Team Foster-Keefe!

Nightmares

A/N One last warning: these stories might contain spoilers, depending on what book your'e on. Also, all the credit for the characters and places goes to the author of Kepper of the Lost Cities, Shannon Messenger. 

Sophie was surrounded by water. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't get away from the jaws of the ocean...Sophie watched from above as shadows closed in on her friends. Silver knives flashed in the darkness. Sophie tried to help, to warn them, but she was powerless...red, orange, white, flames engulfed Sophie. She needed to save the people trapped in the burning building but she was too weak...Sophie was plummeting through the sky. She tried to teleport, but it wasn't working. The ground was coming closer, closer, closer...

Sophie woke up drenched in sweat, a scream dying on her lips. She lay there for a minute, shaking, before deciding to get some fresh air. She untangled herself from her blankets and padded to her door, opening it slowly. She peeked out and noticed Sandor standing guard just outside it, like he always did.

"Who's there?" He growled in his squeaky voice.

"Just me. I had a nightmare and I'm going outside," Sophie replied.

"Oh. I have to come with you though, to do a perimeter check."

Sophie sighed. "Sandor, it'll be quick! I'll be fine."

"I can't even count how many times you said that to me and it ended up not being fine at all. I'm coming with you," Sandor said firmly.

Sophie heaved another sigh and opened her mouth to further protest, but Sandor was already marching ahead of her. Sophie grudgingly followed him, past the rooms where her friends were sleeping.

Keefe, Fitz, Dex, and Biana had all crashed at Havenfield after the Black Swan meeting because they were all too tired to light leap to their respective homes, and Edaline had been happy to host them.

Sophie made her way out into the night and took a huge breath of the fresh air. She took her time walking over to Calla's panakes tree, grass and leaves crunching beneath her feet.

"I'll scan the property." Sandor's voice from behind Sophie caused her to jump, then she nodded and sat down, leaning against the tree. She angled her head upwards to stare at the stars coating the black sky.

"Am I interrupting something, Foster?" Keefe emerged from the shadows and Sophie could have sworn she had a mini panic attack.

"No, come join me. What're you doing up?"

"Nightmares, you?"

"Same," Sophie replied. She patted the spot next to her and Keefe plopped down onto the grass.

"The stars are so beautiful, aren't they?" Keefe asked.

"Yeah..." Sophie agreed, "Sometimes I reach out to touch them, then remember that they're trillions of miles away."

Keefe scooted closer, putting his arm around her. "You don't need to touch the stars. You are one."

"Keefe, I believe that is the nicest thing you've ever said to me," Sophie joked. Her smile faded when she noticed Keefe's serious face.

"I'm not kidding. I believe in you, that you have the power to beat the Neverseen. I've made mistakes, but know that I'll be there by your side, every step of the way."

"Thank you Keefe, that means a whole lot to me. But, sometimes, I don't believe in myself. People have died because of me." A lone tear slid down Sophie's cheek.

"Woah there Foster. Don't cry. It'll be alright in the end, you'll see." Keefe gently brushed her tear away with his thumb. "I won't let anything happen to you. I care about you too much."

Sophie bent her head, trying to prevent the onslaught of more tears. "I care about you too, Keefe," she whispered.

"Hey, look at me. I want to see your eyes." Keefe's hand grasped Sophie's chin lightly and tilted her head up so she was staring directly into his eyes.

"I love you, Sophie Foster." His lips came down to capture hers and they stayed, arms around each other, under Calla's panakes tree until dawn painted its colors across the sky.