Chapter One

It was a typical day for Belle French; she had her regulars come into her bookstore, yet a couple new faces, but nothing exciting. Nothing exciting ever seemed to happen to her. She always dreamed of her life being like one of her novels; she would go on this big adventure and find her prince and live happily ever after. Tomorrow she turns twenty-eight years old and so far, no adventure and no prince. Belle accepted the way her life ended, she never left Storybrooke, Maine, she only lived a few houses down from her father, and she owned her own bookstore named Happily Ever After. She considered herself happy and thankful of her life, but she knew she desired something more.

The bell of her store rang which brought her attention away from her newest book and smiled to the customer. It was Henry, Emma's son or Regina's….that was a complicated story itself. Seconds later Emma walks in. They exchange pleasantries before the two of them go wondering off in search of a book. She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed deeply.

"One of those days huh?" Emma's voice disrupted her daydream.
Belle smiled softly and nodded. "I guess it is. Did Henry find a book today?" she asked
Emma nodded and grabbed the book from Henry's hand and handed it to Belle.
"Oh, Once Upon a Time, that book has an interesting twist on classic Fairytales," she informed him.
"You've read it?!" Henry asked excitedly.
Belle nodded and smiled giving Emma her change.
"What's your favorite story?" he asked
Belle smiled even more knowing her answer. "Beauty and the Beast."
Henry smiled. "I'm not surprised; you remind me a lot of Beauty."
She laughed. "I do, do I?" she asked

After the two of them left she closed up shop and headed home. She arrived home five minutes later and sighed deeply. Her house was a normal two-story house. It had your average living room, dining room and kitchen. Then upstairs you had three bedrooms and a hall closet. She got out of her clothes and placed them in her basket before turning on her bathtub. It was the only thing she truly loved in this house, it was one of those tubs you would see in movies, and thought it never existed in reality. After the bubbles formed and the temperature was perfect she got in, closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She wished her life could be more exciting. She wanted passion, adventure, something more than this boring life she lived.

The next day the bookstore was closed on Monday's so she decided to sleep in, especially since it was her birthday. Unfortunately, fate had other plans when the doorbell rang at 9 o'clock. She put on her robe and made her way down the stairs. She opened the door to see her father standing there with balloons and a gift.

"Happy Birthday Belle," he said excitedly.
"Oh Papa, you shouldn't have," she said mentioning the gift and balloons as he walked into her home.
"Nothing but the best for my little Belle," he replied as he set the stuff down and gave his little girl a tight hug.
"You okay Papa?" Belle asked.
"Yes of course, why don't you get dressed and I'll make you your favorite breakfast, just like every year."

Belle came back downstairs after taking a shower and getting dressed for the day. She went to the kitchen and smiled seeing her father setting the table for just the two of them. It was a nice breakfast, he had made her favorite chocolate chip pancakes, with over easy eggs and golden brown toast and bacon. They talked about the good old days and what not. Overall, it was a good birthday, and Belle was happy to spend some time with her father.

The two of them were watching a movie in her living room when the doorbell rang. Belle looked over towards the door and wondered who could that be. She wasn't expecting anyone. Her father told her he would answer it and he stood up and went to the door, while she turned her attention to the movie.

"Please, just give me a few more hours with her."
"A deal is a deal dearie," she heard Mr. Gold's voice.
She stood up and walked over to see her father heart broken and Mr. Gold looking at her.
"What is going on?" she asked
"I'm here to collect," Mr. Gold informed her.
"We never made deals with you Mr. Gold."
He chuckled and looked down slightly twirling his gold handle cane. "OH how wrong you are dearie. Ask your father."
Belle looked over to her father who had tears rolling down his face. "Papa?"
He looked over to Mr. Gold and took Belle's arm and pulled her aside.
"Twenty-eight years ago today, your mother went into labor. It was a complicated pregnancy, and you both were going to die...I went to Mr. Gold and made a deal with him."
"What kind of deal?" she asked hesitantly.
Her father sniffed and closed his eyes. "A deal... to save your life."
"In exchange for what Papa? Just tell me."
"On your twenty-eighth birthday you would be his caretaker."

Bell couldn't believe what she just heard. She looked over to Mr. Gold who smirked at her that gave her chills down her spine. She looked back over to her father who was wiping his eyes.

"So that's why you came over early and made me our traditional breakfast? Just to spend one more moment with me before he came to 'collect' me?"
"I'm so sorry Belle," her father said.
Belle sighed and looked back over to Mr. Gold who seemed to become impatient. "Alright, I'll go with you." she told him.
"Good," he replied.

Belle had gave her father one last hug before departing with Mr. Gold. She remembered what she wished for last night and sighed quietly to herself. Be careful what you wish for indeed. They arrived at his estate moments later and she looked around. It was pretty secluded, but close to town. She looked over and arched her brow at the color of the house.

"A pink house?" she asked
"Don't ask." was his reply.

They walked into his house and she watched him move. He seemed to have a small limp in his right leg, but he put on the illusion that he wasn't dependent on the cane. She stood in the center of the room waiting and wondering what she was to do. She knew she had to make the best of this, because this was her new life. Later she would recognize the moment where her deepest dreams coming to life.