Authors Note: For Paradox-Barbarian-Princess (Anya), as she is one of the only people that still reads this, and I'm mainly continuing for her. (and Dem xD, AND ANY OTHERS WHO STILL REMEMBER THIS!) Enjoy the non-plot related fluff, and reintroduction into or favourite dying girl's life... Theresa and Jay foreshadow the future. Look out for what may become of this plot, and for more hints, look at chapter one. –Nuuoa (got rid of Eclaire xDD, REMEMBER ME THOUGH)

Disclaimer: Previoussss chaptereezzzee.

"If I'm still dreaming, don't wake me up." –Theresa

Awake in a Dream: From Heavens Above

Chapter 4: Still Dreaming

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Even now, when the night was still reborn, Jay could feel the inky blackness enclosing him in a world devoid of light. Day had bid farewell to his side of the world, and now needed to visit the other. He did not miss it that much, as it always made sure to leave presents of rest and company. Unfortunately it appeared that perhaps it had mixed up a few of its tokens. Jay was exhausted, but sleep would not come.

Jay sagged onto the rough cement tiles of the brownstone roof. His toes curled in his sneakers and his throat drank the chill cut air. Through the void his eyes met diamonds, brilliant clusters of light. Their brightness caused him to squint. Jay still struggled to adjust his vision. Above him was a world beyond comprehension and beside him was the only world he wanted to comprehend.

Theresa was sitting beside him, even after a year of being together Jay still didn't get tired of being with her, or looking at her. She hadn't changed all too much in a year. She still carried a mass of light red hair, had soft—as Jay had happily figured out—and pale skin, and of course her eyes were still the perfect shade of evergreen. Basked in the moonlight, Theresa almost looked heavenly. Though the metaphor hurt Jay a bit, considering on this day she had almost been lost forever... three times, he couldn't help but think it.

"Hey, you're up late," Jay smiled down at her, his heart still skipped a beat when she peaked up at him.

"Well, look who else is guilty," Theresa chuckled, her face beaming brightly. Jay's heart was doing a jig now, one that never took a break.

"Well you know me. Jay and the stars, together forever."

"I love the stars too, despite knowing what—who they actually are," Theresa laughed.

"The souls collected by the great Annabelle Windlow! Khalil amongst them. He probably entertains himself by spitting on me up there," Jay scooted closer to her, still entranced by the intricate weaves of 

the orbs. Theresa was too, and they sat together, the heat of their bodies mixing together. Jay could feel slumber finally claiming him. With his girl by his side, and the memories of the past for a pillow, nothing could faze him.

"Do you think... he's still out there?" This brief moment of disturbed calm brought Jay back from his quick journey down memory lane. What disturbed him the most was that he wasn't sure which 'he' Theresa meant. Though knowing the old him, he immediately thought of Cronus. It scared him. It could mean anyone—so why a foe that was long gone? Why not Khalil, their previous companion? They had just been talking about him... Or anyone for that matter? Why... Jay's sense were no longer numb to the cold.

"He?" Jay asked, watching now as Theresa's gaze clouded over. She sighed, and a cascade of still bright orange hair fell over her face. She pushed it back, and he caught her line of vision. Not far off, wrapped in the fading flicker of streetlamp light, was Atlanta.

"Right, Archie," Jay signed in turn, "Well, he's out there alright. I just doubt he will be here any time soon. Want to go talk with her?" Jay never did enjoy the subject of Archie, it just reminded him of the fact that while as a boy in love, all he felt he needed to know was Theresa, but that that knowledge wasn't helpful when it came to other matters. He probably needed to get back inside and Theresa as well, but the stars bound him to her, just as they always had. He could not move, and his feet had no real motivation.

"I'll have too, I just want to lay here a while. Unfazed silence isn't a luxury we always have," Theresa let her hair block her face again, but her green eyes still shone beneath it, and Jay could feel them on him.

"You're right. I had expected our lives to be less hectic after Cronus, but I guess life never really does settle down."

"No, and it's not all that different, even with him gone." Wind grazed his side, Jay wondered if Theresa could feel it too. He barely heard the faint click of the brownstone door. Atlanta had come inside at least, she didn't always. Jay thought back to the words he had just spoken, and tasted the coopery tint of irony. Yes, not so different at all...

"The gods are still here," The wind reached back to ruffle his brown hair, and cut his words short—or was that himself?

"Yes, they are. I worry about that too." Theresa made him remember how tired he actually was. They were re-entering reality, and Jay so longed to let it wane a little longer. When had the mood changed so quickly? Maybe it was just the time of year...

"You really think that he is still out there, don't you?" They both knew what he was implied this time. Yes, time.


"It's just... ever since last year... I've had this feeling that maybe it isn't over. I just can't shake it, Jay! I know you've told me," her cheeks reddened in shame, "that it's silly. Maybe just grief over Archie, but how can he just be gone? I mean, I feel like the whole ordeal we had was about the Scio Havarti," the name still brought haunting chills, "and then Cronus was defeated too? Two birds with one stone seems like too good of a deal. Neil sold us some luck, and I don't buy it."

"I understand how it can be difficult," Jay started, "but really, no one can survive that. Not even a god—"

"How do you know? I'm the clairvoyant here," Theresa grabbed her knees to her chest.

"I don't... I just...Can we not talk about this?" Jay regretted the request for silence, because even with his girlfriend beside him, he was left alone with himself and the reality that maybe Theresa was right.

"And most of all," Theresa whispered against a cold breeze, "I fear that this isn't real. It's still a dream, and none of this is real." Jay's dark eyes widened. Theresa looked like a glass doll, so fragile, and about to break. He couldn't stand seeing her like this. He had too—

"What if I'm not real?"

He kissed her. Jay had taken her by surprise. He had managed to close the distance between them in a matter of seconds, and had still had the time to speak.

"You are real. You are mine."

Jay felt Theresa melt into his lips, and he in turn did the same. Even after a year, the girl still had a firm grip on his heart.

"Y-yours? Don't be so cocky..."

Jay's grip was just as strong, and as Theresa moved to break the kiss Jay deepened himself into her mouth. She gasped, but quickly responded.

It wasn't ravenous; it was still light and tender. Jay traced his right hand through her hair and then continued down the surface of her skin. Theresa shivered under him despite the heat of her body. Through her clothes, the heat was no masked.

Better than oxygen she was, enough to last him more than ten lifetimes. He hoped it was the same for her. Theresa went through lifetimes like clothes. She was on her third, and Jay wasn't about to let her throw another away so lightly. Not for him, not for the world, not for anyone.

It seemed like they had both used up another one when they broke away. She stole his breath, and Jay was sure he was dead. She was an angel.

"If I'm still dreaming, don't wake me up." Theresa nuzzled into the crook of his neck, stifling a yawn. Jay smiled contently. He chuckled, "Only if there's room for me in that pretty little head of yours."

"Maybe I'll make Archie move over," Theresa laughed lazily, snuggling further. Jay wanted to nudge her away, just as a witty reply to their playful banter, but she was too darn cute.

"Curses, I thought he was only in mine."

"Oh shut up." And before Jay could turn to face her, she was asleep.

Smiling gently, Jay picked Theresa up and cradled her in his arms.

"I promise you," Jay's breath whispered tickled her ear, "I will never leave you. And as long as you're mine, you can stay dreaming. And know that you are in mine."

To the others it had become almost expected of them to head up to the rooftop. If regular couples had a song, then they had a place. What the group below them failed to understand though, was that it was not the place that held their hearts so dearly, though there were many reasons for it—it was the sky.

The heavens above that guided them, watched over them.

And would keep them both forever in love.

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Author's Note: This chapter is so unbelievably short that I want to shoot myself. Not proud of this at all, but bah, it's an update. And an update's an update on something no one reads. Hope you loved the fluffles of bliss and CHEESEEYNESS. And yes Anya, I know what you're thinking. Curses? Archie in Jay's dreams? No wait, that's Dem xD. Yes, you will now all re-read that thinking: What the Jay face... Love much, and review if you can! –Nuuoa