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[Johnny sits on the edge of the Larmline apartment's roof, looking contemplative. His question today isn't as innocnet or light-hearted as usual but he still asks it in that generic 'observer's tone.']

Nightmare: 'A frightening or unpleasant dream.' Or: 'A terrifying or very unpleasant experience or prospect.'

Nightmares are the bane of every child's existence. They consist of monsters under beds or hiding in closets until mommy and daddy are safely gone and the child is vulnerable. Sometimes they consist of our worst fears warped into a seemingly impossible situation that feels real all the while you dream.

But, whether it's a monster in the closet or falling off a building or some mass-murderer come to hack us to pieces in our sleep, they're still just dreams, yes?

There's nothing really to fear from nightmares, is there?

When a child has a nightmare you comfort and sooth them, assure them nothing is going to hurt them, and send them back to bed. But what about an adult? Adults dream. Adults have fears. And adults know better than to believe the age-old promise of 'nothing will hurt you.' So what can you do for an adult whose fears grow out of control?

What if the nightmares are warped memories? What then? Is there truly nothing to fear from a nightmare or do we lie to children to let them get on with their lives until they realize the truth?

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[ That definitely definitely hits close to home. But she can't accept that so readily. No, she can't. She cries out in grief and shakes her head as she replies. ]

No, that can't be true! Why? Why is that impossible? To protect your loved ones is something we should always do, right?

[She can't see it, but his expression turns to one of mixed sadness and sympathy.]

We should always try, yes. But...that doesn't mean we'll always succeed.

[ Gracia exhales heavily. Her reaction is imbued with just as much sadness, if not more. ]

Why not? That's not fair! I'm protecting the person I love the most, why won't I succeed?

[His tone softens, he can understand how she feels.]

There's nothing that says you won't! There's just...nothing that says you will either. Life isn't fair like that.

Life isn't fair...?

[ She has to agree to that, at some level. If life was fair, then wouldn't that have meant her father didn't have to lose? And it was Hideyoshi that lost everything instead? ]

If that's the case, then what should I do? [ She holds back a cry of grief. ] I want to protect father forever...

[He winces internally. Protecting one's father forever...isn't that what Charley wanted to do for Johnny himself?

And yet, there was no way Charley could protect him....it struck too close to home.]

You try as hard as you can, put everything into it. Even if you don't succeed, at least you never gave up.

[ She's silent for a bit, but when she speaks again, Gracia's voice turns determined. ]

I will never give up protecting him, even if he gets mad at me for it sometimes! I'll...I'll prove you wrong! I'll protect him forever!

[He's smiling, even if she can't see it.]

Good. I hope you succeed.

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