Sweeran One-shots

A Bad Dream

by iswesaidhello on tumblr

Taylor gasps loudly, her back flinging off the mattress and upright as her eyes grow wide and awake, hands shaking by her sides and breathing unstable. She takes in her surroundings, mouth still hanging slightly open as she's pulled into back into reality, the realization hitting her as she focuses in on the bed sheets covering her shivering body - It was only a bad dream.

She brings a quivering hand up to her chest, feeling her rapid heartbeat pounding relentlessly against her, reminding herself that she's still alive. She takes a deep breath and lets out a steady exhale, her lips forming the shape of an 'o' in the process. She lets her eyes close tight for a second, in an attempt to somehow wash her memory of the nightmare.

The noise of feet shuffling against the ground cause her eyes to fly open once again, and admits she's a little startled when she makes out Ed's face through the dark shadows. She's forgotten that he'd been sleeping in the room just next to hers, and her hand leaves her chest when he stands close enough to the doorway so that she knows it's him.

"Are you alright?" Ed asks, immediately taking note of the fear marked in her eyes.

Taylor nods, shaking her head, "I'm- I'm fine." But her response is trembling and unconvincing as she runs her fingers through her hair.

Ed looks around the dark room, before his eyes find their way back to Taylor, who still looked extremely worried - panicked, even. In the dim light of the night, he can see her offer him a side smile, her fingertips nervously sliding up and down her knees.

"Bad dream?" Ed asks her, and Taylor slowly nods her head.

"Really bad dream." She adds, but is comforted by the sound of his breathing, which is much more stable than hers at the moment.

Ed nods his head along with her, never breaking eye contact. He's about to say something, his mouth opens with the formation of the words ready to spill out of his tongue, but catches himself, and instead takes a slight step back, "At least it's passed..." he says, wishing to somehow diminish the fear still lingering in her eyes, "And I'll just be in the room next, if you need me." He offers, even though he can't think of any reason why she would.

He gives her a reassuring final nod before turning his back, scratching the back of his head as he begins to walk away from her room.

"Ed" she tries to call out his name as quietly as she can manage, and he stops dead in his tracks, before turning around and moving back towards her.

She hesitates before speaking, licking her lips as her blue eyes fall back on his, helping calm her still racing nerves. "Would-" she stutters, unsure even of what it is she's about to ask of him, "Do you think it would be alright if you stayed?" She lets the words fall out of her mouth before her mind can catch up, but hopes that he says agrees to the request.

Ed takes a second to allow her words to echo through his mind, before he gives her an assuring head nod, "Of course." he says without a second thought, and journeys towards the side of the bed.

The corners of Taylor's lips pull slightly upwards, as relief pulses through her and she slowly falls back onto the mattress, resting on her side this time, allowing extra space for Ed to come and join her.

Ed takes a single deep breath and exhales as he moves in next to her, pulling the blanket further up and around them, scooting in close to her. He rests his hand at her hip, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable, but his thoughts are put at ease as he feels her back press firmly against his front, allowing no body heat to escape between the two, and his arm wraps itself around her waist fully, his lips only slightly brushing against the top of her neck as the rise and fall of his chest falls into synchronization with hers.

Ed's presence provides Taylor with the ability to calm down, and she feels safer than ever being held in his arms, making her feel as if she hadn't had a bad dream to begin with. Letting her hand slip down to rest gently on top of his knuckles, all shaking is ceased when she feels his palm flip to meet underneath hers, interlocking their fingers together, as if it were exactly what if felt like; natural.

Her head relaxes on the pillow and once again, she slips into a suspension of consciousness, except this time she feels guarded by Ed, who continues to hold her body close, with no intentions on letting go.