After what seemed like no time at all Patrick felt himself being pulled from sleep. He slowly blinked his eyes open to see it was still dark outside the window. Confused he stretched out to reach for Shelagh, but she was no longer next to him in the bed. Sitting up he noticed a figure sitting on the chair in the corner of his room.

"Shelagh?" Patrick quietly called out.

"Yes, dear?" Shelagh innocently replied.

"Why are you sitting in the chair? Are you alright?"

"Oh Patrick, I'm fine, just a little warm is all."

"So the sitting room was too cold and now our bedroom is too warm? May I suggest trying Timothy's room then, Goldilocks?" Patrick teased.

"It's not the room that is too warm, dearest, it's you," she shyly replied.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Shelagh. I guess there's not a lot to be done about my body heat," chuckled Patrick.

"I suppose not, but perhaps if…never mind."

Patrick could tell by her tone she wanted to say more and was now staring intently at the floor. With the help of the dim moonlight through the window Patrick could see a slight blush rising to her cheeks.

"Shelagh, sweetheart, whatever it is you can tell me."

"Well," Shelagh started, "it's not very proper."

"Oh darling, I think we bypassed not proper when you climbed in bed with me to sleep. Trust me. I will not think any less of you for what you want to say," he finished quietly, reaching out for her. Shelagh let herself fall into his arms and snuggled up to his chest, letting out a soft sigh. Without looking up to meet his eyes she whispered out, "I thought that perhaps fewer layers would help."

"Darling, if you wanted fewer layers on the bed you could have just told me or thrown them off yourself. I probably wouldn't have even noticed," Patrick responded pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Yes, well…Patrick, that isn't quite what I meant," Shelagh nervously stated, taking a step away from Patrick and looking into his eyes. She saw confusion there before she continued. "I thought that…well…that even though I appreciate the pajama top you've lent me. I don't really need it when I have you to keep me warm," she finished before quickly back down to the floor, her blush flushing across her face and down her neck.

"Oh," Patrick gasped out, not certain how to respond to her rather bold proposal. One side of him warmly welcoming the thought of her lying in his arms in only her slip, while the other screamed at the impropriety. Yes, they were to be married in two days, but could he really control himself should she be nearly naked beneath his arms while they slept? Taking a gulping breath, he slowly raised his hand to her cheek to gently raise her eyes back to his own. "Shelagh? Shelagh, please look at me," he pleaded. Sensing her hesitance, he placed his other hand on her waist pulling her closer to him. With barely an inch between their bodies, Shelagh looked back up to Patrick's eyes.

"My darling, if you would like to…" he paused trying to come up with the most delicate way of saying what needed to be said, "if you would be more comfortable with less layers on than I will not stop you."

Shelagh smiled back at Patrick before stepping firmly into his embrace. Her arms slid around his back pulling him closer to snuggle into his chest.

"Thank you, Patrick," she sleepily mumbled into his chest.

"Anything for you, my love," Patrick softly replied, nuzzling into her hair.

"If that's the case, I should very much like to go back to bed," Shelagh replied, stifling a yawn.

"As would I, my darling." Kissing the top of her head he stepped back towards the bed, pulling his pajama top over his head before throwing it onto the chair Shelagh had recently vacated. Turning back, Patrick saw Shelagh's eyes widen and her eyebrows arch up.

"Sorry, darling, but if you're allowed fewer layers I feel I'm also allowed."

Smiling up at Patrick, Shelagh slowly began to undo the buttons on her borrowed top. "I'm not implying that you're not allowed. I just wasn't expecting you not to have a vest on under your top." Shelagh had finished undoing the buttons and now the top hung open revealing her light cream slip. She shrugged off the oversized top and laid it on the chair with Patrick's. When Shelagh looked back at Patrick, his gaze was hungrily sweeping up and down her body. Becoming rather nervous and self-conscious she reached for her top once more only to be stopped by Patrick's hand on her wrist.

"Darling, I'm sorry if I've made you…" Patrick's speech was cut off by Shelagh turning to press a kiss to his mouth. Surprised, but pleasantly so, Patrick began to return her tentative kiss. Sensing some hesitation Patrick wrapped his arms around Shelagh's waist and she melted into him returning his kisses with more fervor and passion. After a few moments Shelagh felt the need for air and parted her lips from Patrick's and nestled into his bare chest, reveling in his warm skin. "Oh, Shelagh," Patrick breathed out and placed butterfly kisses into her hair.

"I love you, Patrick," she whispered into his chest.

"I love you, too, my beautiful Shelagh," he replied. They stood clinging to one another for a few more moments before Patrick heard Shelagh yawn. Chuckling, Patrick asked, "Shall we return to bed then?"

"Yes," she answered trying to stifle yet another yawn. Breaking apart they walked the few steps back to their respective sides of the bed. Shelagh gracefully climbed into the bed while Patrick practically hurled himself down on it. Shelagh giggled at his rather unusual approach to getting into bed before snuggling up to his side. Patrick placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her tighter against his side.

"Good night, my love, again."

"Good night, Patrick," she sighed, kissing his shoulder before they both drifted back to sleep.