Homecoming

[sandi_grl]

Chelsea melted into the kiss, swearing she could feel something coming through.

She smiled, caressing his cheek. "For one thing, you're not just some guy." She nestled herself back into him, burrying her face into his neck once more. "Two, if I do fail a class, it's my fault, not anyone else's."

 

[a_libertine]

Marc grunted an acknowledgement in response. "That doesn't mean I won't feel like complete shit if you do."

He caressed her pert ass and the middle of her back. Both hands working harmoniously. He watched her face intently, memorizing each pore, the way shadows caressed her, the way light made her angelic.

"I'll come to the diner late tomorrow, say 7:30."

He kissed her cheek bone, just below her radiant eye. "I can keep busy until then."

 

[sandi_grl]

"I won't drink all your pop this time," she mumbled with a smile pressed just below his jaw, relaxing against him. "And no writing on the menu this time, I had a hell of a time cleaning it off."

 

[a_libertine]

He chuckled warmly, "But my favorite item at the diner isn't on the normal menu."

He kissed her forehead softly saying, "Next time, I'll steal the damn menu and frame it."

The cloud of 53 days started to enter his mind, and Marc banished it quickly, hell bent to enjoy the time he would have. Day 54 would be handled around day 54.

His hand moved from her back to the base of her scalp, where he coaxed her head back by using her hair until he had a clean line to her neck which he attacked.

 

[sandi_grl]

Her scalp tingled as he tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her head back, and she gasped as he attacked her neck.

She very weakly pushed his shoulder, fighting the internal battle of wanting him to continue, but wanting to stand her ground. "If there's any chance... Of me getting up in the morning, we need a raincheck..." she breathed.

 

[a_libertine]

Marc looked at her with a smile, "Part of me says, I hear your body more than your words. But you are right."

He kissed her tenderly again, his mouth and tongue making love with hers, "Staying the night? Or going home to a boring flat mattress?"

 

[sandi_grl]

"Depends, can you behave yourself?" she teased. "Because it is tempting. My bed has been calling my name. 'Chelsea... Chelsea, come back...'" She kissed his cheek with a giggle. "But you're here... So difficult."

 

[a_libertine]

"Behave myself?" I asked incredulously. "If I were the type to behave myself, you probably wouldn't be here, baby."

I rolled over and turned out the lights before pulling her back to me. "If you try to leave, I will tie you down to the bed."

 

[sandi_grl]

Chelsea grinned at him in the dark. "I know you meant that as a threat, but it's so tempting." Snuggling back into him and down into the bed, she got comfortable. "Maybe tomorrow if you're lucky," she added with a yawn.

 

[a_libertine]

Marc said nothing more, as he fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Marc, yelling rolling off onto the floor, 'dreams of war, dreams of liars, dreams of dragonfire.' He landed and rolled up onto the balls of his feet into a defensive position.

As the light snapped on, Marc was able to take in the scene. He looked at Chelsea, shame and horror on his face. "S...sorry baby."

 

[sandi_grl]

Chelsea startled awake from the yelling and violent movements next to her. "Marc?" He rolled off the bed and stood, posture tense and ready to fight. She clicked the light on and for the moment before he realized where he was, she saw the look in his eyes. She couldn't describe it, but he wasn't home. When he came to, it changed to mortification and fear.

"No," she said slowly. She moved closer cautiously, watching him. "Don't apologize for something you can't control." Reaching out, she gingerly took his hand in hers, giving him the chance to pull away if he wanted, and gently pulled him towards her. "What did you see?"

 

[a_libertine]

Marc wrapped his arms around Chelsea and held on, crushing himself to her, or her to him. Which didn't matter as much as his primal need for unification with her happen.

"Hell," he answered simply. "The army prepares you the instinctual ability to kill. What they don't do well is teach you how to cope with the guilt of having killed, and the worse is the guilt of living."

He climbed back into the bed and patted the mattress next to him, "Come to bed baby, and turn off the light, we can talk later, you need sleep."

 

[sandi_grl]

She clicked the light off and crawled back into bed next to him. At least he was willing to talk about some of it, he wasn't bottling it up.

Nestling back into bed, she drew lazy shapes on his skin. "How often do you have these bad dreams?"

 

[a_libertine]

Marc thought about it for a minute, maybe once a week, sometimes twice, rarely never in a week."

He kissed the top of her head, "Sleep, this is a daylight conversation and besides you work tomorrow."

He caressed her back a moment, "I promise I will share what I can, but later. Tomorrow after you are off or before you go."

 

[sandi_grl]

Chelsea sighed and closed her eyes. She wasn't going to push the issue if he didn't want to talk about it at the moment. "Okay."

It seemed to take forever for her mind to slow and quiet down. What did he see? Had he talked to anyone about the nightmares? Had he considered getting help?

Finally her mind drifted away from all the questions, and breathing slowed as she fell asleep.

 

[a_libertine]

Marc felt Chelsea slowly slipping into a fitful sleep, which in time deepened into a restful slumber. He laid there staring upward to an invisible yellowish white ceiling.

Slowly, but much quicker than normal, Marc fell asleep, the heat of Chelsea warming him in ways he didn't understand fully. The sun was not yet up, but the eastern sky had lightened to a false dawn by the time sleep over took him.

 

[sandi_grl]

As her phone buzzed it's alarm on the nightstand, Chelsea groaned in protest as she was brought out of sleep. Blinking, her eyes focused in the dim light filtering through the curtains. She looked to Marc and was glad to see he finally fell asleep as well.

Slowly she slipped out of bed and padded to the bathroom, figuring it was in her best interest to shower now than to wait and almost be late to work again.

 

[a_libertine]

Marc was vaguely aware of Chelsea crawling out of bed. Either the movement of the bed, or the absence of her warmth initiated the waking process. Her starting the shower finished it, and he rolled out of bed.

He made a pot of coffee and fixed Chelsea a cup and took it into the bathroom. Sticking his hand through the curtain he chimed, "Good morning beautiful. "

 

[sandi_grl]

Chelsea thought she heard something while she was in the shower. But, Marc's voice and him pushing his hand and the coffee past the shower certain still surprised her and she let out a small squeal.

Laughing at herself, she poked her head out and smiled at him. "I don't think k it's a good idea to scare someone half to death in the shower."

 

[a_libertine]

Marc leaned in and kissed her gently and swiftly. "At least it was coffee and not a knife," he joked.

He put the mug in her hand then left the bathroom, letting her finish up uninterrupted. He sipped his coffee, made much like Chelsea, light and sweet.

He smiled as she emerged, "Feel better?"

 

[sandi_grl]

The redhead set the cup of coffee down on the floor just outside the tub and finished washing up. Taking a sip once she was done a dried off, she walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body.

"Sure, now that my heartrate has come back down." She smiled back at him and sat at the foot of the bed. "...How are you?" she asked tentatively, wondering if he'd open up more or brush off the bad dream.

 

[a_libertine]

Marc looked at Chelsea and saw the concern etched into her gorgeous face. "I am better; I really didn't mean to startle you last night."

He poured another cup of coffee, "It is always about the desert, but what specifically changes all the time. I seldom remember more than an hour or two later."

 

[sandi_grl]

She took a few swallows of coffee as he spoke. She figured he wouldn't remember specifics, most people don't.

Chelsea played with the wet ends of her hair, trying to think of how to word her thoughts. "Have you talked to someone?"

 

[a_libertine]

Marc grinned, "Priests, older soldiers, and a shrink. Now you."

He glanced at the clock, "You need to go. Homework and work beckon you. I will be there at 8."

 

[sandi_grl]

"Want to get rid of me that badly, huh?" she ribbed, grabbing her clothes from the floor.

Once dressed, she gave him a long, deep kiss, wrapping her arms around his torso and giving him a tight hug. "See you at 8."