"Hey ho, wake up dragonman." Baz says running his hand across my back. My back exactly like it was before my wings and tale sprouted out of me. I was never able to just wish them back inside me and lugging them around all day was a mess. Dr. Wellbelove was extra careful during the operation, but lord was it painful. Even now the spots where my... other parts used to be ached from time to time. Baz knew this and dodged the scars as he ran his hand up my spine.

"Come on, wake up bubsy. Or else I'll call you bubsy again for the rest of your life."

I stay still, very still. My body limp, almost lifeless.

"You really slept in." He says moving his hands up toward the top of my shoulders, but then he stops.

"Oh shit! Simon, let's get up. Now please." He's shaking me.

A tired sounding groan roars from my throat and I start to shift around, eyes still closed.

"What?" I ask sounding annoyed.

"Simon it's five-thirty."

My eyes open. "That's a lie." I say.

"I wish it were. You really didn't get any sleep did you?"

"My boss is going to have my head lopped off."

"You're probably right at this point." Baz remarks with a laugh. "Has it happened three times already?"

"Four." I say holding four fingers up.

"Goodness. Do you want me to go in with you? You think if we talked to your boss together that she'd be easier on you this time?"

I watch Baz. Nervously rubbing his forefinger across the patch of black stubble poking out of his chin. I like it when he does that.

"What are you gonna like... glamour my boss?"

Baz guffawed. "Screw you Snow. I do that by default, I mean look at me." He sits up, and pumps his chest. "No powers involved, just me, my bad self, and I."

"That may be true, and I appreciate the gesture, but I can talk to her alone. She should come through." She will. She always does. Because she isn't real. I take in a deep breath. How much longer am I going to keep doing this to him. All of the money that I've had saved from what the Mage left me behind, as much as I hate to use it, is close to running out.

I checked the account the other night on my tablet and there was less than a hundred and thirty pounds left. Not nearly enough to pay my half of the rent which is due by the end of the week.

"Everything will be fine Snow. You're always prepared for the worst, and this doesn't even compare to most of it. You've slayed multiple dragons, literally multiple dragons. Who else can say that?"

"I'm sure there are a lot of people Baz. Maybe not around here, but-"

"Snow, just stop. Stop thinking for two seconds." Baz gets on his feet and takes my hand. "Come, we are going to snuggle and it is going to be an experience you will never forget."

"Snuggle? Are these real words coming from your mouth?"

"Well I've been graced with the luck of having a pretty good day where as yours seems like it was shit possibly. Probably. I kind of also just wanted to snuggle."

I glare at him, my mouth an almost grin, even though looking at that sweet, tired face of his twists my stomach around in knots.

I can't help but wonder if I'll ever be able to stop lying to him. Even if I were lucky enough to get a job sometime soon and told him I'd been lying. What would he think of me then? What would happen?

I don't want to know the answer to any of those questions.

"Okay." I say standing up now. I give him a weak smile.

"You look down. You sure snuggling's enough?"

"Snuggling is always enough."

As we trail to our room I feel Baz squeeze my hand. He leans his head on my shoulder and we slow down stopping by the door. He whispers into my ear, "I love you Simon Snow. I always have and I always will. You know that right?"

I want to respond and tell him I love him too, but I'd just burst into tears and ruin the rest of his night.

I squeeze his hand back and into the bedroom we go.