Even Monsters Have Nightmares (Beauty and the Beast)
He felt the sunbeam land on his chest through his bedroom window. It was warm. He stretched, his limbs ruffling the bedclothes as he moved. He didn't want to wake up, but he knew it was time to start the day. His hand traveled across the bed, reaching for his wife. The space was empty. She must have already risen. His lips upturned in a slight smile as he thought of Belle downstairs, playing with Chip or more likely, reading a book. He let his eyes ease open and stare at the ceiling for a moment before sitting up. And that's when the panic set in. He was covered in…hair. He thrust his hands out in front of his face, horrified to see claws instead of fingers. He was a beast again. His breath came faster and faster until he was hyperventilating.
"Belle!" he screamed.
When the word came out, he nearly choked. His voice was deeper, gruffer again. It was the voice of an animal. He flung the door open, nearly knocking it off of its hinges.
"Belle! Lumiere! Cogsworth! Someone? What's happened?" he roared, tearing through the hallways and searching all the rooms.
There was no sign of any of them. His heart sank when he reached the kitchen and he saw Mrs. Potts. Except…it wasn't Mrs. Potts. It was just a teapot, just an object. If he was a beast again and if Mrs. Potts had succumbed to the spell, then they all had. He was alone. His knees let out a sharp crack as he fell to the floor, his hands covering his face. Sobs wracked his frame, and he could feel the fur shaking on his body. In a surge of rage, he let out a roar and reached up, trying to rip the horns from his head.
This couldn't be happening. The spell was broken. It couldn't have been reversed. He can't have lost all the people he loved. The world was crashing down around him, his heart was breaking, and all he could do was sit there and let sobs rip through his chest.
Suddenly, the view changed. He was sitting in bed, staring at the wall with wide eyes. His chest heaved up and down from rapid breathing. There was a soft hand on his arm, another rubbing his back.
"Adam, sweetheart, it's alright. Look at me," Belle's soft voice said.
He turned his head, his blue eyes meeting his wife's hazel.
"Belle," he breathed.
"I'm here, love."
He looked down at his body, his human body, and smiled.
"You were having a nightmare, I believe," she said, worrying her bottom lip.
Adam let out a harsh laugh, "Yes love, even monsters have nightmares."
Belle's eyebrows furrowed together and she reached up to brush hair out of her husband's face, "You aren't a monster, Adam. Don't call yourself that. You're my wonderful husband, and I love you."
Adam reached forward and wrapped Belle in his arms, bringing her to his chest, "I love you too, so much, and I don't know what I'd do without you."
Belle smiled up at him, "You'll always have me. Let's get some more sleep. It's much too early."
"Agreed," Adam laughed.
He pressed a kiss to Belle's forehead and together they sunk deep under the covers.