I'm very sorry about how long it took me to update. I had to spend the past couple of weeks finishing up the semester and I didn't have time to write. I'll have some more time now that I'm on my summer break. Also, thanks for the reviews and feedback. I really appreciate it! Sorry again and let me know what you want to read next! Thanks!
"Are you sure about this?" Mary Margaret asked for the hundredth time that evening.
"Yes, I'm sure," David chuckled.
"You promise? I won't go if you don't want me to-"
"I do," David placed his hands on his wife's shoulders and looked into her eyes, "You deserve to spend a night away from the house. Just you, Emma, and no distractions." Mary Margaret sighed. She knew David was right.
"Are you sure you'll be okay with Lily?"
"Lily will be fine. She's already tucked away in bed," David reminded his wife as he kissed her forehead, "Go. We'll be alright." Mary Margaret smiled gratefully up at her husband before she slowly gathered her jacket and purse from the counter.
"I'll be back before midnight," Mary Margaret headed for the front door with David close behind.
"Okay," David answered simply.
"Oh, and I'll have my phone on me. Call if you need anything."
"Will do."
"And I left a list of emergency contacts on the fridge in case I don't answer. I have Granny's number, Emma's, Henry's-"
"Mary Margaret," David interrupted with another laugh, "Go. Emma's waiting for you." Mary Margaret smiled as she pulled her husband in for a quick kiss, "I love you."
"I love you, too."
With that, Mary Margaret opened the door, giving one more glance back at her husband before she latched it behind her. David let out a deep sigh, relieved that his wife was taking some time for herself.
"Mommy!" The scream woke David up with a jolt. Without hesitation, David ran out of his bedroom and up the stairs. He opened the door to his six year-old daughter's room and found Lily sitting up in bed, her knees pulled up to her chest and tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.
"Where's Mommy?" Lily sniffed.
"She's out spending time with your sister. She'll be home soon," David explained as he moved to sit on Lily's bed, "What's wrong, Lil?" His daughter sniffed a few more times before answering.
"I had a bad dream," David could tell by Lily's voice that the tears were threatening to return, "I'm scared, Daddy. I don't want to go back to sleep."
"Wait right here," David stood up, "I'll be right back." David rushed out of the room and returned a few moments later with a candle and a box of matches.
"What's that for?" Lily watched as her father placed the candle on her nightstand.
"I'm going to light this and leave it by your bed tonight," David explained as he struck one of the matches and lit the candle wick, "It'll keep your nightmares away." David blew out the match and Lily watched the flame dance on top of the candle. David placed the match box on the table next to the candle before inviting his daughter to sit in his lap, which she easily obliged to.
"Tell me what happened in the dream, Lily," David said soothingly.
"There was something chasing me," Lily began, her tears already beginning again, "It was dark and I couldn't see what it was, but it was chasing me. And then I tripped and fell, but I couldn't get back up, and….and…" Lily was crying in earnest now and David rocked her gently.
"It's all going to be okay, Lily. Daddy's here. Nothing's going to hurt you." David watched as his daughter's tears started to stop and her eyes began to flutter closed. David leaned down and kissed Lily's forehead.
"Daddy loves you, baby."