Veronica had been up since the crack of dawn and had watched as the light slanting over the sands outside their window changed from a soft orange to pink, to the familiar yellow of the dunes.

Being up didn't mean she actually wanted to get up though. Especially because getting out of bed meant losing the company of her husband who tended to sleep as late as he possibly could (a then-unknown habit of his that she had delighted in discovering upon their marriage and her being officially, finally allowed by decree to share his bed). Besides, nights and early mornings tended to be very chilly in Lion's kingdom and cold floors (even beautifully tiled in blue and white as the ones in their bedroom were) on her bare feet just wasn't an appealing thought when she could have warm woolen blankets and sun-darkened skin instead.

With a smile to herself, she turns to him, slipping her arms around his waist and snuggling in close under the sheets, "Then sleep for a while more. There is no hurry."