(I know I took a long time between these entries, but I had a very rough holiday. I won't go into all of the details, but I am a tough old dragon, and have been through much worse, and have much to celebrate and be thankful for besides. I am now well and safe and happy, and thank you all for your support while I wasn't. I will pick up where I left off.)

Monday we stretched long and slow. Sleeping felt so very good. The air conditioning kicked on. A garlicky zephyr curled around my cheeks and made me smile about last night. What a night: it's a good night when breakfast is forsaken for sleep (at least it is for me). I turned around to Terrana and snuggled against her back, gave her a snuffle. I heard her make a noise that sounded something between a grunt and a chuckle. I grinned to keep from nipping her.
"Morning!" I said, my voice still thick with dreams.
"Hi" she said back, in her sing-song way I was starting to love more and more. I hugged her and peeked at the clock over her shoulder.
"We have pizza for breakfast!" I announced.
"That's the best!"
And so we stirred about in lazy partial sunlight that we watched come in through the blinds. We gnawed at cheese-saturated pizza, not even minding that we'd missed the hotel breakfast downstairs. We were full of peaceful smiles and pizza, and that's a pretty great way to be. It was finally starting to cool down from the sweltering temperatures we experienced that weekend. I was relieved a bit. I opened the window and stuck my hand outside, peering at all of the cars packed into the MVA parking lot. I smirked. Pride feels awkward on me, but I let it stay for a little: not a month ago I had just walked off that drive course, gaping in disbelief at my license voucher in my hand.
I can drive now. I had breathed, then. We can go anywhere we want.
I tossed my hair out of the way so I could look at Terrana, who was mulling over something on her computer and relaxing. And I couldn't have found a better time. She felt me smiling at her.
"Hi!"
I smiled. I love that. I shut the asphalt breeze back outside where it belonged and rejoined the warm garlic and linens scent inside (which is more pleasant than it sounds, I assure you). I sprawled on the ottoman, horseback-style, same way I had last night, with my elbows propped on it, my chin resting on my palms. "Whatcha doin'?"

And so we watched a series of Vsauce documentaries about all kinds of things, like Why Do We Get Bored?, Why Are Things Creepy?, and, my personal favorite, Why Do We Kiss?. I made Terrana a paper crane out of a piece of paper I had left over from a bag I'd taken to a convention I had volunteered for earlier that year. It was an orange one. We ended up leaving the crane for the housekeeping - a little orange ambassador who flew from furniture to shoulder and back.

And there's no stopping us right now... I feel so close to you right now...

We could have watched silly videos all day, and talked and talked some more, but soon we were hungry again, and the pizza box was empty. We didn't want to wander far from the coziness, so we walked over to the Panera and grabbed some sandwiches. She giggled at the giant scones because I told her they were really just humoring her; we call them biscuits. And then cue the required culture jokes and giggles! I love to make her laugh so very much.

It was a beautifully lazy day. It was perfect and delicious. We held hands on the way back to the hotel. That made it even better.

The most perfect part for me, even more than the games and the smiles?

Cuddles.