This one-shot is based soon after the curse is broken and everyone remembers who they are. Belle is plagued by nightmares of her time in Regina's asylum. I have a few ideas for this theme so there may be more than one version of "Nightmares". I hope you enjoy :)
Rumpelstiltskin wasn't sure what had happened to his true love whilst she was locked up in Regina's asylum, but whatever it was had affected her badly. True to form Belle put on a brave face and pretended like nothing had happened, but when asleep it was clear that her time there had not been pleasant.
It was a good thing that the dark one didn't need sleep, nearly every night Belle suffered from horrendous nightmares, screaming and lashing out in her sleep trying to protect herself from the heinous images in her mind. Each time he would rush in to calm and comfort her, hold her until her crying subsided. But try as he might, she would never tell him what happened, most likely afraid that he would either see her as weak or become enraged and attempt to kill Regina again. If the later was true, he couldn't blame her, not after the wraith incident. He was lucky she'd given him another chance after that.
Tonight, was another night for her nightmares. From his spot in the basement with his spinning wheel, he could still hear the terrified screams coming from the room she occupied. Immediately he raced upstairs, moving much quicker now he now longer needed to use that infernal cane.
Bursting into her room, he quickly rushed over to the bed where her flailing limbs had become tangled in the sheets, the restriction on her movements making her panic more. Kneeling on the bed, he quickly gathered her into his arms, holding her tightly to him as she struggled against him, murmuring comforting words in an attempt to calm his love.
"It's ok Belle!" he said, desperately trying to wake her from her torment, "Belle its ok, wake up, it's just a dream!".
Even though he couldn't see her face, he knew when she was awake as she suddenly flung her arms around him, her body trembling uncontrollably as she sobbed. Rumple continued to hold her whilst she cried, repeatedly reassuring her that she was safe, and the nightmare was over. He wasn't sure how long they sat there like that, all he knew was that each tear that leaked from her eyes broke his blackened heart but at the same time increased his hatred towards the evil queen.
"I'm so sorry Rumple" Belle hiccupped, once her crying had dwindled "You must be tired of this"
"No Belle", he whispered, "Never think that, I'll always be here whenever you need me". Breaking their embrace, he helped her to detangle herself from the sheets before lying beside her once everything had been put to rights. Belle resting her head on his chest whilst his arms encircled her thin frame once again.
"It seemed so real" She murmured, so quietly Rumple couldn't tell if she was talking to him or herself "It was like I was back there, in that place, every night is the same". She yawned, snuggling closer to his side; the nightmares took a lot out of her, sometimes leaving her feeling drained during the day.
"It's over now Belle", he soothed, gently stroking her hair, feeling her fully relax at his words as she succumbed to sleep once more, feeling safe in the circle of his arms. "You'll never have to see that place again, I promise, I'll protect you".