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The Apartment: 4:30 AM

I was getting some of the best sleep I had had in years when I was awoken by the increased beating of Chloe's heart and a muffled scream. Like someone had started to call out and then stopped themselves. I perked up my senses to the movements going on inside the guest bedroom, waiting for Chloe's heart and breathing to return to normal. However, I heard what sounded like the movement of someone getting out of bed.

I listened for several more minutes and the breathing and heart only increased at a steady rate, as if the person was moving about. Giving into curiosity and the pains of the heart, I threw off the blanket Jas must have draped around me and walked to the guest bedroom door. I knocked and heard a strained "come in".

The opened door revealed completely darkness, but my Mai night vision kicked in to make out what appeared to be an empty room. "Chloe?" I called into the black.

I heard a "yes" reply from the opposite side of the bed. I walked around to find an awake Chloe alternating between sit ups and bicycle kicks. She was wearing a black tank that must have been under the black jacket she fought in earlier and a borrowed pair of my boxers. Her hair was pulled into a messy pony tail and her skin was covered with a thin layer of sweat from her work out.

Damn. She looked hot. I wanted to scoop her up and kiss her to make up for all the lost time we had been apart. Only, I had no idea where we stood, Chloe and me, and I was petrified that one wrong move could end whatever chance we had before we even got started (hopefully) again. So, holding back my impulses to embrace the girl I still irreversibly loved, I settled for my classic smirk.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Couldn't sleep…. Physical activity helps… Tires me out." She replied in breathes between crunches.

"Is it nightmares still?"

"What do you think?" She smiled as she flipped to a plank position, clearly trying to lighten the mood. Only I knew Chloe King too well for that trick. I could see the terror she was trying to mask in her eyes.

"And working out helps?"

"Yeah. Usually I go for a run to wear me out, but I figured you and Jas would freak if I tried to go wandering out in the city at this time of night. Even if I had every intention of coming back." Again trying to crack a joke. "But this works too. This way I'm too physically exhausted to do anything but pass out."

"You know that's not healthy. The body needs regular sleep, not mercilessly tired sleep." I commented.

She started doing push-ups. The muscles pulsed in her arms. No wonder she was in such great shape. But at what cost I wondered as I finally took notice of the bags under her eyes. Did this girl ever sleep?

"I know, but I just can't sleep normally. I figure some sleep is better than none. Besides, nothing else works."

I sat down on the edge of the bed while Chloe continued her workout. "Something else did work. For four years if I remember correctly." I practically whispered, nonetheless it was enough to make her pause mid push-up.

She dropped her knees and sat back on her feet, still staring intently at the floor. "No, you're right. It did, but I didn't want to… could not… ask you. It wouldn't be fair for you considering all the time that's passed. I didn't want to put you in that position of having to awkwardly refuse me."

"Chloe," I interrupted her and slide off the bed to kneel before her, grabbing her hands. She sucked in a quick breath of air at the contact. This was the first time we had touched since fighting, and the first time of holding hands in five years. "I could never refuse you. I would do anything for you." I said with complete and utter sincerity.

She continued to gaze down, taking in my words. "I know that Alek. Which is why I couldn't ask you." Her shoulders started to tremble like she was about to cry, but she took a deep breath and steadied herself. Wow, she had become a lot tougher and more independent in our time apart. I could feel her strong resolve. "It wouldn't be fair because nothing could happen. I wasn't planning on fighting you or coming back here, it just occurred. I still have work to do."

My heart felt like it was cracking. I had just gotten her back and already Chloe was talking of leaving. Did she not understand that she was my world and there was no way I would be letting her leave without me again? The weight was already a thousand times lighter with laying eyes on her. But I knew I needed to tell her what she needed to hear to get her to stay.

"Chloe, I don't care about that. All I care about is the here and now. And now you need to sleep and I can help you get some actual healthy sleep. Let me do this for you, no strings or expectations attached."

I saw her have an internal battle with herself. Finally one side won and she raised her eyes to look into mine. Her blue-green orbs sparkled with relief and I knew what her decision was before she spoke. That's how intense our connection is despite the time apart. "You're right Alek," she spoke, "I can control the nightmares for the most part but your presence will help. But we can only lay next to each other, no touching. It can't go any farther. Ok?"

I smirked slightly. I had won this first battle of showing her that we needed to be and stay together and that was enough for now. "Ok Chloe. Whatever you say." I answered as I pulled both of us to a standing position.

She returned my smile. "Is Mr. Always Right Alek admitting defeat?" she teased causing me to smile more internally.

"Never, King."

Chloe continued to smile but with an air of seriousness. "Thank you." Then she glanced down at herself and grimaced. "Let me shower first, I'm all sweaty." She pulled her hands from mine and made her way towards the attached bathroom. "Make yourself comfortable, I'll be out in a few."

She motioned towards the bed and was gone before I could make some sort of witty retort back. But that was just fine. Baby steps I told myself as I settled onto the right side of the bed. It was the side that had always been mine five years ago. I smiled as I made myself comfortable remembering a very similar night to this one practically ten years ago. It was about a week and a half since the warehouse incident.

Sorry that it's short, and remember, please review! It will help with the upcoming chapters!