Fatal Fire: Defending Storybrooke
Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time.
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The Finding of Belle
Bae rushed up the stairs and checked Belle's bedroom, then his father's, then his own, then the private library, followed by the rest of the second floor, followed by the attic and then the ground floor. The entire thousands of square feet, and he was the only soul inhabiting it. Bae panted and ran his hands through his hair in a nervous fit. Belle was supposed to be here, unless she had taken up residence with someone else during Cora's arrival.
He ran toward the front door before realizing how fruitless it was, let alone dangerous, and began searching for a phone book. He called everyone who stayed and a few who didn't, reaching their answering machines or a busy signal, before finally tracking Belle down at Granny's and Red's. Bae's knees gave beneath him and he sank into a chair, such was his relief. "Thank God you're okay," he said.
"They think it's best I don't go back there. That woman will probably expect to find me there," Belle replied.
"So what do I do? Someone has to stay here or it'll fall into disrepair. When my father regains his memories, is that the place I want him to find?"
"What do you mean?"
"He crossed."
"He did what?"
"It was an accident, or rather, Cora forced it, but he crossed, along with Regina. They both remember nothing."
"So, what do you plan to do? Rumpelstiltskin is your father."
"I don't know, but whatever solution I come up with, I think I'll need to use magic to do it."
"Because the magic at the border did this, you think magic can undo it."
"Exactly."
"That's...actually pretty brilliant."
"Thank you. And be careful. These times are tough, and no one is safe."
"Thank you."
"I'll try to help Rumpelstiltskin, but if I need your help, I'll let you know."
"Thanks." Bae hung up and leaned back in the chair, staring at the surface of the table. He'd blown up a candle here, he thought sadly, and his father had been there to make it almost like it never even happened. When he feared that he would turn into a copy of the Dark One, Rumpelstiltskin made the effort to soothe him.
When he was younger and got picked on because his father was the coward that ran from the Ogre War, his father was there for him, wiping the tears away and whispering reassurances that everything was going to be okay, no matter what.
And now his own father didn't even remember him.
Baelfire leaned forward, rested his elbows on the table, and wept silently into his hands.