Life takes a turn. With Donna only able to sleep in small bouts and her waking interrupting Natalya's sleep, the two hover somewhere between conscious, and insanity.

For Natalya it reminds her of hellweek when they were only allowed five hours of sleep for seven days. She hasn't started hallucinating yet, but that's because she keeps falling asleep on her feet at random times throughout the day. This makes cooking hazardous seeing as she's dipped her good hand into a hot pan twice.

"Mother Miranda-"

Natalya jerks awake. She turns and crashes to the floor as if one foot is rooted to the spot and won't move. Then again the floor is nice and soft and she's already lying down.

"No!"

"Donna-"

Trying not to fall asleep is nearly impossible but Natalya keeps one ear up. Their voices are hushed but she can still get glimpses as she fades to sleep again.

"I need you for greater things. Alcina is too wrapped up with her daughters and keeping them safe. Moreau will never be enough."

"Karl-"

"Couldn't follow instructions if they were nailed to his forehead. You're the only one I can trust," Miranda takes Donna's hands, her eyes boring into Donna's. Without her mask she comes across as quite human.

But to Donna, not having the mask between them is like seeing a royal without a crown. They're just another person. A fallible, evil, loathsome human being.

Donna rips her hands away, "I said, no."

"Donna, don't make me do something you won't like."

"You-"

Miranda's eyebrows raise.

Knowing Natalya is just in the next room Donna rallies her courage, "You never do anything I do like. You never have."

Since she was expecting anger Donna is surprised to see Miranda so calm. The woman walks around her and goes to the kitchen. There they find Natalya asleep on the floor with breakfast beginning to smoke. She moves the pan off the stove and offers Donna an almost sympathetic look.

"You're killing her."

"No-!"

"Donna! You can't sleep. The plants have changed. They no longer produce a hallucinogen, they produce a sedative. She literally can't stay awake. While your mind is desperately trying to get you some sleep, you're killing her. Look."

Donna does.

"She's lost weight. She's losing muscle mass. Her limbs are beginning to stove up and feel heavier because she doesn't have the mental fortitude or physical attributes to move them anymore."

Tears fill Donna's eyes and panic fills her chest. Angie touches her shoulder and Donna pulls her close.

"I never expected things to go this far. I've been trying to take her gently, but that's not working."

A raw sob tears through Donna's throat. Her hands shake, but they've been doing that for days from lack of sleep.

"No."

"Once you have better control of your powers, then you can try having her back. But for now, she needs to go."

"No."

"Donna," Miranda bends down and disconnects Natalya's right leg.

"Stop," Natalya murmurs, still half asleep, "Don't touch-" Her voice trails off.

Of course Miranda ignores her plea. She disconnects the other leg and then her arm.

"Stop," Donna breathes through her tears. Her heart is drowning out everything else. The waterfall. Whatever Miranda's new excuse is. Everything. As Miranda takes Natalya's arm to remove her, Donna skirts around. Groping for anything on the counter she finds a handle and plunges it into Miranda's back.

Letting out an uneven scream Miranda drops Natalya. When she turns Donna crashes into her and slams her into the wall. The fork, now bent from having stabbed her before, is jammed into her throat and two tines break the skin.

"No. You won't take her from me. You won't take anything else from me."

"Donna-"

"I never want to see you again!"

Miranda throws Donna back but branches erupts from the floor to tangle around her arms and legs. She struggles and pulls but they only tighten until she feels her bones beginning to buckle under the strain.

Disappearing into a cloud of feathers is Miranda's only escape. From the outside she watches as the trees form a woven barrier and inside the house is cocooned in branches, roots, and flora until there is no way inside.

"Natalya," Donna pulls her lover into her lap, "Natalya please wake up, wake up."

"I'm fine," Natalya yawns, "I just need some sleep-"

Donna crushes Natalya's face into her chest. Knowing she's awake only alleviates the guilt and worry slightly. There's no way of knowing if what Miranda says is true or not.

"Donna?"

"Are you, healthy?"

"I'm fine. We're both a little sleep deprived."

"Promise?"

Natalya leans back to look Donna in the eye, "I promise. I'm cooking some turkey-"

The two look at the still smoking pan.

"I'll cook us some turkey. That should help us sleep a little. I've been growing some lavender in the garden you made me. That should help too. We'll burn some candles with the lavender and see if we can't ward off your nightmares."

After a long moment, Donna nods.

While Natalya cooks, Donna finds some candles and containers to make sure a fire doesn't start. Then she goes to get the lavender. She hasn't ventured into the old laboratory area in months. What greets her is a sight to behold.

All the plants are withered, growing in moldy soil, but their colors are still the most vibrant Donna has ever seen. Each one is so different and unique she gets lost staring until a knock on the door gets her attention.

"Like them?"

Donna blushes.

"I grow them for fun. It's soothing to keep my mind occupied. But I hoped you would like them."

"They're beautiful."

"Almost as beautiful as you," Natalya wraps her good arm around Donna's waist. She figures the cold metal of the other wouldn't be comfortable. Her heart warms at how Donna snuggles into her embrace.

When the two lie down to sleep Natalya can feel Donna watching her. For the first time in days she doesn't feel overwhelmingly sleepy. When she gets her pants off Donna's arms wrap around her waist.

"Could you, take all your clothes off?"

"Sure."

Little does Natalya knows that while her back is turned, Donna is doing the same. When she turns to lie down, she freezes.

Donna's slender, naked frame is wrapped in the blanket. Her cheeks are the most adorably pink Natalya has ever seen them. She won't meet Natalya's eyes, worried what expression she'll find there.

"Wow. Donna," Natalya groans, "You're gorgeous."

Donna looks up. Slowly she lets the blanket fall so she's completely exposed.

Natalya groans, biting her lip and wishing more than ever she had both hands. She's been making due with one but there are so many thoughts in her mind of things she wishes she could do to Donna. And they all require at least two hands.

"Can we, cuddle?"

"I'd love that."

There isn't any sleep for Natalya. Not for awhile, at least. She's wide awake actively suppressing all the thoughts in her head. It's difficult when Donna's naked body is pressed against her own and their limbs, or what's left of them, are affectionately tangled under the blanket.

For Donna, it's all she's ever dreamed of. Something intimate but not sexual. Just a gentle touch only the two of them share and will ever know about. Natalya's skin is warm and with so much of it exposed she lets her hands wander up and down the plane of her back until she drifts into a deep, dreamless sleep.