Miranda closed her eyes, her head filled with the silliness of the evening; the dressing-up; the pizzas; the songs. She had drawn pictures and written it all out under her mommy's watchful eye. She had never before gone to bed with so many happy thoughts. Surely tonight the nightmares wouldn't come…

But just the thought of the nightmare brought it right back. The image of 'daddy' hurting her mom…

She tried to distract herself with her happy thoughts but it didn't work.

She tried to remember her mother's words after the talk they had had with Dr Stanhope, 'the past is the past and that will never change the fact that I love you!'.

But it also didn't change the images repeating in her head.

But then she noticed something she hadn't notice before, 'daddy' was leering at her at her mommy, but mommy was watching her now, and she was smiling. In fact she seemed to be mouthing 'It's going to be alright…'

She wanted to believe it, but daddy was still hurting her mommy and she wanted the image to go away…

Unable to pretend that sleep was coming Miranda sat up and turned on her bedside light. She needed more happy thoughts; she needed to wipe the nightmare away. She got out her journal and pencil from her bedside table, she was going to play Dr Stanhope's happy thoughts game trying to out-happy her bad thoughts. Maybe that would chase the images away?

…

On their way up to bed after a romantic evening of slow dancing and slower kisses, Bianca couldn't help but notice the light on in Miranda's room.

"I'll just go and check on her." she said.

Marissa touched her back and gave her supportive smile.

"Call me if you need me." she said.

Bianca nodded and headed down the corridor towards the light.

She pushed open the door to find her eldest daughter sat up in bed, scribbling away in her happy thoughts journal.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Bianca asked quietly.

Miranda jumped at the sound of her voice.

"I… I'm sorry." said Miranda putting down her pencil and guiltily looking down at her book.

Bianca came close to sit on the edge of the bed. She reached out and pulled the hair back away from her daughter's face, forcing her to look up at her.

"Don't be sorry."

Miranda sighed.

"I don't want to be a baby." she said meekly.

"Who would call you a baby? You are incredibly brave!"

"It won't go away. I know I should be better now but when I close my eyes…"

Miranda's lip was quivering. She was over-tired, upset and still haunted by her bad dreams. Bianca had high hopes after their talk and their night of silliness, but the doctor had warned this wouldn't be a quick fix.

"Come on." said Bianca, getting up from her perch on the bed, "Grab your pillow!"

"What?"

"Come on, you need your sleep and you sleep better when I'm around to chase the nightmares away."

Mommy was offering her a chance to sleep in her bed; she wasn't going to wait to be asked twice. Miranda grabbed her pillow and followed her mommy out of the room.

Marissa was getting into her nightclothes when they entered.

"She's still not sleeping." said Bianca, "I thought to guarantee that she sleeps..."

She didn't have to finish her sentence.

"Of course." said Marissa, giving Miranda a grin. "You know you mommy sleeps better when you're around as well, otherwise she is tossing and turning all night worrying about you!"

Miranda nodded. She put her pillow beside her mommy's and climbed into the big bed. Mommy bent down and tucked her in.

"You settle," said Bianca, "I'll be in bed in a moment."

Miranda snuggled into her pillow and closed her eyes. She was surrounded by the sound of her mommy and 'Rissa quietly getting ready for bed in the background; there was the familiar scents and warmth and sense of safety that came from being in her mommy's room.

Miranda was fast asleep even before her mommy came to bed.

…