Stay

Twelve: Cold Nights and Colder Mornings

Cold Nights and Colder Mornings

          I excused myself to bed early after Renesmee left, finding myself extremely tired. I'd completely forgotten about the dog in my bed until I was back in my room and ready for bed.

          "Seth," I whisper, "I'm going to bed!" I shove him and he groans and rolls over... okay, a step up from earlier. I find myself whining and pleading, "Seth, I really want to go to sleep..." I huffed, and swung my legs off the side of my bed, preparing to sleep on the rug.

          Two warm brown arms wrapped my torso, "okay, I'm going..." he lifts me up and smoothly switches places with me so I'm in the incredibly warm spot he left in my sheets. "Is it really bed time?" I nod, wrapping the warm blankets around me as I sit up to look at him. "I slept the day away, didn't I?"

          "Renesmee came by earlier," I tell him, "you missed her." He turns to look at me, and chuckles a little. "What?" He shakes his head, "what?!"

          "You." He finally says, and laughs again, "all snuggled into your blankets like a... human?" He laughs again.

          "Shh..." I cover his mouth, "Amelia and Harper can't really know you're in here..." I sigh, "and I am human... kind of." I shrug, "a particularly cold human. All of the time."

          He shakes his head, "I should get outside." I nod, that's the reason he's here, to protect me. "Goodnight, Shortstack, lay down I'll get the light," he pushes on my shoulders so that I'll lay down, his warmth is gone and the lights go out. I feel a chill run through me, then feel his warmth again, "go to sleep, I'll warm you up in the morning," he chuckles, and messes up my hair.

          "Goodnight, Seth," I whisper as I hear the window open. I hear him chuckle, then the window closes, a soft thud on the grass, and I let myself drift to sleep.

          When I woke it was even colder than the night before, and a thick faucet of rain was pounding our little home. I wrapped myself tightly in my blankets and groaned at how cold I was. I'd need to get out my extra blankets tonight.

          "Hey, Shortstack," I felt Seth sit on my bed, "it started raining around 3, so I came in... I hope you don't mind..." I instinctively pushed my back against his leg to get closer to the warmth.

          "What time is it, now?"

          "Almost 3:30," he whispers, "go back to sleep... it's the middle of the night." I yawned groggily and pushed harder against him. He scooped me up and held me in his lap, then froze, every muscle tensing. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, "I..." he trailed off, not sure what to say. I dozed back to sleep, not caring, just warm.

          I woke up warmer than I've ever been, a faint snore coming from beside me. I made to turn, but was trapped in heavy arms. I was sure that was all a cold dream. I reached out and checked my phone, 6:15... I'd better make myself known before its assumed I'm asleep and someone tries to wake me up.

          I opened my bedroom door and peeked out to see Adeline, "Good morning M-bug," I smiled in response, "heard you stirring last night..."

          "Just a bad dream," I tell her, and shrug, "it was really cold I needed my other blankets." She nods and goes back to her room. I turn around to go back to my room as well, Seth was sleeping, and I know better than to try to wake him up. Since I know he won't wake up, and he's facing the wall, I quickly change. I make sure to do it fast and facing away from him just in case.

          "Meredith?" He shifts closer to where I was laying, he shoots up realising I'm gone, "Meredith?!"

          "Sh, sh..." I put my hand on his shoulder, "I'm right here." I laugh as he turns around and I see the look of terror melt off of his face. I sit on the bed beside him, feeling the warmth radiate off of his entire self.