Ok here it is! My first story. Trust me, I did the best I could with this, and if it sucks, sorry about that. I'm not one for writing great adventure stories. But disclaimer: I don't own anyone in this story. It is pure (well kind of) fan-based. Enjoy! Dedicated to an amazing friend of mine who had to wait a week to read this. Hope you like it! I know it's short.

Lara rested her head back onto the pillow and breathed heavily. Just minutes before, Lara had been screaming bloody murder from a nightmare. It's just a dream…she insisted, but couldn't block out the horrifying images of her past. She wiped the sweat from her brow and blinked hard several times to attempt to make the images disappear. She was naturally a strong person, physically and mentally, but ever since her Manor burnt down, the nights seemed to get colder and her dreams more terrifying.

A knock came and the door slowly opened. "Lara? Is everything alright?" Zip asked as he hobbled over to her area. His leg was still throbbing from the wound that the Doppelgänger had caused. He saw her barely through the darkness, but it was enough to see that she had a perturbed look on her face. "Was it another dream?"

"I don't get it. Why now? After all the things that happened to me in the past…" she stopped herself dead-centre to prevent the Lake of Tears from draining down her face. She had known why it was so horrible: Alister. She loved him dearly, and was even going to confess her feelings towards him, but now it was too late. Seeing him die in her arms was enough to crack even the strongest and most heartless people.

"I can't help you with your dreams Lara, but I can offer you all the love as a friend that I possess. You know you can come to me whenever," He smiled. His voice was sweet, and that alone brought tears to her eyes, until the point where she just couldn't hold them in anymore.

"Thank you, Zip," she sobbed, embracing him in what seemed a little less than a bear hug. Her tears drip-dropped onto his blue pyjamas and her face rested on his shoulder. Yes, he was a good friend.

"So tell me what's on your mind," said the American man gently as he stroked her long brown silky hair. He felt her breathing get harder and her grip get stronger. "Lara, its okay," comforted he.

"Everything. Everything is catching up to me now. But what's most haunting is…" she choked, "Is Alister. Zip, I loved him so much!"

"Hey…" he started to rub her back, "He's at peace, Lara. Who could ever ask for better?"

"But Zip!" she insisted, the tears flooding more and more. "I want him here! Now! Why did he have to go?! Why couldn't I take his place?!"

"If you did that, Lara, we all would be in your condition now. It's best that he is at rest. You know, he used to always say how delighted he was to have a new morning. You know why that is?"

"No…why?" she sniffed, still embracing the American in her strong athletic arms.

"Because it was a new day to see your beautiful face. He would get up at the crack of dawn hoping you would be awake. When you were off on your expeditions, he would say how much he loved you, non-stop. He was even going to…" Zip stopped, knowing that if he were to say anymore, her heart would completely shatter. He looked into her blurry hazel-brown eyes and smiled with a heavy heart. She looked at him with confusion, but didn't say a word. He wiped the fallen tears from her face and kissed her cheek. "You'll be alright. Just call me if you need anything,"

"No, wait!" she cried as she grabbed his arm and tried to pull him towards her, "What was he going to do?" she insisted.

"Nothing," Zip returned, snatching his arm and walked out her door. She sat there, shrouded in silence. She lye on her small bed and pondered on what Zip was almost going to blurt out, until her eyes grew heavy and she fell back to sleep once more.