𝑶𝑪𝑬𝑨𝑵 𝑬𝒀𝑬𝑺 - Rumplestiltskin [1]

FIFTY TWO

52|NIGHTMARES AND STRESS

"Henry?" Celeste shot up in her bed, hearing the boys scared screams. She could hear Charming running down the stairs as she sat on the edge of the boys bed. "Are you okay?"

"Henry?" Charming ran into the room and sat on the other side of Henry, grabbing his shoulders and forcing him to look at him. "Hey, hey, hey. Okay, you're okay, you're okay."

"I just had the worst nightmare." Henry said while trying to catch his breath, his heart rate rapid.

"It's over now." Celeste stroked his hair as he finally calmed down. "Okay?"

"Okay."

"Here." Charming reached over and grabbed the box of matches, lighting a candle beside the bed. "This will help."

"A candle?" The boy questioned, finally relaxing again.

"Yeah. They keep the nightmares away." He explained to his grandson. "Now, talk to me. What was so bad?"

"I was in this room. And it was red." Henry recited his dream, starting to shake again as he remembered it. "And there was no doors, no windows. And these curtains, they were on fire. And I was in this corner. And I was looking out, and there was someone else there. She was staring at me through the flames. Then I woke up and..."

"Don't worry, sweetie." Celeste hushed him, stroking his hair out his eyes. "It was just a bad dream. You are here and not in that room."

"You can go back to sleep, I'll stay with him." Charming smiled at the woman, seeing her try to suppress a yawn.

"Thank you." She patted the boys head and went back to her bed, missing her husband by her side but knowing it was just for one night to help care for Henry.

~•~

"Am I late?" Celeste grinned as she entered Granny's, seeing the celebration had already begun.

"Perfect timing." Red placed a glass of beer in her hand before going back to work. Celeste instantly went to talking with the Blue Fairy. Her eyes began to drift, noticing Red awkwardly talking to one of the mechanics of Storybrooke. "Tonight's not great." She overheard her friend say.

"Excuse me a moment." She excused herself and wandered over to her friend, wrapping an arm around her waist. "We, uh, we have plans."

"That's right! It's girls night. I'm bringing the cheese." Red went with the excuse. "Which has nothing to do with you being a mouse. It has to do with the wine."

"Okay, um, maybe next time?" Billy smiled at Red and walked away from the two girls.

"Thank you." The brunette woman smiled with a sigh.

"I can spot my friend in trouble." Celeste winked at her. "He seems really nice."

"It's complicated." Red stammered, staring at the clock with fear evident in her eyes.

"It's a full moon tonight, isn't it?" She whispered, remembering Reds secret from their past lives. "Stay safe, Hun."

"Thank you." The two awkwardly glanced back at the party before going their separate ways.

"Love?" Rumpel walked into the diner and nodded at his wife. She kissed his cheek in greeting and followed him outside, waving goodbye to everyone. "Any particular reason you wanted me to pick you up?"

"I may have been drinking." She pursed her lips as he chuckled, helping her into his car as the effects started to take over.

"How has Henry been?" He asked casually, trying to make conversation.

"He's started having nightmares, I'm beginning to become worried." Celeste revealed, leaning her head back as he pulled up outside their house. "It's a full moon."

"Yes, dearie." She leaned all her weight on him as he helped her up the stairs. He stripped off her clothes and dressed her in a baggy shirt. "Comfy?"

"Very." Her drunken giggles warmed his non existent heart. Her ocean blue eyes staring up at him with innocent intentions. "Cuddles?"

"Let me get dressed." He changed into his pajamas and slipped into the bed beside her. Celeste immediately cuddled into his side as he stroked her long black hair.

"Ever since this curse broke all I feel is worried." Celeste revealed, yawning as her eyes dropped. "Emma and Snow going home, Henry and his nightmares, the full moon, my late period, my lack of need in this world. I mean, I don't work at the hospital unless they need me, only I go to the library, my friends are off in another world."

"Your period is late?" Rumpel questioned, turning to face her with a shocked look on his face.

"That's what you took from my rant." She laughed, cupping his cheek to calm him down. "It's from stress, I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. It's in the trash if you need confirmation. Did I ever tell you I love you?"

"All the time, love." He leaned down and kissed her, savouring the sweet taste of lips as she tried to pull him in for more. "Not tonight."