a/n: Fractionals.

"Hey. Hey, wake up."

"Mm? What..."

Rouge turned over and tapped the lamp beside her bed. Amy was standing over her, wearing pyjamas with chibi Sonic prints on them and a worried expression on her face.

"What's up? You okay?" Rouge asked.

"I should be asking you. You were tossing and turning and mumbling. I could hear you being restless."

"I'm fine..."

"You're not. Move over."

"Amy-"

"Move. Come on, Rouge."

"Stop. I'm fine."

Amy grumbled and slid beneath the covers, giving Rouge a bump with her hip to displace her.

"Hell, I told you that I'm okay..."

Amy said nothing, instead turning herself so that she and Rouge were face to face. A stern yet worried look was in her green eyes.

"Fine, do what you want. I'm going to sleep. Good night." Rouge reached over Amy and tapped the lamp twice to turn it off. She felt herself drifting away again.

She found herself in the same dream and tried to will herself out of it. But it was too late and she had her eyes open again as she gulped in air.

A warmth suddenly touched her hand, and then she felt it enveloped completely.

Amy's tired eyes stared back at her through the dark.

"It was a nightmare."

Rouge closed her eyes and nodded.

"Was it bad?"

She nodded again.

"Did you die?"

Another nod.

"Could you feel it happening?"

A vigorous nod.

"I'm here, you know. I don't know everything, but I know a few things. Can I comfort you?"

"You don't have to ask that."

"I know you're a strong and proud woman, Rouge. I don't want to walk all over you."

"Don't treat me like you do him," she said as she shook her head. "I'm not the same. I...I-I'm scared. I'm scared, okay?"

"Rouge...will you let me comfort you?"

"Make me feel better, dammit. Make it go away," she pleaded.

"I will. Here, just wait a moment." Amy adjusted herself so that Rouge's head was resting against her chest. "Feels better, right?"

"Yeah...I feel okay..."

"Are you still scared?"

"I'm shaking...I don't know what it is, I..."

"You usually keep it all bottled up inside. I bet Shadow knows."

"I don't like showing it to him."

Amy stroked her head. "I know. I understand."

"...it was a lot of things. I kept feeling myself get shot over and over and I couldn't stop it. I thought I stopped having those dreams." She grasped for warmth, and she felt Amy take her hand again. It was strong and pleasantly hot.

"I'm sorry. I wish I could do more, you know?"

"This is enough," she said, letting out a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, I'm a mess."

"Not every moment is going to be gorgeous," Amy said soothingly. "Seeing this side of you is fine, too."

"Haha. Shit, and I was the one calling you a kid...look at me. A fucking wreck."

"Rouge..."

"Sometimes I'm scared of dying. But I never tell anyone that. I shouldn't." Amy reached across with one hand, wiping away the tears in Rouge's eyes.

"You can tell me. You can tell me anything you want to. Let me keep the nightmares away."

"Stop doing that."

"Stop what?"

"Stop trying to protect me. Stop thinking about sacrificing yourself. That's not-"

"It is who I am, Rouge. Things have changed a lot."

"But they shouldn't. Amy, they shouldn't," she said frantically. She turned herself over and looked at her companion. "I don't want that."

"You-"

"I don't want it!" she said harshly. "You shouldn't have to do things like this! You shouldn't have to waste your time with-"

"It's not a waste of time. Don't give me that crap, Rouge."

"That innocence of yours is a gift, Amy. A goddamn gift that a lot of people would kill to have again," she ranted as she sat up. "You can't go around saying shit like how you'll let it flutter off because you-"

"Because I love you, is that it? Are you saying that I shouldn't try and sacrifice for your sake?"

"Yes! Because-"

"Because what?"

"Because I never wanted you to grow up! I never wanted you to...to become..."

"..."

"I don't want you...in this kind of world."

"Did you forget?"

Rouge raised her head to look at Amy.

"I made all of these choices...knowing you. Understanding who you were and everything else. Whether you wanted it this way or not, I've become a woman. The innocence you saw in me is fading. But you never fell in love with that side of me. You're scared that the Amy from before won't be around any more. That you've turned her into glass."

"...yeah."

"She's here, too. But she's understanding of the fact that we're changing. We're growing together, you and I. But to have that kind of pain...Rouge, I'm sorry. I didn't realize..."

"What are you apologizing for?"

"It's a bit childish of you, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

Amy smiled through the darkness. "You wanted to protect the Amy that you first knew. The memory of that sweet, pure girl from before. It's...really noble of you to do. Thank you. I never did realize how much love you had for me."

"..."

"But my dream...is to become an adult with you."

She sprang forward and kissed Amy passionately, leading her gently into the pillows and a warm, sweet embrace.

"I'm sorry," she said as their lips parted.

"I know," Amy said tenderly. "Rouge?"

"Yes?"

"Can I finally come with you?"

"You won't be able to go back."

"Yes...I know."

"Then I'll take you into my world. For real this time," she whispered.

Amy smiled and nodded. A familiar warmth ran through her as they kissed once more.