Cleanup took quicker than expected for the pair. There wasn't much to put away with what Tres was working on and the simple task of closing up the garage was hardly one that required the aid of two people.

Before Tres knew it he found himself in the cramped little bathroom of his humble shack scrubbing himself down with a wetted scratchy old loofah, making sure to really work it deep into the skin in order to rid himself of all the tacky grease and grime that clung to him like a thin layer of cling wrap over his person. It was hardly a bath but he walked out and into his bedroom feeling cleaner than he had felt all day.

Strutting around in nothing but his heart printed boxer shorts he let out a loud satisfying yawn as he turned off the lights, lifted up the blankets and slid into his fluffy mattress ready to snooze the night away. He took a moment to settle himself in, fidgeting about in place, relishing in the drowsiness and the utter sensational bliss that came with throwing oneself into bed at the peak of mental and physical exhaustion.

Slowly, surely, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier with each second before...

"Buh?" Tres mumbled sleepily. In his half asleep haze he'd failed to notice the other person in the room, nor when she brazenly slipped in between the sheets with him. This was enough to get his attention. His eyes slowly blinked open as he experienced Shiver stripped down in her underwear, her silky skin pressing up against his own and delicate hands gliding up and down along the contours of his chest.

He had assumed she left for home already, though he wasn't going to complain about the company if she wanted to stay. It was dark out, after all. And besides, it wasn't strange for a couple to be sleeping together.

Tres inadvertently flinched from the tenderness behind her touch and felt her covetously tighten her grip around his collar. She leaned into him, snuggling beneath the sheets, burying her face into the crook of his neck greedily inhaling his earthy scent. Her expression was dreamy and content, but at the same time, ashamed. Frowning, he looped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, shifting around slightly until they were comfortably cuddling.

All was quiet for some time save for the song of crickets and distant hum of the city. Slivers of moonlight illuminated the lovers, cascading them in a dim silver glow.

"...Shiver?" Tres whispered softly, his lips brushing the tips of her round ears.

"...Let me stay with you tonight, please?" Shiver mewled, her eyes staring up at him with a pleading look.

"Shiver, did something happen to you?" He asked. Seeing her so distraught there was no doubt now in his mind that her being here wasn't some random coincidence or careless whim on her part. She had expressly sought him out for some reason.

"I... I had a nightmare," she finally admitted, much to her chagrin. Shame welled in the pit of her stomach, she felt so pathetic in the moment.

"What was it about?" He asked, gently cradling her in his arms as he lent her an ear.

Shiver exhaled deeply as she pressed herself closer into his loving embrace, using him as an anchor to remain grounded in reality. Recalling the nightmare was just as painful as having experienced it the first time around, but she knew it needed to be told. She won't let her fears own her.

"I dreamt you were in space, like when you went off to save the world, only..." Shiver began, her voice trembling but resolute. "You were floating away into the darkness, silently screaming my name with all your might, begging for help as I reached out towards you, practically throwing myself forward to grab your hand. I was close. Oh, so close. But then... then he showed up."

"He? He, who?" Tres raised a curious brow.

"That upper management mammalian menace: Mr. Grizz," Shiver seethed, her voice dripping with venom. "Those grotesque claws of his stretched over and snatched you up like fish in a river, dragging you away into that horrible expanse of black nothingness, away from everyone, away from me... And like that you were... gone. Just gone. I-I couldn't save you. I failed you..." her voice cracked at the conclusion. Tears threatened to spill forth again, her grip on Tres tightened to the point it was starting to cause him discomfort.

But he didn't turn her away, he kept embracing her. This simple gesture was enough to stop her from spiraling again.

"Shh..." Tres cooed, stroking the back of her head. "It's okay, I'm right here. You didn't fail me. You didn't do anything wrong. It was just a nightmare, none of it was real. And I know deep down that if I really was in trouble you'd move Heaven and Earth for me, because I'd do the same for you."

"I know," Shiver sniffled, loosening her hold, "but that doesn't make the thought hurt any less... I love you, Tres. I love you with all my being. The mere thought of you being lost, or, Heaven forbid..." she couldn't bring herself to say it, "I can't even imagine what I'd do if it ever came to that. Tsk, listen to me ramble on like a madwoman. I'm sorry for dumping all this on you. It's absurd that something as benign as a bad dream could reduce me to a blubbering mess," she sighed heavily, "you must think I'm the worst girlfriend in the world."

"Oi, oi. Don't say that. You are most certainly not the worst girlfriend in the world, far from it, in fact," Tres stated firmly, locking his gaze on her own. "Ever since we got together life has become so much more joyful and exciting. Colors have been brighter, music sounds so much more melodious, and the world around us bubbles with small wonders even in its darkest corners whenever I'm with you.

When you're happy, I'm happy. When you're sad, I'm sad. We laugh, cry and sing. We may not get everything right the first time, or the second, or even the third, but whatever comes our way, be it success or failure, we'll be doing it together. And in all honesty, I wouldn't have it any other way." Shiver blinked at his honeyed words, she'd forgotten all about his random tendency to give heartfelt speeches when he needed to.

Boldly, Tres then leaned in and crashed his lips onto Shiver's own, pouring on all his feelings and emotions into a single deep and passionate, if somewhat clumsy, kiss that Shiver wholeheartedly reciprocated with vigorous enthusiasm. They gave themselves into the moment, almost melting into one another with how heated the kiss was. The sweltering fires of Tres's love set her soul alight, scorching at the black roots of fear that had kept her cowed all night.

They would pull apart shortly after due to their need for oxygen, but even with his breath taken away Tres didn't falter in letting Shiver know how much he cared for her.

"I love you, Shiver. I love all of you; proud Shiver of the Carcharadon Clan, talented Shiver the idol of Deep Cut, and most important of all, lovely Shiver, my boss lady," Shiver couldn't help but blush profusely at the passionate tone in which he spoke her nickname. "I love you yesterday, today and tomorrow. Both in life and in death, forever and always, I'm yours." He concluded with such poetic nonsense it made her hearts swell with joy and affection, burning away the last of the fear that lingered within.

And just like that, she had been set free. The dread feeling was gone, nowhere to be felt or seen. It was as if it had never even existed.

"My precious," she murmured breathlessly, caressing his cheek with her crimson finger, "was that a proposal?"

Tres blushed and let out an airy chuckle, placing a chaste peck on her forehead. "Only if you want it to be... Do you feel better now?"

"Much better," Shiver smiled gently, a dreamy sigh escaping her lips. "You always know just what to say."

"It's a *yawn* superpower," he quipped with a mischievous wink. "Now, I don't know about you but it's like three in the friggin' morning and I'm plum tuckered out. What do you say we finally get some shuteye?"

"I'd love that," Shiver yawned as well, shifting around one last time to get into a good enough position as she laid into Tres's hold.

Finally, she will be able to rest without worry knowing that all was right with the world. She felt light as a feather, but her eyelids bore the weight of stone, oh so heavy. The hands of sleep scratching at the corners of her eyes soon enveloped her consciousness entirely and she was able to murmur, "goodnight, my precious," right before slipping into peaceful slumber.

"Night, boss lady," Tres muttered as he too succumbed to his exhaustion, practically passing out on the spot as the soft sounds of his strangely feminine snores filled the room.

In her head, Shiver dreamed of the two of them dancing together along the great expanse of the infinite cosmos, fingers intertwined as they moved to and fro to the rhythm of eternity among an ocean of stars.

She dreamt of a starry sea.

The End.


A/N: Thank you for finishing my short story, I hope you enjoyed it.