Beyond The End [Dream team x Reader]

Chapter 41

Y/N's POV

The walk back to camp felt completely different than the walk there.

Maybe because we were alive.

Maybe because the challenge was complete.

Or maybe because every few minutes George would randomly stop walking and announce another spectator memory he'd remembered.

"Bad hated when I floated upside down."

Sapnap looked over.

"Why were you floating upside down?"

"I was dead. I got bored."

Dream didn't even look up.

"Reasonable."

George pointed aggressively.

"THANK YOU."

I laughed.

For the first time in days—real laughter.

The kind that didn't hurt afterward.

The kind that didn't feel forced.

George immediately grinned.

"There it is."

I blinked.

"What?"

"That."

He pointed at me.

"You've been doing that less."

I looked away immediately.

"Oh."

The smile faded slightly.

Because he wasn't wrong.

Not after the swamp.

Not after losing him.

Not after everything.

For a moment nobody spoke.

Then George bumped his shoulder into mine.

Lightly.

"Good to have it back."

Something tightened in my chest.

"Good to have you back."

His grin softened.

Just a little.

"Yeah."

Then immediately—

"Don't get emotional about it."

I rolled my eyes.

"There he is."

"Exactly."

⸻

By the time we reached camp everyone was exhausted.

The shelter looked exactly the same as when we'd left it.

Beds.

Storage.

Campfire.

Safety.

Home.

And somehow that word didn't feel strange anymore.

Home.

I hadn't realized when that happened.

Only that it had.

Dream immediately started sorting supplies.

George immediately started messing up Dream's organization.

Sapnap dropped into a chair.

And didn't get back up.