Kiss was sleeping soundly, and Reese was glad for it. Her baby needed her rest. Reese needed rest, too, but she was scared to sleep.

Shadows haunted her dreams. Memories of her own pain and fear mixing with the onslaught that had all but suffused her whole being in Hogsmeade. Blue eyes the color of the deepest ocean peered at her from the darkness. They enjoyed her fear, looked at her as if she was something edible, something to poke at like a cat does a mouse.

Darkness, an eating, thick, crawling thing. The fog was solidifying, and it was her fault, the Black Widow.

She'd made all the colors bleed.

Reese curled up at the headboard of her bed, haunted green eyes peering into the darkness. She had to watch out, watch for danger. She had to guard Kiss' dreams.

The soft whine and wet nose of the husky next to her broke the tension in her and tears poured in earnest as she sifted her fingers through Bjorn's fur. "I'm sorry to make you upset," she whispered.

Leaning over, she pressed a wet kiss to the top of his furry head. "Don't be worried. Just watch my Kiss Kiss," she instructed softly, hand trembling as she patted him before slipping from the bed. She didn't want to wake Kiss with her tears and her distress making the room murky, didn't want to make Bjorn sad because she was scared and anxious.

Slipping through the thick wooden door, Reese shut it softly behind her and slid down to the floor on the other side, curling up and guarding where she wouldn't hurt anyone with the taint that was stuck to her colors, in her dreams, haunting her.

Callum stretched as he rose from the sofa in his large bedroom. The paperwork his father had sent over for him to read through sat where he'd set them. He was done for the night. There was only so much time he was willing to devote to floo powder in an evening.

It was late. Reese had gone to her bedroom hours ago to put Kiss down and try to get some rest herself. Since the ordeal at the festival she'd been staying with him, partly at his insistence and partly, he believed, because she didn't want to be alone in the huge manor house that had belonged to her parents.

There were other places she could have gone, of course. Miles had spent a night at St. Mungo's for observation, but after that he'd returned home to rest and heal from the curse he'd sustained. He'd have welcomed Reese into his home, but he had a roommate who Reese didn't know very well. With all she'd been through, his little friend didn't need to be in a situation that would make her uncomfortable. Callum was just as happy to have her around anyway.

Intent on a late night snack, he started for the kitchen. The sight that greeted him when he stepped into the hall stopped him in his tracks, though. "Reese?" Callum queried, moving to sit beside her on the thick carpet. "What is it, love?"

"I just don't want to sleep is all," she whispered, lifting her head from it's rest on her knees. Lashes spiked with tears, she found the faintest image of his profile in the darkness of the hall.

"You're still having nightmares?" he asked, knowing it must be so. He'd hoped she would feel more secure staying in his home, but the fighting in Hogsmeade had been traumatic and it seemed his hopes had been unrealistic. Slipping an arm around Reese's shoulders, he realized as she leaned against him that the grey sweater she wore was not over her nightclothes. It was her nightclothes. Callum pushed away the thoughts this piece of information inspired. Now was not the time for that. "What can I do to help?"

Reese sniffled and shifted into him, the touch given letting her know it was alright to have more. "I don't know," she admitted, arm slipping around his middle as she hugged onto him. "I just don't want to wake my Kiss Kiss with the shadows that follow my dreams," she added, pressing her damp cheek to his chest. "And I didn't want to make Bjorn sad because of me."

"Bjorn's a strong dog, and he likes watching over you. Even when you're stressed and sleepless." It would be best if Kiss got some rest. The tiny girl could feel her mother's anxiety and had been restless and fussy in response.

Reese couldn't stay awake forever, though. She needed her energy and mental recharging that sleep provided in order to care for her child and herself.

An idea came to Callum and he dipped his head to look at his guest. "Do you want to come and sleep with me? Do you think it would help to have someone close?"

Green eyes blinked up at him at the suggestion. Yes, she wanted someone. It was always better with someone, and Callum was steady, strong. He made her feel safe when he was with her.

She set her chin against his arm. "Yes, but I don't want to leave Kiss Kiss alone," she said, regret and disappointment tinting her features as she dropped her gaze and shifted to press her cheek to his arm.

Lips curling slightly, Callum laid a finger beneath her chin and lifted her face to meet his eyes. "There's no reason we can't move Kiss into my room. It's plenty big enough for the crib. She can be right next to the bed, so you can check on her whenever you need to."

"Yeah?" Tears had spiked her lashes, but none had snuck from the corners of her eyes since Callum had come to sit with her. He was warm and strong and there was no taint left on his presence. She'd not touched him, and for that, Reese was glad.

"Of course," he assured her. Gently disentangling himself, Callum went into the guest room to carefully roll the crib in which Kiss was sleeping down the hall to his own room. Bjorn hopped off the bed, trotting to Reese's side as she followed behind her baby.

Callum set the crib a few feet from his bed, angled so that Reese could see her little girl with just a turn of her head. The exhausted babe hadn't moved at all during her short travel and Callum hoped that her mother would soon find the same peace in slumber.

Reese stood anxiously at the edge of Kiss' bed worried that she'd wake or cry, but she slept soundly. It hurt so very much to think about her little girl ever being in danger of any kind. It was frightening to think of, even more so that she knew she was not entirely fit to do it on her own. There were so many bad things in her past and so many potential bad things that could find her still ... she just didn't want Kiss to be affected by any of it.

Glancing up at Callum, her eyes welled with tears again. She had tried settling, was still trying to find somewhere to stay in one place for Kiss, but it was hard. She'd been a nomad for so long that the only solid points were people and they moved and changed as much as the winds and water. Callum wasn't moving or going anywhere though, not right now.

"Thank you," she whispered, "for not going anywhere."

With a smile, Callum wrapped his arms around Reese, pulling her into a warm hug. He hated to see her as distressed as she'd been since Halloween, but he was glad to be there for her. Reese was sweet and honest, and beautiful to boot. It was difficult to imagine that anyone would want to hurt her, but it was all too apparent that people had.

"I'll always be here for you, love. You can count on me." Bjorn jumped up onto the large bed, his tail thumping against the mattress as he wagged. "Ready to get some rest?"

"I'm ready to try," she whispered, arms tight around his middle. He'd started the touch, but it was more comforting than he probably knew to be held.

Lifting her from her feet, Callum laid Reese on the bed and slipped in beside her. He kept himself open so she'd feel welcome to be close if she chose, but not pressured. One day, when her life was a bit more settled and worry wasn't riding her thoughts, Callum knew he'd like to kiss her more thoroughly than the light brush of lips to her hair he allowed himself now. It would be manipulative to do so while she was vulnerable, though. "Sleep now, Reese. Bjorn and I will make sure you and Kiss are safe."

"Safe," she echoed, shifting as close to Callum as possible, wriggling until she was comfortable with her ear pressed to his chest, listening to his heart beat steadily. "Safe is good," she added, lids already drooping shut. Safe was very good, she thought again as sleep pulled at her, untainted by shadows, at least for now.

Summary: Shadows plague Reese's sleep, but Callum helps her push them away. For now.