A/N: This isn't the first Xephna I've written, but it's the first I've decided to upload. So let me know what you think - all kind of reviews welcome, good bad, constructive criticism, whatever. And with that said...

"Ok guys, I'm gonna call it a day. You can go to bed any time, I don't even care." Those were Honeydew's parting words as he retreated to his penthouse, leaving Xephos and Lalna alone in the huge factory. Both of them had been working since before sunrise and were practically dead on their feet now that it was night time. When Honeydew had gone, Xephos called across the room, "Hey, Lalna, is it ok if I go, too? I mean, I can stay or whatever, but..." He trailed off, and Lalna waved one hand distractedly.

"Yeah, go ahead. I'll join you in a few minutes, I just gotta... finish this," he replied, sentence punctuated by a wide yawn. Nodding, Xephos left the factory and crossed the grass to the dorms.

"Xephos?" Lalna's voice whispered through the dark of the dorm to where Xephos was sleeping in his bed.

"Mm?"

"Are you awake?"

The spaceman chuckled sleepily at Lalna's question, and replied quietly, "I am now."

Lalna made an apologetic noise and said, "Oh, don't worry about it then. Sorry I woke you."

The mattress creaked as Xephos shifted and said, "Never mind that. What's the matter, Lalna?"

The man across the room sighed heavily. "I... can't sleep. I keep having nightmares."

Xephos propped himself up on his elbow and looked to where he thought Lalna would be. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Suddenly, the bed sank as Lalna sat down. Xephos hadn't noticed his friend cross the room at all; it was pitch black and the scientist hardly ever made a sound when he walked.

"They're really bad," he said, then sniffled a little.

Sitting up fully, Xephos spoke softly. "C'mere. They're not real." He opened his arms and reached for Lalna, who leaned back into the comforting embrace.

"Everything's just... gone, and it's dark, and cold, and it's the worst feeling in the world because somehow I know it's all my fault." Xephos felt a warm droplet fall on his bare arm, and realised that Lalna was crying. "Shush, hey now. Stop that." He leaned them both back to lie on his bed, then kicked the duvet over them. Lalna rolled over and buried his head into Xephos's chest. A protective feeling surged through the spaceman, and he buried his face in Lalna's hair, kissing his head sweetly and murmuring words of reassurance. Soon, Lalna stopped crying and repositioned himself so that he could nuzzle the side of the other man's neck.

"You're safe now," Xephos told him.

"I know..." Lalna leaned up and kissed Xephos's jaw, and that's how they stayed, nestled in one another's arms, until late into the morning.