It was around 3 o'clock in the morning. The dawn of Paris was very quiet and peaceful as usual. All the lights were off, the moon shined, the stars glowed, and everyone was sleeping quietly and peacefully, possibly having a nice dream. Although the dawn was pretty chilly, people fell into a deep sleep that they didn't mind the coldness.

Even in the colony, rats were sleeping safe and sound. The coldness didn't seem to bother them as some of them lit the candles to keep the chilliness away while they slept. Django snored as he scratched his side while sleeping, and Emile was sucking on his thumb and rolled around. Suddenly, something got up quickly, panted heavily, hurried out, and ran through the darkness...

The morning came. Remy excitedly jumped out the bed and got ready for work. He joyfully walked to the bistro as he let the sunshine warm him up as he walked through the chilly road. It was such a fine weather that made Remy even happier. A cup of ice cream would be perfect for this atmosphere! Remy thought as marched to the bistro. He climbed up to the veranda where the rats dine. It was always empty before opening hours, but someone was already sitting there, hands on his chin.

"Git?" Remy asked confusingly, "what are you doing here so early?"

"I, uhhh," Git said hesitantly, "I don't know."

"Come on, you can tell me," Remy said soothingly, "what's the matter?"

"I had," Git paused for a moment, "a, uh, nightmare..." Remy was surprised.

"What kind of nightmare?" Remy asked. Then Git told him the whole story:

"So, I was taking you to the colony. But when we got there, no one was making an eye contact with us. Not even my friends. I wondered what was going on. We were both confused but also very concerned. We walked up to your father to greet him, but he turned away immediately. We tried to talk to him, but he seemed like he felt bad about something. Then we walked up to Emile, who looked guilty, I mean, very guilty, as if he did something extremely bad. So I asked him what happened. He tried to avoid us but we kept going after him. Eventually, he said that he accidently announced to his friends that we were in a relationship. Then his friends told the whole clan about our relationship. 

Few moments later, several rats were throwing rocks at us, calling us disgusting, weird, psychotic, and any other insults you can name. Several rats were telling us to leave the colony forever. We hurried out as the rocks were kept being thrown at us. At one point, one of it rock hit you in a head. Then you... started to bleed a lot. I was very startled by that cruel view. Then you became unconscious as your head kept bleeding. I grabbed a old rag that was thrown on the street and tried to cover up your wound. Then I hurried and carried you to your home, but the apartment was being destroyed for another project. I had no choice but to stay with you somewhere else, inside a hole or a grate somewhere near. I couldn't treat you at all. 

All I can do was put pressure on your head with some sort of napkins so that you won't bleed any longer. After few hours it seemed, you woke up very weakly. You caressed my face very, very softly. I held your hand so that you won't... leave. Luckily, you didn't die, but I started to hear something crawling inside of the hole that I managed to find. It turned out that some rats from our colony were following us. They grabbed more rocks and started to throw it at me and you. I hurried and run so that I can find somewhere that you and I'd be safe. After running and running, I finally found some ant hole. I dug it wider and deeper so that the other rats won't come find it see us. I tried talking to you, but you wouldn't answer. When I looked over at you... you didn't move... so I leaned my ear on your chest... nothing... at all. I tried to perform CPR, but no change... I held you tightly and cried... thankfully I woke up at that moment. But I was too scared to go back to sleep."

"Oh my," Remy said, "what crazy dream you had." Git didn't say anything. He was just looking down, freaked out by his nightmare. He was too startled to speak furthermore. Then Remy said as he wrapped himself around him, "That won't happen. I know you must be very creeped out by that but that won't ever happen."

"What makes you so sure?" Git asked.

"No one would know about our relationship," Remy said encouragingly, "and even if they did, they wouldn't be that aggressive to us. Plus, Emile is better at keeping secrets than you think. Sure he may be clumsy, but not that clumsy." The truth is, Remy was a little worried too. Who knew how the clan is going to react?

"That is true," Git said, feeling a little bit better, "I just couldn't fall back asleep."

"Try to go to sleep," Remy said smoothly, trying to not show Git that he's worried also, "I'll get something for you to lie on and elevate your head." Then he grabbed two sheaths of table cloths and folded one into a pillow size. He grabbed Git's hand and led him to a corner where he can sleep easier. "Try to get more sleep. I'll get back to you." Remy gently put a blanket over him and went inside the bistro. Git noticed that Remy became worried about his dream too. So, he thought for a moment, decided to stop worrying about this situation for now, and fell back asleep.

I hope that it really doesn't happen to us, Remy thought as he cooked. After what happened when Emile accidently told his dad, he knew that some rats would probably behave the way his father did in the first few days after he figured it out.

When Git woke up, it was lunch break for Remy. He peeked inside, Remy looked very concerned. Git started to feel bad about telling him the storyline of his unpleasant dream he had. Remy noticed him. He smiled smoothly and kindly gestured him to enter. Git carefully walked in and sat next to Remy.

"Feeling better?" Remy asked gently. Git shrugged. "Here," Remy said as he handed Git a slice of cheddar cheese, Git's favorite. He quietly chewed on the slice of cheese and let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks for listening to my nightmare," Git said.

"Hey," Remy said soothingly, "we're always there for each other, like you said. I need to help you at some point. I can't just make you help me all the time. And... I really like the fact that you cared for me so much even in your dream."

"Thanks," Git said, then he asked, a little worried, "but don't you think that was embarrassing? You know, a strong, huge, muscular rat like me having a dream like that?"

"Not at all," Remy said, "it doesn't matter how weak or strong you are. Everyone had disturbing dreams like that at some point. Don't worry. When the time passes, you'll get over with it before you know it. It won't bother you anymore." Git continued to eat his cheese, feeling somewhat better. Then Remy got up, opened the fridge, and got a cup of ice cream. "This should cheer you up," Remy said as he handed it to Git. Git put down the unfinished cheese and ice cream on his side and embraced Remy.

"Thank you so much," Git said softly as he embraced him and caressed his back.

"Take a deep breath and you'll soon be fine," Remy said warmly. 

A/N: It has been time we break the stereotype that people who are physically strong can withstand anything. People who are physically strong do have emotional problems too. They feel scared, guilty, sad, or even depressed. It does not matter how big, small, tall, short, fat, skinny they are. Everyone feels same emotion.

So, keep in mind, people: It doesn't matter what size you are, you will sometimes feel strong, or feel weak. If you feel weak, there's no reason for you to feel ashamed. All you need to do is find someone you know you can trust and talk to that person. It'll be very helpful.

Stay tuned for more chapters!