Tony Pov

It was 2 O'clock in the morning, I was struggling to sleep as I was worrying about everything that was going wrong at the time, (which was a lot at the time so no wonder I was worried), I don't know if that was when my anxiety started to show itself or if that was just when I noticed it, (it wasn't like mental health was something that many people talked about back when I was growing up).

My bedroom door slowly opened, so I turned my head to the door and I was met with Daisy's tear stained face, which kicked my parental instincts into high gear, (as only a crying child could do), though I did try to do this with panicking Daisy, though I don't think that worked though.

"Hey, what's the matter Baby?"

Daisy just started sobbing uncontrollably, so I did the only thing I knew to do in this kind of situation, which was to hug her as close to my heart as physically possible, (as that had never failed me in the 5 years I was a parent at that point), (though there was only so much that doing as such can fix).

"Oh Baby, it's ok, I got you, shh, you're ok Sweetheart"

I continued to babble out reassurances like my life depended on it, (as hearing Daisy crying just broke my heart), but 10 minutes later Daisy was still sobbing her heart out, (which worried the actual fuck out of me), so I did the only thing that I could even think of, (and that I hadn't done in a long time), which was to slightly bounce her in my arms, (like you would with an actual baby).

A couple of minutes afterwards, Daisy's crying had been reduced to sniffles, so I did what most parents would do in my position and asked what was wrong, as I needed to know what made her so upset, (even if I couldn't really do anything about it, as dreams are the way our process the day), and it's healthy to talk about your feelings if you need to talk about them.

"What's the matter Baby?"
"It's silly"
"It's not silly if it made you so upset Darling"
"I had a dream that you died, and, and it felt really real"
"That's not silly at all Sweetheart"
"It feels like it is though Daddy"
"It's not, whenever you get hurt in my dreams, I have to get up and make sure that you're still ok"
"You do?"
"Yeah Baby, (kisses temple), I do"

That seemed to calm Daisy down a little bit, but she still didn't seem to be calm enough to go back to sleep, (though that's probably because these were very big feelings for a 5 year old to have), so I just stayed holding her as I didn't know what else would've calmed her down enough to go back to sleep, ya know, (or maybe you don't, I'm not assuming somebody's knowledge here).

"Daddy"
"Yeah Baby"
"Can I stay here tonight?"
"Yeah Darling, you can stay here tonight"

That was the last thing that she needed to hear before she went back to sleep, and as much as I wanted that to be her last bad dream, (I hated not knowing what was wrong with my daughter here, ok, fucking sue me), I also knew logically that it was far from being her last bad dream, but I think that most parents want to chase away all the bad dreams away, (even though life doesn't work like that unfortunately).

Daisy did sleep soundly, so it was worth the crick in my neck that I had the following morning, yeah I didn't really sleep that night but that wasn't anything unusual here, (well at least this had been the case since Jen left, but there wasn't much I could do about it), it was weirdly peaceful just laying there though.

Anyway morning came and sprinkled in the light through out the room, I was still awake but it was worth it if this was what it took for Daisy to sleep the the whole night through, (also it wasn't that long after her Mum left and experts do say that big life changes can disrupt sleep), Daisy then woke up.

"Morning Daddy"
"Morning Baby, you feeling ok?"
"Yeah"
"I'm glad Sweetheart"
"Did I wake you up last night?"
"No Baby, not at all"
"But it was late"
"Yes it was, but I was struggling to sleep last night"
"Why's that?"
"It just happens sometimes Darling"

She seemed to be ok with that answer, but I also didn't push it by asking about it, plus it was still quite early in the morning, though it was very peaceful to just be there, (though most people were not awake yet).