It's better that it's in the dark. That way, they don't have to look at each other properly. She doesn't have to see the effects of alcohol on him and he doesn't have to see her looking too much like her mother or flinching as his hand approaches.

The gentle touch does, after a few moments, ease a little bit of the tension out of her shoulders. Doesn't stop them from shaking with another soft sob in reply to his words, "But--"

But it's not all just a dream. She can't say that aloud, though. Instead, she reaches blindly to tug at his shirt in a gesture she's not quite lost from when she was little older than a toddler.

"--Papa, I'm scared."