The next day dawned bright and cold. Smells of frying bacon and freshly brewed coffee drifted down the hall, greeting Mark as he rubbed his eyes groggily and stretched. Next to him, still dead asleep, was Darcy. Rolling onto his side, he studied her, a loving expression on his face. Her hair, still pinned back from last night's bathroom session, was starting to come loose and was splayed over the pillow. Her skin, normally tan and rosy, was a bit pale, making her dark eyelashes resting on her cheeks stand out more than normal. Her breathing was normal, though, soft and steady. Hesitantly, he leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before rolling out of bed.
Pulling on a shirt and some pajama bottoms, he checked the ring his mother had given him the night before, making sure tha
