(A/N) Hanyougohan, thanks for reviewing again. No worries, I'm gonna right
a sequel to for the love of an elf, but my brother wants me to finish this
first. Written in the stars was actually a birthday present for him. But
yeah, I'm workin on the sequel. Lady larien, thank you for all of those
reviews! As for how many of the books I have read, you don't want to know.
Believe me. By the way, I love Star Wars too. Jedi Apprentice all the way!
AAAAhhh! Who needs author's notes? HERE WE GO!!!!
Written in the Stars
Chapter 4: A star-crossed encounter
Quickly I put my arms around Stella in a vain attempt to shield her from the Ellimist. I knew that if we had somehow displeased him that he could very well take Stella away from me and make it so that we had never met. Regardless of the fact that he claimed not to interfere. So I asked him again.
{ What do you want with us? }
"Only to offer you something?"
This was definitely something new.
"Stella is not the one who was meant to find the morphing cube. She wasn't meant to enter the war." He said to me.
{ What are you going to do? }
"I want to make up for her suffering."
{ WHAT? } This was truly puzzling. Since when did the Ellimist care about the feelings of his game pieces? Then he spoke to Stella again.
"I want to offer you another morph."
"What kind of morph?" she asked.
"Instead of morphing Aximili here, I want to give you a female Andalite morph."
{ Why would you do that? } I asked skeptically.
"You will know soon enough Aximili. Now Stella, will you take my offer?"
"I might as well." She said slowly.
My first impulse was to tell her to refuse but what was to be gained by refusing the Ellimist?
"All right then."
When I looked back at Stella I saw that her eyes had gone blank, almost as if she were in a trance. Suddenly she fell backwards into me and passed out.
{ What did you do to her? } I asked him angrily.
"You will see."
With that he vanished and the forest was released from his grip. Stella awoke with a start.
"What happened?" she asked me.
{ I'm not certain. Do you remember anything? }
"I saw.... well..... I'm not sure what I saw. For a minute I saw the Ellimist, or whatever he was, in front of me. Then I was..... I guess I was on another planet. The sky was red and the grass was blue, and I have never seen plants like that anywhere in my life."
{ It must have been the Andalite home world. What happened next? Did you see anyone? }
"I saw an Andalite, but not like you. This one was purple instead of blue, and it was more slender rather than muscular. "
{ That was a female Andalite. Why don't you try morphing it? That is what the Ellimist gave you after all. }
"Okay."
Then she began to morph. Her tan skin became purple fur. Her feet became hooves and hind legs burst out of her back right along with a tail. Stalk eyes grew out of her head and her black hair receded into her head. Her mouth vanished, her nose flattened out and before me stood an Andalite female. There was only one difference. Stella has gray eyes. All Andalites have green eyes. The strange thing was that even after she had morphed, Stella retained her gray eyes. I had never seen an Andalite with gray eyes. As I looked back into both her main eyes and her stalk eyes it was almost like looking into the heart of a turbulent storm. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.
I was having those strange feelings again. The need to be by her side. I stepped towards her and took her hand in mine. I had never felt so out of control in my life. When I looked into Stella's eyes they betrayed the same feelings. I pulled her into my arms, never taking my eyes off of hers. Slowly I brought up my hand and placed it upon her face. Gently I began to stroke her cheek with the palm of my hand. The Andalite version of what the humans call a kiss. Awhile later I withdrew my hand and she rested her head on my chest. Somewhere in the back of my mind I could hear her sigh.
Suddenly my senses came back to me. What was I doing? Reluctantly I pulled away from her.
{ We should probably be heading back. We only have 90 percent of the allowable time left and we must reach our camp before too long. } I said sadly.
{ O-okay. } she replied and she galloped off into the forest ahead of me. Quickly I followed her, happy to simply gaze at her from behind as she ran.
Finally we reached our camp sight and Stella demorphed. But I was reluctant to give up those feelings that I had had for her. Maybe I would feel them again if I were in human morph. So I began to morph to human. Stella turned around and saw me.
"Ax, what are you doing?" she asked. I detected a hint of a giggle in her voice.
"You know...... I don't know." I said as my human mouth took shape. I was still getting used to the morphing clothing but it wasn't so bad anymore.
As the human mind made itself known and my gaze fell on Stella, I was overcome by a myriad of strange sensations. I felt sweat break out on the palms of my hands and my mouth went dry. I was nearly gasping for air. I could feel a fire burning in my very skin. It was torture and yet at the same time I wished that it would never stop. Was it normal for humans to feel this way? How could they possibly express such raw need.
When she stepped further into the woods to change I tried to sit down. When I finally achieved the sitting position I realized that I was shaking badly. I could feel the human hormone adrenaline pumping through my system. But why? There was nothing to be afraid of. Was there?
When she came back she crawled into her sleeping bag. When she looked back at me and our eyes met I shook even harder. Without thinking I grasped her hand. Slowly she lay down and I lay down beside her. She turned away from me but she kept her hold on my hand. I lay beside her for a long time. Even after she had fallen asleep, I lay there with her hand in mine. After awhile I began to doze off.
Suddenly I jerked awake. I realized that I only had 5 percent of the allowable time remaining! Quickly I began to demorph, fearing that I would be trapped as a nothlit. When I was fully Andalite again I left Stella alone again. Only this time I had a destination in mind. I knew the way to Tobias' tree through the darkened forest.
Finally I reached the sleeping hawk that was Tobias.
{ Tobias! Wake up! I must speak with you! It's terribly important! }
{ Ax-man. What's up. What's wrong? } he asked urgently.
{ I am afraid Tobias. }
{ Afraid? Afraid of what? }
{ I'm.....I'm not certain. It's about Stella. }
{ Stella? Go on. }
{ I feel...... strange when I am around her. When I'm in human morph it is nearly impossible to control. When I'm not with her all I can do is think about her. Like right now. Her stormy eyes haunt me where-ever I go. It's almost like there is fire burning within me. Stella is that fire. Even in my true form I feel it. She is in my very soul, tormenting me. What can I do? } I asked him helplessly.
{ Oh Ax-man, that was real sweet. I'm impressed. Most girls would die to have guys say things like that about them. }
{ What does it mean? Why do I feel this way? It terrifies me and at the same time I find that I enjoy it. }
{ It's simple Ax. You've got a crush on Stella. Only I'd say it was more than a crush. This sounds more like full-blown true love. But then again, I'm not really the person to ask about that. But anyway, you should probably tell her about it. }
{ I could, but what would that help? }
{ It could be that she feels the same way as you do. Can I go back to sleep now? }
{ Of course my friend. } With that I left him and galloped back to the camp. As I ran I pondered what Tobias had said. In love? How could I be in love? With a human none the less. I was an Aristh in the Andalite army. I had more important things to worry about besides love. And yet here I was, on Earth with Stella. To my growing fear I realized that there was no where else that I would rather be than by her side. Fighting with her alongside the other Animorphs. Maybe I should tell her how I felt.
* *
*
A week after the incident with the Ellimist we were all in Cassie's barn discussing what we would do about the Yeerks being after Stella.
{ I don't know if any of you guys caught this at the meeting or not but did you hear Chapman saying that they were going to have a search of the reserve up in the mountains this weekend? } Tobias asked us.
"Yeah I heard him say that. So what are we going to do with Stella this weekend? " Rachel said.
"We could just morph, hide out in the forest and spy on them." Stella suggested.
"That's crazy! We'd be caught for sure. Are you insane?" Marco shouted.
"Yep. Besides, Visser Three might be there. This could be my big chance." Stella replied.
"For what?" Prince Jake asked her suspiciously.
"What do you think? He killed my parents you guys! I think I deserve to want some revenge." She replied vehemently.
{ Hold on! I'm the one who has to kill Visser Three. He killed my brother. He's my responsibility. } I told her.
"In that case the first one to kill him wins. Are we agreed?"
{ What!? } Stella talked about killing Visser Three as if it were no more than a game.
"I'm kidding Ax."
{ Right. }
"Getting back to the point, we need to figure out what we're going to do about this search. It is up in the mountains so if we do decide to go up there it will require a flight." Prince Jake said.
"I vote we go. They'll probably shoot any animal they see. We've got to do something about that." Cassie volunteered.
"I'm with Cassie." Rachel said.
{ So am I. }Tobias said.
"Count me in." Stella joined them.
"Same here." Prince Jake said.
{ I'm with you all the way.} I said.
"I'd refuse but it looks like I'd be the only one. So I'm in." Marco said reluctantly.
"All right, we're all on for this weekend. So what are we going to do? Stake out the whole mountain range?" Prince Jake said.
"Yeah right. I guess we'll just head up there and split up." Rachel said.
"But not completely. We should go in pairs." Cassie suggested.
Suddenly the radio that Cassie's father keeps in the barn began playing a song that I had never heard before. The radio had been on the whole time but none of us had been paying attention. The song that played now was different from all the other fast-paced, loud, screeching sounds that humans call music. It was much slower and the tone was softer.
"Oh no. I don't want to listen to this song. It's way too sad." Rachel moaned.
{ Why is it so sad? } I asked her.
"Rachel lets let him listen to it. Maybe then he'll understand." Cassie told her. With that she turned the radio up.
She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holding back
Wearing the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with the linens and lace.
The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she were never born
Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete angel
Somebody cries out in the middle of the night
The neighbors hear but they turn out the light
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When morning comes it will be too late
Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete angel
A statue stands-
Before the song ended Rachel shut it off.
"I can't listen anymore." She said in a high voice.
{ What is an angel? } I asked her.
"Oh.....Ax." Cassie started, but she turned away from me.
"It's this heavenly being. Supposedly it's what good people become after they die." Stella explained to me.
{ Oh, we Andalites just believe that after death the body becomes one with the land again. }
"But what about your soul? What happens to that?" Rachel asked me.
{ I don't know, I never really thought about it before. I guess it rejoins the land too. But if an angel is a spiritual being then why does the song call it concrete. I know what concrete is. }
"It's more of a metaphor Ax. It's saying that the girl in the song has an unconquerable spirit. }
{ Oh, all right. }
After that we were all silent for awhile. Then I spoke again.
{ I'll go with Stella. } I proclaimed calmly.
"Huh?" she said dully.
{ For teams this weekend. I'll be with you. }
"Okay."
"I'll stick with Cassie." Rachel said.
"In that case I'll go with Marco." Prince Jake said after Cassie agreed to go with Rachel.
{ And I'll just cover your backs. } Tobias said.
"So we're all agreed. Let's meet back here early Saturday morning. Okay?" Prince Jake said.
"That's good" the other Animorphs replied.
With that the others left and Tobias, Stella and I headed back to the woods. As we walked through the forest I thought about the song that had just played on the radio. Concrete angel. Somehow the song reminded me of Stella. No one really did know what she was holding back and it was hard to see her pain behind the defense that she put up. But the third verse of the song had somewhat scared me. Somebody cries out in the middle of the night. When morning comes it will be too late.
{ Stella.......that song? What was it talking about? }
"Well..." She began hesitantly. "It's about a girl who was abused by her mother."
{ What do you mean? }
"I guess the mother didn't like her daughter and she abused her."
{ Why would someone do that to their own child? }
"I don't know. Not everyone is just and decent. Doesn't that ever happen where you come from?"
{ No. }
"Listen Ax, I'll see you later. I need some time for myself right now."
With that she morphed into the female Andalite and galloped off through the forest before I could stop her. There was little I could do for the rest of the day so I went off on my own little run.
As the sun was setting I headed back to the camp. I waited for a long time after darkness had fallen but Stella did not return. I was getting worried.
Finally, a very long time after the sun had set, she came galloping into the camp. I went to her, took her shoulders and shook her very hard.
{ Where have you been Stella? I have been so worried. }
{ I told you before I was just out for a run. }
{ Why are you so late? You should have come back hours ago. }
{ Chill out Ax. What's your problem? }
{ It is dangerous for you to go off by yourself now. What if the controllers caught you? I.......I don't want to lose you. }
It was then that I noticed that she was trembling. I saw something strange in her eyes. It was like a cross of fear, sadness, and love. Slowly she pulled herself free from my grip and began to demorph.
"Well I'm fine. I'll be fine." She said as she crawled into her sleeping bag.
"I don't need anyone." She whispered as she dropped off to sleep.
I knew that she hadn't meant for me to hear the last part but I did.
* *
*
Written in the Stars
Chapter 4: A star-crossed encounter
Quickly I put my arms around Stella in a vain attempt to shield her from the Ellimist. I knew that if we had somehow displeased him that he could very well take Stella away from me and make it so that we had never met. Regardless of the fact that he claimed not to interfere. So I asked him again.
{ What do you want with us? }
"Only to offer you something?"
This was definitely something new.
"Stella is not the one who was meant to find the morphing cube. She wasn't meant to enter the war." He said to me.
{ What are you going to do? }
"I want to make up for her suffering."
{ WHAT? } This was truly puzzling. Since when did the Ellimist care about the feelings of his game pieces? Then he spoke to Stella again.
"I want to offer you another morph."
"What kind of morph?" she asked.
"Instead of morphing Aximili here, I want to give you a female Andalite morph."
{ Why would you do that? } I asked skeptically.
"You will know soon enough Aximili. Now Stella, will you take my offer?"
"I might as well." She said slowly.
My first impulse was to tell her to refuse but what was to be gained by refusing the Ellimist?
"All right then."
When I looked back at Stella I saw that her eyes had gone blank, almost as if she were in a trance. Suddenly she fell backwards into me and passed out.
{ What did you do to her? } I asked him angrily.
"You will see."
With that he vanished and the forest was released from his grip. Stella awoke with a start.
"What happened?" she asked me.
{ I'm not certain. Do you remember anything? }
"I saw.... well..... I'm not sure what I saw. For a minute I saw the Ellimist, or whatever he was, in front of me. Then I was..... I guess I was on another planet. The sky was red and the grass was blue, and I have never seen plants like that anywhere in my life."
{ It must have been the Andalite home world. What happened next? Did you see anyone? }
"I saw an Andalite, but not like you. This one was purple instead of blue, and it was more slender rather than muscular. "
{ That was a female Andalite. Why don't you try morphing it? That is what the Ellimist gave you after all. }
"Okay."
Then she began to morph. Her tan skin became purple fur. Her feet became hooves and hind legs burst out of her back right along with a tail. Stalk eyes grew out of her head and her black hair receded into her head. Her mouth vanished, her nose flattened out and before me stood an Andalite female. There was only one difference. Stella has gray eyes. All Andalites have green eyes. The strange thing was that even after she had morphed, Stella retained her gray eyes. I had never seen an Andalite with gray eyes. As I looked back into both her main eyes and her stalk eyes it was almost like looking into the heart of a turbulent storm. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.
I was having those strange feelings again. The need to be by her side. I stepped towards her and took her hand in mine. I had never felt so out of control in my life. When I looked into Stella's eyes they betrayed the same feelings. I pulled her into my arms, never taking my eyes off of hers. Slowly I brought up my hand and placed it upon her face. Gently I began to stroke her cheek with the palm of my hand. The Andalite version of what the humans call a kiss. Awhile later I withdrew my hand and she rested her head on my chest. Somewhere in the back of my mind I could hear her sigh.
Suddenly my senses came back to me. What was I doing? Reluctantly I pulled away from her.
{ We should probably be heading back. We only have 90 percent of the allowable time left and we must reach our camp before too long. } I said sadly.
{ O-okay. } she replied and she galloped off into the forest ahead of me. Quickly I followed her, happy to simply gaze at her from behind as she ran.
Finally we reached our camp sight and Stella demorphed. But I was reluctant to give up those feelings that I had had for her. Maybe I would feel them again if I were in human morph. So I began to morph to human. Stella turned around and saw me.
"Ax, what are you doing?" she asked. I detected a hint of a giggle in her voice.
"You know...... I don't know." I said as my human mouth took shape. I was still getting used to the morphing clothing but it wasn't so bad anymore.
As the human mind made itself known and my gaze fell on Stella, I was overcome by a myriad of strange sensations. I felt sweat break out on the palms of my hands and my mouth went dry. I was nearly gasping for air. I could feel a fire burning in my very skin. It was torture and yet at the same time I wished that it would never stop. Was it normal for humans to feel this way? How could they possibly express such raw need.
When she stepped further into the woods to change I tried to sit down. When I finally achieved the sitting position I realized that I was shaking badly. I could feel the human hormone adrenaline pumping through my system. But why? There was nothing to be afraid of. Was there?
When she came back she crawled into her sleeping bag. When she looked back at me and our eyes met I shook even harder. Without thinking I grasped her hand. Slowly she lay down and I lay down beside her. She turned away from me but she kept her hold on my hand. I lay beside her for a long time. Even after she had fallen asleep, I lay there with her hand in mine. After awhile I began to doze off.
Suddenly I jerked awake. I realized that I only had 5 percent of the allowable time remaining! Quickly I began to demorph, fearing that I would be trapped as a nothlit. When I was fully Andalite again I left Stella alone again. Only this time I had a destination in mind. I knew the way to Tobias' tree through the darkened forest.
Finally I reached the sleeping hawk that was Tobias.
{ Tobias! Wake up! I must speak with you! It's terribly important! }
{ Ax-man. What's up. What's wrong? } he asked urgently.
{ I am afraid Tobias. }
{ Afraid? Afraid of what? }
{ I'm.....I'm not certain. It's about Stella. }
{ Stella? Go on. }
{ I feel...... strange when I am around her. When I'm in human morph it is nearly impossible to control. When I'm not with her all I can do is think about her. Like right now. Her stormy eyes haunt me where-ever I go. It's almost like there is fire burning within me. Stella is that fire. Even in my true form I feel it. She is in my very soul, tormenting me. What can I do? } I asked him helplessly.
{ Oh Ax-man, that was real sweet. I'm impressed. Most girls would die to have guys say things like that about them. }
{ What does it mean? Why do I feel this way? It terrifies me and at the same time I find that I enjoy it. }
{ It's simple Ax. You've got a crush on Stella. Only I'd say it was more than a crush. This sounds more like full-blown true love. But then again, I'm not really the person to ask about that. But anyway, you should probably tell her about it. }
{ I could, but what would that help? }
{ It could be that she feels the same way as you do. Can I go back to sleep now? }
{ Of course my friend. } With that I left him and galloped back to the camp. As I ran I pondered what Tobias had said. In love? How could I be in love? With a human none the less. I was an Aristh in the Andalite army. I had more important things to worry about besides love. And yet here I was, on Earth with Stella. To my growing fear I realized that there was no where else that I would rather be than by her side. Fighting with her alongside the other Animorphs. Maybe I should tell her how I felt.
* *
*
A week after the incident with the Ellimist we were all in Cassie's barn discussing what we would do about the Yeerks being after Stella.
{ I don't know if any of you guys caught this at the meeting or not but did you hear Chapman saying that they were going to have a search of the reserve up in the mountains this weekend? } Tobias asked us.
"Yeah I heard him say that. So what are we going to do with Stella this weekend? " Rachel said.
"We could just morph, hide out in the forest and spy on them." Stella suggested.
"That's crazy! We'd be caught for sure. Are you insane?" Marco shouted.
"Yep. Besides, Visser Three might be there. This could be my big chance." Stella replied.
"For what?" Prince Jake asked her suspiciously.
"What do you think? He killed my parents you guys! I think I deserve to want some revenge." She replied vehemently.
{ Hold on! I'm the one who has to kill Visser Three. He killed my brother. He's my responsibility. } I told her.
"In that case the first one to kill him wins. Are we agreed?"
{ What!? } Stella talked about killing Visser Three as if it were no more than a game.
"I'm kidding Ax."
{ Right. }
"Getting back to the point, we need to figure out what we're going to do about this search. It is up in the mountains so if we do decide to go up there it will require a flight." Prince Jake said.
"I vote we go. They'll probably shoot any animal they see. We've got to do something about that." Cassie volunteered.
"I'm with Cassie." Rachel said.
{ So am I. }Tobias said.
"Count me in." Stella joined them.
"Same here." Prince Jake said.
{ I'm with you all the way.} I said.
"I'd refuse but it looks like I'd be the only one. So I'm in." Marco said reluctantly.
"All right, we're all on for this weekend. So what are we going to do? Stake out the whole mountain range?" Prince Jake said.
"Yeah right. I guess we'll just head up there and split up." Rachel said.
"But not completely. We should go in pairs." Cassie suggested.
Suddenly the radio that Cassie's father keeps in the barn began playing a song that I had never heard before. The radio had been on the whole time but none of us had been paying attention. The song that played now was different from all the other fast-paced, loud, screeching sounds that humans call music. It was much slower and the tone was softer.
"Oh no. I don't want to listen to this song. It's way too sad." Rachel moaned.
{ Why is it so sad? } I asked her.
"Rachel lets let him listen to it. Maybe then he'll understand." Cassie told her. With that she turned the radio up.
She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holding back
Wearing the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with the linens and lace.
The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she were never born
Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete angel
Somebody cries out in the middle of the night
The neighbors hear but they turn out the light
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When morning comes it will be too late
Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete angel
A statue stands-
Before the song ended Rachel shut it off.
"I can't listen anymore." She said in a high voice.
{ What is an angel? } I asked her.
"Oh.....Ax." Cassie started, but she turned away from me.
"It's this heavenly being. Supposedly it's what good people become after they die." Stella explained to me.
{ Oh, we Andalites just believe that after death the body becomes one with the land again. }
"But what about your soul? What happens to that?" Rachel asked me.
{ I don't know, I never really thought about it before. I guess it rejoins the land too. But if an angel is a spiritual being then why does the song call it concrete. I know what concrete is. }
"It's more of a metaphor Ax. It's saying that the girl in the song has an unconquerable spirit. }
{ Oh, all right. }
After that we were all silent for awhile. Then I spoke again.
{ I'll go with Stella. } I proclaimed calmly.
"Huh?" she said dully.
{ For teams this weekend. I'll be with you. }
"Okay."
"I'll stick with Cassie." Rachel said.
"In that case I'll go with Marco." Prince Jake said after Cassie agreed to go with Rachel.
{ And I'll just cover your backs. } Tobias said.
"So we're all agreed. Let's meet back here early Saturday morning. Okay?" Prince Jake said.
"That's good" the other Animorphs replied.
With that the others left and Tobias, Stella and I headed back to the woods. As we walked through the forest I thought about the song that had just played on the radio. Concrete angel. Somehow the song reminded me of Stella. No one really did know what she was holding back and it was hard to see her pain behind the defense that she put up. But the third verse of the song had somewhat scared me. Somebody cries out in the middle of the night. When morning comes it will be too late.
{ Stella.......that song? What was it talking about? }
"Well..." She began hesitantly. "It's about a girl who was abused by her mother."
{ What do you mean? }
"I guess the mother didn't like her daughter and she abused her."
{ Why would someone do that to their own child? }
"I don't know. Not everyone is just and decent. Doesn't that ever happen where you come from?"
{ No. }
"Listen Ax, I'll see you later. I need some time for myself right now."
With that she morphed into the female Andalite and galloped off through the forest before I could stop her. There was little I could do for the rest of the day so I went off on my own little run.
As the sun was setting I headed back to the camp. I waited for a long time after darkness had fallen but Stella did not return. I was getting worried.
Finally, a very long time after the sun had set, she came galloping into the camp. I went to her, took her shoulders and shook her very hard.
{ Where have you been Stella? I have been so worried. }
{ I told you before I was just out for a run. }
{ Why are you so late? You should have come back hours ago. }
{ Chill out Ax. What's your problem? }
{ It is dangerous for you to go off by yourself now. What if the controllers caught you? I.......I don't want to lose you. }
It was then that I noticed that she was trembling. I saw something strange in her eyes. It was like a cross of fear, sadness, and love. Slowly she pulled herself free from my grip and began to demorph.
"Well I'm fine. I'll be fine." She said as she crawled into her sleeping bag.
"I don't need anyone." She whispered as she dropped off to sleep.
I knew that she hadn't meant for me to hear the last part but I did.
* *
*