EIGHTEEN - NIGHTMARES
Jack and Rose went down stairs and sat on the sofa, Rose's head on Jack's chest "Thank you" she whispered out of the blue. "For what?" Jack said confused as he ran his fingers through her hair "Everything. All of this. Giving me a family. The Christmas Tree. Absolutely everything" Jack kissed her hair "you're thanking me for a Christmas tree?" He said confused, she nodded "Jack, I've never had a tree like this. Every single year since the day I was born, servants made up everything 'Christmas like' in our house. All the decor was put up by others, and god forbid I ask to help! Decorating the tree with the 3 of you today is up there with one of the best things I've ever done. I can't thank you enough" she said the other best things?" He asked, curious "meeting you… finding you alive… the first time Teddy called me Mummy… Jack, every single happy memory I have some how includes you or the children" she looked up at him "I love you" he kissed her. "I love you too"
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They sat in a comfortable silence for a while before hearing Teddy's bedroom door open "not even an hour in his own bed" Jack groaned and chucked "your best day was the tree, my best day will be the day Eliza and Teddy sleep without waking up once!" He got up and headed up the stairs, Rose followed him, every intention of going to bed herself. They found Teddy on the landing "Can I sleep in your bed?" Teddy looked hopeful "Teddy, you need to sleep in your own bed now, we've talked about this. Come on, I'll come and sit with you until you fall asleep-" "but-" Teddy said "no, Teddy. Your bed. Come on" Jack said, and Rose bent down to his level "Daddy is going to put you to bed then sit with you until you fall asleep, OK darling?" Teddy nodded sadly. Rose kissed his cheek "good boy, night night. I love you" she stood up and watched as Jack held his hand and walked in to Teddy's bedroom. She went in to hers & Jack's room, got changed, checked on Eliza then climbed in to bed, falling asleep herself as her head hit the pillow.
Jack sat with Teddy for a while before he too fell asleep. He crept back in to his and Rose's room and climbed in beside her, laying there for a minute, he felt bad for making Teddy go back to his own room, but he wanted him to be able to stay in there over night. He fell asleep after thoughts spun in his head for a while.
Around 2am Jack woke up to Teddy screaming from his bedroom. Somehow Rose and Eliza slept through it. He rushed in to Teddy's room to find him sat up, crying, covered in sweat and holding on to his bear more than he ever had. He rushed over and sat on the edge of Teddy's bed, holding his hands "Teddy? Teddy… what's wrong darling?" Jack said, clearly panicked "I had a bad dream" "about what?!" Jack looked shocked, he knew Teddy had the odd bad dream now and then, but not as bad as this. "You… mummy… Liza… gone" he cried "gone? Gone where?" Teddy was breathless and couldn't reply "OK, OK, take a breathe darling… do you want to sleep in my bed tonight?" Teddy nodded and clung to Jack. Jack lifted him up "come on, let's go" he walked in to his and Rose's room and placed Teddy in between himself and Rose "you wake me up if you have another bad dream, OK?" Teddy nodded and clung to Jack who stroked his hair trying to sooth him back to sleep. It didn't take too long for Teddy to drift off but Jack couldn't sleep "this isn't right" Jack muttered to himself, in deep thought. Then he realised; Teddy had had 3 bad dreams in less than a week, close to 15 in the space of 4 weeks. He knew needed Teddy needed to see the Doctor, nightmares this frequent and he wanted to know why they were happening.
