To have started so badly, it was a great day, Corso thought, as they were all cleaning up. It was starting toward dusk, the air cooling noticeably. He thought he'd be tired, after such little sleep the night before, but he felt good. Miriah always showed him she loved him, but she'd been particularly affectionate all day. She worried, he mused, about him. Him. He looked in the back window and saw Aric and Maura packing up baby stuff, laughing together. Felix and Magdalane were in the swing, barely visible in the growing darkness, kissing and cooing at each other. He had to smile, they were newlyweds after all, and rarely felt comfortable showing that much emotion in public. Not like Miriah, he grinned to himself. He was about to search for her when he felt her hands on his back, soft flutters that made him want more. He turned to embrace her, and they danced on the deck to the music she'd turned on earlier. Only moments later, Aric and Maura joined them, as did Felix and Mags.

When the song ended, Aric hugged Miriah and Maura hugged Corso. "Thanks for the terrific day," Maura said, "I really needed to be with all of you. I love the babies, but it gets a little lonely sometimes when everyone is off planet. And the food was the best!"

"So glad we did this," Miriah said, "I loved seeing the babies, and you can be sure we'll do it again. I have some baby things on the ship that I just haven't gotten around to unloading yet, Maura. Let's do something one afternoon soon."

"How long are you here for?" Maura asked. "Until the end of next week,"Miriah replied.

"Well, you guys will have to all come and look at the house we've picked out," Felix told them. They agreed, and moved to help the new parents get all their gear in their speeder, kissing the twins goodnight.

"Why don't you guys just stay here tonight?" Miriah asked Felix and Mags. "We've got plenty of room, and you can even stay at the other end of the house." She grinned at Mags, who blushed on cue, but they agreed.

Miriah was in the shower when Corso entered their room. He thought about joining her there but when he sat to pull his boots off, his very early morning and active day caught up to him. I'll just close my eyes a few seconds, nothing is better than seeing Miriah out of the shower, he thought, but his fatigue won out. When she came into the bedroom, he was slumped over on his side, half dressed and fully asleep. He's always been the one taking care of me when I'm in this state, feels kinda nice to be able to take care of him, she mused. He'd gotten his soft sleep pants on but only one arm out of his shirt, but she managed to get him settled. He was facing away from her, so she snuggled up to his back, arm draped across his shoulder, and went to sleep easily herself.

They were both startled awake when Corso yelled, "NOOOOO!" and sat up with a start, throwing Miriah across the bed. He sat there, breathing hard with his head in his hands, shaking. He realized that his wife was gently rubbing his back and turned to crush her in a hug, much like he had the previous morning. So this is what was wrong, Miriah thought.

"Corso, love, can't breathe," she told him, but he was so lost in the nightmare still it wasn't until she cupped his cheek with her hand that he seemed to be aware of where he was, what he was doing.

"Sorry," he mumbled, loosening his arms but not letting go. He shifted to lay them both down, still shaking. "Really bad nightmare, haven't had it for years, now it's changed and back." She stroked his face gently, looking in his haunted eyes, waiting for him to say more. "I'm so sorry, Mir, I didn't want to burden you with this."

"Shhhh, sweetheart, " she kissed his nose, "I'm here, not going anywhere." His shaking began to subside, but he didn't show any signs of returning to sleep. "Tell me about it, if you want to," she told him. He shook his head, resting his forehead on her shoulder.

"You're here, you're safe," he mumbled, almost to himself. His nightmare must have something to do with me being hurt, she thought, that's why he's so freaked out over it. He kissed her softly, "Go back to sleep, sweetheart." She rested her head on his broad chest, thinking she wouldn't be able to, but fell back to sleep after only a few minutes.

Corso lay awake, afraid that if he went back to sleep, he'd see it all again. He was still trembling slightly, and trying not to wake Miriah, when he suddenly felt Magdalane's aura wash over him, cool and calming. I must have woken her up, he thought, feeling guilty, but relaxing against his wife. Thank you, Mags, he said silently. He swore he could feel her gentle smile in return. It took him some time, but he did fall asleep again, still holding Miriah close, and the nightmare didn't return.

Miriah opened her eyes and felt her husband still holding her close, his arms locked around her even though he was sleeping. I don't recall that he's had a nightmare since we've been sleeping together, she thought. He used to have them in the crew quarters, Risha had told her a long time ago. She was searching his face with her eyes, when his opened. He looks okay, she thought. He blinked the sleep away, gave her a small smile.

"Didn't think I'd be able to go back to sleep, but you helped me," he told her. He still hadn't let go of her, not that she minded. I have to tell her, he thought. He sat up, pulled her to his chest, and began to recount the scenes that had played in his head since yesterday, doing his best to stay calm. When he'd finished, she just thought for a minute.

"What started this, do you think? I haven't been in any danger in months, we've not been to Ord Mantell, and the time of year isn't right," she puzzled.

He shrugged, "I really don't know either, I've thought about it since yesterday and the only thing I can figure out is that it was about two years ago since we left Ord together for the first time."

She nodded. "What can I do to help?" she asked him.

He tightened his hold on her. "This, it's all that seems to keep the demons at bay."