Thia's POV

It was the night before I left. The night before I would be halfway across the world on a new journey. All day I'd sat waiting impatiently in my seat at school. I didn't quite know what I was so anxious about but something gnawed at my thoughts.

When class was over I waited by the tree. Our tree. Leah didn't show up. I don't know what I expected. Andy was there however, waiting for me.

"What are you waiting for?" He asked, hands tucked in his pockets.

"Nothing." I shook my head and gave him a slight smile. "Tomorrow morning is the big deal."

"Yep. Can't say I'm not excited. It'll be an adventure," he laughed, taking my bag despite my protests. "Now to get you home."

We talked and laughed as we walked and it felt like nothing had really changed. Things were still the same and somehow it was easier than it had ever been before. Andy and I seemed to have put any hostility aside. He was fun and charismatic and I felt guilty for never realizing it before.

"Will you eat at the mess hall tonight?" He asked, as we walked up the steps to my house. "We all talked and thought it'd be a good idea to just have one nice big meal together before it gets crazy and everything."

"That sounds like an awesome idea. I'll try and be there but it depend on my homework,"I sighed, taking my bag back from him.

"What? You're gonna turn it in before we go?" He questioned with a look of amusement.

"Yeah. I want to leave on a good note. I like some of my teachers anyways." Andy just rolled his eyes and ruffled my hair.

"See you tonight, kid." The nick name brought a smile to my face and I waved goodbye before heading inside.

"Last day of school," Mama called, tossing me a small box. I caught it in surprise and nearly dropped it two or three times. "Merry Christmas."

"Those sentences don't go together and it's not the end of school," I laughed. "Or Christmas."

"It is for you. At least, temporarily right?" Her eyebrows quirked up in amusement.

"Sure." Glancing down at the box I noticed it was wrapped rather messily meaning she'd wrapped it herself. "Can I open it?"

"Yeah." She seemed much more excited about it than I did. Setting my bag on the floor by the door I stripped away the paper and carefully undid the box. Whatever was inside rested in a careful leather casing. Setting the box on the coffee table I turned the pouch over in my hands.

Reaching inside I felt something cool and metallic brush against my hand. Smiling slightly I pulled it free to see a thick metal bracelet. "No way."

"I figured you could use one of your own but it's better than mine. Leo and everyone at CHB came up with it," Mama explained. I passed it over to her eager to see what exactly it did. She slipped it on over her wrist and tapped it with two fingers just like her own bracelet.

I expected a shield, but panels of armor slid out from it and unfolded in surprising speed. Soon an entire sleeve of armor covered her arm and formed over her chest like a breastplate.

"That's amazing!" It was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen. "I didn't know you could do anything like that."

"You can do anything with a bit of brains and magic." She smirked before tapping the center emblem of the chest piece, causing it to all detract and fold back into the band. I had just enough time to see that the center emblem was a golden wreath, only ever given to superb warriors within Roman ranks. "Just a little gift to help you on your way."

"Thank you." Tackling Mama in a hug I realized how unprepared I really was to leave home and yet how much they believed in me.

"You're welcome," Mama smiled, handing the bracelet back to me. "Is there anything you need last minute help with?"

"No, I've checked everything a gazillion times,",I promised, but I could still see the slight hint of worry in her eyes. "It just feels surreal."

"The feeling will pass," Mama sighed. "Believe me, I've had plenty of surreal moments."

"Yeah, I know. I'm excited and nervous at the same time, you know? This is something incredible and it's going to be really helpful for everyone." Just thinking about the project made my heart beat excitedly and my chest swell with happiness. I was finally getting to leave my mark on the world. "Where's Mom?"

"She'll be back in a bit. She took the dogs out. They're restless." I could picture Aurum, Argentum, and Aes practically bouncing off the walls. Those hounds never ran out of energy.

"Right. Well, I'm gonna head upstairs." Grabbing my bag I ran eagerly up the steps and into my room. My travel bag was laying empty on my bed. I needed to pick exactly what I was taking with me. I was to take only the things I could carry besides my other bag of supplies.

It was going to be hard deciding which aspects of home I wanted to take with me. There was a lot I'd grown up with but not all of it was worth taking.

With a lot of agonizing I sorted through my personal belongings. I tucked a few picture frames carefully away, a journal I'd had, my camera, my favorite books, blueprints and notes of course, a map, a few pens, some savings I'd kept of mortal money, and an extra pair of shoes.

My bag was full and hard to zip. At last, I managed to force it closed and successfully zip it. With a sigh, I glanced about my room and realized how much blander it looked. It was weird seeing how blank everything looked with just a few belongings missing.

Setting my bag aside I glanced up at my ceiling. Standing on my bed I carefully unhooked one of the dragons that had lived up there. It was covered in dust which I carefully blew away.

"Looks like I'm really going to fly this time." I remembered countless nights where I looked longingly at the dragons hanging lazily from my ceiling. "Keep your buddies safe up in the skies for me until I get back."

Standing on my bed once more I hung the dragon up to join its friends. It spun for a moment, its equilibrium offset until it corrected. From the light reflecting in through the window they seemed to multiply as their shadows cascaded across the walls.

"One more night here." It wasn't a goodbye forever; just temporary. Still, I was slowly drowning in the sense of nostalgia that gripped me. Taking a deep breath I glanced out the window to see that the sun was slowly setting. I needed to work on school despite my distractions.
---
I finished my homework quickly and it was with perfect timing. The dining hall would be crowded with people as warm meals were shared. Setting my work aside I flicked off the lights to my room and shut the door.

"Where are you off to?" Mom asked,
having returned some time ago. The dogs were all cuddled together in the corner of the living room fast asleep.

"Dinner. Everyone wanted to eat together before things get crazy." Leaning on the counter I watched her work, preparing a dinner of her own.

"Well you better get going that place gets packed quick." She paused in her work to glance over at me. A sense of guilt settled in my stomach.

"I should really be eating here," I laughed nervously. "With you guys."

"Thia, if you want to go eat with your friends go. It's not that big of a deal," Mom insisted.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Otherwise, I'd be making you sit at the table." There was a gleam of amusement in her eyes. Smiling, I hugged her tightly before excitedly bounding out the door. The air was crisp and it was easy to tell that the seasons would be changing soon.

As expected, stragglers were slowly making their way towards the bustling dining hall. House lights glittered like candles in the dark, warm and inviting. I could picture numerous families sitting around the table laughing and smiling.

It felt good to know I'd preserved that sort of thing, that I hadn't let Chaos strip away something as simple as a meal. As I grew closer to the dining hall the volume only grew until I stepped inside and was bombarded by it from all sides.

I spotted Andy and Marianna laughing together as Gwen made tusks from straws. Luke watched with an amused expression and shook his head. Marianna was the first to spot me and she eagerly waved me over.

It was good to see her happy and how her smile really reached her eyes and there was a peace surrounding her. She moved over making room for me on the bench.

"Thought you weren't gonna make it," Andy smiled.

"Nope." I shook my head. "I wouldn't miss it."

"Glad to hear it." Marianna signed enthusiastically, watching Gwen from the corner of her eyes. Gwen seemed to notice and was more than happy to make Marianna have a good night. Gwen could be stern but she could pull some of the craziest stunts out of no where.

The clatter and chaos was just background noise behind us and our antics. It was genuinely one of the nicest nights I'd had at the dining hall. Normally I was alone or it was a bland experience but this? This was amazing.

It took me a moment to realize that the background noise was slowly fading. Something had caught everyone's attention. I followed Andy's gaze and a sinking feeling filled my stomach.

Leah had quieted everyone and stood on a table in full praetor garb. Everyone was eager to hear what she had to say but I had my concerns.

"Thank you for being quick to silence yourselves, I really appreciate it." There was a respectful group nod from everyone at her words. "Many of you have heard that a select few of our esteemed individuals will be departing tomorrow."

The news of our plans had spread more than I expected but word travelled fast around camp. There were whispers of excitement and agreement. Leah waited patiently letting them die out.

"I think it's only fair to recognize such individuals." There was a loud cheer of approval. One thing about the Roman culture was that pride was very important. If anyone succeeded it was a success for the entire camp meant to be recognized publicly . Leah gave a small laugh. "Alright, I take that as a sign of agreement."

Someone screamed excitedly just for the heck of it earning a long string of laughter from everyone. Leah shook her head in mock disappointment. "The first to recognize is Andy, son of Venus. Stand up."

Andy sighed and stood up on the bench towering over everyone. A round of applause rocked the room. Leah waited for it to die down.

"Andy is a good friend of mine. He perished in our quest but I'm glad to say he's been given another chance to leave his mark on the world. Andy, you've got looks and brains. Please, put it to good use. I have a feeling you'll be perfect for the job," Leah smiled. Andy sheepishly nodded his thanks. "Marianna."

Marianna nervously stood up next to Andy but he rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. The applause was an uproar as well.

"Marianna, I know that things didn't seem to be looking so good in the past. I want to say I'm sorry and that I'm glad to see you smiling and happy. Even after just meeting you I can tell you have a great heart and a lot of potential. I'm happy that you have a second chance to use it and really show everyone what you can do. You'll do some great things I know it. Keep Andy in check for me. He's a trouble maker." Leah winked making Andy and Marianna laugh. "Gwen."

Gwen made an extravagant show of taking her place on the bench. This was followed by the loudest applause yet as many had known her from before.

"Gwen, I've heard way too many stories about you. You have a persistent knack to kick death in the ass and remain on your own two feet. I pray your luck continues and it's amazing to have a warrior such as yourself back in the ranks. You're one for the history books be proud of that." Gwen smiled genuinely and mouthed thank you to Leah. "Luke Castellan."

Luke was less inclined to be seen and simply stood up. Still, he received quite a bit of support from the crowd.

"'Many of us have heard your story
and many of us can relate to your struggles. You're experienced far beyond many of us. It'll be good to see you use your talents for good, to reshape what others have ruined, and to be the person you thought you couldn't. No one can dictate who you get to be. Have faith in yourself and you'll be an example for many to come. Change is always possible." Luke kept his composure but it wasn't hard to miss the compassion in his eyes. There was a long pause before Leah said what I'd dreaded, "Thia."

The uproar was deafening as I took my spot next to Marianna. It went on for some time before slowly growing silent. When it did, there was once again a long quiet pause. I could see the wheels turning in Leah's head, a muscle in her cheek twitched. "Thia, I wish you luck."

I held her gaze a moment more before Leah stepped down from the table and the festivities were brought to life with renewed energy. She had every right to say something horrible, even pass me over in front of everyone and make a large public statement but she didn't.

"Thia, you can sit down," Marianna noted, tugging on my arm. I scanned the crowd looking for the purple cape I'd been trained to spot since I was small.

"I'll be back," I sighed. Andy gave me a confused look as I leapt off the bench and headed for the entrance. I supposed if their was ever a time to talk it was when she couldn't shut a door in my face.

Stepping back outside I scanned the street. Maybe she'd headed back towards her home. Setting my jaw, I ran off down the road knowing where to go and the quickest way to get there.

Breathing heavily I bounded up the front steps knocking on the door. There was the sound of a lock being undone but I wasn't expecting the tall man in the doorway.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Thia. Is Leah here?" I asked. He seemed to hardly hear my question.

"Leah doesn't have visitors. If this is some sort of sale going on for the school I'm not interested." His tone was flat and commanding but I still chose to argue.

"Sir come on, plea-" He waved his hand irritatedly before stepping back inside and shutting the door. "You're kidding me."

Groaning, I ran a hand through my hair. Think. There had to be another way to get Leah's attention. Window. The idea was sudden and impulsive but if you think about it, was it really that out of the ordinary considering my heritage?

Scrambling up onto the ledge of the gate leading to the small back yard I balanced for a moment before jumping and catching the roof's edge. This looked to be the right windo-oh.

My brain did worse than short circuit. It completely forgot what I was doing. My grip slipped clean off the roof's edge and I landed painfully on my back. The wind was knocked clean out of my lungs.

"What the actual fuck Thia?" Blinking away the tears in my eyes I glanced up to see Leah leaning out of her window.

"Hi." Oh god I couldn't breath. She looked over her shoulder quickly before pushing her window further open.

"Shut up and get up here," she grumbled. Getting awkwardly to my feet I managed to climb up and in through the window. "What are you doing?"

"I wanted to talk," I wheezed, slowly getting my breath back. "Could you maybe put a shirt on before we do that though?"

"Oh my apologies, I didn't think there'd be someone outside my fucking window." Leah glared, tugging on the shirt she'd most likely taken off in an attempt to dress for bed.

"Sorry, I tried the front door but your dad...."

"He was a jerk?" Leah snorted. "No surprise there."

"Listen, I just want to apologize. I know it's kind of crappy for me to do all of this without you but..." It was a lot harder to explain myself than I'd originally thought. "I didn't want to take away the opportunities you have here. You're praetor and school is going great for you. You have a lot of potential at stake that could be ruined if you leave with me."

"Thia, I'm not mad that you want to leave, Leah sighed, shaking her head.

"You aren't? Then why were you so upset?" Every assumption I'd made was now completely out the window.

Leah paced for a moment before turning to face me. "Because this place is restricting. There's only so much you can do here. I get it, you're someone who enjoys freedom. I noticed it the moment we started our quest."

"If you hate it here then why-"

"We aren't talking about me," Leah interrupted, her tone sharp. "We're talking about you."

Clamping my mouth shut I sat awkwardly on the floor before Leah rolled her eyes and gestured to her bed. I moved so that I sat on the edge.

"If you want out of here then fine but..." Leah paused taking a deep breath. "When were you going to tell me?"

"I did."

"No you didn't! You told me it was a trip. You didn't tell me it was a year or more, or that you'd just move on to the next one." Leah ran a hand through her hair. "You were going to walk out of here and I was going to be counting the days until you came back. I'd have been counting for twenty damn years waiting for my best friend to come back!"

I hadn't thought about that. I was stupid enough to just assume that Leah would be fine with it all.

"You're right I-"

"I'm not done. I don't want some second hand apology bullshit." Leah was very upset, I could tell by the amount of cursing. "You then had the audacity to bring Andy here and your friend Marianna."

"If you're jealous because I included them it's not because I like them more," I insisted. Leah groaned, covering her face with her hands.

"Thia, I'm not jealous. I'd have loved to know that you were going to show up on my doorstep with two dead people back alive! I'd have been thrilled!" I was getting a mix of sarcasm and anger which was hard to interpret.

"You didn't seem that upset. Heck, what was up with all of those speeches you made in the dining hall? That didn't seem like a problem." It was hard to even understand what I was feeling at the moment. "Was that just a public show?"

"No, I meant every word." Leah's voice was suddenly quiet but it was hoarse. "I want you to succeed."

"Then how are you standing there making it seem like you hate me?" My tone slipped from controlled to a hint of anger.

"Because I don't! And I should!" Leah yelled. "That entire quest I had your back. I felt like for the first time in my life there was someone willing to trust me. To include me in things rather than ignoring me like everyone in this shithole house. Then we come here, you get your moment of fame just like me...and all of a sudden I'm not important enough to include in-"

"Leah, that's not true." I stood, making a move towards her but she recoiled.

"Don't touch me," she frowned. The sound of feet coming up the stairs caused me to still and my heart to hammer in my chest. The door opened with a thud and Leah's dad took one glance around the room already angry. 

"You. What the hell are you doing in my house? You think you can just march in here through the window and talk to my daughter? What were you planning on doing?" Leah froze and from her posture it was clear every fiber in her body was ready to run. "Huh?!"

"Sir listen, we were just talking. I'm her friend, okay?" I wanted to smooth this over before it got out of hand. He seemed like the protective type. If I could talk some sense into him things would be fine. "We had a misunderstanding and I wanted to-"

He wasn't listening. His eyes were locked on Leah. "What did I tell you about bringing people upstairs into your room? You ask me first and you keep the door open! You know the rules. Enjoy do you you pull this crap?"

"Dad. Come on, you let S-" Leah started but he was quick to cut her off.

"I'm not talking about your siblings!" He yelled, getting nose to nose with her. Leah's demeanor completely changed. Her eyes looked past him despite the eye contact.

"Sir, calm down and let us explain." Stepping forward I tried to grab his attention. It worked briefly but not in the way I wanted. His hands gripped the front of my shirt tightly.

"There's nothing to explain. You leave right now," he hissed.

"Dad, why don't you let me-"

"Because you're different than your siblings. I have to protect you more than them. They don't have twice the opportunity to mess up." His attention diverted for a second and I took the opportunity to knee him in the balls. I knew exactly what he was getting at and I was angry.

"Why? Cause she likes boys and girls? That's stupid!" There was no more time for reason. Not with this dead beat of a father. "If anything you should be happy. I'd be more worried about your other kids sleeping around with the opposite sex. If anyone's going to have problems getting pregnant or getting someone else pregnant it sure isn't gonna be the daughter who has a girlfriend."

My whole life I'd grown up believing that people could be who they wanted. That they could love who they wanted. I knew people who liked boys, girls, both, neither, those who didn't have preferences, those who did, and those who were more emotionally attached than physically attached. It was something so many people in my life had told me to appreciate and respect.

I remembered Leah telling me her parents only saw her for her sexuality rather than a normal person. I didn't think it was this bad. This was unacceptable and disgusting. Doing nothing and saying nothing would be as bad as backstabbing my parents and neglecting everything they'd ever taught me.

Leah looked at me with wide eyes. Blinking, she snapped out of her daze and grabbed me by the shoulders. "Go."

"What? No!" I argued.

"Thia, go." She was trying to push me back towards the window.

"I'm not leaving. Not when you're stuck here with him." Planting my feet firmly on the ground I pulled her hands off my shoulders holding her by the wrists. "Leah, why didn't you tell me it was this bad?"

"It's not important. I didn't expect you to ever be in my house. It's why I don't bring people over," Leah whispered. I recalled her father saying she didn't get visitors. It was because she was ashamed of her family. I couldn't judge all of her family members, I hadn't met them, but her father wasn't setting the bar very high. "Hurry, go."

"Nathan what in the world is going on?" Leah's eyes widened and she became more frantic in pushing me towards the window.

"That's my mom. Seriously Thia, go!" Leah's Dad had recovered from my low blow and was waving away his wife eager to take care of me himself.

"Come with me. You can crash at my place." It was practically impossible to stand my ground now and I either had to leave or risk getting pushed out the window.

"Don't you get it? I don't want you here." Leah spoke harshly, her eyes welling with tears. "I don't want to see you after tonight."

"What are you talking about?" My shoulder smacked painfully into the window frame as she pushed me again.

"Go on your stupid mission and don't come back." Her voice cracked and she wouldn't meet my eyes. "You're just a waste of my time. Some dumb distraction. We aren't friends okay?"

"Leah...."

"I hate you." One more shove and I nearly toppled out. There wasn't much of a choice now. Dropping down onto the ground I scrambled up and over the fence. Behind me I could hear yelling and cursing.

Heart hammering in my chest I paused unsure of what to do. Swallowing hard, I tucked my hands into my pockets and set off down the empty road, my footsteps quick and agitated.

Something made me stop. The thought of just walking back to the dining hall as if nothing happened seemed cruel. I couldn't do it. What kind of person would I be if I did?

Turning on my heel I ran back the way I'd come. I didn't have to go far. It was probably the fastest I'd ever seen Leah run before she slammed into me, arms wrapping tightly around my shoulders. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said. I don't hate you. Please forgive me. I panicked and you needed to go I-"

"I know. It's okay. I've got you." I held her for a moment before carefully undoing her grip. I wanted to make sure she was okay. Under he streetlight's glow I saw a violent red mark on her cheek, the tears that stained her face, and her wild hair. "What happened? Who did that?"

"My Mom," she croaked. "I talked back and I shouldn't have. I was mean and I said things that- oh gods they're never going to forgive me. I don't know what I'm going to do."

She dissolved into a fit of sobbing once again and it was all I could do just to gently hold her by the wrists. "Don't think about that right now."

"You don't understand. They're my family and I love them." She was talking horribly fast now. Her words mixed in with her sobs and I could hardly understand what she was saying. "I don't have anywhere to go. M-maybe I can stay with my older sister. O-or I could try my uncles b-but he-he doesn't like my Dad and-"

It was instinct. I can't explain it. In a swift motion I held her face carefully in my hands and pressed my lips against hers. It was quiet now and noted that her lips tasted like salt; the aftermath of her tears.

I was aware that she was clinging to my shirt like it was a life line. I was even more aware that she was kissing me back and most of all that she was shaking.

Leah pulled back, resting her forehead aging mine. She trained her eyes on the ground. Her breast was shaky like her hands. The first thing I did was apologize. "I'm sorry. I panicked."

I expected her to say something. To be mad or upset. It would have been the most logical response but she didn't say a word. Instead, Leah stepped a bit closer and pressed a kiss to my cheek before hiding her face in my shoulder.

"My offer stills stands. You can come home with me," I insisted. She needed a break. Even if it was just one night. At least until things calmed down with her parents. "My parents won't mind, I promise. They like you and- Leah say something please. Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah," she sniffled, but I knew that it would be a while until she truly was.

"My Mom makes awesome hot chocolate. You can have some if you want." As soon as the words slipped out of my mouth I wanted to kick myself. Of all the things in the world to say, I said that.

"I'd like that." Leah whispered, but she made no indication  that she wanted to move from our current position.

"Okay. Hang on Super Girl." She was surprisingly easy to pick up, then again it could be because I was a lot stronger now. I could feel the fabric of my shirt dampen from tears but it wasn't something to worry about.

The walk was slow. I wanted to give her a bit of time to compose herself if she wanted to. I knew people didn't like being vulnerable in front of others.

In the back of my head I knew Andy would question me about my absence for the rest of the night but this was more important. Walking up the steps to the front door I carefully pushed it open and stepped inside. It eased shut behind us with a soft click.

"What in the hell happened?" Well that was kind of the expected reaction. At least on Mama's part. Mom on the other hand, who was helping wash dishes nudged her pointedly in the ribs. "Ow!"

"Hush," Mom sighed, walking over to me with a curious expression. I didn't say anything but she got the hint. She needed to wait a bit and then I'd explain. With a nod she let me head upstairs with Leah still in my arms.

Easing the door open to the bathroom I flicked on the lights. "Get cleaned up okay? There's towels under the sink and my room is right across the hall. You can borrow some of my clothes."

"Thanks," she sniffled, as I set her down and shut the door on my way out. Heading back downstairs I was greeted by two expectant looks.

"So what happened?" Mom asked again, a look of concern on her face. I did my best to explain everything from the beginning.

"You mean you snuck in through the window? Nice!" Mama laughed, once again earning a nudge from Mom. They both kept quiet for the rest of the story.

"So I was thinking she could stay here for the time being even though I have to leave tomorrow. Just until things settle down or until she's ready." Mom frowned in contemplation at my proposal.

"So you kissed her?" Mama smirked, crossing her arms.

"For the love of God Thals, focus!" Mom glowered.

"I panicked." I hadn't felt embarrassed about it before but I sure did now.

"We'll talk about it. She can stay for tonight though," Mom promised.

"Thanks." Smiling, I hugged both of them tightly before heading back upstairs. Knocking lightly on my bedroom door as a warning I stepped inside.

"You kept all of these?" Leah asked. She sat on the edge of my bed holding a few of the pictures that hadn't made it onto my wall yet. Her hair was damp and tangled and my clothes were at least a size too big for her.

"Yeah. I thought they were good shots," I nodded, before silence settled again. "Um...my parents say you can stay the night tonight. Do you uh...still want some hot chocolate?"

Leah's expression softened for a moment and she gave me a half smile. "I wouldn't mind."

"Okay. Come on." She stood up and followed me down stairs. Mom was more than willingly made our drinks and set them at the table.

"Neither of you stay up too late got it? Thia, you have a big day tomorrow," she reminded. I nodded in understanding before Mom turned to Leah. "Try mot to stress and get some rest."

"I will. Thanks." Leah pressed her lips into a half hearted smile. We stayed up and sat in silence until our drinks were finished. Afterwards we headed back up to my room.

"One second, I'll set something up for you." Leah waited patiently as I arranged a comfortable spot for her on the floor. In truth, sometimes the floor was better than my old mattress.

Leah made herself comfortable and I turned off the lights eager to rest. Things didn't go well. The nightmares were back again and in full force. I knew that I called out in my sleep sometimes but it had gotten worse recently. The things I'd seen on our quest played back like a movie but with more vivid and grotesque details than before.

"Thia stop. Stop!" Snapping awake I was aware that someone was shaking me awake.

"Sorry, sorry." Breathing heavily, I ran my hands over my face wiping away the cold sweat that covered my skin. "Sorry."

"It's alright," Leah promised. It registered in my head that Leah had been the one to wake me. "How-how often does this...happen?"

I didn't really want to answer. If I did she'd worry. Some times I didn't even tell my parents. "Most nights."

"What do you see?" Leah asked hesitantly.

"Everything." My voice sounded horribly small.

"Like the things you saw when you died?" She was trying to be careful in her curiosity, I appreciated it. Sighing, I moved over allowing her a spot to lay down next to me.

"Yeah," I nodded, as she tucked her arm under a pillow and turned to face me.

"Was it horrible?"

"If you call serial killers, rapists, murderers, war criminals, and kidnappers horrible." Taking a shaky breath I wanted to change the topic but part of me knew I couldn't. At some point I'd have to talk about it. "Some things I can't even label."

"I can't imagine going through that," Leah sighed.The sting of tears prodded at my eyes. Leah wiped at the edges of my eyes before any tears could fall.

"I used to sleep with the drapes closed but I'm afraid of the dark now. The moon helps," I admitted.

"I'm sorry." Leah ran her hand through my hair and I felt ashamed of how damp it was from my night terror. She didn't seem to mind.

"It's not your fault. Everyone has a burden to carry. This is mine," I shrugged. Leah shook her head in disagreement.

"No, you're carrying a world's burden and yet, you still take my burdens. Twice now. Why?" She asked. I tried to come up with some answer that was different than the one that nearly leapt from my mouth on impulse. I couldn't.

"Because I love you. I didn't realize it until I saw you in pain or thought of you being in pain. First with Tyler and now this." There was a small weight that lifted from my chest at the admission. "But, what about you?"

"Because I love you too," Leah laughed softly.

"What about Tyler?" I asked.

"He was a mistake from the beginning. I liked him I did, but the things I liked about him reminded me of you." Leah blushed slightly. "It's stupid really."

"No it's not." She seemed surprised by my answer. "I think it's lovely."

"You're the only one who would say that," Leah snorted.

"That's what matters isn't it?" I asked. Leah smiled at my words and she moved closer. Wrapping my arms around her she nuzzled her face into the crook of my neck.

"Guess so." It was the last thing she said before falling asleep. I followed suite shortly after but for once there were no nightmares.