I'm here!

"Fran! Darling! Wake up! Wake up my darling!"

Fran tossed and turned around in her bed, crying, screaming his name over and over. Maxwell shook her vigorously.

"Fran wake up! Wake up!"

"Nooooo don't!"

Fran jumped up, her eyes wide open. She was in a mess, teary and drenched in sweat. She was shaking all over and trembling. Maxwell stroked her cheeks soothingly.

"Fran darling, calm down. It was just a dream. I'm here! Shhhshh everything is all right."

Fran slowly came to her senses. It had been just a nightmare, just a haunting imagination!

Maxwell was with her and the ring she had just seen in her dream was still on her finger.

"Oh Maaax!"

She threw herself into his arms, clinging tightly to him. "Hold me tight! Don't go away!"

"Shhhh it's okay, I'm here! I am not going anywhere." Fran's appearance was a shock for him. What had scared her so much in her dream? It had frightened him, seeing her in this state.

He kissed her gently on the lips, then reached for her water bottle aside her bed.

"Here, drink a little bit. It'll do you good."

Hastily Fran took a few sips, the cool water was soothing. She leaned against the end of the bed and breathed deeply.

Maxwell sat at her side, stroking her hand, waiting for her to calm down.

"Are you all right?" he asked after a while.

She nodded.

"Thank you my hero! I'm glad you woke me up."

He kissed her gently.

"I can't wait to wake you up every morning."

Fran screwed up her face. She knew his early rising times.

"MHH we'll have to discuss this point."

They looked at each other and laughed.

But then he looked at her rather seriously.

"Fran, what were you dreaming? You really scared me."

Fran gazed at him sheepishly.

"What was I babbling?"

"You kept calling my name and 'no not'."

Fran stared at him in horror.

"It was completely harmless. Totally silly."

"Francine!" he said in a strict matter.

"It just took me 15 minutes to wake you up and you were totally wiped out! This is anything but not silly!"

Fran tried to avoid his glance. She knew if she tells him about the nightmare, he also would want to know its meaning. He interrupted her in her thoughts.

"Fran did your dream have to do something with the party?"

Fran's jaw dropped and Maxwell knew immediately he was right.

"Darling, please tell me, I'm just trying to help you." Fran relented, but tried to emphasize and sound like the whole thing was rather ridiculous and a funny joke.

"Like I said, it was a stupid dream. We were at a party, dancing and then my dress ripped apart- hahaha. Must have been bad quality, well certainly not retail- hahaha. Anyway, everyone thought it was pretty funny. Oh yeah and then you got engaged to Miss Babcock but that would be more your nightmare- hahaha."

Maxwell frowned.

"For heaven's sake! Have Mercy!"

Fran was still laughing.

"Like I said, it's all pretty ridiculous!"

"But how does this relate to the party and why did you suddenly behave so strange last night?"

Fran looked at him puzzled.

"You were all of a sudden very quiet, you barely talked and on the way home you were so sad."

Fran was astonished. This man was absolutely wonderful, he knew her so well. He had noticed all her changes. God she loved him so much.

"What is tormenting you so my darling?"