Striker woke with a start hearing Maria whimpering and screaming. He flung the sheets off himself and raced to his daughter's room to find her clinging to her blankets while tossing and turning in her sleep. He quickly understood why and made his way to her side to try and wake her.
"Maria! Maria, wake up!" Striker called shaking her by the shoulder as gently as possible. "C'mon, sweetheart, wake up!"
The impling did so with a scream and looks around frantically while breathing heavily.
"It's okay, baby doll." Striker assured stroking her cheek. "It's only me."
Relief washed over her once she heard her father's words.
"Sorry I woke you, daddy..."
"Don't feel bad, princess. It was only a bad dream."
"Can... can I sleep with you tonight? I... I don't wanna be alone."
The cowboy smiled sympathetically. "Sure ya can, baby girl."
He carried Maria back to his room then sat in his bed leaning back against his pillows, cradling her in his arms like when she was a baby.
Maria sniffled, "I wish they'd stop..."
"Maria, bad dreams can't be helped. Sometimes they just happen whether we like it or not. Just remember, they're still only dreams and dreams can't hurt ya."
"But it hurts..."
"I know ya feel, baby girl." Striker looked down at his daughter with a sad smile. An idea suddenly came to him. "Y'know, I believe I have some pictures of your momma around. I'll give one to ya if ya like."
Maria looks up at him. "You will?"
"'Course I will. Whenever I had bad dreams, I sometimes look at my parents' wedding picture as if they're right next to me." He gestured to said picture on the bedside tabletop. It'd stayed there ever since his return home. Maria cracked a little smile but she sniffled.
"I wish mommy was really here..."
"Me too, princess." Striker pulled her into a hug. "But just so ya know, she'll always be with you and me, even if we can't see her."
"You sure?"
"I'm very sure."
The two lay in silence for some time before Maria's eyes slowly closed, soothed into sleep by her father's warmth and heartbeat. Striker gave his daughter a goodnight kiss and carefully pulled the covers over them both before joining her in sleep.