Surprise, It's Anxiety

Millie’s eyes snapped open as she shot up in bed, her little heart hammering in her chest as she tried to catch her breath. It had been a truly terrible dream this time, one that had the little girl trembling in her bed. It had been the first really bad dream she’d had since she’d moved in with Pa after him and Dad had finally gotten married. Actually it was probably the worst dream she’d ever had as her vision began to blur as tears began to well up in her eyes. When she was back in the old house if she ever had a bad dream she normally just had to lie in bed, waiting for the feelings to pass as there was no one she could run to. And even if she did it usually just had her being scolded and sent back without any sympathy or an ounce of comfort. Would it happen this time too? Would Jack and Steve send her back to her room, telling her to stop bothering them? Millie could only clutch at the hem of her nightgown, her thoughts racing as the dream was still so fresh in her mind it wasn’t showing any signs of disappearing anytime soon. So taking a deep breath she threw herself from her bed as she darted out of her room, tears flowing freely now.

“Daddy! Papa!”

Slamming into her new parents room, there was a moment of fear causing her to hesitate as her mind went back to all the times she’d just been sent back to bed. Would it happen again? But of course she had nothing to fear as Steve and Jack were up like a flash, Jack hopping out of bed as he darted over to her, Steve flicking on the light as he just stared in confusion which soon turned to worry as he followed after his husband.

“Millie?! Millie, you okay kiddo? What happened?” Jack was frantically looking her over, checking to see if she’d gotten herself hurt. Millie tried to get her words out but there was a lump in her throat, one so big that she could only let out a little sob as a fresh wave of tears spilled down her cheeks.

“I-I had a b-bad d-dream!” Both the mice sighed in unison, grateful it wasn’t something serious however whatever had happened had certainly scared the little girl terribly.

“Oh sweetheart, it’s okay. It was just a scary dream, you’re okay, you haven’t got anything to be scared about now.” Steve dropped to his knees, pulling Millie in close as she clung onto him for dear life, as if he was going to be yanked away from them. 

“Y-you guys got h-hurt and ended up like Daddy a-and I was all a-alone and stuck in t-the old house and n-no one came to g-get me! Papa it was s-scary! I don’t w-want you to d-die!” 

Jack and Steve exchanged looks before they pulled their daughter into their arms, giving her a great big bear hug as they softly hushed her.

“Kiddo, we’re not going anywhere. Me and your Pa are always going to be here for you, you don’t have to worry about things like that anymore. You’re safe here. We all are, so no more crying alright, you ain’t got anything to worry about.” Jack nuzzled the little girl as she sniffled, burying her face against his pajamas

“Your Dad is right, Millie. You’re not getting rid of us that easily, so no more tears.” Steve planted a soft kiss on her hair as he continued to rub her back. Millie was slowly starting to calm down as she nodded, still refusing to let go of either of them for fear her dream would become reality. It was then that another pair of footsteps came pounding down the hall as Tammy burst into the room, her hair a mess as she looked at the three of them, trying to pull her dressing gown back over herself.

“I heard yelling! Is everyone okay?!” 

“TAMMY!” Jack could only frown as Millie started up again, the half shrew grabbing towards her sister as she looked up at her adoptive father as Jack sighed, petting Millie’s hair.

“Bad dream. She’ll be okay, just give her a cuddle and reassure her you ain’t going to conk out on her anytime soon.”

“Millie, you poor thing…” Silently Jack and Steve pulled the pair into their arms, holding them close as they sat on the floor, reassuring their youngest that none of them were going anywhere.

It took a little bit but eventually Millie began to calm down, after using all the mice as a tissue of course, but soon she was standing by herself, a few sniffles escaping her every now and then.

“Sorry I work you up, Dad and Pa.”

“You don’t have to be sorry about that, you can wake us up for anything you know. Neither of us are going to be mad at you, so don’t worry about coming to ask for us if you need us. That’s why we're here after all.” Millie nodded as she looked down at her feet, she did feel a little silly now for the whole thing but she was very grateful that Steve and Jack were much nicer to her. They even said she could come get them if she needed anything at all which was much different than what it used to be like. Saying that she wasn’t really ready to go back to bed yet. Not alone at least, the thoughts were still there…

“Um, could I ask one more thing?”

“Course you can kiddo, what is it?” Jack just smiled down at her, ruffling her hair as she shifted shyly.

“C-can I spend the night with you guys? I kinda don’t wanna go back to bed…” Jack glanced over at Steve who just chuckled softly to himself.

“Course you can, Millie. Just don’t kick your Dad out of the bed this time, apparently waking up face first on the floor is a horrible way to start the morning.”

“That wasn’t my fault! He rolled over!”

“You were sleeping horizontally and kicking me in your sleep!” Tammy couldn’t help but giggle as Jack huffed, Steve scooping Millie up into his arms as he just shot his husband a somewhat sympathetic look.

“Well I’m sure she won’t do it this time. Now say goodnight to Tammy, Millie.”

“Night, night Tammy!”