Chapter One. Finding Hope.
"Please, Belle... I... I'm scared."
Belle shot forward in her bed, heart pounding, tears falling from her eyes. Rumple's final words haunted her every night and everyday since she forced him over the line.
She had hoped with time the feeling of betrayal and loss would dull, but with three weeks quickly turning to a month, she felt as if nothing would ever help her feel whole again.
Laying slowly back down on her pillow, Belle looked at the clock sitting on her bedside table. The red numbers flashing in the dark told her it was only four in the morning.
She sighed. There was no way she was falling back to sleep tonight.
So instead of trying, she reached over and turned on the antique lamp that was next to her alarm.
Light flooded into her tiny apartment bedroom. She had been living in the apartment since she sent Rumple away. It just felt wrong being in the home they had lived in together, almost like a lie. A lie she couldn't bring herself to continue living. So she had emptied Rumple's home of all her belongings and quickly found herself a new home to live in.
The apartment was small, but more than big enough for just her. It was about a block away from the library, which she happy for. It meant she could walk to and from work everyday, something she preferred immensely.
It was three rooms, her bedroom, a bathroom, and a living area that consisted of her kitchen and living room combined.
The walls of her bedroom were a soft yellow, her floors the same dark mahogany that ran throughout the rest of the tiny home. Her kitchen and living area consisted of one accent wall that was entirely brick and the others a faded wallpaper that was covered in retro orange and yellow flowers.
To most, the wallpaper would be a definite disadvantage to the apartment, but Belle found herself rather liking it. Finding it endearing rather than appalling.
All in all, she liked the apartment, but couldn't help but feel like it wasn't a home. It was sparsely decorated. Filled with mostly furniture that Emma had helped her scrounge together, the only furniture she had were the bed she was laying on, the dark purple couch in her living area and the small table she used to eat her meals on. Her many books she left lined up against the walls, scattered about the apartment.
In the corner of her living area, pushed up against a wall was a box filled with a bookshelf she had yet to put together. She had, since moving in, planned on putting it together, but every time found herself overwhelmed while staring at the thousands of tiny pieces scattered around her.
So instead of putting it together, she simply put it off to the side, figuring she would deal with it later.
As Belle made her way to the kitchen her eyes fell on the box and she swore to herself she would put it together tonight.
She opened her fridge and grabbed the orange juice.
She wanted to think of the apartment as her home, she really did, but felt it was so empty, so sad, much like herself since sending Rumple away, for it to be a home. Then again, Rumple's home had never really been hers either. He had tried to make her feel comfortable there, allowed her to change what she wished, but she had never felt right about changing the home he had built. So she contented herself with the home the way it was. Besides, it was so well decorated she didn't see how she could make any improvements to it.
The idea of decorating the apartment entirely on her own was a daunting one. She wasn't even entirely sure she knew what she liked…
She filled one of her glasses with orange juice and placed the carton back in her fridge. She raided her cabinets for the box of cheerios she knew she had and made herself a bowl of cereal for breakfast.
She was supposed to meet Hook at the library at eight, so that they could continue their search to save the fairies. They'd been at it almost nonstop for the past month and they were no closer to finding a spell now than they were then.
But still, Belle wouldn't give up. When she finished eating she cleaned up her mess and got dressed for the day after a quick shower. It was nearing five thirty when Belle started down the road to the library. The sun was just rising and the air was crisp and wet from the morning dew. She smiled, thinking how beautiful the day was sure to be.
Not many people were on the streets as she walked, which was how she preferred it. Most people treated her with slight contempt, feeling it was her fault that Rumple had helped Ingrid almost destroy the town.
It didn't bother her as much as it should.
Her day seemed just like any other until she opened the door to the library.
Laying, passed out in the middle of her library was the same man she had found in a similar situation only a few months before.
She watched him for a moment as he muttered and tossed in his sleep. She sighed, knowing it would be silly to bother Emma with this this early in the morning. So instead of calling the sheriff, she walked over to the man.
She leaned down next to him and tried to gently wake him. He reeked of booze and seemed unbothered by her soft prodding.
"Come on, you can't sleep on the floor." She said as she shook him with a lot more force.
That seemed to wake him just barely, "hhhmm?"
His words were incoherent and Belle found herself rolling her eyes.
"Come on, up you go. I don't know why, but if you're going to pass out, you should at least use the couch in the back." She used all her strength to help the man up and half drag him into the back room where the old couch remained.
He fell face first onto the dusty old thing, and Belle figured he probably wouldn't suffocate, so she left him be.
A few hours later, after a call from Hook saying he wouldn't be there today, Belle finally heard the man stir from the back. She turned to look as he came into the bright lobby, squinting, "Ah bloody hell... that's bright..."
He took a few more steps before he opened his eyes and saw her staring at him. He froze in his spot, wondering if she was going to call the sheriff on him. He figured she wasn't, considering she hadn't yet, but she always had the chance to. He really didn't want to deal with that woman today, the sheriff had left him alone for the most part since the snow witch had died. He didn't want to be on her radar again.
Belle sighed, "I don't know why I bother locking up if you're just going to break in any way."
She looked back at the book she was holding and Will chuckled softly, "Right. Sorry 'bout that."
"No you're not." Belle said without looking up from her book.
"You're right, I'm not." Will smirked, "Is that granny's coffee I smell?"
Belle had made a quick trip to granny's after the diner opened and had picked up two coffees for Hook and herself. She had already finished hers, but since Hook had canceled on their researching plans, his was still full.
Without really knowing why, she pushed the styrofoam to-go cup towards her hardly wanted guest.
Will smiled, and grabbed the cup, "Thanks, love."
Belle ignored him, still concentrating on her book.
Will rocked back on his heels, feeling the urge to speak to this woman despite her obvious wish not to speak to him. He walked over to her and stuck his hand out to her, "Will Scarlet, don't think we ever made proper acquaintances."
She looked at his hand then looked at him, but made no move to shake his hand, "Belle. It's kind of difficult to exchange pleasantries when one is passed out on the floor."
Will laughed, "Well you certainly have me there, darlin'. So tell me Belle, why did I wake up back there, instead'a behind bars at the sheriff station?"
Belle shrugged, "It was early. I didn't want to bother Emma. Besides, you weren't doing anything dangerous. Just stupid. Other than the one book, you haven't damaged anything, so I figured it wasn't that big of a deal."
"But still. I broke in and that's still illegal, last time I checked."
"Would you prefer that I call her?"
"Not at all, just trying to figure you out, is all."
"Well," Belle said, feeling uncomfortable under the man's oddly heavy gaze, "There's nothing to figure out. You're not going to hurt me, if you were you would have done it by now. Why you feel the need to break into my library every time you go on a binge is a mystery but not worthy of calling Emma on you."
"Oi, wait a minute!" Will exclaimed, slightly shocked at the pretty brunettes reasoning. Sure he didn't want to hurt her, but that didn't mean he wasn't dangerous. How could she be so flippant about her own safety like that? "I'm still a thief, ain't a killin' one, but still a criminal all the same. You should be more careful who you trust, lil lady."
Belle put the book down and stared at Will. "Don't call me 'lil lady', and I'm confused. I don't call the cops on you, something most people would be thankful for, yet you, of all people, lecture me for it?"
"It ain't safe is all I'm saying. Just cause I ain't gonna hurt you, don't mean the next fella to break in won't. And it ain't every time, just sometimes." He defended himself. He only broke in here when he was feeling particularly down about himself, when he felt like he was forgetting her.
That's why he kept coming back for that book, because that was the only piece of her that he still had. As much as he wanted to forget the pain with alcohol, he never wanted to forget her.
"No one else would bother breaking in in the first place." She pointed out.
He shrugged, "Might be true, but you still have questionable judgment."
Belle huffed and stood up. He was tall, even in her heels she had to look up to look him in the eyes.
Despite that, Will didn't feel like he was looking down at her. If anything he felt tiny under her heated gaze.
"Don't you have someplace to be, other than in my library, bothering me?" She had had her fill of Will Scarlet to last her a lifetime. It was bad enough that everyone in town thought she was stupid for loving Rumpelstiltskin, but she sure as hell didn't need some stranger telling her she was stupid for a whole different reason to her face. Least of all after she had been nice enough to not to have him arrested.
"Well 'scuse me!" He said as Belle gathered her books and walked past him, making sure to knock into his side as she did so, "Didn't realize I was keepin' your royal majesty from such important readins."
His mocking tone only added to the irritation building up within her, "Would you stop being such an ass already? If it'll make you happy, next time I will call Emma!"
"Well fine!" He shouted.
"Fine!" She shouted back over her shoulder as she made her way to the bookshelf she had pulled the books from. As she tried to focus on putting the books away and not on how her eyes were stinging, she heard him muttering to himself before the front door opened and closed.
When she figured he was gone for good, she put the books in one of the empty spots and leaned on the bookshelf for support.
She let the tears fall. She wasn't sad, at least not more than she normally was, she was angry. She was angry that he broke in, that he lectured her for doing what she thought was right, and most of all she was angry that this man, this complete stranger, managed to push her to the point of feeling weak in her own library, the closest thing to a home that she currently had.
Well if he wanted to be arrested so badly, she'd have him arrested the next time his drunk ass stumbled into her library! That was for damn sure!
Will was sitting in the Rabbit Hole, enjoying himself a drink quite a few hours later. He was only just now starting to calm down from his burst of anger earlier in the library.
He didn't like when people made him feel dumb and somehow that little brunette knew exactly how to push him in all the wrong ways.
He nursed his drink slowly, not wanting to get as wasted as he had the night before.
He knew he shouldn't have stuck around after waking up. He should have just thanked her for not calling the Sheriff on him, then went on his way. But there was something about the girl that kept him right there, trying to understand her. He hadn't been shown much kindness in his life, least of all here in Storybrooke. He was shocked by her choice to not have him arrested.
Instead she had been kind enough to help him off the floor and to a couch for him to sleep the binge off. He wasn't used to that. He wasn't used to somebody wanting to help him.
Ana had been more interested in what he could do for her, even Alice only wanted him around so that he could help her find Cyrus. He just couldn't understand why a complete stranger like Belle would care enough to help some two bit thief like himself.
He felt a bit guilty about the way he had treated her. He had saw how she didn't want to talk, but he had pushed her anyway. And then even insulted her for being nice to him.
He sighed.
He should probably just keep his distance from her and the library from now on. It'd be better that way. Surely after the scene he had created earlier, she'd rather he not show up again.
But as he sat and slowly finished his drink he realized he didn't really want to stay away. He felt guilty for the way he had treated her, and Will Scarlet didn't do guilt. He just didn't.
So he threw some money on to the counter and headed out the door. It was almost six, so he knew she'd still be there for another four hours.
He stopped at Granny's on the way to the library and ordered two coffees. He was unsure of how she liked hers so he made sure to grab some sugar and cream packets before he left.
When he got closer to the library and saw the lights were still on, he knew he had been right.
He opened the door and saw her sitting at the same spot she had been earlier, her head still buried in a book.
Belle finished the page she had been reading before she looked up to greet her customer, "Hello- oh, it's you."
She looked down at her book and went back to reading, "Bit early aren't you? I don't lock up for a few more hours."
He raised his hands in the air, still holding both the coffees, "I ain't here to fight. Believe it or not I actually brought a peace offerin'."
She looked up from the book and stared at him. He showed her the cup and smiled, "Figured I acted like a bit of an arse earlier and I wanted to say sorry."
Belle was too shocked to reply for a moment, "Er... thanks."
Will let the door close behind him and walked over to the table and put the coffee in front of her. He dug into his pockets and pulled out the packets of sugar and cream, before he sat down across from her at the table.
"Wasn't right of me to start lecturin' you the way I did." He started, "You're a big girl, you can take care'a yourself. Just ain't used to someone bein' halfway decent to me, so I didn't know how to react. Figured I owed you an apology."
Belle nodded slowly, "No it wasn't, but I accept your apology. You aren't the only one who might have gone a bit too far. I shouldn't have gotten so irritated. I just didn't appreciate being talked down to, I know plenty of people around here think I'm stupid, and I took my frustration out on you. I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."
Will was surprised yet again by her, "You're not stupid. You like them things too much to be stupid." He motioned towards the book in front of her, "I met plenty of idiots in my life, I can assure you, you ain't one of 'em."
"Well, thank you. If only the rest of the town felt that way..."
"Oh, w'the hell do they know anyway?" He shrugged, "People like 'em think what they want cause s'easier than actually findin' out the truth."
Belle smiled, "I wish I could look at it that way."
Will decided that he liked her smile, he liked it a lot, "Well what reason do they have to think less 'a you, anyway?"
She looked down, her smile fading, "They blame me for not stopping Rumple... for not stopping him sooner. For not seeing him for what he truly was before it was too late."
Will wanted to keep that frown from taking over her face, "Now that's what's stupid. You ain't the first person to be blinded by love, 'n you sure as hell ain't gonna be the last."
"You sound like you speak from experience." Belle looked at the man in front of her and noticed for perhaps the first time how sad he looked. Lost, even.
He looked away from her and shrugged, "Like I said, you ain't the first. I haven't the right to judge you for following your heart, even if it led you wrong."
Sensing that this wasn't a topic he wanted to talk about, Belle let it go. She was happy just knowing that she wasn't alone. That somebody else had been in her spot before.
"Does it ever get easier?" She asked without being able to help herself.
She needed to hear that the pain she drowning in would go away. That one day she could smile and not feel like she was forcing herself to or feel guilty for being happy.
Will looked back at her and the pain in his eyes answered her question, "Not really, no. You just learn to get on the best you can, I guess."
Belle's heart ached for a moment, but not for herself. No, her heart was breaking for the shell of a man sitting in front of her. She could see the pain rolling off of him in waves, perhaps because she knew those pains herself. How long had he suffered alone? She had been dealing with her pain for the past month and she still felt like she was dying, and that was with Emma and Killian and everyone else who cared about her being by her side. Did Will have someone to help him?
She doubted it.
Belle reached across the table and put her hand on top of his. She didn't know why, but it felt like the right thing to do.
"Thank you." She said, fully meaning it. Even though Emma and Killian had been trying to help her this past month, nothing had helped her see any of hope for herself. But as she stared at Will, she felt maybe not all was lost after all. Strange as it might seem, despite the fact that the man sitting in front of her was lost in ways she couldn't really even comprehend yet, she found the courage to hold on to hope.
She wouldn't let her pain destroy her and she would be damned if she let Will suffer alone for another second.
She would find a way to have a happy ending, even without Rumple. She would find it and she would make sure Will Scarlet did too.
You cannot begin to understand how excited I am for this pairing. I know it's not gonna last in the show, fans love Rumbelle far too much to let that happen, but I guess that's what we have fanfiction for, isn't it?
So I basically had no idea that this was coming, I don't bother to look up spoilers for future episodes and honestly Belle isn't a character I would care enough to read spoilers for. (But! Now that she has some distance from Rumple I can actually start to like her a bit more.) I was taken by complete surprise at the end of the episode. I literally gasped (Belle and Will Scarlet? WHAT! That came out of nowhere!). And since then I haven't been able to get these scenes out of my head, I had to write them down.
Please pardon any grammar errors or typos. I tried to read through this a few times and fix what I could, but I know there has to be something that slipped through, because I was just too excited to wait to post it.
I don't know if this will be an actual story, so far I just have scenes in my head that I really want to play out, so I might just make it a series of one shots. But maybe not, you'll have to stick around to find out! ;)
P.S. Like I said, I've never really liked Belle's character so if she seems a little OOC, I'm sorry. I'm not used to writing her character. Same goes for Will because I've never seen Wonderland, so I'm pretty much working with what little he's been in Storybrooke.
