"Daddy! Mommy!" A little voice screamed through the house, waking the male dragon slayer. When the scream repeated, Natsu threw off the comforter that was draped over him and raced out of his room. Fearing the worst, he lit his fists on fire as he rounded the corner to his daughter's room.

Nashi was sitting up on her little bed, tears falling down her tiny cheeks and she was hugging the dragon stuffed animal to her chest tightly. Natsu looked around the room and when he saw nothing there or even a hint that something had been there, he relaxed putting out the flames. He stalked forward and crouched beside the toddler's bed.

" What's wrong, Nashi?" Natsu asked in a low soothing voice while lifting his hands up to wipe away his child's tears.

" There's.. something.. in.. my.. closet!" The little girl rasped between sobs. With each little cry, Natsu felt his heart breaking.

" Oh, sweetie. There's nothing in your closet, I promise."

" But there was. I saw it in my sleep." Nashi insisted, her eyes filling with more tears.

Natsu ran his hands under her shoulders and lifted, bringing her to his bare chest. He held her with one arm, her sitting on it and wrapping her own little arms around his broad shoulders, resting her head in his neck. With the other free hand, he opened her closet and engulfed his hand in flames so they could both see in.

" Well, I guess we scared it away, because it's not here anymore." Natsu smiled, trying to ease the little girl's fear.

" It could be under the bed." she mumbled, keeping her head by the scar of his neck.

" let's squash it then." Natsu moved the girl so she was on his back and knelt to the ground. He crawled over to the bed, threw back her blanket, and peered underneath.

Nothing was there. " I don't think it's here anymore." He assured her while pulling his little monkey back around to his chest. Natsu hugged her close, hating that she was still scared.

" How about I stay in here until you can sleep?"

" No, I don't wanna sleep! It'll get me again!" Nashi screamed hurting Natsu's ears.

" What will get you?" Now he was disturbed. What could Nashi be so scared of?

" The evil wrinkly lady!"

Natsu looked down at her little face and felt his heart melt, he had never seen her so scared in her short life. He settled down in the overstuffed chair they had moved in the room. There, he smoothed her long, curly pink hair and cradled her against his solid form. His mouth placed kisses on the top of her head while he rubbed her back.

" I'll be right here, always. Nothing will ever touch you for as long as I am." Natsu whispered, lulling to the little girl who was already drifting to sleep.

Natsu stayed in that chair all night, holding Nashi and doing his best to keep away the nightmares. He knew there wasn't much he could do but he wouldn't give up on this. His daughter was scared by images inside her head, and he wouldn't have that emotion living in her. At some point however, he himself fell asleep in the comfort of the chair.

Outside the sun rose over the peaks of trees, trailing sunlight into the room. The two pinkettes were still in a deep slumber when Lucy walked in looking for Natsu. Curious to why he was in here, she tiptoed over and shook his shoulder until he woke.

" Lucy?" The man mumbled in a sleepy husky voice.

" What happened last night?" Lucy whispered.

" Nashi had a nightmare." Natsu yawned.

The man looked back at the toddler in his arms and noticed the peaceful sleep she had succumbed to. He smiled, thinking of the sweet dreams she was surely having now.