A/N: Okay, I don't like this as much as I See You In My Dreams or Sweet Sixteen, even though it is the sequel. It's going to be longer than a one-shot, so hopefully it'll get better. Suggestions are welcome, as always. This story will follow the time between RotG and First Test, which I estimate to be roughly two months. I'm trying to keep it as close to Tamora Pierce's storyline as possible, working off mentions of Daine and Numair from FT, so bear with me here. As always, please review.

Oh, and would someone please tell me if you can see all 6 of my stories (counting this one) on my author page? I'm having issues and I'm not sure if they're all showing up or not. Sorry to ask but I'm getting worried. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Characters, settings, etc. all belong to Tamora Pierce. If you didn't know that, then go read the books or this won't make sense.

Believe (I promise this title will make sense eventually)

Chapter one: Blessed, blessed rest

"Numair? Daine?" The voice drifted through the trees.

"We'd best go meet her," the girl called Daine told her lanky companion matter-of-factly.

Numair grimaced. "I suppose you're right. Help me up, would you?"

"You're not that old," Daine laughed, but she put an arm around his back and helped heave him to his feet. "You really are tired out, aren't you. We're going to get you to bed, right now. Onua'll help."

"Yes, Mother."

"Hey! I'm not your mother! Or was your mother in love with you, too?"

Numair felt a pang in his heart when she said 'love'. Daine loved him. What had he done to deserve this? He leaned down to kiss her but –

"Are you two okay?" Onua came into the clearing, Daine's pony Cloud and the dragonet Kitten following closely. "Numair! You look – well – dreadful. And you don't look a heck of a lot better, Daine."

"Thanks, Onua," Numair said dryly. "I really need to be told how bad I look."

"Of course you do," Daine replied, looking at him with mock surprise. "It keeps you humble. Besides, she said I looked bad too."

"You look gorgeous, as always." Numair fought to keep from pulling his love into his arms. They hadn't discussed whether to tell their friends or not yet, and he didn't want to push Daine into something she wasn't ready for.

Onua raised her eyebrows. "Am I missing something here?"

Daine gave Numair an elbow in the ribs, warning him without words to be a bit subtler. "No. This dolt's just being a bit sentimental. I suppose that nearly being killed will do that to a man." Onua looked unconvinced, but didn't press.

"Hey! I'm not a dolt! Okay, so I'm being sentimental. Give me a break. I just spent four hours trying not to die."

It took the three (five, counting Cloud and Kitten) nearly an hour to reach Port Legann. The city was in a shambles after the siege and attack. Daine tried not to look anywhere but at her feet as she helped Numair down the street, with Onua on his other side.

"Numair! Daine! You're alive! I was getting worried. Hadensra is dead, then?" King Jonathan came out of a nearby building, looking immensely relieved.

"Yes, he's dead. I threw his eye in the river. Probably could've sold it, but it wasn't worth it." Numair tried to grin and ended up with an odd sort of happy grimace.

"You're hurt! Let's go up to the castle – Imrah's got all sorts of healers working on people up there. You'll need food, and rest, and…"

"Noooo!" Numair howled weakly. Daine giggled. She knew how much Numair would love to spend days in bed. "Can't I just go take a break at my tower for a week or two?"

Jonathan sighed. "Yes, you can. But not until Alanna or Duke Baird says you're fit to do so. Daine, you may go too. Heaven knows you've both earned a break, and with Ozorne gone – he is dead, isn't he?" The king asked Daine worriedly.

"Oh yes, he's dead. If he wasn't then I'd be dead myself. And Uusoae's gone too - Father Universe and Mother Flame banished her to Chaos, where she belongs."

"You have quite the story to tell us, don't you. One second we were fighting a losing battle and the next, at least half the immortals just vanished. I'm guessing you had something to do with that? No, don't answer yet. The important thing is that you're both safe, and all our worst enemies are gone, for the moment at least." He made the sign against evil on his chest. "Come on, let's get you two up to the castle and into bed."

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"Can I see Numair?" Daine asked the healer in charge of his ward. "I'm Daine, his – student."

"I know who you are, missy. And yes, you can go see him. Just don't let him overexert himself. It'll do him good to see you – he keeps trying to get out of bed and come find you. Best to let him know you're fine." The healer's tone was brisk but kind. She bustled away to look after her next patient.

Daine shoved the door open gently and walked in, not wanting to disturb him if he was asleep.

"Daine! Magelet!" Numair sat bolt upright, looking much happier.

"Shhh. Don't sit up. You're supposed to be resting." Daine smiled and walked over to sit on the edge of his bed.

"I'm not tired. I've had all the rest I want. I'm not an invalid, you know."

"Yes you are."

"Not anymore. I've had three days of sleep. I don't need any more for at least a week. All I need now is food and a good dose of you." Daine laughed and hugged him. Numair put his hand under her chin and drew her close for a passionate kiss. "I love you, magelet," he whispered, lips and breath caressing her ear.

She shivered with happiness. "I love you too, Numair, more than anything in the world."

"Ahem," a voice said from behind them. Daine whipped around, startled. There stood Alanna, sword on her belt as usual, looking faintly amused.

"How long have you been here?" Numair asked, choking slightly.

"Only a minute or two, but I've seen enough, so you can stop now." The knight was definitely trying not to laugh.

Daine sighed. "Well, I guess we don't have to decide whether or not to keep it secret or not," she told Numair, blushing at the thought of Alanna watching them.

"I won't tell," Alanna informed the couple. "I kept your secret last year, Numair, and I'll keep this one if you want me to. You'll have to tell sometime, though. After all, there'll be balls and such that you'll want to go to together, and…"

"Wait a minute – what secret from last year?" Daine demanded. Numair blushed and Alanna began to giggle.

"Do you want to tell her, or should I?" The knight said, still giggling.

Numair heaved a sigh, still blushing furiously. "I'll tell her. Um, Daine, last spring – I think it was in April – I had, well, a nightmare."

Daine thought about making a comment to the effect of, "Oh, is the poor baby blackrobe mage afraid of bad dreams?" but decided against it. She could tell that this was a sensitive subject.

"I dreamed – well, never mind. Anyway, I had a nightmare and woke up and decided to check on you," The man continued. "You looked so sweet and peaceful, and I somehow fell asleep on your bed. Alanna caught me and figured out that I was in love with you. It was scary – I thought she was going to murder me for a few minutes."

"I nearly did, too," Alanna commented. "But then when he tried to explain and he started blushing, I kind of decided that it wouldn't be very considerate to kill him without letting him have a say first."

"I remember that!" exclaimed the younger girl. "I thought it was a dream, but I guess not…" She blushed. "Did you – did you kiss me?"

Numair turned bright red and looked down. "Yes. I thought you were asleep."

"I was. Mostly. Only I thought it was just a good dream."

"A 'good dream'?" Alanna said slyly. Both Daine and Numair grew even redder. "I'll just leave you two alone for a few minutes, I think." She laughed again and gave them both a hug. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes to check on you. Jon wants me to make sure you're all right. I don't think he trusts the healers here." She left.

There was silence in the room for a minute. Then Numair asked gently, "Do you want to tell them all?"

"I don't know," Daine mumbled. "We should tell our close friends soon, probably, or they'll think something's up. But the whole court…" She shivered unconsciously, and Numair drew her close.

"Let's wait on them," he said firmly. "I don't want you to be exposed to more gossip than is absolutely necessary." He drew her into another passionate kiss and rubbed her back. Daine brought her hands up around his neck and ran them through his unbound hair, savoring the feel of his lips on hers. They stayed like that for a long time, content to simply hold each other and not worry about anything.

A/N: What do you think? I had more trouble with this one than with some of the others, so please review and let me know. I'm open to anything. Also, if anyone's interested in being my beta I'll love you forever and – um, do almost anything you want me to do. I won't fly to your house every day and do your homework. If I had that kind of money I'd just hire an editor from some publishing company.

A special thanks goes to: ThePhantomReview, nativewildmage, Godsgirl16, Cede, and…I think that's all… for reviewing one or more of my other fics. I really appreciate it – it helps me a ton! Thanks!

Lunaterra