A/N: This story takes place immediately after the events of Ch. 19 in TTigerz's story "Everything is Fair, in Love and War." It is important to read up to that chapter, and Lexvan's story "Warriors Unite" to understand this.

W.I.T.C.H. belongs to Disney

Though he is only mentioned in this chapter, Angelo is Lexvan's OC

Also, though only mentioned in this chapter, G.E.N.I.E. are TTigerz's OCs

Part 1: A Tender Moment in Trying Times

In Andrew's tent, a few hours after arriving from Arkhanta

Andrew and Irma were lying in bed, after some very private time that need not be elaborated. They were facing each other now, embracing, kissing, and laughing

"I waited four years for that…" he said blissfully as he caressed her cheek, brushing her hair to the side. "…it was so worth it."

"I always knew it would be special…and at least we know one thing Hay Lin let me keep…" She joked, with a grin, as she always did through dark times.

Andrew grinned and kissed her again. He turned to lay on his back with his hands behind his head. "I can't believe how much happened today…" he said staring at the roof of his tent.

Irma snuggled her head into his chest. "This has to be the happiest day of my life…" She sighed and then asked "So what are we doing for the rest of the day?" she asked with a slight grin.

"Well, we've got a meeting in about an hour, then I have to train, but you've got nothing on your schedule for the day, it's another day to rest…" suddenly he felt a rumbling within. "…you hungry?"

"Starving." She answered immediately, in her normal, smart-mouthed tone.

"I'll go get some food…" he said as Irma moved off and he sat up and quickly threw on his pants and his boots.

"Wait." Irma said. Andrew turned around. "Can you get me some clothes too?" She asked. He looked at her blue silk battledress on the floor, then back to her pleading eyes.

He understood perfectly. "Of course." He answered with a calm smile. "I'll be back soon."

"I'll be waiting…" she said happily.

Fifteen minutes later, Andrew walked back into the tent with some extra clothes from the Meridians, a pair of boots, and a plate of food, including Irma's favorite sandwich. However, he saw that Irma was sleeping again under the covers, curled up like she had been before.

He set the clothes on a chair and the food on the table and sat beside the bed, as quietly as he could. Then he looked over and saw about fifty little icicles sticking out of the floor, each sticking through torn silk fragments from what used to be her dress. His mind drifted to the tattoo on her back.

Suddenly, Irma started breathing more heavily in her sleep. Andrew knelt down closer to her as her body started moving, twitching. He gently put his hand on her shoulder, and she screamed as her eyes shot open. He jolted his hand off and whispered "Relax! It's just me! …Bad dream?"

She quickly sat up, still wide eyed, and wrapped herself tightly in the blanket. Andrew sat down next to her and put his arm around her. She took another deep breath. "I…I thought I was still enthralled!"

Andrew moved his hand back and forth around her shoulder. "It's okay, it was just a dream…"

Irma turned to him with a stressful face. "When I was enthralled, sometimes I would dream about being freed. But just as I was about to touch someone I knew, I'd wake up, and I couldn't think, and her voice…was so strong…" She tried to explain, but the fear brought her voice down to a whisper. "…and today…a part of me still wasn't convinced until I kissed you again…"

Andrew caressed her arm to reassure her. "Trust me…you're back where you belong." Then he touched her cheek and her nose, letting her feel how real his hands felt. "That bracelet I put on you, it keeps Yan Lin from sensing you, and protects you from enthrallment." He rubbed her on the back, trying to soothe her. He whispered into her ear "Just a bad dream…"

Irma had no doubt that this was real, too much had happened today already, but she had every right to be afraid, as she had experienced freedom and hope before, only to have it snatched away as quickly as it came. "The last four years of my life were one long bad dream…"

He held her chin and turned her head to face him, looking into her watery blue eyes. "It's over."

She looked back and said "I know…it's just…I remember the day you came to rescue me."

Andrew's face changed to a more grim expression. "I remember it like it was yesterday. Angelo told me what happened afterwards."

Irma's eyes began to well up. "I ran as hard as I could!" Andrew held her with both arms while tears rolled down her face. "I was so close I could feel it!" her lips quivered. "I just wasn't quick enough…she stopped me…and sent me back into the nightmare!" at that point she broke down.

Andrew held her tight as she cried. "It wasn't your fault. She never would have let you escape." He said to her as a few tears rolled down his face. Irma quieted down, wanting to retort, wanting to say if she reacted quicker, things would have been different, but she knew he was right. He gently brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Once we found ourselves on Erutan and found our new powers, I swore that no matter how long it took, or how hard it was, I wouldn't rest until I found you, and saved you…" He then took both her hands as she lifted up her head, staring into his mesmerizing eyes. "…I won't lose you again."

She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. After a minute of silence Irma spoke up. "It's just all a big mess now…" she said more calmly. "…I'm supposed to be one of the good guys. I should be teaching the new guardians, and they're all scared to death of me…"

"That'll pass. When the time's right they'll get to know you. I mean, you should see the new Water Guardian, everything about her reminds me of you, except the red hair." He paused to get back on topic. "If they could've seen you and Cornelia after you woke up today…or if they could see us right now, they'd-"

"-better if they saw us now than half an hour ago." She interrupted, a smirk coming to her tear-stricken face. Andrew chuckled at that, a grin growing. She couldn't hold it back, there was no need to suppress her laughter, though they still tried to kiss through their giggling.

After holding each other for a few more minutes, Irma threw on her new clothes. "You've still got a thing for pirates, don't you?" She cracked.

"Now you look like one of the good guys." He said smiling.

Irma's stomach growled. She looked over at the plate full of food. She took a deep breath in as she eyed one item on the plate. "Is that…a…" she picked it up to look at it. "…peanut butter, celery, and sliced apple sandwich!"

"And cinnamon…" he said looking at her as she stared in wonder. "Your mom made it for you…" He said as he grabbed an apple off the plate. "She also made sure the clothes-" but she was too busy wolfing it down to listen, making loud nomming sounds the whole time. *And I wouldn't have you any other way* he thought.

After they wiped the plate clean, Andrew put his shirt back on. "So, there's a meeting in Taranee's tent coming up. Just the leaders. You can stay here if you want."

"I think I'll go…but I'm gonna check on Corny first, show her my new threads. It feels like it's been forever since she's criticized my taste."

"I have to make some quick rounds, but I'll see you there. Try to bring her with you if she's up to it."

"I will."

They both exited the tent and went in their separate directions. Irma's deep, brief, fleeting dreams of freedom during her enthrallment had finally come true. The trying times were far, far from over. However, she was back with her friends, her family, her lover. She was ready to be a force for good again, and couldn't be more thankful.

So that's my first ever story on fanfic. I have to thank TTigerz and Lexvan for writing their stories, and inspiring me to write this little snippet. I should also thank TTigerz for her permission. And about the pirate reference, Andrew was dressed as a pirate in the Halloween episode W is for Witch. And I can't be the only person who thinks the rebels on Meridian looked like pirates. There's a part 2 and 3 to this, and I'm making some final edits on those, so they should be up soon. Please review!