Affection || Shaudrey

Eighty-One: Coming Home

TW: Mentions of temporary marks on the wrists. Not from any kind of self-harm, but we always prefer to warn anything that can be triggering. Enjoy!!

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"Shh.... can't now," Audrey mumbled. "Don't love him.... love her."

Shelby's brows furrowed even more. She started to wonder if Audrey was dreaming of her when Audrey dated Rory. She gently caressed her lover's hand, squeezing it. "Baby....?"

"Hm." Audrey smiled softly in her sleep. "Rory.... Shelby.... love her."

Shelby was still confused and concerned. She shook Audrey's shoulder this time, a little harder than before. "Please, wake up."

With the harsher shake, Audrey felt herself waking up. She opened her eyes, brows furrowed for a moment before she hugged Shelby tightly. "You're here." She mumbled.

Shelby wrapped her arms around Audrey as she sniffled back her tears. "I am...." She said softly.

Audrey's brows furrowed with concern as she softly let go of her lover, staring into blue eyes. "What's wrong, baby?" she asked, cupping Shelby's cheeks.

Shelby looked down. "Y-you.... you said you loved.... someone or-or something. You n-never said wh-what or who. Y-y-you said it was a-a secret, a-an-and that it would cause a br-break up." she explained as her emotions for the better of her, and tears started falling down her cheeks.

Audrey felt her heart sinking even more that it had already done with the dream she was having. Softly, she shook her head, eyes getting teary as well. "I was d-dreaming about Rory." A tear fell down, the fear the dream had caused on her starting to peek. "I d-dreamed I was still d-dating him.... I couldn't t-tell him I was in l-love with you."

Shelby's hands moved to her lover's cheek as well, gently caressing them. "I-I'm so sorry, baby."

"It's o-okay." Another tear fell down. "Are y-you okay? God, I c-can only imagine w-what it must have s-sounded like from t-the outside."

Shelby wiped the tears as they came. She sighed as she nodded. "I-I'm okay now.... I'm sorry for freaking out."

"Don't a-apologize, please.... I w-would have done t-the same, if not w-worse," Audrey quickly reassured, caressing her lover's cheeks. "I felt s-so empty in m-my dream." Brown eyes fell down.

"Do you want to talk about it, babydoll?" Shelby asked softly, still caressing Audrey's cheeks.

"No." Audrey shook her head, hugging Shelby once again, burying her face into the crook of her neck. "I'm just g-glad you're h-here.... please, don't t-think I'm in love w-with someone else.... God, I'm s-so lucky to have y-you."

Shelby held her lover close. "Okay, baby. And I'm the lucky one." She said softly. "I love you so, so much, gorgeous."

"I love you so much, S-Shelby." Audrey took a deep breath, calming herself down before pulling apart to stare into blue eyes, caressing her lover's cheeks once again. "You're my world. I mean it, I can't live without you, Shelby.... I woke up so c-confused, you weren't there.... you weren't m-mine."

Shelby felt her heart breaking over the state Audrey was in. "I will always be here. I will always be yours, baby. Please remember that."

Audrey nodded as she felt her eyes getting teary once again. She placed a soft kiss on her lover's lips before burying her face back onto her neck. "I'm sorry I s-scared you."

"It's okay, babydoll. I promise, it's okay." Shelby said softly as she caressed her lover's back, trying to calm her down.

Audrey nodded as she took another deep breath, bringing her hands to her eyes, wiping the tears away. "Everyday I thank all the Gods for having you," she said softly, quietly, head still buried on Shelby's neck, arms now wrapped around her waist.