There are certain unexpected complications to sleeping with Lizzie.

No, Darcy thinks, glancing at the sleeping figure next to him—he doesn't mean that quite the way it sounds; he imagines her smothering a laugh at the turn of phrase. The physical aspect of their relationship has been highly gratifying. It's the literal sleeping, occupying the same space for an entire night, that manages to bewilder him.

For one thing, Lizzie never lies still for long. For such a tiny person, she manages to traverse quite a bit of space while she sleeps, unaware of errant elbows and feet. There is also the matter of their bed coverings. On more than one occasion he wakes up to find his pillow gone—commandeered, as it were, and nestled comfortably under Lizzie's chin after hers somehow gets tossed halfway across the room during the night.

Strange how he's never slept better in spite of all that.

His reverie is abruptly cut short by an elbow thrust into his ribcage. Lizzie wakes up at his (very masculine) cry of pain.

"God, sorry!" She puts two fingers to her lips and presses them against his chest. "I dreamt I was being attacked by—I don't know, actually, but he had giant horns and quippy one-liners and I'm pretty sure the fate of the universe was in my hands. I'm pretty sure Joss Whedon directed this dream."

"Clearly you were performing admirably, but your nocturnal abilities make you a terrible bedmate," he whispers into the top of her hair, and then glances down to make certain Lizzie knows the words are meant in jest.

She grins. "I know. It used to drive Lydia nuts when we went on family trips and had to share. I would buy a bigger bed, but there's no space for one in this apartment…"

There's an uneasy pause. They are both perfectly aware Darcy has more than enough space for both of them, but Lizzie is inclined to keep her space for now, and he can't help agreeing it's the wiser choice when she's focusing on her startup.

Darcy massages his ribs and raises an eyebrow. "I suppose the only sensible solution is to spend less time sleeping, then."