It was happening again.

Fundy, falling to the floor, dead.

George, falling to the floor, dead.

Dream didn't believe it at first, staring at George in disbelief and shock. Techno looked concerned for a moment, but Dream wasn't looking at him. His eyes were locked on George. No, no.

Dream's limbs shook and he let out a choked noise, his face crumpling in realization. No, he can't be—

The door to the room burst opened and Sapnap ran in, coming back to help Dream. He froze in his tracks, his eyes widening and falling on George. There was a long silence before Sapnap whispered, "George?"

This snapped Dream out of his frozen stupor. Anger he had never felt before boiled in his veins and he looked up at Technoblade. Pure rage clouded his vision and he screamed, pulling out the blood dagger.

Techno's eyes widened a fraction at the dagger, but he shrugged it off and said, "You can't kill me."

Dream said nothing, charging at the god with no restraints. Sapnap ran forward to help. Bursts of fire rained down on Technoblade, burning his skin and singing his hair. His braid fell loose and pink hair became frayed and tangled as they fought.

Sapnap swooped around and wrapped his arms around Techno's throat. Fire burned through his arms, searing the god's throat and he screamed, loud and painful. Dream placed the tip of the dagger over Technoblade's heart.

Techno's eyes were wide and pleading, but no words were coming out of his mouth. Dream sneered, "This is what you deserve."

He plunged the dagger into his heart and Techno screamed. Dream watched as the jewel at the end of the dagger's hilt became darker as it filled with blood. The god's eyes went wide and unseeing and Sapnap released him.

Dream left the dagger in his heart, not caring that Technoblade— his mentor, his almost-father— was gone. He ran to George, falling onto his knees.

Blood seeped through Dream's pants and boots, but he didn't care. His hands flew to George's face, trying to shake him back to life, but George's eyes were open and unfocused, staring at nothing.

Tears streaked down Dream's face as he whispered, "George? George please, come back. I-I need you. Don't leave me."

When there was no response, Dream grew frantic, shaking his shoulders. Tears blinded his vision. "George! Nononono— we're supposed to be together. We-we have time. You can't leave."

His hand reached for George's, which was all bloody from the blood pooled around him. He placed George's hand to his cheek, clinging onto it desperately. He hiccupped. "Remember the countryside house you wanted? We can still have that, we can still get a cat! Just come back... I need you here."

Dream's chest shook with sobs and his hand grazed over the bracelet on George's wrist. His face crumpled even more at the significance of it. A promise.

"George?" He said weakly, "I gave you my heart, remember? Bring it back to me, come back."

When there was still no response, Dream's head fell onto George's chest. He wailed, "You can't be dead! I love you!"

When he felt no heart beat, Dream's heart shattered.

Not again.

Overwhelming pain coursed through his entire body and he felt nothing he'd ever imagined as his heart broke for the second time.

I will protect you with my life, Dream had said. He failed.

In every way, he failed.

Dream's heart ached in a way he had felt before. A bitter feeling of anguish that consumed him like before, but it was different this time.

This time it hurt more.

Dream didn't know if that made him horrible for loving George more then he had loved Fundy. The pain in his chest was unbearable as he wept.

He couldn't hear the door open over his cries. Someone crouched near him, a strong wave of power radiating off them. Dream could hardly see through tears as a hand reached forward and closed George's eyes.

Philza murmured, "Let's get him out of here."

Don't get too attached, Philza had said all those months ago. Yet, here Dream was, crying over the death of his lover. He should've listened. He should've taken Philza's advice.

"I'm such a fool," Dream whispered through tears. "I'm sorry, Philza, I should've listened."

A hand rubbed soothing circles on his back. Philza's calming voice said, "It's okay, Dream. You can't choose who you fall in love with. Let me help you."

In love. Dream fell in love. The thought confused him. Was love an ascent or descent? He fell in love. Past tense. He descended into love with someone and what they had was perfect.

Love made him feel happy, like he was in the sky, riding the Pegasus again. A joyous feeling of acceptance and affection. An ascent that made him feel like he could do anything. But that was contrary to the phrase: falling in love.

Dream had fell. He fell farther than he ever had, for someone who was perfect. They fell together and guess what, Dream had gotten so high off the rush of the love that he forgot about this part.

He forgot about the heartbreak. The rock bottom that stopped his plummet.

And as his heart shattered into a million pieces, Dream should've know that there's always a bottom. The science of gravity proved that they would always land. Every pit has a floor. Every descent has a stopping point.

And Dream's heart was left completely broken, reeling to a stop after he lost the one person whom he loved. What was he supposed to do now?

He must've said it aloud, because Philza said quietly, "Now, we can bury him. Dream, now you can mourn him, accept the fact that he's gone, and move on."

"No," Dream snapped and carefully pulled George into his arms, not caring about the blood that seeped through his clothes.

Sapnap spoke for the first time in a while, his cheeks stained with tears, "Dream? What are you doing?"

"I'm going to get him back," Dream said, looking at Philza and Sapnap evenly.

He strode past them, George in his arms. His nose dipped down to inhale George's scent, the sweet smell comforting Dream. His tears had stopped now that he had a plan.

"Dream, wait," Philza said.

"No," Dream replied, jerking his chin over to Technoblade, who was laying dead on the ground. "Aren't you upset over the death of your friend? Go bury him."

"He was not my friend," Philza replied coldly, his eyes dark.

Dream shrugged, still walking away. "Fine, I don't really care."

Sapnap said something to the winged Fae and ran to catch up with Dream. Dream didn't bother to look at him, he kept his gaze ahead, holding George tightly in his arms.

Sapnap gave him a worried glance. "Dream, what are you going to do with George?"

"I'm going to find a witch and make her bring him back."

Sapnap stumbled in his step, muttering skeptically, "Is that even possible."

Dream had no idea. "Yes."

Sapnap looked unsure. He said, "Philza said he would stay behind and take care of those kids, Ranboo and Tommy? He also said he would let all of Technoblade's messengers, servants, and assassins go, so we don't have to worry about that."

Dream didn't care, so he said nothing, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. They left the building and headed towards their camp from before. The brisk weather was no friend to them.

Sapnap continued, "Callahan is with Karl at camp." He cast a nervous look at Dream and George. "Don't hurt him."

Dream said nothing again. He wasn't going to hurt Karl. Part of him was hurt that Sapnap would think that, but he didn't let the feeling settle.

They arrived at the camp and Dream looked away when he saw Callahan. Callahan's face fell and he rushed to Dream. Dream sat down, laying George beside him. He didn't say anything when tears started to fall down the faun's face.

Dream wasn't going to cry again, why should he? George was coming back soon anyways. Dream was going to visit one of his older friends and everything would be fine. More than fine. With George back, things would be perfect.

A ghost of a smile appeared on Dream's lips as he closed his eyes and leaned his back against a tree, thinking about George's dreams of a countryside home. He heard Callahan shuffle around and let him clean the blood off George.

Sapnap explained everything quietly and Karl hadn't said anything. Dream was forced to open his eyes when Callahan shoved clean clothes at him. His eyes narrowed, but softened when he saw George with a new, clean shirt and cloak, free of blood. There was a cloth over his neck, covering the slice there.

Dream accepted the clothes without thanks and left, returning minutes later with changed clothes. He sat by George's head and lifted his head to rest on his thigh, so it wouldn't be on the cold ground. He ran his fingers through the soft hair, ignoring the bloody hair on the back of his head.

The tan that George had gained from months under the sun, travelling, was now almost completely gone. In its place was a pale white and there were none of the usual rosy cheeks that George usually had in the cold weather.

"Dream?" Sapnap asked.

"What," Dream replied, not looking up.

"I don't think that it's possible to revive someone."

Dream's head snapped up and he glared at Sapnap. "It is."

Sapnap winced and mumbled, "Okay."

"If you want to leave, Sapnap," Dream said stiffly, "by all means, go ahead. Leave. I don't need you."

"I'm not going to leave. George was my friend."

Was. Dream said nothing at that and looked at Karl. Karl offered a small smile, but Dream looked away, saying to Callahan, "You can leave, Callahan, if you want."

Callahan shook his head and Dream nodded. He sighed and looked back at George. "Okay then. I don't want to hear any more doubt about my plan. It's going to work."

All he got in response was winces and slow nods.

~one week later~

Dream hummed, brushing a finger over George's cheek delicately. Snow dusted his lover's eyelashes and hair and Dream smiled softly.

He heard sniffling and his gaze shifted to Callahan. "Why are you crying?"

Sapnap and Karl froze in their murmured conversation. Callahan's eyes were sad as he looked at George. Layers upon layers covered them all, the cold biting at their exposed faces. But that didn't stop Callahan's tears.

Dream said soothingly, "Don't worry, Callahan. George is fine. We'll be at my friend's cottage soon enough, she'll save him."

Callahan's face contorted in even more sadness and he looked to Dream. Dream furrowed his eyebrows, confused as he looked around. Sapnap and Karl were looking at him with hesitance, like he was bound to snap if they said something wrong.

"Guys," Dream insisted, his expression eager, "listen, two more days till we reach Minx's cottage. She's a witch so she can help him."

Callahan shook his head, looking away. Sapnap said quietly, "Dream... I―"

When he cut off, Dream pushed, "What?"

Sapnap looked at George and muttered, "He's dead."

"For now. Sapnap, he'll be back soon."

Sapnap's gaze shifted to Dream and he studied him. Dream ignored the mournful look in his friend's eyes and looked back at George. He sighed softly and leaned down to whisper in George's ear, "Don't worry, George, I won't fail you a second time, I promise."