Noble Heart walked into Gentle Heart's bedroom, True Heart slipping in silently behind him. His footsteps faltered when he saw how weak his adoptive daughter—that's how he always thought of her and the other Cousins—looked. Five days without sleep. Hearing about it was one thing. Seeing it was another. Gentle Heart practically had to be propped up by Cheer and Swift Heart.

It always gladdened Noble Heart's spirits to see family members caring for one another, even in situations like these; perhaps especially in situations in these.

"Noble Heart?" Gentle Heart asked groggily.

"Shhhh, it's okay, I'm right here." He assured her as he sat down on the bed corner on her right.

"I'm here too." True Heart added as she took a seat to Gentle Heart's left, Cheer and Swift Heart standing aside to give them room. "How are you feeling?"

"'M scared." She murmured. "I don't want to go to sleep, but I'm just so tired…" True Heart bit her lower lip and hugged her.

"Gentle Heart," Noble Heart began after giving the two a moment to hold each other, "We think we know what No Heart's doing to you."

"Nightmares." She said her voice muffled by True Heart's arms.

"Yes, but what you've been experiencing aren't just images conjured up by your mind. It's actually No Heart in your mind." Gentle Heart shuddered. Noble Heart was unsure whether it was in fear, disgust, or a combination of the two.

"Can't you get him out?" She bleated, her voice trembling. Noble Heart nodded.

"Yes, but part of it depends on you."

"On me?"

"The next time you fall asleep, the next time No Heart appears, you have to face him."

Gentle Heart paled and shook in True Heart's arms. "How?" She all but wailed. "I can't beat No Heart all by myself!"

"You're not alone. You never have been." Noble Heart held Gentle Heart's paw in his own and rubbed it gently with his fingers. "We're here for you, always have been, always will be."

"But, I'm not strong enough, I'm too weak…"

"That's not true!" Came a new voice at the door. Everyone in the room turned their heads to see Tenderheart and Bright Heart rolling in a strange contraption on a cart. "You're stronger than you think, Gentle Heart." Tenderheart said. "And stronger than No Heart thinks too."

"Being gentle and soft-hearted is not the same thing as being weak." Bright Heart added emphatically. "Gentle hearts are easily broken, it takes a lot of strength and courage to be one when there's such a huge risk of it breaking." Tenderheart nodded and added his own words of confidence.

"No Heart thinks you're weak because you're gentle hearted. That only shows how weak he is for thinking that. That you're so gentle, and so loved, makes you stronger than him. We're here for you. You're our friend, and family. Besides," Tenderheart added with a sympathetic smile as he gave her a hug. "Us tender hearts and gentle hearts have to stick together, don't we?"

"Thanks guys." Gentle Heart whispered as she hugged Tenderheart and Bright Heart in turn.

"Bright Heart? What is that?" True Heart asked curiously, pointing at the odd device he'd brought.

"Our trump card." He announced proudly. "This will allow us to monitor what's going on in Gentle Heart's dreams. That way, we can wake her up if things get too dangerous. All I had to do was rework the Phobia Monitor a little-"

"It's a good plan." Tenderheart interjected, hoping to spare everyone the technical explanation. "And a useful machine to have helping us."

"Sounds good." Noble Heart said. "Gentle Heart, are you sure you want to do this?" Gentle Heart nodded shyly.

"If it means no more No Heart in my dreams…I'll do it!"

"Way to go Gentle Heart." Tenderheart congratulated.

"Knew you could do it." Bright Heart smiled as True Heart gave her another hug.

"That's my girl." Noble Heart said proudly, causing Gentle Heart to blush appreciatively, unused to being the center of attention.

"Let's do it!"