Friends Apart

Chapter 9

She woke with a start...a tiny scream escaping her lips as she pulled her blankets up over her head. Her little chest heaved as she tried to calm down...hair plastered to her forehead with cold sweat as she tried to block out the frightening visions of great big objects falling from her dreams.... It had been that nightmare again, the one were her adoptive parents died in a raid of her old room. Stumbling, she moved to peer into the immense bedroom outside her door...shoe covered feet softly patting against the wood bridges as she headed towards to Peter's nightstand at the end. She squinted as she peered into the darkness curiously. Peter's soft snores could be heard....loud and rumbling despite their mildness. The lantern on the nightstand casting just enough light for her to make out the bed...and Peter's sleeping form on top as she reached the edge of the bedside table. A small cry and a whimper caused Peter to snap his eyes open from his slumber and stir. Sitting up in bed his ears perked up and listened before he heard it again. "Wendy?" his upper body slipped out of the covers, he was wearing his pajama bottoms as he had forgotten his night shirt and made out Wendy's little form on the nightstand. "Wendy?...wh-what's wrong?" He rumbled deeply, voice rough from sleep as he rubbed a hand over his face. "Did Something happen?" he sounded more concerned now as his dark chocolate brown eyes blinked as he looked down at her more closely. It was the middle of the night..."I-I h-had a ni-nig- nightmare..." She looked up at the human who was her best friend...and she pouted...looking about ready to cry at the mere thought of that dream. Peter blinked down at the tiny girl.......and he felt his great heart shatter beyond it's already softened state. "Ohhh... Wendy.......c'mere...." he rumbled with a protective growl....fighting back another weary yawn...before he held his palm out for his girl. Wendy wasted no time raced to clamber up into the human's palm, settling down in the warm hollow. She whimpered, looking distressed all over again as she was lifted up to be closer to the human's face. The redheaded human sighed gruffly before he smiled...and reached up to gently ruffle Wendy's hair with a careful fingertip.... "It's okay, Wendy...I've gotcha now....nothing will hurt you with me around..." the twenty year old woman purred at her friend's loving touch, knowing it was true...nothing could hurt her with him protecting her.... Wendy raised her arms indicating she wanted to be held. Peter quickly complied, holding her to his chest where Wendy buried her face into his skin. He could feel the wetness of her tears causing him to frown. "You want to sleep with me tonight?" Wendy nodded and sniffled as Peter took out a makeshift blanket and brought it up to her as she grasped it with dear life and covered herself with it. He laid back down in his bed, looking back down at his chest he saw the quivering figure under the blanket. "Oh, Wendy......" His finger gently stroked her back through the blanket, after a bit she lifted her head out and looked up at Peter's concerned face, her eyes red from crying she hugged his chest as much as she could, still shaking. Peter then got an idea. "Wendy, put your head down on my chest and listen. Then tell me what you hear." She placed her ear against his warm chest and listened intently. Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump... "It's your heart." Wendy looked up at his warm face. "That's right, as long as my heart beats, I will always protect you. The first time I saw you my heart skipped a beat. No matter what happens, you will always be in my heart." Wendy yawned and slowly she began to wind down, "It's time for sleep, Wendy-bird." Seeing her yawn caused him to yawn as well, the yawn rumbling through his body and vibrating through her tiny body, causing her to giggle and lay her head down on his chest as his hand kept her warm and safe. Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump.... Wendy smiled, "Good night, Peter. I love y-" Her words trailed off followed by her gentle breathing, Peter smiled down at her, before softly kissing the top of her head. "I love you too Wendy, sweet dreams." He gently stroked her hair causing her to smile.