Three years after the move to Austin, Jim and Pam lay in their beds, sleeping after a long day of spring cleaning. Everything was still. Well, everything aside from the padding of seven year old feet on the hardwood floor of the hallway. The door creaked open, and Jim stirred, disturbing Pam, who laid on top of him.

"Daddy?" Cece asked, putting her hands on the mattress.

"What's the matter, Cee?" Jim asked groggily, trying not to disturb his wife, though she was already awake.

"There's a monster under the bed." Cece whispered, inching closer to her father for protection.

"Is Phillip awake?" Jim asked, knowing that his son's penchant for egging on his sister might be the cause of her stress.

"No, he's sleeping."

"Alright, I'll go check it out. Daddy'll take care of the monsters." Jim said, swinging his legs out of bed.

"Can I sit with Mommy?" Cece pleaded.

"No, baby, Momma's sleeping."

"No, it's fine. Come here, baby girl," Pam said tiredly, stretching her arms out to embrace her child. Pam kissed Jim quickly, and he left to take care of the monsters. After cleaning a few toys that lay askew in her room, he returned, finding Pam and Cece both asleep. Cece was curled into Pam's chest just as she used to do as a baby. He smiled. A monster was no match for this. He carefully climbed into bed, admitting defeat as he curled his arms around his wife and joined her in slumber.