It didn't take long for Emma to move in at the Mills' home. David and Snow were definitively happy. They had now much more space to give Neal his own little room instead of his crib just standing in the middle of the apartment.
It was almost exactly a month after Lena's birthday when Regina nervously brought up the topic. Lena felt that this was coming sooner than later and already knew how she felt about the subject.

"Mom…stop" Lena had interrupted her mom when she was trying to convince her daughter with a whole speech she had prepared. "I'd love for Emma to move in" Lena had smiled.

So now, after another two months living as a family, Lena felt complete. Well.. almost. Although she finally had a family like she always wanted there still seemed to be this empty little place, but for who… or what? The answer to that question would become clear in the next few weeks.

Regina woke up in the middle of the night because of a noise she hadn't heard since Lena first came to live with her. Back then she frequently had nightmares and Regina woke up to her daughter screaming in fear.

"Huh…what" Emma too heard the noise. Barely opening her eyes she asked: "What is that screaming?"

"It's Lena" Regina mumbled, rubbing her eyes and pushing herself out of bed.

"Want me to come with you?" Emma asked, but instead of pushing herself up she settled herself more on the warm spot where Regina had laid.

Regina had to smile at the sight: "No, it's okay. I'll be right back."

Lena was still calling out. It wasn't very clear what she said but Regina could make out things like 'No', 'Don't go' and 'Elliot'. When Lena had a nightmare it always seem to be about her dragon friend.

"Lena, honey…wake up. You're just having a bad dream" Regina said, sitting on the bed with her daughter trying to sooth her.

With a shock Lena woke up and sat upright: "Elliot!"

"Hey, hey…it's okay." Regina laid a hand on Lena's shoulder. She felt her shiver under her hand. Lena was still breathing fast when the tears started rolling down her cheeks. Regina pulled her into a hug and let Lena's head rest on her chest. "You're okay" Regina whispered: "You're okay." When Lena seemed to be calmer after a couple of minutes Regina tried to get her daughter to talk: "So, do you want to tell me what the dream was about."

Lena just shook her head.

"You know that you have never been able to go back to sleep when you had had a bad dream. Not until you talked about it."

Lena sighed. "I dreamed about Elliot…He…He is gonna leave…"

"What do you mean, leave you?"

Lena couldn't say anymore, she just started crying again.

The next few nights went all the same. Regina, Emma and Henry waking up to Lena's screaming. Sometimes even more than one time in one night. Finally, after the fourth night, Lena agreed to go talk to Dr. Hopper again since talking to her family didn't help.

"So, Lena, tell me about those dreams you're having" Dr. Hopper said.

Lena was sitting on the couch opposite him with bags under her eyes. She took a deep breath: "They're always the same…I see Elliot. He's telling me he needs to go and that I'm meant for something important but that he can't be a part of it."

"All dreams have a meaning. What do you think your dream means?"

"It means what it means…Elliot is gonna leave me."

"That's what you dream but what is the meaning behind the dream?"

"There's no meaning behind it…It doesn't even feel like a normal dream…It is more like Elliot is really trying to tell me something…"

Dr. Hopper nodded: "I understand it feels that way…Lena I'd like you to come and talk to me daily. At least for the rest of the week."

Lena sighed, not feeling understood: "Sure."

The nightmares kept going and the talking didn't seem to help. The whole Swan-Mills' family was exhausted but Lena was the worst. She was so tired that she started taking naps during the day but even those were disturbed by her returning nightmare. It made her very irritable and she lashed out to anyone for the smallest things. Even in class.

"Lena, follow me to the hallway please" Snow said with a stern face after an outburst during her class. Her classmates made an 'ooooh' noise when Lena stood up from her chair and followed her teacher out of class. "I understand you're tired but that behavior is unacceptable in class" Snow said when she had closed the classroom door.

"I'm sorry" Lena replied not looking up at her teacher.

Snow sighed: "How long have they been going on now?"

"Almost two weeks."

"I think you should go home for the rest of the day. I'm gonna call your mom."

Lena didn't have the energy to object so she walked along with Snow to the principal's office.

During the car ride home Lena and Regina didn't say anything but Lena knew there was coming a thunder speech. At home she slouched over on a chair in the kitchen. She heard her mom sigh, take a deep breath and then it began.

"Lena, this is the second time this week the school called because you were rude to your teacher. This can't go on. You can't talk to you teachers, or anyone for that matter, like that…even when you're tired like hell."

"I know, okay? I know…" Lena sighed. Tears from exhaustion rolling down her cheeks. "I just can't take it anymore…I'm so tired…"

"I know, honey…" Regina pressed a light kiss on her daughter's head: "I'll ask Dr. Hopper tomorrow if he can prescribe you something to help you sleep."

"I thought you didn't want that."

"True, but this can't go on."

Lena leaned towards her mom, grateful for her support and caring. Maybe after tomorrow she would finally get some sleep again.

Sadly they would never find out if medication would've helped Lena. That night was one of the scariest nights Regina would ever experience. Instead of waking up by the screaming of her daughter it was their son waking up both of his mothers.

"Moms…Moms!"

"Huh…Henry? What's the matter?" Emma asked.

"Something is wrong with Lena."

Next chapter coming soon.