Pauline woke as the first dawn started to reflect off the fresh snow and into the bedroom window she found herself surprisingly warm under the heavy blanket with something quite warm and comfortable against her back. As her senses started to come back to her she realized it wasn't a something but a someone she turned her head slightly to see Halts gently sleeping face his arm draped lovingly around her waist. She smiled contently then noticed the pile of clothing by the foot of the bed she didn't remember crawling into bed with him the several Hibernian coffees had taken care of that but she didn't remember much else either. Had she and Halt?... She looked down at herself under the covers she was in nothing more than her slip and judging by Halts bare chest he wasn't wearing much either. She remembered kissing him and wanting him last night. A part of her worried not because it wasn't something she wanted but because she couldn't remember it, such an important moment with the man she loved, she wanted to remember for the rest of her life how could she ever admit to him she didn't remember it. Halt stirred next to her his arm tightening around her middle and his scruffy face burying against her neck. She smiled and caressed his side gently more shy now that she didn't have the confidence alcohol provided "good morning" she whispered softly kissing his cheek tenderly. When she pulled back she saw his loving green eyes looking at her "g'morning" he replied gently placing a soft kiss to her lips it was quite chaste in comparison to last nights.
Pauline turned to face him leaning up on her elbow so that she looked down at him with a soft smile she had to be honest with him "Halt…. Last night,… did we?... you know?" she said a little lost for words. Halt looked up at her and caressed her side seeing the bit of concern on her face "no, we didn't….. we were both drinking and I wanted a moment of such importance to be something we both remembered," he said softly. She leaned in and kissed him lovingly when the kiss broke she said "thank you, not because I wouldn't have welcomed it if it had but because I want to remember such a moment with you as well… when we are both ready." He smiled at her lovingly soothed by her words he caressed her cheek tenderly with his good hand. She took the moment to appreciate his gentle touch and take in the sight of him lying half bare beneath her. His body was still healing from the abuse he had endured but she was surprised at how handsome he was his shoulders were broad for his height and leanly muscled from years of drawing his massive longbow his skin was light where it was untouched by the sun and smooth apart from the few scars that he held. Broad shoulders and chest sloped into a narrower mid-section and flat stomach. A light dusting of hair flecked across his chest and down his stomach to the top of his linen breeches she flushed at the thought of what lay beneath the thin material and drew her eyes back up to his. "Like what you see?" he teased her seeing the slight flush in her cheeks. She swatted him gently and he gave a brief laugh she kissed him again to smother it out. He returned her kiss gently his arm snaking up around her waist pulling her to him. She let her body press down against his she was surprisingly comfortable being so close to him even though she had never lain with a man before there was something about him that made her feel safe and loved.
Halt nuzzled in against Pauline's cheek how could this amazing woman bring out so much in him he was nothing special and yet she made him feel like the only man in the world for her. He wouldn't complain the last thing he ever wanted was to lose her. The loving embrace broke slowly and they lay quietly in each other's arms for a few moments more until Halt's voice broke the silence "won't the Baron be wondering where you are?" he asked as he lazily traced patterns over her side. "I may have told him I was going to visit family through the holidays," she said with a knowing smile. He smiled back at her "quite the clever one aren't you," he said hugging her close placing a gentle kiss to her cheek. She smiled "well someone had to come keep an eye on you holed up here all by yourself and I certainly wasn't going to let you suffer another lonely Yuletide. And I don't know that I would have been as comfortable if Crowley were in my position," she said teasing him "as for now though I am going to make you breakfast." "You don't have to-…" Halt started to argue. She cut him off with a kiss when it broke she said "I know I don't," then turned on her heal and left collecting a dressing gown from the small bag she had brought with her leaving Halt dazed in bed.