With a jolt, Blumiere awoke, drawn from the world of dreams by some horrendous nightmare. He reached a hand out to his right and felt immeasurable relief when he found Timpani there, sleeping peacefully beside him. He calmed his breathing and rolled over to look at the alarm clock. It said it was almost four in the morning.

He sighed and got out of bed. He didn't used to have nightmares this often. He was having one nearly every night now. He could never fall asleep after this particular one and didn't bother to try. He might as well look for something productive to do.

He wandered through the kitchen and living room before going outside, where he felt more at ease in the cool night air. He climbed up the hill to the lone tree that grew there and looked out into the valley below. At the bottom, there was the little cottage that had been waiting for Timpani and himself when they got there, fresh from renewing their vows and married by the Purity Heart.

Tearing up a bit at the memory of the dire moment, he sat down and leaned back against the tree, closing his eyes wearily. His thoughts turned to the five people who had been his closest companions for months. He missed them, even Dimentio, and especially Nastasia. He didn't feel as happy as he could be here. He was incomplete.

Someday, he would find a way back. Someday...