Septiplier One-Shots

Nightmares.

Last one with Piper for a bit :)
-Pey

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Mark clicked frantically on his mouse, trying to finish editing his 5th video of the night. He had been up for at least 48 hours straight, and was running on about 6-if not less-hours of sleep. His eyes were drooping as he pressed the 'Render' button, pulling up a new window and starting the 6th video. The door to the recording room silently creaked open, Mark brushing it off as Jack just grabbing his hat or flashdrive.

"Daddy?" a small voice spoke, sniffling at the end. Mark turned his chair toward the door, seeing his 14 year old daughter in the doorway. She had on a pair of her athletic shorts and one of Jack's "Septic Tank" hoodies, the sleeves hanging over her hands. Through the dark room Mark could still see her face was red and blotchy, a sign along with the sniffling that she had been crying.

"Piper?" Mark asked, turning away from his computer completely. "What's wrong?" Piper sniffled as a response and took a sharp breath in, her eyes getting squeezed shut. A sob escaped her mouth as she opened her eyes, tears flowing freely down her face. Mark quickly stood up and bolted over to his daughter, going down on his knees and wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. Piper's arms flung around her dad, burying her face in his shoulder and sobbing. Mark rubbed her back soothingly as Piper clung onto him, her hands being fisted in his shirt as Mark was her lifeline.

After a few minutes of hugging and calm words being whispered by Mark, Piper finally calmed down. The only sound in the room was her sniffling and raged breathing, along with the strange noise of Mark's hand rubbing her hoodie. Mark gave his daughter a big squeeze and pulled away, resting his hands on her waist and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"What happened, baby girl?" Mark asked, moving his hands to Piper's shoulders.

"I h-had a n-nightmare." Piper said, sniffling once more. "I don't want to go back to bed, Daddy..." she said, her voice cracking as she flung herself onto Mark again. Mark's heart fluttered and broke at his daughter, as she hadn't called him or Sean "Daddy" or "Daddies" in so long. It hurt him, knowing that whatever she dreamed about must have really frightened her. Normally when Piper has nightmares she would toss in her bed and Mark or Jack would wake her up and calm her down, but she had never gotten up and gotten one of them.

"Hey," Mark started, pulling away again and putting his hands on Piper's waist, "how about we go downstairs and make tea then pop marshmallows in the microwave?" Piper let out a small smile and nodded her head, Mark smiling in response. Mark squeezed Piper's waist and hoisted her up, throwing her over his shoulder and laughing as she squealed. Mark swung her back down and Piper wrapped her legs around his waist, giggling as Mark poked her sides.

The two went down the stairs and to the kitchen, seeing Jack sitting at the bar reading something on his iPad. Sean turned towards the two when he heard laughter, smiling as Mark came in with Piper.

"What are you guys doing up?" Sean asked, strolling over to the two. Mark turned his head and Sean placed a peck on his lips, both of them laughing as Piper fake gagged.

"Piper had a nightmare," Mark started, "so I decided to be the best dad ever and help her feel better." Piper's face dropped as she heard the word, Jack noticing and combing a piece of hair behind her ear.

"Do you wanna talk about, P?" Jack asked, rubbing Piper's shoulder. Mark squeezed her and walked over to the bar, setting her down in one of the seats. Piper folded hands on the counter and squeezed her eyes shut, another sob escaping her lips. Jack set next to her and put an arm over her shoulders, passing her the warm cup of tea he was drinking. Piper grabbed the mug and clutched it like a lifeline, lifting it up and taking a sip. She set the cup down as Mark sat on the other side of her, placing a hand Piper's wrist. The three stayed like this for a few minutes, Piper taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm down.

"I lost you." Piper spoke, biting her lip when she finished. Mark and Jack looked at each other, both shrugging.

"What do you mean, P?" Sean asked, giving Piper's shoulders a squeeze.

"I lost you." Piper started, her voice cracking while tears welling up in her eyes. "Both of you. My biological parents c-came b-back a-and..." Piper started full on sobbing, Jack pulling her even closer. Mark wrapped an arm around Piper's waist and placed a kiss on her temple, leaning his head on hers.

"Piper, baby," Mark started, "they're gone. They can't hurt you anymore."

"You're with us now." Jack added. "We love you so much, we're always going to protect you."

"I love you both too." Piper stated. "It just seemed so real..."

"A lot of dreams do." Mark said. "That doesn't mean they are."

"I'm just..." Piper sighed. "I'm just happy I got taken out of that hell hole. Then you guys welcomed me into this house and now we're just one, big, happy family who plays video games. It's a big change."

"We know, baby girl." Mark said, his voice adding a calming effect on Piper. "It was a big change for us too. We have no idea what we're doing." Mark chuckled at the end and so did Jack, Piper letting out a breathy laugh.

"Well, you're both doing great for winging it." she said, taking another drink of tea. There was a comfortable silence between the family, Jack's arm still around Piper as Mark rubbed her back.

"You wanna make marshmallows?" Mark asked. Piper nodded eagerly and Mark laughed, kissing her head as he stood up.

"I don't get one?" Jack asked, sticking his lip out and giving Mark puppy dog eyes.

"Yes you do, baby doll." Mark said, smiling. He walked over to Jack and cupped his cheeks, pressing their lips together tenderly and sweetly. Piper giggled and Mark and Jack pulled away, Jack kissing Mark's cheek.

"What are you laughing about?" Mark said in fake anger, jabbing his fingers in Piper's sides. Mark lifted her up and threw her over his shoulder, carrying her to the microwave and setting her on the counter.

"You and Papa are so cute together!" Piper exclaimed. "Y'all are my OTP!"