Carl was dreaming. It was a beautiful dream. He was together with his love. She had apologized for her cruelty, and was repaying her misdeed with kindness. He was blissful and happy with her in the dream. At first, when he heard her voice, he thought it was part of the dream. The sound woke him, but gently. He rose from slumber like a person might slowly walk from the ocean, with the tide lapping at their chest. When he was finally fully awake, he stretched and wondered if he'd really heard her voice.  With a smile, he decided he must have.<br/><br/>"Then it begins..." he muttered to himself.<br/><br/>Rising to his feet, he stretched widely, picked up his discarded garbage and food, then treaded silently to the cabin. When he was inside, he sat comfortably on the couch, doing so as quietly as he could. Kicking his feet up on the coffee table, he sat watching the door.