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Climbing into bed with them as the sun rose was a pretty normal thing for four-year-old Sakura to do and Ash and Gladion didn't mind. They loved getting sleepy cuddles from their daughter early in the morning before their day started but lately, for the past couple of nights, Sakura started sneaking into their bed in the middle of the night.
At first, Ash and Gladion decided to go with it, figuring she didn't want to be alone in the middle of the night. But after almost getting caught in a compromising position by their daughter, Ash and Gladion had decided that it would be better not to let her sneak into their room in the middle of the night. After sitting down with her and having a long talk to help her understand that she should be in her bed, they gifted her with a special nightlight so her room wouldn't be so dark for her. But unfortunately, it didn't work. Now, instead of coming in the middle of the night, Sakura was following them to bed just as they were getting ready to go to bed themselves.
"Okay, baby girl," Ash smiled gently as Sakura tried to climb into their bed again. "Listen, we talked about this. It's okay if you come in the morning for cuddles but at night, you need to go to sleep in your own bed."
"No Papa," Sakura whimpered. "I don't want to. I want to stay with you and Daddy."
"Come on, Petals," Gladion smiled, picking Sakura up. "You'll be much more comfortable in your own bed. Let me take you back to bed and tuck you in, okay?"
Sakura went silent as she thought about her father's words before nodding.
"Okay," she said as Ash kissed her on her forehead before Gladion carried her out of their bedroom and into hers.
After a few minutes, he came back.
"Everything okay?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, she went to bed," Gladion replied as he climbed into bed and curled up next to Ash. "Although, something weird did happen."
"What?" Ash asked, running his fingers through Gladion's hair.
"She asked me to make sure there was nothing under her bed or in the cupboard," Gladion told him. "I wonder where those thoughts came from."
Ash frowned at the information before kissing Gladion on the forehead. "How about we ask her in the morning? It's late and it's been a long day for both of us. Go to sleep, love. I love you."
"I love you too, babe."
***
"Papa! Daddy!"
Ash and Gladion woke with a start at the sudden scream before getting out of bed and running to their daughter's room to see her in bed looking around in fear, tears falling.
"Petals, what's wrong?" Gladion asked as he and Ash sat on the bed and started to stroke Sakura's face and hair in an attempt to calm her down.
"The Ghost types are going to take me away!" Sakura sobbed, much to Ash and Gladion's surprise.
"Ghost-types?" Ash asked. "Saki, what are you talking about? There aren't any wild Ghost-types in your room or the house. There's only Mimikyu and Gengar but Mimikyu's sleeping in the Pokémon hut with the other Pokémon and Gengar's in the attic like he always is."
"Gengar?"
Ash, Gladion and Sakura looked up to see Gengar poking through the ceiling, looking concerned.
"It's alright Gengar," Ash smiled. "Everything's fine."
"Gengar, could you look through the house and outside to make sure that there are no other ghost types aside from Mimikyu please?" Sakura asked in a small voice.
"Gengar," Gengar saluted before disappearing.
Once he was gone, Ash and Gladion looked back at Sakura.
"Sakura, you want to tell your Papa and me why you asked Gengar to check the house?" Gladion asked gently.
"I don't want the wild Ghost types to take me away from you and Papa," Sakura replied with a sniff.
Ash and Gladion raised their eyebrows in surprise at their daughter's words before shifting so they were sitting more comfortably around her.
"Okay, Sakura, tell Daddy and me what's going on," Ash requested. "Is this the reason you've been trying to sneak into our bed?"
Sakura looked down and nodded. Gladion quickly pushed his fringe back before turning his head to try and catch Sakura's eyes.
"Come on Petals," he smiled. "Tell Daddy and Papa what's wrong so we can fix it."
"I heard someone at preschool say that wild ghost types sometimes take kids away from their parents," Sakura whimpered. "They find someone they like and then they take them away and they never see their mummies and daddies again. What if the ghost types take me away from you, Papa and the Pokémon? I don't want to be taken away!"
Ash and Gladion looked at each other. So that's what it was.
"Lie down, baby," Ash told her as he and Gladion lay on the bed.
Sakura frowned but did as she was told.
"Listen Sakura," Gladion said firmly but not unkindly. "No ghost types are going to take you away from us. You’re extremely safe in this room. Papa and I promise you; we won't let anyone take you away from us."
"Really?" Sakura whimpered.
"We promise," Ash declared just as Gengar popped his head through the ceiling again. "Hey, Gengar. Anyone in or around the house that's not supposed to be here?"
"Gengar," Gengar shook his head.
"See baby girl?" Ash smiled. "No ghost types except Gengar and Mimikyu."
"Thank you, Gengar," Sakura smiled weakly as she settled into her bed.
"Gengar," Gengar saluted again before disappearing again.
"Go to sleep, honey," Gladion murmured, tucked Sakura into her bed again. "We'll stay with you until you fall asleep."
"Thank you, Daddy, Papa," Sakura yawned as Ash started rubbing circles on her shoulder.
"Go to sleep," he sang as Gladion picked her Lucario teddy off the floor and tucked it in beside Sakura.
The little girl smiled contentedly, holding her teddy as Gladion and Ash continued to sing and stroke her shoulder and arm until she started snoring. After waiting a few extra minutes to make sure she was deeply asleep, Ash and Gladion carefully moved around her and left her room to go back to their bed.
"Who on earth would tell her that ghost types take children away?" Gladion asked as he and Ash got under the covers again. “I mean I know they do sometimes, but still?”
"I'm not sure, love." Ash shook his head. "But that must be the reason she's not using the nightlight and keeps getting into bed with us. She doesn't feel safe. Maybe we should consider getting her a different kind of light."
"How do you mean?" Gladion questioned. “Like what?
"Like maybe a Pokémon?" Ash suggested gently.
"You mean get Umbreon to sleep in her room again?" Gladion suggested, looking worried. "Because it took us a long time to break the habit of having Umbreon glow in her room for her to sleep. Also, Umbreon glowing through the night will exhaust her."
"No, not Umbreon," Ash smiled. "I love Umbreon but her lights are a little bright which will affect Saki's sleep. I was actually thinking of a Pokémon with a softer glow. Like a Morelull."
"A Morelull?" Gladion asked before considering it. "Yeah, that might work. Do you know where we can find one?"
"I have an idea," Ash nodded. "Go back to sleep. I'm going to have to get up in a couple of hours to find a one."
"Okay," Gladion sighed, closing his eyes. "Thank Arceus, it's the weekend."
Ash hummed in agreement, dropping off to sleep in seconds with Gladion following.
***
"Daddy?"
Gladion sleepily opened his eyes to see his daughter standing beside him, holding her Teddy and looking worried.
"Can I have a cuddle, Daddy?" she asked.
"Sure baby," Gladion smiled sleepily, sitting up before carefully helping his daughter onto the bed.
Sakura immediately climbed over Gladion's lap to lie in the middle of the bed, ready to snuggle between her two fathers when she noticed something.
"Daddy, where's Papa?" she asked as she climbed under the blanket.
Gladion looked to the side Ash often slept on, only to see the space empty. He frowned before remembering what Ash had said to him as they were going to sleep.
"Papa's doing something important," he answered, lying down before pulling Sakura towards him. "He’ll be back soon so back to sleep, baby."
"Okay Daddy," Sakura murmured, curling into Gladion's chest before falling asleep again.
Gladion smiled as he closed his eyes. "Love you Petals.”
***
When Gladion opened his eyes, he was surprised to see Ash sitting at the end of their bed, smiling softly.
"Morning babe," Gladion yawned as he tried to sit up with Sakura on his chest.
"Oh no, don't move," Ash smiled, holding up his hands. "Just stay there for a few more minutes. I just want to watch you and Saki."
"Take a picture then," Gladion complained with a smile as Sakura started to stir.
"I already did," Ash grinned smugly.
"Papa!" Sakura cheered as she crawled over to Ash and threw her arms around his neck while Gladion sat up in bed with a smile.
"Good morning, baby girl," Ash smiled, kissing her hair.
"Where did you go?" Sakura asked curiously.
"I went to find someone to help you sleep at night," Ash smiled as he pulled out a Pokéball. "Okay, come on out."
Ash threw the Pokéball in the air. There was a flash before a pastel-coloured mushroom Pokémon appeared on the end of the bed, looking around curiously.
"Morelull," it said.
"A Pokémon!" Sakura squealed in delight.
"Saki, this is Morelull," Ash smiled, holding out his hand for Morelull to jump into. "Morelull is going to help keep you safe while you sleep."
"Really?" Sakura asked hopefully. "You're giving me Morelull?"
"No, you're still too young to be a trainer and look after a Pokémon," Ash explained, causing Sakura to pout. "However, Morelull will stay with you at night, okay?"
"Can I take Morelull to Basil, Aunty Lillie and Aunty Mallow's today please?" Sakura asked hopefully.
"Sure," Gladion smiled, getting out of bed. "I'll get started on breakfast. Why don't you show Morelull around and introduce it to the Pokémon?"
"Okay," Sakura cheered happily. "Come on, Morelull! I'll show you all the Pokémon!"
"Morelull," Morelull cheered happily, leaping to Sakura's head.
After Sakura happily ran out of the room, Gladion sat on his husband’s lap and wrapped his arms around his neck.
"Nice going.”
"We are so going to be overrun by Pokémon," Ash smiled.
"That's okay," Gladion shrugged. "What time are Lillie and Mallow coming over?"
"In an hour," Ash answered. "And Saki won't be back until dinner time."
"Perfect," Gladion smirked, leaning towards Ash's ear. "Plenty of time for me to reward you for your great idea."
"Tease," Ash laughed, kissing Gladion.
"You love it," Gladion smiled before getting off Ash's lap. "I'll get started on breakfast. You check on the Pokémon?"
"No problem," Ash smiled, standing and giving Gladion one last kiss before leaving the room.