A/N; I don't usually write continuations this quickly, and although Baroness Blixen's wonderful story "The Little Nightmare" is amazing in its own right, this idea came to mind and instead of the obvious continuation, I thought I would do something a bit more original. So I owe her a world of thanks for writing such a sweet story and I hope this story lives up to the original!

As the credits began to roll, Daphne yawned, snuggling into her husband's arms. "Wasn't that wonderful, David?" When her question was met with silence, she turned and smiled at the sight of her young son, sleeping soundly between his parents.

"Oh great... He practically begged me to buy this movie for him and then he falls asleep!"

"Niles, don't start that again. It's well past his bedtime and it's only natural that he'd be tired."

"I suppose, but I still don't see what is wrong with reading the classics!"

"Darling, he's just a child! You're worrying over nothing!" Daphne assured him. "And besides, even though he's reading well above average, it might take years before he's able to master such a complex story. Why not let him enjoy being a child for once?"

Niles sighed deeply. "I suppose. But I still don't think-."

Daphne leaned over the sleeping little boy and kissed her husband. "That's right. Don't think. Just enjoy this time we're spending with our son. It's not often we get to do such a thing. And Niles?"

"Yes, my love?"

"It was so sweet of you to buy it for him. I know it's not what you want, nor what you expected, but he loves it so and there's no harm in him watching something that has become a classic, much like Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Beauty and the Beast."

"Ah, Beauty and the Beast! Now there's a story-."

"Niles-."

Defeated, he rose from the sofa and carefully scooped his sleeping son into his arms.

"Come on, David... let's get you to bed. Kiss Mommy goodnight."

The exhausted little boy could barely raise his head to allow Daphne to kiss his cheek. "Goodnight, my sweet angel. Mommy will be up in a little while to tuck you in."

As annoyed as she was with her husband, Daphne smiled watching him carry their son up the stairs to his room. And at that moment she was reminded of why she became a mother. She never thought she could love a child this much; nor did she ever dream that she could love a man as much as she loved Niles. He and David were her whole world and she thanked God every day for their existence.

She rose from the sofa and pushed the button the DVD player, watching the tiny tray slide out, revealing The Little Mermaid DVD. With a smile she returned the movie to its case, taking one last glance at the colorful pictures on the box and for a moment she was almost jealous that she didn't get to experience it as a child. It had been released several years before but she was well into adulthood. Although she got to enjoy many romantic Disney classics when she was a girl in Manchester, few of them came close to the story of Eric and Ariel.

She shuddered thinking of the story that Niles must have told David, and she gathered that it wasn't nearly as entertaining as the film they had just watched as a family.

No wonder their son was so frightened by his nightmare and for a second the anger she'd felt toward Niles earlier returned. He should have known that David would have been traumatized hearing such awful things!

But as quickly as the anger came, it disappeared. Niles' likes and dislikes were worlds away from Daphne's but she knew that he would never do anything to intentionally harm her son; physically or emotionally.

As she climbed the stairs she vowed to make it up to Niles for the fight they'd had earlier. True, he was wrong in trying to deter David from enjoying a classic Disney movie, but he meant well. And tonight she would show him how much she loved him. She reached the landing of the stairs and peaked into David's room, smiling when she saw Niles sitting beside their son, rubbing David's small back as he slept.

"I love you, David." He whispered as he ran his fingers through the boy's blonde hair. "And... I'm sorry for telling you that story. After watching that movie, I can see how much you loved it. Although I must admit that it certainly doesn't live up to the classic story, I found it quite humorous." And then he laughed. "A talking fish, a mermaid and a talking, walking lobster? Those certainly weren't in the book, were they? What do you say we watch it again tomorrow? Well... it's late so I'll let you sleep. I love you, David." As she watched Niles lean to kiss his son's cheek, Daphne smiled and brushed away a tear.

Not wanting to be noticed, she hurried into the bedroom and quickly took a shower and climbed into bed to wait for her prince. But before long, she had drifted off into a deep slumber.