Emma shot up from her bed, screaming like a banshee. Sweat ran down her face as she tried to regain her composure. Her heart was beating so fast that she thought for a brief moment that it would explode out of her chest.

The door opened as James entered the room, "Emma! Are you alright?" She nodded. Tears fell down her face as he held her in his arms. "It's okay… I got you. It was a nightmare, huh?" She nodded again. "Tell me about it."

"T-There was this woman and… and she hurt you and Mother…. She came for me and she tried to… She tried to rip my heart out!" Her sobs grew louder as James rocked her back and forth. Regina, he thought. But it had to just be a dream. She doesn't even know about Emma.

"Here." He opened a nearby drawer and pulled out a small box of matches. He quickly lit the candle next to her bed. "Remember? When you were little we did this-."

"To keep the bad dreams away."

"That's right. That evil woman won't bother you anymore, okay?" Emma nodded. "Alright, now go back to sleep." She laid her head down and closed her eyes.

But James never left her side. He sat there, watching over his little princess until dawn.