Author's Notes:

I'm back! The third oneshot is here already! I think Fina is four or five in this part. You decide. Probably five. So…let the chapter begin!

Nightmares

Ramirez stood in his room in front of the huge map on his wall, staring at it as if he were searching for the answers to his problems in it. Suddenly, his concentration was broken by a light rapping at the door. He looked up, wondering who could be awake at such an hour. "Come in," he said. His voice was raspy and tired. He had been up all night and most of the early morning. It was nearing three o'clock.

The door creaked open and a little girl with platinum blond hair held back by a red and silver heart pin clutched a small white blanket and stood in the doorway. Cupil buzzed anxiously around her head. "R-Rami?"

Ramirez left his spot by the wall and strode over to Fina. "Fina. What's the matter? What are you doing up at this time? You should be in bed."

Fina sniffled and pulled her blanket tighter around her shoulders.

"Fina? Are you okay?" Ramirez sounded truly concerned. He knelt down in front of her and put a hand on her shoulder.

The little girl sniffed again and shook her head. She looked as if she was about to cry.

"Fina! Stop. Come in and tell me what's wrong," said Ramirez as he led her inside and to his bed, sitting her down, Cupil following closely over Fina's shoulder.

"B-bad d-dream," she stuttered out.

Ramirez put his arms around her, resting his chin on her head. "Don't cry, Fina. I'm here. Nothing bad will happen to you." She stayed in his arms like that for a time, listening to his heart beat steadily. "Do you want to tell me about it?" Ramirez asked.

Fina started to say something, but all that came out was a hiccup and a whimper. She buried her face in his neck. He gently stroked her hair and shushed her. "It's alright. You don't have to."

After a span of silence, Fina whispered, "Everyone was dead." Ramirez pulled her away from his chest and looked at her face. "The elders were all killed. You left me here by myself. I was all alone…" She curled up into a little ball in his lap. "No one was here for me…I was alone…alone…You left me Ramirez! By myself! All alone!" She burst into tears and Ramirez once again took her in his arms.

"Fina…I would never leave you. I couldn't ever let you be lonely."

Fina stopped crying and sniffed again. "Really? Never leave?" Ramirez shook his head. "You'll always be here with me…forever?"

"Forever," promised Ramirez. "I love you too much to abandon you, Fina."

"Th-thank you, Rami. That means a lot to me." Fina snuggled against him again. "Could I sleep in your room Ramirez? Just this once?" she begged.

"Of course," he told her. "But get some rest. It's way past your bedtime." Fina nodded and let Ramirez tuck her into his bed.

She placed a peck on his cheek and whispered, "I know the nightmare isn't real now, Rami. I know you'll never leave me, because you promised me…you promised me…" The little girl was asleep in moments, her words dying away into silence.

Ramirez smiled and kissed her forehead softly and turned to the window. "You have no idea, Fina. The whole world is one big nightmare. We can never escape our worst fears. The nightmare goes on…"

Author's Notes:

If my lovely readers have any suggestions for another addition to this collection, please review and tell me. I need more ideas! I like this collection very much, and I would really like to continue with it. I have an idea for the last chapter, but I'd like a few more between now and then. So if you've got any good ideas (or bad ideas, just IDEAS) then please don't hesitate to pitch them to me. Thanks :)