beating, watching a new day being born above the city of love.
An hour passed and the sky had brightened considerably when she realized he was waking. The pale pink had deepened to a fiery red. The light yellow now a deep orange.
She looked at him over her shoulder. Eyes soft, heart full of joy that he would soon be awake.
Ten minutes ago she'd sat up reluctantly to stretch and better follow the progress of the light. Now with her chin propped on her knees and arms wrapped around her shins she turned her gaze on Joe; her own sunlight, her own light in the darkness.
She watched him for a moment as his eyelids began to flicker.
Fingers stretching, palm skimming the linen, his hand searched.
