Ok everybody, this is my first fanfic and I hope you like it. It's something I've been thinking about at work lately and I decided to run with it. Enjoy!

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Natalie's POV:

"Natalie. Open your eyes. I know you're not asleep." It was Keith's voice. I'd know it even if it wasn't possible for him to be here. But he'd said I was asleep. Was I? I cracked my eyes open.

"I told you." Keith's eyes where a mixture of amusement and concern. "What's wrong babe? Have another nightmare?"

He was here! He really was. I wasn't dreaming. The Keith of my dream was dead and the one hugging me to his chest was very much alive. His heart pumping in my ear encouraged mine to slowly calm itself. He was here. He was safe. He was alive.

I'd just about drifted off when his voice, still husky from sleep, whispered, "Want to talk about it?"

"No."

Keith chuckled, "Well then partner we've got an interesting situation here."

Slightly annoyed at not being able to return to sleep I responded, "What's that? You've decided to interrupt my sleep cause I accidently interrupted yours?"

"You had the dream again didn't you." It wasn't a question. I'd had the dream enough over the years for him to know what could make me react so strongly. "I'm right here, babe. I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere. It'd take a lot more than some angry cancer cells to make me change my mind. I love you."

"Love you back." My voice was muffled into his chest. He hadn't died. He was alive. My mind still has trouble processing that sometimes. His recovery was so random that neither of us had seen it coming. We had all prepared for out goodbyes. I remember that scene we did, the goodbye scene. That was when we realized that we loved each other. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Stumble around like a chicken with your head cut off."

"Thanks."

"No I'm sure that once you recovered from the shock the crippling pain would keep you immobilized for a good portion of your attractive years and you would spend the rest of your days pining over me."

"DramaKing."

Keith laughed. "Who? Me? You're the one who just had a nightmare about her fiancé being dead. Now how's that supposed to make me feel?"

"Immeasurably lucky that you have someone like me to care about your sad self."

"Ah you've got me there. I'm the luckiest guy alive to be here with you."

We both quieted at that thought. He was lucky to be here with me. I was lucky he was here with me. If he wasn't….nightmares would be the least of my problems. My tears started to build up again, leaking onto his t-shirt.

"Partner, I'm right here. Nothing is gonna happen to me." Keith started rubbing small circles into my back with his thumb.

"I just…" I sniffled. "I just want you to know how much I need you."

"Natalie. Natalie I'm the one who needs you. Believe me I know that I wouldn't be lying here if it wasn't for you by my side all those weeks I was in the hospital. What would I have done without you there to keep me company during chemo? I probably would have given up hope."

I pushed myself up so I could look into his face. "Well what else was I supposed to do? I couldn't have made it without you and I sure wasn't gonna let anything happen to you. Besides, I didn't like that Jenna girl."

The darkness echoed Keith's laughter. "That's what you remember after all these years? The girl who got chemo next to me?"

"She smiled at you too much."

"Babe, you are seriously deranged." I could hear the smile in his voice. I was sure it was there, that cute little half smirk that still managed to make my head spin after all these years.

"She wanted you. And she hated me. I don't see how you didn't notice. I mean I realize you weren't feeling well but let me tell you, she was--"

He cut me off with a kiss. "She was nothing compared to you, Partner."

Review please! I'd highly, greatly, and fantastically appreciate it!