Note: Italic font - Téa's dreams

Téa tried to be even more lively after that day, even if she didn't feel like it. She tried to care more about school again, she doodled art, danced more, exercised more, but most of all, she tried to get Atem to be happier.

It felt strange. He was her best friend, but she felt she didn't know specifically what activities outside of Duel Monsters and games he liked. No doubt she learned so much about him recently, but it didn't seem like enough. Everything seemed to blur away now that he had recovered his lost memories.

Sometimes he'd tell her about it, his childhood, his father, the very few memories he had of his mother. He'd tell her of the mischief he got into with Mana, the earnest friendship he had with Mahad, and his rivalry with the Priest Seto. He'd also loved their ancient Duel Monsters version, even then. But now he stopped completely. Téa had noticed that he avoided it, but she didn't think he would have sworn it off completely. Atem still kept his cards with him at all times. Sometimes he'd take them out and just look at them.

It reminded him of Yugi, the cards. But playing it was too much for him he had said.

That broke Téa's heart. To love doing something so much and to have it darkened with sadness and loss. She tried to get Atem to play again, but he said he wasn't ready. So Téa didn't push it. It reminder her all the more, that she needed to be there for Atem and give him the space he needed to grow.

"My parents won't be home this weekend…" Téa began and suddenly she blushed at the accidental implications of her words. Atem luckily didn't seem to realize.

"I mean… I want to try something…" and Téa realized once again that those weren't the appropriate words she should be using. "I want to try sleeping separately from you!" She blurted out in a dash, hoping not to embarrass herself any further.

"What?" Atem widened his eyes.

Téa sighed and aligned her eyes in front of Atem. "I… this isn't right. I mean that this is difficult and not sustainable – you and I sleeping together every day."

Atem didn't seem to understand. "Not sustainable?" Like natural resources ...?

Téa twisted her lips. "Um, what I mean is that I need to try to get rid of this and overcome whatever happens to me at night when I try to sleep. I'm super thankful for you every night," she gave shy smile, "but, I need to face this." Atem stayed silent as Téa continued. "My parents won't be home this weekend because they have a super important business thing that they need to attend out of the state, so it will be just us. That's the only time I can try to sleep alone, otherwise it would upset my parents terribly."

Atem nodded. "If this is something you feel you need to do, I will support you."

Téa smiled warmly at him. "Thank you, Atem. And, this would allow you a chance to sleep in your own bed at Grandpa's Mutou's house if you would like."

Atem frowned. "No." He said rather quickly. "I'd much rather be here with you, to make sure you're alright." Téa opened her mouth to protest. "Don't worry, I'll sleep in a different room than you, but it would make me feel better to be here in case, it's too much, or you need anything." His amethyst eyes followed her demonstrating that he was unlikely to budge on this.

'Atem—the always so thoughtful', Téa thought. "Okay…" Téa agreed, after telling herself that she would find a way so Atem wouldn't disturb his sleep for her.

Friday night came quicker than Téa thought it would. She was terrified. But there was no backing down. She needed to do this, more so for Atem's sake than hers. Atem didn't deserve all this. He didn't have nighttime terrors like she did. He was so incredibly selfless in all of this and it made Téa feel guilty.

He deserved better. Yugi would have wanted him to live a life to his fullest in these circumstances. Instead Atem was here, with her, almost 24/7 as she was at her lowest. He even slept beside her every night so she wouldn't scream away. This couldn't continue.

Atem would never be able to live his own life. When he grew older, what if he had work that took him someplace else? He couldn't keep coming to her every night. Atem would never be able to date… or marry, and while the thought of Atem dating anyone made Téa flinch (she was scared that her pushed away burgeoning feelings for him were getting stronger). Téa cared for him too much to take away the prospect of a life that would make him happy.

She needed to stop being so dependent on him. She needed to get out of this funk. 'For Atem.' She told herself.

Getting some revolve, she went upstairs and saw the guest room door open where Atem would be sleeping for the night. He had already changed into his sleeping pajamas, albeit without a shirt. Téa could never get used to Atem being shirtless, as it always made her slightly blush. She was pretty sure he liked to sleep topless, and only put on a shirt for her sake. She saw Atem perched on his bed, looking as if he was deep thought.

"Ahem." Téa coughed and that got Atem's attention. She walked over to him as Atem flung his legs off the bed, so he could sit on the edge of the bed. Téa bent down and outstretched her hand in front of Atem. "These are for you." She beckoned.

Atem stared at them curiously before Téa dropped them in his hand. "Earplugs." He stated and then looked up. Before he could speak, Téa interrupted him.

"Oh wait!" She dashed over to her room and quickly came back with earmuffs. She handed them to Atem.

Atem blinked, protesting "But, then how am I supposed to hear you to make sure you're ok?"

Téa gave a slight frown. "That's the point." She sighed, putting her hand to her cheek. "I won't be ok. I'll be screaming, and you shouldn't have to suffer through that."

"But…" Atem pursed his lips.

"No buts." Téa was quick to say. She softened. "I promise if it gets too much that I'll come here." She told him.

Atem reached up and pulled Téa to him, catching her off guard. Her wrapped his arms around her and laid his head on her shoulder. "And wake me too, if you need me." He said softly. "Promise?"

"Promise… if you promise to keep those on." Téa whispered back.

Atem made a grunted noise, and then grudgingly mumbled "Alright." Atem did not shift from his embrace though. Sometimes Téa couldn't believe how physically affectionate the Pharaoh really was. Had he always been like this?

Téa had left Atem sometime later to retire into her bed. It felt cold and bare without Atem, and sleep didn't come that easy to her. She had gotten so used to curling up against Atem's chest, with his strong arms wound around her to make her feel so peaceful and protected. It didn't help that she was apprehensive about being alone. But she tried breathing and trying to calm herself down.

She needed to become one with the nightmares. She needed to embrace them.

Téa fell asleep eventually and then the nightmares she beckoned came.

Fire. Fire. She saw it everywhere and she screamed.

She woke up screaming outside her dream world. It was more difficult that she thought, she had to keep trying!

The plane began shaking vigorously and turning.

Téa took in a deep breath, fearing for the worst. Her head was throbbing because of the strength of the turbulence. She turned to her right to see Yugi's frightened eyes as they shared a glance. Téa noticed the two beads of sweat on Yugi's temple. Both of them latched their hands together in a tight lock, as Téa heard the wails of babies and the screams of adults. "Yugi..." She murmured, and he tried to smile at her reassuringly.

The two of them looked over to see the center group seats where Joey, Tristan, and Bakura had also locked hands, the boys turning over to look at them."Téa, Yugi!" Joey called out to them, one of his hands beckoning to Téa across the aisle.

Suddenly a sharp turn in the plane swerved and oxygen mask shot out from the ceiling of the airplane. Before anyone could get the masks out, there was loud thumps. Even with the seat belts, Téa crashed into the seat in front of her and then Yugi, as she cried out at the sharp pain she felt.

The plane had crashed. Then there was fire.

Fire. She saw it everywhere and she screamed.

Yugi began coughing violently next to her and another crashing sound was made as Téa hit her head –hard—and all she saw was darkness. "Téa. Téa!" She heard afterwards when the darkness began to fade more in.

But then images of fire and the feeling of burning started.

Téa screamed violently. The memories kept repeating themselves, as she clutched her blanket so tightly. All she could remember were Joey, Tristan's, and Bakura's warm brown eyes looking at her before fire broke out.

She remembered the utter fear in Yugi's amethyst eyes she saw last. She remembered the way their hands latched on to each other, their fingers threading to each other's. Most of it due to fear, but the tingly resonance of romantic affection laced through desire to keep each other safe.

She needed to sleep again. She couldn't give up.

"Téa! Téa!" She tried to open her eyes. She was being dragged somewhere. Her skin felt so hot and burning.

"Pharaoh?" She tried to recognize the voice. Her throat felt scratchy and she realized her voice came out rough.

"Stay with me Téa. Please!" She heard him plead.

She woke again screaming when she thought she saw fire again. That was the last of her memories her dreams would show her that night.

Light spilled through her window's curtains. Téa barely got any a wink of real sleep. She felt awful and drowsy. Atem would be getting up soon. There was no point in trying to sleep now. She grudgingly got up, still feeling shaken up by the frightening things she witnessed. Téa told herself that to clear her mind. She went to the bathroom to freshen up and then when downstairs to make some breakfast. Breakfast would do both her and Atem some good.

I updated early because of my slight switch in the flow of this story! Thought I'd treat you readers because of that. I know the romance is very slow right now, but it will come suddenly and soon.

Please review!

~Startistica