Bheem ran his hand through the silky strands of her hair, the long dark locks felt feathery soft. He marveled at how beautiful she looked, there was a soft smile on her face, she looked so calm so serene.

It all felt like a dream, him meeting her, marrying her and now as she laid in his arms. She made his heart flutter in a way that never happened before. She was his second wife but things felt new with her. He felt as though the piece of himself that he had lost years ago was now finally back and was laying in his arms.

Her head rested on his chest, as he continued to caress her hair leisurely. The beautiful smile on her face was all the thing that he needed to survive. He couldn't believe, what would the world say if they knew that the mighty Bheem actually feared the tears of a girl. He feared that with his immense power he might end up hurting her, he always had to be double cautious around her, what if he hurt her? The fear was a constant companion that he had since they married her.

He pressed his lips to her forehead, her fruity scent that was tinged with the smell of forest made him sigh. She had this unique fragrance that calmed him instantly. It didn't matter how angry or upset he was, she was all it took to ground him back.

He pulled Nakul's hand, who laid next to him and delicate picked his wife's head, laying it cautiously on his brother's arm. He didn't want to wake her, but it was time for him to for a perimeter check to make sure everything was fine.

He stood up and took a glass to drink some water, a smile appeared on his face as he watched Nakul spoon her close to him from one side and Sahadev on the other. He was  about to turn around when he saw her frown in the sleep, her forehead creased.

Her face slowly turned pale as sweat beaded on her forehead. She began mumbling "No no please. Let me go no!" She slowly began thrashing, the remaining four pandavas were now awake too. "Panchaali wake up." Sahadev said as he tried to shake her awake but in vain. "No please! Let her go! Please!" She called out, her voice breaking as tears stained on her face.

Her thrashing just increased, the pandavas all looked at each other. "Panchaali." Yudhisthir called out as he held her hand.

"Draupadi." Arjun called trying to shake her awake. "Malini." Bheem called her name, half panicking. "Butterfly wake up." Sahadev called out louder, his heart thumping in terror. "Little flower wake up. " Nakul called out, his fear for her increased with each passing moment.

She gasped awake, her heart thumping loudly as she took in deep breaths, Arjun passed her the glass of water as Nakul and Sahadev rubbed her back. Bheem and Yudhisthir held each of her hand in theirs. Arjun held the glass of water to her lips, "Drink." He whispered as he caressed her head, "it was just a dream. " Sahadev assured her and she nodded, her smile strained.

Arjun kept the glass away and hugged her, she hugged him back. She shut her eyes as the screams and cries filled her ears, she knew it wasn't a dream, it never could be. It was the reason that she feared to sleep.

"You're okay. It's okay. Everything is alright." Arjun whispered in her ear as the other pandavas nodded to him, he pressed his lips to her forehead, as he rubbed her back soothingly. "You're okay. " He assured her again and she just nodded, she knew better than to believe those words.

Yudhisthir stared at her face, he noticed that the fear didn't diminish, it stayed there, scaring her and making her jump at every little sound.

After awhile she laid down with all her husbands, she hadn't said a word. The images from the dream kept playing in her mind, she did her best to block them but in vain.

***

"Arya do you know. . ." Yudhisthir smiled hearing his wife tell them another story, "Bhraatashree it would be a miracle to see Panchaali being quite for a day." Nakul teased.

"Oh yeah I could just imagine the peace and calmness without her constant talk." Bheem added making everyone laugh, Kunti smiled at their silliness and she was about to admonish them for teasing her daughter when Panchaali cut her off. "Mata you too?" She pouted, her voice laced with innocence. "Just wait and watch some day I'll go so far away that you all will want to hear my voice but I won't be there. You would want to talk to me but I won't be there. All you will have is silence arya. Maybe then you all can find wives that are quite..." Before she could continue Kunti put her hand on her daughter's lips.

While five voice shouted together, "PANCHAALI!" making her jump, she instantly regretted her words as she saw tears in Kunti's eyes and distress on the faces of her husbands, who looked like they were in pain just thinking about her being separated from them.

"Mata please don't cry, I was just joking. I am so sorry." She apologised as she wiped the tears of her mother, "Once in a day, goddess Saraswati herself is on the tongue of the speaker, thus whatever they say turns out to be the truth. You know how I cried every day because I missed you. I can't afford to lose you again putri."  She cried as she hugged Panchaali, who was now crying too.

"You won't mata. I promise." She whispered making Kunti smile at her and nod, "My putri." She whispered before hugging her daughter. Kunti left to pack some things, when Draupadi turned to her aryas they were glaring at her, she bit her lip nervously.

"Arya. . . " She whispered and was instantly cut off by Nakul, "Not another word Panchaali, not one word." He whispered, his voice a mixture of anger and hurt. "What were you thinking?!" Bheem asked, his voice laced with anger but the pain in his eyes didn't go unnoticed either.

"You thought it was funny Panchaali? Can you see anyone of us laughing?" Arjun asked, his eyes blazing yet a tear traced down his cheek. "You think separation from you is funny for us?" Sahadev demanded, the usually cool and calm twin was blazing with anger as his heart twisted with pain.

"What if something happens and this words turn out to be true. What would we do than? Tell us Panchaali!" Yudhisthir questioned his voice laced with a deadly calm, it was scary to see him so calm.

Panchaali began sobbing, words no longer leaving her mouth. Yudhisthir pulled her in his arms, he knew that they were being too harsh on her childish comment but unknowingly their wife had touched them where it hurt the most. In the entire Aryavart they were known as the most strong and fearless warriors but in this moment, it didn't seem true. They feared, they had a big fear since the return of their Malini, that just like the last time she'll disappear again.

Yudhisthir kissed her forehead as he rubbed her back, "How difficult is it for you to understand that you are everything to us Panchaali. Everything." He confessed making her heart warm up with those butterflies again. He looked at his brothers and at this moment he knew that they needed her, he nodded at them.

Arjun pulled her in his arms, his heart that was beating erratically calmed down a bit, as he felt her in his arms. He couldn't imagine leaving without. "Even if you got away from us, I will hunt you down and bring you back." He promised, as he laid his forehead against hers, a watery laugh left her mouth, "please do so. " She whispered, a smile on her face.

Bheem took her in his arms next, he kissed the tip on her nose. "Anyone who thought about taking you away from us, would be killed by my hands." He promised, as he tightened his arms around her and pressed a kiss on her forehead.

Nakul and Sahadev hugged her together, they didn't say anything but they didn't need to. The way they touched her, they made her feel cherished and cared for. Their touches were delicate and filled with reassurance.

That night, the pandavas and their mother and wife were staying in king Drupad's palace for the night. They planned to leave for Hastinapur early next morning when their the pet eagle of Hastinapur came to them with a message.

The king had ordered the pandavas to leave to help an ally of theirs in the war, it wouldn't take more than 2 days they had said. It was a very simple request but for some reason their hearts were not at ease.

Panchaali cried as she watched her husbands leave the next morning, her heart breaking. She knew she was being stupid, it was not like she was seeing them for the last time. They had promised to return to her soon.

The pandavas  along with Vasudev left, the pandavas rode their horses away but with each mile they felt as though they were losing a piece of their heart. That what they were doing was wrong.

***

King Harshavardhan smiled evilly watching the pandavas and Vasudev leave, one part of his plan was complete, now soon Draupadi would be his. He laughed evilly as he looked at the stupid Pandavas leave.

***

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