In the middle of the night, I wake up startled, as I am suddenly reminded that I am not alone in my room or in my bed. In the moonlight streaming in from my window, I see Alex in the throes of a nightmare. He abruptly sits up straight in bed, breathing hard and sweating profusely.

I sit up with him. "Shh, it's okay," I say, reaching out to rub his back. He's almost gulping for air, but what startles me most are the tears streaming down his face. Although awake, he still looks trapped by whatever images just invaded his mind.

"Alex, it's not real. You're here, with me. Whatever is going on in that mind of yours just let it go," I urge, pulling him back to bed. He allows me to do so, but he turns his face away from me.

I reach over and turn his face back. "There is no shame in tears," I say, brushing them away with my fingertips. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He just shakes his head no. "Sorry, I woke you, Cat. Maybe it is better if I don't sleep in the same room as you. You need your sleep."

"Don't be ridiculous. It was only a nightmare," I say, but he's shaking his head again and puts one arm up to cover his eyes.

"I wish it were. Unfortunately, it's a memory, not a nightmare, or well, the nightmare is the memory. I never know when it's going to strike, but it usually happens at night. It's one reason I work so late. I hate going to sleep. I shouldn't have shared this room with you."

"Why did you?" I ask, since he sounds so certain. It makes no sense. I can't see his eyes, but I can make out the faint smile that appears on his lips.

"The two nights we slept together. Those two nights ... I got probably the best sleep of my life. I thought being here with you would keep the nightmare at bay. Looks like I was wrong."

I want to help him. I want more than anything to make him feel better the way he has done for me so often. As I get out from under the quilt, he pulls his arm away to see where I am going.

I grab a lighter blanket from the bottom of the bed and I join him again on top of the heavy quilt. I cover us both with the light blanket and move my little cub to the other side of me, but not before kissing the top of the stuffed animal's head.

"What are you doing?" he asks, perplexed, as I snuggle in with him under the blanket. I lay my head on his chest, listening to his still pounding heart, and I wrap an arm and leg over him.

"Those other two times we were snuggling," I say, not looking at him, fearing I will lose my courage if I do.

He says nothing, but his hand reaches over and strokes my bare arm. He grabs my hand and pulls it close to his heart, which allows me to feel his heartbeat slowing down. "Cat, I..."

I hush him again. "Think of me as a substitute teddy bear. I'm here, and I'm not letting you go until you fall asleep. I promise to stick close. You have nothing to fear because I won't let anything happen to you."

He rolls over to face me and gathers me up in a way that makes me feel like a stuffed animal in his arms. "Thank you, Cat."

I smile against his chest and snuggle in under his chin. "Sweet dreams, Alex."

He rubs his chin along the top of my head. "Sweet dreams, Cat."

I'm not sure how long it took, but I felt every muscle in his body relax and slowly but surely his breathing becomes deep and even. Truth is, I sleep way better too, just knowing he's here. I enjoy the feel of his arms around me, his head resting on mine. My one leg trapped between both of his. I feel my eyes getting heavier and yet resist sleep. I love this feeling right here, right now, and I don't want it to end, but sleep claims me anyway.

_ _ _

Morning arrives and I find it wasn't a dream. I'm still curled up in Alex's arms, and I sigh. How can something so wrong feel so right?

I feel him stroke my hair and I freeze. He's awake. I lift my head to look at him and find him smiling down at me. "So, it would seem your theory worked. You found the missing ingredient."

I giggle. "It would seem so. I'm guessing you slept, okay?" I ask.

"Never better," he tells me, "but I think if we stay in this bed much longer your family is going to create rumors about us."

I think of Dillion and know he's right, but I am so reluctant to let him go. Seeing no other choice, I sit up and Alex's look appears to be one of disappointment.

He confirms it by saying; "Well, it was nice while it lasted."

I get out from under the blanket. "No worries. I'm here all week, remember? If you're ever in need of a cuddle buddy, you know where to find me."

"Is that a promise?" he asks, still not getting out of bed.

To his surprise, I shake my head no. "That's a guarantee."

He laughs. "Good to know." I take a moment to memorize how he looks lying there before I grab my clothes and head towards the door.

"Thanks for the sweet dreams, Cat," he says, and I look back to see him sitting up. The blanket is now at Alex's waist, giving him the appearance of being naked in my bed.

Forget that last image. This is the image I now have burned in my brain. "You're welcome," I say, smiling. I smile to myself all the way down the hall to the bathroom.

"Well, aren't we bright and cheerful this morning?" Dillion teases, bumping into me as he leaves the bathroom. "I wonder what could be the cause?" He pretends to ponder this seriously as he rubs his chin. I push past him into the bathroom and shove him out of the door. I hear him chuckling all the way down the hall as I shut the door and lock it, hoping to shut out the world out for a little while.

I look at myself in the mirror and realize my brother is right. I can't stop smiling. I shake my head and jump in the shower. I don't linger long, knowing Alex is most likely going to want to grab a shower, too.

I quickly get dressed and as I pass my room, I knock on the door. "Bathroom's open. I'll see you downstairs when you're ready."

"Okay," Alex replies, and I head downstairs. My mom has just started breakfast, so I offer to lend her a hand. Together we make quick work of the bacon and toast she plans on serving everyone, but then we get to the eggs.

"Does Alex have a preference on how he likes his eggs?" my mom asks.

"Can't say," I tell her, figuring I'll ask him when he comes down.

"Well, I know it's over easy for my KittyCat," Mom says, smiling at me.

"Uh... let's make them scrambled. In fact, I'll scramble enough for me and Alex and then we'll be done," I say, as I if there's no other reason I would have for doing this. Why am I acting so weird, it's just eggs?

Mom's eyes narrow on me like a mother does when she knows something is up, but can't quite put her finger on it. However, since it's my mom, she quickly shrugs and says, "Okay, then. I'll start putting the rest of the food on the dining room table."

My brother joins me in the kitchen. "Smells good in here. It's been a while since I have had a home cooked meal."

I smile at him from the stove. It really is good to have him back. "You decide when you're going to say something?" my brother asks.

My eyes widen, and I shake my head no as Mom enters the room. She's zeroed in on me like a hawk, now that she has validation that her MOMdar wasn't off.

"You have something to say?" she asks, and I watch my brother facepalm and mouth sorry. He obviously thought we were the only ones awake.

"We were talking last night and Dillion mentioned it's been a long time since he's had my lasagna and he wants me to ask you if it's alright if I make it tonight."

"Oh," Mom says, suddenly bright and chipper since there is nothing ominous lurking on the horizon. "I don't have any of the fixings to make it though, Cat."

"That's okay. I can get them."

"Going out again?" she pouts.

"You'll have me all morning and afternoon," I say, handing her two plates of scrambled eggs for the table.

"Well, I know how much Dillion loves your lasagna so... okay, fine."

I kiss her cheek. "Thanks, Mom."

Dillion chimes in with, "Yeah, thanks Mom."

"I'm going to put these out there and go see if I can't rouse your father to join us. Will you put on the coffee and put out a pitcher of juice?" she asks me.

"You got it," I tell her. As she leaves the room, I throw an oven mitt at my brother.

"I'm sorry," he pleads. "I swear I didn't know she was awake yet. Still, Tiger... you can't put this off forever."

"I know," I say, filling up the coffeemaker and turning it on to brew.

"So what's the game plan?" he asks, joining me and grabbing the juice from the fridge. I hand him Mom's glass pitcher.

"I don't have one."

"Well, you could do it when we are all together as a group or we could divide and conquer, telling Mom first to get her used to the idea. Then you'd have her on board to keep Dad's head from exploding. Either way, you know there's absolutely no chance in hell that this is going to go well, so there's no point in putting off the inevitable."

I know he's right, but I'm just not ready yet. "Maybe over dinner?" I say.

Dillion puts his hand on my shoulder saying, "When the time comes just remember, Tiger, you're not in this alone. You got me and Alex."

As if on cue, Alex comes into the kitchen. "Did I hear my name? You two aren't whispering about me, are you?"

I blush, although I have no reason to. We weren't talking about him at all, but knowing I am keeping my own secrets about the situation doesn't help matters.

"My sister was just telling me how good looking she thinks you are," Dillion says.

Once again, my eyes go wide and I stomp on Dillion's foot.

"Son of a... Mm mmm!" Dillion swears, nearly dropping the pitcher of orange juice.

"I said nothing of the sort," I growl at Dillion. "Not to say that you're not... well, you know... good looking," I fumble.

Alex raises an eyebrow and grins mischievously at me.

"She totally thinks you're hot," my brother adds, as he leaves the room to ensure I can't do any more damage.

"I said nothing about anyone being hot!" I retort. Speaking of hot, I swear my cheeks are on fire.

"He didn't say you said it, he said you thought it," Alex corrects, as he walks towards me and suddenly feel in a panic.

"Do you...? Think I'm hot?" Alex inquires.

"Pfft, please, you're hot by anyone's standards. I'd have to be an idiot to say no, and as you obviously put in time and effort to make yourself look that way, you'd have to know that people are going to notice."

"Wow, that's the best non-compliment I've ever gotten," Alex teases. "But we aren't talking about what other people think. I believe we are talking about what you think."

I am saved by my mom's return to the kitchen. "Oh, Good Morning Alex!" my mom says, beaming at him.

"Good Morning!" he replies, smiling back at her. My brother comes back into the room and upon seeing the big smile on my mom's face, he looks at Alex and jokes, "My mom thinks you're hot, too."

"Dillion Thomas Fischer!" Mom says, swatting him. "The things you say. I know I didn't raise you to have that kind of mouth," she protests, but I swear she's blushing, which causes Dillion to chuckle at her.

"Breakfast is ready," she says. "Shall we?"

"Isn't Dad coming?" I ask. Her good mood suddenly evaporates. "He's got something else he needs to do."

My brother looks angry, but he exhales a slow breath and puts his arm around my mom. "Who needs him, anyway? Besides, now you can get away with sitting next to Alex for the entire meal."

My mom giggles and shakes her head at Dillion's nonsense. She elbows him in the ribs so that he releases her, but her smile is back.

"I'm just saying," Dillion states, holding his hands up in surrender.

We all take our seats around the table and although Alex doesn't end up sitting next to my mom, he is sitting across from her. "Everything looks delicious," Alex says.

"Thank you. KittyCat helped, of course," my mom tells him, wanting to give me credit.

"Oh, coffee! Does anyone want coffee?" I ask, and everyone chimes in with a resounding yes. "I'll help you, Tiger." Dillion offers.

Once he is in the kitchen alone with me, he pulls me aside. "I think you should tell Mom."

"Now?" I ask nervously.

Dillion puts his hands on my shoulders. "Dad's not here. Do you know of a better time? Besides, you have Alex and me with you. Together we will get Mom to understand you need her."

I let out a slow breath. "Okay," I say. "Let's do this."