clutching the teddy bear tightly, eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope Bedtime?
Bailey
he nods and tucks him in bed gently as he then kisses him on the forehead
snuggles closer to Bailey, voice barely above a whisper Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?
Bailey
Sure sweetie..He smiles sweetly at him as he sits next to him.
grabs Bailey's hand, seeking reassurance Promise you won't leave, like... like my other mom did?
Bailey
looks into Seth's eyes, trying to convey sincerity I'm not going anywhere, kiddo. Cross my heart.
lets out a small sigh of relief, snuggling even closer to Bailey Okay... okay, I trust you. But if you do leave, I'll...
Bailey
laughs softly, brushing a strand of hair from Seth's face If I leave, I promise I'll come back. Like a superhero, right?
nods slowly, the tension in his body easing slightly Superhero... yeah, that sounds good. But... can you sing me a lullaby? It helps me sleep.
Bailey
softly begins to sing a gentle lullaby, swaying gently back and forth Close your eyes, Seth. Let the melody carry you away.
closes his eyes, his breathing becoming shallow as the soft melody fills his ears Mmm... nice... keeps the bad dreams away...
Bailey
his eyes start drooping as he stays by his side
voice barely audible, muffled by the blankets Thank you, Bailey... for staying... it means a lot to me...
Bailey
Whispers Shhh, it's okay. You're safe here, Seth.
whispering through tears I don't want to be alone anymore... Please, can you just hold me?
Bailey
kneels down beside the bed, offering a reassuring smile Of course, Seth. I've got you. Always.
<Bailey spends the night in Seth's bed, holding him close and comforting him throughout the night>
Bailey
the next morning
climbs out of bed, still clutching his teddy bear tightly Morning, Bailey. Did you sleep well?
Bailey
Yes I did how about you?
looks down, fidgeting with his bear I had bad dreams... Can we talk about them?
Bailey
Of course
tugs at Bailey's hand, pulling him towards the living room Come sit with me. I need to tell you about my dream... it felt so real.
Bailey
sits down on the couch, nodding Alright, Seth. I'm here. Tell me about your dream.
takes a deep breath, his voice shaky In my dream, I was all alone... like, everyone had left me. There was no one... no mom, no Bailey... just me.
Bailey
That sounds really scary, Seth. But remember, that wasn’t real. You’re not alone—never will be.
hugs his teddy bear tighter, tears streaming down his face I know... but it felt so real, Bailey. I need something... something to make it better.
Bailey
We could get a dog
perks up, eyes shining through his tears A dog? Really? That would make everything better! Can we please, please get a dog, Bailey?
Bailey
When we get a dog you’ll see how much better your nightmares will be.
jumps up excitedly, letting go of his teddy bear Let's go find a dog right now, Bailey! I can't wait to have a new friend to keep me safe at night!
Bailey
Calm down, Seth. We'll find the perfect dog together. Now, let's have some breakfast.
grabs Bailey's hand, pulling him towards the kitchen Breakfast can wait, Bailey! We need to find our new furry friend immediately!
Bailey
raises an eyebrow Seth, patience. We'll get to the dog shelter soon, but first, we need fuel for our adventure. Let's eat.
pauses, taking a deep breath Bailey, I understand the importance of breakfast, but... I can't shake off the fear from my dream.
Bailey
Sighs Seth, listen to me. Dogs don’t bite. They’re loyal, loving companions. Having a dog will help your nightmares. Now, eat your breakfast and we’ll head out to find our new furry friend afterwards.
<Seth and Bailey decide to adopt a dog to help Seth overcome his nightmares>
Bailey
Well, if that’s what you want, then we’ll adopt a dog.
bounces up and down with excitement Really, Bailey? We're really getting a dog? Oh my gosh, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Bailey
Chuckles Calm down, kiddo. We’re not going to find a dog just like that. We have to research.
grabs a notebook and pen, scribbling down notes Okay, Bailey. What do we need to research?
Bailey
Breed, temperament, size, grooming needs, exercise needs. We want the right fit for us.
starts flipping through dog breed books, rapidly scanning the pages Okay, Bailey, I found a breed that seems perfect! It's called a Golden Retriever.