Counting On Friendship To Help

Later that night in her room, Carley was awoken by somebody whimpering in sleep but surprised to see it was Shrek but she wondered why as she rubbed sleep from her eyes as she left her Psammead plush on her bed but went over to where her friend was lying on the floor in a sleeping bag

She heard him moan in sleep tossing and turning in sleep but she heard him mumble as he woke up with a jolt but she saw sweat run down his face but he was surprised to see she was awake.

"Did I wake you?

I-I'm sorry." he told her as she noticed he was jumpy.

"Something's bothering you, right?" she said softly.

He was surprised by how she could tell what mood he was in and always wondered how she knew this but she could feel fear from his aura.

"Yeah something's bugging me." he answered.

"It's okay to tell.

It'll make you feel better." she told him.

He sighed knowing she was right about that remembering he and Leah had told her it was okay to tell them if something was bothering her.

"Is it to do with that little weasel Rumpelstilkin?" she said.

His hazel eyes widened at that question as if the young human could read his mind.

"Hmm-mmm it us.

H-He.......... is seeking revenge for foiling his plan and setting things back to normal in Far, Far Away but he captured everybody I care about but he demands that I face him alone but I'm......... afraid.

Of what might happen to those I care about." he answered.

She understood as she saw tears fall from his hazel eyes which surprised her but he felt her arms wrap around his waist in a comforting hug but he smiled sadly at that.

"Thanks.

I feel a little better but I hope Fiona and the others are okay." he said.

"Is that why you returned to here Shrek-chan?" Carley asked him.

He nodded in reply as his trumpet shaped ears drooped sadly.

"Don't worry we'll save them with Leah and me and you, we'll be unstoppable.

You're not a coward for being afraid about what that slippery eel Rumpelstilkin might be doing but that's because you have a good heart and because you care about Fiona and the others, even Artie." she told him.

He nodded as he knew the young human's words seemed to make him feel better but he then saw her yawn which bothered him knowing from Leah that she sometimes didn't sleep because she was waiting for him to return but he knew that not sleeping made her cranky and that was something he hated.

"I'll be okay Shrek-chan.

You need me.

Besides I stay up all the time." she replied as he sighed.

He then saw her fall asleep beside him on the floor but she was fighting sleep but he smiled approaching her bed and saw the Psammead plush which he knew was one of her favourite plushies but picked it up gently and went over to where they were sleeping on the floor but wrapped her arms around it as her eyes closed in sleep but he smiled seeing her asleep but he smiled watching her sleep because she was very peaceful but he didn't want to sleep either as he ran a hand through her short violet hair but knew things in both worlds were rough but knew she needed him as much as he needed her help but smiled as he kicked off his brown shoes and took off his socks as he climbed onto her bed but fell asleep instantly on her bed but hoped Fiona and the others were safe until he and his friends could return.

Carley woke up the next morning but found Shrek was still asleep but she put Izz on her pillow as she went downstairs after getting dressed but went into the garden to swinhg for a while knowing Leah and David weren't up either but smiled as she pushed the swing with her feet like Naruto had but was thinking of how to help her ogre friend but would keep thinking during the day but hummed a tune as she swung but had no idea that Leah was watching her as she'd woken a few hours ago but had overheard what had happened last night as she'd been awoken by her cats Mike and Sheba but she felt bad for their ogre friend knowing it wasn't his fault that Rumpelstilkin was seeking revenge on him for foiling his plan to take over Far, Far Away a second time but she heard footsteps but smiled seeing Shrek join her.

She saw he seemed a little better himself but was still nervous about what was happening in Far, Far Away but she knew that they could help him with this dilemma but he sighed drinking black coffee but she noticed he seemed at ease watching Carley outside on the swing as he was helping Leah make breakfast but she needed to talk to him about what was happening in their worlds as he agreed.

"Why is Carley so quiet when your Mom talks about college?" he asked her.

"You mean about me attending CSM in the Spring?

To her, I'm her best human friend and since she doesn't have a lot of human friends, she'll feel alone when I go even if I do visit at the weekends.

That's why I'm happy you showed up.

She cares about you a lot too." she answered him.

He nodded understandingly at her explanaination but knew Carley didn't have a lot of friends because she was shy and nervous but always the outsider in a group but he knew she was always happy being around him and Leah.

He wanted to help her with that the way she wanted to help him but David was surprised to see him but he was nervous that somebody would come here searching for the ogre and then things would be hard.

"David don't talk like that." Leah answered as the eggs were ready.

She was waiting for the pancakes.

Rumpelstilkin was looking at those eggs hungrily as he and Charming were watching the Robert's house waiting for any weakness Shrek's human friends could have but Charming knew they wouldn't hand over their friend so easily as he sighed as he knew that Carley cared about both Leah and Shrek but Rumpelstilkin didn't get this idea.

"We'll attack through the heart.

His precious little human is what he holds dear but the same rings true for her because she cares about him and Leah." he told him.

He was impressed at the blonde haired prince's idea as he was skilled in the forte of magic and contracts and suckering people by dashing their hopes and offering them their dreams.

Charming smiled as he got another good idea........

Later that morning Leah noticed Carley was quiet as they walked to school but knew what was wrong as she joined Brittany and the other members of the Anime Club as they went to Homeroom but the short violet haired girl felt alone and left out as she walked to Homeroon using her symbol cane but she knew Leah hadn't meant to do that and she needed to hang out with her friends just as much as her but she was thinking about Aria as she sat at the back of the classroom as usual but hoped Shrek was okay at the house alone but had no idea Rumpelstlikin was watching from an empty locker as he smiled.

"I think I may have found the little ogre lover's weakness." he said staying there.