She woke to the sun shining through the windows, the curtains pulled back slightly, letting the shine in through tears in the solid shadow that was the block out curtain. Blinking, she looked around the room she hadn't been in for so long, the one that was her home, that was so close to her heart.

Her eyes traveled to her twin short swords, in their sheaths, hanging on the hook next to her door. To the wardrobe, the door hanging ajar, a deep green tunic thrown over the top of the door. Her short boots lay haphazardly kicked off in front of it. The desk next to the wardrobe is covered in sketch pads and pencils.

Her eyes wandered to the window, and what parts of the blue sky she could see peeking in from the part in the curtain, it took her a moment to remember that she was home. She was back where she belonged. Surrounded by family she had missed for so long.

It took a moment, but she sat up, stretching the stiffness of sleep from her muscles and turned to climb out of bed. Pressing her bare feet to the cool stone floor, she looked around her room again and smiled, she was finally back where she belonged and she was never leaving her home again. She yawned, still in the light grasp of sleep, trying to pull her back under, and stood from the edge of her bed. Stretching again, she padded quietly over the stone flooring of her bedroom, to the door that stood ajar. Curling her fingers around it's edge, she pulled it open slightly, wide enough that she could lean out and spy one way down the hall, and then the other, and looked up to the door that was standing slightly ajar across the hall from her.

Crossing to the other side, she curled her fingers around the edge of that door, around the edge of the doorframe, and opened it wide enough that she could lean into that room.

They were still asleep, laying on their side, facing away from her. She could see the faint rise and fall of their shoulders with every breath. She smiled at the sight of them, peaceful and rid of all the worries that they carried on their shoulders, the stresses of instructing new squadrons, the trials that came with being a Power.

She parted from the doorway, leaving the door hanging open wide enough for a lithe frame like hers to fit in, padding softly across the stone floor of his bedroom, bending slightly as she drew closer to the bed. She slid in, crawling up to lay against him, curling her arms under his, around his chest, pressing her nose to his upper back.

His shoulders stiffened, her pressing against him waking him from his light morning slumber, and she felt him shift as he peered over his shoulder to see who had slid in behind him. Sighing deeply, she felt his breath gather in his chest and slowly exhale, he turned. She slid back as he adjusted his position, turning to face her instead, curling one of his arms under her head, she laid on his upper arm, curling her arm back around his middle, he curled his around her shoulders. A bristled chin and a pair of warm lips pressed to her forehead for a solid minute, and then he laid back down. She sighed in the same manner, ducking under his chin, pressing her nose lightly between his collar bones.

How she missed being curled in these arms. Feeling them wrapped around her securely, protectively, holding her close to a warm body. The bristled chin that rubbed against her forehead and cheeks and ears. Missed the scent of leather and pinewood that he smelled like. Missed being in this room surrounded by familiar objects and assorted collections.

He kissed her forehead again. She knew his eyes were still closed. "Good morning, Aba."

"Good morning, Abe." She nuzzled closer. "I missed you."

"You're right across the hall from me."

"But I haven't been for so long."

"I'll always be there for you." He bends down slightly, pressing his nose to hers. "No matter where you're at."

They settle into comfortable silence, his fingers rubbing lightly at her shoulder, and she turns her head, pressing her ear to his chest to listen to his heart beat.

A beat of silence passed. "I missed you too, Aba."

"But I was right across the hall."

"It was too far away for how long you've been away from my side."

Abraxas lifts her head slightly, tilting her head back, and presses a small kiss to the curve of his neck. He smiles, she can feel it, and his grip around her tightens for a moment before releasing slightly. His arms don't move. The youngest, unofficial Power, tucks herself back under his chin. "We're still the same, right?"

"No amount of time, no distance, could break us apart." He adjusts slightly, squirming a moment, before finding a more comfortable position. "You'll always be my little Aba. My little mini me."

She smiles against his neck. "You'll always be my big Abe. My big brother."

They settle into silence again. The others come down the hall talking, crossing in front of the door, too engrossed in a conversation to notice them curled up together in his bed. Their voices fade slowly as they drift further and further away until silence returns. Todays one of those days where the others are free, but the Powers must train, and she knows this.

But she doesn't want to move just yet.

His lips press to her forehead again. "I have to get up, Aba, I've got training."

"Not yet."

She feels him smile. His arms down move away. Don't move in the slightest. "I'll be late."

"Say you're sick."

"Puriel's a medic. He can call my bluff."

"I'll say you're sick."

He smiles against her forehead. "I won't let go until you let go."

"I'm not letting go."

"Then, I won't either."

She smiles against his chest, nuzzling closer, she sighs softly against him. Abraxas feels like she's floating, surrounded by everything she had been taken from for so long, pressed against the living, breathing body of her brother, Abraxos is right there. He's holding her in his arms, curling her close against him, curled around her warmly.

They drift back off to sleep, curled around each other, and only wake again when there's a soft snort in the doorway. Abraxos leans upwards, looking at them from over her head, and Abraxas turned to look over his arm, over her shoulder.

Puriel smiles at them. "I'll say you're sick."