I woke up with a start, sitting up and catching my breath. Sweat plastered my bangs to my forehead and I wiped them away feverishly. The nightmare I'd just had was so vivid I was sure it had been reality. But now, sitting here in my safe, secure room with Tsubaki, Liz, and Patty's sleeping figures next to me, I realized it wasn't. Junk food wrappers and pop cans littered the floor from our late-night celebration.

I waited until my heartbeat returned to normal to sit up. I peered outside. It was dark, the middle of the night. Probably somewhere around two in the morning. I shivered, wishing I had thought to put on more than a measly tank top, maybe something thicker like a sweatshirt. I burrowed my head beneath the covers and curled up against Tsubaki's back, trying to clear my head of the lingering images.

The wind howled outside, and I kept thinking of Soul. What if the dream had been real? I squeezed my eyes shut. No, it wasn't. He was fine, in his own room, fast asleep. I was just being paranoid.

I peeked my head up over the covers. It was strikingly dark in the room. I couldn't see anything.

I felt my heartbeat speed up again. I had to get out of this room.

Throwing off the covers, I got up and dashed out of the room, shutting the door behind me. The rest of the apartment was barely any lighter than my room had been. I gulped, walking along the hallway. The floor creaked eerily beneath my bare feet. I stopped in front of Soul's door, wondering to myself what I was doing. Without second thoughts, I slowly opened the door and crept inside.

There were three beds. One was Soul's and the other two were Black Star's and Kid's. I approached Soul's and knelt down next to his sleeping figure.

I looked at him for a moment before I gently placed my hand on his shoulder and put my lips next to his ear. "Soul," I whispered. I could sense a smile pull on the edges of his lips. Using the hand that was on his shoulder, I gently shook him. "Soul," I said again, louder.

He moaned. "What is it?" he asked, still half asleep. His eyes were still shut.

"I…" my voice faltered. "I'm scared."

I saw the faintest trace of a smirk on his face. "Why's that, Maka?"

"I had a nightmare."

"What about?"

I bit my lip. "You. And the black blood, and Asura."

He sighed. "Maka, you're driving yourself insane with this stuff. We're safe here, I'm obviously sane, and Asura is dead. Everything's fine. You'll be fine. I'll be fine."

It was silent after that, as I stayed there, knelt down in front of him, looking at his face. He was clearly aggravated. I felt the tears start to come. I sniffled, and he heard it, opening his eyes and staring at me.

"Don't cry, Maka," he said.

I shook my head and swiped at my tears. "Not crying," I mumbled.

He sighed again, reached out and squeezed my hand. I laid my head down on his bed, next to his chest. I listened to his heart beat.

"Go back to bed," he whispered. I could tell he was falling back asleep. I blinked, contemplating this order. Well, he never said which bed. I pulled myself up next to him and curled up against his figure, absorbing his body heat. I felt his breathing go rigid. "Not what I meant," he chuckled.

I smiled. "Oh well."

I felt his arms wrap around me and his lips against my forehead. Warmth spread throughout my body and I placed my head against his chest, and fell asleep listening to his heartbeat.