He's my prince

i chase nightmares away

P R O L O G U E

They were best friends. They shared everything, knew everything about each other. He was there for and she was there for him but even if he so badly wished he could comfort her, he didn't understand the pain she was in.

He had both his parents, who loved him with everything they had.

And she just had her father, who loved her more then anything in this world but even with all the love around her, she still hurt. She still cried and she still ached.

Because losing your mother so suddenly when she's all you've ever had must break someone.

Watching her, crying softly into her father's chest broke Miles heart. It had been a year since her mother's death and she was only five, still dealing with something she didn't understand.

Miles didn't even understand it but he hated whatever it was because it hurt Carter. It hurt his best friend. It hurt his everything.

Sitting silently, watching his best friend shook with sobs made him feel so helpless. He was only six, he couldn't do much to comfort her yet she still needed him and that reassured him. Because even if he didn't know how to support her, she still used him for support.

Crawling from his spot on the sofa, Miles came to stand in front of Nolan, Carter's father, who had his head laying atop hers. Sniffling softly to himself as he rubbed up and down her back, trying to calm down the sobs that left her.

She'd had a nightmare, waking up gasping before she'd started crying, waking up Nolan and Miles from their slumber.

Miles had slept over at their house, having no idea that at 3 am in the morning, he would be watching his best friend cry.

Nolan turned towards Miles and smiled softly, "What's wrong, kid?"

Miles shrugged, "Is Carter ok?"

Nolan nodded, "She just misses her mom, Miles. It's ok, are you tired?"

Miles immediately shook his head, he was wide awake and he'd only fall asleep if Carter calmed down. Nolan nodded, "Why don't you come sit here?" Nolan whispered, pulling away slightly from his daughter to lift Miles onto the sofa and didn't bother to be hurt when Carter crawled out of his lap and curled into Miles side. Slowly calming down as Miles tried to wrap his small arms around her much smaller frame.

Nolan smiled, "I'm going to make some warm milk, ok, Princess?"

Carter turned towards her father and slowly nodded, "Please, Daddy."

Leaning forward, Nolan laid a soft kiss against Carter's forehead before disappearing into the kitchen. Miles watched him go before turning towards Carter who had start twirling a finger around the buttons of his button up pjs.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Miles asked after a little silence and looked towards Carter who slowly nodded, a small pout coming to her lips when they started to tremble.

"What was it about?" Miles was to young to know that this might make Carter cry again but Carter wasn't scared to tell Miles about her nightmare. Because maybe, with daddy, he could protect her.

"I was in car and mommy was there. She had red stuff on her face and..." Carter trailed off and looked up at her best friend, sniffling, "She died, Milo."

Miles slowly nodded, sniffling softly because seeing Carter hurt, hurt him. "They just dreams, Carter. Can't hurt you."

Carter nodded, "I was scared. Alone."

Miles frowned, tightening his hold on Carter as if to prove to her that he was here. "I'm here, Carter. I'll chase nightmares away."

Looking up at Miles with a naive hopeful look, Carter smiled, "Promise?"

Miles immediately nodded, not hesitating to wrap his pinkie around Carter's trembling one, "Promise."

He could never chase the nightmares away, but he was always there to hold where when she woke up gasping for breath. Even if he wasn't with her to hold her, he was a phone call away to tell her a silly joke and cheer up.

Smiling, Carter laid a head against Miles thin shoulder, "Can we watch powerpuff girls?"

Miles didn't exactly love the show but he knew how much Carter loved it so he nodded his head, pulling away from Carter to go and fetch the iPad before running back towards her. As if scared if he was away to long, she'd slip back into a crying mess. Placing the iPad on Carter's lap, he watched as she typed her name into the password before looking through the thousands of episodes Nolan had downloaded for her and Miles finally relaxed when the theme song of the show started.

And Carter's face lit up with a smile.