Disclaimer: The usual. Don't own anything you recognize.

OF YOU

By Etcetera Kit

Dawn

He shivered, pulling his jacket tighter around himself. The night air was cold, crisp and stung his throat and lungs as he inhaled. A fresh blanket of snow covered the grounds – all around him, the world slept. Rubbing a gloved hand against the thin material of his pajama pants, he wished that he had thought to put on clothes – not grab his jacket and come out here in his pajamas. The night was slowly changing to a morning gray – dawn was soon to break.

Sunrises were something he treasured. Most of the time, he didn't get up early enough or, if he did, he was too busy completing some errand to take in the beauty of the event. The golden sun peering over the horizon and painting the sky with streaks of pink, orange and purple, like the new dawn brought new beginnings, a clean slate to start over.

Shivering again, he wrapped his arms around his middle in an attempt to warm up. This morning had been chance, waking up well before the alarm and, spur of the moment, coming out here to watch. He could feel tingles of numbness spreading through his legs – the concrete bench he sat on cold and uninviting.

"Do you always sit out here in the middle of the night – in the snow – in your pajamas?"

He turned, frowning as Syd came out of the building and stood near the bench he had chosen. She, too, was in her pajamas, her jacket wrapped around her shoulders. He could see her mittens and hat bulging from one of the pockets.

"Syd," he replied. "What are you doing here?"

She shrugged, moving to sit next to him on the bench. Her hair was in a simple ponytail and she didn't have any sort of gunk on her face. Twice before he had seen her woken up from a sound sleep. One time she had a face mask on – and the sickening shade of green had done nothing for her. The second time she had had her hair in rollers. Now, with her hair simply tied back and her face free of all accoutrements, she looked all the more stunning.

"It's cold," she whispered, her teeth chattering as she slipped her arms into her jacket. "Why are you out here?" she asked.

"Watching the sunrise," he said simply.

Syd nodded. "Sky," she whispered, shaking as she curled into a ball.

Without saying anything, he pulled her into his lap. She curled against him, fitting perfectly. Her head nestled on his shoulder. Her shivering slowly stopped as the combined body heat warmed both of them up. Lifting her slightly, he pulled his legs onto the bench, sitting cross-legged. Her breath was hot against his neck. Wrapping his arms around her, his heartbeat quickened when she let out a contented sigh.

"This is how all days should start," she said, her voice a whisper in the stillness. "With warm toes and noses."

Her breathing grew even – she was either really comfortable or dozing. He turned his gaze to the sky, slightly tightening his hold on her. The sky had started to turn gold, the sun coming up over the buildings and almost hurting his eyes. The golden globe rose slowly, bringing all the colors of dawn with it. It was breathtakingly beautiful – but the woman in his arms was even more beautiful.

Pressing a kiss to her temple, her eyes fluttered open.

"Do we have to work?"

He nodded. She wrinkled her nose. "That's not for a few hours, though."

"I wish Bridge or Z was on night shift."

"Me too."

They fell silent. The world around them was waking up and not much more time would pass before a cadet walked by. Doubtless, he or she would want to know why two of the rangers were sitting outside in their pajamas.

"Sky?"

"What, Syd?"

"Can we go inside and warm up?"

"Sure." He shifted his arms, one under her knees and the other around her shoulders. Lifting her up, he un-tucked his legs, waited a moment for some feeling to come back into them and carried her into the building. She didn't protest, just wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder.

I love you.

He couldn't bring himself to say it aloud – not yet.

The new dawn of their relationship was enough for now.

To Be Continued...

Author's Note: Doo dee doo...