A/N: Sigh….here's what none of you were looking forward to.

CHAPTER 66 – Dream Within

Free the dream within

The stars are crying a tear

A sigh escapes from Heaven

And worlds end

We tremble and spin suspended within

Look beyond where hearts can see

Dreams in peace trust love, believe

-Lara Fabian (Dream Within)

Tristian opened his eyes, taking a deep breath. His chest was heavy, weighted down. The sun peeked through the curtains behind him, causing Jean to glow. He smiled at her sleeping form, even his smile took effort now. She looked like sleeping beauty, her dark lashes covered her cheeks, red hair splayed about her head, pink lips closed while she breathed evenly in slumber. He did the right thing, she needed to live.

He raised one of his hands and touched her cheek gently, she didn't stir, just slept on as he hoped she would. He felt her skin beneath his fingers, the ivory smooth feel to it, the warmth from her sleep as her breath played on his fingers gently like a breeze. He savored it a moment more before pulling back. He couldn't stay any longer. He could feel the pull from somewhere else moving him back.

Tristian closed his eyes, sparing one last look at her as she rested against him. He kissed the top of her head, before resting his against the pillows. "Look to the stars, Jeanie," he whispered. "Look to your heart."

He put his free hand in hers, she reacted and moved closer to him, clasping his hand. He smiled and watched her as his eyes closed on their own. He took a breath, savoring her lavender scent as he exhaled. His chest remained still, hand going slack in Jean's own and darkness overcame him.

But it wasn't dark for long. It broke away into a bright light. Tristian blinked, sunlight and the smell of pine trees. His vision cleared and he looked around. A bunch of trees were before him, the grass was calf high and the sky a brilliant blue but this wasn't the institution anymore. He was nowhere near there but he knew where this was. It was where he used to watch the stars and meteor showers with Bonnie so long ago. He smiled in his own confusion and looked around only to freeze as his head turned to the right.

A slim curved figure stood before him, smiling that heart-stopping grin he hadn't seen in years. Her green scoop neck T-shirt matched her eyes and her jeans were torn at the knees. She looked comfortable and as gorgeous as ever in the simplest of clothes.

Tristian reached out brushing a strand of loose curly red hair behind her ear and smiled, his heart warming. She was real, he could touch her, he could feel her hair, feel her snowy skin. She was here.

He dropped his hand back and unclasped the necklace he was wearing to put around her neck, it fell into place against her chest, the emerald sparkling against her. "I was saving this for you," he told her, cupping her face in one hand.

Bonnie put her arms around him, pulling him closer so she could wrap her arms around the back of his neck. "I was saving this for you too," she leaned her head up, soft lips connecting to his. The fire re-ignited in him after two years, sparking something new and hot, filling his veins with warmth. He hadn't felt her in so long and the new rush made him feel like he had when they first met, young and so alive. His arms pulled her closer, never wanting to let her go again. She pulled away enough to look him in the eye. "I love you, Tristian."

He smiled and put his forehead to hers, holding her close, never wanting to let her go. "I love you too, Bonnie."

She pulled back out of his grip but slid her hand into his and leaned her head on his shoulder. "We got a lot of catching up to do." She said, starting to walk through the grass. "Jean seems like a nice girl."

"She was. She really was." Tristian spared a glance behind him, not surprised that he could see his room slowly fading behind him. Jean asleep next to him, but it wasn't him. Not anymore. Just a vessel of what he once was. He was here now, with Bonnie and he was happy. He just hoped Jean would be as happy without him as he now was, as she had made him feel.

He smiled, a breeze blowing behind him. "See you around, Jeanie. It's only the beginning." He put his arm around Bonnie, turning away as it disappeared behind him, knowing he'd see her again. He was sure of it. This wasn't the end of their friendship, but the beginning of something stronger.