The sunlight spilled through the window and into the house, casting a warm yellow glow onto the couch, where three figures rested peacefully. Fonzie sat in the middle. Richie was on his left, his head resting on Fonzie's shoulder. Joanie was on his right. Not quite tall enough to lay her head on Fonzie's shoulder like her brother had, she leaned her head against his upper arm, her freckled cheek pressed against his leather jacket.

Both Richie and Joanie were fast asleep, which was evident by their steady breaths. However, the same could not be said about Fonzie. As much as he wanted to fall asleep, he felt himself compelled to stay awake. This moment, of just simply soaking in the sunlight with two of the people most close to him in the world, felt too important to let it slip away.

Another part of him, a deeper part, felt a bit afraid of falling asleep. Afraid that, should he close his eyes for even a second, and Joanie, Richie and the rest of the Cunningham household may disappear. He had dreamed so much about a home like the Cunningham's when he was little, a family with a loving mother and a present father and siblings who were always looking up to him, that the fact that it was finally coming true almost seemed surreal.

Still, his body was giving into the sleep. Fonzie's eyelids grew heavier with each blink, and the heat from Richie and Joanie seemed to be warming his very soul, lulling him to sleep. Finally, he gave in, but not before taking Richie and Joanie's hands into his and squeezing them gently to remind himself that they were still there, and that they would never leave.