In Her Dreams

sets a steaming plate in front of me, all my worries disappear.
From how to afford groceries to every patient who tried to spit on me or throw feces at me to wondering if Joey’s doing okay, it all just drains away as Reve comes behind me to wrap his arms around my shoulders and give me a warm hug.
“All right,” he says, releasing me to sit at the other side of the table. “Now dig in.”
For a few minutes, I just eat with him watching interestedly.
“You’re not having any?” I ask.
“I ate on my own,” he says. “I’m not quite used to human food yet.”
“What do you eat?”
He cocks his head. “I’m more than happy to tell you more about fae customs sometime, but I think this is not quite the right time for it.”
He’s right. I’m stalling.
I take a bite and set my fork down, trying to gather my thoughts. “I really like you, Reve.” I liked him the moment I saw him. He seemed like a ray of sunshine bursting through the storm of darkness that my life has been until now.
Right until I realized he’s been looking for me forever.
“I guess I didn’t see how me already having a son connected with you wanting me as your dream mate,” I say quietly. “I suppose it was selfish to keep trying to have both worlds.”
“Not selfish,” he says instantly. “Life has been hard.” He cocks his head. “I don’t understand why you thought Joey would be a problem. Or that I would be a problem for Joey. He is a young dream warrior. Soon he will need to be trained. It’s lucky I came along.”
I shake my head. “He’s not yours to raise. You’re not his father. I’m all he needs.” But deep down, I know differently. I don’t know how to show him how to be a man. At least one that isn’t like his father.
“No,” Reve says. “I would want to help this young warrior, to get to know him, even if I wasn’t your soul bond. He’s an amazing young man.” Reve smiles. “Already so protective of his mother.”
I flush. “He shouldn’t have to feel that way. I’m the one protecting him.”
Reve leans back in his chair. “He can’t help it. Natural warrior feelings when they are raised well.” He gives me a grin. “He’s been raised very well. Loved very much.”
It fills me with hope down in the center of my heart to hear him say so. Everything I have done has been to try to make things up to my son.
Reve stands up and comes to sit in the chair next to me. He puts his hand over mine. It’s so warm and relieving that tears well in my eyes, and I feel him gently grab a napkin and dab at them as well.
“You’re so wonderful,” I say, looking over at him. “But you deserved a different soul bond.”
His mouth turns down instantly. “Why? You’re the most wonderful soul bond I could imagine.”
“But I have a son. My past is so messy. I should have—”
“Nothing,” he says firmly. “You owe me nothing.” His hands clasp mine, so warm. “Jen, I want to be with you forever. I want all of your tomorrows, but I was never under the delusion that I owned your yesterdays.” He grins. “I’m probably saying it all wrong, but what I mean is that I think you’ve been an amazing, strong person doing her best in a difficult situation. I’m proud of you, of the woman you’ve become despite circumstances that could have broken anyone. I’m amazed by you, even more now that I’ve met Joey and seen what an amazing little man you’re raising on your own.”
Tears well in my eyes again, and this time, I dab at them. “Thank you, Reve.”
“But I think it’s time for you two to have some more help,” he says, looking as though he’s steeling himself for my rejection. “I think having a warrior around to help him learn about himself would be good.”
“I don’t know if he’ll trust you,” I say uncertainly.
“He shouldn’t trust me,” I say. “Not until he sees more of me. I’m going to prove myself to him in how I treat his mom. That’s why, if you truly tell me to go, that I can’t stay and protect you, then I will. Because I respect what you want most of all. But Jen, I promise I’ll do whatever you ask of me if you will just grant this one wish. That I can stay here and try to keep you safe.”
I hang my head in defeat but smile because what can I say to that? “But will we still get to do fun things in my dreams?”
Reve grins, and his teal eyes twinkle, making me finally believe that things really will be okay. “Of course,” he says. “You’re a busy momma. We’ll fit in our time together while you’re asleep. But will I get to at least hold you in my arms at night? It feels so good when you’re close to my heart.”
I grin at him, body already warming at the thought of falling into bed with his arms around me, feeling safe rather than worried as I slip into the dream world. “I’d like that.”
“Then eat your dinner,” he says, standing and pressing a light kiss to my ear as he heads into the kitchen, presumably to do dishes. He flashes me a smile over his shoulder as he turns on the water. “Because I have fun plans for us tonight.”

6
Jen
The tempestuous waters roll with white caps and waves nearly twenty feet high as I try to steer my galleon through the oncoming storm.
I keep hold of the worn, wooden wheel as a blast of sea spray nearly knocks my captain’s hat off.
But I won’t change course no matter what, I think, my eyes pinned on the large, derelict ship sailing out ahead of us, equally battered by the storm.
“Captain,” my first mate, a