Disclaimer: As you can probably tell from the fact I'm writing fanfiction, I don't own Once Upon a Time or any of its characters.
A/N: So I thought I was done after "The Golds"…but Season 2 continued to stink for our beloved Rumbelle. This happened. Because I did not plan for this there'll be some continuity errors between this and "Mr. and Mrs. Gold"; I consider this a remix more than a true sequel and isn't technically Golden-verse. The big differences are that Belle never became pregnant, and that Bae is Neal. Because I do not want poor Mrs. Gold pregnant with all of the crap that's about to ensue. I hope y'all enjoy.
She had never liked this ritual, sneaking out after curfew to sit in the near dark, listening to the worst the world had to offer. She had no doubt these stories were true; after all imagination couldn't fathom such nightmares.
She sat in the corner, knees drawn up to her chest and her nightgown's fashion proclaiming just how far she was from her homeland. Most of her peers' were more substantial; hers was wispy, a poor choice for the mountainous region that Winter's Pass Finishing Academy for Young Ladies dwelled in. Perhaps she should have paid more attention to the name of the school she was going to.
After a particularly bone-chilling tale about a man who spun gold and traded for infants, a fresh girl took the stage, which was just a cleared space in front of the audience.
"You'd think that the Dark One would be the most terrifying monster in the land," she began, a senior given the honor of a tale that had only been told a couple of times due to its recentness. The girl in the corner remembered a time when the Dark One was the grand finale, and she was only sixteen, "…but you'd be wrong."
The first years looked puzzled. The others straightened, wondering if new information would be added onto last year's telling.
The speaker clearly enjoyed their confusion and anticipation, pacing eagerly.
"What's more terrifying than an all-powerful being? …the one who controls it." She stopped, taking a deep breath, "She goes by a lot of different names; the Harlot of Hell…the Devil's Bride…the Gold Spinner's Wife… They say she was the most desperate of souls, that she'd do anything for power. So she agreed to be with him…forever. Over time her soul corroded away until she was just as evil as he is. She is…the Caretaker."
There was an awed intake of air. Until a less-than-impressed older girl drawled, "What makes her any different than any other married woman and her husband?"
This elicited a few snickers and the speaker was momentarily stumped. She then smirked.
"Think about it… How dark must her soul be for Rumplestiltskin to respect her? How evil her intent if he'd rather listen to her than have her listen to him?"
They considered the question…and suddenly the Caretaker seemed a lot more frightening.
"She's strolled into the midst of battle without a hint of fear… She's slaughtered legions with just a scimitar and a rapier… She's torn infants from their sobbing mother's arms, taking them home to boil for her and her husband's dinner."
The girl in the corner curled tighter into herself. She hated dark magic… It had haunted her for her entire life, cursed as a newborn and made to dread her eighteenth birthday. She wished that the story would just end so that they could go back to their dormitories and she could try to sleep.
"She makes deals just like him…except she will not change it once it's been struck. She is merciless on both ends of the bargain…so be careful what you deal for."
The girl thought she was done, but apparently the speaker had one more fact to dish out.
"You don't even need her name to summon her…just her title and that you summon thee."
There was an impressed murmur that spread through the crowd and then someone called out, "I dare you to summon her."
The group glanced eagerly back at the speaker. The speaker's bravado faltered.
"…you can't just call on darkness for no reason," she warned.
"You're just chicken!" The darer insisted, standing up and giving her best impersonation of the fowl, "Baaaawkbawkbawkbawk!" The girls giggled and the speaker's cheeks flushed.
"Caretaker I summon thee!" She exclaimed without another thought.
Every candle went out without a gust. The window panes rattled in their frames. The door that led to the patio was being knocked at deafeningly, but there was no one in sight. Books started flying off the shelves and chairs clattered to the ground. The crowd screamed and stampeded towards the doors, desperate to vacate the library before they were caught by the force rushing through the library. The girl in the corner sat frozen, whimpering softly like a trapped animal. Her brain kept shouting that she had move but she was paralyzed. Eventually the commotion died down and she heard a playful snicker.
A woman strolled out onto the stage and the girl gasped. She was…beautiful, with long dark curls, pale skin and delicate lips. Bright blue eyes were lit up with mirth as they flicked around the vacated library, her dress light blue with real diamonds sewn in intricate designs. She looked as lovely as a fairy…but a fairy wouldn't giggle at frightened teenagers. But she didn't look necessarily malevolent, either; just mischievous.
She continued to smugly observe the remains of her chaos, even as someone appeared behind her. He leered sinisterly.
"You!" He chirped, grabbing her around her waist, "Aren't being very nice to the chitlins, my dear."
If she was beautiful, then he was definitely ugly, scaly skin glittering in the moonlight. Wild hair fell around his reptilian face, his smile full of rotten teeth. His nails were more like claws and he was dressed in leathers and hard scales. The woman jumped, then spun around to look at the grinning crocodile.
"Rumple!" She exclaimed and the beast trilled, delighted even as she smacked his chest with her arm.
"If only they knew you have all the intimidation of a newborn kitten," he mused.
She narrowed her eyes, "I can be very intimidating," she insisted.
He continued to smirk, "Of course, dear."
She was watching the Dark One and his Caretaker in her school's library, and neither seemed to be aware they weren't alone. She pressed her back harder against the wall, trying to make herself as small as possible as she trembled like a leaf, praying to every god she could think of that they wouldn't see her.
The Caretaker took a few steps, sighing, "I just figured if people are going to fear me, I might as well have fun with it," she turned to him, "Did you hear the things they were saying?"
"I know. It was only one baby and you were very, very hungry." She rolled her eyes and he grinned. He dismissed the joke with a shrug, "Regina's rumors have certainly made their rounds, haven't they?"
"It's only been a couple of years and already the general public's forgotten the real reason I went with you," she complained.
"Can't wait to see what they'll say about you in a century," he teased.
He went quiet and the Caretaker shook her head, "Oh no you don't. No self-loathing guilt trip over this. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I agreed to marry you and help with your deals, and I still don't regret it," she folded her arms, "A few exaggerated stories aren't going to break me."
The Dark One mulled over this for a moment, then sighed, "Perhaps after the grand scheme they'll see your true colors."
"Our true colors," she protested.
He glanced around the library, "Isn't this a bit small for seven years worth of your reading habits?"
The Caretaker grinned, "I had read every book at least twice by the time I graduated… I like the library you gave me a lot better."
"That's because it is better," he crossed the distance between them, tilting his head, "Will you show me your old school?" He queried gently.
The Caretaker smiled and nodded, "Some of it, at least… The gardens first."
He draped an arm around her waist and together they started in the direction of the veranda. The girl knew it couldn't be possible, not with the two darkest beings in existence…but she could have sworn that they looked like they were truly in love.
III
Mrs. Belle Gold sighed contently as she rested in her true love's arms, skin-to-skin under the blankets. Last night had been one of the longest she had endured in awhile, young Henry Mills in the hospital due to his adopted mother's poisoned apple that had been meant for his birth mother. While her husband helped and slightly hindered the mothers, she packed their things for the trip ahead, neither of them sleeping a wink. As dawn broke, so did Storybrooke's curse due to Emma's kiss of true love, and they had used true love's potion to bring magic to the town. Finding Baelfire without magic could take decades and though she was concerned about what returned power might mean longer term, she knew it was their best hope.
She dozed off and on, reveling in the glow of their shared joy and excitement. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen Rumple so happy, Mr. Gold not having a care in the world for these few short hours. Once they hit the road she was sure he'd fret about how his estranged son would react… But they were in the right world. Storybrooke's town line curse was sure to lift along with the cursed memories. Bae would be alive, as Belle had secretly checked, and they knew his age range. They had a map of gate points from a certified realm-jumper and a compass. They would find him and her troubled husband could finally rest easy.
They had agreed that a morning off was in order. A nice long nap, a quick brunch, and then they'd check out the town line to be sure it was safe to leave. Everything was warm and calm and safe in their little cocoon, and every once in awhile she'd stroke his back with her fingertips or he'd plant a lazy kiss on her head. It was hard to determine whether they should count the twenty-eight cursed years or not, but even counting them they weren't newlyweds…but sometimes it still felt like they were in their honeymoon stage.
Belle was roused from listening to Mr. Gold's heartbeat by a knock. Blearily she raised her head and Mr. Gold pressed it back down.
"We're not home," he rumbled. Belle nuzzled into his shoulder in agreement, closing her eyes and sighing.
The knock came again, more insistent, and then a doorbell, and then a pounding replacing knocking. Mr. Gold hugged his wife tighter to him in response. Belle blinked as she heard the front door open.
"I thought you locked it," she mumbled.
"I did," he muttered.
There were voices, all familiar but not close enough to be distinct. There were footsteps coming up the staircase followed by a demanding mewl from Figaro the cat, obviously perplexed by strangers in the house at this early hour. A female voice was trying to soothe him but Figgy, bless his kitten soul, seemed to be playing guard cat for their shenanigans.
Then, a voice bellowed from down the hall.
"Rumplestiltskin!"
They both cringed and Mr. Gold took up the defense, slowly pulling the covers over their heads. They hid underneath the blankets, staying as still as possible, praying the intruders would assume they weren't home and leave.
There was a banging at their bedroom door.
"Gold! Belle!" The voice thundered.
"Maybe they're not here, Charming. They could be at the shop."
"Maybe, but I'm not leaving here until I know for sure."
The door was opened with more force than necessary and Belle wasn't sure how much of an outline they made. Perhaps their shapes could be confused with an unmade bed or extra pillows?
"Very funny you two," Charming drawled, grabbing a corner of the blankets, "Time to wake up and face what you di-"
Without warning, Belle and Mr. Gold were exposed, much more literally than David imagined. Belle, Mary Margaret, and David screamed in unison while Mr. Gold's protective instincts kicked in. To preserve his wife's virtue, he rolled on top of her to cover her naked body with his own. However it came with a price; his backside was now exposed to the royal couple.
"Why the hell did you do that?!" Mr. Gold roared, Belle scrambling to grab the sheets and cover them.
"How was I supposed to know you two were indecent?!"
"You broke into our house!"
"You didn't answer the door!"
"That doesn't give you the right to pick the lock and tear the blankets off of us!"
"We have never come into your bedroom unannounced!" Belle joined in on the outrage, "Other rooms, yes, but we checked mirrors to make sure you weren't up to anything first!"
Mary Margaret rubbed at her eyes, whimpering softly, "I will never be able to unsee this…"
Downstairs, Henry stared at his mother in fear. What had happened, why was everyone screaming, shouldn't they help?! But Emma Swan was composed, simply sighing at her "parents"' naivety. She glanced at her son.
"And that, Henry, is why you never go into a couples' bedroom without their express permission."
Mary Margaret and David descended the staircase, coming into the parlor red-faced and eyes averted.
"They're going to get dressed and meet us down here," Mary Margaret informed them, sitting down on the couch next to Emma. Henry sat in a nearby recliner, confused but still excited because the curse was broken and now everyone could be happy again…except maybe Regina.
A short time later Belle appeared and Emma recognized the style of the freshly-screwed. Hair a mess, a few buttons undone on what Emma was pretty sure was Mr. Gold's shirt, beltless slacks and bare feet. Emma had to hand it to her though; even surprised she took charge of the situation immediately.
"Rumple will be down in a few minutes; he doesn't like be to underdressed…" Belle trailed off as she realized the double entendre. She closed her eyes for a second, then started again, "I'm going to put on some coffee; it's been a long night. Would you like a cup?"
"Yes please," David piped up.
Belle shot him a "after what you just did I don't think so you two aren't getting crap" glare before taking a deep breath.
"Actually I was talking to Emma… Who stayed up all night… Slaying a dragon and breaking curses. Congratulations, by the way," she smiled at the bounty hunter turned sheriff turned savior, "I'm sure this is a huge adjustment for you."
"No kidding," Emma muttered then, a bit more artfully, "I'd like a cup…please. Black."
Belle nodded, then beamed at the boy next to her, "Oh Henry, I'm so proud of you," she gushed, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder, "Such a brave little prince."
Henry smiled up at her, "I knew it'd work," he said confidently, "It had to be done…for Operation Cobra."
Belle nodded, "For Operation Cobra," she agreed, setting her hand on his back briefly before moving towards the kitchen, "A family of heroes," she commented cheerfully before disappearing.
Emma wasn't sure how she felt about that. Maybe she should've asked Rose for a shot of something stronger in her coffee, something to help her deal with…whatever she'd come into. Wait, not Rose… Belle. "Beauty and the Beast"'s Belle.
"Wait, I thought Belle was supposed to be hooked up with the Beast," she said.
"She is," Henry insisted.
Emma frowned, "But Mr. Gold's Rumplestiltskin…"
"Yup."
"She's married to Rumplestiltskin."
"Yeah."
"Then what about the Beast? Did they break up?"
"No, Mr. Gold's the Beast."
"What?"
"I think Rumplestiltskin's also the Beast…right Henry?" Mary Margaret clarified.
Henry nodded, "Belle says he's a lot of characters in the book," His eyebrows knit together, "Apparently he was the one to get Cinderella to the ball…because he killed her fairy godmother."
No wonder Regina didn't want him reading that book…
"Since when does a fairy tale princess sit down with you to discuss the behind-the scenes of the book she's in?"
"Since she joined Operation Cobra," Henry informed her matter-of-factly, "She's almost as involved as August… Pinocchio."
Mary Margaret glanced at her grandson, opening her mouth to ask him something, but she was cut off by a squeal in the kitchen.
"Rumple!"
"How is it you have morning breath when I know for a fact neither of us has slept all night?"
"Love you too… Hands off, we have company in the next room."
"Then I'll just have to muffle your screams."
"Rum, concentrate. Care about other people for a few more hours. We'll have plenty of opportunities once we're on the road."
"I want you now."
"You're going to want a medic if you don't knock it off now."
Mr. Gold sighed, and they listened as he retreated towards the living room. Unlike his wife, Mr. Gold was as impeccably dressed as ever, including his suit jacket, tie, and even shoes. He watched the three of them on the couch disdainfully before sinking into the chair across the room.
"You better have a very good reason for bothering us in our own home, while we were still in bed," he warned, "We've been up all night and my darling had just gotten to sleep when you so rudely barged in."
Emma had a retort on the tip of her tongue but Mary Margaret set a hand on her lap, giving her a warning glance. Emma fumed but remained silent. Just because she didn't know how to deal with Rumplestiltskin it didn't mean she hadn't stood toe-to-toe with Mr. Gold. Besides, roommate or not, Mary Margaret hadn't earned the right to pull the mom card on her.
David leaned forward, a vision of bravado Emma had never witnessed in him before, "How-"
"Wait, dearie," Mr. Gold cut him off, before nodding towards the kitchen, "We're still missing one."
They sat in an uncomfortable silence, listening to Belle humming and moving around the kitchen. Eventually she popped back in, handing Emma her coffee and giving Henry a blueberry muffin along with a hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.
"Thanks…Belle," Henry said as though testing out the name.
She smiled, "Your welcome, Henry," she huffed, "Thank the gods I don't have to respond to Rose anymore. That would be like you responding to Chip- What are you doing that's my chair!"
Mr. Gold stared innocently back at Belle, "I was here first."
"Doesn't matter, get out."
"No."
"That's my reading chair, and you know that."
"I don't see a book in your hand."
"Rumplestiltskin I am going to go get our coffee and you better be out of that chair by the time I get back or I will unleash vengeance the likes of which you have never seen."
"Dearie, I have seen your definition of vengeance and it's not particularly terror-inducing."
"Shut up I'm scary." She disappeared back into the kitchen. Mr. Gold made no effort to move.
Mary Margaret and David exchanged a glance. It was definitely…different, seeing the two of them in their natural habitat. Relaxed. Bickering like it was their way of saying "I love you". It was cute, but they couldn't let themselves forget who they were dealing with.
Emma was just nervous her mug would burst into song.
Belle came back and eyed Mr. Gold. She sighed wearily, "Scoot over." He obeyed and she squirmed into the seat, handing him one of the mugs, "Now, I'm sure you four have plenty of questions," she began, "One at a time, please."
The adults exchanged glances, lobbying what should be asked first. Mary Margaret spoke up, "How long have you two remembered?"
"Since Emma came to town," Mr. Gold admitted. Emma's eyes widened. "A loophole I made for us in the curse. When she spoke her name, my memories came back to me…"
"…and then he came home and restored mine with true love's kiss," Belle concluded.
"Why did you bring magic here?" David blurted out.
Mr. and Mrs. Gold exchanged a glance.
"That's personal," Mr. Gold insisted.
"Personal?" David growled, "Everyone in this entire town will be affected because of what you did; that's not personal."
"Yes, but the reasons behind the decision are," Belle explained, "We didn't make it lightly, not with the risks involved. Just please respect our privacy on the matter."
David was about to pursue the argument further, but Emma cut him off.
"Why did you risk Henry's life?"
Belle seemed to shrink at the question, "It wasn't really a risk," she said meekly, "We knew that you'd break the sleeping curse with true love's kiss."
"Belle wasn't involved," Mr. Gold insisted, "She was here. It was my decision and, obviously, it didn't turn out too poorly."
"It could have."
"But it didn't."
"Where are you going?"
The Golds and Charmings glanced at Henry as he asked. Henry elaborated, "I mean, you two were talking about going on the road. Are you leaving Storybrooke?"
The Charmings stared at Belle and Mr. Gold, who glanced at each other.
"Yes, we have a trip planned," Mr. Gold admitted, setting a hand on Belle's leg and rubbing it, "…I promised that I'd show her the world once we were able."
"You can't just leave, though," Mary Margaret protested.
Belle arched an eyebrow, "Wouldn't that make it easier on you, having us gone?"
"Yes…no… You two are different," Mary Margaret said, then struggled with an explanation, "You're…consensual villains. I mean if someone wants to deal with you they can, but for the most part you two mind your own business. It's easier than villains who won't stop antagonizing you no matter what you do, like Regina…"
"…or George," David muttered.
Mr. Gold eyed his wife, who seemed to be focusing on her coffee. Emma leaned forward.
"You two risked Henry's life and brought magic back. The way I see it the least you can do is make sure Regina doesn't go all power-happy and kill us, or steal Henry away."
The terror in Henry's face was painful and even Mr. Gold had to avert his gaze from the poor young boy.
"We don't owe you anything," he muttered.
"No," David admitted, "But I would think after everything you've done you'd at least have the decency to make sure this town doesn't burn to the ground."
Belle was silent. Mr. Gold bristled, straightening in his seat.
"You've overstayed your welcome," he growled.
"Didn't really feel welcome to begin with," Emma retorted, setting down her half-finished mug on the coffee table. She rose and her parents were quick to follow.
Only Henry hesitated, trying to catch Belle's eye. Belle refused to look at him and he gave up, setting his finished mug beside Emma's. "Thanks for breakfast."
The front door closed and all was quiet in the Gold household again. Figaro padded into the living room and hopped up on the windowsill, getting a last look at the intruders while making sure they had left. Mr. Gold glanced at Belle.
"…they got to you, didn't they?" He guessed.
"Well this whole thing kind of is our fault," she muttered, leaning back, "I mean they have no clue about the reason…or all of the orchestration behind it…or that you've intended this to go down since before Regina was even conceived… But we are still kind of guilty that a curse tearing families and lovers apart as well as stole their identities and took them from everything they've known and loved was unleashed by a woman who, though made her own life choices, was strongly influenced by your gentle prodding."
"And the curse is broken now, isn't it?" He pointed out, "We fixed our mess in the end."
Belle didn't look entirely convinced.
Mr. Gold sighed and wrapped an arm around Belle, knowing what he had to do and loathing himself for his weakness. They weren't supposed to care about all these bloody people; they certainly hadn't cared about Rumplestiltskin or his wife at all. And now they could leave it all behind and start a fresh life somewhere else; he'd even give up magic once they found Bae. They could be the happy family that Belle and he had always dreamed of.
Unfortunately Belle's guilty conscious was…expansive. He sighed, squeezing her lightly.
"…twenty-four hours." She glanced up at him questioningly. "Twenty-four hours and I swear if you aren't in the car by then I am leaving without you."
A smile slowly spread across her face as she realized what he was really saying. She planted a kiss on his cheek, "Thank you, Rumple! Twenty-four hours, no more, promise!"
Mr. Gold rolled his eyes before nudging her leg with his cane, "Off with you, then. Go save the whole town while I sit here… Waiting. Surrounded by luggage. Anticipating the moment we may begin the rest of our lives. The moment I have been waiting for since-"
"Oh hush, another day won't kill you," she scolded, leaving a peck on his lips before she got up.
"It will, and it will be your fault," he muttered.
She shook her head, "I'll be home for dinner."
"I'll be dead by then," he informed her. She walked out of the living room. "You're killing me…very painfully."
The only reply he received was the door opening and shutting. It had been worth a try. He sighed and slumped down in the seat, wondering what on earth he was going to do with twenty-four extra hours to whittle away. He might very well go insane.
The cat glanced at him, black and white head tilted questioningly. Mr. Gold sighed, "…maybe Henry wants a cat…"
The Charmings, meanwhile, had more pressing issues…such as the mob at Regina's door and the doctor at her throat.
"Stay back, Henry," Emma warned before she charged into the midst of the crowd. David and Mary Margaret were right behind her. "Leave her alone!" She bellowed once she was close enough.
"Why should I listen to you?" Whale snarled, his eyes still locked on Regina.
Emma clenched her jaw, "Because I am still Sheriff," she growled.
"And because she saved you. All of you!" David addressed the bloodthirsty crowd.
"And because no matter what Regina did, it does not justify this," Mary Margaret insisted.
"We are not murderers here," Emma finished firmly.
Dr. Whale sneered, "Well, we're not from this world," he pointed out, as if Emma hadn't figured that out by now between the dragon and the potion and everything.
"Yeah, well, you're in it now."
This didn't seem to calm the rage of the crowd, who had been trapped in an unfamiliar town for years, the majority of them living pitiable lives… On one hand Emma couldn't blame them. On the other…Regina was still Henry's adoptive mother, and killing wasn't going to solve anything.
Emma wasn't too great with a crowd, and it was three against several dozen. Odds didn't seem to be in their favor.
"Enough!" A voice cut through the mob's hysteria.
Everything became deathly silent. The only one who moved was Dr. Whale, snorting his derision.
"And what are you going to do, Rose? Stop me?" He jeered as he spotted the young woman.
"If it comes to that, Victor, yes."
Dr. Whale went from cocky to speechless in a matter of seconds. Regina smirked.
The mob parted and Emma saw Belle at the gate, glaring daggers towards the pair. She was still wearing the same outfit but had cleaned up, looking just as put together as usual. She strolled up the walkway with a cool demeanor that had the townsfolk shrinking back, staring at the authority that radiated off of their former Rose.
She wasn't Rose any longer. She wasn't even Belle right now. She was someone else, someone who could imitate Mr. Gold's power and who didn't let simple things like "morality" or "ethics" get in her way. Mary Margaret and Regina were the only two who didn't so much as take a step back as Belle ascended the front porch steps.
Dr. Whale stared at her, "How…?" He trailed off, realization settling over him, "…Rumplestiltskin…"
"Yes, he's mentioned you a few times," Belle said dismissively, making a shooing gesture, "Leave her be; we'll handle her."
"After-"
"Leave."
Dr. Whale jerked back at the hiss, at the expression on the usually sweet woman's face. He complied, slipping away while the rest of the mob stuck around in nervous anticipation.
Regina chuckled, stepping towards Belle menacingly, "How cute…mere hours after magic returns to Storybrooke and you already think you can reign as you once did." She stood toe to toe with the other woman, sneering down at her, "Allow me to be the one to warn you, Caretaker…magic is different here."
Belle smirked, "I know."
Without a single movement on Belle's part, Regina was flung backwards, slamming into the siding of her house. Regina's eyes widened as she tried to move, but found herself pinned by an invisible force.
"Fortunately I'm a fast learner," she tilted her head to one side, "But apparently you're not."
She stepped closer to the former queen, who was as trapped as a fly in a spider's web. Regina tried, but she couldn't quite hide the fear in her face at Belle's proximity and her own helplessness.
"What would you have me do with her, Your Majesty?" She asked calmly.
Mary Margaret thought at first Belle was mocking Regina, but then her head cocked towards Mary Margaret. Belle was calling her "your majesty".
"N-nothing," she stuttered out, "We'll take it from here, thanks."
Belle nodded, "As you wish. I've got other calls to make, anyway," She let the former queen slip back down onto her feet, "Careful, Regina… So many enemies and so little power is a dangerous combination."
She turned away from the unnerved woman, pausing to briefly touch Mary Margaret's shoulder and give her a shy smile. She then started down the porch steps and walkway, and the crowd gave her an even wider berth as she continued past. They waited until she was gone, and then quickly dispersed.
"The hell was that?" Emma murmured as David detained Regina.
"That," Mary Margaret said with a slight tremor to her voice, "Was the Caretaker."
Sidney Glass stared blankly ahead at the stone wall of his cell. The broken curse didn't help him any; he was still in the hidden mental asylum of the hospital, despite there being nothing wrong with him. It was just the Storybrooke version of the Queen's prisoner's tower.
It was an adjustment, reconciling his genie and reporter egos, but he found that they had one thing in common; being completely enamored with Regina and willing to do whatever it took to please her. At least he had a body again…and a name.
He turned his head as he heard footsteps coming down the hall, not sounding like any of the nurses… Hope and fear rose in his chest in equal measure and he glanced at the door. Had Regina come for him, to free him now that the curse was broken, thank him for taking the fall with the plot against Kathryn?
Who was he kidding… She had left him here to rot, caring no more about him than any of her other minions.
The lock jiggled and the bolt finally slid back, the door opening. He braced himself, but it was a brunette that poked her head inside, bright eyes glancing around. They met his and Sidney beamed.
"Belle!" He exclaimed, the true name coming easy to his lips.
She grinned and stepped inside, "Hey Sidney…Magic Mirror?"
"Sidney'll do," he assured her, swinging his legs off of his cot, "Yanno, since I'm not trapped inside of anyone's vanity."
She giggled and they embraced. He pulled away first, glancing questioningly at her, "What are you doing down here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" She asked, squeezing one of his shoulders, "I'm freeing you…like you helped free me all those years ago."
After so many centuries fulfilling selfish wishes, Sidney had lost a lot of faith in the goodness of people. And yet, Belle returning the favor helped recover some of that long lost hope.
Mary Margaret felt as though her emotions fit her birth name; a thick flurry blowing in the wind, so many of them it was hard to concentrate on one or even two. The daughter she had held for a few moments before saying goodbye was now an adult. Her husband had been "married" to his ex-fiancé and had cheated on her with his real wife. She had been teaching her own grandson…and her old friend had stopped her from being charged with a murder that hadn't occurred.
After locking Regina in a jail cell and a futile interrogation, David and she had visited Kathryn. The poor princess had been apologizing non-stop for what had happened, but Mary Margaret continued to insist that they had been cursed (though she still didn't like the idea of her Charming sleeping with another, cursed or not). Luckily David had a memory of the gym teacher Solomon Knight and they had been able to bring the two lovers together again. They left on good terms and with the understanding that marriages formed by a dark curse didn't count so there'd be no paperwork to trudge through.
"You alright?" David asked softly as they walked towards city hall, where they agreed to meet Emma and Henry after they were finished and Emma was done with her "I-need-to-sort-this-out-leave-me-alone-for-a-coup le-hours-kay?-kay" time. Apparently Henry was meeting a friend there and he said he "might be able to squeeze them in for lunch" if the meeting didn't run too late.
Mary Margaret shook her head, "Yes…but that doesn't mean I'm not confused, and scared. I mean, we have a lot of kingdoms in one place… George won't take losing control well, and even Midas won't want to convert to democracy. With the mayor's spot wide open-"
"You heard Belle," David cut her off, "She called you Your Majesty. She's recognized you as the new queen, and no one's going to want to contradict the Caretaker."
Mary Margaret folded her arms tightly against her chest, "What about our family?" She murmured.
He put his arm around her, "What about it? We have one. We just…have a lot of adjusting to do."
The town hall was buzzing, the nuns trying to help settle down the crowds of frightened confused citizens. Flyers littered the bulletin board looking for lost friends or relatives. In the midst of the chaos, the citizens couldn't help but stare at an odd duo; a prince by both of his mothers but a native of the land without magic sat with his constant accessory, "Once Upon a Time", flipping through it. Sitting on top of the table he was at, notebook open in her lap and leg jiggling up and down excitedly, was the bride of the most feared monster in all the realms, a dealmaker in her own right.
"Hansel and Gretel?"
"Already reunited with their father."
"King Midas and Princess Abigail and Frederick?"
"I think your grandparents are checking in on that."
"The Mad Hatter and Grace?"
"I'll add them to the list…you should probably take that one, though."
Belle looked up from her notebook and Henry looked up from his fairy tales. They stared at each other for a second.
"August." They said in unison, before Henry scrambled off his chair and Belle jumped down from the table.
"Is he still at Granny's Bed and Breakfast?" Henry wondered.
"Think so. Where else would he be?" She jogged to catch up with him, "With any luck, either the curse breaking or the arrival of magic turned him into a real boy again… A real man," she corrected herself.
"Okay, so I'll go check his room and you go get Marco, Gepetto," Henry caught himself, "We'll meet where the old castle used to be. We need a new name, though, for post-curse Operation Cobra. I was thinking Operation-"
Henry flinched as someone grabbed him by his arm and he squirmed.
"Henry, what are you doing?!" He followed the arm up to see it was Ruby holding on to him, also known as not-so-little Red Riding Hood.
"You keep your tricky fingers off of him, sister."
Henry glanced back to see the dwarves had formed a ring around Belle. She glanced from one to the next, eyes wide and mouth slightly open.
"What are you doing? Leave her alone!" Henry shouted.
Ruby held on to him tighter, "I know she seems nice in this world, but she's evil."
Belle stared at Ruby, betrayal cutting into her like freshly smelt iron. She thought they had been friends… But Ruby's glare indicated that whatever friendship they had enjoyed had ended with the return of her memories as Red and with them the memory of the stories of the Caretaker.
"No, she's a hero, a good guy… She's in Operation Cobra!" He exclaimed.
"I would never hurt Henry," Belle said vehemently.
"Yeah but you'd screw anyone else over, wouldn't you?" Leroy narrowed his eyes.
Belle stared at him, "Leroy…"
"Don't "Leroy" me," he snarled, "If you were so great you wouldn't've waited until she was under a sleeping curse to help Snow out."
"It needed to happen," Belle insisted weakly.
"And what about Prince Thomas?" Ruby hissed, "Was locking him away necessary?"
"You brought back magic and endangered us all," Doc stated.
"You helped the Evil Queen with the curse!" Happy accused.
"You put Henry's life in danger," Leroy growled.
"You freed Sidney, Regina's spy!" Ruby's voice rose.
"She had a good reason!" Henry yelled, continuing to struggle against Ruby.
"She sleeps with the devil; that's her reason."
"Doc!"
Mary Margaret and David came upon the scene, the crowds of city hall moving towards the confrontation for a better view. Belle looked more like a distressed rabbit frantic to flee than an evil power-hungry and bloodthirsty enchantress. She glanced at Mary Margaret, then away.
Ruby finally let go of Henry, lowering her voice as she approached her, "I know she's your old friend but you can't ignore everything she's done. She's just as evil as Regina or Rumplestiltskin."
"How can you say that?" Mary Margaret balked, "You'd all be flat on your backs if it was Regina, worse if it was Rumplestiltskin."
"She used you, sister," Leroy's rumble joined the intimate conversation, "Helped you get together with Charming so they'd have Emma to toy with."
"No," Mary Margaret murmured, "Belle was just taking advantage…even if there wasn't a prophecy she would've helped us come together."
David set a hand on his wife's shoulder, "We can't play favorites," he warned, "If you side with her no one will trust you…and if they don't trust you they won't follow you."
Mary Margaret glanced over at her friend…her confidant…a person she could always turn to for help. David was right; in order to keep her precarious position as leader she'd have to pull a Judas and publicly deny her childhood companion.
Belle's eyes burned with tears she wanted to shed, but she couldn't. The Caretaker wasn't supposed to cry; she was supposed to be strong, flexible as stone. She had enjoyed being Rose, who wasn't feared, who could be loved and who could make friends with just about anyone because they were only afraid of Mr. Gold, not her… She glanced around and all she saw was Ashley, Mother Superior, Ruby… All glaring at her. All convinced by the mask she had hidden behind in their world. Reminding her of the things she had done so that maybe she could have a family, that maybe she could finally see her husband's finish line and at last have him rest after so many years… But it was clear they wouldn't let her redeem herself for her transgressions. They would never love her.
She pushed her way between Dopey and Bashful, fleeing the scene. She heard Henry shout after her but she ignored him, storming her way down Main Street. Magic always came with a price… The price of a broken curse seemed to be the townsfolks' scorn and not being able to play Operation Cobra anymore.
The cat seemed to have picked up on the fact he was going to be left behind. He hadn't gotten off Mr. Gold's suitcase since Belle had went to go play hero. Mr. Gold found this mildly irritating because there were some last minute additions he wanted to slip in, but the cat refused to move.
"You'd make a very handsome throw rug," Mr. Gold threatened him. He blinked and then rolled onto his back, as though exposing his stomach was an ideal tactic in light of the threat of being brutally skinned alive. Mr. Gold smirked, rewarding his cockiness with an ear scratch.
The front door opened and slammed shut, and Mr. Gold snapped back up. His defensive senses were tingling as were the cat's, if his questioning meow was any indication. Mr. Gold went out into the hallway to catch a blotched-face, watery-eyed, sniffling Belle trying to sneak back in. His grip tightened on his cane.
"Alright, who do I have to kill?" He growled.
Belle snorted, wiping at her eyes, "The entire town?"
"That can be arranged." Sad thing was Belle was pretty sure he was serious…
He wrapped an arm around her and gently led her into the living room, easing her down onto the couch before pulling her close. Now, safe at home, safe in her true love's arms, she let it out, sobbing into his shirt. He rubbed her back, rocking her gently as his lips rested against her hair.
"I, I thought if I, if I helped with the fall-out that, that somehow I could make up for, for what I've done."
"Dearie, you haven't done anything; I created the curse and Regina enacted it."
"And I've helped you prepare for it and bring magic back!" She snapped, "I'm a villain by accessory!"
"Belle I've known plenty of villains, myself included," he stroked her curls, "And you are nothing like us."
Her sobs slowly eased, until she was nearly coherent again.
"…I allowed an entire world to be damned for my husband's happiness…and because I want to meet my stepson…"
Mr. Gold contemplated her words, "…better reasons than wanting to torture your stepdaughter for being a deceived eight-year-old." She let out a strangled laugh and he smiled. His arms tightened around her, "…I'm sorry you had to become the Caretaker just to get people to stop treating you like a damsel in distress," he muttered.
She shook her head, "Doesn't matter… The only reason they need to fear and hate me is because I dared to love who they consider a monster."
Mr. Gold sighed, setting his chin on top of her head.
"You know, you always say that you wish people saw the man you fell in love with… I wish people could see the woman I fell in love with. Granted, she's not exactly hiding…but they have a tendency to ignore her."
Belle closed her eyes, "Well like you said, it won't matter too much longer; we won't have to worry about them soon."
Mr. Gold nodded, leaning back against the couch. He knew Belle had made many sacrifices to be with him and even though he wished she didn't have to make them, he was so very grateful to her for them. He just hoped she knew that.
III
The old council had assembled, though this meeting was not held in the war room of Snow and Charming's palace as usual. Granny's diner had been closed for the occasion, tables pushed together to accommodate Leroy, Ruby, David, Granny, Mother Superior, Archie, Mary Margaret and the new addition, Emma. Emma seemed surprised by the members of the group, and Mary Margaret supposed through the eyes of someone of this world the combination of the tales Snow White, Pinocchio and Red Riding Hood might be…interesting.
"Haven't we given her enough chances already?" Leroy grumped, "If she hasn't taken us up by now she never will."
"But she has Henry to think about," Mary Margaret insisted.
"Doesn't change all the lives she's ruined," Granny muttered.
"Keeping her in that jail cell with magic returned is a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off," Archie warned.
"Well can't you just, like, anti-magic the bars or something?" Emma asked, glancing around the table for answers.
Mother Superior shook her head, "We don't have that kind of magic at our disposal right now… We have some diamonds that we could grind into fairy dust, but hardly enough for that sort of spell."
"Well if we can't contain her…" David murmured, trailing off suggestively.
Leroy scoffed, "No one'd miss her."
"Except for, yanno, Henry," Emma muttered.
Were these really the options they had? Kill her or wait for her to get her magic back and escape? Mary Margaret didn't want to believe so but as the council meeting wore on, those were the only options that they were coming up with…and they were leaning towards the first one. Desperate for a solution, she dug into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone, firing out a quick text.
Hey, can you meet me somewhere in an hour? I need to talk to you.
It wasn't long before her phone vibrated and she saw the answer; Of course :) I'll give Rum the slip. Wishing well, one hour.
Mary Margaret only had time to send a "k" before David's hand gently wrapped around hers, squeezing it lightly.
"It's going to be okay," he reminded her.
She nodded and took a deep breath, trying to concentrate on the meeting that was going nowhere. He was right…he just didn't know that she was seeking help to make sure it would be.
Belle sat on the lip of the wishing well, staring down into the water. It looked perfectly ordinary now, without purple mist emanating from it. She carefully leaned forward, playing with her echo to pass the time.
"Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah," she chirped, the well not getting the pitch right. Belle tried again, "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah."
Apparently acoustics in wells weren't as perfect as she had been led to believe.
She heard pine needles crunching and glanced over to see the new queen making her way over to her. Belle smiled, sliding off of the well.
"You know, not everyone can pull off short hair," she teased, "But you can."
Mary Margaret laughed softly, beaming at her, "Belle…"
They embraced, nearly pushing the air out of each other as they held on for what seemed like a lifetime. Eventually, Mary Margaret pulled away.
"I'm sorry, Belle, I should've said something back at the town hall, shouldn't have let them treat you like that-"
Belle rested her hands on Mary Margaret's shoulders, "It's alright… What was there to defend me from other than the truth?" Mary Margaret opened her mouth to object but Belle cut her off, "I'm a big girl, I can admit I've done wrong and I know there are consequences for every action."
"You had your reasons though…" Mary Margaret bit her lip, "…didn't you?"
She nodded eagerly, "Yes, I promise you that," she took a deep breath and let it out through her mouth, "But I'm guessing you didn't want to talk about unnecessary apologies."
"No," she shifted uneasily, "I came to ask your advice."
Belle arched an eyebrow, "Will you actually listen to it?" Mary Margaret playfully kicked towards her and Belle danced a few steps back to avoid it.
"…it's Regina," she confessed, "We've been discussing all morning what we're going to do about her… There's not enough fairy dust to contain her indefinitely and there's plenty of people crying for her blood…"
"But she's still your stepmother," Belle murmured sympathetically, "And Henry's mother… And there's no going back from death."
Mary Margaret nodded, "…I just don't know what to do."
Belle leaned back against the well, silent as she stared contemplatively at a tree.
"…you could send her somewhere else," she offered.
Mary Margaret's eyebrows knit together in confusion, "Where? Outside of Storybrooke? She'd only find her way back in."
"No… I was thinking our old land."
"But the curse destroyed it, didn't it?"
Belle sighed, pursing her lips, " "Destroyed" is relevant… The curse certainly tore apart buildings, toppled trees, usual chaotic devastation, but the world itself is still intact. It's questionable how inhabitable the majority of the land is," she glanced at Mary Margaret, "Oddly enough, though, there's an entire region unaffected by the curse. The Eastern shores must have found a way to protect themselves."
"How would we send Regina there?"
She smirked, "It's a lot easier to go to a world with magic than one without… And I think Madame Mayor still has a souvenir from her own realm-jumping."
Mary Margaret frowned, "…would she be alright?"
She nodded, "It would be an adjustment…but I think she'd be fine. Underneath the royal veil is the thick skin of a natural warrior."
III
Regina collapsed against the jail cell's door after hours of trying to merely unlock it, fighting back tears of despair. Her magic was gone and with it any chance of escape. She was back to being that helpless little girl floating in the air, at the will of magic instead of in control of it.
She squeezed her eyes tightly shut. It wasn't fair. All she wanted was to be happy and now they were taking that chance away from her, taking Henry away along with her freedom… As if it wasn't bad enough the curse was broken and stupid Snow White could be reunited with her Prince Charming the way she could never be with Daniel…
She heard footsteps but didn't bother seeing who it was.
"Come to tell me that I'll be living out the rest of my days in this cell?" She inquired, opening her eyes and glaring at the trio, "Or perhaps you're here to give me yet another second chance… That if I'm good you just might let me see my son every once in awhile."
"Actually Regina, we have another option," Mary Margaret spoke calmly, David's hand on her shoulder.
She glanced at Emma, who looked less than thrilled with whatever they were planning.
Regina smirked, "Are you going to kill me? Put me down like a mange-ridden dog?"
"We're sending you back to the Enchanted Forest."
She snapped out of her cynical act, straightening and staring from one Charming to the next. If they were kidding, they were certainly keeping their poker faces on. She tried to meet Emma's eyes, but Emma refused to look at her.
"…how?" Regina asked incredulously.
"Belle has a way," David said cryptically.
Regina's nails dug into the bars, "And you'd listen to her? To them?" She glanced between the couple, "What price did they make you pay for it?"
"None," Mary Margaret stated, "She's doing it because she wants it done, not because we asked her."
"Of course she wants it done," Regina hissed, "…are you really going to let her talk you into this?"
"Are you saying you'd rather die than go?" Emma muttered.
The Evil Queen gritted her teeth together, "I will not be separated from Henry," she vowed.
Regina's exile, in true dramatic fashion, was scheduled for noon the next day. The small standing courtroom was packed shoulder to shoulder with bodies waiting to see justice. Six chairs were set up in front of the railing, Mary Margaret, David, and Henry occupying three of them. Mary Margaret stared at the expanse of tiled floor in front of them. No guillotine, no chopping block…but it did have the haunted feeling of the gallows. David took her hand and squeezed it lightly.
"It's going to be alright," he assured her again.
She nodded, closing her eyes for a moment.
Regina sat in what had once been her office, hands cuffed behind her back while her blonde watchdog paced, glancing at the clock every so often.
"I want to see my son."
"You'll see him when we get to the court room," Emma muttered for the tenth time since they got there.
"Don't you think it's a little cruel that he has to watch his own mother go through a portal knowing she might never return?" Regina snarled.
"Yeah, I think it's downright sadistic…but it's what he wanted."
Regina stared at Emma and Emma shrugged. Henry hadn't given her a reason, whether it was to watch her go, or to be able to say goodbye.
Belle rode in the car with the hat box on her lap, biting her lip until it chapped. Mr. Gold reached out a hand and set it on her knee.
"You can do this, dearie," he said softly.
"Technically? Yes, most of the difficulty is taken away because of the hat's magic. Emotionally…" She trailed off.
He pulled into the handicapped parking spot in front of the town hall, seeing as the rest of the pavement was crowded. He was starting to wonder if it really was an execution…
"It has to be done, since you insist upon making sure the town is relatively secure before we go," Mr. Gold said, only slightly begrudging, "It's not an easy choice, but it's the most humane one."
"Between life in prison and death, I suppose so," she sighed, playing with the lid, "Just because Henry's angry with her now it doesn't mean he won't be upset about it."
His hand migrated from her knee to her cheek, stroking it gently. Belle leaned into it, glancing at their suitcases in the back.
"Last stop before Baelfire," she whispered.
Mr. Gold smiled and kissed her, "Last stop before Bae."
Emma glanced down at her phone, then shut it, "Executioner's here," she said dryly and Regina scowled. She glanced up at the clock, "You still got a few minutes before you have to face them… Unless you wanna go early?"
Regina snorted, "Rush to my doom? No thank you. Knowing that little maid she'll accidentally send me to a world without oxygen instead."
Emma shifted her stance, "…I can't really pull out a meal in five minutes, and I don't think either of us is religious… Got any other last rites before you're shipped back home?"
Regina tried to pick the handcuff locks, but her magic was still absent. She was still powerless.
"I want to see my son," she repeated.
The crowd turned as the doors opened, a slight brunette appearing and trying not to look too startled at the turn out. She made her way down the narrow path towards the front of the room, her husband following her with the rhythmic thud, thud of his cane.
Belle gaped in horror as she saw Henry next to his grandparents. She set the hat box on the seat beside him and knelt in front of him, taking his hands.
"What are you doing here?! You don't want to see this!" She protested.
Henry stared at her with grim determination, "I want to say goodbye," he said firmly.
Belle shook her head, "Not like this…" She pleaded.
"Yes, like this," he bowed his head, "Even though she's done a lot of bad things…like tried to poison my real mom so that she can keep me all to herself…she still deserves to have someone there when she goes," he shrugged one shoulder, "And I'm pretty much all she has."
Belle reached up and smoothed his hair, glancing over at the Charmings. Mary Margaret's stoic mask was on, and David was trying to channel his strength into her via holding her hand. Mr. Gold sank into the chair farthest from them and Belle turned to him, disturbed by how still his face was. A pond without a ripple as opposed to the usual choppy waves.
He met her eyes. She raised her eyebrows. Alright?
He gave a slight nod. Alright.
Belle straightened and gathered the hat, going over to her husband. They shared a brief kiss.
"Love you," she murmured.
"Love you too," he murmured back.
The doors opened at precisely noon, and high heels clicked determinedly towards the front of the room. Regina walked not like a prisoner with her hands bound and a sheriff behind her, but like a queen amongst peasants, chin high and gaze condescending. Belle left Mr. Gold's side to stand in the middle of the cleared space, playing with the hat box. She met Regina's eyes and felt as though she should drop dead from the glare alone. Belle quickly averted her gaze, opening the hat box.
"…I know you guys like your speeches, being book characters, and it's a public exile and all… But I really got nothin'," Emma confessed. Regina rolled her eyes.
Henry stared at his adoptive mother, but she did not turn. Actually all of their backs were to the audience; as if it were a private show they were intruding on. The only eyes that were on him were Mr. Gold's, studying him, and he fought the urge to squirm.
Emma squinted at the hat Belle pulled out, "Is that…Jefferson's?"
"Indeed," Regina muttered.
"Luckily there was a transaction record from the shop so I could track it down," Belle said, setting it on the ground bottom up.
Emma was having some wicked déjà vu going on.
Belle took a deep breath, hands resting on the brim. She then spun it, once, twice… Her hands drew back as the hat began to propel itself, spinning faster and faster. She rose to her feet and took a step back from the literal top hat. The purple aura of magic was starting to gather inside of it, twirling outwards as though threatening to take them all to the Enchanted Forest.
"Give it another minute or so," Belle instructed Emma, curls blowing back from the wind that the hat seemed to create, "But you might want to uncuff her first."
The air seemed to drain out of the room as the crowd collectively leaned forward, bloodthirsty as hounds but too anxious to speak. Mr. Gold watched Belle, trying not to focus on Henry. Mary Margaret had closed her eyes against her stepmother's fate and David frowned, wishing it would just be over already.
As Regina stared into the dark purple mists, her bravado faltered. Once she was through, she would never see Henry again. Her head whipped around to see him watching her, tears in his eyes. She couldn't give up on her son. She couldn't leave him. She couldn't live without him.
The cuffs fell from Regina's wrists and panic seized her. She couldn't go, she couldn't go, she couldn't leave Henry. Her head whipped to the side to see that harlot, that woman who had orchestrated this hell for her, knowing that it was worse than death or life in a jail cell to be without her son in another world.
She reached out, grabbed Belle by her shirt, and hurled her towards the hat's vortex.
It seemed to happen in slow motion; one minute Mr. Gold was preparing his mental goodbyes to his former apprentice and the next she was grabbing Belle. He stared helplessly as Belle tried to regain her balance after the shove, how she tottered for a few seconds on the precipice, and then fell into the void.
"BELLE!"
The name was a gunshot in the quiet room. Mary Margaret's eyes flew open and she stared as Emma reached out to snag Belle…and missed.
It was instinct, trying to keep Rose-Belle-Caretaker woman from falling into the gaping purple hole. She reached out, felt the fabric of Belle's shirt, and then saw herself about to faceplant into the unknown. Shitshitshitshitfuuuck.
The first goodbye had been agony, having to give her daughter up minutes after her birth so that they all may be saved. She had only known her daughter for a day in this world… The hat was going to take her away again, possibly forever. Before she could think, she lurched to her feet and ran.
"EMMA!"
David had scarcely recovered from Belle's trip, and now he was watching his wife and daughter disappear. He stumbled up, racing towards the rapidly fading purple swirls. He leapt, but when he landed he just had a hat between his hands.
In thirty seconds, the proceedings had gone from Regina's exile…to the loss of three innocents.
"Mom!" Henry screamed, racing towards David. Regina smiled and bent down, eager to embrace the son she had escaped a trip to another realm for.
Henry noticed her open arms and stared in revulsion at her. Tears welled in his eyes, but they weren't for her this time.
"You really are the Evil Queen aren't you?" He choked out.
Mr. Gold stared blankly as his mind tried to process what had happened. No…no that couldn't have happened… This had to be a nightmare, an especially cruel one. He was going to wake up and Belle would be in his arms, and they would prepare to leave Storybrooke to find Baelfire just after they took care of Regina.
She's gone, his mind insisted, she's gone and she's never coming back.
"Get her out of here, now!" Someone yelled. There was confusion, mass panic, a lot of people leaving.
She's gone. Just like Bae. Only she didn't choose it.
Hands were on his, a voice trying to break through to him.
"Rumplestiltskin… Gold…"
Regina did this. Regina took her from me. Belle didn't choose to leave, Regina shoved her through!
As though a flip had been switched, Mr. Gold surged to his feet, his head whipping around the now empty room.
"It's her fault! It's her fault!" He roared.
Arms wrapped around him to restrain him. Mr. Gold thrashed around, trying to get the brute off of him so he could track down Regina.
"I'm going to kill her! I'll kill her!"
"Gold…"
Mr. Gold continued to thrash, weaker and weaker, as he stared at where the hat lay. A thin film covered his eyes and he tried to blink it away.
"She took Belle from me!" He snarled.
"And she took Snow from me, but we're going to get them back."
The brute was less restraining and more hugging him now, and Mr. Gold felt something wet on his shoulder. Not his tears, the man's.
"Belle…"
"Yes, Belle. What would she have you do? She wouldn't let you kill Regina, would she?"
And Mr. Gold no longer had the strength to stand on his own, his legs buckling underneath him. The man…the shepherd twin…caught him. Denied his right to vengeance, all he could do was sob at the sudden throbbing wound in his chest.
"It's going to be alright…we're going to get them back, I promise," he cooed to the beast.
For a long while, the two husbands grieved alone in the town hall, not ten feet from where they had lost their wives and his child.
III
"But, we're still here," Aurora insisted, glancing between Philip and his new companion, Mulan.
"This corner of the land was untouched," she said, "No one knows why."
"We couldn't resume our search for twenty-eight years, frozen in time," Philip said.
Twenty-eight years… It hardly made any difference in the state Aurora had been in. She took a deep breath and hugged her fiancé.
"All that matters is that you're here now…and that you found me," she said. Philip held her tight and she sighed, feeling safe for the first time since she pricked her finger on the spinning wheel.
Mulan frowned, glancing away from the two lovers with something hot and acidic burning through her stomach.
Aurora jumped as there was suddenly a great crash.
"What was that?!" She exclaimed.
Mulan drew her sword and pointed it towards the noise, "Who goes there?"
There was no answer. The trio exchanged glances; Philip drew his own sword and they cautiously moved towards where the noise had come from.
An awning had collapsed, which wouldn't be so unusual if it weren't for a pale hand sticking out of the debris. They hurried towards the mess and Mulan quickly pushed the debris away.
"…it's a woman," she informed them, leaning over to push more out of the way. Philip joined her eagerly. Aurora frowned and started daintily removing bits from another section, seeing a bit of odd fabric underneath.
"There's two of them," Philip murmured, "A blonde and a raven-haired, the latter's hair cut short like a man's."
"They wear strange clothing," Mulan remarked, tilting her head, "I've never seen those kinds of pants before."
Philip peered up, squinting against the sun, "Where did they come from?"
"We checked the perimeter before we entered," Mulan murmured, obviously just as perplexed, "Here, help me move them-"
Mulan was cut off as Aurora screamed, Philip at her side in an instant.
"What's wrong?" He asked. Aurora could only stare.
He glanced down to see a third woman, a brunette with long curls, a gash on her head but otherwise unharmed. Philip glanced questioningly at Aurora.
"I, I've seen her before… At my finishing school…" Her voice shook with fear, "She came one night… All Hallow's Eve… With the Dark One…"
Philip tilted her head, "Who is she?"
Aurora pointed at the long mark on Belle's left inner arm, "…she's the Devil's Bride…" She whimpered.
IIIII
I return yet again to this verse, because apparently I can't write anything else. I probably won't be able to keep up the "chapter a week" pace due to my increased hours at work (plus some of these chapters are going to be freaking LONG). All I ask is that you don't throw things at me because I am permitting myself angst in this story; it all turns out alright in the end, promise.
Sneak peek: Venturing down a very non-canon rabbit hole; if you've read "The Golds" you already have a good idea of what's to come, but much more elaborated upon. Katja continues to be a taboo subject due to her age. And warrior kindred spirits Belle and Mulan are reunited.
