Sahara woke from a nightmare.

She stared at the dark ceiling for as grief held hostage every fiber within her.

"Terrell," she whispered. The image of blood was imprinted strongly on her mind.

Gulping, the knowledge that it was all in the past slowly worked to dissipate the sorrow. However, a trace of fear remained.

Turning to her side, Sahara closed her eyes.

Bang! She could still hear the shots. She saw Terrell jerk as bullets slammed into him.

Sahara tossed to the other side.

Tell me about your world, Terrell's words echoed in her mind.

The girl sat up. She swung her feet over the edge of the bed. Outside the window, a few city lights sparkled in the dead of night. A flick of her bracelet and she could see it was three AM.

Getting to her feet, Sahara left the room. She glided down the stairs, heading for the living room.

The area was lit by the soft glow of holographic pictures. Only when her eyes landed on the sleeping figure could Sahara fully feel at ease.

Despite his threats and the fact that he could have easily chosen to sleep anywhere, Terrell ended up taking the couch.

Sahara stood some distance away, letting her beating heart calm for a moment. Everything was ok. Terrell was here. He was alive. He didn't leave her. He wouldn't leave her.

Feeling better, Sahara turned to make her way back upstairs.

"Can't sleep?" a voice called softly.

Turning, Sahara found Terrell's eyes open. He extended a hand.

Taking the invite, Sahara darted over.

Terrell moved to the side, making space for her to sit.

A meow of protest sounded and Mo, who'd almost been sat on, angrily jumped from the couch and stalked away.

"Nightmare?" Terrell asked softly, his hand moving to rub Sahara's back.

The falcon nodded.

Terrell gave a sympathetic hum. He sat up and the blanket fell away, revealing a shirtless chest. "Want to talk about it?"

"You won't leave me, will you?"

Eyebrows rose. "I feel like I should be the one asking you that."

Sahara stiffened.

"No." Terrell pulled her into a hug and Sahara couldn't help but snuggle into the safe embrace. "And if you ever left me...I'd find you no matter where."

Sahara grunted.

"What? Don't believe me?" Terrell took hold of her chin and turned her face to his. "Didn't I cross worlds to find you once before?"

Sahara bit her lip, avoiding his eyes. "Stalker," she teased halfheartedly.

"What's making you so uneasy?" Terrell murmured as he let go of her chin and tightened his arms around her.

"Everything," Sahara replied.

"Well, this seems to call for medicine time." Terrell let go of her and got to his feet. Turning, he held out a hand.

"Strawberry milk?" Sahara asked.

Terrell gave her a lopsided grin. "You know me too well."

His girlfriend couldn't help the roll of her eyes. She followed by taking the offered hand and let herself be pulled to her feet.

Terrell led her to the kitchen where he rummaged for a while before successfully finding the stash of pink milk. As he turned with two cartons, Sahara, who had just taken a seat at the counter, reached for hers.

"Nope." Terrell dangled the cartons as he walked away.

Sahara watched before getting up to follow.

The boy led the way upstairs.

Intrigued, Sahara trailed behind.

By the time she caught up, she found the boy had gone outside. He was on the balcony with the pool. Walking to the other side of it, he turned and leaned against the half glass wall which was the only thing preventing him from plummeting 40 stories down. Opening the carton in his hands like the expert he was in the motion, he raised it before taking a swig.

Sahara stood in place, mesmerized.

The image of the Phantom standing there was very alluring. The city lights blinked all around as water lapped softly in the pool. Shirtless, tattoo brazenly visible, hair blown by a gentle breeze, leaned back completely relaxed with a lazy look in his eyes, Terrell was illegally handsome.

As her heart fluttered, Sahara couldn't help but look around to make sure no one else was being tempted by this view.

"Come over," Terrell beckoned.

Still in a daze, Sahara did just that. When she reached his side, an arm snaked out and hugged her to the strong teen's side. He turned so they were both gazing out over the city.

Being so close, Sahara inhaled the familiar scent that was Terrell. Warm, comforting, fresh with a light scent of strawberries, this was the atmosphere of the one she never wanted to lose and yet had come so close to before.

"I thought I told you to tell those pesky nightmares to get lost," Terrell told her gently before he lifted the carton to his mouth once more.

"Easier said than done," Sahara replied. She opened her own drink and mirror Terrell's action.

Strawberry exploded on her tongue and she savored the taste.

"True." Terrell agreed.

They basked in each other's presence as they looked at the calm city stretched out before them.

"It's been years and I also sometimes get them too," Terrell spoke.

Sahara looked at him.

"But worse than that...put me in a small dark space and it all comes rushing in." Terrell tipped his head back, exposing his Adam's apple. "The memories. The fear."

Sahara quietly took another sip. She let him speak about the past he rarely shared.

"You know...I really tried to please my mother at every turn. But nothing was ever good enough." Terrell's eyes darkened. "Even in the very last moments of her life, she didn't see me." His hand tightened around the carton. "I just wanted her to love me...but instead, she hated me to the very core." Sorrow was in his voice. "There were moments when I wondered if me being gone was the only way to make her happy."

Sahara couldn't help it. She lifted a hand and brushed Terrell's cheek. "If there was no you, I wouldn't be who I am today," she whispered. "She didn't know what she was missing out on."

Eyes clearing, Terrell turned to gaze down at her with a smile. His hand covered hers that was on his cheek.

"That's exactly why I'm thankful to the woman that gave me life." He tipped his head so that his forehead rested against Sahara's. "Because of her, I was able to meet you."

The beat of Sahara's heart became obnoxiously loud.

"The point of what I'm trying to say," Terrell told her softly, "is not to keep dwelling on it. It's the past that shapes us into who we are, that leads us on the path we go. If not for the past, there would be no future. And every person we met along the way led us to this very point...whether they were positive or negative. The nightmares are of what was but not what is." He stroked her hair. "So, try to let it go and I'll work on doing the same."

Sahara closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. "I'll try," she whispered.

"That's all we can do," came the gentle reply.

The forehead moved away and Terrell turned his gaze back to the city. Sahara followed his lead. They stayed in comfortable silence for a while.

When the carton in her hands was almost empty, Sahara spoke up. "Terrell, Noctorious..." Sahara bit her lip. "I know you said there were other things to worry about, but..."

"I know," came Terrell's reply. He didn't bat an eyelash.

"Don't you think we should do something? They're completely out of control."

Though Sahara didn't catch it, those green eyes shifted toward a girl's hand where there was a small wound. The same eyes darkened considerably.

With a sigh, Terrell played with the empty carton in his hand. "I once had a close friend," he spoke. "His name was Ezra." His lips raised into a fond smile as he spoke the name. "He was quite the handful." Terrell shook his head, smile still there. "He's actually the reason I got inked." 

Resting an arm on the railing he dangled the carton in mid-air. "Ezra had a dream. To be on top." A sigh escaped him. "It was a dream that never died right to the end."

The moving carton froze.

"And maybe one day he would have lived up to that dream." The voice paused. "I failed and we lost so much that day. When I think about it now, I should have never answered that challenge or...I should have been capable enough to make it to his side in time. If so...maybe he would be here with us today.

The breeze picked up.

"Weren't we supposed to let go of our past?" Sahara asked.

"But we should also learn from it."

"So, are you afraid of what will happen if you challenge Noctorious, or are you waiting until you are certain you can face them?" Sahara asked the question straightforwardly.

There was a moment of silence.

Terrell straightened. "Do you want Noctorious gone?" he asked.

Sahara furrowed her forehead.

"They're chaotic, causing trouble and making a lot of noise. But do they need to go?" Terrell asked again.

The Falcon contemplated this. "I'm not sure if I'd say they need to go...just..." she lifted her eyes to meet Terrell's. "I can't explain it. They worry me."

Terrell nodded. "We tend to fear the unknown." He ran a hand through his hair, looking thoughtful. "Don't worry about them," he spoke. "Just stay out of their way."

His words didn't put Sahara at ease. "Terrell..."

A finger flicked her forehead. "I already told you. I know."

That helped calm her worries somewhat and Sahara nodded obediently.

"Well. Now that we've both gotten some things off our chest." Terrell stretched. "How about we go out with a bang?"

"Huh?"

Terrell motioned for the carton of milk in Sahara's hand. Wordlessly, she handed it over. She regretted it when she saw the evil grin forming.

"Don't you..." her warning never got fully delivered as she was pushed.

There was nothing Sahara could do to save herself. She plummeted into the pool. Water that was comfortably warmed submerged her. The moment she touched the bottom she pushed up to shoot to the surface.

"Terrell!" She spluttered.

"Shhh," Terrell held a finger to his lips. He was crouched at the edge of the pool with both cartons placed beside him. "People are trying to sleep," he scolded.

The pool was shallow enough that Sahara could stand with the water reaching her neck She angrily pushed soaked strands of hair from her face. "You pushed me," she accused as she waded over.

"My bad?" Terrell gave her a face of innocence.

"I'll show you my bad!" Sahara lunged. She grabbed the boy who had no intention of resisting.

Terrell fell into the pool with her and Sahara found herself submerged once more. This time when she broke to the surface, Terrell stood across from her.

As her eyes landed on the young man, Sahara's smile froze.

The bare chest before her was no longer smooth. Scars riddled it. Scars that matched every bullet hole which the Phantom had taken for her. Rayne had indeed worked magic in healing his brother, but even he couldn't completely hide the horrors of what had occurred. Just as water could wash away dirt, it revealed the truth.

Sahara wanted to avert her eyes, but she couldn't. In a trance, she reached out a hand and traced a finger across one of the wounds.

A warm hand covered hers. "It makes us who we are," a deep voice told her gently.

The falcon looked up.

Water dripping from wet hair, Terrell was smiling at her. "I don't regret a single one of them. Neither should you." The next moment, his arms circled around her and pulled her to his chest.

Sahara didn't struggle. She closed her eyes, listening to the strong heartbeat that reassured her Terrell was here. Her Phantom was alive.

"Swimming is good therapy when you're feeling down," Terrell told her earnestly. "But there's one thing that makes it even more effective."

"Hmm?" Sahara asked as she pulled back to look up.

A head lowered and warm lips met hers.

The Falcon immediately sank into the kiss. She didn't know how much time passed when Terrell pulled away.

Gasping for air, reality reappeared for Sahara.

"Feel better?" Terrell asked.

Sahara narrowed her eyes. "I'm afraid of what you'll come up with next if I don't say yes."

"Only one way to find out." Terrell winked.

A splash of water hit him in the face and Sahara began her escape by swimming to the other side. "Shameless!" she called over her shoulder.

"Only when it comes to you!" came the reply. Terrell went after her.

Sahara squealed.

The two omegas embarked on a game of cat and mouse in the pool. Their voices drifted through the night, but those asleep inside slept undisturbed with the soundproof walls.

Two cartons of strawberry milk sat at the edge of the pool next to each other, not looking lonely as they were now a pair. Occasional splashes of water would cause them to shake, but neither toppled as they stood strong.

When the sky began to show signs of growing light the two in the pool finally let their games rest. They both went indoors and dried off. Terrell's scars disappeared with the water, hiding in plain sight.

Sahara changed her clothes but feeling wide awake headed back to the living room. She and Terrell sat on the couch, enjoying each other's company.

It was here that they fell asleep as the sun began to rise.