Author's Note:

Thank you to those who reviewed the last chapter ... this one is a short one but hopefully still good. Thanks for reading ...

December 19th

By the end of the day, after much discussion and some reluctant agreements from the Olessian elders, they were ready to implement their plan against Torrell and his gang. That of course didn't mean Torrell was ready to turn up. As the sun dropped and night fell with no sign of the raiders, Evan and Jennifer retired to their hut. It was early by their usual standards but there was little to do after dark and both of them were still tired after too many nights of broken sleep worrying about the other.

The early night meant that Evan woke very early the next morning - early enough that the sun hadn't risen yet. When his mind went to the advent messages and he realised what he'd written for that day he sat up, shaking Jennifer's shoulder lightly.

"Honey, wake up," he leaned close to her ear, speaking in a low tone.

"Mmm?" Jennifer stirred but didn't wake.

"Jenn, open your eyes," he put a hand to her neck, running his hand up and into her hair.

She shivered, her eyes snapping open. "Evan? What time is it?"

"Before sunrise," he admitted unapologetically.

"And we're awake because?" her brow rose as she waited for his answer.

"Because there's something I want to see," he swung his legs out of bed. "Come on – get dressed."

"All right," Jennifer said reluctantly. "But this better be worth it!"

A few minutes later they were walking hand and hand through a darkness that was beginning to give way to the coming dawn. Evan led them up an incline towards the nearest coast until they came to a cliff with a sheer drop down to the water below. Sitting on the ground he pulled Jennifer down to sit in front of him so that she could use his chest as a back rest.

"Wait," he said, eyes on the horizon.

Jennifer pulled their still joined hands into her lap and settled to rest her weight against him.

The silence was peaceful, the small noises of night becoming more noticeable the longer there were no louder sounds to drown them out. With a flash of bright orange the first sliver of sun appeared. The sky around shifted to red and then orange to match as the sun slowly rose. Evan and Jennifer remained silent as they watched nature's show, the continuity of the daily event bringing peace to each of them.

"I've always liked the sunrise," Evan said in a low tone, "even more since it brought you to me." He paused, eyes on the horizon, arms holding her close. "I used to need it sometimes … when things were difficult. No matter how screwed everything got the sun still rose every day. It never mattered where we were or what was going on. It put things into perspective, you know?"

"And now?" she asked quietly.

"Now I don't need it anymore," he replied. "It's still my favourite time of day – all possibilities with none of the setbacks or difficulties most days bring before you get done with them. But it's better now … because I have you to share it with."

"You have me to share the burdens with too."

"I know," he smiled, squeezing her hand. "I know."

They turned their attention to the sky again, enjoying the rare chance to begin their day together in so relaxed a setting. That they could feel that way, given all the prior day's events and what was still ahead, gave the morning a charmed, almost magical feeling. Neither of them needed Evan to speak the words he'd written for her.

The sunrise is brighter … better … but we don't need the sunrise to lift our spirits anymore, if we have each other.