Natsume stared down at Mikan, his eyes crinkling a little as he smiled a gentle smile. It must have been less than twenty minutes ago when she came to his room, complaining of insomnia and now here she was, snuggling the top of her head under his chin. His cheeks tinted red as he felt her breath on his exposed collarbones. They were so close, always emotionally but now physically. So much was now behind them, so much lay ahead. They could dream of a future, together. Nothing was holding them back, holding him back. Soft mumbles distracted him from painting this beautiful picture of brown eyed and black haired babies. She stirred as he stiffened, afraid he had woken her up, but all she did was exhale and mumble "Natusme", quiet at first, but becoming louder and more coherent as time went by. The first time he registered what she had said, he knew she was awake for sure, but as she went on saying his name, he realized that it was a dream. A dream that Mikan was having about him. Him and Her. Together. She wanted the same things. The handsome grin that graced his face turned into a smirk – what if this dream wasn't as innocent as she is? His perverse thoughts were cut short when he felt erratic breath on his collarbones. Mikan's eyebrows were knotted and she was moving form side to side, fighting something off. "Go away!", she said, "Leave Natsume alone!". As she began to sob, Natusme knew he had had enough. He shook her awake and as her terror struck eyes opened, the first things she saw were those crimson eyes that given her pain and provided her solace for so many years. That welcoming feeling in them, the pain, the worry. Her hands moved into his face, taking in every crevice, the fullness of his lips, his straight nose, eyebrows furrowed down in worry. As one palm rested by the side of his cheek, Natsume turned and planted a soft kiss, nuzzling into her. Reality hit her as she plummeted herself into him, latching on to his neck like a leech. It was then, while his heart skipped with every kiss she trailed about his face, when he felt her heart thudding and her sweaty back. He pulled her out of his embrace, feeling her nails drag from the back of his neck to his Adam's apple. Looking at her square in the face he said, "I'm here, I'm back, I', home. Right with you. I will have to go back, you and I both know that. But while I am out there, you are still here. How could I risk my life by not coming back? Huh?". She looked at him for a solid minute before she half snorted half sobbed. Taking in her somewhat positive response, he drew her back into his arms as he pulled her down under the comforter. "Sleep now, we'll figure this out in the morning", was the last thing she heard, before his heart beat lulled her to sleep.