Pointdexter: A Swooning Over Stan-fiction

Chapter Fifty: Safe and Real

Alice felt the bed move next to her, the sharp jerk of movement waking her from dreamless sleep. She shifted, blinking as moonlight poured through the windows, illuminating Ford.

"Bee?" She whispered groggily, shifting onto her elbow and instinctively reaching out. "Is everything alright?"

His eyes flickered over her, the start of panic being soothed as he let out a shaky breath. His hand found hers, their fingers intertwining as he steadied himself.

"Yes," He breathed, his voice rough. "Just a dream... A nightmare."

His other hand reached out, tracing the lines of her face, as if to make sure she was real. Alice leaned into his touch, shifting and wrapping her arm around his abdomen, her hand still laced with his.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She yawned, reaching her opposing hand up to cover her lips. Ford shook his head, a shiver running down his spine.

"No," He said firmly, his voice rough. His grip on her hand tightened, his thumb running across the back of hers in a silent, almost desperate plea. "I don't want to relive it. I just... I need to know you're real. That you're here with me and you're safe."

Alice pushed herself up, releasing his hand and brushing her fingers over his cheek. Gently, she guided him to look at her, her thumb brushing under his eyes.

"I'm here," She reassured him, meeting his eyes. "I'm safe... And I'm real."

He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes and letting out a slow, shaky breath as her words washed over him. Alice felt a pang of sympathy grip her heart, her hands moving to pull him against her.

"I know," He murmured, his voice hoarse. "I just... Sometimes I can't shake the feeling that Bill will find a way to come back. That he'll try to use you against me or... worse."

He'd told her everything about Bill, he didn't need to elaborate.

"He's not coming back," Alice reassured him, pulling his head against her shoulder and running her fingers through his hair. "And even if he does, we can find a way to stop him."

Ford let out a soft sigh, his shoulders sagging as he pressed his face into her shirt.

"It's not just Bill," He muttered, his words muffled against her skin. "It's everything... The nightmares, the memories, the fear. It feels like I can't escape it."

Alice nodded, her lips pressing against the top of his head as she listened.

"And maybe they won't," Alice said honestly, her hand roaming over his back in comforting circles. "But I'll be here to hold you and tell you how safe you are."

"I don't deserve you," He murmured, his body relaxing farther into her, his voice laced with affection and guilt. "You're too good for me."

"I don't believe that," Alice said, gently guiding his face to meet her gaze, not disturbing him from the seemingly comfortable position he'd fallen into. "You may have made poor choices in the past, Bee, but you've made changes too."

Ford's eyes were the eyes of a man who was ashamed.

"I've tried," He admitted softly. "I've tried to make amends, to redeem myself. But sometimes... I fear it's not enough. That I'll forever be the man who made those mistakes."

Alice softened, guiding him back onto his pillow and looping her arm under his head, her fingers playing in his hair.

"You are a man who made mistakes," Alice said, her free hand brushing over his cheek. "From what I've heard, your greatest flaw is hubris."