Most days, it's easier. Most days, things are better. It's a good life they're living now. Nothing nearly so stressful as the last, overall-- for all you wouldn't know it, necessarily, looking at how Horatio would act. But even that was, mostly, better than before.

This past month or so has been an exception. This past month hasn't earned quite so many nightmares on Archie's part, but he doesn't sleep well knowing Horatio isn't.

And, well, it's hard to do much of anything with a boyfriend clinging tight like this.

"Love," he says softly, pressing a kiss against his cheek, "I need both hands to eat, mm?"