Eight year old Gary sighed and snuggled closer to the warm thing in his bed, peacefully sleeping....

Wait..... Warm thing?!

He opened an eye and peeked through.

There was a raven haired kid in his bed.

Gary yelped and jumped.

Then he looked closer.

Ash

Wait.... ASH?!

what was this dude doing here, in the middle of the night?!

Oh wait..... Ash was sleeping here.

He was having a sleepover with Gary.

Gary sighed. Typical Ash.

He slipped back under the covers and put them over Ash.

Who had small water droplets on his face.

Gary furrowed.

Then Ash sniffed.

And Gary understood.

Ash was crying in his sleep.

He was having a nightmare.

Gary's heart sank. He stared at his friend, who lay there quietly crying, small whimpers escaping from his mouth. Ash’s fists were clenched tightly around the blanket, and his face was scrunched up in a mix of sadness and fear.

Gary bit his lip, unsure of what to do. He had never seen Ash like this before—so vulnerable. The confident, energetic boy he always competed with looked scared and fragile.

"Ash..." Gary whispered softly, not wanting to startle him. He reached out a hesitant hand, resting it gently on Ash's shoulder. "Hey... wake up, Ash."

Ash flinched at the touch, curling up tighter. Gary felt a pang of guilt, but he didn't pull his hand away. Instead, he started to rub Ash's back in small, slow circles—just like his grandfather did whenever he had a bad dream.

"It's okay," Gary said softly, barely above a whisper. "It's just a dream... You're safe, Ash."

Ash stirred, his breathing hitching. Gary watched as his friend’s eyes fluttered open, blinking away tears that continued to stream down his cheeks. For a moment, Ash looked confused and disoriented, his gaze darting around the dark room. Then he focused on Gary, his wide eyes filled with panic and fear.

"Gary?" Ash croaked, his voice shaky and small.

"Yeah, it's me," Gary replied, trying to sound as calm as possible. "You're okay. It was just a bad dream."

Ash sniffled, wiping his wet eyes with the back of his hand. He looked so embarrassed and lost that Gary’s heart ached.

"Wanna tell me about it?" Gary offered gently, sitting up in bed. He pulled the blanket around both of them, creating a small cocoon of warmth.

Ash hesitated, then slowly shook his head. "No... it was just... bad. Really bad," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Gary didn't push. Instead, he just nodded. "Alright. Well, whatever it was... it's over now. You're here, and you're safe." He gave Ash a small, encouraging smile.

Ash took a shaky breath, still trembling slightly. "I-I thought... I was all alone," he admitted, his voice cracking. "And... I didn't know what to do."

Gary felt a surge of protectiveness. Without thinking, he pulled Ash into a tight hug, wrapping his arms around his friend. "You're not alone," Gary said firmly, holding him close. "You've got me. We're friends, remember? I'll always be here."

If only that were true....

Ash hesitated for a second, then hugged Gary back, clinging to him like a lifeline. They sat like that for a while, the room silent except for the sound of their breathing.

After a long moment, Ash's tense body began to relax, his breathing steadying. He pulled back slightly, wiping the last of the tears from his eyes. "Thanks, Gary," he said, his voice still shaky but a little stronger.

Gary grinned and ruffled Ash's messy black hair. "No problem, crybaby," he teased lightly, trying to bring a bit of normalcy back. "Now, let's get some sleep, okay? No more nightmares."

Ash managed a small smile, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Yeah... okay."

Gary settled back down under the covers, and Ash did the same, this time scooting a little closer to him. The warmth between them was comforting, and for once, Gary didn't mind the proximity.

"Goodnight, Ash," Gary said softly, closing his eyes.

"Goodnight, Gary," Ash whispered back, his voice soft but no longer fearful.

Gary groggily sat up in bed, his eyes half-closed and his hair a wild mess. The piercing screams filled the room, and he immediately realized they were coming from Ash, who was thrashing and shouting incoherently.

"NO! MOM, PLEASE! DON'T THROW ME! DON'T!" Ash yelled, his face twisted in panic, tears streaming down his face.

Gary's eyes widened, his heart hammering in his chest. What kind of nightmare was Ash having?!

Professor Oak stood by the doorway, looking worried. He glanced at Gary and gave him a small, comforting smile. "Good morning, Gary," he said softly. "Ash is... having a nightmare. A very bad one."

Gary rubbed his eyes, barely awake, and mumbled, "What's going on, Grandpa?"

Oak stepped into the room, his expression serious. "I heard him yelling from the kitchen, so I came to check on you two. I think Ash needs someone to wake him up, gently."

Gary nodded, his sleepiness fading away as concern for his friend took over. He slid off the bed and crawled over to Ash, who was still caught in the throes of his nightmare, shouting and kicking the blankets away as if he were struggling against some invisible force.

"Ash!" Gary said firmly, but not too loudly. He grabbed Ash's shoulder and shook him lightly. "Ash, wake up! It's just a dream! You're safe!"

But Ash only screamed louder, his voice desperate. "MOM! DON'T LEAVE ME! DON'T LET GO!"

Gary's heart clenched. He shook Ash a bit harder this time. "Ash, wake up! It's me, Gary! You're safe! You're at my house!"

Ash's eyes shot open suddenly, wide and terrified, and he sat up with a gasp, breathing heavily as if he'd just run a marathon. His eyes were unfocused, darting around the room until they finally landed on Gary, who was staring back with worried eyes.

"Gary...?" Ash whispered, his voice hoarse, his face pale and his body trembling.

Gary gave a relieved smile and nodded. "Yeah, it's me. You were just having a bad dream."

Ash blinked rapidly, tears welling up in his eyes as he shuddered and clutched his knees to his chest. "It felt so real," he choked out, his voice barely a whisper. "I thought... I thought she was really gonna—"

"Shh," Gary interrupted gently, pulling Ash into a hug without thinking twice. "It's okay. It wasn't real. You're here, alright? You're with me."

Ash buried his face in Gary's shoulder, his whole body shaking with silent sobs. Professor Oak watched quietly from the doorway, his face lined with concern but also pride, seeing how his grandson was handling the situation.

Gary held onto Ash tightly, not letting go until he felt Ash's breathing start to slow and his trembling ease. He pulled back slightly, keeping his hands on Ash's shoulders, and looked him in the eyes.

"Hey," Gary said, his voice steady and soothing. "Whatever you dreamed, it's over now. It was just a bad dream, okay?"

Ash nodded, sniffling and wiping at his tear-streaked cheeks with his pajama sleeve. He took a few deep breaths, clearly trying to regain control.

Oak stepped forward, speaking softly. "Ash, why don't we all go downstairs and have some breakfast? I think you could use something warm to eat."

Ash hesitated, then nodded, his face still pale but a bit more composed. Gary patted him on the back. "Come on, I'll make you some pancakes. Grandpa has a secret recipe that's really good," he said, trying to cheer Ash up.

Ash managed a shaky smile. "Pancakes sound... good," he admitted, his voice still a little wobbly.

Gary got to his feet, helping Ash up, and they both followed Professor Oak downstairs. As they walked, Gary kept a supportive hand on Ash's shoulder, just in case his friend needed it.

Gary watched Ash standing there in the doorway, his silhouette illuminated by the faint glow of the hallway light. Ash looked hesitant, his hands awkwardly hanging by his sides, like he was fighting an internal battle.

Gary, already nestled under the warm blankets, noticed his friend’s nervousness. He scooted over, making space in the bed, and patted the empty spot next to him. “Come on, Ash,” he said softly.

Ash shifted uncomfortably, shaking his head. “Oh no, Gary, it’s fine. I... I’ll just stand here and wait for daylight to come.”

Gary’s eyebrows furrowed, and he frowned a little. “Ash, get in this blanket right now,” he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Ash hesitated for a moment, then slowly padded over to the bed. He sat down, his posture tense and uncertain, before finally lying down next to Gary. As soon as he settled under the blanket, he instinctively curled up, his eyes still wide and alert, like he expected something bad to happen.

Gary didn’t say a word. Instead, he pulled the blanket snugly around both of them, making sure Ash was completely covered, cocooned in warmth. He lay there quietly, just breathing, until he felt Ash’s body slowly start to relax beside him.

Carefully, Gary reached out and took Ash’s hand, feeling how cold it was. He lifted it gently and placed it over Ash’s chest, right above his heart. “Feel that?” Gary whispered softly.

Ash blinked, his eyes focusing on Gary’s face, his breathing slowing down as he felt the steady thump of his heartbeat under his own hand. He swallowed and nodded, his eyes shimmering with emotion.

“Your heart’s still beating,” Gary said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You’re safe. You’re here. Nothing’s going to hurt you, alright? Not while I’m here.”

Ash let out a shaky breath, his eyes closing as he listened to the steady rhythm under his palm. The tension in his body seemed to melt away little by little, and he finally leaned closer to Gary, resting his forehead against Gary’s shoulder.

“Thanks, Gary,” Ash murmured, his voice breaking just a little.

Gary tightened his arm around Ash, holding him close. “Anytime,” he replied gently. “I’m not going anywhere.”

For the rest of the night, they stayed like that, snuggled together, sharing the warmth of the blankets and each other's presence. Ash’s breathing evened out, and he drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep, with Gary's quiet, reassuring presence beside him—a silent promise that he would never face his fears alone.

Gary shot up, eyes wide with alarm. "What happened now?" he blurted, his voice cracking with sleepiness and worry. Ash was sitting on the edge of the bed, his face buried in his hands, crying harder than Gary had ever seen. Professor Oak was crouched beside him, gently rubbing circles on Ash's back, his face a picture of sadness and understanding.

Gary scrambled out of the bed, moving to Ash’s side. “Ash, what’s going on? Why are you crying?” he asked, his voice softer now, filled with concern. He reached out to touch Ash's shoulder, but Ash flinched, shrinking away as if afraid he’d done something terrible.

“Gary!” Ash sobbed, tears streaming down his face. His eyes, red and swollen, looked desperate and filled with guilt. “I’m so sorry! I-I dreamed... I dreamed I hurt you, that you hated me, and you—” Ash’s voice broke, and he dissolved into another fit of choked cries, his whole body shaking.

Gary's heart ached at the sight of his friend in so much pain. “Ash, listen to me,” Gary said, his tone firm but kind. He gently took Ash’s hands away from his face and held them tightly, ignoring the way Ash trembled under his touch. “That was just a dream, okay? It wasn’t real. I’m right here. You didn’t hurt me, and I don’t hate you. We're best friends, remember?”

Ash stared at him, his chest heaving with uneven breaths, tears still streaming down his face. “But... but it felt so real,” he whispered, his voice full of raw fear. “I thought I lost you.”

Gary squeezed Ash’s hands, his eyes fierce and steady. “You’re not going to lose me, Ash,” he said, his voice stronger than he felt. “Dreams can’t hurt us, alright? I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Ash’s lip trembled, and with a broken sob, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Gary in a tight hug. Gary almost fell backward from the force, but he held on, hugging Ash as tightly as he could. Ash buried his face in Gary's shoulder, his cries muffled but intense, as if he was trying to get every last bit of fear and sadness out of his system.

Professor Oak watched them, his eyes soft and sad, but he smiled gently as he saw Gary handle the situation with such care. He gave Gary a small, encouraging nod, then quietly left the room, leaving the two boys alone.

Gary didn’t let go until he felt Ash’s sobs begin to slow, turning into quiet sniffles. He pulled back just enough to look at Ash’s tear-streaked face, his own eyes filled with understanding. “Hey,” he said softly, brushing a tear off Ash’s cheek with his thumb. “You’re my best friend, and nothing’s gonna change that. Got it?”

Ash nodded, looking a little more at ease. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, taking deep, shuddering breaths as he tried to calm down. “Yeah... okay,” he said, his voice still shaky but not as panicked.

Gary ruffled Ash’s hair, smiling a little. “Good. Now, no more crying. How about we go downstairs and have those pancakes, huh? I bet Grandpa’s already got the batter ready.”

Ash sniffled and gave a small, hesitant smile. “Yeah... pancakes sound good,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Gary grinned and stood up, holding out a hand to help Ash off the bed. Ash took it, squeezing a little too hard, but Gary didn’t mind. They headed downstairs together, the lingering fear of the nightmare slowly fading away with every step.

Professor Oak was already in the kitchen, the smell of pancakes wafting through the air. He looked up and smiled warmly as the two boys entered, his expression full of pride and relief. “I’ve got a fresh batch just waiting for you,” he said, flipping a pancake onto a plate.

Gary led Ash to the table, sitting down next to him. He kept a reassuring hand on Ash's shoulder the whole time, just in case his friend needed it. They ate breakfast together, talking about anything and everything, filling the room with warmth and laughter until the remnants of the nightmares were nothing but distant memories.

And for once, Gary felt like he was the one taking care of Ash—like he was the one making sure his friend knew he was safe and not alone. And somehow, that made everything feel a little bit better.

Gary wandered through the quiet house, searching for Ash. It was well past bedtime, and the shadows in the hallways were long and dark. He felt uneasy—the evening had been normal, but something felt off. Ash wasn't in his bed when Gary woke up in the middle of the night, and his friend's absence left a heavy feeling in his chest.

He checked the kitchen, the bathroom, and even the living room, but Ash was nowhere to be found. Growing more worried, Gary headed upstairs, following a faint noise he could barely make out. As he got closer, the sound grew louder—a steady, muffled beat. He finally stopped in front of the door to the guest room where Ash was staying and pushed it open quietly.

Inside, the room was dim, lit only by the blue glow of a small nightlight. Ash was sitting on the floor, hunched over with his back against the bed, headphones covering his ears. Gary could hear the pounding music spilling out from the headphones—it was so loud that it almost hurt his ears even from across the room. Ash’s face was blank, eyes fixed somewhere in the distance, almost as if he was trying to block everything out.

Gary’s worry deepened. Ash was clearly trying to keep himself awake—avoiding sleep like it was a monster waiting to pounce. Gary recognized the hollow look in his friend's eyes, the one that meant the nightmares were getting to him. Without thinking, he stepped further into the room and crouched down in front of Ash.

"Ash?" Gary said softly, though he knew his friend couldn’t hear him over the blaring music. Ash didn’t react, just stared ahead like he didn’t even notice Gary was there. Swallowing his worry, Gary gently reached out and pulled one of the headphones away from Ash’s ear.

Ash flinched, jerking his head up as if he’d been caught doing something wrong. His eyes were wide, tired, and red-rimmed. The dark circles under them were proof that he hadn’t been sleeping at all.

"Gary!" Ash said, his voice hoarse, sounding almost guilty. He pulled off the headphones and let them drop to his lap, the loud music still playing tinny and distorted from the tiny speakers.

"What are you doing up?" Gary asked, frowning in concern. "It's so late... Why aren't you sleeping?"

Ash bit his lip, his expression a mixture of embarrassment and fear. He looked away, avoiding Gary’s eyes. "I... I just can't sleep," he muttered. "The dreams... they’re too much, Gary. I don’t want to close my eyes. Every time I do, it's like... like I'm back there."

Gary’s heart clenched. He could hear the raw emotion in Ash’s voice—the fear and desperation that he was trying so hard to hide. Gary didn’t know what Ash’s nightmares were about, but he knew they were bad. Worse than he had imagined. Worse than just a regular bad dream.

"You can't stay awake all night like this," Gary said gently, his voice calm but firm. "It's not good for you. Come on... let’s get you back to bed."

Ash shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes. "No," he said, his voice breaking. "I can't, Gary. I don’t want to... I don’t want to see her again. I don’t want to be alone."

Gary's eyes softened, and he sat down next to Ash, leaning back against the bed. "You're not alone," he said quietly. "I’m right here. And if you’re too scared to sleep, then... I’ll stay with you. All night if I have to. You don’t have to face it alone, Ash."

Ash’s hands trembled as he gripped the headphones tightly, tears welling up in his eyes. "You don’t understand," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Every time I close my eyes, she’s there. And it feels so real. I’m scared, Gary."

Gary didn’t hesitate. He reached out and pulled Ash into a tight hug, feeling his friend shudder against him. "Then I’ll stay awake with you," he said softly, his voice steady and reassuring. "We’ll stay up together, okay? You don’t have to be scared. I won’t let anything happen to you."

Ash clung to him, burying his face in Gary’s shoulder, his breath hitching with silent sobs. They sat there in the dark room, the music still playing softly in the background, until Ash's shaking finally began to subside. Gary didn’t let go, holding him close, refusing to leave him alone in the darkness.

"How about we turn the music down a bit?" Gary suggested gently after a while, his tone light and encouraging. "We can talk... or just sit here. Whatever you need."

Ash nodded and squeezed his eyes as Gary turned the music off, then turned to Ash. " Let's talk, Ash."