And I'd give up forever to touch you

'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't wanna go home right now

And all I could taste is this moment

And all I can breath is you life

And sooner or later it's over

The icy air bit at her cheeks as Aurora Barnes tugged her coat closer. Her eyes glued to the pavement in front of her as she did her best to will away the lingering pain from her nightmare.

~8~

Soft, sweet kisses trailed up her arms, leaving a warm feeling behind each kiss as they pressed their way up her neck towards their final destination.

"Rory…" He breathed against her lips.

"Hmm…?"

"Time to get up, darling."

"Nnooo…" She drawled sleepily, rolling onto her stomach and shoving her head under her pillow.

Hot breath cascaded over her exposed shoulder as her husband chuckled, causing goosebumps to spread across her skin as a shudder of warmth rolled down her spine.

"C'mon, doll. Today's our special day. You gotta get up, I've got breakfast waiting for you in the kitchen…"

"James…Sleeeep…"

"Rory… Food…. Don't make me carry you out of bed." James teased, wrapping his hands around her waist.

Pulling her head out from under the pillow, Aurora glared halfheartedly, her tangled mess of hair only adding to the overall effect of her not-a-moring-person antics.

"You wouldn't dare."

James smiled challengingly and tightened his grip around her waist before pulling Rory off the bed and over his shoulder, laughing at the loud shriek she let out while pitifully banging on his back.

"James!"

"Yes, Mrs. Barnes?"

"Put me down!"

James put on his best thinking face, pinning Rory's legs down before spinning around in circles, laughing loudly as her protests faded away into giggles, mingling with his own.

"I don't think I will. I like you there."

"James, come on. I'm going to be sick" She giggled and propped her head up with her hands, elbows resting on his back.

After dropping her back onto the bed, James waited for her to readjust her nightgown, sending a low whistle her way as his eyes caught a glimpse of just how low the neckline had been. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the kitchen.

"I made your favorite!" He sat her down at the table and presented her with a plate of eggs, sausage and a messy, rough looking croissant.

"Oh, James. Mon amour, thank you. Where – how – When did you make these?" She stuttered as she held up the croissant and inhaled the scent, it reminded her of growing up in Lyon.

"I started them after you went to bed. You have the pleasure of looking at a very tired husband." He joked and took his seat. "I managed to get the day off today, Danny's filling in for me."

She beamed at him before taking a bite, "James, this is delicious!" She took another bite before asking; "What should we do today?"

"Well…" James started, smiling softly. "I was thinking about a picnic in the park for lunch, maybe some dancing…but until then, let's just stay home."

She hummed, a matching smile on her face. "That sounds perfect."

James leaned over the small table and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Happy anniversary, darling.

"Happy anniversary, mon amour. Je t'aime."

~8~

Perhaps 'nightmare' isn't the right word, for Aurora, it was a perfect dream – a beautiful memory; their first wedding anniversary. She would say that the nightmare started when she woke to a cold, empty bed. No James holding her to his chest, no whispers of assurance in her ear. Just the freezing reminder that she was all alone.

After crying stifled sobs, Aurora couldn't take being inside that apartment another second, so she breezed past the kitchen and the ghosts of that anniversary, pulled on her boots and one of James' old coats and went on a late night walk, hoping to clear her head before returning to the house of memories.

Just as she began to realize that there was no hope of forgetting her dream, a sharp pain exploded in the back of her head, black instantly swarming her vision as she collapsed into a pair of arms.