Dreamed This Up (Dreams, Book 1)

Chapter 18: Safety

They managed to arrive home without further incident. Rofin leaned on Sophie and stumbled into their room, she helped him get settled, and then went into the main room to give Anset instructions. When she returned, he had fallen asleep. Carefully, between her own bruises and not wanting to wake him, she sat on the edge of the bed.

Carefully, she used the cool cloth Anset had made for her to wipe his flushed face. The ride home had been harder than he wanted to admit, and she was glad he rested now.

"Sophie," he whispered.

"Yes," she smiled.

"Are you - are you alright?"

She smoothed back the hair that stuck to his forehead, "Yes. Just some bruising. Loklin says as long as I rest up, everything will be alright. Rofin, don't ever leave me"

"Never. You ... remember when I said that to you?"

She smiled and carefully lowered herself in beside him. "Tell me again ... It was the day before I started to get sick, right?"

"Mm," He wrapped his arms around her, wincing slightly, and began, "You'd gone out, and I didn't know ..."

About four months ago ....

Rofin awoke to find himself alone. "Sophia?" he called. Getting no answer he rose, and checked the small bathroom. Did I scare her off? he thought. After the shirtless incident, he was more cautious, sleeping with his back to her but still curled together. It was difficult, but they were managing. Now he was waiting for the right moment to tell her about something he had ordered a silversmith to craft the other day ... But first he had to find her. "Sophie?" he called again. There was no where to hide in the tiny apartment. Wait! There were no laundry facilities, and although he subscribed to a pick up and delivery service, perhaps she had something she wanted to wash herself in the laundry downstairs. With that he forced himself to calm down, and started to tidy the room, and rummage around for some clothes. But after a while there was only so much stalling he could do. Wearing his usual loose tunic and pants, he was just about to start lacing on sandals when he heard shrieks in the hall. "SOPHIE!" he blurted and flew out, still barefoot. Opening the door, he saw her racing down the hall. He bolted out to her, grabbing her, "What's wrong, who's after you?"

Then he realized she was shaking with laughter, not fear. "I - gasp - went down to try - hehe- and get a stain out of my apron, they have stronger cleaners there and - whew, let me catch my breath, - there were some children who had made soap bubbles, but they used too much soap and it was all over the place, and then they threw them at me and I ran all the way back up here! OH! Are you okay?" She finally seemed to take in his lack of footwear and worried expression.

He held her and sighed, " I thought you'd run away or something happened"

She tilted her head to look up at him, "How - how could I ever do that, I - "

But she seemed at a lose for words and buried her face in his chest instead. "I'm sorry" came out muffled.

He looked down at her. Today he would tell her. No, right now! He needed her! Without letting go, he pulled her, walking backwards into the apartment. Except for a muffled, "Mmph?" she seemed content to stay there. He kicked it shut, and with a fluid motion scooped her up. "What-" He carried her to the bed and laid her there gently. "Rofin, what are -" she was stopped as he laid a finger on her lips. He carefully climbed in as well, and hovered on elbows and knees over her. She looked up with a wild mix of emotions visible. Yes, she wanted this too, but there was apprehension, and worry as well. She reached up to touch his face as well. "Tell me"

He drew a deep breath. "I need you, Sophie."

She blinked at him a moment, "You- oh" she reached up and pulled him towards her. But he held back a little, asking, "Not too soon? Although, since we were already together before ..."

She shook her head and smiled up at him shyly, "I think I-"

But whatever she intended to say was cut off, as there was a loud pounding at the door, "Pala! Pala Rofin! Please come!" With a suppressed groan he slid off and went to the door.

Opening it, he saw one of the children from the harac housing, "What is it, Killy? I'm rather busy." breaking down a certain person's wall, he thought to himself. The child hopped back and forth anxiously. "Mama's sick, she thinks the baby's stuck, and the mifin came, but she can't unsticked it, and you came before to help Mama, so can't you come now, she's so sick an' -"

He stopped the child then. "Alright, I'll come see to your mama. Just give me a moment." Sighing, he turned, and saw Sophie was already behind him, sandals in hand. Whatever mood they had shared had passed, and she seemed her usual self, the helpful assistant and no more. He grumbled inwardly at the change, but thought of the rings. He'd pick them up on the way back from this woman's home and take Sophie somewhere nice.

He took the sandals, "Thank you, Sophie. Get yourself something to eat, you can eat it on the way. I won't need to feed until later." She nodded and went to make herself something to eat as they walked. She was out in a moment, and handed a smaller cloth wrapped object to the child. "Cookies. You run ahead and tell them we are coming, and then get your brother out of the house and go eat those, OK?" The girl nodded and ran off. Rofin took her hand in his and with the bag he often brought in the other, they left.

It turned out to be a very long day. After helping Killy's mother through hours of a difficult birthing, Rofin finally was able to give the healthy child to her mother. "There, now."

She held the infant and thanked him, "ah, such a lovely new one. You'd think I'd be better at it, 'tis my fourth, but, something was just wrong, I'm so glad you came." He patted her hand. "No trouble at all. I'll help Sophie clean up, now. Sophie, are you- hey! are you alright?"

For the first time since she had begun to work with him, she looked unwell. She shook her head and waved him off. "Probably didn't eat enough earlier, I felt a bit queasy."

He looked at her again. Odd. "Well, sit down then, you can admire the new baby"

Present

Sophie sighed against him happily. "And then we had some errands, and you wouldn't let me go in that one shop, and I thought we were going home after"

His rumble of assent was something she could feel as well as hear, so close were they.

"That fool at the docks nearly sliced off his own hand cutting fish. I had to sew it back together. You were nearly sick again. Took us all evening."

She nodded, "And by the time we got home we were both so exhausted we didn't even talk about what had happened that morning."

"Mm, until the next day. When we realized what was going on. I wanted to propose to you that morning, you know. But someone interrupted." He tucked his hands under the bump. "Where were you kicked? Maybe I can speed the healing"

She adjusted his hands. "There. Ah! yes, there." She snuggled back against him. "Don't you need to heal yourself?"

"Mm? No, it's alright. I have a stronger healing projection than most. I should be able to do both of us."

She reached up and behind and placed her hand on his mouth, "Bite, then."

"Mm, WHAT"

"Oh, stop. You need it, and I'm too comfortable to move to get my shoulder exposed or get the knife. Your teeth are sharper than mine."

He sighed, "True," but did as she asked. She let out her own sigh at the sensation, and when he had taken enough, placed her hand over his again. "I do hope we both heal quickly. I want to be able to do more than be held again." By now they were completely tangled together, "Soon," he sighed over her, and fell back asleep. She wiggled once more, and soon dozed off herself.

~~~~~~~

Such a cute picture, I couldn't pass it up. Maybe they should get a cat?

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/yakuza-mob-roleplay/images/a/a9/Anime_couples_by_kurunomibreak-d4w5w2q.jpg

Woot! Dream time. I got an "installment" - the flash back - this morning after I fell back asleep because, yay, I didn't have to get up early today. I'd been mulling over the story all last night, so it finally coalesced)