Author's Note: I just wanted to show extra appreciation to you readers for last chapter's reviews. They were extra nice and it always makes me smile. I just wanted to let you all know. Also, thank you for bearing with some of these characters as I'm pulling a couple of them out of character(Blaise and Natara) for purposes of the story. Please do keep reading. I know I can't update as often as I used to and I do apologize! I wish that I could! But regardless, enjoy this update! It's pretty fluffy with the maltara.

Awake- Chapter Three

Natara Williams' POV

When I woke up, five minutes ago, I didn't remember anything. At least- anything that Mal had described. I had been having nightmares for weeks, months even. Mal knew about them. But what he didn't know, was what occurred in the dreams. If he did know, he wouldn't stay with me. I knew that. Because let's face it…

I am losing it.

There's no way to sugar-coat this sort of fallacy in my messed up mind that my adoring, amazing boyfriend tries to murder me in my sleep.

I even googled it on my laptop. I tried to find stories or medical advice about anybody experiencing the same thing.

Zero search results.

"Mal, I think I might have a sleep disorder."

I felt safe in his snuggly arms. I always did. And ever since I woke up, that's where I'd been- just breathing into his warm chest and despite the worry, feeling completely careless. The feeling is impossible to describe unless you've been in love. The world around you could be falling apart, but if you're with the love of your life, you can still summon a smile…

Or at the very least, a positive thought.

"A sleep disorder.." He began, continuing to thoroughly comb his fingers lightly through my hair. This soothed me. It felt better than he realized, and I feel like he didn't even know. The act was so natural to him. It was done with ease. "… Or you're just upset. It's understandable. But here's what I think we should do…"

He trailed off, and I waited. My fingers played with the curves of his back muscles, delicately grazing the soft cotton of his shirt. My eyes met his with intensity. And to my amazement, the fire never died. Eye contact was something special, and highly potent, for any true connection. Our eye contact was an impenetrable tunnel that carried so much energy… so much love. I added it to the mental list that I began making of why marrying him was completely justified.

He continued, "You're going to hate me, though, when I say this."

I sighed, grasping him around the back of his neck, true desperation growing inside me. "I could never do such a thing. Just say it."

"I think… I- I think we should… seek external help."

Oxygen abruptly left my lungs and escaped my mouth; External help?

"Mal, are you suggesting… seeing a counselor?"

His lips quivering very minimally as he struggled to find the appropriate words. Just as well, his weight kept shifting. It was uncomfortable for him to say. I knew that. All the while, it made me feel too fragile… too breakable. And of all the things that I could have been, those would come in dead last on my preferred list. "Well, when you say it like that-"

Immediately, I cut him off, interrupting the sentence. "Just come out and say it. Do you think I need psychological help?"

His face grew even more serious, further burning me with his aquatic blue irises. "Of course not. I feel like you're honestly the strongest woman on this planet, after everything you've been through. But what I do think you need, Natara, is a goddamn break. I'm sick of you waking up in tears. I'm sick of you thrashing and screaming randomly in the middle of dead sleep. And most of all, and generally speaking, I'm just sick of seeing that beautiful face stuck in a permanent frown."

My heart skipped a beat. He always knew what to say. And the best part- he was telling the truth. I believed him.

"All that I want is to help you. I just want to make you smile."

I turned my expression downwards again, burying my head into his chest. I felt true exhaustion eating me up right then. All I wanted to do was sleep- a true sleep. I wanted only a sleep not interrupted by nightmares.

And it wouldn't hurt not to sleepwalk and begin beating up my boyfriend from the other side of the bed but… if I did have a sleep disorder, that was surely part of it, too, I assumed.

But thinking about it only made it worse.

Mal killed all the pent up tears, again, and swept me off of my feet and into the bedroom.

His soft kisses trailed up and down my neck and to my earlobe. The area was sensitive to his tingly breaths. And that, he definitely knew. He had used it to his advantage before. As we landed on the bed together, he snuggled closer to me than he ever had before. On top of the blankets, immediate tired took over. "Take a nap. I'm going to be right here. And if and when anything bad happens, I'm going to wake you up. Alright?"

The idea was a little scary, but I didn't have any other options. One, I was far too tired. Two, I knew I was safe here. "Thank you. I love you."

I pecked his lips, but it was still passionate. "And I love you. Now get some sleep, beautiful."

My heart's beating slowly decreased to a comfortable rate of relaxation. The encompassing warmth provided by my boyfriend, the human space heater, aided in getting me there. Just as well, his fingers ran tiny circles all over my body. He began at my lower back, which was where the majority of my tension was gathered. He traveled to my upper thigh and then to the back of my shoulder blades.

It felt amazing.

As my consciousness disappeared into oblivion, my thoughts cleared.

All I did was focus on our soft breathing in synchronization as my body faded into a state of minor paralysis.

And after less than another five minutes, sleep captured me.

Four hours later, I still felt warm and comfortable. As my eyes peeled open, I smiled, seeing Mal's arms protectively wrapped around me. He wasn't sleeping. And it was six-thirty in the morning. I knew because of the red illuminating clock behind him on the table.

Collectively, we sighed and rolled out of bed, not eager for the long day of work ahead of us. He stumbled into the kitchen to brew some coffee. I moved towards the shower, and it gave me a moment to reflect on what happened before I fell asleep.

I kept thinking about how amazing that Mal was. Perfect, really. I felt like sometimes, I wasn't grateful enough to have a man like him to marry. Not every woman is as lucky as I am.

After getting clean, I searched around the apartment for Mal. Still in the kitchen cooking some breakfast, he smiled when he noticed me. "Finally… you take so long, princess. But hey, fresh omelettes for breakfast! I'll join you in a minute. I just gotta shower…"

He moved around me, but I stopped him in his tracks and pulled him into me. I refused to let him move. I locked my gaze with his and placed my hand comfortably on the tips of his brunette hair, grazing it lightly. "Babe, in case I don't tell you enough, I really do love you. Thank you for being amazing last night."

He smiled widely and embraced me. "Don't thank me. What kind of a husband would I be if I let you suffer like that?"

For the first time since Oscar, the word husband didn't scare me. In fact, I loved it, especially when it was tied to him. "You're my husband. And I couldn't be any happier. Ever."

I really couldn't have. Despite my constant nightmares and doubts about love in general, Mal was always there for me. And I guess that was another reason why I was marrying him. He confirmed to me that real love does exist, and I lived with it, kissed it, and gazed at it every day.

He softly pecked my lips, his breath reeking of coffee, and stepped away from me. "Now get dressed for work. We're going to be late."

He sighed, and shot me a seductive, sneaky smile as he gallivanted off towards our bathroom.

Moments later, we were off towards the precinct. The drive was pretty short, and filled with dorky music from my iPod that Mal secretly enjoyed me singing obnoxiously to. He acted annoyed, but he always smiled and giggled when I did it.

"Put you in a Song" came on, and I always told Mal that it reminded me of him, primarily because of one line of the song.

I'd sing about your smile and your pretty blue eyes and the way your hair shimmers in the sunlight…

I locked eyes with him as I sang that specific lyric. He blushed, just like he always did, and pulled into his assigned parking spot. "Natara Fallon, you are just something else."

Review Replies: I didn't anticipate this chapter being so short, but I'm very busy right now and I haven't had the time to really write. So I apologize, AND, please do keep reading. Things will get more interesting, I promise.

CoDisgreat: thank you! you're so nice! Yeah… everybody's coming down with this cold that's going around. It's the weather change, back to school, etc. I know I personally have had it for like a week and a half because I've had no down-time. I hope you get better! Eat tons of ice cream and drink orange juice! : )

Tori: You're welcome for the Jaise! : ) Jeremy's just as cheesy as Mal is, haha. These boys are total cheese balls. I would totally let Kai watch my pets. Hell, I'd be his best friend! But none of the CoD characters like Kai : ( Poor kid. Yeah, poor Natara. Mal's a stand-up guy. He's totally going to help her through this. He's just a great dude.

Molly: Aha I laughed at Blaisebird. I like that title better than "Jaise". Awwww thanks so much! I'm glad that I'm funny. I know I'm not that funny. Not comedian status, at least, but I'm glad I can make you laugh!

Jade: Yes, they are adorable : ) Mal really is the best. Both in the game and in my fanfic. I wish all boys were like Mal. But they aren't : ( Wahhhh. Thanks so much! I'm sorry that you're addicted to my story lol. I'm trying to update as much as I can for you enthusiasts.

KingK24: Thank you! And yes, I did intend on that. Jerry is Jeremy's nickname. Personally, I'm not a fan of it because it makes him sound old… haha. But I will use it occasionally throughout the story.

The Sarcastic Polar Bear: PUPPIES! I love puppies, too. Haha. And thank you! Hahaha I say the same thing, if Mal wasn't an animated, fictional character and I didn't love Natara so much, I'd be all over that. Plus, in real life, boys are just mean.