A/N Hello readers old and new. Now I know that some of you are following some of my older works that are shamefully on hiatus and a full explanation as to why can be found on my bio now rather than clogging up my note here.
This is intended as a cross over fic combining Once Upon a Time with Doctor Who but I've sneakily posted here alone in the hope that some devoted Rumbellers will come onboard for the journey. We are set firmly in the OUAT universe though and it is RumBelle centric (with some CaptainSwan and 10/Rose if you squint). It is also AU from the end of season 3, taking up from the night of baby Neal's christening but in this story Gold and Belle are yet to marry and Elsa's urn did not come over from the Dark Castle when Hook and Emma returned from the past (but maybe something else came with them instead)
As usual standard disclaimers apply. I own nothing of the characters or plots, they belong to ABC and BBC accordingly and no money is being made from this fan fiction. All is written with great respect towards the creative teams and actors involved in both shows and I hope I can do them justice.
I would like to dedicate the following story to some very inspirational people who I am lucky to call friend. To EvenlodesFriend, whose faith in my abilities to write and learn through that writing is never failing. To WitchRavenFox, who totally gets the need to balance writing and creativity with full time mama duties. Lastly to my dear Emma who is new to this little world we call fan fiction and who kindly listens to me bemoan my plot bunnies and chapter edits whenever we get a break at work- welcome to the madness my dear!
Now please sit back, enjoy and join me on our little journey.
A Lucky Man
Rumpelstiltskin was a lucky man, or so he was currently able to convince himself as he sat, half dozing in his favourite chair, the lights low and the faint strains of music filling the room. He was sure if he made even the slightest effort he would be able to think of three dozen or more reasons why he should not be considered lucky but for once he chose not to. The thought was helped along by half a bottle of good red wine that was currently singing through his veins, the warm crackle of the fire behind the grate but the main focus of the positive thought was the young woman sat on the rug by the fire. Belle, the woman who had turned his life on his head from the first day he was called to her little kingdom; the woman who had defied all odds and reason to fall in love with a twisted old soul like his despite every person of their acquaintance and even himself trying to counsel her against it; the woman currently pawing through her sewing box with the focus of a blood hound, muttering under her breath.
He allowed himself a small smile, unsure as to why she even had the box out so late in the evening. They had not long returned from the Charmings' naming ceremony; their choice of Neal as a name at once jarring and comforting to Rumpelstiltskin, glad everyone thought of his son with such fondness. They had stayed longer than he had intended after the revelation of the name, feeling the need to show more than a brief appearance if only for Baelfire's memory. Belle in her wisdom though had seen when the social niceties had become too much, rescuing him from a rather merry Leroy who had decided to take it upon himself to inform everyone in the room that Gold wasn't such a bad fellow after all. He allowed himself a small smirk at the thought of raising a few rent payments to swiftly dispel that particular rumour.
He was brought back to the present at Belle's hiss of pain, looking up as she stuck her knuckle in her mouth before stabbing what had clearly been the offending needle back into a pin cushion.
"Is there a reason you're digging around in that hazardous box at this time of night my love?" he said, admiring the play of light as it caught the diamond of her engagement ring, the trinket older than even he but it was the perfect fit for her hand as though it had been designed to be there.
"I needed some blue thread," said Belle, rifling once more through the treacherous box.
"And why, at eleven thirty at night, do you need blue thread?"
Belle raised her eyes to him, a soft smile on her face as she took in his appearance. Gone was the sleek, smart silhouette of the formidable Mister Gold, replaced with tie less, open collared Rumpel that she was only ever privileged to see. She got to her feet, picking up a bundle of cloth that was sat beside her, perching on the arm of his chair as his hand came to rest on the small of her back.
"It's for this," she said, handing him the thin bundle.
Rumpel unravelled the pretty patchwork, recognising the neat stitching he had so often seen on the cuffs of his silk shirts whenever he would rip them at the spinning wheel, Belle spending many hours sat by the fire in the Dark Castle muttering over the constant pile of stitching he provided her with.
"It was a tradition in Avonlea," said Belle, "The bride to be would make a quilt with her mother to take with her to her new home. Mother may not be here to help me but there's no reason I can't continue the tradition."
Rumpel smiled, holding the small set of squares up to the fire light to better see the stitching, "It will be very beautiful when it's finished," he said, "But it does pose one question if this is meant to be ready for our wedding day?"
"What's that?" said Belle.
"How long am I going to be made to wait until I can call you my wife?" he said, folding the patchwork, "As pretty as this is my dear its better suited to little Neal Charming's bassinet than our bed."
Belle laughed as she tapped the back of his hand in mock admonishment, "Well I've waited twenty eight years too long already," she said, "Maybe I'll forgo the quilt in favour of a marital cushion."
Rumpel reached up, pushing an errant dark curl back behind her ear as he turned her gaze back to his face, "Well it is already the right size for a crib," he said, "Perhaps you could keep it as it is, for whoever may come along after our wedding."
Belle stroked the blanket in his hands, "A baby?" she said.
"If that's what you want," said Rumpel, putting aside the blanket to let her slip onto his lap, "You're still young and you would make a wonderful mother."
Belle smiled, "Well I'm sure I could cope with a toddler, I got a lot of practice cleaning up after you in the Dark Castle," she said, "I would love it if we did have a child someday, especially after…"
"Bae," said Rumpel, sadly, "I have to admit that it has been more on my mind since we lost him. I promise I will be a better father if you give me the chance to be so again."
"Baelfire loved you," said Belle gently stroking the smooth hair at the nape of his neck, "I won't pretend you didn't get things wrong but he really loved you. We talked a lot after we lost you and Pan's curse sent us home. He told me all about his childhood with you; how you raised him all alone, made sure he was always fed and warm. He was proud that you kept going despite everything."
"Better that we had kept struggling than me coming to meet with Zoso and the dagger," said Rumpel, "But even after everything I can't regret becoming the Dark One, I got to save Bae from the ogre war and I lived to meet you."
"Then I shan't regret it either, even though I know it's caused you pain. I can make sure you don't get hurt again now that you've trusted me with the dagger, I promise no one will be able to use it against you again," said Belle, getting to her feet and offering him her hand, "Coming to bed?"
"You go up," said Rumpel, turning his eyes to the flames as he thought of the replica blade he had given Belle in place of the one that truly controlled him, "I'll put the fire out and lock up."
Belle leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his lips before she headed to the stairs, "Don't be too long about it, Mister Gold," she said, sparing him one more glance before she headed up the darkened stair case.
Rumpel let his hand fall onto the blanket resting on the arm of his chair, remorse running like ice through his veins. He may be the magical one in their relationship but Belle had her own and she'd chosen to weave it into the scraps of material he'd now given her hope could one day adorn a crib. He got to his feet, his mind already set on his course of action but he would have to wait until morning to put any plan into effect. He would be the better man, for Belle's sake and Baelfire's. It was that thought that had him extinguishing the fire and shutting off the electrics with a wave of his hand, the doors locking of their own accord as he followed the path Belle had taken to their room.
The solitary lamp gave a warm glow to the large master bedroom, the once sparse space beginning to show more and more of its new mistress as Belle made his once lonely house into their home. It had been the same in the Dark Castle when she had found her feet there. He had had his collection of course but Belle had brought the touches that made a home. In the blink of an eye there had been fresh flowers in every vase, cushions and blankets set on every chaise and arm chair and the ever present sound of her humming to herself as she went about her daily tasks. Belle had been home long before he had allowed himself to admit it.
He leaned against the door frame, watching the woman in the bed before him, a bridal magazine settled on the blankets covering her knees as she wrapped a long brunette curl around her finger. He let his mind recreate the scene before him, taking them from his home in Storybrooke and back to the castle, Belle dressed in the flowing white nightgown he had seen her in several times when an explosion from his study had brought her in a panic to check he had not set their home on fire or maimed himself in his pursuit of magic. Regret seized him that he could have so easily have had the scene his imagination created if he had been brave enough to trust her rather than take her kiss as a betrayal brought on by Regina's machinations, twenty eight years of heart ache forgone instead of suffered.
"What's the matter Rumpel? You look sad."
The familiar accent brought him back to the present and he shook off the melancholy that had taken him, "Nothing sweetheart," he said, "Just the ever present thought of what if that seems to plague me at every turn."
Belle set her magazine aside, "Want to tell me?" she said softly, the worry marring her face a familiar sight since he had been released from Zelena's control.
He crossed the floor in a few strides, glad at least that his trip to Neverland and resurrection from the vault had alleviated the pain in his damaged leg, and sat down on the mattress beside her.
"I was just wondering why providence didn't see fit to bring you to me before my hand was forced to save Bae," he said taking her hand, "I wish I could have known you before I became capable of magic, lived out our lives simply and happily."
"It would have been nice," said Belle, "But then I wouldn't be able to know the man I love now. I love every part of you Rumpel; Dark One, Gold, and man. Sometimes I wish you could have loved me back at the Dark Castle but you love me now and I couldn't be happier."
"I did love you back then Belle," he said, "I was just too much of a coward to say it."
"But not anymore?" said Belle, tugging on his hand and pulling him down next to her in the bed.
"No, not anymore."
"Get the lights then?" she said with a familiar smile as he clicked his fingers and extinguished the lights in the room.
xxxx
The bell above the door jingled merrily but Rumpel didn't need it to know who had walked into the shop, the magical wards he'd raised since his release from captivity letting him know someone was coming even before they had reached for the door. He rose from the bench he had been working at, leaving the fine music box he had been cleaning as he headed into the front of the shop.
"Belle?" he said with a smile, "I thought you were working at the library all day?"
"Lunch break," she said, waving the brown bag that no doubt contained one of Granny's famed delicacies, "I knew you wouldn't think to eat and I was worried about you after last night."
Rumpel held out a hand to her, glad when she took it and stepped into his embrace, leaving the brown paper bag and her hand bag on the shop counter to better hold him.
"I'm fine," he said, pressing his face to the soft curls on the crown of her head, "It was just a nightmare."
"That took me nearly half an hour to talk you down from," said Belle, "You were so sure I was Zelena at first and I've never heard you cry out like that. I really do think it would be best if you spoke to Archie, he might be able to help. You've literally been to hell and back Rumpel, there's no shame in needing someone to talk to."
"Isn't that why I have you?" he said, "No one knows me or can help me better than you can Belle."
Belle stepped back from his arms, "Make a deal with me then," she said, smiling at the look of intrigue on his handsome features, "If in one month the dreams haven't stopped then you go to see Archie, until then I promise not to leave your side for anything and I'll help you through the nightmares whenever you suffer from them. I'll listen to anything you say without any judgement, even if it's far darker than anything you've ever let me see from you before. I would rather suffer pain for your honesty than enjoy bliss from your silence."
"You should know better than to make deals with a monster dearie, look at the mess it's got you into so far," said Rumpel, sharing her smile as she giggled.
"True love is indeed a mess," said Belle, "But are avoiding answering me. Do we have a deal?"
Rumpel nodded, "We have a deal," he said, "If I'm not better in a month I promise that I will speak to the cricket."
"Good," said Belle, stepping away fully and heading to the back room, "I'll go and get us some plates, can you start unpacking the food?"
She had barely turned her back before she froze in place, the magic that held her only visible to the person who cast it. Rumpel moved quickly, taking the wrapped dagger from her bag and setting it on the counter before reaching into his jacket and retrieving the real one. He hesitated a moment, his fingers tracing the etching of his own name on the blade, before wrapping it and placing it into her handbag. The replica stared up at him from the counter, every part of it exact to the one that controlled him in all but the power it held. He picked it up and went to place it in his jacket but paused. He knew the temptation would be too great; the switch too easy to make every time her back was turned. With a word the replica turned to dust in his hand, scattering like dust motes in the air until it disappeared entirely.
He turned back and released the spell that held Belle in place, her step not even faltering as she continued into the back of the shop. He began unpacking the bag she had brought from Granny's, finding sandwiches and fruit salad, smiling at the domesticity of a picnic lunch brought by his fiancée. In his long years in Storybrooke, even when he had awoken from the curse, he never believed that he would ever find himself in such a situation but Belle as ever had turned expectations on their heads.
It wasn't long before Belle had returned from the back room, a tray in her hands laden with plates and cups and a steaming pot of tea. Rumpel soon dragged two chairs to the counter, helping her up onto one once she had set down her burden. They ate in companionable silence, a ritual they had begun at the Dark Castle and now continued in their new world, the familiarity of it bringing them both comfort after the turmoil of their past.
"I forgot to mention, I bumped into Emma at Granny's," said Belle, as she stacked her now empty plate back onto the tray, "She said she'd be popping in here at some point today."
"And what pray tell does the great saviour need to bother me for now?" said Rumpel, plucking the last grape from the stalk before it got lost to Belle's tidying hands.
"For once your name was only mentioned in passing," said Belle, "She said that a young woman had gone missing, an Eva Jones. I don't recognise the name though."
"I know the name, she's a scraggly thing, about nineteen years old," said Rumpel absently, "Came in here once when we were still under the first curse asking for a job to subsidize her mother's rent. Being my charming self then I sent her away with a flea in her ear."
Belle giggled despite herself, "Poor girl if she caught you in a temper," she said, "You don't think she's in any trouble do you?"
"If I recall rightly her mother is the over protective sort," said Rumpel, "I imagine the young lady will turn up having spent some time with a paramour of some sort that she didn't want mother dearest knowing about."
"A moonlight flit you mean?" said Belle, "People could be forgiven for thinking you're becoming a romantic, oh Great Dark One."
"You wound me, my lady," he said, the affectation of his manner so reminiscent of his former self, "The Dark One could never be accused of being romantic."
"Never," said Belle, "I mean the rose, my library, catching me when I fell from a ridiculous height, none of those things could ever be called romantic."
"Tossing you out to the mercy of the world and Regina," said Rumpel, a familiar frown taking the humour from the moment, "A regular Don Juan."
Belle got to her feet, opening the cabinet behind her and picking up the chipped cup they both prized so highly, handing it to him with a smile, "You kept this for all those years, cherished it and loved my memory when you thought I was gone."
"I should have done right by you back then," said Rumpel, "I regretted letting you go and I mourned for you when Regina told me you were dead. It was the darkest time in my life; I don't think I'll ever forget that winter without you. I longed for the curse more than ever then if only to escape the regret."
Belle wound her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly in the hope it would drive away the melancholy that so easily set upon him since his return. She heard the gentle clink of the cup being set on the counter before his hands took hold of her waist, fingers finding their way between the waist band of her skirt and her top, gently caressing the skin beneath. Belle moaned at the contact and heard his chuckle at the sound knowing that she was pulling him out of his dark mood. Neither heard the sound of the bell over the door but the voice of the town's sheriff cut through the haze with ease.
"Seriously guys, you couldn't have taken it into the back room?"
Belle pulled back with a blush but could see little remorse on Rumpel's face as he turned to Emma.
"Was there something you needed Miss Swan?" he said, his tone leaving little doubt that he wanted the interruption over as soon as possible.
"Poster," said Emma, unravelling the image of a young blonde girl with MISSING written above it in big red letters, "Eva Jones has gone missing and I'm asking everyone in town to put up a poster and keep a look out."
"Belle already informed me," said Rumpel, "Put it up where you please."
Emma turned to the window, securing the poster with a two strips of tape, "I'll be round later with another," she said, "We've had reports today of another missing person, Barnaby Francis. His parents haven't seen him for two days."
"And would this be the same length of time that Miss Jones has been missing?"
"Why? Do you know something Gold? Any information could help?" said Emma, her eyes flashing at the thought of a lead.
"The only information I can provide Miss Swan is the notion that if two young people have taken it upon themselves to disappear, fully in possession of the understanding that they cannot cross the town line, then they no doubt will return home when they feel they can either broach their relationship with their parents or they have decided to have a lover's tiff."
Emma frowned, "You think they've run off together?"
"I would prefer to think that than entertain the thought that Storybrooke is one more under threat," said Rumpel honestly, "If you don't find them by the end of the week then come to me and I'll make up a locator spell for them both."
Emma smiled, glancing at Belle who had managed to get the colour in her cheeks back under control, "You're a good influence on him Belle," she said, "Ruby asked me to remind you about drinks tomorrow night, she tried to catch you before you left Granny's but you were out the door a bit quick."
"Damn," said Belle, her eyes cutting to Rumpel, "Do you mind? I promised Ruby a couple of days ago and completely forgot. I won't be late."
"You don't need my permission," said Rumpel, "I can get some work done here and then pick you up when you're done."
"I'll run her home rather than you having to hang about," said Emma, "I've got no one to cover the night shift with David being home with Mary Margaret and the baby so I won't be drinking."
Belle smiled, "Thanks Emma," she said, "I doubt I'll drink much either, brings back too many memories of when Regina made up those curse memories for me."
"We can both prop up Ruby in that case," said Emma, "I'll see you about seven tomorrow. I'll pop back with the second poster later on Gold."
Rumpel nodded, "Put it up wherever suits Miss Swan," he said, "And the offer stands, if the young people do not make an appearance then come to me and I'll make up that potion."
"Definitely a good influence on him Belle," said Emma, opening the door, "See you later."
The bell jingled once more as the sheriff left them, the poster in the window the only thing reminding them of her presence. Belle started to clear the remains of their lunch but Rumpel's hands covered hers, taking the work from her.
"Let me," he said, "What time do you need to be back at the library?"
Belle took his wrist and looked at his watch, "About twenty minutes," she said, leaving him to the plates as she moved to the side of the shop, cradling her tea cup as she peered into the cabinets that ringed the room. She heard Rumpel exit into the back room, the clink of china on the tray announcing his departure. She hummed happily to herself, remembering the sound of the tea tray as she carried it into the great hall of the Dark Castle, the sound enough to rouse Rumpel from his spinning and draw him to the table. The shop felt closer to home still than his house in Storybrooke, so many of his treasures housed in the pawn shop, reminding her of the great collections he had in their former home. She thought longingly of the warmth of the great fire place, the creak of the spinning wheel, the smell of the books mingling with the scent of potions and magic.
She paused at a cabinet, her eyes falling onto a small ceramic pot that she recognised. She set her tea cup on the counter before gently opening the glass door, taking out the emerald coloured pot and tracing the silverwork of the lid. She smiled, remembering how it had once stood on Rumpel's night stand in the castle. She had never known its purpose but had always admired it whenever she had gone into the room to turn down the barely slept in bed or to sweep out the fireplace. She heard the familiar footfalls behind her and leaned back as two strong arms wrapped around her waist.
"Find something you like?" said the voice in her ear.
"A memory," said Belle, holding up the pot, "You had this on your night stand back home; I always thought it was very pretty."
"Take it if you want it," said Rumpel, "I don't think I ever found a use for it, it's just a trinket but if you like it my love, it's yours."
Belle put it back into the cabinet and closed the door, "It looks lovely in there," she said, "Maybe we can find a home for it at the house one day but, at the moment, it belongs with its friends like it was back at the castle."
Rumpel pressed his lips to her neck, "You sound like you miss it," he said.
"Sometimes," said Belle, "It was our home but we'll build a new one here. I like that our memories came over with you though."
"I wove it into the curse," said Rumpel, "My books, most of my collection, everything I thought I would need. Even an old chipped cup."
Belle pressed back against him, smiling at the thought of his devotion, the only thing she had never enjoyed at the castle, "You know," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "The library doesn't really get busy until after school gets out so I wouldn't be upsetting anyone if I didn't open until a bit later this afternoon."
"Indeed," came the purr at her ear, "Well there are a few shelves that need cataloguing out the back."
"Rumpel…"
She heard the lock of the door click shut before she was spun in his arms and lifted up like a bride, the shop fading to nothing in her mind as he carried her into the back room.
xxxx
The bar was fairly quiet, few patrons choosing to frequent on a week night or so early in the evening but Belle was glad of it. She felt no shame in her relationship with Rumpel but it was nice not to be the focus of whispered conversations or have people she knew by sight alone coming over to her with insistences that she could do better than their perceived villain. She was glad that Ruby hadn't chosen the Rabbit Hole when she had suggested a bar; unsure she wanted to return there after her disastrous stint as Lacey, the memory of her actions clear in her mind even after she had regained her true memories. The venue instead was slightly more sedate, the music low so that they could talk without shouting and the lights high enough to allow Ruby to get back from the bar without having to sense her way in the dim light.
"I thought you weren't drinking tonight," said Belle as she noticed the three cocktail glasses on the tray Ruby was carrying back to them.
"That was the idea but Ruby seems to think differently," said Emma, checking her phone once more.
"Everything, ok?"
"Nothing to report," said Emma, "I'm still worried about those kids though."
"I'm sure they'll be fine," said Belle, "And if not we'll be able to find them with the locator spell."
"I hope you girls aren't talking work," said Ruby setting the drinks down in front of them, tossing her black and red hair back over her shoulder as she slid onto her stool, "We have something far more important to discuss."
"We do?" said Emma, looking at the bright pink cocktail in despair and pushing it further on to the table.
"Belle's bachelorette party of course," said Ruby, "Can't have you signing your life away to Gold without a proper send off."
"I'm not signing my life away," said Belle, knowing her friend was only playing but feeling the sting from the words, "I'm marrying the man I love."
"I still can't see the attraction," said Ruby, "Even if you take the thought of marrying the Dark One out of the equation he's how old?"
Belle frowned as she stirred the lurid pink cocktail with the end of her straw, "Three hundred and thirty… ish… maybe, give or take a few years," she said, "But it doesn't really count as most of that time was spent as he was back in our land, the curse means he hasn't aged all that much since he fell to it. Besides, if we're talking ages as in time spent alive then I'm in my fifties."
"Well you're looking good on it," said Emma, "But I agree with Ruby, not to sound shallow but having met him when he was all…goldy green, I can't understand the attraction."
Belle smiled to herself, letting her mind fall back on the man she had known at the Dark Castle, "I saw the man he was," she said, "And there were moments, when he would really smile and I loved him all the more for letting me be the one he smiled for. Besides, he looked so good in leather."
Ruby made a playful gagging noise, "Too much love in the room," she said, "You need to save those moony eyes for your wedding night. Now back to business, bachelorette party. I was thinking we could hire out the Rabbit Hole, have a few drinks, some food, some strippers."
"No, god no!" said Belle behind her laugh, "Firstly we can't exactly start bringing people into Storybrooke which leaves only the option of the men that already live here and I doubt anyone of them wants to be turned into something that can be squished under the toe of a boot when Rumpel finds out."
"Who would you ask to do it anyway?" said Emma, "I'm sorry but the thought of Archie or Leroy getting their kit off is enough to make me shudder."
"There's Hook, Jefferson…David," said Ruby.
"My dad!" said Emma, visibly paling, "Not the mental image I wanted."
"I don't want to think about any of them naked," said Belle, with a grimace, "I think we can safely say that strippers are not an option."
The conversation was cut short as Emma's phone started to dance across the table top, Regina's name flashing up on the screen.
"I need to take this," said the sheriff, getting to her feet and heading towards the door.
"I still can't see how she and Regina are getting on now," said Ruby.
"They have common ground with Henry," said Belle, "But I still find it hard to talk to her, even after everything I can't forgive her for locking me up for so long and letting Rumpel believe I was dead."
Ruby covered her hand with her own, "Well you can be sure she'll never get that chance again," she said, "She wouldn't dare anyway, especially when you become Mrs Gold."
Belle smiled, "Mrs Gold, that sounds so strange. Belle Gold."
"It suits you," said Ruby, before her smile turned playful, "Better than Belle, the Dark One's consort."
"I wouldn't have minded that either," said Belle, her smile faltering as Emma returned to the table, her face far paler than when she left, "What's the matter?"
"Henry's missing," she said, dragging on her coat, "He was out with Grace Madden. They were meant to go back to Jefferson's for dinner but they didn't turn up and they've not gone back to Regina's either. She can't get him on the phone. I'm going out to look for him."
"We're coming too," said Ruby, as they all headed towards the door, ignoring the concerned glances from the other patrons at their swift departure.
Belle pulled her mobile from her bag, hurriedly dialling Rumpel as they headed out into the chilly October night. She cursed as a familiar voicemail picked up, her fiancé rarely realising the phone was ringing when he was absorbed in his work. She glanced down the road and could make out the faint glow of lights from the pawn shop, glad he had not yet left for home.
"I'll get Rumpel," she said, hurrying a swiftly as her heels allowed towards the shop, "Call me when you have a search plan."
It wasn't long before she reached the door of the shop, finding it locked and the front uninhabited, the light filtering from the room at the back. She hurried round to the side of the shop, glad that the door was unlocked as she rushed inside causing Rumpel too look up from his work with a surprised smile.
"I know you said you weren't going to be late sweetheart but…"
"Henry's missing."
"What?" said Rumpel, rising from the watch workings that were set before the magnifying lens, "When was he last seen?"
"Emma said that he was out after school with Grace Madden," said Belle, watching him pull on his heavy black coat, "They didn't turn up at Jefferson's for their dinner like they were meant to and he called Regina to see if they'd gone there, she called Emma a minute ago to raise the alarm."
"I trust Miss Swan is arranging search parties," said Rumpel.
"She was heading to the station when I came here," said Belle, "I don't know what she planned to do."
"I'll call her," he said, "I have everything ready for the locator spell; I finished them when you left this evening."
Belle nodded, following him as he headed out of the door and to the car. He opened the door for her before heading round to the driver's side, handing her his phone with an unspoken request that she call Emma. She found the number and set the phone on speaker so he could hear her when she picked up.
"Gold," came the voice on the end, "Belle told you what happened?"
"She did, do we have any more information?"
"Nothing, Jefferson and Regina are here, they can't raise either of the kids on the phone and it's not like either of them not to check in."
"I have the locator spell and we'll be with you in a few moments," said Rumpel, ignoring the stop light on the empty street, "I'll need something belonging to both Henry and Grace."
"Regina brought one of Henry's sweaters," said Emma, as they pulled up outside the station.
"We're on our way in," said Rumpel as he shut off the engine.
Belle ended the call, following him out of the car and up the steps to the sheriff's office, feeling a shudder go through her as she remembered the last time she had been inside to meet Regina. Zelena had been in the cell as Regina had handed Belle the Dark One's dagger, charging her to keep it safe. The witch had taunted them both from her cell, spewing vile tales of how she had made the Dark One bend to her every will and the degradation she had put him through. She had pushed the memory to the back of her mind, the joy of Rumpel's proposal having overshadowed any pain but now, in the shadow of the sheriff's office, it hit her full force. She hurriedly grabbed his hand, reassuring herself that he was real and in control of his own actions rather than at the whim of the vile woman.
They heard voices before the entered the room, Emma having called David and Hook into the search party along with Ruby, Jefferson and Regina.
"Do you have the locator potion?" said Emma, holding out Henry's sweater the moment she saw them.
Rumpel pulled it from his breast pocket, "Do you have anything of Grace's?" he asked, depositing the contents of the vial over the sweater.
"No, I left in a rush and didn't think to grab anything," said Jefferson, the mad countenance of the famed hatter removed to one of fear for his daughter.
"Here," said Gold, tossing another vial in his direction, as Henry's jumper took to flight from Emma's hands, "Go home and use it. Hopefully we'll find one where we find the other but there's no point wasting time in testing the theory."
"Hook, David, Ruby, go with Jefferson," said Emma, "Regina and I will go with Gold and follow Henry's jumper."
"I'm coming too," said Belle as she failed to hear her name, "Not a lot I can do in a library this time."
"In those shoes," said Regina, with a sneer as they headed to the stairs, "You'll only slow us down."
Belle saw Rumpel's back tense at her words as he took the lead down the stairs, "Easily remedied," he sneered, "Belle darling, do you mind?"
She looked down at her shoes as she saw the telltale sign of his magic at his fingertips and shook her head, "Not at all," she said, watching her feet as they were one moment encased in black and white stilettos and the next in a pair of flat, fur lined boots.
"There, done," said Rumpel, taking Belle's hand as they followed the unforgiving pace of the floating sweater, "Keep up in those shoes dearie."
Regina scowled at his back and then down at the heeled boots she was wearing, hoping her own words wouldn't come back to bite her. The pace was relentless as they followed the sweater through the streets and out towards the forest, Regina constantly trying to raise Henry on the phone as Emma kept in touch with Jefferson and the party looking for Grace, the locator potion they had applied to her nightdress seeming to be taking them down a similar path that they currently found themselves on. The woods were dark as they stumbled through them, Rumpel conjuring an orb of light to better guide them, the concern palpable in all of them as they talisman they followed failed to reduce its speed and their voices hoarse from calling out for the missing children.
The sound of the ocean was soon surrounding them as they neared the wooded cliffs over looking Storybrooke harbour, the waves crashing against the rocks at the height of the tide.
"Henry?" called Rumpel once more, fear seizing him as the sweater didn't stop at the tree line, hovering out over the water before dropping down out of sight.
"God no!" came Regina's cry at his back, "Not the water. He knows not to go near the water."
"Could something have gone wrong with the spell?" said Emma, her own voice trembling.
"No," said Rumpel, peering down into the inky blackness of the churning waters below before he saw a break in the waves, "Caves, there are caves down there."
Before any of them could offer any further comment a cloud of red smoke enveloped him, leaving an empty space where he once stood.
xxxx
Appearing under water with the undertow pulling at his limbs and his heavy coat was probably not the best choice Rumpel had made in his long life. The frigid water threatened to paralyse him but he broke to surface, fighting against the rushing tide that wanted to press him into the jagged rocks of the cave, but he could see little in the blackness. He pulled his hand free of the water, managing to cast an illumination spell, his eyes immediately falling on the small huddled form of his grandson perched on a small ledge above, his eyes over wide as he focused on something on the far wall. Rumpel didn't wait to call out or even alert the boy to his presence, instead summoning his magic and appearing once more at his side, wrapping his arms around him.
Henry shrieked in alarm but the sound was cut short as they both disappeared in a cloud of red, soon reappearing on the cliffs above to the astonished gasps of those he had left behind moments before. Both of Henry's mothers had soon rushed forward and Rumpel felt Belle at his back but he held up his hand to still them all, no magic needed as he gripped Henry's shoulders, pulling the boy's focus to him.
"Henry, what happened?" he said, "Is Grace still down there?"
"Gone," said Henry, tears in his eyes as he looked more the frightened child than the young man he was growing into, "Gone, they…it…"
Rumpel caught the boy as he fainted, lifting him up with ease. Regina shrugged out of her coat, wrapping it around her son's soaked form.
"What happened down there Gold?" she said.
"It was too dark to see anything properly," he said, feeling the weight of his own saturated clothing and the chill of the air, "The cave was almost totally flooded, I saw Henry and came back here with him. I didn't see Grace and there was nowhere else in there she could have been. If the locator spell takes Jefferson in this direction, I fear the worst."
"What could have prompted him to go into that cave?" said Emma, "Henry knows Storybrooke better than everyone. Why go into a cave when you know the tide's going to come in?"
"When it's your only option," came Belle's soft voice, "You only put yourself in that kind of danger when the danger you're facing is worse."
"Belle's right," said Rumpel, "I'll stay and see what I can find out. You need to get Henry to the hospital."
Regina took hold of her boy, her own magic enveloping them as they disappeared from the woods. Emma's phone cut through the silence, her hands fumbling slightly as she answered it.
Rumpel felt Belle's hands on his shoulders, rubbing gently against the saturated wool of his coat as though it would bring some warmth to him. With a wave of his hand he was dry once more, feeling her recoil in surprise but her hands were soon back, resuming their comforting caress.
"Jefferson, slow down!" said Emma, the man's voice clearly frantic on the other end as the sheriff paced the small clearing listening to him.
"Are you alright?" said Belle quietly.
Rumpel nodded, "Just as soon as we find out what's happened," he said, "Can we not get a moment's peace?"
"It could be nothing," said Belle, her voice nowhere near convinced, "Children do foolish things."
"Sweetheart I want to send you home and I want you to stay there," he said turning to her, "You've got the dagger, if need me all you have to do is call but the wards are strong around the house, you'll be safest there."
Belle shook her head, "I'm not leaving you," she said, "Not this time. I'm not losing you again."
"I'm not going anywhere Belle," he said, seeing the fear on her face, "I promise you."
"Gold!" came Emma's voice, "I need you. The locator spell you gave Jefferson failed. They followed Grace's nightdress to a clearing not far off. Her and Henry's school bags are there but she's not, the dress just fell to the ground."
"Then the spell didn't fail," said Rumpel, "That's the last place Grace was when she was in this world."
xxxx
A/N Well there you go, chapter one done and dusted. I will be posting weekly from now on and the story is practically finished so I promise no leaving you hanging waiting for the end.
Remember that reviews are love dearies but flames will be met with the wrath of the Dark One (seriously I even have a little dagger to prove it). I hope to see you all again next week.
Nova xx