Natalie shot up in bed, a small scream having just escaped from her lips. She sat, panting for a time, and wondering for a moment where she was.
Yes, of course, the Hansons.
She rubbed her face, and her hands met sweat.
Taylor
Taylor awoke with a jolt, and immediately sat up.
"Nat?" he breathed.
He looked down at the fuzzles. Mya had woken up, but the rest were still sleeping.
He caught his breath uneasily, before throwing his sheets off and reaching down to fetch the emerald fuzzle. Cuddling her into his chest, he left the room and made his way down the hallway.
When he came to Natalie's door, he hesitated before carefully opening it.
"Nat?" he called softly, not sure of what he'd heard, "are you ok?"
When he saw her sitting up, he took a guess that his suspicions were correct and fully entered the room and closed the door.
Natalie
Natalie jumped when Taylor entered the room, then settled down.
"I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," she said softly. "It was just... just a nightmare."
Although the details of the nightmare were already fading, Natalie shuddered.
Taylor
"It's ok," Taylor assured, looking her over for a moment.
"You're sweating."
He looked down at Mya, then moved toward the bed.
"Here. Look after Mya for a moment. I'll get you a towel."
Natalie
With a shaking hand, Natalie reached out for Mya.
"Thank you," she said softly.
She started to pat Mya, and immediately started to feel better.
Taylor
Taylor hid a smile as Mya began telling Natalie a story, as he slipped from the room and headed for the closet. He took a small hand towel and made his way back, carefully opening and closing the door so as not to wake Isaac or the other fuzzles.
"Here," he offered, handing her the towel.
He knelt beside the bed.
Natalie
Natalie took the towel with her free hand.
"Thank you," she said.
She stopped patting Mya long enough to wipe her face.
Taylor
Taylor just leant on the bed and watched her for a moment.
"Was it... bad?" he asked finally.
Natalie
"Enough to wake me up," Natalie replied.
She shook her head.
"I don't even remember most of it. Trying to run away from something, and just when you believe that you've out run it, it suddenly appears in front of you. Like in Lord of the Rings when Frodo is trying to evade the cave troll around the piller in Moria."
Taylor
Taylor nodded, understanding.
He slowly reached for the towel and put it on the bedside table, before taking one of her hands in his.
"I can stay if you want. Just until you get back to sleep," he offered, as Mya began to settle down into the bed covers.
Natalie
"I'd... I'd like that, thanks," Natalie replied.
She smiled down at Mya.
"Mya's made herself at home... it is Mya, right?"
Natalie felt the need to check, as she wasn't sure she had all the fuzzles names down right yet.
Taylor
"Yes," Taylor replied softly with a nod.
"Mya is Hawaiian for emerald."
He gave the fuzzle a scratch with his free hand.
"I normally prefer them to not sleep in beds in case they get squashed, but she'll be fine with me watching."
Natalie
"It's a pretty name," Natalie replied.
She moved back down on the bed, careful not to hit Mya.
Taylor
Taylor made himself more comfortable as she lay down, resting his arms and head on the bedside.
"I like it," he replied.
"Though all their names - even if they don't seem it - are rather obvious."
Natalie
"You named them all after colours, then?" Natalie inquired.
She rolled over so she was facing Taylor.
Taylor
"All except Aricin and Malory," Taylor chuckled.
"I guess I'm kind of predictable, huh?"
Natalie
Natalie chuckled.
"Not in a bad way," she said. "Who's Aricin?"
Taylor
"He was Dorian's playmate," Taylor sighed tiredly.
"I gave him to Mack. Avie ended up with one named Jade, and I kept the rest..."
Natalie
"Oh," Natalie replied. "And Malory?"
She stifled a yawn.
Taylor
Taylor was quiet for a moment as he remembered some of the things Malory had put he and Mouse through.
"He's gone," he said finally.
Natalie
"Oh," Natalie replied. "Sorry to hear that."
It must have been pretty recent, given the silence. Poor Taylor, to have lost two fuzzles so close together.
Taylor
"He had to go," Taylor closed his eyes for a moment, tiredly.
"But it was a long time ago."
Natalie
"Oh," Natalie decided a change of subject was in order, and tried to think of one. "Thank you for joining me tonight. I feel like such a baby."
Taylor
"It's ok," Taylor smiled, mainly to himself.
"I have five younger siblings, remember. And I've had Lord knows how many pets with the same troubles."
Natalie
"So, you're the resident nightmare soother, huh?" Natalie murmered, a faint smile plaing on her lips.
She reached a hand out to Taylor.
Taylor
"Well it depends," he sighed, taking her hand.
"Animals? I have no choice. If Jess was home it'd usually be her job because she's a dream walker."
He closed his eyes again.
"But in the past few years she hasn't spent much time at home."
Natalie
Natalie absently rubbed her thumb on Taylor's hand.
"What has she been doing?"
Taylor
"She kind of grew distant," Taylor murmured.
"She's at college in LA somewhere. Doing fashion. Avery's on the station doing Ga'Revali still. So really Mack and Zoe are the only ones left..."
Natalie
"Oh," Natalie replied.
She let go of Taylor's hand and moved hers to his cheek, and caressed that.
"Do you still talk to them?"
Taylor
"Mack and Zoe?" his voice was getting softer.
"Sure. Sometimes. Not often when I was under arrest obviously. And Avie sometimes comes to visit... I think Dad's almost ready to retire altogether."
Natalie
"What does he do now?" Natalie asked.
She yawned.
Taylor
"I'm not sure," Taylor replied.
"He quit the council so he could watch over us and we deserted him... he does help out with the record company though."
Natalie
"You deserted him?" Natalie repeated. "That wasn't very nice..."
Her fingers traced his cheek bone.
Taylor
"We'd never do it intentionally," Taylor opened his eyes again, drowsily.
"I... only just realised that we did. Isaac and I had to leave because of our problems... Avie needs the training, and Jess... well she kinda ran out on us a bit. And obviously Zac has his own family now..."
He sighed.
"Just the way things worked out I guess."
Natalie
"Oh... You should do something special for him," Natalie said in an oddly decicive voice for her sleepy state. "Dinner with the family or a holiday for him and your Mom, or something."
Taylor
"Perhaps," Taylor somewhat agreed, beginning to lose track of the conversation already.
"Maybe something..."
He closed his eyes again, Natalie's touch alone beginning to help send him to sleep.
Natalie
"Mmm..." was all Natalie had left to say as her eyes closed too.
Her hand rested on Taylor's face, some of her fingers curling through his hair, motion ceased.
Taylor
Taylor opened his eyes one more time, seeing hers closed and that she was now settled.
He smiled to himself before closing his eyes again. He soon forgot abou Mya in light of the situation, and had fallen asleep himself.