"Dreams" (c) 2002 Elaine Mae Estabrooks
"I'm here, Dilandau," she said softly and he immediately stilled, sighing deeply. His arms loosened slightly but she didn't try to draw away, just brushed his silver hair back from his brow.
"I thought I'd lost you," he said suddenly and she thought he had awoken. But his eyes were closed and his body very still. "Please, don't ever leave me again." He frowned worriedly. "Please." Celena's heart suddenly hurt - so much pain in that single, softly spoken word! Sudden tears ran down her cheeks and she prayed that he wouldn't wake up, wouldn't know that she had heard him speak his heart.
"I won't leave you, ever," she said softly, knowing that it was probably wrong to do this, to deceive him, but she wanted to comfort him, even if it was only in his dreams. He smiled slightly, a shadow of his smirk, then his features grew soft and he kissed her. Celena gasped faintly: this wasn't what she had in mind! - and felt his tongue slip gently between her lips, caressing her own. She pulled her mouth away from his while taking her arms from about him, causing him to frown and tighten his hold about her.
"You've never refused me before, Second-in-Command," he softly snarled. "You're not going to start now."
"Dilandau," she said in a clear, loud voice, and he started, then his eyes opened and glared into her own. Celena stared back at him, saying nothing, and watched as his look changed from anger to deep suspicion. "You're holding me too tight," she said impatiently, ignoring his sudden look of surprise. "If you want me to sleep with you, I need to be able to breathe." How much does he remember? she thought a little desperately as she kept staring at him, trying to look irritated. How awake had he been? He loosened his arms from about her, bringing one hand up to brush her wet cheeks.
"You must have been having a pretty bad dream," he commented wryly. "Perhaps you were suffocating?" Celena snorted, using all her strength to look nonchalant, turning her face from his surprisingly gentle fingers. She turned onto her back and yawned, relief flooding her as he snugged up beside her and pillowed his head on one arm, the other locking about her waist. He went instantly to sleep and she looked at him, the pale features relaxed, the silver hair falling over the closed eyes. Thank God he wasn't aware of what he truly felt, she thought. He wouldn't be able to handle that pain. Well, at least he would never be alone. And nor would she.
"Oh, Dilandau," she whispered, "forget, if you can. And know I will never leave you."
THE END
"Gatti-san..." Celena heard Dilandau softly groan next to her, waking her. She shifted a little and his arms tightened about her until she was jammed up against him, their faces almost touching. Dilandau was shivering; the pale features drawn in fear and sweat gliding along his brow. "Alone," he whispered, "Please don't leave me alone." Sympathetic terror clutched her and she fought it off, wriggling her arms free from the constricting embrace and putting them about his trembling body. She brought her lips to his ear.