Lilleth's point of view:

I am awake, watching Dandan lie next to me.  We had tea, made from wild dandelions that somehow still managed to thrive.  I found it favored Dandan's fond flavor of chamomile.  After tea, we had put the tea set away, and set down the blankets to sleep on.  We had us a very good visit.  Dandan was afraid.  She had never been below before.  "I've never even been to the Hanging Gardens before."

Dandan told me of her life, of her father's unconditional love.  She did not speak of her mother at all.  She did admit that somewhere in her mother's heritage had mixed Asian roots.  Not many people lived on that continent anymore, preferring to live in the skies like most others; but to visit the Great Wall was still a very popular thing to do.

I told her about my life, and how I managed to get by.  She found it not so different than how she lived above, once she got over the rat issue.  Or so she said anyway.  We had little gadgets here and there, that set off a hum too high pitched for human ears, but painful to the rats.  This kept us safe while we were sleeping.  It also managed to keep away the cockroaches.

I did not expect to tell her of my dreams.  Not of Damien, but I did.  She had a way of making me feel safe with her, that I could tell her anything.  The lovers things she took with a grain of salt, and I didn't go into a lot of detail.  She managed to point things out that I hadn't thought of.  "I can't save them," she said.  "That must have been so difficult for him," said Dandan.  I curse myself for not seeing that.  He appeared so cold when the lower level fell away.  In my dreams, I had already seen how broken he was for knowing what was to come.  I wanted to hold him.

So I did.  In my dreams that is.  He could feel the change in me.  I was always submissive before.  This time, I was the one that took the lead.  My tail wound around his so tight.  My arms held him in our embrace.  I could feel my wings enfold us.  He simply let me.  I whispered in his ear, "Forgive me."

Damien responded in that intense way only he could do.  He crushed my body next to his.  I could feel his every hard contour.  His tail further intertwined mine, encircling the both of us.  His wings enfolded mine.  We were both one in a way we had never been before.

"No, my love," he said.  "I have nothing to forgive you for."

He felt more human this time, hot skin to hot skin.  He typically would bit down, right about now.  This time he gently pressed his lips on the beating pulse of my neck.  His hands began to caress my body.

"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to be so near you, and unable to touch you?" he asked me.

Our bodies became one.  I moaned. 

"Do you?" he asked again. 

It didn't hurt this time.  Before, we always experienced raw passion.  This time, he showed me tenderness.  I came much more slowly this time.  He held me until my trembling ceased, but he wasn't done with me yet.  His black eyes, his very human black eyes, gazed into mine.

"Your face has never been so clear," he said.

He was right.  We were both fully human now in our dreams.  He bowed his head to mine, branding me with his kiss, searing me with his soul, as our bodies built up the heat once more.  I arched my body to his, catching him in his lover's flight, as he reared back his head and roared, sounding more beast than man.  He shuddered and lay still.  I simply held him even tighter.  We both held on to one another, savoring the closeness.  We had never been able to do this before, this time together the moment after.

"I love you," I said.

"I know you do," he said.  He did not say the words.  Instead he showed his love with another kiss.

He gazed down at me, his stare full of concern...and fear.

"I can't be this close to you outside of our dreams," he said.

I began to cry.  "I know," I said.  "I can't bring a baby into a world like this."

"No my love.  Not yet, but the world is changing.  I will hold you soon."

The feel of his hands comforted me, calming me.

"Promise me," he said, pulling me close.  "Promise me you will stay close to Dandan. Don't come out of her sight."

"What's wrong?" I asked. 

"There's so much I can't reveal.  I could change the outcome if I do."  He placed both of his hands on the sides of my face.  His thumb grazed my lower lip.  I could tell he wanted to kiss me again.  I even wanted him to, but he had to say what he needed to say.

"When danger is near, the warrior will appear."

"What?" I asked.

"I know this doesn't make sense now, but trust me."

"I trust you."  I placed my hands above his heart.  "I trust you."

He kissed me one more time as our dream world faded away.  My eyes opened.  I place my fingers on my lips, holding onto the memory of that kiss, squeezing my eyes shut so tightly.  Not so tight that I couldn't keep that one tear from escaping.  My body longed to be near him.  It longed before, but now that I knew he was real...

I turned to Dandan, reminiscing everything.  She must have sensed my distress.  She opens her eyes.

"Hi," she says.

"Hi," I say, a slight quiver to my voice.

"Did you dream of him again?"

"Yes."

"You must miss him so."

"I do."

"How long have you dreamed of him this way?"

"As long as I can remember."

"Really?" asked Dandan, incredulously.

I giggle.  "Not in THAT way," I say.  "That didn't come until much later."

"What did he say to make you so alert tonight?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out."

I look at Dandan, studying her features.  She looks so delicate.  Her eyes still hold the innocence of someone sheltered.  Was this why Damien told me to stay near her?

"He said we should stick together," I say.  "It's safer that way."

Dandan reaches for my hand.  I recognize her type of touch.  She's an ace, just like the twins.  They have a purity to their touch, a comfort to it, much like a sibling or mother or father would offer.  We enclose our fingers round one another.

"I agree," Dandan smiles.