Daphne bolted upright at her husband's scream and turned to find him sitting up in bed, trembling with fear.
"Niles!"
He looked at her and sighed deeply; his voice trembling when he spoke.
"Daphne, Oh God!"
"Oh Sweetheart come here."
When she took him into her arms, he began to cry; a sight that broke her heart. Feeling helpless, she held him close, rocking him back and forth as though he were a child.
"Shhh... It's okay, Darling. I'm here... You're safe."
"B-but the baby..."
"The baby's just fine, see?" Daphne smiled and gently placed Niles' hand on her stomach. "You've just had a horrible nightmare, but everything will be all right."
She continued to rub his back in a desperate effort to calm him, but he was still trembling.
"Daph-ne..." Niles said, his voice muffled by her embrace.
She stroked his hair, brushing the tears from his cheeks.
"What is it, Sweetheart?"
"I'm going to be a terrible father! I... I can't..."
"That's nonsense! You're going to be a wonderful father! How could you even think that-."
And suddenly she knew.
"Niles, everything is okay. It was just a dream."
"But the baby... I dropped it!"
Daphne shuddered at the thought, but quickly reminded herself that it was just a dream. She couldn't let him see that it upset her.
"It was just a nightmare..." He repeated; his voice still trembling.
"That's right." Daphne said as soothingly as possible.
He swallowed hard and stared into her eyes, brushing a lock of hair from her face with his trembling hand.
"I-I'm sorry."
The words tore at her heart and she kissed him tenderly.
"Oh Sweetheart, don't be sorry. Just try to get some sleep."
He stared into her eyes, looking as though he might cry.
"I love you, Daphne."
"And I love you, Niles."
He held her close, kissing her deeply.
Daphne snuggled in his arms, sighing contentedly as he held her. Now she could finally get some sleep.