Nicolas woke feeling warm light shining on his face from his bedroom window. "Uuuuuuuuggggggh...." he half yawned, half grunted aloud as he stretched, "I think I over slept a bit." He sat up, stretching a bit more, sniffing the morning air, "Is that... What is that delicious smell?" He looked around the room, his eyes adjusting to the morning light. He looked towards the door, noticing he hadn't performed his usual ritual of marking out the day that had passed before going to bed. "Better do that before I get busy and forget. Already been a day behind once. What ON EARTH is that smell? Did that woman start cooking?" He made his way across the room, his body stiff and joints cracking, living out in the mountains and working to survive wearing on him. He crossed out the previous day on the calendar before opening his closet and changing into his trademark jeans and a new sweater, his skin feeling a bit of cold changing between shirts, sitting back down on his bed as he made a list of chores to himself.<span style="font-style: italic">Wood... Yes... We'll need more wood... I could stand a bath but that will have to wait until later. I can't go out in the cold with wet hair and I can't afford to wait for it to dry...</span>His thoughts suddenly shifted.<span style="font-style: italic">Is she cooking me breakfast? Really? Atleast she's useful... Maybe it's my lucky day, for once...</span>Thinking back to his spectacular dream.<span style="font-style: italic">What's changed in me?</span><br/><br/>He pulled a drawer open, grabbing a wool hat.<span style="font-style: italic">This was his...</span>He stared at it for a moment before pulling over his shaggy hair. "Gotta stay warm out there." he mumbled. He made his way back across the room, quietly opening his bedroom door.<span style="font-style: italic">Now, lets see what is going on out here...</span>He crept out, hearing singing getting louder and louder as he moved closer to the kitchen. He looked into the room, seeing Maria standing in front of the stove in his baggy clothes.<span style="font-style: italic">Is she this comfortable here now? Enough to sing?  After how scared she was last night? Or is it merely to keep herself calm...?</span><br/><br/>"Uh hmmm..." Maria gasped as Nicolas spoke up, his coughing startling her, "Beautiful voice you have there. It reminds me of..."<span style="font-style: italic">Oh no... Why'd I even have to think of that...</span>"It reminds me... Reminds me of my mother's singing..." he finally choked out, hesitation in his voice as Coal happily made her way to her master. He patted his friend and quickly changed topics. "I guess I can take a moment to eat before I have to start chopping wood. What's for breakfast?"