Chapter Text
Caitlyn was woken by the soft sound of sheets rustling to her side and the absence of Vi’s warmth on her chest, leaving her shivering lightly against the cool air in the room. She squinted her eyes, trying to see clearer in the dark. All she could make out was the silhouette of Vi, outlined by the moonlight from the window, sitting up in bed with her head leaned back against the headboard.
“Vi?” she questioned softly, her voice low and thick with sleep.
Vi whipped her head around at the sound of Caitlyn's voice. Startled or feeling guilty, Caitlyn couldn't tell, it was much too dark, and she was much too tired.
Vi cleared her throat, her hands moving to fidget with the blankets. “Sorry, Cupcake” she whispered, sounding defeated, voice cracking like she was holding back tears. “Didn't mean to wake you”.
Caitlyn sat up, moving closer to her wife. With her eyes finally adjusting to the light, or lack thereof, she could see Vi’s eyes, glassy with unshed tears
Her heart ached painfully for Vi, instinctively cupping Vi’s face in her hands. The tears she’d tried so hard to hold back fell down her face. Caitlyn wiped the tears streaks away with her thumbs, feeling the slight tremble of Vi’s lower lip.
“Don't apologize, Dear. What's wrong?”. Caitlyn had her guesses as to what it could be, but she wanted to hear it from Vi.
Vi looked down watching her hands intently, still fidgeting with the lilac bedspread.
“It was just-” she started, voice catching from the cascade of emotion she was feeling. “Just another nightmare. About Powder, and Vander.” She said, avoiding eye contact
“I really didn't mean to wake you, it's stupid”.
“No” Caitlyn said, sadness building in her own eyes at the way Vi blamed herself for everything, even waking her up. “You have nothing to apologize for. Nothing to feel ashamed about.”
Vi didn’t say anything, just looked at Caitlyn in a way that said more than any words could’ve in that moment. Caitlyn pulled Vi's head into her lap and stroked her hair, calming her in a way she learned early on in their relationship.
They stayed like until Vi’s breathing evened out, Caitlyn’s following close behind.
Life might not always be easy, but they always had each other, and at the end of the day that was all they really needed.