#for winter

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“What on earth do you think you are doing up at this hour?”

Starlet had gotten up out of bed at 3am to investigate after noticing the absence of Dakota’s arms wrapped around her and the common area light seeping into the dorm room from under the door. 

Her inquiry led her to find her girlfriend in her fluffy mint robe stirring a mixing bowl and humming softly to herself in the communal kitchen.

Dakota yelped quietly in surprise. She turned to Starlet with the expression of a guilty child.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” She cringed.

“Darling I’m not upset, I just want to know what you’re doing is all.”

Dakota ran her fingers through her hair, “I couldn’t sleep because I kept thinking about all of the work I have to do for my classes but I just couldn’t bring myself to work on them so I wanted a distraction so I’m baking cookies…” 

She was stammering discursively with anxiety and it was both disheartening and endearing.

Starlet guided Dakota to sit down into a chair and put a hand on her shoulder. Dakota looked up and chewed her lip.

“You should have told me that you’re feeling overwhelmed, I would have helped with your work.” 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bother you..it's my work, I should be able to do it myself.” Dakota looked down at her slippers.

“Sweetheart, you don’t need to feel sorry. You are working so hard already. And besides, if it’s with you I want to help, ok?”

Dakota gave Starlet’s hand a squeeze of acknowledgement “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The loving moment was suddenly interrupted by the ding of the oven timer. Dakota had become so wrapped up in her emotions talking with Starlet that she had completely forgotten about the cookies she was baking.

“Go get your project and we can work while we eat.” Starlet patted Dakota’s thigh and turned to take the cookies out of the oven.

It was a long night of laying out designs and cutting patterns. Peacefully stitching together and fueling themselves on trayfulls of chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate, both girls’ minds drifted in thought of how lucky they were to have each other’s support.

Sunlight was peeking through the window by the time they were finished with all of their works. 

“You’re pretty,” Dakota softly blurted, looking at her girlfriend’s face illuminated by brilliant orange rays of the sunrise.

“Mmmmphm” Starlet hummed sleepily and pressed her head onto Dakota’s shoulder. 

“Alright let’s get back to bed then.” Dakota rubbed Starlet’s arm and guided the two of them back to their room and into bed.

Starlet curled up sleepily as soon as she got into the bed, whereas Dakota stared up at the ceiling in the darkness and played with her girlfriend’s hair.

“Thank you Starlet for staying up with me. It really means a lot.”

“Of course darling I’m always here if you need anything, and besides, you make the best cookies.”

She rolled over to kiss Dakota’s head.

“I love you.” Dakota wrapped Starlet up in her arm.

“I love you too.” Starlet yawned and blinked her eyes shut, brushing Dakota’s neck with her eyelashes. “Good night.”