Sophie paced back and forth in the common room of the large tree house. Even though it was very late, she just couldn't sleep with how much was on her mind. Everyone else in Alluveterre was in their room through the stairs from the common room. So, Sophie wasn't expecting anything when she heard the creaking noise of stairs to her left. She stopped in her tracks, and backed up quite quickly into the wall behind her and crouched down. She hid behind one of the large chairs in the room, and kept her gaze focused on the stairs where she heard the noise. Sophie sat there behind the chair for a few stressful moments, and then a dark figure appeared at the corner of the stairs. The figure stopped at the bottom of them, and stood there for a second. "Foster?" a weaker, tired voice said out of the darkness. Sophie breathed a sigh of relief from where she was. She slowly stood up and walked over to the figure. "Keefe?" she asked, wanting to make sure she knew who it was. Keefe walked, but more staggered over to Sophie and they both stood in the light of the single candle Sophie had lit so she could see at least some of the room. A moment passed, and then Keefe almost collapsed on the ground. Sophie managed to grab his arm to pull him up before he hit the floor. She had him lean on her shoulder until she was able to walk him over to a couch. Keefe could barely keep himself up, and immediately just looked to the couch for support. Sophie sat down next to him, and Keefe's eyes were closed and he didn't look all that great. "Hey." She tried to see if he would talk. Keefe barely moved his head in response, but he ended up barely whispering his words. "Thanks." She gently grasped his hand in return, and moved her thumb in a circle over the back of his hand, which was something Flori had done to calm her. Sophie realized that Keefe wasn't going to be able to say much in his state, so she reached out to him telepathically. Okay Keefe. You're telling me what happened because this doesn't just happen every day. There was some silence in between, and Sophie was questioning if Keefe could even hear her, and then he answered. I have a question. Even his mental voice sounded weak. What is it Keefe? Sophie replied. Keefe clutched Sophie's hand harder than she had when he had replied to her before. How often do you have nightmares, Foster? Sophie quietly sighed. She wasn't quite sure how to answer this question without making herself feel embarrassed. Well, if I'm being completely honest here Keefe, every night that you're not there to sooth them. She glanced over at him and it might have been her imagination, but she could swear she saw his mouth twitch up at the corners for just a second. Then he leaned his head on her shoulder, whereas his breathing was faint. Okay Keefe, you need sleep. Whatever you want Foster. His voice was now just a faint whisper in Sophie's head. Sophie slid to the edge of the couch, and took Keefe's arm and put it around her shoulders. She supported most of his weight as they walked up the stairs together towards Sophie's room. I'd rather not have anyone know about this. Keefe transmitted. Of course. Sophie said back. Whatever you need. They walked down the hall and went in through the doorway where a fragrant, soothing, flowery smell lightly filled the entire room. It was one of the most calming scents that she could think of. Sophie took her arm off of Keefe's waist, and took his other hand that wasn't around her shoulders. He sat down on the edge of the bed after taking his arm off of Sophie's shoulder, and opened his eyes to look at her. "I love you, Sophie." Then he closed his eyes and laid down. Sophie smiled, not completely sure how to feel. For one, he was in a pretty terrible mental state. But on the other hand, he had called her Sophie and not Foster, and seemed pretty sincere despite being almost asleep. She wasn't even sure what to say in response. "I love you too Keefe."
