I couldn’t wait to thank them.
The yellow flowers surrounding me had to be a good sign. I lay there, waiting for either Derek or Aiden to join me. The sun was nearing dinner time, meaning it would soon be setting and then night would come. If our theory was true, then we would soon wake up.
“Aiden?” Derek’s choked up voice startled me from my lazing. I sat up and saw both my mates staring at each other.
“Derek,” Aiden sobbed, and then, as if pulled together as magnets, they ran to each other, meeting in a tight hug as they sobbed, holding their twin for the first time since they were small children.
I was full on crying, too, their emotions so raw it left me feeling just as brokenhearted seeing them like that. And to know this was a dream hurt. The real Aiden and Derek were asleep, still waiting for that first hug.
I let them be, knowing they needed to share this moment themselves. I was just glad to be witnessing it. My heart was full as I saw them share whispered words of ‘love’ and ‘finally’.
“Nolen?” Derek’s voice surprised me, but there they both stood, one arm raised towards me, beckoning me to join them.
I stood, walking on unsure legs to hug both of them. As soon as I was close, they tugged me into a firm hug, their scents surrounding me, their warmth.
Sighing, I savored this moment between us, letting it heal a part of me that feared this would never happen, dream or reality.
When the tears stopped, we laid down, them on either side of me, snuggling close and enjoying this moment where we were all together.
Finally.
I closed my eyes and just let my smile take over.
It’s definitely happening soon,” Aiden agreed with Derek.
“The night has truly taken over,” I nodded.
“So, does this mean we won’t have this soon?” Derek asked.
I shrugged, sitting down on the beach we found ourselves at.
“That isn’t very helpful,” Aiden said, bumping my shoulder as he joined me on the sand.
“I know as much as you do, and you both know this,” I replied, smiling at them both.
Derek rolled his eyes and sat on my other side. “I think this means we’re soon healed.”
“I hope so,” Aiden whispered. “Do you think it feels different?”
“Different how?” Derek asked.
“To not be broken?”
Derek seemed to think it over. “Maybe we’ll find out soon.”
“Yeah. Soon,” Aiden agreed, his tone hopeful.
“This isn’t as scary with you two next to me,” Aiden said, his voice a light in the darkness.
“You were in the dark too at first?” Derek asked.
“Yeah, it wasn’t a nice experience.”
“I hate that we weren’t with you then,” I whispered, holding him tighter to my right side. Derek was at my left, both holding hands on my stomach. All three of us connected in the dark.
“Hopefully none of us will ever be left alone in the dark again,” Derek whispered.
We snuggled closer, their bodies warm against mine. The darkness was silent and as terrifying as the first time. But unlike the first time, Aiden was with us, as it should be.
