Ω It all starts with two dreams Ω

-Travis-

The bridge is broken. People are screaming everywhere, and a brown hair in French braid is nowhere in sight. He heard that she's been requested to hold the tunnel, still, not seeing her presence makes him panic.

Travis tried to stay calm as the time pass by but he hardly success. Pacing back and forth at the head-quarters, hoping someone will bring him the news of a certain daughter of Demter.

"Hey, she is one of the most skilled and powerful among us, she will be fine." said Conner.

Of course he know, but there is a feeling deep in the gut tell him that something is wrong. The only reason he hadn't rush to the tunnel is because Percy told him not to. They don't need to lose more fighters while they're outnumbered.

"All cabin 4 is out of the tunnel!" Someone yelled. Thank gods, he thought. A bunch of running figures appeared, led by Katie Gardner, the person he been longing for. Suddenly, a large monster running full speed towards her.

A hellhound.

"At your right!" he yelled. Trying to alert the person but it's too late. A high pitch scream sent thrills down to his spine while the figure collapse. Before he thinks, he raged towards the monster and it turned into a pile of golden dust.

People parted the way for him as he rushes to Katie's side. Thought most time in camp they're always pranking and bickering, but even the Athena kids can tell that they care for each other.

Travis kneeled down to reach her, wishing the vision in front of him is just a blur. Him wiped the blood from her lips with his thumb and gives her a weak smile, tears shimmering in the ice-blue eyes and the usual brightness in them seems to come back a little in the moment.

"Katie-Kat, please, stay with me" Travis said, voice trembling. Katie's body lying in his arms, the Apollo kids managed to fed her some Nectar but it didn't had much effect.

"Hey, Trav...is...I... " Katie choked with her own blood while trying to talk.

"Hey... Katie-Kat, you will be fine. Everything will be okay...shhh...you don't need to talk, just stay with me will you?" Travis begged with tears rolling down his face.

"Trav, I..I..love you" and those are Katie's last words as she faded in his arms. Travis let out a heart broken cry and his vision begin to black out.

Travis panic and woke up, bear chest covered with sweat, eyes filled with tears, heart pounding, he blinked. Looking around the room and realized that his was in his bed, on the other side of the room is Connor snoring slightly in his sleep. Travis opens the window of their room, feeling the night wind blows towards his face as his heart steady its pace.

After the titan war and Gaia war, nightmares are worse than before to everyone, mostly the Seven, he just never thought he would be one of them.

People he cares dying in the dream isn't rare, sometimes Percy, sometimes Annabeth, most of the time it's Conner or Katie, and the ones with Katie are usually the worst.

There been times Katie died under a sword, and some dying in a explosion. But this is different, she died in his arms, and it's the first time she had those last words for him. The feeling is so true that his hands are still shaking, his breath unstable. He needs to know that she is safe, now.

In every campers' eyes, they were sworn enemies, he pranks and she yells. Every single morning people gathered around just to see the morning drama. Only he knows deep down in heart that he likes, no, loves her. The whole pranking activity is just a way to catch her attention, somehow this strategy is working at its justice.

He and Conner being the head counselors, they have their own room with windows, which means it is easier sneaking out than ever. Climbing out the window after putting on a black hoodie, the air is still pretty cold in the last March. He headed straight to Cabin 4, flip himself into the head counselor's room through the window with the same trick, he is now standing right in front of Katie Gardner's bed.

He started to look around her room, there were several plants place all over, small ones like a pot of flower, larger ones almost as big as a small tree. On her desk is her sword, its handle has green decorations. The walls are full of pictures of her friends and family, he found out that she had pin the one of her shouted at him after the 'chocolate bunnies' prank, he didn't know the scene was caught by camera. Why did she still look good when she was mid-shouting? After looking at the picture carefully, he turns his attention back to the sleeping Katie.

Katie lies still in her green covers, of course its green because why not, after all she is the child of Demeter. While she's asleep, she looks more natural, not that she isn't pretty most of the time, which she is. It's just her brows aren't knot like every time she saw him in her sight, lips aren't pouting to show her ignorance. Her calm expression makes her looks like a goddess.

Travis stood there, looked at her face and the corner of his lips slightly turn up. He took a few deep breathe and turned, decided to return to his own room and call it a night. Suddenly, a sound of a person moving and speaking come from behind. Katie struggled in her bed, breathing fast, body shivering and tears falling down her cheeks.

"I promise! I won't do that again! Please, please! Let me go..." Katie said the words with a plea in her voice, Travis never heard her being so fragile, the Katie he knew is always strong and independent. He panicked, what happened to her dreams that she cried like that? Then he decided to approach her until she is within reach, he sits on the edge if her bed. Travis let out the breath his didn't realize he was holding when she didn't react to his touch at her. But something is wrong when his saw that she didn't wake up any sooner or later.

"Katie-Kat, wake up, it's just a dream, don't cry. I hate see you crying, come on." Travis murmured gently, trying to woke Katie up. With his hands stroking her hair, he hoped the gesture could give her some comfort.

-Katie-

She is stand in front of her father. A five years old Katie just found out she had the power to grow plants and was playing with it. But she fainted because of the power draining her energy, now she is waiting her punishment for being reckless.

"You shall never use that power without my permission, do you hear me! I don't want to take care of you every time you pass out. And having the power, you are no human. You are grounded for two weeks!" After the sentence finished, she was dragged into her closet and the door is lock in a second.

"I promise! I won't do that again! Please, please! Let me go..." She hopelessly shouting at the door, tears streaming down, why does her father hate her so much?

Suddenly, Katie felt someone stroking her hair and she noticed a familiar scent, it smells like the newly washed laundry and mint. Then she heard a boy's voice, it's smooth and deep, somehow the voice comfort her and she drifted out her dreams.

After who knows for how long, Katie slowly opened her eyes in someone's arms. Wait, why will she be in someone else's arms? She jerked her head up, trying to sense her surroundings and eager to know who is person that breaks in her room at night. Seeing the Brown curly hair and ice-blue eyes, she sighed in relieve, but stopped for a moment, why is she relieve? And what is he doing here in this time?

"Travis...? What are you doing here?" Katie asked, her voice is so soft that it's barely heard, she is surprised by her own sound and so does him. When is the last time they had a normal conversation?

"Kates, you're up? You had a nightmare..." Travis replied and look in to her eyes, the blue ones fill with concern while the green ones full of questions.

"Yeah, I had a nightmare. But what are you doing here?" She hardened her voice, demanding for answers.

"Oh! Err... You see, I had a nightmare too. So, I came to check you out. I was about to leave but you suddenly started to cry and call help. I didn't—"

"Wait, I was calling help?"

"Yep, something like let you go or so. Anyway, I don't know what to do but I just can't leave you like this, you know. So, I thought stroking your hair and speak to you was a good idea and it end up you in my arms. I'm so sorry, I should probably go back. Ni—" Travis started to explain but Katie cut him with giggles. He stared at her in disbelief and blinked his eyes for a few seconds. Smile slowly coming back to his lips. Katie thinks what wrong, and realized is probably because she never giggles in front of him.

"Trav, you were rambling, it's okay. I was crying because I had a nightmare like you said." Pause. "Thanks for not leaving me in that state." Katie said. Suddenly aware of herself saying his shorten-name.

"Oh." Travis was shocked again, because of her calling him 'Trav'. Must be.

They shared a moment of silence.

"But how does that do with checking me out?" Katie bursts the question and Travis stand still, holding his breathe.

"And exactly why were you crying?" Travis asked, trying to avoid the question. Katie pouted, knowing she would never get the answer, decided to give in.

"I dreamed of someone hurting me. —"

"Who? Monsters? What kind? What happened? Who dare to—"

"Travis! It's fine. I'm awake. I'm fine." Though she is speaking to him, she feels like the words are her convincing herself.

"Oh, okay." Travis whispered, little surprised by his own outburst.

"Do you need anything? Anything I can help." He sends his most sincere look to Katie, she felt a small warmth forming in her chest, something more.

"I think... I can't sleep along after that." He raised an eyebrow at her in confusion.

"So, I'm thinking that if you can stay..."She replied with heads down, hoping not to scared him off. The idea of Travis staying only popped out because she really really doesn't what to be alone but she didn't plan to ask.

Travis froze for a second, but quickly wears on his troublemaker smile, "Kates, do you know what you are asking for?" Katie blushed, realizing what she had done.

"Fine, forget what I said and get out of here." Katie rolls over in her bed, ignore his sparking blue eyes. Staring into them only increase her embarrassment and end up her speaking the wrong words.

"I didn't say no," Travis said in delighted, she turned to face him, sensing the 'but' coming. "But you need to let me stay in bed," Katie glared in disbelief. "No! I won't do anything, I just don't want to wake up next morning with soaring back." Travis protested.

"Fine, promise you won't lay a finger on me" Katie said with a death tone.

"I swear on river Styx." Blue eyes meet green.

"Hop on." Katie rolls over again facing the wall, making space for Travis.

Travis carefully climbed in Katie's bed, try not to make too much noise. Katie felt that Travis is pulling himself closer to her, she let his existence soak into her bones. Having an arm placed around her waist while she was the small spoon and he was the big spoon. The fact this position, her under his arms surrounding by the scent of his, feeling his chest rise and fall behind her back, doesn't disgust her, even feels right and perfect. It's scaring her.

"Night, Katie-Kat."

"Night, Trav"

The two soon drift into sleep within others' company.

I just love to start the story with nightmares, sleepover and cuddle, after all, who doesn't like it~

-Elva