Daniel woke up first, much to his personal dismay. He wanted to sleep all day. He reached over in the bed, searching for his missing y/n. He found her a few feet from him, almost on the edge. She had rolled over in her sleep and now faced him, so he looped his hand around her waist, and pulled her close. She stirred in his arms slowly and he tightened his grip momentarily. Would she just stay here in bed all day, with me? He thought, the sentence quiet amongst the haze of sleep that clouded his senses. He nuzzled his face into her hair and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her, like a mixture of flowers and iron. He couldn't fathom a better scent. He squeezed her body tight against his, and prayed she'd never disappear.

"Danny..?" She muttered, blinking sleepily up at him.

"I'm here.." He answered groggily, petting at her hair in an attempt to comfort her and lull her back to sleep.

"You okay?" She wrapped an arm around his torso in a half-awake attempt to hold him.

"Im fine, love. Go back to sleep..just stay here." He kissed her hair, and hugged her.

"Hmmm..." She groaned "only cuz you're so warm and comfy.."

He chuckled softly at her statement, then stilled himself so she could fall back asleep.

It wasn't long until her breathing evened out again and evolved into soft snores. He let himself get lost in the comfort and warmth of her bed, wishing he could stay here every night. He hadn't slept so good in months, it was one of the first nights without any nightmares, waking up randomly or waking up with sleep paralysis in years.

He had to stay with her now. He felt a little sickened with himself that he'd let a girl completely take over his every waking moment...but she was special. He'd make the exception to his rule for her.

He felt himself slowly drifting back into sleep, and welcomed the embrace of it. Hoping she'll still be there when he wakes up.

=====================================

Several hours later...

=====================================

I was abruptly woken up by Suzie jumping on my bed and pawing at my face. She meowed in my ear loudly to get my attention.

"Suz...go away." I grumbled, swatting at her. "Few more minutes.." I stirred my head to feel Danny still laying there pressed against me.

I didn't expect the ruthless Ghostface killer to be such a cuddlebug. But his warmth and affection was welcome and much-needed, it filled my chest with a new kind of warmth that i had never experienced, and i liked it quite a bit.

New emotions were rare for me, especially when they involved someone else to be the focus. This was going to be interesting to play out.

Suzie meowed in my ear again, and startled me to jump, Daniel stirred and blinked his eyes open to be greeted by Suzie in his face. He lurched up in surprise trying to get away from her, letting out a small yelp in the process. I blinked at him as he recomposed himself and busted out laughing, immediately feeling bad for doing so, but the sight of the most dangerous person i know afraid of my fluffy little cat was priceless. He narrowed his gaze at me and took a deep breath.

"I forgot you had a cat." He said finally, looking at Suzie.

"Sorry. I didn't think she'd scare you."

"I just wasn't expecting to wake up and see a cat's face. I was expecting to see yours." He leaned in and planted a kiss on my cheek, then sat up.

"Do you want to get some coffee?" He asked, yawning.

"Yes!" I stretched my legs and back out, working the stiffness out and readying them for motion. "Coffee shop or kitchen?" I asked, yawning myself.

"Whichever you'd prefer, my love." He smiled down at me and caressed my cheek lovingly. I couldn't stop the smile that spread stupidly across my face, even when it was interrupted by Suzie again.

"Okay, her highness has demanded breakfast." I rolled my eyes as i reached up to scratch Suzie on her furry head.

"You're the only royalty i answer to." Daniel teased, nipping playfully at my neck.

"Danny!" I giggled, trying to push him away, but he climbed up to hover over me, trapping me on the bed.

"You know, no one's ever called me "Danny". Its always been Dan or Daniel. I like how you do, though."

"And i like how you call me by your little pet names." I teased, petting through his dark messy hair. The light in his eyes turned from gentle and loving to mischievous and fixated.

"I can call you more pet names if you like," He growled seductively, leaning in to peck my neck with a soft kiss.

"Darling dearest." A light kiss on my nose.

"Light of my life." He planted another on my forehead.

"" He snarled, kissing my lips with fervor. I shuddered as his tongue connected with mine, leaving sloppy thoughts throughout my head. I let my hands rest on his face, gently trailing my thumb across his sharp cheekbone. Suzie meowed urgently above our heads as her impatience turned to temper and she began batting at Danny's head.

"Hey! Damn cat." He muttered, displeased with Suzie's actions. He sat up and released his trappings on my sides.

"She's just hungry. Let's go get breakfast and that coffee, babe." I sighed, reluctant to get up. I steeled myself as i rose off the mattress and slid out of the bed. He followed after me like shadow, catching my hand in his fingers and gently stroking his thumb over my knuckles as he held it. I turned around to look at him and brought his hand up to my lips, kissing his knuckles sweetly. He smirked down at me with a primal interest.

"Careful, dollface." He warned. I giggled softly and released his hand.

I jogged down the steps of the stairs, using the momentum i was able to cross the living room in just a couple silent, quick steps. Danny raised an eyebrow at me with a little smile as he leaned over my kitchen counter.

"Don't look at me like that," I said, "Eyes up here, bud." I pointed towards my forehead and glared at him. He returned my gaze playfully, i swear he reminds me of a human version of a tomcat.

"Can't help it, there's such a beautiful view all around." He leaned forward on his elbow, and rested his chin on his fist. I rolled my eyes and spun around to grab the coffee grounds and filters from the cabinet, and went to work on my morning task of cups of coffee. As i poured the water in the coffee pitcher Suzie came running up to my leg, meowing insistently.

"Hold on, hold on. You'll get your food in a minute." I said, stopping the sink's water flow. I set the pot on the counter next to me and reached into Suzie's cabinet for her food. She meowed louder than before and rubbed against my leg, i shook my head and grabbed her bowl off the floor. Opening the can sent the fluffy little cat into a frenzy of mewls and headbutts into my shins until i set the small ceramic bowl on the floor. When i stood back up i went to grab the coffee pot and realized it was gone.

"Hmm?" I looked around for a moment until i saw Danny standing by the coffee pot, filling the water into the small tank for me. My chest warmed at the sight.

None of my exes ever helped with anything in the morning, particularly not the coffee.

"How many scoops of grounds do you like?" He asked, opening the container of coffee grounds.

I swear i physically felt Cupid's arrow pierce my chest. It really is the little things.

"3 and a half." I smiled, walking up and circling my arms around his waist. He proceeded to scoop the grounds into the little paper filter, carefully counting the scoops in his head. I felt the muscle of his chest stretch as he reached up to put the grounds back neatly in their cabinet.

"So, love. I'm dying of curiosity. Have you come up with any thing for the ex?" He asked, turning around in my arms and letting his hands rest on my shoulders.

"I haven't thought of anything yet...but i know one thing for sure. He's gonna be there when we bury Marie. It's likely my parents will call me today, to tell me about her. So you'll have to act like...well...Ghostface. Silent. Not there." I patted at his head, smiling up at him. He frowned at me.

"Is this a subtle 'get out'?" He asked, lightly laughing, even though the sound held no amusement.

"What? No, no. I just mean they can't know about you yet. You're gonna come with me to the funeral, though, right?" I looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"Hmmm...How can i say no to that face?" Danny sighed, hugging his arms around my shoulders. I giggled softly as he leaned his cheek on my head. "Yeah, i'll go with you. This'll be a first for me, going to a victim's funeral."

"You haven't been that ballsy, yet?" I grinned playfully up at him. He scoffed and shook his head.

"No, can't say i have. I just take pictures." His eyes darted to his jacket, and then back to me. Of course he kept them in his jacket.

"Well, get ready to nut up or shut up. We have to go, gotta maintain appearances. You don't have to cry, but i do. And I'll need someone there to comfort me." I smiled up at him.

"So...why can't they know about me yet?"

"Just think about it. If Joseph catches wind of me in a new relationship or having some kind of fling, he'd go ballistic and fuck up everything we've achieved so far before we can even get to him." I said, maneuvering the stray tufts of hair through my fingers. He hummed softly.

"Alright, dollface. I'll pretend i don't exist for the duration of your phone call, but after that, you're all mine." He growled softly in my ear, sending shivers of excitement crackling down my spine.

The coffee pot hissed angrily behind him, signaling the brew was done.

"Cups?" He asked, glancing between the cabinets. He looked tired and eager for some caffeine.

"I'll get them." I said, peeling myself from his arms and chest.

"Do you like cream and sugar?" I asked, withdrawing a pair of mugs from a seperate cabinet.

"Just sugar, please." He said, taking the mugs gingerly from my hands with a warm smile as i retrieved the sugar from its container on the counter and slid it towards him. I went to grab my favorite creamer when he started pouring the hot coffee into their respective cups.

"Here you are, love." He said, planting a small kiss on my cheek as he set my coffee mug in front of me. I smiled at him sweetly.

"Thank you." I grabbed the sugar container and opened it to scoop a number of small spoons of sugar into it. I stirred the liquid caffeine and let my mind wander through what i was going to say to my parents when they called. I couldn't let myself be too dramatic or too cold when the news was broken, even if i didn't have a good relationship with her, she was still my sister. And I'd be expected to grieve, even if i didn't like it.

I took the coffee creamer in my fridge and poured it into my cup, lifting the dark burnt brown into a creamy tan just as my cell phone rang frok the couch, loudly. Danny and i shared a frozen glance, and the atmosphere tensed around us.

"Guess it's time." I said, taking a deep breath to steel myself as i crossed the room to the ringing device. When i picked it up, as expected, "Mom" was flashing across the screen. I looked at Danny and held a finger to my lips, cueing him to silence. He nodded and took a thoughtful sip of his morning coffee as i clicked the answer button.