Miranda lay in bed trying hard to think happy thoughts, but just like always the image crept up behind her eyes of her mommy being hurt… screaming and terrified… and the man hurting her, a man she knew was her daddy, looking up and glaring at her and telling her it was all her fault.

Miranda wanted to forget the image. She wanted to sleep and not have that man's face flash into her mind. It was easier when mommy was there. It was easier when the dream woke her to open her eyes and see mommy smiling at her safe and happy. It was harder when she woke up alone in the dark with the fear that it was real and still happening and she could only scream for it to stop…

She didn't want to lay alone in the dark. She wanted to sleep and the only way she could sleep was by her mommy's side. Feeling guilty that she wasn't being the big brave girl she was expected to be, Miranda picked up her pillow and shuffled out into the landing to be with her mommy.

…

Miranda stopped in the hallway as the sound of muffled laughter drifted from mommy's bedroom. Mommy and Marissa were laughing at something. They sounded very happy and Miranda stood suddenly wracked with indecision. Mommy was happy right now but as soon as she saw Miranda she would be worried and sad again and Miranda hated making her mommy sad. She knew what she should do was turn right back around and go back to bed, but the thought of being alone, or worse waking up alone, terrified her.

Reluctantly Miranda turned back to her own bed but then she caught sight of a beam of light shining from under the door of AJ's room at the other end of the corridor. Drawn, as much by curiosity, as her need for companionship Miranda wandered off towards her birthday-twin's bedroom.

…

AJ looked up with a startled expression on his face as the door to his room opened.

"Miranda?" he said, sliding out from under his bedclothes and hurrying towards her. "Did you have a bad dream?"

Miranda guiltily shook her head,

"Not yet." she said quietly, "I just didn't want to be alone and I didn't want to upset mommy again."

AJ, who had stopped just short of giving her a hug, looked down at his feet feeling little embarrassed but not sure why.

"You can stay with me if you want," he said, giving his almost-sister a smile, "If it helps?"

Then he had an idea.

"You can test out my truckle bed!" he exclaimed, hurrying back to his bed and eagerly pulling out the guest bed out from underneath. It was little more than a mattress on wheels.

Miranda was grateful for the offer. She carried her pillows to the little bed, but there wasn't a cover. AJ solved this problem too but dashing to the play-closet and bring out some of the doll blankets and the large fur-lined dressing-up cape that had belonged to Erica once upon a time.

Miranda made herself a nest under all the covers and gave her birthday-twin a grateful smile.

"Is that okay?" AJ asked still looking worried.

"It's perfect." said Miranda, resting her head on her pillow, it felt wonderful to have her almost-brother there with her. She felt safe enough to try and sleep. But as she lay there she was aware that AJ was still sat up in bed and still had his bed-side light on.

"What are you doing?" she asked, sitting up to peer over the edge of his slightly higher mattress.

"I'm writing a letter." said AJ, a frown of concentration on his face as he put pen to paper.

"Who are you writing to?" Miranda asked, "And why are you doing it now?"

"I'm cross with daddy. That lady told lies on the television. I wasn't afraid to tell the truth in court, I wanted to tell everyone how much I love my mom and my family and how much I hate my dad for hurting her! If I can't say it in court I am going to say it to my daddy!"

Miranda sat up a little straighter at the sight of tears, trickling down AJ's cheek.

"But you're sad?" she said, climbing up onto his mattress and giving him a hug, taking care not to squash his letter.

"I'm crying because I'm angry and I don't like being angry." AJ said, embarrassed, wiping his tears on his sleeve.

"Why can't you write it in the morning when you feel better?" Miranda asked.

"Mommy doesn't know. It would make her sad if she knew how upset I was." said AJ. "I want it to be a secret; can you keep it a secret?"

Miranda nodded her head knowingly; she knew exactly how he felt. She hated being a worry to her mommy too.

"Do you want me to help you?" she asked.

AJ wiped away the last of his tears and nodded his head.

"I don't know what to write at the end?" he said handing her the letter written in his best handwriting to read.

Miranda put on her thinking cap, determined to help AJ. She knew a lot about letters from helping her mommy in the office, and she knew letters always ended with how you felt. Miranda always signed her letters with love and followed with lots of kisses, which wouldn't do here. Mommy signed most letters with 'yours sincerely' which she said said was a polite way to say 'in honesty', which might be alright for AJ to use, only Miranda couldn't remember how to spell it. Mommy also sometimes wrote 'With regards' was a way to say 'with kind wishes' but AJ didn't wish his daddy kind things. Miranda couldn't think of any more ways to end a letter, she thought maybe it would be best if AJ just write down how he felt.

So with Miranda's advice AJ finished his letter, 'with anger and sadness, AJ'

"Do you have a stamp?" Miranda asked.

AJ nodded and pulled out worn envelope, inside which was an old birthday card from his dad and a stamped addressed envelope for Oak Haven Hospital.

"He asked me to write him." said AJ. "I didn't want to then."

Miranda gave him a supportive smile and patted him comfortingly on the shoulder as he put his letter in the envelope with a few other things and sealed it.

"But the trouble is I don't know how to send it." said AJ looking at the letter in his hand. "Not without mommy finding out."

"I can post it for you at the hospital." said Miranda confidently. "I'll ask Dr Stanhope, I'm sure he'll help!"

"And you won't tell mom?" AJ asked nervously handing over his precious envelope.

"I won't tell mom or mommy." she swore.

"You're the best twin in the world!" said AJ unable to stop himself giving her a hug. "You're so smart!"

"Thank you." said Miranda, her cheeks turning pink as she pulled away.

"Do you want to go to sleep now?" AJ asked, concern returning to his features as he looked back at his birthday-twin.

Miranda nodded and slipped back down to the truckle bed and her nest of blankets, tucking the letter safely in her pillow.

"Good night." said Miranda as she pulled Erica's old fur cloak around her.

"Good night." said AJ, switching off the light. "I hope you don't have bad dreams only good ones!"

Miranda smiled as she closed her eyes, but her smile got wider when she realised her brother was softly singing her to sleep.

'All through the night,

Near and far we will be together…'

…

Marissa rolled back with a sigh as Bianca chased her with more kisses.

"Worked out your frustration?" Bianca asked nuzzling her nose against Marissa's.

"Mmm." sighed Marissa in conformation, wearing a satisfied grin.

They gazed at each other for a long moment before they both thought to turn and check the bedside clock. It was very late.

"Miranda's still asleep." said Bianca in surprise.

"Unless we didn't hear her." said Marissa.

They shared a worried look.

"I'll go check." offered Marissa. She groped under the duvet until she found her night-shirt and pulled it on. "You never know" she added as she climbed out of bed, "Tonight might be the night she sleeps right through!"

"I hope so." said Bianca, and then she gave Marissa a cheeky smile. "Um… you're back to front!"

It took Marisa a moment to work out what her girlfriend was referring too, she'd put her night-shirt on backwards. She pulled in her arms and quickly straightened out her clothes before stepping out into the hall.

..

Marissa tiptoed softly along the corridor to Miranda's room and gently pushed open the door. She was greeted by the terrifying sight of an empty mattress. Where was Miranda?!

Marissa walked round the bed just to check that the little girl hadn't fallen out the other side, but no, the room was empty.

Having already experience the nightmare of AJ running away Marissa's mind went into a panic mode. She poked her head into the shared bathroom, no one there, and then quietly checked in Gabby's room. The littlest Montgomery was fast asleep with her covers on the floor and her butt in the air but there was no sign of her older sister. Marissa tucked the little girl back in but her mind was still panicking over the absence of Miranda.

She got back to the landing and looked down the staircase, there was no sign of a light on downstairs, but Marissa wondered if it was possible that Miranda had gone down for a drink of water. She stood frozen on the top of the stairs listening out for sounds but there was nothing. Torn she decided she should check all the upstairs rooms first before she went downstairs, although she didn't think it was very likely that she would find Miranda in AJs wing of the house. The main bathroom was empty, but when she peered into AJ's bedroom she saw at once the truckle bed pulled out besides AJ's bed and a second little body tucked under a nest of dressing up clothes.

Marisa stepped into the room to reassure herself that both children were sleeping soundly and then just as quietly she retreated.

When Marissa returned to her bedroom she found Bianca wide awake and attempting to get on her feet.

"What took you so long, you were ages?" asked Bianca, sitting back down at the sight of her "Is Miranda okay?"

"She had disappeared," said Marisa climbing back into bed, "That was scary!"

"Disappeared." gasped Bianca in horror.

"It's all right." said Marissa putting a comforting hand on Bianca's in attempt to stop her flying from the room on her crutches. "I found her in AJs room in his truckle bed. I guess we will get the story tomorrow but right now I am happy to report that Miranda is fast asleep. Maybe we should take this opportunity to do the same."

Bianca surrendered to Marissa's touch as her racing heart settled once more and she climbed back into bed.

"Don't panic me like that." she mumbled as nestled against Marissa.

"I'm sorry." said Marissa, slowly closing her eyes. "I love you."

"And I love you."

…