Dream Makers: Dream Of Me Part 13

"Well, I don't know what your IQ is soooo," Serenity hedged.

"Fair enough," Emma agreed. "I'm two points below Albert Einstein's score."

Serenity propped a hand on her hip and offered Emma a bemused smile. "I don't know Einstein's IQ either."

The eight-year-old copied Serenity's pose and added a head tilt of her own. "What exactly do you know?"

As Serenity stared down at the young girl who had been through so much, her stomach clenched inside of her. What did she know? She knew that if she'd been in Emma's shoes tonight she wouldn't be able to have a light hearted conversation in the kitchen of people she'd only known a couple of weeks. She knew that she would be a mess of blubbering tears and snot and the whole nine yards if some scary, nasty man had attempted to put his hands on her. But she didn't share those things with Emma, not yet. "I know that little girls need to be in bed if they want Santa to come," she finally told her.

Emma's hand dropped from her hip and she let out a resigned sigh. "Fine, I will go to bed, even though I know Santa Clause is not going to be trotting in here on some reindeer, plopping himself down a chimney, and unpacking a pack that seemingly never empties." All of this she said as she began walking backwards toward the hallway.

"Hey, Emma," Serenity called just as the girl began to turn around to walk to Wayne and Darla's spare bedroom. Emma looked back at her with large, trusting eyes. "Even if there's not a Santa, you still are not forgotten."

Emma's eyes lit up with what Serenity could only describe as hope. A smile stretched across the young girl's face as she spoke, "Of course I'm not. G.o.d didn't create me just so he could go and forget me."

"No, I suppose he didn't," Serenity whispered as Emma continued down the hall.

The house was quiet after everyone had gone to bed. Serenity was left to her thoughts as she sat in the kitchen at the small dining room table. She had to continually push her mind away from the what could have beens and what might have happened had Raphael not arrived when he did. She knew that it would do no good to dwell on things that hadn't happened or couldn't be changed. So she thought of Dair instead and wondered how his night was going. He had told her that he might be gone longer than one night because he had several a.s.signments to complete. Serenity had asked him how he knows when he has a new person to see and he had shrugged and said, "I just do." She could tell he had never given it a second thought. Why would he? It was what he had been doing since his creation. Like, breathing was second nature to her; making dreams was the same to Dair. So instead of sitting and dwelling on all that she couldn't fix, she pulled her phone from the pocket of her flannel pajama bottoms and dialed Glory's number. It had been days since she'd gotten to talk to her best friend, and if anyone would know what to say to keep Serenity's mind busy it would be Glory.

"It's late," Glory's voice chirped through the receiver when she finally picked up.

"That's all you have to say to me? For all you know I'm calling with a crisis."

"Are you?"

Serenity bit her lip. "Well, it's a post crisis."

"Post crisis is not a crisis and therefore does not require the same kind of courtesy a crisis would. So again I say, it's late."

"Aren't you even the least bit curious about the post crisis?" Serenity taunted.

There was a pause before Glory let out a long sigh. "Good grief, Sarah Tillman, would you spit it out already. Getting information out of you is like trying to get milk from a slug."

"Um, Glory, milk doesn't come from slugs."

"Exactly, so you should totally feel my pain. Now give me the post crisis details and don't leave anything out."

"You're grouchy."

"It's late."

"You said that."

"And yet you have yet to fill me in on the post crisis. What. The. h.e.l.l. Serenity?"

"Okay, okay, geeze, sometimes it's hard to believe you're an actual adult." Serenity hurried on before Glory could add her two cents. "So Emma showed up on our door tonight..." She told Glory every detail starting from when Darla had told her about Emma's aunt coming up to the library to take Emma home. As she spoke she felt her blood getting hot all over again. By the time she had finished the story, Serenity was ready to take a bat to Mildred's to see if this Rat character was hanging around.

"Is she alright?" Glory's voice was considerably softer than it had been when she'd first answered the phone. "I haven't met this little Emma yet, but from what you've told me she's one smart cookie and tough. How is she handling things?"

"Honestly, I'm a little shocked as to how well she's taking it. I feel like she should be a blubbering mess. I mean she's shed some tears and it's obvious that she isn't unaffected but she's actually holding it together really well."

"She doesn't have a choice," Glory told her. "For Emma there is no plan B. Her parents are gone, this Mildred chick is all she has, and she knows that she has to make the best of what she's got. I imagine little Emma knows that what's done is done, and all she can do is move forward."

"I think it's past time you and Emma met," Serenity pointed out.

"I have to agree, little pet. You have been remiss in your duties as a best friend and have not kept me apprised of all of your comings and goings."

"You do realize that this best friend thing works both ways, right? You haven't been ringing my phone."

Serenity could see the shrug she knew her best friend was no doubt giving her. "True, but I have an excuse. I have a job. All you do is go to school, like that's important or anything."

Serenity laughed. "Yes, you're right my graduating is of no consequence at all. How wrong of me to not make sure you are better informed before I worry about getting to cla.s.s and getting my work done."

"Now, we are finally making some progress," Glory said in her most haughty voice. "I will come to your home on the morrow to meet the child."

"You're weird."

"You love me," Glory sang.

"Yes, yes I do. It's late; go to bed." Serenity laughed when Glory let out a few of her favorite expletives before finally hanging up. She wasn't surprised that she hadn't said more on what had happened with Emma. She knew that it would be hitting too close to home with Glory. Serenity felt guilty for even telling her something like that over the phone, but then she knew that Glory would want to know before she met Emma face-to-face.

Her phone dinged letting her know that she'd received a text. It was from Glory.

"I'm fine. Quit worrying bout me."

Serenity smiled to herself. Glory knew her too well.

She texted back. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm more worried about me and Emma if you don't get some sleep. You'll be a bear tomorrow."

Glory responded with, "Grrr. Night."

Serenity let out a sigh as she set her phone on the table and stretched her arms out in front of her. She knew that Glory would be fine, but she still hated that memories would no doubt be dredged up because of the topic of their conversation. Glory's life hadn't been an easy one. She had wonderful parents, no doubt, and they loved her. But, unfortunately, parents couldn't pick their family members and family didn't always mean friendly or loving. She didn't want to go down that road tonight so she tucked those memories away for another time. Just as she was about to stand, she felt the temperature in the room drop a couple of degrees.

"Hey."

Serenity's head whipped around at the sound of the deep, silky voice. "What are you doing here?" she whispered through the smile that was threatening to split her face in half. She hadn't realized how badly she had wanted to see him or how much she had needed him.

"What's wrong," Dair asked as his eyes narrowed and he knelt down in front of her.

She shook her head, unable to say anything for fear that she would turn into a blubbering mess and tell him about the events of the night and then beg him to make it better. Instead she just reached for him and, like she knew he would, Dair wrapped her in his strong embrace. His hand stroked down her hair and back and his whispered words soothed her. "I felt you."

His words had her pulling away to look at him. "What do you mean you felt me?"

He started to do the whole shoulder shrug thing but when she frowned at him he stopped. "I could feel you were upset and that you needed me, like a string is attached to my soul connecting to yours and your soul was giving it a tug."

"How come I can't feel you?" she asked, then watched as Dair closed his eyes and his face was completely relaxed. She wondered what he was doing but didn't have to wonder long because then she felt him. Cool waves of concern flowed through her and she knew it was Dair's concern for her.

"Why, I mean, how," she stuttered as he opened his eyes to look at her.

"I don't know," he answered, obviously having understood what she was asking. "I don't understand it either. But I'm not complaining."

Serenity smiled. "I'm not either."

"Now, will you tell me what has you so upset?"

Serenity bit the inside of her cheek, giving herself time to think, to figure out how to explain the events of the night without causing Dair to flip his lid. In the end, she decided that there was no way for her to explain little Emma being attacked in such a way that wouldn't have Dair fuming. Better to just rip the Band-Aide off quickly she decided.

"Emma was attacked by one of Mildred's sc.u.mbags tonight." The words flew out of her mouth before she had a chance to even consider that maybe she should first tell him that Emma was alright and that she was safe. Dair started to stand and Serenity could feel the air around them growing colder as his temper flared. "Wait, wait, Dair." She stood quickly and grabbed his arm. "Maybe I should have mentioned that she's here and she's safe."

"What happened?" The room seemed to dim as his power began to grow, and she could tell he truly was on the verge of losing control. Serenity had no idea what sort of power Dair wielded, other than being able to create dreams, but she imagined an immortal being was no weakling.

Serenity told him all that Emma had told her, and once she was finished she waited. Dair stood in the middle of the small kitchen. He was still as stone and his inhuman beauty was harsh as the anger and obvious frustration at having not been there washed over him.

"He didn't." He paused but she knew he wasn't going to continue and she didn't blame him. Serenity didn't like to think about what could have happened either.

"No, he didn't touch her, not like that."

Dair let out a slow breath that seemed to help him gain some control. "I'm sorry that I wasn't here to be with you. I know it must have been hard for you to handle."

She knew how he meant it, and Serenity appreciated that he wanted to be there to support her and that he cared enough to want to care for not only her but Emma as well. "We managed. Besides, Emma is one incredible little lady. She's made of stern stuff."

"Where the h.e.l.l was Raphael?" he growled, his previous anger coming back full force. "I thought he said he would be watching over the child."

"He said he had been summoned by the Creator." Serenity didn't miss the way Dair's shoulders tensed.

"That would have been the only thing that would have kept the angel away. He takes his responsibilities very seriously. I imagine he is not handling this well."

"I reamed him," she admitted. Dair shot her a sideways glance and a small smile appeared on his lips.

"How did he handle that?"

She shrugged. "He took it like a man."

"Speaking of the angel," Dair said as he c.o.c.ked his head to the side, "where is he?"

It was Serenity's turn to slip on a sly smile. "I sent him on an errand. He's playing Santa tonight."

"Presents for Emma?"

"Yep," she said popping the p with her lips. "He's so jolly; I figured he really fit the part."

Dair laughed.

It was only a few minutes later when Raphael appeared in the kitchen with his arms loaded down with bags. Serenity's eyes widened. "You don't mess around do you?"

"I am not sure what you mean by that."

Serenity waved him off. "Never mind. Let's just see what the damage is." They began going through the gifts and she was happily surprised to see that Raphael had done really well. He got Emma some challenging puzzle games, a cute pair of snow boots, a stylish scarf, hat and mitten set, several boxes that appeared to be some sort of girly crafts, and some books. Well, not just some books, he had actually gotten her seven books, and they weren't just your run of the mill books. These were cla.s.sics like Beowulf, Of Mice and Men, 1984, and The Iliad and the Odyssey.

"Do you think she will like these books?" Serenity asked as she flipped through a copy of The Scarlet Letter.

Raphael's brow scrunched together. "She said that she was extremely intelligent. All of the books in the children's section seemed much too juvenile for her. These books seemed to be more appropriate."

Serenity just shook her head. She went and grabbed the wrapping paper from the hall closet and enlisted Dair and Raphael to help her get the presents wrapped and under the tree. Once the work was done, she thanked Raphael for his help and then turned to Dair. "I'm going to go to bed. If Emma's anything like I was at her age, she'll be up in just a few hourstoo excited to sleep."

Dair's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Is that my hint to come and tuck you in?"

Serenity's cheeks flared with heat as she glanced at Raphael from the corner of her eye, but he wasn't paying them a bit of attention. She gave Dair a subtle jerk of her head to follow her.

Dair watched Serenity walk towards her room. His eyes didn't leave her form as he spoke to Raphael. "Thank you for being here for the girls."

There was a long pause before the angel answered. "I am sorry that I was not there to protect her."

"No one expects you to be perfect, old friend," Dair said, his voice low. He didn't wait for Raphael's response. He knew no words would comfort the angel. He would deal with what he considered his failure in his own way.

As he entered Serenity's room, he pushed the door gently closed behind him and smiled when she tensed at the click that filled the silence. He stood there watching her, mesmerized as she brushed her long brown locks. She was beautiful. Her inner beauty only made the outer that much more incredible, and he was left breathless because she had chosen him.

"Are you just going to stand there?" she asked him, though her eyes did not meet his.

"What would you have me do, Princess?"

"Why do you call me that?"

"It's your name. Sarah Serenity literally means princess of peace. It's fitting if you ask me. So again, I ask you. What would you have me do?"

She paused and then finally looked up at him. Her eyes were full of the longing and ache that he felt inside of his own soul-an ache that only she could fill. Dair couldn't remember a time in his very long existence ever feeling a need so strong as he did in that moment. He needed to hold her, to know that she was safe in his arms. Dair took a step towards her; his eyes held hers as he took another and another until he was standing inches from her. Serenity's head tilted back so that she could look up at him. His hand reached up of its own accord, and his fingers brushed her hair from her face and then sank deeper into the thick strands until he was cupping her head.

"What are you doing to me?" he whispered as his eyes roamed over her face. "When I'm away from you all of my thoughts are for you. When I'm with you, regardless of how close I am to you, it is never close enough. What, Sarah Serenity, are you doing to me?"

Her breathing quickened and at some point her own hands had ended up on his chest and were now wrapped around his s.h.i.+rt as though she had to grasp him in order to stay standing. Serenity's eye were glazing over, held captive by him.

"I'm not doing anything," she finally answered and it came out in a breathy voice that had Dair's stomach clenching with desire.

He leaned closer until his mouth hovered just above hers. He could feel her warm breath on his face and smell her sweet scent, and it only incensed his pa.s.sion for her.

"I'm going to taste you now," Dair whispered against her lips and he could literally feel his mouth begin to water for her. She nodded, unable to say anything and that had his confidence growing. He felt his own breathing increase just before his lips pressed against her. Her warmth flowed over him as she pressed herself closer. The hand that wasn't wrapped in her luscious hair wrapped around her waist and pulled her even tighter against him. When Serenity's lips parted allowing him entrance into the moist depths of her mouth, Dair fought the urge to lay her down on the bed, knowing it would only lead to things for which they weren't yet ready. It was nearly his undoing when she slid her hands up his chest and shoulders until her fingers were running through his hair. Her soft groans and mewling were a red flag that it was time for him to stop.

Dair ripped his lips away from hers, pressing their foreheads together. He couldn't speak, not yet. All he was capable of in that moment was breathing while attempting to stay upright. Serenity's eyes were closed and her chest rose and fell as the breath rushed in and out. Dair could feel her heart pounding against her chest as she pressed closer to him. Dair's eyes followed her tongue as she slowly traced her lips with it.

"Careful, love," he told her in a near moan. "I can only take so much."

To his surprise she chuckled as she opened her eyes and pulled back so she could look up at him. "I a.s.sure you that I am not purposefully trying to tempt you."

"Princess, your very existence is enough to tempt me. I'm afraid there is nothing you can do to keep me from desiring you."

Her lips pursed crookedly as she thought about his words. "I bet I could come up with a way to be less appealing. What if I never brushed my hair or bathed? Bet you wouldn't want to get close then."

"Your scent is the most intoxicating thing I've ever smelled. I have a feeling that would only draw me closer."