Jim awoke with the soft pitter-patter of little feet. 2:48 the clock glared from the wall.

            “Daddy?” a tiny voice whimpered.

            Jim got up, going to the voice. “What’s wrong, Care Bear?” he asked, picking her up.

            “I… I had a bad dweam,” the girl cried, burying her head into his shoulder.

            Jim walked slowly back to her room, rubbing her back gently. “It’s okay girly. It’ll be alright.”

            “I was scawed.”

            “Aww, what happened, Littles?” Jim asked, settling down in the rocking chair.

            “Lions. They scawed me.”

            “Yeah, lions are scary.” Jim’s voice was soft as he comforted his girl.

            “You get scawed daddy?”

            “Yeah, daddies can get scared. But you know what?”

            “What?”

            “I will never, ever let anything happen to you. Never ever.”

            “Pwomise?”

            “Promise.” Jim slowly rocked the girl back to sleep. These were the moments he treasured – just him and Claire, alone and peaceful. Minutes later, he heard Claire breathing rhythmically, asleep. Giving her a light kiss on the head, he tucked her back into her bed. “Night, my sweet girl.”