Nightmares

It was a little after midnight when I was woken up by Natalia mumbling in her sleep next to me in her bed. I looked over at her for a few minutes to make sure she was doing alright. She was laying on her right side, facing away from me so I wasn't able to directly look at her face. Soon the mumbles turned into crying and pleading, "No. No. Please. Stop." There was no doubt that she was having a nightmare. Her body began shifting around, like she was trying to get away from someone. I sat up and leaned over her, whining. My mind was going through options on how I can help her. Taking a deep breath, I moved forward and placed my head on top of her hip. The moment my chin touched her side, her movements stopped and she slowly opened her eyes. Turning her head, Natalia saw my head resting on her hip with my ears slightly back and my eyes on hers. When I whined again, she smiled a little, moving her left arm back over me so that her hand could be placed on my head. "I'm okay," she told me. "Was just a nightmare."

Sitting up, causing me to sit up next to her, Natalia rubbed her face with both hands. After resting there quietly for a few minutes, she looked over at me and could see the worry in my eyes. She sighed, "It was my ex-husband. He abused me and put me in the hospital with a broken arm. Since then, I've been having nightmares off and on." I flattened my ears, leaning onto her shoulder. Natalia reacted by bringing her hand up to pet me on the head. Then she leaned her head onto mine, "Glad you were here tonight." After she moved her head and hand, she turned to me and said, "Don't tell anyone. You're the only one who knows about the nightmares." I looked over at her, then made my way to the side of the bed next to me where she had set up a laptop for me to communicate. Using my paw, I was able to maneuver the mouse to start up Microsoft Word. Then I proceeded to type with a claw, "Your business is not mine to tell". Reading that made Natalia smile, "Thanks. You know, you're a really good friend." I responded while wagging my tail, "I'm here for you".

Natalia gave me a hug before closing the laptop, "Let's try to get some sleep." She stroked the side of my face one more time before laying back onto her right side, facing the window. I followed her lead by laying behind her, placing my head on her side. This time Natalia allowed me to stay there. The rest of the night was calmer. There wasn't any more nightmares that night. When I awoke in the morning, I noticed Natalia had rolled onto her back with my head resting on her stomach, rising and falling with each breath she took. I also realized that her left arm was wrapped around my neck and my body was up against hers. I'm guessing it happened while we were sleeping. Maybe her subconscious mind along with mine felt more at ease by having physical contact with another living being. That basically made me Natalia's cuddle buddy and I was definitely okay with that.

Without moving my head, I glanced over at Natalia as she slept. Her beauty resting so peacefully was a sight I wanted to burn into my mind. I never wanted to look away. Just like what Calleigh said when we first met, before they knew who I really was. A statement she told Natalia after I protected her from Nick, "Looks like she's yours now." This has become more than true, Natalia owned me. I was lost in that thought as I watched her sleep, almost not catching that she was starting to wake up. Her eyes fluttered open sleepily while her fingers began moving through my fur. It took her a moment to see how we ended up, which she then brought her hand up and stroked the top of my head down the back of my neck, saying, "Good morning." Another stroke on my head, she said, "I haven't slept that good in a long time. I think you chased the nightmares away last night."

Lifting my head up, I moved it over so that my chin nestled right on top of her armpit, right between her chest and upper arm. Natalia looked down at me and smiled, "Thank you." I started wagging my tail.

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My most favorite home time was spent with Natalia. After telling me of her troublesome nightmares, she realized that me being there helped keep them away. But in order for it to actually work, my body has to be touching her in some way. This was something that didn't happen often with Calleigh, even though I did sleep in the bed with her. So each might with Natalia was always a piece of heaven. We would start each night with my back up against hers and however we wake up in the morning, that's just how we wake up. Usually it ended with her arm around my side. I was never complaining. Just the thought of Natalia herself touching me is all I need to know that this is real. All them times rewatching CSI: Miami over and over again, never had I imagined that this could actually happen.

On what I would guess was my fourth stay at her house, I woke up before Natalia and immediately knew this one was different. Without moving my head, I looked and saw her arm not only around my side, but her hand was up against my chest practically wrapped around my front leg and her head was using my neck as a pillow. Natalia was closer to me than I've ever had anyone. At least nothing that lasted longer than a hug. My heart started pounding. So many questions were reeling in my mind. What happens when she wakes up? Is she going to feel weird about this and stop letting me sleep with her? My thoughts raced while I waited for her to wake up. It felt like hours feeling her heart beat against my back and hearing her breath in my ear. Most would think that to be annoying but all I heard was music.

Before long Natalia began to show signs of waking up. Her body started moving slowly all over. Even through my fur, since her face was up against my neck, I felt her eyes open. The second she realized how she was holding me, she moved back, "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I must've moved in my sleep." I flipped myself over so that I was laying facing Natalia, slightly wagging my tail. Looking into her eyes was something I enjoyed doing every morning with her. I could see her face was getting a little red from embarrassment, "I promise you that wasn't on purpose." My ears went back and with my heart racing, I made myself move forward almost into her lap. I place my head on her chest, pointing my face toward her right shoulder. To my surprise, Natalia actually wrapped her arms around me saying, "I guess you like to cuddle." We both just laid there for a while enjoying each other's company. She was slowly stroking my head and down the back of my neck several times before being interrupted by her phone ringing. She sighed, "Gotta cut this shirt girlie. We have to go to work." I groaned as she pulled herself from under me. She laughed, "I know. There's always tomorrow night." I hopped up real quick and waiting for her to get ready. The promise of a later cuddle was always motivating to me.

While she got ready though, I took that time to type out something for her to read. I wasn't sure if I should tell her how I feel, but I don't like hiding anything from her either. After she was dressed, she came over with my vest and saw the laptop on with Microsoft Word. Sitting down next to me, she read out what I typed, "I do love to cuddle. I also love you. I have had feelings for you for a long time, but I don't want that to get in the way of our friendship. I have respect for you and Calleigh. Any cuddles I can get from you, it has nothing to do with my feelings other than enjoying the touch of a loving, beautiful friend." Looking at me with my head turned away from her and ears down, she stretched her hand out to touch my face, pulling my eyes to look at hers, "I'm very flattered and think you're super sweet. This does not effect our friendship and you can have all the cuddles you want here at home." I leaned into her so she could hug me. This was just simply amazing. It was then I was wanting to test the waters some more. Moving back, I typed out, "This is the same for Calleigh. You can tell her this. Hope she is okay with it too." Pulling her phone out, Natalia took a picture of the screen and said, "I'll show her this when we get to work. I'm sure she'll say the same thing I did." I nodded. After helping me put my vest on, we walked out the door to begin a new step in our friendship.