Simon Dominic: Doubling Forward

CHAPTER #4- Standing By

A nightmare woke Nari and she was disoriented, not remembering where she was. For a minute she panicked and then looked around and saw Simon Dominic sleeping on a couch across from her. Then everything came back to her. Tears began as she remembered that her mother was gone.

It was her sniffing, that woke Simon D. He sat up and without a word, pulled Nari into a hug. "Hey it's okay, I'm here for you."

"I just remembered Mom is gone.... I don't know what the nightmare was about... Sorry for waking you."

He wiped her tears with his thumb. "It's okay, really. If you want you can use Jay's guest room, up the stairs on the right."

"Can you... can you sleep beside me, hold me? I know I have no right to ask... but...."

"Yeah sure, that's better than the couch. Don't worry, I'll keep my clothes on."

She pulled away from his arms, "oh.. I hadn't even thought about that."

He smiled. "And you don't have to.... not until you want to."

Simon D lead Nari upstairs and into the guest room. He got under the blankets, she took off her bra first and put it on the floor, but the rest of her clothes remained on. Nari was a little nervous, but trusted him. She got into bed and lay on her side, he spooned her, arm resting on her hip. They went back to sleep, but not even an hour later, she jolted awake again.

"Are you okay?"

Her whisper was tearful, "no."

He lay on his back, "roll over, put your head on my chest... this isn't about your mom's passing." Simon's arm went around her.

"I don't know if it's because I told you and Jay about my past, or because of what Grams said. I can't remember the bad dream."

"When I'm babysitting Haru and she has a nightmare, I tell her a story. So just listen to my voice," Simon D suggested. He told her about their meeting, due to Haru and how he wanted to see Nari smile.

His voice was comforting and she did fall asleep again, her arm over his stomach, one leg over his. Having Nari in his arms, felt good and natural. When her breathing was even, then he went to sleep too.

** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~**~ ~ ~ ~ ~ **

In the morning Simon D woke first, technically it was just one body part that was awake. Then as realization hit, he was aware of everything. The press of Nari's breast into his chest and her lips almost grazing his neck. But what had triggered his lower part to stand at attention, was that one hand of hers, was resting on his inner thigh. He rolled over, unable to stand or walk away. She sighed and also rolled over, so that they were back to back. Relief flooded through him and after a few minutes, he was able to get up and leave the room.  After a potty break, he followed the scent of fresh brewed coffee.

"Morning," Jay grinned.

"It will be once I've had a cup of that," Simon D replied.

"Nari still sleeping?"

"Yeah, she had a rough night. Not just upset about her mom, but about her assault."

Jay's smile fell. "She's a strong woman; to deal with all that, her mother being ill and a nasty grandmother. Nari is Wonder Woman to your Batman."

"Thanks again for thinking of her to house sit and take care of the puppies. We should have her settled in an apartment, by the time you return." Simon D promised.

"One less thing for me to worry about while on tour."

Suddenly they heard Nari yell out.

As both Simon D and Jay went to wake her, one asked the other, "is it still a nightmare if it's in the morning?"