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the waking world fades into your perception with the sensation of gentle, ticklish kisses up and down your jawline. still feeling the warm pull of sleep, you let out a grunt of complaint and turn away from the affection, prompting a huff of laughter from behind you.
"baaaabyy," croons a soft voice, before you feel a warm sigh of breath on the nape of your neck, followed by kisses trailing up to your ear.
he hovers above you for a moment before pressing his lips to your neck again, easily finding the spot that sends tingles down your spine. "it's time to get up," he whispers into your ear, and you can hear the smile he's wearing in his voice. you whine, burying your face into the pillow beneath you. he gently shakes your shoulder until you look up at him, eyes bleary from sleep.
"calebbbmmghh," you groan, closing your eyes again and pulling the blanket back up to your chin.
"what was that, pips?" he teases, tugging the blanket back down to see your face. "i couldn't quite catch that."
"s'not," you mumble, but you don't pull away when he leans down to press a kiss to your forehead. "calebb,"
"oh, yeah? well, i remember someone asking me last night to wake them up. and to do whatever necessary, i might add."
you just shake your head no, using his proximity to wrap your arms around his waist and press your head against his thigh. he lets out a fond but slightly exaggerated sigh, beginning to run his fingers through your hair.
"aw, i know, i know, it's so early," caleb smooths his thumb over your cheekbone. "you're so sleepy, huh? poor baby." he coos at you teasingly, knowing you won't complain while you're this drowsy.
"alright, pips, you win. i'll give you a few more minutes while i make you some tea." he moves to get up from bed, but pauses when he hears your panicked "wait,"
caleb looks back down at you, wide awake now with your fists tightly gripping the soft fabric of his sleep shirt. "pipsqueak...?" he sits back down, and you wrap yourself around him even tighter. "hey..." his voice is soft with concern as he gently cups your cheek, coaxing you to look up at him again.
"don't go," your voice wobbles as you meet his gaze, which is filled with an incredible amount of care that you can't even begin to measure.
he lies back down beside you, holding you close and slowly stroking his hand up and down your back. he's so warm. "hey, you're okay. you're alright. i'm not going anywhere, pips, i promise." he murmurs, rubbing his thumb over your jaw to guide your chin up, then pressing a tender kiss to your lips. "we can cuddle for a few more minutes, then you can help me make breakfast. how does that sound?" at your nod, he smiles, letting you snuggle your face into the crook of his neck. "i'm here, honey, i'm here. i'm not leaving you. not ever again."