'Clare...'

Clare lifted her eyelids ever so slightly and almost squinted them shut at the daylights that entered her eyes. She could smell the familiar wisp of nature- the earth, the grass, the air. Allowing her eyes to adjust to the brightness, her view was filled clear blue skies and fluffy clouds floating by. It was the only thing that she could see while lying down, after all. The strong breeze blew hard at her, caressing her cheeks with a certain tenderness and whipping the tall grass that was around her.

Lifting herself up with her arms, she looked all around to find herself in an endless expanse of grassland, the fields spreading to what seemed like infinity with no boundaries. It was breathtakingly magnificent. The serenity was what captivated her most of all. There was nothing but the gentle singing of the wind and the sound of tall grass flailing against one another. It was the kind of peace and quiet that fit her- the serendipity that she yearned for. It was then that she realised that everything seemed a little dream-like- a little shimmering and glittering, a little too surreal and perfect to be real. Then again, this was probably just a dream after all.

'Clare..'

It was the voice that awoken her. The voice that was blended with the wind, almost as if it was part of it. She had thought it was merely a figment of her imagination, but it had called out to her yet again, and with greater volume too. Most of all, it had sounded all too dear and nostalgic- it sounded like her voice. The voice of the one person that gave meaning to her life. The voice of the one person who was the reason why she was still fighting.

'Clare.'

The sound was becoming nearer, almost as if it were approaching her. She lept to her feet and spun all around, desperate to find the source, her heart squeezing with anxiety. But all she could see was the never-ending grassland.

'Clare.'

Suddenly, the voice came from right behind her. It wasn't like the previous times, where it sounded like the wind. This time, it sounded really human. And sounded exactly like...her.

Could it be?...

Clare turned her head around slowly, gulping the brimming emotions down. The conflict she felt inside was madness. A part of her wanted it to be her so damn badly, yet the other part of her was so frightened that her hope would be utterly crushed to mere dust. In short, she was very, very terrified, even though she knew that she couldn't be mistaken. It was the voice that had been etched in her mind ever since Clare met her. The voice that resounded in her head everyday for the past so many years whenever she recalled the only memories they had together. The voice that she thought she would never get to hear ever again.

The person was fully in sight, standing just a few steps away from her. Clare felt her heart flip with recognition as she gazed into those silver orbs that was staring back into her very own. The long tresses of blonde hair were blown to her right, dancing with the wind. She was wearing the one uniform that Clare had ever seen her in- the Organization wear, with her unmistakable sign at her neck, and her Claymore strapped to her back. Above all, the one trait that distinguished her from all- the famous faint smile that hung at her lips. She was exactly as Clare had remembered- just as perfect.

Clare's own lips parted as she felt her every pore screaming for her to embrace the person in front of her. She mouthed her name gingerly, then managed a soft voice that was unfortunately masked by the wind. She could already feel herself quivering under the feelings that were threatening to burst out of her. She mustered whatever voice that was still in her and cried out.

'Te...resa?'

She could hardly believe that the insecure and unsure voice that came out of her mouth was her own. It had been long since she had felt such doubtful and unsettling feelings. It was ironic, seeing as she was facing the person that mattered most to her in the world.

Teresa's smile widened as she tilted her head sideways. She extended her right arm towards Clare, her hand welcoming Clare's to grasp. Clare took a deep breath as she stared at Teresa's hand, her own already reacting as she felt herself taking trembling steps forward, her hand reaching out to meet Teresa's. Her heart flipped with each step that brought her closer to Teresa. As their hands made contact, she felt Teresa's clasping hers immediately, the warmth and familiarity rushing back to her and knocking the breath out of her. The last thing she saw was Teresa's smile and loving gaze on her before a blinding light engulfed the both of them and she felt herself being warped into somewhere else. She knew she should be worried, but somehow it was the last thing on her mind.

Because the hand that stayed entwined with hers reassuringly was more than enough for her to know that everything was going to be alright.

Because with Teresa, there was nothing in the world to fear.

Because with Teresa, she was home.