My eyelids grow heavier as sleep tugs at my consciousness, but I won't let it claim me yet. Not while we're still together like this, our bodies intertwined and hearts beating in perfect rhythm. "I love you too," I whisper back, my fingertips trailing down his jaw before coming to rest on the edge of his lips. "Always."

The last thought that crosses my mind as sleep finally overtakes me is how right this feels, having him here with me like this.

My breathing slows and deepens as sleep finally claims me, my body relaxing into the warmth of his embrace. In this moment, there is nothing more I could ask for. My fingers curl loosely around a lock of his hair, feeling its softness against my skin as he holds me close.

The world fades away, leaving only us and our love, wrapped together like two halves of the same whole. As darkness envelops my consciousness, I know that no matter what challenges lie ahead for us, we will face them together.