(Y/N)'s POV

"Hey (N/N)! Slow down!"

"No way Cipher!"

I giggle as he catches up to me and jumps on top of me. "Bill!"

"Tag, you're it."

I push him off me and laugh. "That's not fair, though!" I try to catch my breath. "I said no tackling!"

Bill shrugs. "You know I hate playing by the rules, darling."

I hit his side. "You know I hate that name!"

He chuckles and puts his arm around my shoulder and kisses my temple. "Ah, don't be like that!" He says, walking with me. "You love it." I shake my head and smile, letting out a sigh of relief.

I wasn't quite sure where we were going, but wherever it was, I wouldn't mind. It was so peaceful out, the sun was setting, and the sky was cotton candy color pink and blue.

"Look!" I say, pointing at a nice light purple color in the sky.

Bill hums in response and squeezes my arm. I continue to smile, looking at the forest and sky.

Back when things weren't so messed up...

I shoot up from my sleep, panting and breaking a sweat on my forehead.

"Where..?" I pant out.

"Oh good, you're awake."

I look towards the sound, and Tad is sitting on a couch with a drink in his hand, smirking.

"How did I? What was I doing?" I ask.

"How you got here? I saved you to a certain extent. What were you doing? Sleeping. But before you were sleeping, you were watching a fight between me and Bill. Do you remember anything?"

I shake my head. "What was I just doing?"

Tad rolls his eyes and grunts. "You were dreaming, duh."

"Dreaming..?"

"Yes, dreaming. A dream is a succession of images, memories, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep." Tad says, impatiently.

"I know what a dream is, Tad," I growl, rubbing my head.

Tad raises his eyebrows. "Your mind says otherwise."

I mumble some stuff and huff in annoyance. "Yeah. Yeah.."

"You better thank me."

"Thanks."

Tad chuckled. "I understand now why Bill was so fond of you, (Y/N)."

"Huh?"

"You're easy to please. You're easy to trick. You care about others more than yourself, and you'd die to keep your loved ones alive, wouldn't you?"

I ignore everything he said. "Yeah, I would die for the ones I love."

"Then you better live out your life pretty well from this time on, (Y/N). Bill's pissed you found out how he really is and is planning against the Pines soon. He's going to trick them into things and make it seem like your fault. Get ready (Y/N), Bill doesn't give up so easily."

"That sounds like a threat, Tad."

"Do you really want to watch the ones you love die, or would you rather be with Bill your entire life, just to keep everyone you love alive?" Tad sighs. "Whatever you choose, I will try to help you okay?"

I have my mouth agape. "I..I.."

"You'd better think about it, just not around Bill. He can read minds too, you know."

"Expected." I sigh.

Tad smiles and scoots back into the couch.

its been raining all day where i live, and its helping me write. also, thanks to my best friend for the idea of the flashback!

(553 words)