Slipping into the sheets beside her, Dimitrius wrapped his arms around her waist as he gently stroked her side with his fingertips, falling asleep with her in his arms in moments.

*THE NEXT DAY*
Ariala woke up to see both her and Dimitrius bathed in sunlight. The sunlight was almost harsh to Ariala's eyes. She knew she should've shut the curtains the night before. Ariala sighed as she shifted to rest her face against Dimitrius as she treid, unsucessfully, to block out the sun.

Feeling Ariala stir beneath his arm, Dimitrius awoke and sleepily pulled her closer, the sunlight not effect him due to never pulling the curtains shut at night himself simply for the love of seeing the moon at night.

Gently caressing her cheek, Dimitrius smiled as he placed a tender kiss upon her forehead and greeted her sleepily, "Morning, love. Sleep well?"

"I wish I was still sleeping." Ariala grumbled. "Its too bright." She sighed, giving up on trying to hide from the light. Sitting up, Ariala turned her back on the window and looked down at Dimitrius. He looked perfecct lying across her bed and Ariala immediately leaned forward to kiss him.

"I love you." She murmured against his lips before hopping out of bed and reaching high above her head to stretch.

Moving across the bed, Dimitrius sat on his knees as he slipped his arms around Ariala's waist, pulling her against him as he tenderly moved her hair and kissed her neck. "What say you we pull the curtains shut, and go back to bed for a few more hours?" he murmured softly as he softly rested his chin against her shoulder.

"I think." Ariala said, placing a kiss on his lips. "That I don't particularly want to sleep." She murmured against his lips. She moved quickly to the windows to shut the curtains before returning to Dimitrius's arms and moving him back against the bed, turning to curl at Dimitrius's side.

Dimitrius chuckled as he held her against his chest, his fingers gently running through her long hair, "I think I like this idea much better."

Tilting her chin upwards, Dimitrius placed a tender kiss upon her lips, shifting under her to deepen his kisses as he continued to kiss her.

Ariala snaked her arms around Dimitrius, moving her body to curve around his. Ariala moved her lips to his jaw to place kisses against Dimitrius's skin, moving to his ears where she nibbled gently on his earlobes before bringing her lips back to meet Dimitrius's. Ariala moved her hands to Dimitrius's chest, enjoying the feeling of his muscles under her fingertips.

Dimitrius shivered lightly under her touch, his hand gently pressing against her thigh and hip as he pulled her close, his kisses quickening as he held her. "Definitely like this idea better than sleeping," he murmured softly between kisses as he caressed her soft skin.

Ariala murmured an agreement as one of her hands slid her hand into his hair, twisting her fingers into his hair as the other slid around to his back where her nails dug softly into the small of his back. Ariala put her tongure shyly into Dimitrius's mouth, pressing her body tighter against Dimitrius's.

Dimitrius' hand slid up her thigh and under her gown, gently massaging her curves, thigh, and waist as he eagerly returned her kisses and pulled her against him.

Realizing what he was doing, Dimitrius broke away from the kiss with a blush and removed his hand from under her gown, "I'm sorry, Ariala.. I.. I didn't mean.. I shouldn't have.. I went too far.. I'm sorry.."

"Don't apologize." Ariala said quietly, pulling herself closer to him. "I know we should wait but that doesn't mean you have to shy away from me." She smiled, wrapping her arms around Dimitrius's waist and resting her head on his chest.

"If I don't stop now and we continue, I don't think I'll be able to stop at all," Dimitrius admitted in a whisper as his finger tips gently caressed her spine.

"I wouldn't be complaining." Ariala said softly, her lips brushing against Dimitrius's ear. "But I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep now." She laughed as she shifted to rest her head back against Dimitrius's chest.

Dimitrius smiled as he softly caressed her cheek, "Ari, you know we can't.. Soon, but now right now.. Dimeria will be waking shortly, and I don't believe we want her walking in, do we?"

As if Dimitrius were calling her, there was a knock on the door as Dimeria called sleepily, "Ari? Trius? I'm hot.. May I have some juice please?"

Dimitrius chuckled as he tenderly kissed Ariala's head and whispered, "I told you she'd be awake soon.. Mother warned me she was an early riser.."

Dimeria knocked softly again, "Dimitrius? Ariala? Are you still sleepy?"

'No, we're awake." Ariala said, unwrapping herself from Dimitrius as she sat up. "I'll get you some juice." She said before moving to the kitchen and grabbing a glass and juice from the fridge. Ariala poured the juice into a glass, handing it to Dimeria. "Here you go." She said.

Dimeria sat at the table and eagerly sipped her juice. Dimitrius emerged from the bedroom moments later. Placing a kiss upon Ria's head, Dimitrius inquired softly, "What would you like for breakfast, love?"

Dimeria pondered as she drank her juice. Pausing in her sipping, lowering the cup from her mouth, Dimeria replied softly, "Cinnamon pancakes with apple syrup?"

"I think I have some apple syrup in the back somewhere." Ariala murmured to herself while she buried herself into the fridge. "Here it is!" She announced happily as she held up the bottle of syrup. "I knew it was somewhere in here."

Dimitrius chuckled as he walked over to Ariala, "Want any help, love? It looks like your kitchen is a wreck like mine," he teased with a grin as he placed a kiss upon her cheek.

"I can make pancakes." Ariala said. "I told you I was good at breakfast food." She walked to her cabinets and found the rest of the ingredients. "And my kitchen is not a mess." She laughed. "I'm able to keep my house organized unlike someone I know." She teased lightly as she mixed the batter and sprinkled cinnamon into the bowl.

Leaning against the counter, Dimitrius picked up an apple from the fruit basket and bit into it and teased, "I suppose I'll be banned from the kitchen once we're married as to not mess up your organization method?"

"Probably. You are a messy person." She teased, dropping batter into a hot pan. "Can you grab me some plates?" She asked, pointing to a cupboard as she tended the pancakes. "Silverware is in the drawer to the right beside the sink and the cups are in the cupboard beside the plates." She said as she began flipping the pancakes over.

Dimitrius chuckled as he did as he was told, setting his apple on the table. As Dimitrius went about getting the plates and silverware, a certain starving seventy year old picked up his apple and finished it. Placing the core back on the table, Dimeria went back to drinking her juice as if nothing happened.

Dimitrius laughed when he saw the core. Picking it up and throwing it away, Dimitrius ruffled Dimeria's hair, "Ria, love, you couldn't have waited for your pancakes?"

Dimeria simply grinned before holding out her empty cup, "Please?"

Dimitrius smiled with a sigh as he walked over to the fridge and took out the juice. Pouring it into her cup, Dimitrius eyed Dimeria lightly, "You've met Emelaide, haven't you."

Dimeria giggled as she nodded.

Dimitrius simply shook his head as he put the juice away, "I figured as much, you picked up that horrid habit from her."

Ariala finished the pancakes, piling them onto a plate and placing them in the middle of the table beside the bottle of apple syrup. "Cinnamon pancakes and apple syrup." She smiled, sitting down and placing pancakes on each of their plates.

"They smell delicious, Ari," Dimitrius began as he poured syrup over his and Ria's pancakes and offering it to Ariala, teasing as he did so, "Not burned what-so-ever, perfect."

As Dimitrius cut up Ria's pancakes, Ria licked her lips and waited patiently to begin eating them.