Chapter 14: Nightmares

Ally talked Regina into taking her to visit Xander and Rapunzel. She wanted to make sure they were okay since everything had happened so fast a few days ago. Regina waited outside while Ally went in to visit.

"You look exhausted." Xander said to Ally when he saw her tired face and the bags under her eyes.

"I haven't really been sleeping well…" She admitted.

"Why? What's up?" He asked as he pulled out a seat for her to sit in.

She sighed as she sat in the chair. "It's a combination of things…ever since I used that golden compass thing I haven't been feeling well and Rumplestilskin haunts me in my dreams. Even though Regina put a protection spell over the castle, he's still getting to me and it doesn't help that I'm kinda homesick."

"Why haven't you told Regina any of this?" He asked her. "I thought you trusted her now?"

"I don't wanna bother her with this. I'm afraid if I give her a hard time she will throw me out." She replied sadly.

"She kept you after all the trouble you caused before…why would she get rid of you now?" He asked her.

"Well I didn't care then if she kept me or not but I do now. I love her Xander, and I don't want to screw anything up." She said trying to get him to understand.

He really didn't know what to say to her confession. "Maybe you shouldn't use the compass anymore…" He suggested. "If Regina put a protective spell over the castle then I'm sure you're fine. She's very powerful."

"But so is Rumplestiltskin, or so I'm told. He threatened me, ya know." She looked up at him with terror in her eyes.

He waved her off. "Empty threat." He knew the Dark One always followed through but he didn't want to worry her more than she already was so he remained calm.

"Hopefully." She pulled her feet on the chair and hugged her knees tight. She didn't want to talk about her problems anymore, that is not what she came here to do. "How is she doing?" Ally asked Xander in a low whisper following the golden hair tail that led to Rapunzel who was still in bed curled up in a ball.

He put his hands in his pockets. "She's still in shock. She knows Mother Gothel would've killed you if Regina didn't intervene but she still misses her."

Ally nodded. "I understand. She was still her mother."

"Just give her some time…I bet we'll be up to see you by weeks end." Xander said with a reassuring smile.

"I'm not allowed out anymore." Ally said sadly. "Regina has too many enemies that would want to hurt me so she wants to keep me safe."

Xander looked at her suspiciously. "Are you sure she just doesn't want to deal with all the trouble you get yourself into?"

She shoved him lightly. "You're the one who took me to the tower and got us caught by Gothel!"

"Only after you insisted on visiting." He countered.

She shook her head. "That just goes to show that you shouldn't always listen to me."

"If I didn't take you to the tower you would've kept bugging me until I did, so I saved us both the trouble and time and just listened to you in the first place."

She thought about it for a moment. "Yea, you're probably right."

He crossed his arms and smiled. "Oh, I know I'm right."

She rolled her eyes and stood up. "Is she staying with you from now on?"

He nodded. "Yea, I talked to my mom and we are going to try to work everything out. I'm going to have to work more though. Do you know if Regina has any other openings at the castle that I could be able to fill?"

"I'm sure she can find something for you. Come by tomorrow and I'll set you up." She said smiling.

"Thanks, I really appreciate it." He smiled back.

"It's what friends are for, right?" She jokingly punched him.

He put his hands on her shoulders. "If you ever need a place to stay or need to get away from the castle, you know you are more than welcome to come here."

She nodded and gave him a weak smile. "Thanks, Xander."

"And get some sleep!" She gave him a hug and then made her way out to Regina.

She approached Regina with her head hanging low. "What's the matter, darling?"

Ally shook her head. "Nothing." She said solemnly.

Regina tilted her head knowing she was lying. "Honey, I know you well enough to know when something is wrong."

"It's nothing, really" She reassured her. Regina didn't believe her but she didn't want to address the issue while they were out in public. She teleported them back to the castle.

"Thanks for taking me." She forced a smile. "I'm gonna go take a nap."

Regina grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Do you feel alright, dear? You don't look so well." She placed a hand on her forehead feeling for her temperature.

"I'm just a little homesick is all…" She wasn't lying, just telling Regina the least bit that was troubling her.

"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" The Queen asked hopefully. She didn't want her little girl to be depressed.

Ally shook her head. "No, I'll be fine." She assured her.

Regina looked at her with saddened eyes before wrapping her in a hug. It's what Ally did to the Queen when she wasn't having good day so Regina thought she would return the hug. Ally smiled. "Thanks, Regina. A hug from you will always make things better."

Regina smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead. "Feel better, dear. If you need me, don't hesitate to call." Ally nodded before slowly walking back to her room.

She didn't want anyone to bother her so she snuck into the nursery again. She dusted off a day bed by the fireplace that hadn't been lit since the last time she and Xander first found it.

I'm just gonna close my eyes for 15 minutes and then I'll do something productive.

Those 15 minutes turned into two hours. She sat up slowly and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"I was beginning to think you were never going to wake." A voice from the other side of the room said.

Ally recognized that voice anywhere; it haunted her in her dreams. "How did you get in here?!"

The fireplace suddenly lit up allowing light to shine upon her face and his. "Regina's magic is no match for my own. It was simple, really."

If Regina's magic couldn't stop him then what could? He's already haunting my dreams and that was before I knew he could get in here so easily. "What do you want Rumple?" She growled trying to summon up all her courage.

"Now, Now, no need to get snippy." He said wagging his finger at her. "I came to warn you."

"Warn me about what?" She questioned.

He giggled. "Why, the Queen of course!"

"What are you talking about?" She sighed. She was too tired to deal with this man and his games.

"The Queen is planning to cast a curse…" He began.

"So I've heard…" She mumbled.

He continued. "And this curse requires her to sacrifice the thing she loves most."

I didn't hear that part. "So what are you saying?" She interrupted.

"I've noticed how attached you and the Queen have become and I can't help but feel it's going to come to a tragic end."

Ally was growing frustrated. "Can you just spit it out? What are you trying to tell me?!"

He frowned. "She's going to rip your heart out. You're going to die."

Her jaw dropped. "What?" She asked shocked.

"I'm giving you one last chance to escape this world, dearie, I suggest you take it."

He's giving me a chance to go back home-but he lied before, he can do it again…and then there's Regina. She shook her head shaking her thoughts away. "No, I'm not leaving Regina." She said firmly.

Rumpled smirked. "Don't believe me about the curse?"

"Oh, I believe you about that but I can change her, make her not want to cast the curse." She stood with her hands in fists.

"She has a dark heart, dearie, one that is not easily changed." He reminded her.

"Well, we'll just see about that now won't we." She said putting her hands on her hips.

"I see you have made your decision…"

"Yes, I have." She said firmly.

"You'll regret it, dearie."

She ignored him. "I know what you did to Regina's baby. The truth about the part you played."

He was truly shocked but he masked his expression. "And how would you know anything about that?"

She wasn't going to tell him about the golden compass. "Secrets have a way of being dug up."

He nodded in agreement. "So they do, but it doesn't explain how you know of the baby."

"It's really none of your concern." She said confidently not backing down.

He was growing irritated with this girl. He waved his hand and vanished in a puff of red smoke. That little girl is ruining everything! She needs to go, if she tells Regina about the baby it will ruin everything. One way or another I am going to get what I want.

Once he was gone, she let out a huge breath. She was hoping she didn't appear weak in front of him but she was scared for her life. Was he really telling the truth about Regina? I don't know how much of this I can handle…

She went to bed that night praying she wouldn't have the same terrifying nightmares she has been having about Rumplstilstskin. He really scared her and he knew it. Ally asked Tara to leave the fire going throughout the night so it would act like a night light for her. She didn't tell Tara that though. She said she just wanted to keep her room warm and Tara believed her.

Regina was peacefully reading a book in the library with her father when a guard ran in. "My queen, there is something wrong with the girl. She just started screaming and crying."

Regina jumped up as quickly as she could and headed towards the door followed by her father.

"Tara is with her now. She told us to get you." The guard explained as they walked swiftly to Ally's room. Regina didn't respond. Her only concern was for Allison.

She stormed into the room and saw Tara talking to the bathroom door. "What happened?" The Queen asked Tara.

"She won't come out, Your Majesty. I don't know what's wrong. We just heard her scream and came running." Tara replied. "And now she locked herself in the bathroom."

Regina knocked on the door. "Honey, open the door." She waited for Ally to reply or open the door but she didn't do either. She only heard sobbing coming from the other side.

With a quick wave of her hand, the door unlocked. She opened it to find Ally cowering in the corner. "Sweetheart, what happened?" She asked gently.

"I'm sorry." Ally said crying as she hugged her knees tight.

"Tara would you mind giving us a minute." Regina said keeping her eyes on Ally in the corner. Tara nodded and bowed out.

Regina reached her hand out for Ally to grab. "You're not mad?" Ally sniffled.

"Why would I be mad?" Regina asked looking confused.

Ally shook her head as tears continued to spill over. "I'm so sorry."

Regina hated seeing her like this. She knelt down beside her as she cautiously put a hand on Ally's knee. "Honey, is there something you wish to tell me?"

Ally shook her head. "No, I'll be fine."

Regina didn't believe that for one minute. "Allison, you're trembling." She could feel the girl shaking beneath her. Regina grabbed her hand and pulled her up leading her back to her bed. Regina sat beside her as she put her arm around Allison's shoulders trying to calm her down. Ally cuddled close to Regina as she nestled against her chest.

"Tell me what this is all about, darling." Regina said stroking her hair.

Ally wasn't planning on telling the Queen anything but it just came out. She felt so comfortable and vulnerable around Regina that she just couldn't hide it from her any longer. "I've been having nightmares." She wouldn't dare look into Regina's eyes so she remained resting on her chest. "That's why I have been so tired."

"What are these about?" Regina was dying to know what was tormenting her to the point where she was afraid to go to sleep.

"Rumplestiltskin." Ally choked out. Regina gritted her teeth. She was pissed that even in her dreams he was still torturing her child.

Regina pulled her close to comfort her. "Don't worry, dear. I'll protect you. You're safe with me." She kissed the top of Ally's head. "You'll always be safe with me."

"He was here." Ally whispered.

Regina pushed her up a little to look into her tear-filled eyes. "What do you mean he was here?" She asked in a low voice, almost a growl.

"He broke your spell." She sobbed. "Why does he want me?"

"I don't know, baby." She pulled her close. "But I will stop him."

Ally tucked her head under Regina's chin and wrapped her arms around her waist. "I love you, Regina."

"I love you too, my little butterfly." Regina replied gently rocking her back and forth. "Everything's going to be fine. I've got you."

"Are you really going to enact the curse?" Ally asked once she calmed down a bit.

"Did he tell you about the that?" Regina asked a little annoyed as she wiped away Ally's remaining tears.

It wasn't the first time she heard about the curse but it was a good enough excuse so she went with it. She nodded. "He said you need to sacrifice something you love in order for this curse to work…are you going to kill me?"

Regina looked horrified. "No! Of course not!" She grabbed her hands.

"I would be like really mad at you if you did go through with it." Ally admitted. "Ripping everyone from this world and taking away their happy endings is not the way to solve your problems."

"But you'll be back in your own world; you said you were homesick earlier. I can take you back there." Regina countered.

"But nobody will remember anything-all their memories will be gone. It's not how I want to return to my land. Please don't do it." Ally begged.

"Relax, dear. I'm not going to enact the curse. It was an option but that was before you came into my life. I've done a lot of thinking and I realized I don't need a curse to make me happy, all I need is you, my cute little butterfly."

Ally was beaming with happiness. I did it! I stopped her! She's changing back into a good person.

"Now" Regina began. "I couldn't help but notice how close you and Alexander have become. You both are coming of age and might have desires for one another…"

Is she seriously trying to give me the sex talk right now?

"But you are still young and you should really wait until you're much older to fulfill those urges…"

Ally out up her hands to stop her from talking. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Please stop talking!"

"What's wrong?" Regina asked.

She wanted to gag. But it was pretty comical to see Regina try to talk to her about the birds and the bees and such. "This conversation…I know about sex and I'm not doing it. Xander is dating Rapunzel not me."

Regina looked shocked. "Oh, well good…the part about you not having sex." She wanted to clarify that part.

"Can we move on? Please?" Ally asked trying to avoid this conversation at all costs.

This was awkward for Regina too. "Yes!" She said quickly. "Why don't I read to you until you fall asleep?

"Could you just stay here holding me instead?" She asked nervously. "I feel better when you're around."

Regina smiled. She wants me to stay. "Anything to make you feel better, Allison."

Ally laid back down on the Queen's chest as Regina pulled the covers over them both. She wrapped her arms around her and began humming a soft tune that lulled Ally to sleep within minutes. Regina didn't know her father was watching the entire time. He was proud of how his daughter was warming up to the girl. He knew Allison would be the one to break Regina from her path of darkness and bring her back into the light.

Henry wasn't the only one watching though. Using mirrors to spy on people was the Queen's thing but Rumplesiltskin wasn't opposed to using it every now and then. He couldn't let Regina stray for the dark path-he needed her to stay broken.

He watched as Regina coddled the girl and shook his head in disgust. He was growing impatient and wasn't playing games anymore. He couldn't wait any longer for Regina to enact the curse. This girl was going to have to pay the price one way or another. Since she was stopping Regina from enacting the curse now, he was going to make it that Ally would be the cause for Regina to enact the curse in the days to come. He was planning her downfall and he was going to enjoy it.

Finally got a chance to finish this chapter-took me longer than usual but I hope you enjoyed! If you have any suggestions, ideas, or predictions I would love to hear them!