Peter's pov

This time when my family was gathered in the waiting area of the Labor and Delivery section of the hospital, I was not sitting with them. Because this time, it was Lara Jean who was in labor, about to deliver our baby girl, Evelyn Grace Song Covey Reagan-Kavinsky. After 8 hours, she was finally here. Silky tresses like her mother's, chocolate eyes with golden specks like mine. When I held her, her head was cradled in my hand, her outstretched legs on the crook of my elbow. Her entire family was more than happy and willing to love on our new addition, knowing that soon Mia and Jack would welcome Luke Rey Costa Reagan, and Sean and Reese would be welcoming Matthew Reese Carlson Reagan. Sean had finished his training at the Police Academy joining the Task Force suggested by Joe a few years back, the Special Stealth Response Forces Unit. He was able to use his degree to be our point person with TARU. So far the task force was a great success, always getting the job done without any issues. A few days later, Covey and I were able to go home with little Evie, named after her late maternal grandmother. We had a relatively quiet night with her, for which we had both been grateful. A good night of sleep was always helpful before I was going to see Alex Dawson, or Doc, as Uncle Danny, Cousin Joe and I refereed to him. Danny was the one who got us in touch with Doc, after he helped him through the PTSD and survivor's guilt of Fallujah, and the anger and grief over the loss of Aunt Linda. I was still dealing with a few restless moments or even nights from coming home alone; and I knew Joe's past partial memories of the time he and Paula spent in Hewitt's clutches had left him with insomnia, even if the guided disentangling of those partial memories sometimes left Joe all vulnerable and scared again, as if those things had just transpired in that moment, instead of over two decades prior. The one great thing about it all, slow healing aside, was that since Uncle Danny knew first-hand how affected we were after another step towards getting better, he usually ended up treating us to ice cream once we had both finished, allowing us to talk to him as well, for the experienced guidance and comfort only an Uncle could give.

On Monday's, my appointment was before Joe's, and on Friday's, it was the opposite. Today was a Monday, so I was up first. Giving me a reassuring smile, Doc smiled

"Hey, Peter. How are Lara Jean and little Evie?"

I smiled

"They're great. She actually sleeps every night, so, my weeks old baby girl sleeps better than me, how's that for interesting?"

Sarcasm and self-deprecating jokes had carried me through most of my guilt, and Doc knew this

"Peter... still having as much trouble as before, or a bit better by now?"

I shrugged

"Kinda varies. Today's the anniversary of when I met Jamey and Brooks, so last night was a bit harsh with flashbacks. Woke up having trouble breathing and sweating a few times... But it was the first time since the anniversary of coming home alone, so, I hadn't had a rough night like this in 4 days, I call it progress. Things are spacing out more. And I think I just miss them now, I haven't dealt with the why me aspect in a while."

He nodded

"That IS progress, I am so happy for you and proud of your hard work. Anything you want to talk about? What do you do before falling asleep , or to go back to sleep after a nightmare? Any routines to help you go back to restful sleep?"

If I had a grip on restful sleep, I wouldn't be talking with him right now, and Doc knew this. I sighed

"I spend some time with my two girls, maybe read a bit... Hold Covey in my arms and hope for an easy night, or that Evie will wake me up at the right time if I do end up having a nightmare. You know I can't do any of the heavy sleep meds, not when my tours or surprise ops could be starting at any moment. I need to be alert, I need to pass any screen testing."

He knew I had a point, especially due to the Task Force, which he had long been made aware of.

"I know, I understand. What about the basics, though? Warm milk, white noise, soothing lights?"

I shook my head

"They don't do anything for me."

We fell into a pensive silence until he spoke again

"During your high school relationship, you said you would ask Lara Jean for a bedtime story, and it always worked for you to fall asleep. I know you have been through some hard things since then, but have you tried that?"

I mentally slapped myself for not thinking about that.

"No, but I will tonight. Thanks, Doc, you're a genius!"

Seeing our hour was a few minutes from being up, he smiled

"Happy to help. If you need me, I'm always a text or call away. Hope things work out tonight."

I thanked him again, actually eager to try to sleep tonight, despite the tear tracks still on my face over my fallen brothers in arms. I ran into Joe in the lobby and hugged him

"Hey, man. You doing any better?"

He shrugged

"It's getting harder to keep this from the kids. These half-memories freak me out, I just wanna know everything and be done with it. But once I know everything, that's gonna be when the unpacking really begins, huh?"

I nodded

"Afraid so. At least the guy is safely behind bars."

He let out air in one forced breath

"No kidding. See you and Uncle Danny later."

Then, he went in to talk to Doc.

Joe's pov

(A/N: Dream in italics. TW for child abuse and neglect)

Seeing a bed set up in the office once again, I all but groaned

"Please tell me you're not going to hypnotize me, I don't believe in that stuff..."

He shook his head

"No, but I did study sleep cycles and sleep patterns. Put these glasses on"

I took the glasses in my hand and then looked at him

"Something tells me they're not normal sunglasses."

He shook his head

" They emit a low level delta wave to help you fall asleep for the lucid dreaming part of our journey to discovery."

A bit freaked out about what I wold remember this time around, I quipped back, though with no malice in my voice

"OUR journey? Feel free to take your turn at this lucid dreaming nightmare hunting anytime, Doc."

He smiled, reassuring hand on my shoulder

"Sorry, wrong choice of words. Are you ready, do you need anything?"

Even though it was not cold in the office, I had taken to sleeping either wearing or holding my father's jacket, ever since my Aunt gifted it to me that Christmas, eons ago. It felt as if he were with me, looking out for me, calming me, encouraging me. I put it on, laid down, donned the glasses and fell asleep

I was one year old, no clothes on my person other than a pull up. A very dirty pull up. But I knew better than to cry, only emitting a small whimper seeing my Mom's face black and blue, blood trickling to her chin. His chilling voice filed the room. Mitch's voice, that is

"Hey, Brat! Time for some fun!"

By now I was already soiled, underfed, chained to the ground and tied up, there was not much more to be done. Mitch did not seem to agree, deciding to take advantage of the fact I could not move to dunk my face underwater. I could not even move my limbs, just hear my Mom's screams and try to hold my breath. I was then let up, only to realize it was so he could slap my Mom unconscious for trying to help me. Turning his attention back to me, he yanked me out of the water and dried me off. My Mom was still unconscious. I thought it was over, but I had been wrong. He then lit a match and burned my back.

I woke up with a start, breathing heavily

"We did it. I finished the dream. It always ended with my Mom being slapped unconscious by a faceless figure, but now I saw Mitch Hewitt, no doubt about it. Then, for the first time in my life, the dream continued. Hewitt turned his attention back to me, yanked me out of the water and dried me off. Mom was still out, I thought it was over. I was so SO wrong."

I then lifted my jacket and shirt on the back, and he gasped

"He burned your back?!"

I nodded

"Yep. Thank you. For helping me remember. Now you're gonna have to help me process this, but that's a story for another day, seeing as our time is up."

He nodded

"Ok. Glad to be of service. You know to text or call if you need me. Go unwind and relax."

I nodded

"I'm meeting up with Peter and Uncle Danny."

He nodded in approval

"Good plan. Say hi for me."

I nodded

"I will."

A few moments later, Uncle Danny, Peter and I were having our fill of Oreo McFlurrys, with the senior member of the NYPD allowing us to talk through our situations as he calmed us down and comforted us. We were soon interrupted, but for one of the best reasons. Jack and Sean had let the family know Mia and Reese were in labor, with Matt and Luke arriving ten hours later, appropriately fussed over by our ever-growing brood. And for the first time in a while, Peter and I slept the whole night through, without one single problem. Well, Peter woke up with Lara Jean and Evie, but he had no nightmares or flashbacks. And for the first time in forever, neither did I.