Dream's POV

I see the tree I planted growing tall outside his house, and a tall fence surrounding the house's property. I stand up, feeling weaker, and notice that all my wounds still came with me and I sigh, shaking my head. A bit ironic that they eliminated all my scars only to have those challenges give me new ones. I knock shakily at the door but get no answer, then find it unlocked. I step inside my home, curiously exploring how strangely empty it is. I call out for my mom or brothers. I get no answer and calling for Palette doesn't make a difference, echoing down the halls. Everything is neatly kept in place from the chairs arranged around tables and the portraits on the walls perfectly angled without any dust. Everything is carefully cared for yet nobody is here....

I frown, recalling the warning I was given still freshly in my mind. How long was I gone and does everyone really think that I am dead? Hopefully, my aura's return to the multiverse can be sensed and recognized to bring them good news, even if it's faint or distant. I know that I'm really only lucky to survive since as long as my mother lives, she's in control and owns me by that realm's standards, getting to choose if I or anyone can live freely or not. But part of that comes with protection since any balance-keeper she has under her control cannot be harmed or killed by other beings. Other beings cannot decide our ends, if any. But where is my mother?

I walk into the kitchen, finding the fridge covered in notes and pictures. Each year shows a gradual shift and has different people in them but consistently are members of the family and our inner circle. I see Mom gradually healing and getting stronger in each image, yet Nightmare and Mom seem to have fake smiles and more sadness in their eyes with each picture I look at. Error and Swap are included in a few with Obscuro in the center smiling with Palette. Palette goes through a process of growing up through each picture, soon including Goth and clearly showing that years have passed...He has grown up so much...Everyone has grown and changed...Obscuro seems the only one genuinely happy or hopeful in these pictures as some sense of gloom is at least hinted at in each of their faces as the rest put on smiles. Nightmare eventually stops smiling in the pictures altogether...Obscuro probably made them take these and kept putting them on the fridge, given how empty this place is and how covered the fridge is. There's one for each year and I counted fifty pictures, each with dates on them so I was gone for at least that long. Fifty years...Yeah, that long of an absence would probably be an assumed death...But I feel a bit of relief as it is nowhere near 500 years. I glance up with a frown, shaking my head and bitterly glaring at where I know the other realm can watch from.

"Screw all of you for letting my family suffer this long! Fifty years for some amusement? Hope you're happy now and that it was worth it!"

I shake my head, walking out to check the yard. I step back to where I was frozen as a statue and find some flowers tied to a note. I pick it up and gasp, seeing that it was a very personal note from Palette. I read it very carefully.

"Dear Dad,

Hello. I don't know when you'll read this or if you will ever get the chance to come back and know that this note exists...I don't know how long you'll be frozen there or where I'll be by then...I don't know a lot of things...But what I do know is that I am grateful. I know you and I am lucky to have known you. You took me away from a bad situation, took me into your home when you never had to, protected me, and gave me a chance to have a real childhood...a real life and family...You raised me like your own and even though the multiverse's chaos often demanded your attention or took you away for a bit, you always made an effort to be there for me and keep me safe. You were always present in my life if not already trying to be there...Which is more than what I can say about the ones I was meant to be raised by...They never considered me like you did...Things were strange but it was definitely better. You gave me love, shelter, food, gifts, fun, guidance, inspiration, stability, oh what else? Oh right, happiness. You took on so much to give me a life that I never thought of having...a life for a kid you hardly knew existed prior and when you already had a lot on your plate...You have no idea how much that means to me and how much you have changed my life for the better and I will always treasure those moments of family bonding we had. I may not have been able to protect you as much as you did for me(still no regrets about smacking Unclemare with orange paint), but I want you to know that I'll still try. I'll find a way to free you from this statue someday so that I can say all this to your face. And if I can't find a way, then I'll keep our family together...keep my uncles from falling apart. I know that's what you would've wanted. I'll keep your reputation intact and make sure everyone is safe. If you want to find me, you can check with Mr. Reaper. At the time that I'm writing this, I moved in with my boyfriend Goth(who I hear you also advised and supported so thank you for that!) and we are probably not far from the home you raised me in that Unclemare put a tall gate around. I guess what I want to say is...thank you, Dream, for being the dad that cared. Thank you, Dad, for everything. -Palette"

I feel tears slip from my eyes, stinging the scars surrounding them after reading the note over a few times. I wipe them and hug the note close to my chest. That was so much emotion and genuine thoughts in one place...so much joy mixed with pain...Yet has the tone of someone saying goodbye or having to say goodbye to someone they'll lose...I feel so bad for missing time with him in that realm and not being there for him growing up, even though it was out of my control. I feel bad for being gone and for having circumstances that made him feel that he had to write this note...I cannot imagine what he felt leaving it at the statue that must've been considered my grave after being stuck there for so long...My wounds start to sting and I return inside. I set the note and flowers aside, knowing I have to fix myself before I fix the pain my loved ones felt in my absence.

One step at a time...I have to find them...talk to them in person...

I find bandages in the bathroom and carefully bandage myself. I check my bedroom, finding everything carefully kept in place neatly yet untouched. My phone is plugged in, bed neatly made, jewels shining brightly on a pillow as if freshly cleaned. It looks as if I just stepped out for a moment or like someone was going to return any minute, everything set up like it was a normal day. I grab my necklace, putting it on as well as my earring. I sit on the living room couch to let my body relax and heal, checking my phone to see what's today date which confirms that I was gone for 50 years.

Then I see a wedding invitation coming up for Lust and Dance. I sigh with relief that I haven't missed everything with all my loved ones...maybe I can start making up for my absence and reconnecting....I am so happy for Lust!

I dial his number and call him with a smile. He actually answers, making me even happier.

"Congratulations, Lust! I just got home and saw the announcement! Sorry if it's late but I'm so happy for you buddy!"I say

"Huh? Dream? You-I-uh, errr....Thanks! Guess that means you're attending?"

"If you want me to!"

"And Swap told me that I may be down a groomsman...Of course I want you there, Dream. Now, please excuse me. I have to take another call coming in."

"Of course! I know you're probably busy! Talk to you again soon!"I say before hanging up.

(Meanwhile with Lust: *dials a call to Obscuro* Does someone mind telling me how the groomsman I was told is stuck in stone just called me? How the hell is that possible, darling?)

I glance at the family portrait on the wall and sigh. I should probably tell his family that he's back...probably better to do so in person. I gather my strength to go outside again, climbing over the fence when seeing that there's no gate to go through. I wander around to find the house Palette mentioned in the note. I find it easily in the distance and confirmed it when reading Palette+Goth on the mailbox out front...but nobody was home.

So, the next best option is to find Nightmare. He's most likely at the castle while Obscuro can be anywhere. I decide to teleport to Nightmare's castle, finding it a lot darker than usual. It's still merged with a copy of the base Error made but a storm is brewing over Nightmare's castle specifically. The other half of the base doesn't have that storm over it. I push against the pouring rain and rough winds to knock at the castle doors, only to get no answer. I have to lean on the walls to stay standing and not get sent away by the forceful winds. I doubt my knocks were heard over the howling winds so I move along the walls to find the other entrance in Error's half of the base. I knock at the door and Horror opens the door, a ring now on his finger and his eye shrinking at the sight of me. I smile nervously, waving to him.

"Hi...."I say

"You've got to be kidding me..."He says

"Congrats on the engagement! Farmer I assume?"I say

"Mhm, I'm a part-timer here now...Get in already."He says, inviting me in.

I enter and he has me sit in a chair, wrapping me in towels and weighted blankets to dry off my cold, soaked condition. He seems to examine me with his gaze, noticing each scar and wound. He seems unsettled at the state of my skull with the large cracked area around one of my eyes.

"Is that what happens when being in stone for years?"He hesitantly asks

"These? Oh, no. These are just from some...tests in the other realm...Good news, I won so they won't meddle with this multiverse...I got freed from the statue...I got plenty more skills but I'm probably going to have these scars and cracks forever...reminders of different expectations...They said that it's proof that I forced myself out of their expectations...No longer the perfectly pure picture of positivity as they said...At least now, Nightmare won't have any guilt tied to these since he didn't cause them...Where is he?"I explain before hesitantly asking my question.

"He's in the castle half of the base...hasn't really come out...It's my turn to be here and keep an eye out for him. Let me get you something to eat before you think of going to him."He says

"Has he been ok to any degree? Or Obscuro?"I ask, assuming that my mother has healed and returned to the other realm by now.

She is at least somewhere safe. I am sure of that since my brothers would protect her.

"What exactly did you return to?"He asks

"An empty house that seems cared for...nobody around...Not that I'm surprised given the time difference between realms...I'm...sorry for being gone this long...It wasn't exactly by choice."I say, bowing my head.

"...I see..."

Then a thought crosses my mind...a line from the prophecy...or part of it..."I see your boyfriend with a man with a trail of bodies..." I should ask after 50 years how he is...

"How are Error and his brother?"I ask

"You haven't called them?" He asks, seeming surprised.

I glance up hesitantly.

"I know coming and talking in person would be better...more believable at least. Technology can do so much these days that if I call, they might think I'm using a voice-changer or something...That's why I came here...to see my brother...I don't know where to begin with finding Obscuro..."I say

"That's a good point. I haven't seen Error since this year's photos that Obscuro pushed to be taken together. He had the gang come together each year to take them. Error...went no contact and I hear that he left his phone or any tech behind in his antivoid. He went to an AU and isolated himself there on a sandy beach...Blip goes there to check on him, but he stays isolated on an island basically...He kept being bothered to find someone else...Fate even apparently..."He says, pointing to a wall covered in yearly photos with the gang.

50 pictures pinned to the wall just like on the fridge, except Obscuro wasn't in the photos unless it was a thumbs up caught in the picture being shown to the gang as they put on smiles.

I frown hearing what Error had to put up with...the fact that he had to hide away and wasn't even secure in his antivoid to have some privacy...That's when it is really bad.

Horror has me eat a meal before I can attempt to get up. He watches me carefully as I eat and hands me a crutch before pointing toward the connecting hall to the castle.

"He should be up in his room but be warned, there isn't a single light on in that castle. He seems to thrive in the dark or not want any lights near him since all this started. Be careful."He tells me

I nod, making my way down the hall with the crutch and climbing a ramp built beside the stairs. I wander through the dark halls, taking breaks for my leg and leaning on the crutch. I eventually find the door to Nightmare's room and knock at the door. I can hear the knock echo down the halls, giving me an eerie feeling at how quiet it is.

"Nightmare? Brother?"I call out, hoping he can hear me through the door.

I knock a few times, hearing it echo down the halls. The only other noise is the storm brewing outside with howling winds and booming thunder.

"Are you in there? Horror let me inside...I don't mean to intrude or interrupt your paperwork, Brother. I'm sorry for being gone...I didn't have control...Are you okay? Is Mom? I...I just want to see you..."I say, trying to think of what to say.

What do I say in this situation? Being gone and assumed dead after being in stone for 50 years? What do I say to a brother who hasn't seen me in anything but statue form when I suddenly arrive at his door? I hear only silence in return and lightning crackles outside. Could this isolated storm reflect his power and overwhelming aura? Could it be the manifestation of what he feels and that be a warning? Maybe this is a bad time and I'm disturbing him...maybe he was resting...Maybe I should check for Obscuro and come back or...try another way...

"Okay...You don't want to talk...It's probably late and you may be asleep...I'll let you rest....Sorry to disturb you...I-"

"Dream?"A voice cuts me off, startling me.

I glance to my right, seeing Nightmare in the hall with a book in one hand and a candle in the other. His eye is smaller than a pea right now, clearly questioning if this is real. I glance down, seeing his ring matching my necklace shine in the candlelight. Seems that our brotherly gift confirms that it's me...It's really him...I got back to him...I got back to my brother before it was too late or too long...But what do I say? I feel tears form with the amount of relief I feel seeing him again...

"Nightmare..."I say

He quickly passes his things to tentacles and pulls me into a hug. He clings to me and I drop my crutch, hugging him tightly. He lifts me up and carries me into his room, setting me on his bed with him. He leans back, gently feeling my skull with a tentacle.

"Your skull...it's cracked..."He says

"It's only minor...Agape is no longer a conscious part of me before you start worrying. No voice in my head...That part just got mixed into my code until it's no longer noticeable...My eye is just orange in the cracked area since they wanted some reminders to stay that I'm the symbol of imperfect positivity now..."I say

"What do you mean? How are you alive? I sensed your aura fade like feeling my hand get sliced off! Mom sensed your soul stop!"He asks, tears filling his eye.

"Well, I got taken away to the other realm because some beings didn't like how boring truces and peace were...didn't like that things were improving with this independent phase of our lives, specifically mine...They want action and conflicts to keep the balance maintained aka to keep being entertained. I argued against that and persuaded some of them so they gave me a challenge. If I won, they'd leave us alone to do as we wish and simply watch. If I didn't, they'd try to reverse everything back to as it was when it was entertaining for them...Would've gotten rid of Mom to do so if she was still in that realm in her weak state...And, well, I won so they're backing off. I'll admit, I got beaten pretty badly in them and there was a point that my soul stopped after a challenge, but it reshaped itself and I woke up again...Some were upset that I'm not the pinnacle of perfectly pure positivity or something. Even my soul shows it as some call it a bittersweet apple due to the new shape it took...I'm not exactly the kind of positivity they expect but I'm the one they have...changed their expectations...we're free...I...I don't know where to start...fifty years...Stars, that's a while..."I explain, still taking in that I'm back and this is real.

It feels overwhelming and unsettling how close things were to going from bad to worse...never going back or having to ruin our happy lives for others...

"Oh, Mom's going to kill them. She tried to rush her recovery so she could find you quicker. She knew that something wasn't right and who'd be responsible....We were all worried about you...What exactly did they put you through?"He says

I chuckle.

"That'd be far too much to list in a single night. I got through it all though and I'm relieved that it wasn't close to a hundred years before I did so...They removed my past scars while trying to edit me but then I got these scars from their challenges so you can be happy that I don't have scars from our past anymore. Have you really kept your castle so dark?"

"Mostly..."He says

"Is Corruption bothering you?"I ask

"I've kept it silent but it still whispers every now and then..."

It's silent for a few moments.

"You're not leaving here until you recover more. I don't like how deep the cracks are in your legs."He says

Then before I could object, Nightmare shoves me down on the king-sized bed and puts a tentacle over my eyes, ordering me to sleep. I reluctantly do so and wake up the next morning with my legs in casts and tied in a sling to the ceiling. I turn my head, seeing Nightmare sitting beside the bed reading. He glances at me and grins. I can sense the relief he is feeling to have me back and smile. No words had to be said. We can sense what we're both feeling and that said enough for us.

I couldn't leave his sight or bed for the next few weeks as I recovered. That's not to say that Nightmare kept my return a secret. All the lights in the castle were lit and the storm outside disappeared as soon as he smiled, confirming my suspicion that his powers or mood was reflected by it. Obscuro tackled me back against the pillows, hugging me and cheering with joy that I was back. I kept recovering my strength and starting to walk again but I was followed everywhere by my brothers. Palette gave me a big hug when he came to visit, crying tears of joy and relief as he squeezed me close as if scared that letting go would make me disappear. Tears came to my eyes as he rapidly repeated everything he wrote in that note and more, leaning against me for hours until he was calm enough to return home to Goth. Blip and Swap also visited and gave me hugs, expressing relief that I was okay.

I spent hours having group discussions with them, trying to explain what happened or why I was done. They kept asking what caused different cracks or scars and how I felt. Nightmare insisted that Blip check my soul to make sure that it was stable and I agreed, surprising them with the sight of it. It's still golden but the corruption is now the black stem and leaf extending from it.

When they thought I had recovered enough, Blip took me to the AU that Error hid away in. E!Gaster spots me and quickly approaches me and I quickly back up.

"If YoU aRe hErE tHeN ErRoR mUsT bE nEaR! YoU mUst kNoW wHeRe hE iS!"

Blip frowns, making him back away from me. E!Gaster looks at me, seeming shocked that he can't get near me.

"WoN'T yOu hElP mE?"

"I think you're the kind of people Error wanted to cut himself off from. You cause a lot of trouble."I say

Blip tells me to go to the shore and keep going across the water in a straight line until I reach land again. I do as told while he handles E!Gaster. I get to the shore, walking on the sand, and grin. I see a sailboat on a dock and borrow it to start sailing across, pulling the ropes to guide it straight ahead as the winds carry me a good distance. Once the breezes settle down, I see a barrier of code up ahead. I recognize it as Error's code. I pull the ropes to steady the boat, unsure how I can cross that barrier. The waves push me right to it. I expected it to push me back but it let me pass through on the boat with a dinging sound heard. The entire barrier turned green so somehow I was accepted in. I don't really question it as I see the hidden island up ahead as the waves push the boat to shore with a boost of a push from the barrier.

The island is decently sized and I can see a shack built on the beach with a forest behind it and a few small huts or other paths. I see the shore getting closer and the sun starts to rise behind the island as I see someone trailing their way across the sandy beach. I can feel my joy and excitement build up in me as I recognize that it's Error. He seems a bit puzzled and squinting ahead toward me, probably questioning how anything got past his barrier. Then I recall the line of the prophecy that I was told years ago...the line about a "man who is dawning"...It is dawn, the sun's rising...I'm back with Error...this is the part of the prophecy predicting good news. My face burns considering what's ahead but quickly shake it off to focus on now and reunite with Error. Yet that didn't really help since the joy of reuniting with him was overwhelming. Fifty years apart...I'll never make him wait that long again...

I see Error's eyes widen once he recognizes me and tears of shock fill his eyes and he covers his mouth. I get the boat to shore, tying it to a wooden post to secure it, and only then realize that at some point my slippers fell off, showing the scars still on my feet. I glance over, seeing him stand with his arms crossed. His gaze looked so empty.

That's when doubt or hesitation crept into my head. What if Error doesn't want to see me? What if this is too sudden? Gone for fifty years without explanation and showing up now? Sure it was out of my control but is it really fair to him? And what state do I return to him in? A cracked mess? Maybe I should've recovered or covered it up more...Maybe he wants everyone to leave him alone and I should've waited for Blip to tell him or for him to come...So it's on his terms with no surprises...Do I sail out to get his brother?

Then a hand appears beside me, presenting me with a contract or paper of some sort.

"Please sign here so that they can't find loopholes."A voice says to take me out of my thoughts

I read through it and grin, seeing that it's solidifying what I fought and argued for, banning any intervention or disruptions that seek to separate me from my loved ones or ruin our bonds for the next 500 years. I see the obvious loophole and add a "+" next to the 500 so that they can't return once that 500 years passed. I sign my name and the hand takes it away.

"You have high LV now which you didn't have before. Do you want me to hide it in your stats?"

"Nah, leave it as it is. Maybe letting others see it will make them back off before they start trouble."I say

"Are you sure that you are alright in your condition? I could provide some clothes to hide the eye sores..."

"You allowed me to be in this condition, you deal with it. Just go talk to Destiny and Will."I say

"I suggest you keep your soul hidden at least. It isn't exactly appealing. And he knows a good soul when he sees one. You should know that, Bitter."

I frown when I hear those words as my soul is summoned. My doubts pounce on those words and I cup my soul, hiding it from sight.

"It's deformed, Bitterswee..."

"Just go."

The hand and the larger aura leaves. I sigh with relief that they're gone and it's in writing now. I glance at my apple-shaped soul. It's still beating with a tinted golden glow. It's still golden but with a black stem, indicating that I'm a bit corrupted or imperfect with a few areas paler or darker than the rest due to whatever chemical hit me. It has settled this way for weeks now but I'm glad that it hasn't caused any issues. Below my soul, it shows my LV as 30. I know I will probably have to keep an eye on that. But can I really show this to Error? Even my soul looks a mess now...is this really the state I should return to him in? I shake my head, trying to dismiss my thoughts. Error was the one who admired me with my scars and talked me out of my doubts. He loves all of me. If he could find beauty in my scars when I looked like that, maybe now wouldn't be so different...Maybe he won't hate how ugly it seems...hate me...I tuck my soul away regardless.

What I didn't expect or realize was that Error was quickly coming over to me and pulling me backward forcefully. He starts glitching and releases me, making me land on the sand and feel my head, a bit dizzy from suddenly being spun around. I glance up, seeing him glaring down at me. I guess fifty years undid his phobia's comfort near me or he is just that angry.

"WhaT diD yOu d0?"He snaps

"Erry?"I say, seeing him whip out his strings.

I nervously back away from him, concerned that he's more than a little upset at my sudden return. He may not even believe that it's me and if he doesn't, those strings could easily...

"AnSwEr mE dReAmY!"He shouts

He still calls me Dreamy so I guess some of my doubts or concerns are wrong.

"Umm, where should I start?"I ask

He scans me carefully and frowns.

"WhAt hApPeNeD tO yOuR sKuLl?"He asks, pointing at the hole around my eye.

"Talon to the face."

"AnD yOuR fEet?"

"Running across burning rocks to get away from a monster."

He points to a scar on my leg and looks at me, prompting me to answer.

I chuckle nervously.

"Are you going to ask me about every scar? We're going to be here for a while if so. None of them are from Nightmare anymore, I can tell you that."I say

He crosses his arms.

"ThEn tElL mE wHo oR wHat hUrT yOu sO tHaT i cAN gO kiLl tHeM."

"They're already dead, Error."I say, flopping back on the sand tiredly.

"WhaT?"

"Check my stats."

I feel him *CHECK me and it is silent for a few moments.

"YoUr sOuL iS diFfErEnT....Is tHaT wHeRe tHOsE nAMEs cAme fRoM? BITtEr?"

"Yeah, some of them like to tease or joke about the record keepers' actions as if that can brush it off. My soul basically adapted and redefined it with a bit of corruption as the stem, thus making people think it'd have a bittersweet taste. Some thought that I was bitter because of it as if it wasn't because I was being kept from my loved ones for who knows how long due to their boredom. I beat them and their challenges though and they failed to keep me away for 500 years or make our bond a phase...My position has been redefined from the guardian of positivity which they assume is pure to now the corrupt or bittersweet positivity...Some call it fitting since dreams can be bittersweet at times...great, I'm rambling again..."I say, glancing away.

"WhAT diD yOu siGn oVeR tHeRe?"

"A contract that puts my demands in writing since I won. Basically they, the record keepers or anyone, won't intervene to disrupt our lives for any reason for their amusement. It originally was set to only be for the next 500 years but I adjusted it so it can't expire or have loopholes...We're free from their trouble and Nightmare says that Mom is probably forcing everything into order so nobody tries this again...There's going to be a lot more rules soon in that realm."

He is silent for a few moments. I sit up, smiling at him.

"I would've been seeing you sooner but in the past few weeks I've been forced to be on bed rest by Nightmare and your brother says that you ditched your phone. He's currently dealing with E!Gaster and I got here with his guidance...not sure how I got past the barrier though."

"YoU'Re wEaRINg tHe eArRiNg, dUH."He says

He kneels down beside me, gazing at me as if checking for something that he doesn't seem fully ready to ask.

"DiD yOu ReAlLy...kiLl?"

I nod.

"I basically got various challenges that included any threat that the multiverse has ever put into existence. Years of fighting or fixing issues in AUs lead to a lot to choose from...I had to eliminate them to get out of there so I did...If I see another owl in the next decade, it'll be too soon."

"WhErE aRe yOuR shOeS?"

"Must've slipped off at some point...I was excited to see you...sorry....for being gone and...coming back a broken mess....I-OOF!"

He knocks me down in a hug, squeezing me tightly.

"ShUT Up. JUsT sHuT Up. I aM jUsT glAd yOu aRe bAcK..."

I carefully hug him back and he sits in my lap, resting his head under my chin. He gently brushes a hand on my chest, quietly seeming to readjust to my company as his glitching settles and processing what I told him. He slowly lifts his head after a few moments, then leans in slowly. I watch him carefully and he pauses, his face burning.

"M-MaY i?"

My face burns and I nod. He leans in, kissing me. It felt so sweet and then slowly, his fingers intertwined with mine, resting his hands with mine. Then he pulls back, resting his forehead on mine and gazing into my eyes.

"NeVeR lEaVe mE liKe tHaT aGaIn."He says

"Wasn't planning on it."I say

We both know that I had no control over this, I can tell in his eyes...It still felt nice to be told that...to be wanted and to be able to stay...

"I love you, Erry."

"I lOve yOu t0o."

I love those words...Sweet Erry...

His arms swoop under me, scooping me up and I glance at him in surprise. His strings guide my arms around his neck.

"YoU aRe c0miNg wiTh mE."

"O-Okay...?"I say

"My dReAmY wOn'T bUrN hIs fEeT On sANd. ThOsE buRnS aNd sCaRs nEeD cArEfUl CaRe."

"Sorry that I-"

"DoN'T saY a WoRd nOw. I kNoW wHaT yOu aRe gOnNa sAy. YoU aRe hAnDsOmE. YoUr sCaRs dEsErVe pRoPer cARe."

"Erry..."

He smirks, carrying me away.

"ThAt vOiCe wAs rIgHt. I kNoW a gOoD sOuL wHeN I sEe oNe aNd I hAvE tHe sWeEtEsT sOuL rIgHt hEre."

I feel my face burn at his words, sensing all the affection behind them.

"Erry-"

"NoPe, dOn'T dEnY iT. I wOn'T aLlOw iT. I-"

"Thank you..."I say, tucking my head into his chest.

He looks at me, seeming surprised at first. Then he smiled, seeing how much his words meant to me. Then he frowns, stomping across the sand.

"I hOpE yOu cLeArEd yOuR cAleNdAr bEcAuSe I aM goInG tO eLiMinAtE aNy tHoUgHt oR mEmOrY tHaT mAdE yOu dOubT tHaT. WhAteVeR tHeY sAiD aBoUt yOu tHaT mAdE yOu tHiNk yOu WeReN'T gOoD wiLl bE gOnE. I wiLl mAkE sUrE oF iT. ThEy bRoKe yOu aNd I wiLl hEaL yOu."

I smile a bit, resting my head against him.  He presses a kiss against my head gently.

"WeLcOmE bAcK dReAmY."

TBC