Mostly Stephen being awesome. Not a lot of Rachael. Sorry.

EDITED AS OF NOVEMBER 5, 2016.

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(One Year Later)

Stephen had been training and working harder than he had since his college days. He hadn't made contact with Rachael during all that time, but he kept his eyes on her. He felt like he was stalking her, but he just assured himself that he was making sure she was safe. He would watch her shows on YouTube. She did magnificent as always. He always sent an anonymous red rose to her dressing room on her opening nights. She probably knew it was him, but he kept doing it. 

Stephen found himself looking at a magnificent red cloak. The Ancient One had told him that it was called the Cloak of Levitation and that he would one day don it as his own. He found himself dreaming of that day more and more. He also found himself missing Rachael more than anything in the world. He wanted to see her.

"You're missing her, aren't you?" Stephen turned around to see the Ancient One walking towards him.

"Yes, I am," Stephen sighed. 

"She misses you, too," the Ancient One said. "I can sense it."

"Is she alright? Is she safe?" Stephen asked.

"She is safe," the Ancient One said. "If you miss her so much, you should talk to her."

"She won't want to hear from me," Stephen sighed. "What I did was unforgivable." 

"How do you know she hasn't forgiven you if you haven't reached out to her?" the Ancient One tilted her head.

"I suppose you're right," Stephen muttered. "But it's been a year. She's probably deleted or blocked my number. She probably doesn't even remember what my voice sounds like."

The Ancient One shook her head and sighed. "Whatever you say, doctor."

Stephen watched as she left before turning back to the cloak. The Ancient One had told him that when he finally had it, his training would be complete. He planned to go back to the United States. If Rachael didn't want him back in the apartment, he would find somewhere else to go. He gave the cloak one last longing look and then walked out of the room to go train.

Later that night, Stephen entered his room. He was exhausted and sweaty, but glad that he was making such rapid progress. Due to the rain outside, the room was cooler than normal which was a welcome relief. Stephen checked his phone, surprised to see no messages from Rachael. He sighed. She hadn't contacted him for about two months. He had a feeling that she had accepted that he was never coming back. He missed her desperately, though. He looked outside at the rain and smiled. He remembered how when they were young they used to lay around on the couch under a blanket together on rainy days, only getting up for food, drink, and trips to the bathroom. For the most part, they just stayed on the couch until they passed out. Nostalgia filled Stephen. Things had been so much simpler then. No dead parents or siblings, no bills to pay, no nerve damage. It was just Stephen and Rachael, a bottle of pop, pizza, and movies. How he wished he could go back to that time. 

I can't, though, Stephen thought. This is what's happened, so I just have to accept it.

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Hours later, Stephen was tossing and turning in his sleep. He didn't like the dream he was having. He seemed to be standing in his old apartment. He watched as the door was opened and a man entered. Stephen's lip curled at the sight of the man: Kaecilius. 

Stephen had heard tales about him. He had been trained by the Ancient One, but he had been tempted by the dark realm of magic. He had lost his way and the Ancient One had banished him from the temple. She thought that he was gone, but lately he had resurfaced with allies at his side. 

Kaecilius looked like he was around fifty years old. He had long, grey hair that was tied back in a pony-tail. It was his face that surprised Stephen the most. The area around his eyes was grey and cracked like the ground in a dry desert. The area directly above and below his eyes was covered with some sort of black and purple substance. After they had sized each other up, Kaecilius looked at Stephen.

Stephen Strange, he seemed to be speaking, but his mouth wasn't moving. His voice reverberated throughout the apartment. You will lose everything.

"I have nothing left to lose," Stephen said. 

You have one thing. Or, shall I say person. Kaecilius turned towards the direction of Rachael's bedroom. 

"No," Stephen whispered. He tried to run to stop Kaecilius, but his feet wouldn't work. "Stay away from her, do you hear me? Don't you dare hurt her! Rachael! RACHAEL!"

Stephen's eyes snapped open. He was drenched in sweat and shaking. He didn't know if it had just been a bad dream or not, but he wasn't taking any chances. He got up and threw his clothes on. He grabbed the Eye of Agamotto (his relic) and put it on. He calmed himself down and focused on what he had to do. He lifted his shaking hand (the shaking was down to a minimum now and made the same sparked circle that the Ancient One had his first day here. He thought about where he wanted to be and then stepped through the circle. He prided himself on actually being in his apartment. He looked around. Everything seemed to be as it should be. He stopped to think for a moment. What if Kaecilius wasn't even here and he had just invaded Stephen's dreams as bait to get him out of the temple?

Stephen heard a thump down the hall. There were two options here: either Rachael had fallen out of bed like she did sometimes or Kaecilius was a clumsy person. Stephen decided to make sure Rachael was okay and approached the hallway quietly. He saw the door to Rachael's bedroom was open. She never left the bedroom door open. His lip curled again. Stephen straightened himself up to look formidable and then went into the room. Kaecilius was standing in the room, looking down at Rachael's sleeping form. 

"It's nice of you to come, Strange," he murmured, not looking at him. Stephen went to the other side of Rachael's bed slowly. He glared at Kaecilius.

"Why are you here?" he asked. 

"To make you suffer," Kaecilius said, giving Stephen a quick glance. 

"Get out. I'm warning you. Stay away from her," Stephen said. "If you so much as think about hurting her, I'll...I'll..."

"You'll what, Strange?" Kaecilius tilted his head. "Your magic isn't advanced enough to kill me yet."

"No, but it is strong enough to hurt you," Stephen snarled. "Now, for the last time: Get. Out." 

"Very well, Strange," Kaecilius said, starting to slink away. 

Stephen watched him carefully, becoming suspicious. He cast an invisible shield over himself and Rachael. He was glad he did, too. When Kaecilius got to the door, he whirled around and sent a blast at Stephen. It hit the shield and bounced back at Kaecilius, who darted away. The blast of magic hit the door with a crash, making it shatter. 

Stephen took down his own shield, but left Rachael's up. He put his hands together and then pulled them apart to reveal four long strings of sparks. It was hard and took lots of concentration. After he had it the length he wanted, he let it go from his right hand and turned to Kaecilius. He used the rope of sparks like a whip and lashed out at Kaecilius. Kaecilius jumped to the side, just narrowly avoiding it.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" a voice Stephen hadn't heard in a year screamed. "WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE, AND WHY IS SOME SORT OF HARRY POTTER THING GOING ON IN MY ROOM?!"

"Rachael, it's me!" Stephen said, turning around so she could see him. He was somewhat hurt she hadn't recognized him. 

"Stephen?" Rachael breathed. She looked behind him and her eyes widened. "LOOK OUT!"

Stephen rolled away just in time. The dagger that Kaecilius had intended for him pierced the shield protecting Rachael. Stephen doubled its power and glared at Kaecilius. Kaecilius glared back at him and then he turned to look at Rachael. Stephen ran around him and stood in front of Rachael's bed.

"This woman, Miss Rachael Barrow, is under my protection," Stephen said. 

"By what power?" Kaecilius challenged. 

"By my power," Stephen gave Kaecilius a challenging look, just daring him to try and hurt Rachael again. 

"You barely have any power," Kaecilius said quietly. 

"I have just enough to assure that you never come near her again," Stephen said. "Now, get out of here and never ever even think about hurting her."

"We will meet again, Stephen Strange," Kaecilius said. "And after I kill you, your beautiful companion will be the first to go." 

"Good luck with that," Stephen said. "Get. Out."

Kaecilius glared one last time at Stephen and Rachael before walking out the door. Stephen put up a shield in front of it in case he tried to get back in and took down Rachael's. He heard the door shut, but decided to go investigate anyway.

"Stay here, please," he murmured to Rachael. 

He checked to make sure Kaecilius had left the apartment. He had. There was no sign of him, not even when Stephen used magic to check. Stephen went back to Rachael's room and saw that she was still just sitting in bed.

"Hi," Stephen smiled tiredly at her.

Rachael jumped out of her bed and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. The impact made the exhausted Stephen lose his footing and fall down. Rachael was hugging him tightly and not letting go. Stephen was reminded of the way his mother used to hug him.

"Rachael, I can't breathe!" Stephen said. Rachael loosened her grip, but didn't let go. He could feel her body shaking as she cried. "Hey, you're okay. I'm here." Rachael finally let go of Stephen and slapped him. "Ow! Geez, what was that for?"

"What the hell, Stephen?!" she screamed, wiping her eyes. "You disappear off the face of the earth for a year, and then I wake up to see you fighting some creepy dude in my apartment? What the heck?"

"Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" Stephen smiled. 

"That's not the point!" Rachael said. "The point is that you scared me half-to-death! I though you were dead!" 

"Well, evidently, I'm not," Stephen joked. 

"No, you're not," Rachael sighed. She hugged him again, more gently this time. Stephen hugged her back this time, finally feeling whole again. He had missed her so much. 

"I missed you," he said. 

"I missed you more," Rachael said, nuzzling him and letting out a small sob. "I thought... I thought the last thing we said to each other was going to be a fight."

"Oh, Rachael, shh..." Stephen murmured. "It's okay. I'm here now, I'm here."

"Where did you go?" Rachael sniffed, wiping her eyes. 

"Kathmandu," Stephen confessed.

"WHAT?!" Rachael said. "You really didn't want to be near me anymore, huh?" 

"No, that wasn't it," Stephen said. "It was because of my hands. I heard that someone could heal me."

"Did they?" Rachael asked. Stephen sighed.

"No," he confessed. "But I can do what you just saw."

"Well, are you going back?" Rachael asked. Stephen pulled her back into a hug.

"I'm not going anywhere," he assured gently, kissing her head.

"Wrong," a voice said from the doorway.

"Shoot," Stephen hissed through gritted teeth. He stood up to see the Ancient One standing in the doorway of Rachael's bedroom. "Ancient One-"

"I don't want to hear it, Stephen," she held up her hand. She looked angry. Stephen gulped. "Come with me."

"Stephen, who is she?" Rachael asked.

"My teacher," Stephen said. "I'd better go."

"I'm coming with you," Rachael said defiantly, grabbing her phone from the nightstand next to her.

Stephen grinned at Rachael and looked back at the Ancient One for permission. She rolled her eyes, but nodded all the same. She made the same sparked circle Stephen had used to get to his old apartment. The Ancient One stepped through it first, followed by Stephen and Rachael. Stephen was hanging his head low, upset about disappointing the Ancient One. Rachael nudged him.

"Thank you," she said. "If it's worth anything, I thought you were very brave."

"Mordo," the Ancient One called. He came into the room.

"Yes, Ancient One?" he said.

"Take Miss Barrow to Stephen's room," she said. "I've got to teach my apprentice a lesson."

Stephen looked down at his feet. He looked like a little kid who had got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Rachael stepped in front of him.

"If I may say something, he was just trying to protect me," she said. "Please don't punish him for that."

"I know he was, my child," the Ancient One said. "But he still went without my permission. He must be punished for his actions."

Rachael sighed and nodded. She gave Stephen a quick kiss on the cheek and followed Mordo to Stephen's room. When she was gone, Stephen looked to the Ancient One. She was facing away from him.

"Ancient One, I-"

"I'm very disappointed in you, Stephen," she said. "Not only did you use magic to go to New York without my permission, but you also battled a master of the dark realm. Worse than that, you put your friend in danger."

"Please hear me out," Stephen said. "Kaecilius appeared in my dreams. I had reason to believe that he would have killed Rachael had I not gone there."

"Did it even occur to you that he knows of the power you possess and was trying to lure you there to kill you?" the Ancient One snapped, turning around to face Stephen.

"But what if he really was going to kill her?" Stephen asked.

"Did he try to kill her during your fight?" the Ancient One asked. 

Stephen looked down. "Eventually. I will admit that I was his target at first, but he did try to go after her." 

The Ancient One sighed. "If that happens again, you will get me first. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Stephen nodded. "But I don't think it will."

"It best not," the Ancient One warned. "Now that the scolding is over, I feel like I may say this: I am impressed by you. There is a strength to you, Stephen. You were able to battle Kaecilius and live to tell the tale. Quite a feat for an apprentice, if you ask me." 

"Thank you, Ancient One," Stephen bowed his head. 

"You put Rachael's needs before yours, something you might never have done before," the Ancient One continued. "I'm proud of you." 

Stephen lifted his head, surprised. He'd just done something he shouldn't have. Shouldn't he be getting a lecture and not praise? The Ancient One was looking at him expectantly. Stephen wondered if this was a test.

"With all due respect, Ancient One, I don't know if it was sensible. I should have gotten you or Mordo," he said. 

"I believe that you tried your best," the Ancient One said. "Just don't do it again. Now, go get some rest. When you wake, come back down for more training."

"Thank you," Stephen said. He got up and turned around to leave. 

"Stephen?" the Ancient One called. 

"Yes?" Stephen said, turning around.

"Treat her right this time," the Ancient One said.

"I will," Stephen nodded. He returned to his room and saw that Rachael was already curled up in his bed. When she saw him, she started to get up.

"Sorry, I'll sleep somewhere else-"

"No, no, it's fine," Stephen said. "We can share a bed for what remains of the night."

"Is that okay?" Rachael asked. 

"It's fine," Stephen scoffed. "Just lay back down."

Rachael shrugged and curled back up, her back to Stephen. He laid down next to her and put his back to hers. It was a little cramped, but Rachael was pretty small so it worked.

"Goodnight, Stephen," Rachael murmured sleepily.

"Goodnight, Rachael," Stephen whispered, closing his eyes and letting sleep overtake him.

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This will most likely be the last update for the week since I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow. I'm taking my laptop, though, so who knows? Maybe you'll get something.

Today's soon-to-be-released Doctor Strange merchandise is:

A set of glasses! I'm drinking my Dr. Pepper out of nothing else from now on.