"M'fine," Nova says. "Not tired." Which is a lie, but he's not going to sleep any more.

Zev isn't sure if that means Nova is sleeping anymore, but doesn't want to push it. After the few hours of carefully keeping his distance, however, a hunger for their usual contact has built in him. 

"Would you mind if we just...stayed like this for a minute?"

He presses closer. "S'fine. S'good."

Zev hugs him closer, his arms trembling. 

"I don't want you to feel like you have to. I don't want to make you. I just...being able to just- hold you...it means everything. After all this time."

"Like it," Nova admits. "Doesn't hurt."

Zev doesn't say anything to that, but curls tighter into Nova.

Nova seems happy to stay curled up with him.

Fifteen minutes later 'Chelle taps on the door. "Just to let you know breakfast's ready. No hurry, you can eat whenever you want."

They can hear her dragging Lan out of bed and down the stairs.

Zev sighs into Nova's shoulder. He doesn't want to get up. He wants to live in this bed forever and forget that the rest of the world exists. 

But he wants to meet Steve, and see if he can help. 

"Come on," Zev coaxes Nova, peeling back covers gingerly, his hand stinging.

Nova takes over pulling back the covers, and then slides out of the bed behind Zev.

Zev tightens his hold on Nova's hand. He shouldn't have to take care of him, but he can't deny the gratitude and love he feels that he does.

He leads them to the door, and opens it. He remembers not locking it last night, and does not regret it.

Well, down the stairs then, and Nova shifting closer to Zev as they can hear voices in the kitchen.

There's a redhead perched on one of the counters, head tilted back against the wall.

A tiny, pixie-ish girl is leaning against Aaren at the stove.

And an older man is sat at the table, drinking coffee.

"G'morning, you two," Aaren greets with a smile.

Zev tucks his injured hand behind his back.

"You seem to have adopted more people overnight, Aaren," he says with a smile. He nods to the newcomers.

"I think if anyone did the adopting it was me. Aaren just learned from me. I'm Steve, these are Ira," he points at the redhead (who glances over to them, yawns and tilts her head further back), "and Ant."

Ant turns, and skips back towards them. "Hi!" ey says brightly.

"How are you so awake?" Lan complains, reaching out to poke Ant's side.

"Hi," Zev replies, grinning at the overeager newcomer. "You seem far too awake for Lan's liking."

"Everyone's too awake at this time in the morning for Lan," 'Chelle agrees.

"What can I say, once I'm awake, I'm very awake."

"That is certainly a skill," Zev says with a grin.

He nods at Nova. "This is Nova. I'm Zev. Lovely to meet you."

"And you. C'mon, Uncle Aaren nearly has everything ready, you should sit down," ey gestures towards the spare chairs at the table.