Parents, too, need comfort from time to time.
"Daddy?"
Striker took in a deep breath before turning to face his son. The impling was shyly peeking from the doorway; and yet, he immediately noticed that Jake was scared.
Striker quickly wiped the sweat off his brow. "What's wrong, pup?"
"Are you havid a bad dweam, daddy?"
"What do ye mean, kiddo?" Jake walked into the room, Mr. Hooves tucked in his arms.
"You were cwying and yelling in your sweep. I thought you wed in twouble."
Striker cursed under his breath. Damn it. He didn't want Jake to see him like this.
"I'm alright, pup." he assured, running a hand through his hair. "It was just a bad dream about grown up stuff, that's all."
To his surprise, Jake approached his bed an held out Mr. Hooves to him.
"Don't be afwaid, daddy. You can sweep with Mr. Hooves tonight." Smiling, Striker ruffled Jake's hair.
"That's nice of ye, my boy, but I think ye need Mr. Hovves more than I do."
"It's okay." To Striker's surprise, Jake climbed into the bed and crawled over to his side. "I can stay with you all night, too. You always stay with me when I have a bad dweam."
Striker smiled at his son with tears in his eyes as he pulled the impling into a hug. "What would I do without ya, pup?"
Father and son lay down, snuggling into one another. Striker kissed his son's forehead.
What would he do without him, indeed?