Hello everyone! It has been a while since I have published anything! I've been so busy and I've been working on some personal writing which I really needed to get working on. BUT! I have decided to re-work a piece I had removed.

Some of you may remember that I posted a story before called Witness Protection but I removed it from my page. I was going to continue with but I lost the whole piece so I have had to re-write it. It's a little different from the original piece but I actually know where this is going this time.

I hope you all enjoy this new piece and I apologize in advance for any mistakes.

Summary: AU- Belle French witnessed a murder and now she is being sent into witness protection in a small town of Storybrooke.

Witness Protection

1.

In the small quite town of Storybrooke nothing interesting ever happened. Those who lived in town had been there for generations and nobody had ever left. Storybrooke was comfort and one that they all enjoyed. They had no need for big cities.

So when the boarded up abandoned library suddenly went under construction, the town of Storybrooke was shocked. The library, that had once housed many books, had shut down years ago and the current mayor, Regina Mills, had refused to put any funds into 'such a money pit' and it had been abandoned every since.

In such a small town gossip spread fast and soon most of the town had gathered around to watch the construction. They filtered in and out and during the day there was always someone watching. But the town wasn't just watching the construction. They were also watching Rumford Gold.

Gold owned the local pawnshop but he also owned all the buildings in Storybrooke. Every month he went around the town, collecting rent. Everyone hated Mr Gold. The best term that everyone had come to agree with that best described the man was beast.

He was cruel, manipulative and could spin your words until he got exactly what he wanted. Everyone feared the man, his growling disposition the stuff of legends. It was a good day if you never ran into the man.

The town watched Mr Gold watching the construction because instead of smug triumphant of owning another building he could collect rent with, he was looking murderous. He stood as he usually did, posture straight, legs parted and both hands resting on his black cane. Behind his sunglasses was a glare that had many in tears.

If Mr Gold wasn't happy about a new library going up then they new something must be wrong and that there would probably soon be a big battle between him and whoever was responsible for the library.

Several of the towns members murmured as they watched Regina Mills stride up to Gold, her painted red lips in a thin line. It looked as if they were getting their showdown sooner than they had expected.

"Gold," Regina greeted, coming to stand by him.

"Regina," Gold said through gritted teeth. "Come to gloat have you Dearie?"

Turning with a look of surprise, Regina stared at Gold. "Gloat?"

"I must admit, Dearie. Few have ever gone behind my back and come out in the lead," Gold said, his voice as cold as ice. "You must have worked hard to keep this a secret."

"You think I had something to do with this?" Regina laughed. "Funny, and here I was about to accuse you of the same thing."

At this, Gold turned to finally look at her. "I'm afraid you've lost me."

"I didn't give the okay for this to happen," Regina scowled. "The library is a money pit and one I wasn't dipping into the towns budget for."

"You think I'm doing this to spite you?" Gold said, gesturing to the building.

"The thought had crossed my mind," Regina said. "But now I'm not so sure." She stared at the building for a quiet moment before continuing. "A letter came across my desk. An outside source has funded the library to re-open and that construction would start right away."

"You didn't order this?" Gold said, peering at her intensely.

"No," she said, staring right back at him. "Who ever has done this has gone above me and I would like to know who."

"As would I, Dearie," Gold said, looking back at the library. "As would I. Who's going to run it?"

"Apparently that has been taken care of that too," Regina said, crossing her arms over her chest. "The applicant was decided by the same person funding this project."

"Do you have a name?" Gold sneered.

Regina glared coldly at him. "No I don't."

"And how exactly does one make such a donation without the Mayor knowing," Gold questioned with a cold smirk. "Not getting tried are we, Dearie?"

Regina scowled at Gold. "No. And I plan on finding out. With some help of course."

Gold laughed. "That will be a pricey cost."

"One I am willing to pay," Regina said firmly.

Gold grinned, revealing one gold tooth. "Very well, Dearie. I'll be in touch." He turned and started limping away, back to his pawnshop.

Regina didn't turn away from the library. She ran her tongue over her teeth, glaring at the building. She didn't like having one pulled over her, much like Gold didn't. Being Mayor Regina was aware of everything that happened in her town. Everything went through her.

Except this and she was damned if she wasn't going to find out.

In a flurry of movements Graham Humbert tidied up the mess in his living room, shooting a sheepish grin over his shoulder. "Sorry about the mess. I wasn't really prepared for company."

"No need to apologize," Belle French smiled at him reassuringly. She tucked a loose strand of her wavy brown hair behind her ear. "I should be the one apologizing."

Shoving a stack of magazines under the coffee table, Graham straightened up, adjusting his sheriff badge, and smiled at her. "No need. I have a spare bedroom you can stay in until the apartment above the library is ready."

"Thank you so much," Belle said sincerely. "Really."

Graham waved her thanks away. "Anything to help protect a witness." Graham pointed at door that led through to the kitchen. "Coffee?"

"Do you have any tea?" Belle asked.

"Sure," he said and walked through to the kitchen. He raised his voice so that she could hear him. "Make yourself comfortable. You should only be here for a couple of days before the apartment is ready." He shuffled about the kitchen, boiling the kettle and rummaging for a tea bag. "I didn't get to ask at the station but how are you holding up with all this?"

Belle wondered to the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe. "Everything has happened so fast," she said. "I don't think I have had the chance to properly process it all." She sucked in a deep breath. "I just can't believe…" she trailed off. She shook her head, brown curls falling about her face. She pushed them back and smiled sadly. "It's only for a little while, right?"

"Right," Graham smiled softly. He fixed the tea, hiding the way his smile fell from her face. He didn't have the heart to tell her that a while could be years. He made himself smile again turned and handed her a mug. He watched her over the rim of his mug as she wrapped her palms around it. He swallowed his tea, smacking his lips and cleared his throat. "How about a tour?"

"A tour sounds great," Belle smiled softly.

What did you think?