A week later..

I stirred out of my sleep when the constant bell ringing hit my ears. Groaning I sat up and made my way towards the front door, rubbing my eyes to help them focus I fumbled with the door until it opened leaving me to glare at the knocker with distaste..

"Is that a baby grow?" Aaron asked with amusement.

Giving him a death glare I stepped aside and let him in. "Aaron, what the hell?" I asked looking to see it was 4.27am.

"You're mad. I should go." He paused turning towards the door.

"No..." I paused and yawned hard.

"Oh kitten." He laughed softly as I pushed my head into his chest giving him a hug.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" I asked against him.

"I've come home and the house... It's not right. Can I stay tonight?" He asked unsure.

"Yeah. As long as I get the left side of the bed and we spoon. Oh and it's a onesie."

"Of course it is.." He replied rubbing his large hand up my back.

Now I felt ridiculous, stood here in my tiger onesie whilst the man I had been trying to impress arrived unannounced. Normally I wouldn't have opened the door so willingly but I didn't understand time or how the world worked when I was half asleep.

I felt his lips against my forehead before he returned to get a bag out of his car.

Turning on the coffee machine I waited for it to heat up when Aaron came back. Wrapping his arms around me he turned the machine off.

"Time for bed."

I didn't need to be told twice, my gran would turn in her grave at my hospitality but I didn't give a hoot right now. Taking his hand I walked to bed, all whilst wishing this was a different night, a different outfit and a different reason to be inviting Aaron to my room.

Thank god I had tidied.

I climbed back into bed and laid there whilst he stripped off and climbed in beside me in boxers and a top.

We shuffled until we were comfortable and that my hair, which now resembled a mane was not in his face.

"Was it bad?" I asked quietly in the dark with my head on his chest whilst his hand played with my hair and ear gently.

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?" I asked lifting my head up to see him in the low light.

"I will be." He replied giving me a convincing smile, he brushed his thumb over my cheek before I laid my head down gently to listen to his even heartbeat.

********

I woke an hour later to muttering, I was on my side of the bed having moved in my sleep. Looking at Aaron, I saw his body shudder and thrash around.

"No.."

"Back off."

"No!" He shouted making me jump. I watched his head snap side to side, it was hard to watch, after a few seconds of him struggling I tried to wake him.

I narrowly avoided a fist.

"Aaron come on.. Aaron." I whispered pushing his chest with my hand. However when he didn't stir, and got worse. I had no option but to straddle him carefully to avoid being punched or elbowed.

I shook his chest before sitting back as an arm came towards me.

"No!"

"Za... Theo! Nooo!"

"Aaron?! Wake up!" I demanded.

When all else failed, I slapped him across the face. Lightly! Of course!

The action made him jump awake and freeze to find a wild woman in a tiger onesie straddling his waist.

"What the fuck?" He asked.

"You awake? You almost punched me." I answered.

"Shit.. shit I'm sorry." He frowned hiding behind his hands.

"Don't sweat it. Nightmares huh?" I asked looking down at him.

"Yeah. Sorry babe."

"It's okay." I patted his arm and went to move off him when he sat up giving me a hug. With his head in my chest, I gave him a rub on the back feeling a little sorry for him.

He'd done this years, how long had he been having nightmares for? My mind also went to Maria, wondering if she too had to deal with something like this.

His head moved up and a small kiss touched my neck before Aaron made a trail to my mouth placing a searing kiss down.

I let out a soft moan as he pulled my body closer to his whilst he continued kissing me. My fingers ran over his chest and pulled on his shoulders gently wanting to keep him to me when I had to pull away.

Breaking off the kiss he paused giving me a little frown "You- you don't want me like that?" He asked.

I sighed "I do. But not now."

"Because of the nightmares?" He asked unsure.

"No, because I'm in a tiger onesie, looking half dead and you're looking for a distraction. Our first time, I want to look half decent if nothing else." I replied rubbing my thumbs on the sides of his neck soothingly.

"I don't care what you're wearing.. In fact I have to take it off." He whispered.

"Aaron.." I whispered back "Not when I don't feel sexy."

"But it's cute." He smirked.

"It's horrendous, I only wear it out of comfort."

He chuckled nuzzling into my neck "I understand, but I still find you hot. Even in that giant baby gro."

I groaned almost bashing my head against the bed frame as he pulled us back down. I placed my hand by the side of his head and sat up. Dawn was almost here as I could see him more in the room from the growing light outside.

His hand came up holding my face "I'm gonna treat you so good. You're never gonna want me to leave.." He whispered.

I tried to stop it, but I laughed..

"Did you just quote a pretty woman?" I asked giggling.

"Richard Gere used that line?"

I couldn't help laugh a little harder. "No babe. Julia Roberts did. And she was prostituting that night."

Aaron's eyes widened "I wasn't- I didn't mean-"

"Relax," I replied. "I know you didn't mean me. But maybe stick to Star Wars."

He nodded as I got off him and laid beside him. I watched his awkwardness beside me before he looked at me to see if I was looking.

"What?"

"I uh- male problems." He answered.

I giggled "Does that mean, even looking half dead in a tiger onesie. I still have the force?"

He laughed shaking his head "Unfortunately yes." He answered with a tinge to his cheeks.

"The force strong with this one?" I asked.

He groaned "Stop. For a nerd, it's pretty hot to hear a girl quote Star Wars."

I patted his arm sympathetically "Much to learn you still have." I answered before laughing even harder when he hit me with a pillow.

We laughed his problem off and both yawned heartedly.

"Hey?" I whispered across to him.

"Yeah?"

"Race you to sleep?" I challenged.

Aaron chuckled "You're on."

"Because you've got a problem.." I nodded to his manhood.

"Lun-"

"I just wanna hold your hand." I interrupted.

He grumbled under his breath, it sounded like I was killing him or something similar.

"Night night. Oh and this thing has a tail so if you feel anything poking you..."

He began laughing silently beside me, looking across I found his hand over his face.

"What?" I asked amused.

"You got a good excuse, I could still poke you but it wouldn't be a tail."

I gasped and swatted him playfully "Rude boy."

"Go to sleep." He ordered.

"Yes Mr. Goodwin."

"Behave Miss Clarke." He replied making me smile and settle down.

Eventually I fell back to sleep, just from the feel of his hands playing with my hair, I think I won the race.