"S'fine," he repeats. Pause. "... The death wasn' - the - you came back. Eventually."

"Not without leaving you grieving for eighteen years."

"You came back," he repeats. "'nd I made the pox go 'way. Sucked, but - s'not your fault."

"I haven't dreamed her dying yet but - I decided to start breathing again when you asked me - and I still don't know if I decided not to, the last time."

"You were in pain."

"And I wasn't getting better, I know, I know, but I did want to stay for you."

"Yes. Yes we are."

That's okay. Sylvi's well on her way back to sleep too. She is all snuggled. Nightmares might find themselves slightly impeded by this fact.

Sylvi wakes up nice and warm and snuggled and not in the least inclined to get up right away.

That is Avedan's default. The - not getting up right away part, anyway. So Sylvi can be snuggled for a while!

Charp peeps into the room, sees open eyes, and goes to start on breakfast.

"... You had a nightmare...?" he wonders.

"Yeah. You don't remember? One of Aly's close calls. Not her death yet, still. Maybe I can skip it. Lu never caught up with all the dreams..."