Returning to school several hours later, Sophie was dragging her feet, eyes drooping shut, stopping she held her arms up yawning when Shaggy lifted her from the ground.

"Only babies-"

"Not another word," Christina shut down Valerie as she passed by, "To bed,"

Muttering Valerie trudged to her room.

"Goodnight, girls," Christina yawned.

"Good night, Christina,"

…...

Even with the moon at its peak in the sky and shadows dancing on her walls, Christina found it hard to sleep. She'd adored the twins from first glance. Being their 'aunt' was going to be fun and it made her heart swell to see her family growing so quickly. Still, sadness lingered over her, a cloud that despite her best efforts, she couldn't shake.

Cursed.

Cursed.

Cursed.

All thanks to her last encounter with Drew.

…...

Years ago:

"LET GO OF ME PSYCHO!" Christina shrieked, thrashing around, struggling in Drew's vice grip.

"Now, now, Princess, don't be like that," Drew chuckled, "You and I are going to have a bit of fun,"

"OVER MY DEAD BODY," she screamed, throwing her head back.

A sicking crack filled her ears before she was dropped to the ground, Drew cradling his broken jaw. Jumping to her feet she spun, throwing a kick which collided with his chest, knocking him on his backside.

"You knocked up, Gory, isn't that enough?"

"Hardly, the harlot threw herself at me," Drew sneered, trying to stand, only for Christina to pin him to the ground.

"Ew,"

Drew grabbed her leg and threw her.

Landing on her side, she winced at the cracking sound her arm made as it hit the ground. Wings beating furiously, she whipped her hand from her pocket and started firing.

Seizing her by the arm he began to twist.

"DREW!"

Christina's friends arrived meaning Drew was appended quickly.

An hour later as Christina was being tended to at the clinic Regina showed up. Descending on them so quickly they were all taken aback by the rage-filled vampire witch who uttered a curse so quickly, made up on the spot, that it sent ice through Christina's whole being.

Never know love again.

It was only later when they discovered that those words actually meant Christina would never know happily ever after and didn't strip her of the emotion entirely.

But for Christina, it was still painful.

…...

Christina sat up, drawing her knees to her chest. The door started to open.

Sophie darted in, dragging Ruby behind her.

"Sophie?"

"I had a bad dream," Sophie squeaked climbing onto her bed.

"Maybe, we need to get your Daddy?"

"He's sleeping,"

"So is everyone else," Christina laughed, scooping the trembling girl into her arms.

…...

Shaggy was woken up by a sudden weight. Opening his eyes a crack he saw Sophie sitting on him with a pout.

"She had a bad dream,"

Turning his head he saw Christina standing in the doorway.

"I'm sorry she woke you-"

"No, I was still awake," Christina gently interrupted.

"I don't wanna go back to sleep," Sophie whimpered, "The cats will eat me!"

"I told Velma not to tell her about the island," Shaggy rolled his eyes, "Sophie, the cats aren't going to eat you,"

"Yes, they will!" Sophie insisted.

Shaggy stared up at the ceiling, first thing tomorrow he'd be calling Velma. For now, he had to calm Sophie and get her back to sleep.

This would take a while.

/...

Sophie hid her face in her Daddy's chest while he carried her to the dining room. The horrible images of her nightmares cycled through her mind, a chill running down her spine. She didn't want to go back to sleep. She didn't want to see the cats again. They were evil, wanting to eat her. When her daddy tried to set her in an empty chair she tightened her grip on his shirt and sniffled.

"Oh, Sophie," he whispered, "It's okay,"

"No, it isn't,"

"Yes, it is,"

"Three mugs of hot chocolate," Christina whispered cheerily, bringing a tray of steaming mugs into the dining room.

There was a soft pink mug wrapped with a bright yellow rag sitting before her. Peering inside, she noticed the mini marshmallows floating inside.

"Careful. It's hot," her daddy warned.

Christina sat across from them, taking tiny sips of her own hot chocolate.

"Thank you," Sophie whispered, taking a long drink.

"You're welcome,"

"What are we gonna do tomorrow?"

"In class?"

"Yeah,"

"We were going to have a quiz but given the day's excitement so I think we'll have a movie day instead,"

"And we," Shaggy added, "Are going to start practicing for volleyball,"

"Volleyball?"

"Yes, we have our match with the cadets coming up,"

"The boys next door?"

"Yes,"

A comfortable silence fell over them as they finished their drinks. Sophie tried to shake the gruesome pictures from her head but they kept returning, flashing before her eyes in rapid succession.

"Would you like me to read you a story, Sophie? It might help,"

"Yes, please,"

So, after finishing her hot chocolate, Sophie climbed out of Shaggy's lap and went to Christina.

"Can we go to your room?"

Christina looked to Shaggy.

"It's alright with me,"

Soon, Sophie was wrapped tightly in Christina's blanket, pressed closely to her as Christina pulled her fairy tale book from her bedside table.

"What do you want to hear tonight?"

"Sleeping Beauty, please,"

"Why am I not surprised?"

…...

"You are a miracle worker, Christina," Shaggy said as he carried Sophie back to her bed.

"No, not really," Christina shook her head.

"It usually takes hours to get her back to sleep,"

"When I have-er had nightmares, my uncle would bring me hot chocolate and let me read until I felt okay going back to sleep,"

"You still have nightmares," Shaggy observed, "You said have,"

"Okay, I still have nightmares,"

"Everyone does,"

"Not like mine," she shivered.

Shaggy tucked Sophie in.

"Did you have a nightmare tonight?"

"Yes in a sense,"

"Are you ready to go back to bed?"

"No,"

"Then how about a walk,"

"Gladly"

…...

The skies were almost black when Sophie slid out of her bed that morning. Tiptoeing across her room, she pulled open her door and after checking for Valerie she darted down the hall to Christina's room. Pushing open the bedroom door she was startled to see her daddy fast asleep in Christina's reading chair, a checkered quilt thrown over him while Christina slept with her head where her feet should have been.

Nonetheless, she climbed onto Christina and went back to sleep with a smile on her face.

…...

Well, that's a wrap for this chapter. Please, review!