Bunnymund returned home later than he had hoped. He was anxious and tired. What was causing the children to stop believing and how could they prevent it? The question weighed down on the former-Pooka. He entered the house and silently made his was to his room, fully intent on just passing out. Turning on the lights he made his was to his dresser. He stripped down and changed quickly into a pair of night pants. He didn't feel like dealing with a shirt right now.

He made it over to the bed and was about to get into it when he saw the picture, or rather sketch that was left there. He picked it up and could only stare at the image. He and Raylynn were smiling at him. He smiled back, wondering how Raylynn hid this from him. The image was vaguely familiar, as if he saw it, but didn't see it. He stared at the sketch hoping to figure out where he had seen the picture. Shaking his head he laid it back on his bed and went to check on his daughter. He was exhausted, but the picture made him want to see her.

He didn't enter her room, just stood in the doorway. Having kept his natural gifts – such as hearing, smell, and the ability to see in the dark – he had no problem seeing into the dark room. Raylynn was asleep on her bed curled around Elliot, the rabbit he had gotten her. He smiled. He had missed being a father. His smiled faded as he thought about his son. He had missed so much in his life, had been unable to show him things about life as a father is supposed to do. Bunny had spent years mourning the loss of his family and hating himself for not being stronger. He didn't know he was crying. His pain numbing him from feeling them.

"Dad?" Bunny jerked his head up. Raylynn was sitting up rubbing her left eye looking towards the doorway. Bunny chocked back a sob. Raylynn blinked, her sleepiness giving way to concern. Her dad was crying and she needed to find out why. She pushed the blankets covering her off and hoped ontot he floor. Quickly she walked over to Bunny.

"Dad, what's wrong?" She looked up at him. She had admitted to herself that he could be intimidating. He was tall and had those weird tattoos, and he could be really quiet when he wanted to, but he was really sweet and liked to laugh and make her smile. The tears made him seem smaller and somehow older. She didn't like it. "Daddy." She whispered and hugged him. She had to do something. Hugs were always the way her parents had stopped her tears, maybe it would do the same for him.

She felt him jump before pulling her close and burying his face into her hair. He was shaking, like he had had a bad dream. She knew what bad dreams were like. She had them. Had gotten good at hiding it when she did, but she knew that they were not fun. She pulled back and Bunny loosened his grip on her. She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to her bed. She remembered that whenever she had had a nightmare her parents would always let her sleep with them. The warmth of them on both sides and the knowledge that she wasn't alone always made the bad dreams stop.

Bunny let himself be pulled, not really wanting to think anymore. The tears had more or less stopped, but the pain was still there. Still stabbing at his heart. He didn't realize they were in her room or anywhere near her bed until she pushed him down onto it. He looked at her confuse. She smiled softly and climbed onto the bed, moving closer to the wall. She climbed under the covers and patted the space next to her. Did she want him to lie down next to her? He blinked. Raylynn shook her head and tried to pull him down, not that she could. He was much stronger than a normal human. Not wanting to upset her, he lied down. She pulled the covers over them both and snuggled up to him. She gave a small yawn and tilted her head up towards Bunnymund's.

"You can sleep here tonight." Her voice was quiet and laced with tiredness, but he could hear the concern, and love? He almost broke down again, but kept in control. Instead he pulled Raylynn closer and felt her get comfortable. She was acting so grown up, but at the same time he could see the childish innocence in her actions. She was most likely thought he had had a nightmare and was doing what her parents had done for her. That much was obvious. He smiled at the child who lay peacefully asleep in his arms.

Before he fell asleep as well he saw the golden light of dream sand. Turning ever so slightly, he didn't want to wake up Raylynn, he saw the Guardian of Dreams smiling at him. He chuckled softly and turned back towards the wall. Of course Sandy would follow him. He didn't mind though. Sandy would not tell the others. He knew how to know when to keep a secret. Through half lidded eyes he watched the dream sand land on Raylynn. He smiled knowing that his little girl would be having happy dreams that night.

Sandy smiled softly at the pair curled up on the bed. Bunny's sudden change of appearance had caught him off guard, but now he saw why. Bunny was protecting a child. Taking care of a child. Though he had many questions he wanted answers to, he knew that the Guardian of Hope would give those answers in his on time and way. In the mean time he sprinkled his sand over them both. The child deserved sweet dreams anyway, but he could see that his friend was troubled. HE tear stains on his face confirmed that much. Sandy knew he could do nothing for his friend, as he did not know what the cause of his distress was, but he could at least give him pleasant dreams. So he did.

With one last look at them, the Sandman took his leave. Bunny may yell at him later for having the sand used on him, but no one knew better than Sandy when a good night's sleep was needed. Sandy returned to the sky and continued to distribute his sand. The warm image of Bunny and the young girl keeping a smile on his face the whole night.

A/N

Alright, I know a short and relatively unneeded chapter. But hey, I wanted to write a fluff scene before I headed back to school. Yes, the new semester begins this Monday, and I have to go back. I will try to update at least once a week, but please bear with me. I have Organic Chem. this semester and I know that alone will have me swamped. But I hope you like this short chappie anyway. We need to see a bit more of what goes on in our favorite Pooka's head, also who doesn't like the Sandman?