The small apartment building was quiet and so very dark. I felt it nipping at my heals, leaving me restless and fidgety. I lay in bed, face up, staring at the wooden planks that held Peter's extra bunk bed above me. I sat up suddenly, throwing the blankets back. My mind was racing, and once it started, I couldn't get it to stop.

A sound replayed over and over again in my head. I thought back to earlier in the day, my first day at school. It went surprisingly well, and there were no incidents except...
I did slap Flash.

I flinched as the sound of my palm smacking his face echoed in my head. My eyes slid shut, my palms rubbing them into my skull. I hated when this happened. When little things I said or did or saw or heard reminded me of that place. I thought I was supposed to get better and be better after it was all over.

Boy, was I wrong.

I grabbed my pillow, hugging it to my chest tight. I always hated being up at night, especially when I was having an episode. It meant I had to bear through it myself. Though I didn't want to wake my Peter up, I had to because I was so scared.

I stood, legs quaking under me and I made my way to the living room. Peter was curled up on the couch, his face smushed against the back of it. His beautiful curly brown hair was a mess, but he couldn't have looked more perfect. Mine.

My teeth clamped together as my mind was yanked back from that happy place and I was in the old base over again. I took deep breathes, timing them as my therapist had showed me as I sat beside Webs, trying not to disturb him.

The pillow was squished in my panic, my clammy hands gripping the edges of it. I barely registered Peter's muffled "hey babe..." as he awoke and sat up. I felt his gentle hand on my shoulder and unwilling spasmed away from him. My eyes focused, and I was met with my loves face rather than Auggies. I breathed out a long breath as his eyes grew wide.

With out a word, Webkins scooped me up into his arms, holding me close to his chest. He laid back down on the sofa, facing the ceiling, as he pulled me close to him. I lay curled up on his chest like a child, shaking. His hands absently combed through my hair, a reassuring and calming feeling.

"Would you like to talk about it?" He ventured, his voice soft and even. I didn't respond at first, trying to find my voice. Instead I just nodded.

"I... I slapped Flash ?" I didn't mean it to, but it came out as a question. "And I couldn't sleep. The sound of skin hitting skin kept playing over and over again in my mind...." I had to close my eyes again, hearing the echoes of my choices taunt me from afar. "And I was right back there again. It was like I never left." I let out a long breath, nodding my head to assure myself that I would be okay. Peter pulled me closer to him, him wrapping an arm around me as I laid my head on his shoulder.

"I'm not going to tell you that it's gonna be okay. Because it's not."

"That's reassuring."

"But it'll get better. One day at a time. We'll work through this. It's not going to be easy, but I'm going to be here every single step of the way." He kissed the top of my head and I nodded. "Sleep, baby. You deserve it."

"I'm scared."

He leaned his head against mine, and I soaked in his warming love. What did I do to deserve this? "I'm right here. I got you. Go to sleep."

And after a while, I fell asleep in his arms.

I woke to the sound of clanking dishes and soft sweet humming. My eyes protested as I pushed them open. I sat up, slowly, peeling Peter's arms off me. He snored softly, still asleep. A smile crept to my lips and I brushed his long curly hair from his face. I wanted to stay with him. Forever. I wanted to curl back up in his side and let him hold me forever. I wanted to fall back asleep in his arms.

But I was hungry, too.

I carefully slid from the couch, covering Webs back in the giant fluffy blanket. I followed my nose into the kitchen and sat at the breakfast nook, watching Flo swim around the kitchen.

When she registered my presence, she gave a smile and rushed over to give me a good morning hug. "Good morning. Everything alright?" Her smile morphed into a frown of worry but I tried to smile to her. For the most part it worked.

"I'm doing better. I had a little episode last night..." I shivered, but shook off the though. "I'm okay now." I nodded, to convince her that I was doing okay.

She held me to her, and I leaned into her. Already, she was becoming a mother to me. I never had a mother or a mother figure but this was nice.

May let me go and brushed her fingers through my hair once before returning to her cooking. "I've got pancakes. Chocolate chip because Pete always says that if we have sugary pancakes, they might as well have chocolate too." I giggled at her remark as Peter stirred from the couch. Flo and I both looked over to see him peeking his eyes and nose over the edge of the sofa to look at us. "Did I hear pancakes?"

"Even better, Webs. Chocolate chip pancakes."