Willow woke up to the sound of a scream. She grabbed her glasses off the bedside table, and turned to her husband. Hunter was sitting up in bed, hyperventilating and clutching his chest. "Hunter? Babe, what's wrong?"
"Stay back!" He flinched as she reached for him. "He's...he's still inside me. He's gonna hurt you, he's gonna kill our-"
"Honey, it's okay. You were just dreaming." As Waffles landed on Hunter's shoulder, his wife reached out to him again, caressing his scarred cheek. "It's gonna be okay, Hun. You know what to do. Just breathe." Placing his hand over her own, Hunter took a few deep breaths and looked Willow over before meeting her gaze. "He's still gone, and he's not coming back. You're fine. I'm fine...we're doing just fine."
As his breathing began to calm, he looked her in the eyes, then slowly leaned in to kiss her. After that, he rested his forehead against hers, letting the tears out. "I don't get it. I haven't had a dream that intense in years. How is this all coming back?"
"Maybe because you have so much more to protect now."
Carefully, Willow laid her husband's head down onto her. The sounds of the heartbeats were soothing, and provided a rhythm he could breathe to. He placed a hand on his wife's stomach. "I promise won't let anyone harm you...either of you." Hunter felt light pound against his person.
"Oh!" Willow giggled. "I think someone heard you."
"Maybe it is my nerves getting to me. This is our first one after all. I wasn't even sure we'd be able make it happen, and who knows if I'll be any good at it?"
"You're not the only one whose nervous, Hun." Willow rubbed his back. "We're doing this together. Even if we don't know always know what we're doing, we'll figure it out. But I know that this little one is going to grow up in good hands."
"Yeah," Hunter sighed. "You're right. I...think I'm okay now."
She kissed his forehead. "Goodnight, Honey."
"Goodnight, Captain." He kissed her stomach and wrapped his arms around her. "Goodnight, little one."
Waffles rested herself upon Willow's belly and everybody fell back to sleep.