I can't believe this is the penultimate chapter! There's only one more left after this and I'm not sure how I feel about it… :(

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks, then I'll follow you into the dark.

She's exquisite.

Addie's gaze skimmed over Teddy's bare, unblemished skin as she slept. The rise and fall of Teddy's chest was, in its own way, hypnotizing; such grace was cradled in the curve of her jaw, the dip between her shoulder blades. Those blond tresses that blossomed around Teddy's head like a halo shone even in the darkness, and ever since her hair had regained the luster that grief had stolen from it, Addie couldn't help but marvel at its beauty.

But even in sleep, Teddy's body never stilled; it seemed that after so long having to be fast on the draw, she found it hard to give herself over to quietude. Now, she was dreaming – it was clear in the crease of her narrow forehead that her slumber was far from peaceful.

If only Addie could reach into that mind of hers and offer Teddy the guiding hand she deserved. If only there was a way for Addie to watch over every last one of these nightmares – Teddy had never said it, but from her fearful subconscious whisperings it was clear that these nights had plagued her soul to shreds.

"My baby – please don't take my baby…" Teddy's mouth formed breath around those mournful words as she struggled to break free from the bonds of her ordeal. The limber muscles of Teddy's arms bunched and tensed as though she were fighting off demons unseen; fists clenched, Addie could only imagine the realness of what Teddy was seeing behind her closed lids in that moment. She knew Teddy would never betray how she really felt in the daylight hours – she was too proud for that, and too proud to admit she was still hurting. Addie had long since resolved to give Teddy all the time she needed to heal, to breathe… yet, that didn't stop it from hurting when she caught glimpses of the true depth of her pain when nights like this came knocking.

The softness of Teddy's cheeks glinted with tears in the dim moonlight; silvery sadness made apparent only when every wall was stripped away, pride crumbling down along with it. Addie had never thought about it before, but how profound must a pain be for it to be brought over into a realm where rest and reprieve could claim them? Teddy was crying – crying even in sleep.

"It's not real, Teddy," Addie whispered in Teddy's ear, hoping and hoping for her words to somehow pierce through and reach her. But hearing what she'd just said, Addie's heart twisted with the realization that Teddy's dreams were indeed, wholly real. Teddy had lost Jayni to the arms of a merciless God who thought it was fair to take a child away from its mother; she had lost Henry before that in the very same way – what a lie it was to say all of that was anything but genuine.

Left so helpless, Addie would have woken her had it not been for the inevitable shame she knew Teddy had to feel when she discovered she'd conceded to weakness after so long trying to hide it. Of this, Addie thought, Teddy should be allowed to remain blissfully oblivious to as soon as she woke. There was no need to make Teddy feel bad for one more thing that wasn't her fault.

Let me take away your pain. Please, Teddy – let me help you feel safe again, Addie's eyes were saying as they bore into Teddy's sleeping face.

There was nothing big enough to make up for even one of Teddy's losses. Addie could have given her the world and it wouldn't even come close to matching Teddy's love for her daughter. Addie had given her everything in her power to give, and Teddy knew this full well. But what Teddy didn't know that through all this, she'd saved Addie as well.

Addie had never thought she could love again after she'd proven to herself that she was nothing more than a cheater; she didn't deserve another's love when, in the end, she would only and always walk away. But now, Teddy had given her all the confidence it took to mend her wreckage; throughout all this, Teddy had taught Addie fierce loyalty, unwavering hope – and Addie had found love again in this dark, dark place. She'd found someone that she loved enough to want to stay and never leave, something she'd never felt with Derek. Then, it would only take a second for her to pack her bags and run away; now, she couldn't even bear the thought of taking flight.

Let me help you feel safe, Addie thought again. Let me bring you back to a place when you were happy.

Teddy had been happy with Henry – blissful, even. Addie couldn't help but hearing whispers on the wind when Teddy had returned to work – about Henry, about their fairy-tale love story just missing its happy ending.

And Addie knew she couldn't give Teddy that happy ending, but what about the next best thing?

She would make her happy. She would stay forever. She would keep Teddy safe.

And right then, Addie knew just what she had to do.

Any guesses as to what Addie's going to do? :D I'm curious of what you think!