The room was dark, and nothing seemed to exist anymore. Freddy had been in there for God knows how long, and he felt nothing but terror; whatever had consumed him had taken over his entire persona completely, killing almost every child of every parent that played a part in his death. But Freddy didn't want that, it was this monster, this Mr. Hyde of his own creation, that was creating all of this horror. Then he saw how it had treated Dani, how it had defiled her, and he felt his heart shatter. He was responsible for it, it was his body that had done that to her, and he felt disgusted with himself. Suddenly, a bright light shone in his eyes, and Freddy cowered.

"You're so pathetic," the rough voice of Krueger rumbled through the room, "how could she have felt anything for you?"

Freddy shuddered, hiding his face in his arms. He felt the burnt flesh of his other half grip his neck, "S-Stop!" he stared into Krueger's eyes, just like his own yet deformed from fire.

Krueger chuckled, "You're weak. You're nothing," he dropped his whimpy counterpart, staring down at the man, who looked as well as he did before his death, "I make you better. I make you stronger."

"You...make me evil," the man shuddered, trying not to look at him, "you make Dani hate me."

"Ooh but she does hate you, Freddy, she does," he sneered, brushing his glove against the soft skin of Freddy's cheek, "and soon she'll detest the very sight of you."

Freddy felt hot tears sting his eyes, Krueger was right: he was nothing, "Dani..."

"Freddy..." Dani sighed as she once again looked around her room; Alex had made her come back to talk to Bradley, which was pointless because he hadn't come back home after their fight. She knew her brother had been mad at her, but she'd hoped that he would've calmed down enough to come back home. Her hand brushed against the bedding as she let her mind wander; Freddy was the strongest person she knew, how could he let something as monstrous as Krueger consume him? A knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts, but the sour taste of distain filled her mouth when she realized who it was, "What do you want?"

Sarah sighed, leaning against the door frame, "I know you're mad at me still, but I thought I should at least try to talk to you. See how you were."

"And why would you want to do that?" the blonde spoke to the window, not wanting to look at her former friend.

The younger woman ignored the question, stepping into the room and looking around, "We used to have some fun times in this room. Sleepovers, makeovers, girl talk."

Dani clenched her teeth together in an effort not to snap at her, "That night, at the Christmas party...why did you do it? Why did you tell them?"

"I...thought it was the right thing to do. I thought I was protecting you," the red head answered hesitantly.

Shaking her head fervently, the young woman turned to her former friend, anger burning in her blue eyes, "No you didn't. You did it because you believed all the lies that Freddy had killed Christopher. I knew about you two back then, and I didn't care; but the least you could've done back then was actually be my friend and keep my secret," tears now leaked out of the corners of her eyes.

Sarah ran her fingers though her hair, "If I had known, you loved him that much, I wouldn't have."

"You shouldn't have anyway! It wasn't any of your business!" Dani screamed, storming toward her, "You had no right!"

"I did what I thought was right for you! For our friendship!"

THWACK.

Dani swung the back of her hand across Sarah's face, "That was long overdue, and our friendship ended long before you told my parents anything," and with that she walked out of the room.

Downstairs, everyone was chatting amongst themselves, Alex sitting in the corner of the room with, to Dani's unbelieving eyes, Bradley. She could see the two of them engrossed in their conversation, and she didn't want to bother them, until she got in earshot and heard what they were talking about.

"...look Alex, I know you and my sister have a great marriage, and I'm happy for you. But I just, I think you should know the truth about Dani's past when she used to live here."

"What are you talking about, Bradley?"

"When Dani was eighteen, she fell in love with this guy. His name was-"

"Bradley, where have you been?" Dani rushed over, wrapping her arms around her brother, "I'm sorry about last night I didn't mean to get angry at you like that!"

The young man looked confused, but hugged her back, "No I'm sorry, Dani, I shouldn't have stormed off like that. It was immature of me."

She nodded, "Yeah, but at least you're home and we can talk about it."

"There's nothing to talk about. It's over, let's leave it that way," he stated, getting up and walking into the kitchen.

Dani watched him walk away, but decided to let it go and sat down, "So, what were you two talking about?"

Alex sighed, looking at the drink in his hands, "You actually. Bradley was telling me about when you were younger, about this guy that you were in love with. He was about to tell me his name before you walked in."

She tensed, "Really...well that's...that's an interesting subject of conversation."

He nodded, "What was his name, Dani?"

"Alex, I don't think now would be the right time to talk about that."

"Why not?"

"Because not a lot of people here liked him, alright?" Dani snapped quietly, the look on her face almost disturbing; she didn't want her family to hear their conversation, because God forbid someone said Freddy's name.

Alex sighed, taking her hand, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be nosy."

She smiled, "You're always nosy, one of the many qualities I married you for."

He chuckled, "Well I'm glad it's a positive factor to our relationship."

"It is, don't worry," her blue eyes sparkled with a slight hint of happiness as she squeezed his hand, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's get out of here."

The couple got out of their seats, saying goodnight to their family and friends before leaving, neither one bringing up the conversation again, giving Dani one less thing to worry about.

Although she tried to have another dreamless night, Dani knew the moment she felt the hot steam against her face that it wasn't going to be that easy, but one thing disturbed her: there was no sound of footfalls, no screeching knives, and no vicious laughs. Krueger wasn't here? Was it Freddy this time? She didn't want to talk, she didn't want to move, Christ she didn't even want to breathe without knowing which one of them she'd find in her nightmare.

"Dani," his voice quivered with fear from behind her.

She gasped, turning around to face him, "Freddy?" her eyes grew wide with shock when she saw him: his face was bloody and bruised, his shirt was torn to shreds, and lacerations covered his body. "Freddy!" Dani rushed toward him, catching him as he collapsed against the rail, "What did he do to you?"

His piercing eyes gazed at her lifelessly, "Dani...I'm so sorry...for everything."

"Sssh, don't even try saying what I think you're going to say," tears involuntarily formed in her eyes, "you're not leaving me again."

Freddy sighed, "But you have Alex. You don't need me...anymore."

Dani pushed his hair away from his eyes, taking his face gently in her hands, "I do need you. I've always needed you, Freddy. I never stopped loving you. Ever."

"How sweet."

A loud clang sent Dani flying against the rail, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth as she cracked her face against the bar.

"DANI!" Freddy cried, reaching out to grab her as she fell practically into his lap.

Krueger chuckled, resting his boot-clad foot on Dani's ankle, "For such a strong-minded bitch, you really are weak."

She looked up at Krueger angrily, "Let...Freddy...go."

He smirked, "Sorry, wrong answer," he pressed his foot down hard on her ankle until the three of them heard an audible crack.

"AAAAH!" Dani cried out, her ankle throbbed in agony, her hands gripped Freddy's arms posessively.

Freddy looked at Krueger, "Leave her alone! Stop it!"

"Or what, Freddy? What are you gonna do?" Krueger stepped forward, taking Freddy by the collar of his sweater and tossing him against the hot pipes, causing him to scream, "You're worthless."

"AAAAAAH!" Freddy cried, falling against the gangway, his hands, neck, and chest burned ferociously.

The woman looked to her left, seeing him sprawled on the gangway in pain only added to her anger, "Let Freddy go!"

Krueger walked over to her, grabbing her by the beck, "Or what?"

She spit in his eye, "Fuck. You."

He growled, wiping his face, "That can be arranged," he tossed her against the metal beneath them, tearing at her shorts, "is this what you had in mind?"

Dani struggled against him, "Freddy! Freddy help me!"

Suddenly, Krueger collapsed on top of her, and all was still. Her eyes glanced upward to see Freddy standing there, a pipe in his hand, "C'mon," he helped her up and held her close, "oh God I'm so sorry, Dani. I'm so sorry."

She sighed, flinging her arms around his neck, "Freddy..."

He pressed his lips against hers roughly, kissing her as if it were the first time. Dani was immediately transported to happier memories, the two of them just enthralled with one another. She'd missed him so much she had no idea what to do with the fact that he wasn't even alive.

Freddy pulled away, pushing her hair out of her face, "What's wrong?"

Dani played with a piece of loose fabric on his sweater, "You're dead. I can't deal with you just being in my dreams, Freddy. I want to be with you, and if it takes killing myself I'll do it."

He shook his head, "I wouldn't let you do that to Alex, he's helped you through too much already, I can't let him lose you."

She stared at him through misty eyes, "You'd give me up, just to see me happy?"

Freddy hugged her tight against his body, "I'd let him have you, only as long as I knew that you still love me."

"Freddy, I'll always love you," she kissed his cheek, inhaling the scent of mulch and leaves, "always."

He sighed, burying his face in her hair, taking in the sweet aroma of strawberries, "I love you so much, Dani."

"How sweet."

The two of them turned around to see Krueger standing there, his eyes burning with anger, "Now, let me show you how it feels," he swung the pipe hard against Dani's back, sending her flying over the rail.

"NO!" Freddy rushed to the rail, hoping to catch her hand before she hit the ground, but she was nowhere to be seen. He exhaled with relief: she'd woken up.

Dani jolted awake, her back screaming in pain, but she ignored it; she still felt warm from being in his arms, she pulled her shirt up to her nose and could smell him. She still had her Freddy, and it comforted her, but also gave her a new vendetta: Krueger would pay, and she would set Freddy free.

AN: Reviews make me happy!