Hey guys, welcome back! I have an announcement to make, there are a number of reasons why I have gone quiet on this page for a little bit. One of the main reasons is that in my line of work I am working (like so many others) to help combat COVID-19. The other reason is the fact that I have fully completed the 'Learning to Love' series. So if you are reading this then you are about to get the next five instalments of this series up until it's completion. I really can't wait to see what you think of this, much love, RSD xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo.


*Mal's POV*


As I watched Ben try to regulate his breathing I couldn't help but feel my heart start to break; I hated seeing him like this. This also brought up one of my insecurities, which I began to mentally kick myself for. No matter how many times Ben reassured me; I still felt to blame for everything that we were going through. I hated the fact that I hadn't just told Ben what was on my mind; if I had just had the backbone that I needed then I wouldn't have caused the pain to my soul mate that he had been inflicted to.

I quickly pushed this away as I reminded myself of what had just happened; I was suddenly awoken by Ben thrashing around the bed crying and shouting out. Thankfully as the minutes ticked by I watched as his breathing began to calm down as he continued to realise that he was safe.

"Mal" he muttered before he quickly dove at me and he snuggled his head tightly into my chest.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed as I wrapped my arms around him. "Benny calm down" I told him smoothly as I snuggled my face into his hair. I smiled into his hair but my face dropped when I heard him gasp before he quickly slid down and he cupped my stomach in both of his hands. "Ben what's wrong?" I questioned as I looked down at him.

"Are you ok?" he quickly asked as he looked up at me, panic stricken.

"Of course" I smiled at him, hoping that this would reassure him.

"Are they ok?" he advised as he looked down at my stomach before cuddling into my stomach.

"Yes" I answered. "I think so," I stated.

"You think so?" he repeated slowly as he looked up at me. "We need to go!" he exclaimed as he threw our bed covers back.

"Go?" I asked in confusion as he sat up and slid back onto his side of his bed. "Go where?" I questioned.

"I need to get you to the hospital," he told me seriously. "NOW!" he stressed.

"Ben stop," I said as I slid my left hand onto his right hand in an attempt to stop him from getting up. I didn't know what Ben's dream was about - but I was going to say that it probably was something to mine and/or our baby's safety. "Stop!" I urged when he attempted to pull his hand away.

"No!" he exclaimed in a panic. "I need to make sure that you both are ok!" he stressed.

"I can tell you that," I advised. "Ben please!" I exclaimed. "Stop!" I stressed and we both shared a glance. "What's wrong?" I questioned after us looking at each other for a few seconds in silence.

"How can you not know if they are ok?" he asked, causing me to look down at my stomach.

"I've had no symptoms to suggest otherwise" I advised. "Me and the baby are fine" I stated, hoping that this would reassure him. "I promise" I added with a warm smile. The room fell into silence once more as I watched as his breath began to slow down once more as panic and concern started to ebb away from him. "Why don't you tell me what has happened? "I'm guessing you have just had a bad dream" I offered.

"Yes" he nodded.

"Come here" I answered as I lay back down in bed and I opened my arms up to him. I watched as he nodded at me before he lay back down next to me; he rolled onto his right hand side as I rolled onto my left and I heard him sigh as he snuggled his head back into my chest. "Would you like to talk about it? "It might make you feel better," I suggested.

"Maybe" I heard him mutter.

"Well whenever you are ready" I meekly smiled before pressing a kiss against the top of his head. We lay in silence for a few minutes and I knew that he was now probably reliving his dream in the forefront of his mind which was also making him question whether he wanted to talk about it. In all honesty I wanted to make it better for him; but I wasn't going to push him too hard if he didn't want to talk about it - he was panicked enough as it is!

"I dreamt-" I heard him begin.

"Yes?" I answered and I watched as he slowly looked up at me. When our eyes met I could tell that he was still questioning whether he wanted to talk about this; but as I watched him nod to himself I knew that he had found the strength to continue. By Ben's reaction to this dream I didn't think I was going to like it; but this wasn't what mattered right now. What mattered was me needing to support Ben and help him through this - something I was more than happy to do. It broke my heart to see him like this; but no matter what, I was always going to be there for him - my perfect soul mate.