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When Ed’s alarm goes off, he silences it quickly and buries his head for just a moment in the pillow. The sun’s not up yet, the time of morning Stede would only describe as far too early, but that’s when Ed starts his day, so up he has to get.
But first, a moment.
A moment to look, to take in. To take in the love of his life, laying on his own side of the bed, arms gripping the pillow, eyebrows creased just a little from his dream. The way he snores, just a little, but not enough to wake Ed before his alarm.
Ed loves these little moments, each morning before the sunrise.
On the days he gets to sleep in, gets to wake beside Stede with their legs tangled together, those are good too. Those are great, really, that sense of connection and togetherness.
But this? This little moment before the sunrise? It’s his favourite routine in his day.
He takes a moment to press back the curl over Stede’s forehead, run his thumb gently from temple to jaw. Stede snuffles but doesn’t wake. A brush of Ed’s fingerprints over his lips. And still Stede doesn’t wake.
It’s practically a game of chicken, but Ed can’t help doing it. Could he place a kiss on his forehead? His jaw? Lucky his Stede is a deep sleeper, especially in the mornings.
Stede stirs just slightly, changing his grip on the pillow, and that’s when Ed knows it's time to get up. He grabs his phone, slides gently out of bed and heads to the bathroom, ready to start his day.
But before he does, he takes one last look back at Stede, comfortable in sleep, and smiles to himself.