Time turner ⚜️prince Adam ⚜️

Night walk

Adam stays by my side the entire day and most of the night. He insists on helping me when I need help and getting basically anything for me. Finally after being ordered by myself and Ms. Potts does he go to bed. But even then he sleeps in the chair by the fire slumped against the side of the backrest.

I don't sleep much, my side stealing my privilege of comfort. When morning comes I feel as though I've been awake all night.

I scoot towards the edge of the bed slowly attempting to rise before Adam does to take a walk by my self. Don't get me wrong I love Adams company and his help but right now I need my space. Finally rolling far enough to swing my feet over the edge of the bed I collapse onto the floor. Damn. To my surprise Adam doesn't wake.

I use the small table to bring myself to my feet. I swipe my brace off the bed, strapping it around my knee with ease and creep away. I find my cloak on the rack beside the front door my boots underneath.

I walk out into the cold, tucking myself into the cloak. The snow crunches softly under my feet leaving a light trail as I head for the stables. The long room is warm and quiet. Florence leans out the door of his stall nickering softly as I approach.

I stroke her snout leaning into her warmth. "Did you ever think that I, Océana dell could meet a prince? A man expected to rule. I must be such a fool." I shake my head taking my hand from her snout. "We can never be together, he is kind and sweet. Selfless and caring but we can never truly be free. He's cursed and I'm- oh what have it. I'm going back to bed. These are children's thoughts." I throw my hands up, my ribs burning with the sharp movement.

I hiss with a breathy laugh. "Fool." I mutter walking out of the stables back through the snow. The castle is still quiet making my every move seem to loud. Walk up the stairs to slowly for my own liking but can't force myself to move faster. I slide through the door making to slip back into bed and pretend I never left.

"Everything all right?" Adam hasn't moved. I realize now he never was asleep, he allowed me to leave and fall. He let me because he understood my need to move and do things for myself. "Everything is fine. I was checking on Florence." I tell him sitting down on the soft mattress. He opens his big blue eyes. They are dull and weary but still hold a familiar caring light. He walks towards me and waits until I remove my brace and get myself settled before sitting at my side.

"And how is Florence?" He asks in a dull whisper. His claws poke through the edge of the sheet between his fingers. "Same as always." I scoot up patting the blankets in my lap. Adam sighs lying back against my legs, his head resting in my lap. He makes sure not to let his horns touch my skin resting with his head tipped to an uncomfortable angle to keep from poking me. "Adam, lie properly,you will not hurt me." I tell him. He seems to think about saying something but finally decides to adjust his head.

I gently run my fingers over the hard surface of his horns my fingers gently tugging the mats and knots from his long hair. With every knot I ease from his scalp Adam seems to relax more and more falling into a half conscious state.

"I know I say it often but thank you. Thank you for letting me stay." I muse playing with small strands of hair. "Thank you for staying. Thank you for everything you have done for me, for my staff." He replies. I smile.

"Goodnight." He mumbles falling asleep in my lap. I laugh until I realize I now have a problem. A fully grown man turned beast is asleep in my lap and I'm stuck.

"Adam. Adam." I sing song gently attempting to push his onto the other half of the bed. He doesn't react. "Adam. Come on, I need you to help me out." I whisper gently, he stirs shifting in his sleep not on my legs. The muscles in my knee tighten painfully. Oh perfect. "Adam. I need you to move please." I beg trying to pull my legs out from under him before my knee completely seizes and I'm in worse pain.

"Adam come on please." I try pushing him again. The first throb of pain cramps the muscles all the way up my leg a painful tingling that tells me my leg is going numb. "Adam." I groan giving him a shove. He rolls off my legs onto the blankets beside me. I sigh in relief rolling onto the floor and stretching my knee. The pain slowly fades to a full throb before turning to a manageable ache. I growl glaring at Adam still asleep- star fished- across the bed. I take a chair pillow and hurl it across the room at his head, a startled snort leaving his lips as he jerks up to find his attacker.

I cross my arms giving him a 'really' look. "If anyone was going to attack the castle they would do better than throw a pillow at a sleeping beast. You're taking over the bed, move." I tell him limping back to the bed and sliding under the covers. Adam goes to get off the bed. "Don't. Just sleep. I feel bad making you find somewhere else to sleep." I tell him lying on my back. I pat the empty spot beside myself.

Adam hesitates before slumping onto the mattress beside me. It dips under his weight I roll into my side for a moment watching him situate himself beside me, attempting to be comfortable without disturbing myself. When he settles in I roll back onto my back with a light sigh.

"Goodnight Adam."

"Goodnight Océana."

Before I fall asleep one last thing catches my tired eye. The rose, a new petal grows on the stem, soon the rose will be full. The question is what happens then?