*Andy’s POV*

I lay in bed, musing, listening to Eliza breathing. I was thankful that it had only been Danny on the path to witness our naked gallivanting; he was just as likely to be seen without clothes on as with! I was also glad Eliza had seemed to forgive me so easily… again. Why was I such an ass?

Not that I minded seeing Eliza nude, of course. I just didn’t want anyone else to see her that way, ever! My fuck-up during her first Night on Watch had been gut-wrenching enough! I needed to protect Eliza’s dignity after that, more than ever!

And Eliza was my woman now! I wanted to keep her covered even more so than I didn’t want any of those horrid, giggly little strumpets to see my unclothed cock and balls! Gods! All things considered, we had gotten off easy with just Danny, I supposed.

I frowned, restless. I glanced experimentally at Eliza’s boob. Yep, a hormonal spike was definitely in effect. I was having trouble sleeping next to a sexy, naked woman. Shit.

Careful not to shift the bed too forcefully, I rolled over before I got a cursed boner. I was a warrior, by the gods! I had to sleep! Be fit, as an Officer, to defend the Tribe! To *yawn* defend the Soul from the boobies, big boobies, so soft… *yawn* make sure don’t see… Eliza naked… pretty…

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Then… Dio was dying, again. Everything was like moving through a fast-flowing river, I was trying to struggle against the current. I couldn’t change anything; it was too hard. I was forced down my path. My movements were thick and syrupy as Juliet and I fought troll after troll. Blood flowed like hot honey. I was running to help the Officers, again. Juliet was just going to check on one lone troll, just going to look, again. I turned-

NO!!!

Something was shaking me, but I had to get to Juliet! It wouldn’t let up! I-

“-Andy, it’s only a dream!” My tear-filled eyes shot open. I cried out, and someone held me, someone I instinctively trusted.

Time passed. Clarity came with it, as well as embarrassment. I sniffled. “W-what-“

Eliza shook her head, running her hand through my hair, avoiding my growth discs, silly goose. “-Something was tickling and squeezing my feet just terribly in my sleep. I woke up still with a weird sensation, though it went away quickly, and you were talking and crying, I could tell you were having your nightmare, so I woke you up.”

Eliza started rubbing my back in soothing circles. “Andy, I’m sure Juliet wouldn’t want you to have these terrible nightmares. No one who loved you would, they’d want you to focus on the happiness you shared, not the painful ending. I can’t imagine how much it would pain her to see you this way. I know it pains me to see you hurting so.”

Eliza sighed. “I’m not belittling her loss, but she made a choice, and she died for something great, and something she believed in. Something we both continue to fight for. Not just the safety of the Wild Ones, or really even all Fae, but the well being of the entire Forest. It wasn’t for nothing.”

I’d heard the same sentiment expressed many times. However, for once, from Eliza, it seemed to come from the heart. Instead of a bland platitude, just something comforting said to me that was rendered meaningless by the lack of feeling behind it, the words finally hit home. Perhaps it was acceptable to mourn in a less self-destructive, self-punitive fashion?

I wasn’t ready to admit to my thoughts yet, so I shrugged and looked around blearily. “What time is it?”

Eliza rubbed her eyes and stretched her wings cautiously. “I think it’s Day still.”

I grinned. “I have the perfect idea! Let’s wash up, get some food, and then go see Christian to check if your arsenal is ready!”

Eliza’s smile was huge, and she made a higher-pitched squeak of excitement than normal for her. “Oooh! That sounds great! Your sword is a fine blade, Andy, but it’s so bloody small-“

I snorted. “-I remember you calling out ‘Big Johnny’ just the-“

Eliza swatted playfully at me. “-Oh stop! I’ve tried not to again! And I didn’t fucking well mean that sword, I meant your doubly-named blade, you naughty man!”

As Eliza and I exchanged banter on our way to the washbasin, neither one of us noticed the black rat snake watching and listening to us, under the foot of the bed. After we had left the room, it returned to where it lived, under the shelter, satisfied with a job well done.

Notes

exhibit A gallery (Richard Villa III, who has contributed SO much artistically to BVB & Andy Black) is in dire need of help to fund new work.

please check out his website! you won't regret it!

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i went to go see In This Moment, Korn, & Rob Zombie on the Return of the Dreads Tour, and it was awesome! my phone's battery died completely after ITM, but i still had a wicked good time.

i'd list my highlights, but there were honestly too many! i'm not even a huge Korn fan, but they really brought it: kudos to all three bands to really bringing it. also, does anyone know if TJ (that guy that used to be in MIW, i think he's also in escape the fate or something) lives in WA, i could have sworn he was side stage?

here are some videos i took of ITM:
In This Moment play 'Sick Like Me' at White River Amphitheatre
ITM play 'Adrenalize' in Auburn, WA
A part of ITM playing 'Burn' on 7/27/16
ITM play 'Blood' on Return of the Dreads Tour on 7/27/2016