*throws chapter at you*

*runs away*

Vigil

Rumpelstiltskin was exhausted. He hadn't slept for more than an hour at a time for the past two days. He'd awaken in a panic and have to spend some minutes calming back down again. Trying to do it all while sitting up wasn't helpful, either.

Holding Belle's hand helped. Seeing her face, as beautiful as the day he threw her out, helped, too. Watching Belle press her face into his pillow and sigh in her sleep was in no way, shape or form a balm to his long-shelved masculinity.

And right now that urge to protect was at a fever pitch despite his eyes crossing in the wee hours. The initial euphoria of seeing her, disoriented, wearing hospital garb and a stolen coat, had slackened as the town awoke from its slumber. Rumpelstiltskin didn't need all the details to know what had happened to her, and what she needed now was real sleep in a comfortable bed and someone to watch over her.

"Rumpelst…" She murmured.

"I'm here, sweetheart." He gently squeezed her hand and pulled the comforter up for her. A spike of pain shot through his knee as he twisted back into place. He remained at the ready, should anyone dream of banging on his door like they harassed the Queen, but most of the town was too busy with resurfaced memories and missing persons posters to bother with him. At least, not yet.

"Rumpel." Belle's free hand was clutching the pillow.

"Yes, sweetheart. I'm here." Somewhere in the expanse of time and realms, she changed from 'dearie' like everyone he'd patronized, to 'dear', then simply 'Belle'. Since awakening in Storybrooke after twenty-eight years and seeing her face, she was now his sweetheart. And apparently he was Rumpel.

Storybrooke was a strange place.

It was just as dangerous these days as any ogre plagued land and as full of mysteries as the Enchanted Forest. At least the food was bad. Rumpelstiltskin's head lolled back to touch the heavily carved headboard. He rested it gratefully for a moment, letting the dizziness overtake him.

"Mmmm…" Belle stirred in her sleep. This was her second night of real sleep, so she was bound to be sleeping more lightly, he assumed.

"Belle?" It was still very dark but the first birds were calling intermittently. It was probably near five in the morning. "Sweetheart?"

"Mmmm, Rumpel." She squeezed his pillow and tucked her face into it, breathing in. Her whole body was moving under the bedding and he waited for her to sit up. Instead, she let out a soft moan.

Oh.

There was no way to not hear the erotic tone in her voice. Mercifully, it only lasted a minute or two but the sound might take him years to get over. In the meantime he sat, faithfully holding her hand so she knew he was there. What she was doing to him in her dreams, he could only guess.

The adrenaline fuelled moment passed and he was bone tired again, and the morning hours came with a chill. By the time the sun was truly making an effort to cut the morning fog, he was periodically shivering; the only warmth he knew was clutched in his hand.

She shifted again, and stretched under the bedding, her movements nothing like what he'd watched earlier. Belle's hair caught the light and glinted hints of fiery red and gold buried within the rich brown. Blue eyes opened and squinted up at him. "Hey. You're still here."

"Of course. It's my house, where would I go?"

She smiled and shrugged, bunching the collar of his softest shirt. "I don't know. To bed?"

"You're in it."

She was so lovely when she blushed. "I'm sorry. You should have put me somewhere else."

"You can have your pick of the beds in my house."

She dropped her eyes. "Is it okay if I stay here?"

There was no way to hide his pleasure. "I rather like that."

She sat up and stretched again, then leaned over to hug him. "You're freezing! Why didn't you get in and stay warm?"

"Current events demanded that I watch over you, sweetheart. You needed rest."

"So do you. You look awful." She picked up the edge of the sheet and pulled it from under him. His couldn't help seeing her bare legs nestled against his sheets. "So help me, Rumpel, lay down now and close your eyes."

He did as she ordered and lay on his side a respectful distance from her. This side of the bed was chilly despite him sitting on it all night. Warming up would take time, but he pulled the comforter up to his ears and tucked his feet together.

Belle moved hesitantly, but after a light touch to his shoulder and another on his arm, she slid up behind him and wrapped a warm arm over him. "Hush, Rumpel." She crooned. "Let me help you sleep now." She let her cheek rest against the back of his neck.

He relaxed into her soft warmth, too tired and grateful to overthink their position yet. Then he laughed.

"What?" Belle mumbled sleepily. "Is this funny? Have I done something strange?"

"No sweetheart. You called me Rumpel."

She stiffened. "I suppose I did. Yes."

He turned his head and kissed her forehead. "Just answer one question."

She lifted her head slightly as she listened. "Alright."

"Am I better than a pillow?"

She snuggled back down and kissed the back of his neck before resting her cheek there again. "Much better. Now go to sleep."