A/N: Someone on tumblr was telling me how Poison Apple sleepy cuddles make them happy, sooo...

Song accompaniment: Sea of Love by Cat Power

Raven woke and sat up in her bed. She stifled a yawn before pushing a mess of hair away from her face. The soft ticking of her analog clock was the only sound in the otherwise quiet room. She glanced up. 12:15.

Raven looked over at the bed across the room, its satin sheets cold and empty. She sighed.

Ever After High was silent this time of night. The lights and fairies that illuminated the school had long been put to rest, the students long since gone to bed. There was an eerie quality after curfew that accompanied the darkened rooms and halls. It was a quality Raven knew well from being raised amongst cold flagstone and dusty treasures, which was why she was perfectly content to roam the halls with only a flashlight to guide her way.

Eventually, Raven reached a familiar set of doors. She shone her flashlight up to reveal an elegant script that read "Library" on the wall and so she put her palm to the wood and pushed.

The doors opened with an ancient creak. Inside, the room was no less grand than any other in the building. Bookshelves climbed to the ceiling, gold-framed portraits lined the walls, and splendid arches led deeper into mysterious places. The library was one of Raven's favorite places to spend solitary time, searching for a nice window to read in, but tonight she was searching for something, someone else.

Raven passed into a large section of tables where the ceiling opened up, a place students frequently went for quiet study. Sure enough, there in the center of the area, she found a familiar head of perfect curls resting on a table.

Raven approached the innocently sleeping student who had made a pillow from her books. Raven placed a hand on her shoulder and rocked gently. "Apple… Apple…"

Apple woke slowly, groggy from sleeping while bent over. She lifted her head and stared blankly at her girlfriend. "Raven?" she asked with strained voice.

"It's time to go to bed," Raven said, tone firm yet soft.

"Bed? No, no, I have to stay here… I need to prepare… I'm not ready… I'm…" Apple's words faded as she nodded off, her chin resting on her chest.

Raven roused her again with a tender demeanor. "Climb on my back. I'll carry you."

Raven knelt. First she guided the tired princess's hands around her neck and then her legs around her waist. Apple made halfhearted sounds of protest before Raven felt the brush of soft curls against her cheek and all fell silent.

Raven settled the sleeping girl into her own bed and pulled the covers up, over her shoulders. She placed a sweet kiss on top of her head and turned away when a hand caught her wrist.

She turned back to find Apple sitting and staring up at her with large, crystal-blue eyes. "Stay," she said, eyes pleading.

Raven obeyed without thought. She sat and curled around the blond under the sheets. They were both quiet for a while as Raven stroked Apple's hair.

"I'm sorry," Apple muttered, minutes after Raven thought she had fallen asleep.

"It's okay," she told her and made a hushing sound.

"No…" Apple insisted languidly, her voice muffled against Raven's bed-shirt. "I'm sorry you have to keep doing this. It's not fair. Please, I don't want you to anymore."

Raven made a hushing sound again. "You have nothing to apologize for. It's our last year here and you're studying hard for the exam that will determine your queenhood. It means a lot to you, to me. Don't be sorry. I'll do this every night if I have to."

Fighting sleep, Apple laced her fingers through Raven's and comfortably snuggled into her shirt. For a brief time after, she was silent.

"Raven?" Apple asked, her voice fainter than before. Raven could tell she was moments from sleep.

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Raven smiled peacefully. "I love you too."