Once More, With Strangeness

Chapter 13

 Becca poured herself a cup of coffee, contemplating the events of last night again. It was already four in the afternoon but it had been a long night followed by fitful sleep. It had taken Eddie a while to fall asleep. She'd woken up a few hours later to him whimpering in his sleep, calling her name. In their sleep, they had shifted away from each other. Becca had immediately wrapped herself around him, whispering in his ear over and over that she was there, that he was safe, until he'd finally settled back into sleep once again.

After that she'd struggled to get much sleep. Her thoughts kept spinning, wondering what was haunting his dreams. Becca knew he'd been the master of the monsters or whatever in there, but she had no idea what that time had been like. She wouldn't push him but she was going to be here for him.

She leaned against the doorframe of the bedroom, watching him sleep. Eddie looked peaceful, curled up on his side, those waves splayed out across the pillow. Becca knew he was technically a demon, but that man was no demon. He was a goddamn angel laying there.

Becca had told him last night that he was safe, he was home, that everything would be the same when he woke. And it was. The truth was, though, she had the same fears within herself and it didn't help that an unknown entity was now lurking in that place. One she didn't know anything about. She may have threatened him but Spike did not seem like the type to follow anyone's direction. In fact, he seemed like the type to do the complete opposite just because he could.

She moved over to the couch, sitting down and curling her legs up into herself, clutching her coffee for warmth against the frigid fears that were slowly finding their way in. Fear that she had just doomed them all with another psychotic monster. Fear that another disaster like the one they had all lived through six months ago was now inevitable.

As much as she feared it, Becca knew she wouldn't change

anything she'd done. Maybe she was selfish. In fact, she knew she was, but she didn't care. No matter how this ended, she would still choose to rescue Eddie and bring him home every single damn time because he was worth it, because she needed him, because she couldn't survive the alternative.

"There you are." Two hands found her shoulders and then slid down to wrap around her, lips pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

Becca smiled, resting her cheek against his arm, "Here I am.

Did you sleep okay?"

Eddie shrugged, "I slept okay. I just, I woke up and you weren't there and..."

"Shit, I'm sorry," she said, turning her head to look at him,

her hand resting on his cheek. "I shouldn't have left you in there alone. I shouldn't have left the bed until you woke up."

"No," he said, shaking his head. He stood, walking around the couch and sitting next to her, his arm coming around her shoulder and pulling her to him. "You shouldn't have to be shackled to the bed just because I have to get used to this. I just, I woke up and didn't see you and for a second..." He paused, his tongue running across his lips. "I thought I'd dreamt the whole thing and I was still there. It took me a minute to realize that, although Rick's place is grubby, it's not as grubby as in the Upside Down. I came out here and saw you and was so relieved that it was real."

"I'm sorry baby," Becca said, resting her head on his shoulder. "I didn't even think and I should have. I should have known that you would be disoriented when you woke up. I will try to stay with you until you wake up from now on."

"Becca, you can't chain yourself to me twenty-four, seven," Eddie argued. "You are the slayer and you are human. You are going to have to do things during the day. You can't always be with me. I will get there. It's okay. I didn't fall apart. It was just confusing for a minute. It probably doesn't help that I was in this same damn house when I was in there."