Noah didn’t mind sleeping on the fold-out couch of the split landing. It was closer to his mom’s studio and the chances of being disturbed during the night were dramatically lower. Plus as of late, if Noah was sleeping on the fold-out couch it usually meant he would be falling asleep and waking up next to Eden.

On those nights they would stay up until nearly midnight watching movies, playing music, or just talking. Noah was finally getting brave enough to show Eden some of his lyrics; the rough and unpolished ones that no one but his mother was allowed to see until they had been cleaned and polished. If he was feeling especially brave Noah would sing them, his voice slightly off-key from embarrassment while Eden smiled encouragingly. More often than not it was the fold-out that served as their workspace. Only occasionally did they bring a stand up from the studio or work in the living room or kitchen.

When they finally got sleepy enough that it was becoming a chore to keep their eyes from fluttering shut, they’d clean off the bed and put everything back where it belonged. There was, without fail, that little moment of awkwardness when Eden had crawled under the blankets waiting for Noah who was taking his hair out of its hair tie or removing a forgotten necklace. Eden would fidget slightly until Noah clicked off the lamp and slid under the covers. Eden would pull Noah close, wrapping his arms around the elder’s waist and pressing a knee between Noah’s knee-caps, and they’d fall asleep like that.

The next morning the pair was usually awoken by Nirvia and Nikita jumping onto the fold-out, announcing the presence of pancakes or other breakfast items in the kitchen (which were, of course, always vegan). Nikolia would be trailing behind to retrieve his sisters, occasionally with Frodo, the communal gerbil, in hand.

Noah would flush at being caught curled around Eden by his siblings; and before Nikolia had hauled the twins off, Eden would give Noah a good morning peck on the mouth. It wouldn’t be much, but just enough to send Nirvia and Nikita into shrieks of laughter and make Nikolia roll his eyes or scrunch up his nose.

Those were the mornings Noah liked best, and they were definitely worth sleeping on the fold-out couch. Especially when he woke up next to Eden.

A little side-storyish bit that goes along with my '07 NaNoWriMo Novel. Also, for those of you who care Noah's family is from Russia. Frodo however, is not.