Sarah’s chest tightened, her heart swelling with a love and gratitude she hadn’t fully realized until this moment. Without saying a word, she stepped forward and pulled a stunned Daniel into a tight embrace. He stiffened in surprise but didn’t pull away and both stayed like that for a long moment, both absorbing the enormity of the situation.

As Sarah held him, a deep understanding washed over her. This presence—his presence—had always been there, lingering quietly in the background. But now, it all made sense. It hadn’t just been Emily’s resilience during difficult times. It was Danny, always there, always watching. Protecting them.

She thought back to the moments when Emily had seemed unusually wise or offered comfort far beyond her years. She now understood it hadn’t been just Emily - Daniel had been there right beside her, quietly watching and guiding, sharing the burden when those around him needed it .. Sarah realized that she hadn’t just been caring for Emily all this time—she had, through Emily, been caring for Daniel too. In raising her daughter, she had offered Daniel the love and support he had lost in his own life.

As these realizations took hold, Sarah’s arms tightened around him. It wasn’t just Emily who had needed her. Daniel had needed love, too. The realization hit her like a wave. Daniel had given so much of himself to protect Emily, to protect them all. He had risked his very existence to keep them whole and now his life force literally flowed through her daughter.

How could she not love him? How could she not see him as her own?

Sensing the emotions running through Sarah, Daniel gulped nervously but seemed to nevertheless appreciate and enjoy the embrace. He clearly hadn’t expected this level of affection or acceptance.

As she gently pulled back from the embrace, her hands resting on Daniel’s shoulders, Sarah looked into his eyes. She could see the vulnerability there, the uncertainty, and something deeper—a longing to belong. Daniel wasn’t just the protector. He was also the lost child who longed to belong.

"Daniel," she began softly, her voice heavy with emotion, "I wish I could have known you better in your last life. I wish I could have been there for you when you were hurting, when you were alone. But in a way, I think I have been there for you in this life—through Emily. Every time I took care of her, comforted her, nurtured her and helped her through her struggles, I was caring for both of you. I was nurturing you too, even if I didn’t realize it." She laughed softly “I mean, I literally looked after you for weeks? Months? When you arrived in this universe? You were a pretty sweet child…”

Daniel’s smile faltered for just a moment, and as it did, his eyes flickered. For a brief moment, they became more childlike, filled with a vulnerability and innocence that Sarah hadn’t seen before. It was a stark contrast to the adult presence she had come to know, and it made her heart ache with a new understanding. Just as Emily’s eyes sometimes took on an adult-like quality, Daniel’s eyes now mirrored the childlike part of himself, revealing the depth of their connection and the duality within them.

“You were mo…Sar..I mean..uh..Ms Parker…mo I mean Sarah!” he quickly stammered nervously.

Seeing this, Sarah felt a deep almost overwhelming sense of love and protectiveness. She knew she needed to say what had been growing in her heart.

"Hey Daniel," she said softly, "it’s okay, you don’t have to call me 'Sarah.' You’re like my child as Emily is, even if it took me time to realize it. I’ve come to realize that you’re just as much a part of me as she is. If you want to... you can call me 'Mom…once again'

–

As the words left her lips, the dreamscape around them began to shift. The soft light of the meadow grew brighter, more vivid. Colors deepened, the sky became a richer shade of blue, and the wildflowers around them seemed to bloom even more vibrantly.The world itself was reflecting the joy and warmth that now the dreamscape - Emily and Daniel’s universe.

Daniel’s eyes widened slightly, the flicker of vulnerability deepening. He had always held back, not wanting to assume, overstep or force his way in. But hearing her offer, giving him permission—it touched him in a way he didn’t know he could be. A warmth spread through him, filling him with a sense of belonging and love.

"Mom," he whispered, the word carrying all the weight, love and gratitude he had held within himself. "I’d like that..it has been a long time since I said those words…thank you."

Sarah’s tears flowed freely now, but they were tears of joy and fulfillment. She pulled him into a tighter embrace, her heart swelling with love. "You’re welcome, sweetheart," she replied, her voice thick with emotion. "It took me some time to understand but I’m so glad you’re a part of our lives."

For a moment, they stood there, holding each other, the bond between them stronger than ever. As they embraced, Sarah felt a profound sense of peace, a realization that her family felt just a little more complete.

As they finally pulled apart, Sarah looked closely at Daniel, noticing the striking similarities between him and Emily—the way they smiled, the way their eyes crinkled at the corners. She felt a deep bond with him, a connection that transcended the boundaries of time and space. She reached out and gently kissed his forehead whispering "You’re so much like Emily," she said softly, "and she’s so much like you."

Daniel smiled, his expression a mirror of Emily’s playful grin. "I guess that’s because we’re two halves of the same whole." His smile then turned mischievous, and with a glint in his eye, he added, “Well, I guess I should apologize for all the curses she learned from me...Mom.” Suddenly thoughtful, he added, “Now that I think of it, I’m not sure she learned all of them from me…”

Sarah chuckled softly, wiping away her tears. "I’ll deal with Emily’s language when it gets… colorful," she teased, shaking her head. "But you, Danny… no promises on keeping her out of trouble, huh?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Danny grinned impishly. "Hey, cursing is like poetry, sometimes I slip up, but I’m innocent… mostly… sometimes."

Sarah laughed, feigning exasperation, but the sound soon gave way to a more tender silence. The meadow around them seemed to pulse with energy, a subtle vibration that both instinctively felt. Daniel’s gaze shifted upward, and Sarah followed his eyes to the soft light growing in the sky above them as the dreamscape began to shift.

He sighed softly, almost wistfully. “Looks like morning’s coming,” he said, his voice calm but with a note of finality. “It’s time for you to go back, Mom.”

Sarah’s heart clenched. “Will we ever meet again like this?” she asked, a mix of hopefulness and sadness threading through her voice.

Daniel smiled, his expression softening. “I really would like that” he replied, his voice sincere. Growing thoughtful, he added, “Emily and I... we’re still evolving, still figuring this out. We can merge our identities temporarily, and she lets me take control of her body from time to time.” He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Don’t be too surprised if I pop by to say hello once in a while. And in the meantime, you can always talk to me through her.”

He glanced up at the vibrant threads still intertwined above them and his expression turned serious. “This meeting today—I’m not sure how it was possible, but it happened. I think, because you’re connected to Emily, and thus also connected to me. So if you found your way into the dreamscape by accident...” He paused, his expression softening as if a new idea was taking shape. “Maybe one day, Emily and I can pull you in on purpose.”

A warm feeling of hope washed over Sarah, soothing her heart. The thought of being able to meet her invisible son and communicate with him more frequently felt like a balm in that moment. “I’d like that too,” she said softly.

The pulse in the dreamscape grew stronger, the meadow slowly starting to fade. The vibrant colors began to soften, blending into a gentle glow. “Take care of my sister, Mom,” Daniel whispered with a smile, his presence slipping away. “And Dad too...and yourself” he added, his voice fading as the light around them grew brighter.

As the meadow dissolved, the brightness enveloping her, Sarah’s heart clenched slightly. But before everything vanished, she heard Daniel’s voice again, humming softly. The familiar tune of Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi—a song filled with nostalgia, connection, and comfort. Sarah smiled faintly, listening to the familiar melody, as the dream world melted away into the quiet reality of the hospital room.

Sarah awoke with a start, her hand still clutching Emily’s. The room was quiet, save for the steady beeping of the monitors. She glanced over at Thomas, who was still fast asleep, and then down at her daughter, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.

Emily’s face, though pale, held a newfound sense of peace as her body and mind continued to heal. As the daylight streamed in enveloping her daughter in a halo of light, Sarah’s heart swelled with love, and she knew—deep down—that everything was going to be okay.

Against all odds, the universe had let her find her way to her invisible child as well, and in doing so, had discovered a new strength within herself. Thinking back to the threads of life Daniel had shown her, Sarah felt the invisible bonds that tied them all together. Those connections, strong and unbreakable, now gave her the courage to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

—

Thomas groaned as he woke, stretching his neck and shoulders, a grumble escaping about missing the comfort of their own bed. Sarah still sat by Emily’s side, observing her husband with a serene smile. The events of the night were still fresh in her mind, but somehow, after everything she had experienced, the weight she had carried now seemed to have lifted, leaving her with a quiet calm.

Thomas blinked, rubbing his eyes as he took in the peacefulness of her demeanor. “You look different... more rested than I feel,” he teased groggily.

Her soft, light-hearted laugh startled him into alertness. It had been too long since he’d heard that sound. “That smile... I haven’t seen it in days. Did something happen while I was out?” he asked curiosity tugging at him.

Sarah paused momentarily, her expression turning more thoughtful as she glanced at Emily, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

“Thomas... I saw him,” she said quietly, feeling the weight of these simple words. “I met Danny.”

Thomas frowned, the name pulling him out of his sleepy daze. “Saw who again?”

Sarah hesitated, her words softer now, as if she were piecing them together again. “Danny… I don’t know how, but... I was in her dreamscape. And he was there.”

Thomas sat up straighter, his full attention now on Sarah. “Danny? You mean... Emily’s Danny? But how—?”

“I don’t know,” Sarah interrupted him gently. “But it felt real. He was younger than I expected, but it was him. He told me things... about Emily, about how he’s been helping her heal.”

Thomas glanced between Sarah and their daughter, still struggling to process it all. “Are you sure? After everything, maybe it was just... a dream?”

Sarah shook her head, her eyes steady with certainty. “No, Thomas. It wasn’t just a dream. I know what I saw... what I felt.”

Her words hung in the air for a moment. Sarah’s expression softened, and she sighed softly. “He’s been with her all along. Watching over her... helping her recover.”

Thomas leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting toward Emily. His thoughts raced - torn between disbelief and a cautious understanding of what Sarah was telling him. He didn’t speak, but Sarah could see the uncertainty and conflict in his eyes. She reached over, resting her hand gently on his arm, a silent reassurance acknowledging the complexity of their lives and that they didn’t need to have all the answers right then and there.

Before they could say more, Emily stirred. Her eyelids slowly fluttered open, and she smiled lazily, her eyes still heavy with sleep, her brain addled with medications.

“Mom? I thought I saw you... in a dream...” she mumbled, her voice slurred from the lingering effects of the medication. She paused, then added with a slightly amused tone, “Yo..these meds? They’re... pretty chill...I could learn to live like this…”

Thomas let out a soft laugh, shaking his head, while Sarah’s smile faltered just for a second. There was something in Emily’s tone—a hint, a trace of Danny slipping through that validated all that she had experienced in the dreamscape.

Sarah brushed a hand through Emily’s hair, her touch gentle and cautious. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Rest now.”

Emily’s eyes closed once more, her breathing becoming more regular as she fell back into a peaceful sleep.

As Sarah leaned forwards, she felt it—a subtle shift, an echo of the dreamscape still lingering in the room. It was a presence she couldn’t quite describe, but she knew - Danny was still there, quietly watching over them all.

Giving her daughter a gentle kiss on the forehead, just as she had with Daniel in the dreamscape, Sarah whispered, her voice filled with deep, unwavering love, “Sleep well, my loves.”