| TAYLOR: I woke to the sight of the dawn coming over the trees and realized that Jess and I never even made it into the tent last night. I smiled to myself. Damn! I couldn't get enough of her. I had been feeling guilty most of the morning after she blew up. I knew she woke up not feeling well. I've never seen a woman sweat so much. But when I went up to change into my swim shorts, she was the one who initiated our lovemaking. Who was I to say no when the woman of my dreams wanted ME? She did eat a few extra times during the day, and seemed to be fine as long as she kept food in her stomach. I turned my head to look at her. God! She was so beautiful. She was lying on her stomach her head resting on her arms crossed in front of her. Her cheeks were flushed and her gold streaked, coffee colored hair framed her face. The sleeping bag was pushed down to her waist, showing me the long, strong line of her bare back. I reached out and caressed her, then pushed her hair back from her face slightly. She stirred a bit and smiled in her sleep. I rolled next to her and laid my arm across her back, resting my forehead on the back of her folded arm. I just wanted to be close to her, knowing that it would be a long week without her, especially since I was so worried and had no idea what was going on with her health. Most of the time she was fine, but occasionally she'd say something, or I'd look at her, and know that something was definately not normal. "Mmmmm..Tay.." she sighed, still asleep, and turned, instinctively, to press her back to my chest so I could hold her. "Shh..baby.." I whispered in her ear and lightly kissed her cheek, "I'm here.." I stroked her hair back and laid my head next to hers and listened to her breathe, trying to relax and go back to sleep. It was no use. I was awake and would probably stay that way until tonight. I laid there holding Jess, for a long time and watched the sun come up. It was going to be a beautiful day and I wished I could spend just one more here with her. "Tay?" I heard Jessie call to me and stir, she sounded distressed. I leaned up and looked at her to see if she was awake, and what she needed. She was still sound asleep. She stirred again and reached for me. "Tay..no..." |
| She was dreaming and I could tell it wasn't good. Her face looked pained and she reached for me again. "Tay...no...don't..." she moaned and tightened her fingers on my arm. She was breathing heavily and acted frightened. "Tay...don't go.." she cried and I pulled her into my arms. "Jessie..shhhh...I'm right here baby." I shook her gently trying to wake her. "Tay, please.." she cried softly and a tear slipped down her cheek from still closed eyes. I shook her harder. "Jess, wake up.. wake up baby. I'm right here...LOOK at me." I said and stroked her hair off her face. "Baby please..wake up. I'm here Jess. I'm not going anywhere." I told her and shook her again. Her eyes slowly opened as more tears poured from them. She reached up and wiped her face like a small child and looked at me, as if shocked. "Baby what is it?" I asked softly and stroked her hair and shoulders trying to calm her. She looked around as if to get her bearings and remember where she was. "Jessie.." I told her firmly, "I'm right here...you were only dreaming. It's okay.." I stroked her hair back again. Her face relaxed a little as she realized where she was. Then her eyes filled up again and she held me to her. "I'm so sorry baby. It was only a dream, I didn't mean to make you worry." she said softly. "I know sweetheart. What was so bad that it could make you cry real tears in your sleep?" I asked. "I dunno, Tay. I don't remember all of it..but you were leaving and I didn't want you to. Someplace I didn't think you were coming back from." she sniffed. "It was just a stupid dream." |
| TAYLOR: "Jessie...I would have to be very dead to not come back to you. I won't ever be gone long. And once we're married I want you with me as much as possible." I told her and held her tightly, trying to settle her. But she began to really cry. She sobbed softly into my chest and gripped my back tightly. "Jess..what baby?" I asked completely confused. "Don't say that, Tay.." she sniffed. "What?" I tried to lift her face to look at me, but she fought it. "Jess?" "I don't even want to think about THAT. That was why I didn't want you to go...why you weren't coming back...in my dream, I mean." she sobbed. "God Jess! Baby...it was just a dream. We're not going till we're old and gray and on the very same day, remember?" I tilted her face to look at me and smiled down at her. She smiled back at me through her tears and I wiped them away. "I love you Taylor Hanson. Even if you just made me a promise you don't know for sure you can keep." she said. "I love you too Jessie. And I WILL keep that promise, if you hold up your end of the deal." I grinned. "Deal." she said softly and kissed me. "I'm really not worried about that dream though Tay. Just the thought of you not being here upsets me. But I've been dreaming alot of goofy stuff lately. Must be because of the whole bodyfat thing I let myself get into. I imagine that side effect will be gone by the time you get back, too. I don't want you to worry about it either." she said. She could say it all she wanted but we both knew I would. I pulled her back to me and held her again. I laid on my back and she rested her head on my chest tracing small circles with her fingers around my bellybutton. We stayed like that, just watching the sky and listening to each other breathe for a while. When I woke again, we were in our customary position, me on my side, Jess with her back to me and pressed right up against me, my arm wrapped around her waist. I looked up to see Zac and Wattley standing over us. |
| "Shit! What time is it anyway?" I groaned and pulled the sleeping bag up over Jessie's shoulder and pulled her closer. I was amazed that she wasn't awake, yet. Zac laughed and sat down on the tabletop, pulling Wattley over next to him. She giggled and sat next to him. "It's still early. If you two slackers would get dressed and help load up we could actually stop and get breakfast before we leave. We're hungry." Zac said, still grinning and looking at Jess, who still hadn't moved. He nodded in her direction, "She's sleeping an awful lot more than she usually does, isn't she? She's usually up by now. Or did you guys stay up all night?" he joked. "We were up late, but not THAT late. She is sleeping alot..." I said and looked worriedly at her. She was right next to me and hadn't budged even though I was laying here holding a full conversation with my brother and his girlfriend. I looked up at Robin, questioningly. "Tay," she said quietly, "If she let her bodyfat get that low, she's probably sleeping because her body needs to conserve energy. She's got nothing to fall back on. Especially if she hasn't slowed down any, and is still training hard. Give her a couple weeks to adjust her diet and she should be herself again. If she's not I will hit her on the head so you can drag her stubborn ass to the doctor, okay?" "Deal, Watts." I grinned. "Shyeah..it'll take YOU to hit her and me and Tay AND Jake to drag her kicking and screaming and insisting nothing's wrong.." Zac grumbled. I knew he was right. I laid there on my side, leaning over Jess, and talked a while longer with Zac and Wattley. Jess still hadn't moved or stirred. "Damn Tay! If we sit here and wait for her to wake up on her own we'll still be sitting here tomorrow. We do have a buisness trip to go on tonight.." Zac said, disgusted, but grinning. |