In the morning, she woke up to the feel of his hands stroking her face. Opening her eyes, she looked into his eyes and smiled lightly. He lowered his face and kissed her gently. Erin wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. "Good morning, my little wren."

"Good morning, David. What time is it?"

"Just after five. I figured that you'd want to get up a little early, you head in to work a lot earlier than I do."

Erin's smile grew at the thought of his caring, and she stroked his face. "When did you become so gentle?"

"After almost losing Emily. Life is too short to waste it on old grudges that I don't even remember the cause for anyway." Once more, he kissed her. "I know there are amends I have to make, that I may have hurt you deeply over the course of our years feuding. Especially since he chose to leave you in such a heinous way."

Sighing, she snuggled close to him, letting her hand tug on his chest hair. "I have amends to make as well, David. There are things I've done that I'm not proud of, and it galls me to think that I might have lost this chance at happiness. James didn't love me, I know that now. Or maybe he doesn't love me anymore." She rested her head on his chest as he stroked her hair. "I don't want to go in today," she said suddenly.

"This is a new side of you, Erin. Why so impulsive?"

"I want some time to settle, to get used to this change. I can't ask you to stay with me, but I just need some time away from the office."

He nodded and grabbed their cell phones. "Here, babe, make your call. Do you want to have breakfast in bed?"

She grinned and nodded at him. Watching him leave, she dialed her office and left a voicemail for her assistant, telling her that she would not be in for the day. Sitting up, she arranged the sheet to cover her chest and waited for him to return. About ten minutes later, he came back into the room with a tray carrying two plates of toast and eggs. There was also a pitcher of orange juice and two glasses. "Thank you."

"Anything for you," he replied as he carefully sat on the bed. He leaned over and kissed her sweetly and she melted into the tender kiss. "So, how are we going to spend our day?"

"We?"

"Yeah. I don't want to leave you alone at the moment. Do you mind?"

Erin found that she didn't and she shook her head as she reached for the plate. The sheet slipped a little and she blushed as she realized that Dave was looking at her chest. "Do you mind doing something intellectual? There's a new exhibit at the Smithsonian that I've been meaning to get to, and I haven't had the chance."

He raised an eyebrow and she arched hers right back at him. "That's not what I expected to hear from you."

"What, did you expect me to say that I wanted to stay in bed all day and while the hours away with you in more carnal pursuits?"

"A little, yes. But the other will be fun, too. This will give me a way to get to know you better." He poured them each a glass of juice and she set hers on the bedside table. "Are you going home tonight, after supper?"

"I don't know. I might. I suppose it depends on how the day goes. Maybe by then, we'll have figured out what this is." She began to eat, not looking at him. Feelings were surfacing in her that she hadn't realized were dormant and buried beneath the routine of living in a loveless marriage, and that scared her more than the dark did.

"I won't ask more of you, little wren, than what you want to give to me." Once more, it seemed as if he knew her secret heart and she leaned against his shoulder, trying to catch her breath. "So, what should we do until ten?"

She grinned up at him. "I can think of a few ways to pass the time." They finished eating and he piled the plates on the tray before setting it on the floor. Without warning, he turned to her, flipping her over to straddle him. Another giggle escaped her lips, and she wondered at the sound. She wasn't one to giggle or laugh, and yet the things he did to her brought that out.

"I never expected this, you know. I was just going to comfort you, since I knew you were hurting." She nodded a little, and nuzzled her face against his shoulder, a wide smile on her lips. Then she kissed him soundly, drowning out his next words. She didn't want his explanations this morning, she just wanted to feel. "You're so hot, Erin, you burn," he murmured as he broke the kiss, dragging his lips down her neck. She arched into the touches and he chuckled a little.

"I'm not looking for tenderness this morning, David." She took hold of his hand and brought it to her breast. He squeezed it roughly and she moaned, nodding in pleasure.

"One second," he whispered, nipping her neck indelicately as he rolled onto his side. David stood and ambled over to the French doors. She watched him throw open the curtains and let the early morning sunshine stream in. "In an hour or so, the light will illuminate us."

"I love the light."

"I figured that out last night. I should have known that though, since there is always a light shining in your office." He rejoined her on the bed, placing his hands on her shoulders as he hovered above her. "Light suits you, my little wren."

"Shut up and kiss me, Davie." Grinning wolfishly, he obeyed her command and she sighed, giving herself over to the sweetness in his lips. This was quickly starting to feel like home, and she found she didn't mind that thought at all. The first rays of the sun caressed her flesh and she moved beneath it, feeling deliciously, extravagantly, cared for. And she was sure that this was just the beginning of something new and wonderful.