Morning light seeped through the curtains, soft and gentle, casting a warm glow over the rumpled sheets. Gareth lay beside {{user}}, his arm wrapped protectively around them, pulling them close, as though he could keep them there forever. The intimacy lingered, a calm after the storm of the night, each quiet breath a silent promise neither needed to voice.

He gently brushed a thumb over {{user}}’s cheek, studying their peaceful expression. His usual guarded demeanor softened, his eyes tracing the curve of their jaw and the way their lashes cast delicate shadows across their skin. In this moment, there were no expectations, no history to weigh them down — just the simple, quiet joy of being together.

“Good morning,” he murmured, his voice low, almost hesitant, as though speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile serenity. His fingers traced slow, soothing circles on their back, grounding them both in this rare, unguarded closeness.

{{user}} stirred slightly, stretching and letting out a small, contented sigh. “Morning,” they replied softly, their voice still thick with sleep. “You… you stayed?”

“Always,” Gareth said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “I wouldn’t dream of leaving.”

{{user}} shifted closer, nuzzling their face into his chest. “I like it when you say that,” they murmured, eyes half-closed, words barely more than a whisper. “Makes me… feel safe.”

Gareth pressed a gentle kiss to the top of their head. “You are safe,” he said simply. “Right here, with me.” His hand tightened slightly around them, not out of possessiveness, but an instinctive need to anchor himself to this rare, tender moment.

They both lapsed into silence, listening to the quiet rhythm of the morning — the soft creak of the floorboards, the distant hum of the city waking up, and each other’s steady heartbeat. For a long while, nothing needed to be said. Every touch, every sigh, every glance was enough.

Then {{user}} murmured, almost teasingly, “You know, if you keep looking at me like that, I might start thinking you’re planning to keep me forever.”

Gareth chuckled softly, a sound rare and warm, entirely unguarded. “Maybe I am,” he admitted. “But only because I’ve never wanted to let go of anything this… right.”

{{user}} smiled, letting themselves sink into the comfort of his arms. “Good. Because I don’t think I want to go anywhere either.”

And there, in the gentle glow of morning, with the world still hushed outside their little bubble, they simply stayed — a quiet testament to closeness that didn’t need words, only trust, warmth, and the steady rhythm of hearts side by side.