At this point, the only hurry to wake was so that he could put some wood on the embers of their fire to heat up the cave again, but it wasn't that necessary. Warm and cozy under the blankets and cuddled up close meant that he suspected both of them were warm. The sun was rising more and would cast heat onto the stones as well.

He tipped his head to allow Gabriel's face against his neck, and his hands never stopped stroking as he lay there just basking in the potential reality. They had been shy about any big jumps, treading carefully of course. They had already lost so much, and the next few weeks would be dangerous for them both.

He let Gabriel wake on his own, not in a hurry.