A/N: Set in the time just before the final set of battles. Rachel and Tobias just cuddled through the night (nothing more!).

Disclaimer: I don't own K.A. Applegate's "Animorphs" or Josh Groban's Awake. (Though I wouldn't mind owning Josh Groban. lol, j/k)

The alarm on Rachel's watch beeped loudly for the fourth time that night waking me up. I pulled up her arm to look at the time. It was 6:30 in the morning. I had another twenty minutes. We always set her alarm for a good twenty or so minutes before the two hours were up to give us plenty of room to wiggle. It was still probably risky what we were doing, but we didn't really care at this point. What Jake didn't know couldn't hurt him. We knew the end of the war was near and wanted to spend every free waking (or sleeping) moment we could with each other, just in case . . .

The sun's first rays were just peaking out over the horizon in the east. Purples, reds, pinks, and oranges filled the sky in beautiful patterns. I heard birds begin to chirp cheerful "good mornings" to the world. I could smell the morning dew on the grass. It was such a beautiful morning. I checked Rachel's watch again and decided to lie down for just a few more minutes.

"Tobias," Rachel began groggily, "didn't I just hear the alarm go off? Shouldn't you be morphing?"

"Yes, love. It did, but I have a few more minutes," I replied. I wrapped my arm around her middle and nuzzled her neck.

"You can't stay there forever, Tobias," she said still half asleep, "you'll get yourself trapped." She drifted back to sleep.

I wondered if it would really be all that bad to get trapped again.

I quickly shook the idea from my head. I couldn't do that to my friends. Now more than ever we needed every morph capable person available. To trap myself on purpose would be selfish and possibly detrimental.

I looked at Rachel and thought about life after this was over. Then I wondered why I couldn't trap myself after the war. Who would care then? Granted, I was under the assumption that we would win.

I stared at her golden hair and wondered if I never blinked or breathed that time could just stop. Rachel's watch gave another warning beep. I had 10 minutes now. Reluctantly I untangled myself from her and stood up to morph back to hawk.

I concentrated on my red tailed hawk body and felt the changes begin. I felt the ground rise up around me as I shrunk. My arms changed into my wings and my nose sharpened into a beak. My vision grew sharper and I could see Rachel's slightly clogged pores. I laughed at myself when I thought of her reaction should I tell her about them.

Rachel began stirring as I completed the morph. She turned to me and opened her eyes, "Is it worth to morph one more time this morning?"

It would always be worth it to spend time with you, Rachel. Unfortunately, I can see Jake's eyes beginning to open and Marco is mumbling in his sleep, which always means he's almost awake. I'd better just stay like this. I thought reluctantly.

She sighed, but knew it was the truth. Cassie was already awake. "Tobias, I'll be right back, I'm going to go tell Cassie something." She rushed off and whispered in Cassie's ears before returning to me. "Want to go for a morning walk, or fly, in your case, Tobias?"

I'd love to, Rachel.

We made our way through the forest slowly, just talking about pointless stuff. The movie that had just come out, or that one group's newest cd. It was nice to just be teenagers for a minute. She was currently going on about some song NIN sang. I flew down to the ground behind her and let the changes begin.

She hadn't noticed me yet because she was very engrossed in her story. Right as my thought speak ability quit on me she decided to ask what I had thought. I quickly finished the morph and replied in my human voice.

Rachel turned around and smiled, "Oh, Tobias. You didn't have to do that."

I chuckled, "Don't think I don't know exactly what you said to Cassie." Her face held a guilty look. "You told her to distract Jake and Marco from wondering where we went, didn't you?"

She gave a puppy dog pout, "So what if I did? You're not complaining, are you?"

"Never." I said and leaned in for a kiss.

We walked hand in hand back to camp silently No matter what happened in this war we were caught up in, I had her with me right here and right now. Nothing could change that. Nobody could take it away from us. The memory would forever be imprinted on our minds, hearts, and souls. Not death, injury, or even a Yeerk could erase it.

Ever.