A gust of cold air breeze into the tiny room. Alice shivered slightly as bare flesh came into contact with the atmosphere. The next logical action would be getting out of the bed, walk over to the opened window and close it. But Alice had no intention of leaving the warm embrace. Instead, she snuggled closer to her source of heat, burrowing deeper into the space between the neck and the shoulder, eating up what little possible space left separating her from her lover.

She held on tightly, never wanting to let go. She was content to spend the rest of her life just holding on…in the arm of this wonderful…beautiful woman. Meeting her has been the best miracle that had ever happened to her. Loving her was never an option. It was a necessity…a need…an instinct. Just like breathing. A gesture so normal that you hardly notice it and yet essential for living, something you can't live without.

A warm smile spread across her face when she felt the arm around her shoulder tighten protectively. She slides a hand across the naked waist and felt the muscle beneath rippled at her touch.

"You awake?" a voice whispered huskily into her ear.

"Hmm…" a sigh of contentment answer back.

Alice began protesting lightly when she felt the arm moving away from her shoulder. Chuckled aloud instead when the arm shifted upwards and a hand ruffled her hair in affection.

"It's still early Honey…go back to sleep." Another hand pulling the blanket over their entwined bodies. Tucking both of them comfortably in.

Feeling very protected, very loved, Alice drafted back to sleep. For now, the angry faces of her parents were forgotten, disapproving glares and harsh words thrown behind. Only this woman that was holding her matters.

The humming of her favorite lullaby was the last thing she heard before sleep took over completely.

THE ENDJ