Sleep. It was the one time that I had peace. It was the one time I didn't have to worry or think about anything other than fantasy worlds that somehow my brain created in the form of dreams. With little to do with my days, I took pleasure in a good night's sleep.

Unlike in my previous home, I had nothing to do with my nights, there was little to do other than star at the stars. With Bard needing to rest for work, he couldn't lie with me under the stars, and sadly I must admit that it wasn't as enjoyable watching them without company, even his company.

With the cold growing stronger here in Laketown, I favoured using the blankets that lie on my bed, wrapping them tight around myself, even though by the time that I woke up they were splayed over the bed in a similar style that my brunette hair splayed across my pillow.

Unlike most days I wasn't awoken by the bright light streaming in through the flimsy curtains. Due to the winter growing near, it became light later, but still my body woke me up at a suitable time to prepare breakfast for myself and my husband before he had to go to work.

Today it wasn't the same. Rather than the morning light waking me, I was awoken by a weight falling onto the bed next to me. My eyes opened wide looking for what had fallen onto my bed. I went to let out a scream but a hand covered my mouth.

There lying next to me it was Bard holding one of his hands to cover my mouth, his over resting one finger over his lips to gesture for me to be silent.

"Please do not scream or speak loudly," he whispered, "I am sorry for the intrusion."

I pried his hand from my mouth with a frown.

"Then why have you intruded?" I whispered.

"My Mother and Father are outside looking for the spare key," he stated.

I furrowed my eyebrows at his statement.

"They does not explain why you are lying in bed with me, and not letting them into the house."

"Do remember this is equally my bed, if not more rightfully mine, I allow you to sleep here alone for your comfort and as you desire to have it to yourself. But my parents do not know we have not been sharing a bed, they do not know that we haven't tried to conceive a child, they will be outraged if they know I am sleeping on the bench at the table. It is early, they'd expect us to be asleep, so I planned to pretend to sleep by my wife's side," he explained.

It took me a moment to think about how to respond. Really it was rather awkward to have him lying by my side, but it was pleasant to have him this close to me. Even if he wasn't lying by me for loving me as he as my husband should love me, it was still nice to fuel to fantasy that we were happily married.

He fidgeted next to me pulling at the covers. It wasn't as though I wasn't decent under the covers but it felt rather odd to be seen in the vulnerability of my under clothes which I slept in. Bard simply wore breeches and a thin under shirt, although I was certain he was cold (as I knew I certainly was) there was not much else he could do to gain heat in this weather. Most people had body heat to share, but seen as we slept separately we did not have that.

Continuing, he unscrambled the covers sliding underneath them, growing closer to me than before.

Once he was under the covers he hesitated. He paused seeming uncertain of his actions. He looked at me with concerned eyes. This faltered for a second as we both heard the key turn in the lock of the door.

Bard's eyes widened as he shuffled in his spot.

"Lie down," he stated in a hushed tone.

I did as I was told lying my head back onto the pillow that I had previously been sleeping on. Bard slid his body down in the bed so he could lie down next to me. He wrapped his arms around me giving me a sad smile, as though this act was somehow torturous for me. Sad to say, it was pleasant, comforting even.

Having his arms wrapped around me, made me feel warm, safe, comforted.

Without a second of doubt I moved closer to him, allowing my head to move from the pillow to rest on his chest, letting one arm drape over his body.

For a moment we moved around to make ourselves seemed close and loving, unlike our genuine relationship, but also as though we had slept for the night in this position.

Footsteps walked up the fragile staircase to the upper floor of our home, where our bed was. The room was still minimal other than our bed, some curtains and a piece of fabric we claimed as a rug to avoid getting splinters from the old floorboards.

The footsteps seized but our eyes were clamped shut, feigning sleep.

"Look at them Bran. He couldn't have picked a better wife, they look perfect together," The familiar voice of Eibhlin said with excitement laced within her words.

"Shall we leave them be?" Bran's voice spoke.

"Nonsense. They look cute but I still wish to speak with my son and my daughter in law."

With that the speaking stopped. I didn't allow my eyelids to open, so I simply allowed my ears to do all of the work. I could hear footsteps tap along the floorboards, around the bed. Although I was basing it all on my hearing, I was hit with a sudden brightness over my eyelids.

Bard made a grunt, which I saw it as fair time for my eyes to open. My eyelids fluttered open for me to see the curtains flung open, leaving the small window to show the morning light.

"Good morning," Eibhlin smiled, standing by the window, Bran still stood in the doorway.

My eyes moved from her to her son who lay beside me.

"Mother, Father?" Bard groaned.

His eyes were narrowed and he was still holding me close to his body.

"Morning my son. You and your wife are so beautiful together. Sure even more beautiful once there is a child sharing your home," Eibhlin smiled at us both.

"Mother," Bard said in a warning tone, "You are embarrassing Aila."

Although I had become used to Eibhlin's desire for a grandchild, it still made me feel slightly flustered. I felt even more so with Bard holding me so close to him.

Knowing my cheeks were aflame, and that they were going to be contorting to a reddened colour, I lowered my face so I could hide it against Bard's chest. Bard's hand moved from resting on my back so that it was tangled into my hair.