"I can see it- you look more rested, you're more relaxed, you're enjoying things such as this. You seem better."

"I find you learn to take better care of yourself when someone else comes along that you care about. All of a sudden, there are stakes."

"Do you always fancy vanishing?"

(She floats over across the room, and offers a smile.)

"You've taken to your role as a parent very well. I am rather proud of you- as though I taught you anything about mothering!"

"May I see?"

"Heavens! Its you. You certainly vanished."

"You need not worry. Any world for any person that falls apart will fall together again."

(Hug. Their feet slosh in the water as they step towards eachother.)

"Hug?"

"I wondered why your dream is like this."

(Its the usual bright white void, but there's about a foot of water on the ground across the entire space.)

"You're asleep, dear!"

"Yes, it is."

(She says, clearly disappointing that she was STILL startling.)

"Childish? Childish means foolish. It's sweet and silly, yes, but not childish.

So many who are growing fancy maturity as a badge of honor, but seek out grim seriousness in its place."

"Why? Its nothing to be ashamed of. But, all the same, I will not tell, if that is what you wish."

"Aww! How wonderful! SO nice to hear myself not be alone in my interests for a change."

"You do not? Really?

What a shame. I have a softness for them, myself. Maybe that's not becoming of a woman into her multiple thousands, but I do not think I mind to be seen as silly by others. I spent too long caring about how I was seen anyways!"

(She chuckles.)

"No, silly, I mean like these."

(Stuffed animals or plushes, it seems she means.)

"Do you have any soft friends?"

"I prefer this."

(Has a plush bunny in her hands. She hugs it in an innocent way.)

"Good- I can see that. Still, its appearance unsettles me, much like beasts I have encountered in days past."

"Heavens! That is quite scary!"

"That looks quaint."

(She says, from the opposite side of the room to not be startling.)

"But?"

(She said, allowing her the time to formulate the thought.)

"You might find, deep inside, you would be happy to be wrong about this, I would hope.

Am I such a nightmare?"

"You want me to dislike you?"

"Why? Do you want to?"

"Did you fabricate that from memory?"

"Interesting. Though I am unsure lavender suits you."

(A low hum. The spirit felt lonely.)

"You have no reason to fear me. Or my caring.

And, not generally, my surprise hugs and such."