The small figure lay still as a gentle hand raked her hair. Her breaths were slow and deep. Her face was buried in her protector's neck and her hands lay limp on his chest. A single foot of his stood on the ground rocking the low hammock back and forth.
Angus was careful not to awaken the sleeping girl as he pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Her breath tickled his neck in waves and he tightened his arms around her to keep him from laughing. Her sweater was big; almost too big for her and the sleeves covered her hands halfway. But no matter how warm it kept her, she still came back to him. He'd warm her up.
It was an innocent encounter, they all were. Anything beyond this situation made her uncomfortable. He didn't know it at first until he went too far. He'd never seen such a strong assertive girl so scared. And it scared him. The memory pained him and he quickly loosened his grip on the sleeping girl. He almost woke her up.
Hannah came up to him that afternoon. "Enjoying the cold are we?" He swung the hammock back and forth.
"Yep. Nothin' like a good breeze to keep you awake."
"More like a blizzard," she mumbled. He chuckled at her annoyed face.
"What's the matter?" he asked. She wrapped her arms around herself and kicked the ground. "Cold?"
"A smidge."
"You should go inside then. No use coming outside if the warmth is inside. Is there?"
"Why do you think I came outside then?" He raised an eyebrow at her and sat up. She sighed and sat next to him. "The heater's broken."
"Do I look like an electrician?" he smiled.
"That's not what I meant," she smiled back. "It's just, it's cold indoors and out and the only source of heat is swinging on a silly hammock."
"Wait, wait. You mean-" She gave him a shy look and nodded her head. "It's not too much? 'Cause I won't if it is."
"No, it's fine. Just don't get all fresh with me, that's crossing the line." He shook his head and held his arms out.
"Come here then." Hannah scooted back until she sat comfortably on his lap and his arms around her. She rested her head on his shoulder and he smiled to himself. "Surprised you like being held."
"It's your fault for being so freaking warm," she smiled yawning.
"That's a yawn I hear."
"No it isn't."
"Yeah." She didn't answer. She was already fast asleep.
Angus lay back in the hammock back to his original position with one correction. He stuck his foot out to rock the hammock to keep her asleep. Her legs curled up so she lay like a cat on his chest. As small as he was himself he always had room for her. He chuckled as her nose nuzzled into his neck. He put a hand to her hair and kept it out of her face.
"Maybe it's not me who's so warm, maybe it's you who's always so cold," he teased in a whisper after a long while. "Sweet dreams."
