I don`t own any of the OUAT characters. This is a purely fictional work. Also this is my first publication, so please if I have forgotten to mention something, feel free to tell me and I`d also appreciate any feedback I get. If the readers like the beginning I`ll continue writing more of the story. Thank you in advance.
Hurt. Confused. Betrayed. Exposed. Vulnerable. Lost. Angry. Speechless. Hopeless. Empty… Those were just some of the things Belle was feeling. When the heat of the moment past, when she saw Rumpelstiltskin, her Rumple, behind that town line, emotionally crushed and grumbled to the ground begging her not to give up in him, suddenly all those emotions she was pushing behind resurfaced. Moreover, they manifested twice as strong, making her mind turn into an inferno of raging thought, all kinds of thought. Memories of their happy moments, remembrance of when and how it all began, the small gestures, the innocent touches, the heated looks and even the history of the chipped cup. What a beautiful metaphor that was, chipped just like their relationship, but instead of having only one chipped piece it had fallen so many times thanks to his dishonesty and lust for power that it finally broke completely. It just couldn`t be mended anymore and it couldn`t hold on, taking all the blows he was making it endure. All the tolerance she showed him, all the love she gave him, all the acceptance and all the hopes and promises she once had, had disappeared in thin air the moment he decided to value his "precious" dagger more than Belle and from what truly mattered – more than their love.
But now, all was finished. It was the end and she was all alone, standing in the lines of the town border, trying to compose herself to go back to Storybrook. The last thing she wanted right now was to see David or Mary Margarete or any person in that matter, she just wanted to be alone and figure things out by herself. She had lost her way helping a man who didn`t even want to be helped, now Belle was torturing herself with all the things she was thinking about, the storm in her mind was so furious that made it impossible for her to even say her name, let alone talk. She wanted to be by herself and decided to go for a long walk in the woods; nature always helped her calm her nerves and see things in perspective. She was walking and walking, stopping a few times to rest, but rapidly resumed her walking again. Belle was in her own world and she didn`t notice when the day light had changed into dimmed and blurry surroundings, she felt dizzy and decided to seat again before heading home. The last continues thought that crossed her mind was "I shouldn`t close my eyes", but the emotional exhaustion from the day had taken its toll on her and she gave up the battle with the sleep. Several hours later, when moon was high in the sky and the million shining starts were gazing upon the Earth, a shadowy figure was coming towards the sleeping librarian. A few tweaks cracked and a couple of fallen leafs screamed of the rapidly approaching danger, but Belle didn`t hear a thing. Coming closer to the dreaming beauty, the tall silhouette removed her hood and a bright red strand of hair revealed itself to the moonlight.
- Belle, wake up sweety. - said softly the woman, touching gently her face as if the woman in front of her was made out of crystal. Seeing that Belle made no effort to move, the red hooded woman shook her again, this time just a little more intense.
- Belle, come on. You have to go home, it`s been two days since you haven`t been anywhere else but walking around the woods.
Hearing the soft voice and sensing the apple scent coming from the person next to her, Belle began reacting a little, first it was just a moan, but soon she was rubbing her eyes and inspecting lazily her surroundings.
- Ruby, how did you find me? – asked Belle now fully conscious of her state and whereabouts.
- I was worried when I didn`t see you walk back to Storybrook after the events of that day and I knew how much you like walking in the forest, so I decided to see how were you. Besides being half wolf came in very handy now.
- Honestly, I don`t know how I am. I cannot even begin to describe it, but I am glad you`re here.
- Well, I didn`t know if you wanted to be alone, but as I said I am worried about you Belle.
- I`m going to be ok. I just need some rest.
- You`re welcome to stay at Granny`s. I know you don`t want to go home so please feel free to stay with us for as long as you`d like. I can even make you some ice tea too if you eat something first. - said Ruby with a wink and a little smile setting itself on the corners of her red lips.
Hearing the light joke of her friend made Belle smile, or at least inwardly. She didn`t want to see anybody from the town, but Ruby didn`t fit into that common group, she was a completely different story. The rules and boundaries that applied for the others were practically nonexistent for her, she was the only person she truly trusted and felt secure around.
***End part I***