Been a long time! Been a long time! Been a long lonely lonely lonely lonely lonely time! ;D

What's up guys? Did ya miss me? Did you miss Alera and Altaïr? Were you satisfied with that previous nice little chapter? ;) I know I was!

Enjoy this next one guys. I really think you guys will!

~Read, Review, Be Merry!~

~Dora~

Chapter 32

After the Hurt Comes the Comfort

*Alario had flown out the window when Altaïr and Alera shared their first kiss of the night. He had stayed out for a while, trying to give them some privacy. He hunted for his supper, and eventually found a nice fat field rat to snack on. After he finished he took to the skies again, but sensed rain and a thunderstorm on its way. He could smell it and feel the coldness of the moisturized air as he soared through the dark sky.

He arrived back at the fortress to see that the windows were still opened, so he flew right in and landed on his perch. His golden eyes flicked over to the bed and saw Alera curled up into Altaïr's side. Alario heard the low rumble of thunder off in the distance and he knew that thunder seemed to scare Alera, so he ruffled his feathers and chirped up a bit. If he couldn't wake her up, then maybe he could wake Altaïr up... Or both of them up.

Altaïr heard a quiet shuffling. He opened his eyes slightly, but the noise stopped suddenly, so he closed his eyes again and pulled Alera closer to him... Then the shuffling came again, only louder and more obnoxious and it was accompanied by a few chirps. Altaïr opened his eyes all the way and looked over towards the noise. He saw Alario sitting on his perch, he shook his head and flapped his wings. He chirped a few times and held his wings out, like he was trying to warn them of something.

Altaïr turned over to Alera and gently slid her off of him. He then slipped out of the bed as stealthily as he could. He walked over to the foot of the bed, where the clothes had been dropped, and pulled on his robe. He walked back over to Alario.

"Alario? What is it? Is something wrong?" whispered Altaïr. Alario blinked his eyes at Altaïr, then flew over and perched on the windowsill. Altaïr walked over to the window and looked out into the night. He felt the cold air blow in, then saw a flash of white off in the distance. He waited a few seconds... Then the low, deep thunder came.

"Shit." he cursed silently. He had hoped for a peaceful night with Alera, but apparently fate had other plans, or fate was just being cruel to them both. Nevertheless, Altaïr grabbed the shutters and closed them. Another, louder roll of thunder came and Altaïr cursed again.*

Thunder. That was all I heard at first. Nothing more, nothing less. Just a low, quiet roll of thunder... Then the rain. It came down upon the roof and pattered in a steady rhythm... Then the lightening. It flashed and it was bright enough to where I could see the white light from behind my closed eye lids. Suddenly, the thunder became more harsh and that was what woke me up.

I opened my eyes and looked around, only to come to the horrible realization that I was back in my father's house, in my old room, in my old bed. The first thing that was on my mind was Altaïr and where he was. I rose up and looked around the room, but it was quiet, silent, lonely. Alario wasn't even with me. Thunder struck again and it made me jump. I rubbed my eyes, but then I felt that horrible, icy chill snake its way down my spine.

"Oh no... No, no no... Not again. No more dreams, please. I don't want to relive this. NO!" I screamed. I knew I was in the dream now, and I tried desperately to wake up, but my efforts were wasted. I saw as my hand reached underneath my pillow and pulled out the dagger. The dagger I had carried with me through everything. The one that still hangs from my belt to this day.

"The one that will take that bastards life if I ever find him." I whispered... but then something hit me. "No. No I'm at peace now. The anger and rage drove me mad, but it's over now. Altaïr helped me to over come it." I said quietly. I looked down at the dagger in my hand, then I felt my body move and my feet hit the ground. I tried to stop myself, but something was forcing me to press on, and keeping me from waking up. It was like I couldn't control my body, or my mind's eye.

I stood up and walked towards the door and opened it. I looked around the corner and peered into the darkness. Thunder rolled again and I walked out of the room. My adrenaline was rushing and I was hoping that a board wouldn't creek. The closer I got to my father's room, the more the fear took hold of me. I didn't want to relive this.

As I approached my father's room, lightening flashed. I dropped down and opened the door just a crack. Then, I saw him. The man, whoever he was, rose his dagger up in the air...

"NO!" I screamed. I sprung up with my knife drawn. My vision was blurred and I felt someone grab my wrists. I pulled and struggled against the person who was holding me. "Let me go! I have to save him! Let go damn it!" I screamed. I shut my eyes tight.

"Alera! Alera wake up! Look at me!" said a familiar voice. I blinked open my eyes. All I saw was darkness at first, but my eyes soon adjusted. It was Altaïr. He was in his robe and sitting on the side of my bed.

I gasped and immediately dropped the knife. My body was in a cold sweat and my breathing was quick. I felt a few tears strolling down my face.

"Alera... Shh... Calm down. It was just a dream." said Altaïr. His voice was such a comfort to hear. I took a deep breath.

"Oh my god. Altaïr... I... I'm so sorry! I didn't hurt you did I? Oh please, I'm so sorry-"

"Shhh. No. No, you didn't hurt me. I'm fine. But you scared the hell out of me." he said quietly. He let go of my wrists and ran his fingers through my hair. "Are you alright? Do you want to talk about it?"

I looked around for a minute. I just had to know that I wasn't there any more. No. Back in my room in the fortress. Alario was sitting on his perch, staring at us with his golden eyes. The windows were closed.

"Wh-What were you doing up?" I asked shakily, still trying to recover from the effects of the dream.

"Alario came in and woke me up. He warned me that-"

Lightening flashed, then the thunder came. I jumped a little.

"... That was about to happen. I got up and closed the windows, that's all." he said calmly. He ran his fingers through my hair again and down my neck. "Talk to me, sweetheart. What happened?" The lightening flashed again and I saw his eyes for a second. Those soft, green eyes. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch. I placed my hand over his.

"I was there again. In my old house, in my old room. The storm was raging outside and it was just like I was reliving it all over again. The dagger, the adrenaline, the cold sweat and my heart racing. I tried to will myself to wake up, but I couldn't for some reason. When I got to my father's room, I opened the door and saw the man... He... He rose his dagger up and... and..." I couldn't finish. My voice failed as I succumbed to my emotions. Tears strolled down my cheeks as I began to silently cry.

"Shhh... It's alright..." whispered Altaïr. He pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me. I leaned on his shoulder and cried. "It was just a dream, Alera... Just a dream... I'm right here..."

God, I love him. So much. I really have no idea what I would do without him. Probably die of a broken heart. I don't want to think about the dream. He's right. It was just a dream.

"The storm might have been what triggered it." he said. He's absolutely right. The thunder probably made me have the dream.

As if on cue, thunder cracked the air. My heart lurched and I jumped violently. I hate it. I really do. Altaïr pulled back and I pulled back. He traced my cheek scar.

"So, do you always sleep with a knife?" he asked in a teasing tone. I laughed and wiped my eyes.

"Yes, I do. I must always be prepared, even in my sleep." I smiled, and so did Altaïr.

"Well not tonight. Not while I'm here. Tonight, you sleep in peace and without worry." he picked up the knife and threw it. I heard it hit something. The lightening flashed and I saw the knife buried deep in the wooden door. I couldn't help but smile at that. "You get to sleep with no hindrance tonight. If anything happens, I'll take care of it..." he turned serious suddenly. He stroked my cheek and his thumb touched my bottom lip. "I'll protect you, Alera." he whispered.

He pulled my chin up and brushed his lips against mine, then full out kissed me. It wasn't hard or hungry, it was comforting, lingering, and soft. His lips were warm and I felt warmth spread through me as we kissed.

I pulled back and rested my forehead against his. He ran his hand up my bare arm and over the rim of the sheet that was wrapped around my chest. He then ran his fingers up my shoulder and brushed my long hair back over my shoulder. He leaned down and kissed my neck. He went down my neck towards my collar bone, then moved to my shoulder.

Inevitable waves of pleasure rippled through me. I wrapped one arm around his neck and pulled him closer. He responded by biting my shoulder. I gasped a little. I wasn't prepared for it, but I liked it nonetheless. The thoughts and effects of my dream were fading quickly.

I smiled and slipped my other arm into his robe. I felt his abs and his muscles tense as my fingers ghosted over them. I ran my hand up his chest and over his shoulder.

"Mmm... Take that robe off, Altaïr..." I moaned to him. I lightly blew on his neck and I felt his chest vibrate as he moaned quietly.

"I am yours to command, Alera." he whispered.

Oh, why does he tease and torture me so?...

He pulled back, and in one swift motion, his robe was off and lying on the floor. I bit my lip as my eyes ran over him. He smirked, wrapped his arm around me and kissed me. Our lips moved and massaged each other.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him with me as I laid back down. He pulled the sheets and blankets back and got in underneath them with me. He hovered over me. His green eyes ran over my body and I ran my hands up his abs. Altaïr leaned down and came inches away from me.

"You aren't going to sleep at all tonight, are you?" he whispered with that smirk. I smirked back and winked at him. I gathered all my strength and rolled us over. I was on top now. I perched over him and slowly leaned down to him.

"Not while I have such a great distraction. Besides, I have to do something with all this pent-up energy." I winked at him and kissed his bottom lip.

"I'm sure we can do something about all that energy of yours..." he growled, that smirk still on his lips. Suddenly, he flipped us over again and I was on the bottom. His hands ran over my breasts and kneaded them. I moaned and arched up towards him. His hands then traveled down my stomach, down my hips and ran underneath my thigh. I lifted my leg up and wrapped it around his waist. I rubbed it against his skin.

He leaned down and kissed me roughly. Our lips curved into each other and his tongue grazed my bottom lip. I lightly bit his bottom lip and opened my mouth. Our tongues curled and fought together. I dug my nails into his skin and dragged them down his back. Not too hard, but hard enough to leave red marks.

He pulled back and moaned as I raked my nails down him.

"You wanna play rough, Alera?" he said with a glint in his eyes. I bit my lip and rolled us over again. I pinned him down against the bed and pinned his wrists. I slowly grinded my hips against his and another moan escaped from him. I leaned down and kissed his abs, then I slowly trailed my kisses up the middle of him. I bit him slightly hard on his left pec, then I kissed his throat. I ran my tongue up his neck and kissed him just behind his ear.

"What do you think, Altaïr?" I moaned in a whisper. I felt his hands slide up my thighs and onto my back. I pulled back and came inches away from him. He smiled and I smiled too.

"I think this is going to be a long, wild night." he breathed.

He pressed his fingers into my back and devoured my lips...

Oooh! Left ya hanging! Damn! Don't ya just hate it when that happens? XD Sorry, guys. You know I love ya though! Please Review! I wanna know how this Chapter was! :D