Only after Alethea had laid down did Thal-ion join her in his own bed.  It seemed so easy for him to hold her close...to simply snuggle up with this woman whom was his Jedi companion...both lost in the time they now found themselves in.  Never in all his life had he felt as comfortable with anyone as he did at that very moment.  Not even with his Master had he ever felt this comfortable, and in this case...it was quite different...even pleasant.  Holding her as he did - Thal-ion found himself gently stroking her spine as she fell asleep without a word.  He lay awake with her for a time; though how long really didn't matter.  Personally, he thought it wasn't long before he drifted off to sleep with her...a slight smile on his face as he did.  Sleep may have claimed him, but ever his mind was on Alethea.<br/><br/>Her closeness to him...not just in the Force, but as well physically.  It was on her heartbeat...so wonderful to listen to even in his sleep with them curled up together.  The Force seemed to be there even as he slept with his arms around her.  The sensation was so pleasant, and he knew this would be the best he would ever rest in his life.  How he knew was beyond him to explain, and impossible to do while he was sleeping.  Yet, the soul and mind agreed this moment was the single most wonderful he had ever experienced...even above first being open to the Force.  For in this, he felt more connected to the Force than he ever had before, but more so was the fact that he felt<span style="font-style: italic">her</span>in the Force they both served.  Every fiber of his being seemed to resonate with her, and he would have had it no other way.  His dreams were not of the past, or even of the events to come.  Instead, he dreamed of her...of Alethea, and these were not dreams of battle and conflict against the Dark Side.  These were much more pleasant.  Dreams of them enjoying a picnic together on the shore of some beach he had never seen.  Of them meditating while sitting across from each other.  A dream of the two of them even dancing together, and while he was dreaming of her...his face flushed deeply with a blush he had never imagined having.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold">*****</span></div><br/><br/>Thal-ion woke up slowly at first.  Such dreams as he had still remained with him even with crystal perfect clarity.  He found her closer to him...gazing at him with such beautiful warmth, and he loved it...loved every micro-second.  Alethea seemed to be quite content to watch him...as if she was enjoying his presence and how he looked.  He blushed from the dreams he had, and the realization of just how close she was, but he did not push his companion away.  Instead, he reached up to brush a lock of her away again...just so he could touch her, and his eyes found her own blue gems.  For a moment, no words came to him while he gazed into her blue gems, but then...perhaps none were needed.  To his amazement, the Force still hummed around them, and it made him smile gently at her with a new depth of warmth not seen before.<br/><br/>"Sleep well?" he finally inquired quietly, and Thal-ion noticed his voice was just a tad...extra...something.  What it was he couldn't place it...perhaps never having heard such a tone before.  It was only then he realized his arm had slid down to around her waist, and was still holding her close, but he did not withdraw...staying with her in this moment, and not allowing the things to come to invade their quiet togetherness.  The young Sentinel found he was a great deal more open to her...far more than when he had laid down to rest with her.  He doubted he could hide a single thing from her, and to his amazement...or perhaps not...he found he had absolutely no desire to hide anything from Alethea...not one single thing.<br/><br/>What was transpiring between him and Alethea?  Why had he seen Mara getting married to Luke?  What had inspired such a vision?  Why did he feel so pleasant and wonderful while holding her?  His heart raced a bit as he gazed still into her bright vibrant eyes.<br/><br/>Whatever it was...he never wanted it to end...not ever...