The first time Jacob Portman slips is in those vulnerable moments after a nightmare. It'd been a hot, sticky night and despite the noisy effort it put forth, the air conditioner did little to offer relief. He'd finally fallen asleep, after desperation had driven him to tear the comforter and sheet from his bed and dump it in a damp pile by his closet. After listening to the cicadas - odd, they weren't quite due out for a while - and hoping to the ignore the itch of sweat in his hair, he'd fallen into a restless sleep.
He'd been having them for a while.
At first, it was nothing more than a few dark shadows poking at the edges of his subconscious. But, sometimes, usually if he was embroiled in some mental battle he never spoke of, he'd see tentacles and tongues and monsters and gleaming white eyes. For a while, it was easy to hide them. Everyone had their own nightmares to worry with and telling Emma would result in a wildfire, the likes of which Florida had never been witness to.
Until, he can't hide it, anymore. Until he thrashes, flings awkward limbs around, and soaks his sheets through with sweat and he screams. And, it pierces the house, brings all of the peculiars out of their sleepy stupor and his parents into his room. It brings Miss Peregrine into his room.
Jacob thrashes, moans, whimpers, and eventually a single word is torn from him, as if it has been tortured out of him. "Mama."
"I'm here, baby." Maryanne sinks down onto the bed next to her son. "I'm here."
"No, get away!"
"But - "
"Get away!"
Maryanne backs away, a little frightened at her son's outburst, even as her husband reassures her that it's just his nightmare - he's asleep, doesn't know what he's doing. He whimpers again, "Mama, Mama!"
"Jake, honey, wake up." she tries again, "It's Mama. Mama's here."
"No!" Jacob's eyes open, this time, and like a child he sticks his arms out. But, it's not his mother he's reaching for. Maryanne hardens in an instant and backs away, hurt by her son's rejection.
He's reaching for Miss Peregrine.
"I'm here, Jacob." she's by his side in an instant, the sharp edge gone from her voice, and she's gathering his gangly, sweaty frame up as if he is a newborn in need of comfort. "I'm here. It will all be over in an instant. I am sure of it. You just hold onto me for now. I will stay here until this is over. Okay?"
His parents and the peculiars watch them. Alma's words seem to sink in, seem to reach that part of his brain taken over by the nightmare, and he calms almost instantly. But, she makes no move to release him, instead, she tightens her hold, and continues soothing him until he's relinquished control and is sleeping peacefully, nuzzled into her neck, arms crossed over his abdomen, and his legs hanging over the edge of the bed.
No one notices Maryanne leave the room.
Because after seeing the movie - holy shit, guys, Eva Green is amazing! - I kind of latched onto the idea that when Miss Peregrine created a loop in Jacob's time, in the third books, that her relationship with him shifted into something maternal and when he had nightmares, she would be the only person capable of reaching him. She's fought the monsters he has and while the others can calm him, Miss Peregrine has that maternal influence, that maternal presence that his second soul craves. Anyway. Hope you like!