Nightmare often escaped work by hiding in dreams. Sometimes he had business with other people and it was most convenient to meet in the realm of dreams. There were various reasons why Nightmare was often hanging out in dreams. He was a dream demon, and dreams were his domain. Being able to alter dreams and was the ultimate authority in a dream, there weren't often times where he regretted being in a dream.

However, he had recently discovered a reason to regret being in a dream.

Nightmare had been concerned about Alice due to various (Joker-related) circumstances, and he knew Peter was also anxious about it. To be honest, anxious was an understatement. Regardless, Nightmare had needed to talk to Peter about Alice. When he entered Peter's dream – because he was surprisingly already asleep, he discovered what Peter was dreaming about.

The first scene wasn't so bad.

"This is delicious! Thank you, Peter!" the dream Alice said sweetly.

Peter and Alice were at a private tea party at the castle. It was fairly unrealistic, because one, Alice hardly ever said thank you so sweetly like that, and two, Vivaldi would have most certainly intruded at some point.

"You're welcome, my dear. I picked these sweets out with you in mind," Peter answered happily.

Nightmare hesitated. He should probably interrupt, but Peter would no doubt try to kill him if he did. Maybe he'll call out when the dream ends.

Only instead, it morphed into another one.

"Um, I called you here because I wanted to give this to you," the dream Alice said, standing in her guest room at the Castle of Hearts. She handed over a wrapped gift, and Peter accepted it remarkably happy and excited.

"You got this for me? Oh, Alice, I love you!" Peter exclaimed. Dream Alice blushed.

This was…decidedly embarrassing for Nightmare. His pale face warmed slightly, and he couldn't continue looking anymore. The scene changed again.

"Oh, Peter…"

WHOA! Okay. Dream Alice and Peter were suddenly kissing, pretty intensely, under the moonlight. Then, Peter swept Alice off her feet and began walking inside the castle because dream Alice had begun shivering from the cold.

The scenes got progressively more embarrassing and sappy as Peter continued to dream. That is, until Nightmare couldn't stand anymore and started hacking up a lung, blood spewing everywhere. That's what alerted Peter that Nightmare was in his dream.

"Ni-Nightmare!" Peter exclaimed, his face slightly flushed from realizing Nightmare had seen some, if not all, of what he was dreaming. Having his privacy invaded was unexpected, even though he was mostly used to it with Nightmare. "H-How much did you see?!"

Nightmare recovered slightly enough to wipe his mouth and say, "More than a lifetime's worth."

Peter floundered for a brief second before pulling out his gun, though he knew it was useless to shoot at Nightmare in his domain.

"Get out now, before I kill you."

"Look! I wasn't trying to watch! I was waiting for a good opportunity to - "

Cue the cocking of Peter's gun.

"All right, all right! I'm gone!"

As soon as Nightmare vanished, waking up in the real world, he realized that he didn't manage to talk to Peter about Alice…Crud. Well, it probably wasn't the best time for that anyway.

End