So the members of my family as well as a few friends of mine are die hard fans of the show and have asked me to do a little fanfic about what will happen in the future...like after the show. So, my friends asked me to do this spin off with some old characters, but mostly some characters of my own with my own scenario. So I'll give you the background of it before we get this thing rolling. Please note that my best friend was the backbone behind the story while I included the details so I have to tip my hat to her for getting me started. I watched the show from beginning to end over the course of three days just to get this right. Season 3...Killer ending! Anyway, here is the back story to this tale.
Set a few years after the events you have witnessed, the characters of Storybrooke, Maine (including Emma and Henry) have returned to the Enchanted Forest to resume their old lives and for Emma to get a chance at the life she was suppose to have. Regina has made peace with the people and has agreed to not cause anymore harm. She became the protector of the Enchanted Forest under Snow White and Prince Charming's rule. If you wish me to get more into her backstory please feel free to contact me.
Emma is continuing her relationship with Hook (so far in the series that is what is going on) and Prince Neal is around seventeen, so that means Henry is about twenty seven. Maurice, or Moe French, has passed away and that means Belle is Queen of Avonlea (Belle's kingdom) and that also means you-know-who is the king. That's right guys! Rumplestiltskin married into the throne and is now ruling alongside Belle...with their young daughter as princess. Now, his magic confuses me an awful lot. I mean, in Skin Deep is was breaking, but in everything else it wasn't and he still has his magic and all. Anyway, for this fanfic he still has his Dark One magic and has given Belle full custody of his dagger. Their daughter was born in Storybrooke and came back with them, obviously, when they all returned to the Enchanted Forest.
Her names is Lucinda and she is one spoiled rotten little girl who knows of her dead half-brother Bealfire and of her family members within the Enchanted Forest. She has magical abilities like her father, but holds true to her mother's beauty. Despite their best efforts, Lucinda sees herself as above everyone and everything and knows she faces the threat of an arranged marriage, a law put in place over the kingdom of Avonlea for centuries, which is why Belle was set to marry Gaston. On her sixteenth birthday is when she is to be introduced to the many eligible lords and princes to have her hand in marriage. From there, the man she chooses will be set to marry her when she turns eighteen. Though Belle and Rumple are not all for it, Parliament insists that it must be done. Rumple is still trying to find a way to get his daughter out of it. I think that is all you need to know, so why don't we just jump into the story now and if anything comes up that I did not explain, please let me know. Thanks guys and enjoy!
(Now the good stuff).
Fairytale Land of the Past
A young girl, no older than five, sits upon the roof of a castle in her nightgown, looking up at the stars. Her green eyes perk up at the sight of a falling star and she smiles with glee, showing some missing teeth. She closes her eyes tightly and crosses her fingers, making a wish. Her long brown curls are brushed back by a sudden gust of wind and she opens her eyes once again, hugging her knees. The glow of the moon makes her milky skin nearly shine as she scrunches her toes and takes in deep breaths.
"Can I capture moonshine?" she asks to no one, but an answer is given to her for reply. "No, dearie. I'm afraid you can't." She turns her head quickly and is startled, screaming and toppling over. She starts to fall-falling off the roof down the hundreds of feet of thin air before the green grass below. But suddenly, an invisible force catches her, a soft palm wrapping around her, a thin layer of magic that pulls her back up and safely restores her to the roof before releasing her.
She looks up at the figure who is hiding in the shadows. He sets his hand down, showing he was the one who had rescued her as he always does. Alls she can see is the glow of his eyes and the depression that lingered on within them. He always frightened her. He didn't mean to and he honestly wishes that he didn't, but he always did. He could never surprise her. Never just hug her or she would question why.
She saw how saddened she had made him with her scream and fearful face and near death experience. This wasn't the first time he had frightened her, but it was the first time where his presence nearly cost her her life, though she knew that he would never let anything happen to her. She took a deep breath and tears even pricked at her own eyes as she saw them floating in his.
"I'm sorry, daddy. I didn't mean to- You just- I wasn't expecting...I am so sorry." She looked to her bare feet in shame as her father shut his eyes and shook his head, trying to hide the fact that he had let one tear slip out of his eye and roll down his face. "It's alright, Lucinda. I know I frighten you often. I must learn to stop sneaking up on you." She bit her bottom lip. She could hear the cracking in her own father's voice. She blamed herself and she was the only one to blame. She did this to him. She ruined the family. He and mom has been just fine until she came along. Now her father seems more depressed than ever. "No, daddy. It's my fault. I'm so sorry. Won't you please come out of the shadows so I can tell you it to your face?"
But he didn't want to come out. He wanted to remain hidden. He even ordered the servants to cover all the mirrors up again. The Queen always made the speeches, never he. He just spoke of tactics and politics. He stayed within the palace walls unless his presence was absolutely needed and extremely important. If not, he never left. So he shook his head and looked to his own feet. "No, I better not, sweetheart. It's best I stay hidden. I may frighten you again."
"You could never frighte-" she stopped right there when her father's eyes turned to her, telling her that she was wrong and that they both knew she was wrong. She sighed and stuck out her hand. "Daddy," she spoke softly, "please, come out. I want to see you. Please."
There was a moment of silence that stretched on between the two, neither one saying a word and her father debating whether or not coming out from the shadows was the right thing to do. But when he saw the look in his daughter's eyes, the begging, the longing, he knew that her words were true, and that she really did wish to see him. She could stand the sight of him after she had screamed and fell over, she was able to smile at him and hug him. He only startled her when his presence was unannounced or unexpected. He made his decision and ventured out into the light, taking his daughter's tiny hand in his own.
Her skin was so fair compared to his. In this lighting it appeared to be an old, worn gray color with scales to layer it. His nails have gotten longer and blacker, it would seem, and his hand was more hideous than he originally thought it was compared to his fair skinned daughter's. She was so pale, like the moon. He inched closer to her, towering over her, yet she did not run, but rather looked up and smiled. He wondered how such a beast, himself, could have created such a beautiful girl. He figured it was because of her mother, though it was clear she held the resemblance of both of her parent's within her, or at least, one of her parent's old features from before. His scaly skin and enlarged amber eyes did not frighten her, nor did his rustled brown and gray hair. Not anymore, at least. She loved her father very much, he was an excellent dad and even helped her with magic. He just could not startle her in such a way.
She rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb as she gazed up into her father's eyes. "That's better," she smiled and the relief was instantly seen within his ambers. "I'm sorry, daddy. I love you." A smile crept onto his lips as he looked down upon his young daughter, his little girl. Despite the difference in mother's, she reminded him so much of his first child- of his Baelfire. He still missed him, but he was given this second chance with this stunning little creature he made with his dear wife. He would not mess this up. He would never leave her. Nothing was ever going to happen to her, he vowed that. "I love you too, my little Lucinda."
The words flowed out of his mouth perfectly because they were genuine. His little girl's grin grew two sizes larger as she wrapped her arms around his abdomen and pulled her father into a tight embrace. "The Dark One or not, you are still my daddy. That is something no amount of magic will ever change," she mumbled in that adorable little voice she had. More tears pooled in his eyes, but only for the great warmth he felt in his heart as she said that. Even with his hideous looks and not so charming allure, she was still able to proudly call him her father, making her soul pure.
"I came to get you because you should be asleep, my darling. You need your sleep- we have a long magic lesson tomorrow. I need you well rested for this one." She pulled back from her father's embrace, some curls covering her face as she rubbed her eyes and yawned. Her father pushed her curls back behind her ears. "But I'm not tired, daddy. I can stay up for hours." He chuckled at the adorableness that was his daughter before picking her up into his arms. "Of course you are, Lucinda. Of course you are. Still, let us try to put you to bed, shall we?" Nestled into his chest and half asleep, she nodded. "Okay, but can you at least tell me a story? You tell the best stories. Mommy always reads her's out of books." He snickered as he walked across the roof, exiting the same way both made it up there- a door that leads down a spiral staircase behind one of the many tapestries. "Alright. What kind?" She took a moment to think as he began to walk down the stone steps, holding his daughter close to him. "A nice one. One with a beautiful princess and a beast she has to slay." He smiled as the perfect story came rushing to his head in a second's worth of time. "I have one for you." He cleared his throat, preparing to begin as Lucinda awakened herself a little more to be sure not to miss a detail, sticking her thumb into her mouth, only for her father to gently tug it out. "Buck teeth, remember white rabbit?" She giggled and nodded, her brown curls bouncing with her head. "Story, daddy. Tell me the story." He nodded and took a breath.
"Once upon a time, in the Enchanted Forest, there was this beautiful, stunning, amazing, gorgeous princess. Her name was well fitted for her looks and heart- Beauty. Beauty lived in a large castle with her father and a handsome prince whom she was to wed in later years. One day, however, their peaceful kingdom came to be attacked by terrible ogres." Lucinda gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "Oh no," she whispered. "Oh yes," her father corrected. "What happened?" Her voice was full of awe and wonder, her father couldn't help, but to smile a little more. "Let me finish and you shall find out," he said, and little Lucinda shushed herself, sticking her thumb back into her mouth only for her father to remove it once more. "White rabbit," he teased and she looked down apologetically.
"Back to the story, her father-the King, sought out the help from a creature that he was told about. A creature with great magic and the ability to save any kingdom if need be. Desperate, the King agreed to pay this creature a great amount of gold if he should save their kingdom from its doom. The creature accepted, but not on terms of gold.
"When the creature arrived, all were horrified of his horrid appearance. He had the skin of a crocodile and the teeth of a wild bore. His hair was as messy as a wolf's and his eyes were as black as his heart. Most were frightened, but dear Beauty remained strong before him-before the beast. He agreed to help the kingdom, but only if Beauty were to come and live with him in his castle as his maid. The King told the beast he would never agree to such a deal, but Beauty," he removed her thumb from her mouth once again, "said she would go with the beast forever so long as he promised to keep her kingdom safe. The deal was struck and the beast took Beauty to his castle. There he made her work as his slave for several months and even found her presence to be quite soothing. The two soon became friends," he walked down one of the many golden halls to his daughter's bedchambers, "and grew rather fond of each other.
"Beauty was never permitted to leave the castle, but having pity on her, his new friend, the beast allowed Beauty to go to the market and to buy items for the castle. He expected to never ever see her again. Beauty left. She took what she needed and left the castle and left it fast, not even looking back. He watched her go," he entered his daughter's bedchambers and placed her gently in her over large mattress and quilts, resting her head on one of the dozens of pillows she had, " he watched her leave...leave him. He was so close to crying, tears filling his eyes, but he knew he did the right thing by letting her go. He did not understand the feeling at first because he never felt it before, but later he knew exactly what he was feeling." Lucinda's eyes opened wide with curiosity as her father tucked her in and sat on the edge of her bed. "What was he feeling, daddy? What was the beast feeling?" He looked to the floor then smiled at his daughter.
"Love. True love, sweetheart. He had fallen so helplessly in love with Beauty. That was why he let her go. So she could return to her loved ones. So she could be with her family and friends." Lucinda's face showed signs of sadness, not too pleased with how the story was going. "But he loved her. He found his true love." Her father's eyes seemed to glow in some special way, the way they do only when he looked at her mother. "I know, sweetheart. Believe me, I do.
"And he waited. He waited in his highest tower, in the library he gave her because she adored books-"
"Just like mommy?"
He chuckled. "Exactly like mommy. He watched and waited for nearly an entire day to see if she felt the same way about him. And guess what, Lucinda?"
"What?" she whispered.
"She came back." The smile that grew onto his daughter's face, huh, priceless. "Really?" she asked and her father nodded. "Yes, Lucinda. She came back. She loved the beast just as much as he loved her. They knew, oh they knew, that they were going to have many challenges to face. They knew they may lose each other on a few occasions, but they also knew that their life would not be about losing each other. It would be about finding each other. They would stop at nothing to be together. They were just too in love with each other to let anything get in their way. She took his black heart and made it glow with light. The Beauty fell in love with the beast and they got married and had a lovely baby girl together. And they all lived happily ever after. The end."
Lucinda yawned again before smiling up at her father. "That was a great story, daddy. I am happy the beast found love and that Beauty came back. I doubt that would ever happen in real life." Her father just sighed with a shrug. "I have a feeling your mother would be able to be Princess Beauty. Those two are very much alike." Lucinda giggled and pulled the covers up just a bit more. "Yes, she is. Do you think she would go back for the beast?" Her eyelids slowly began to close on her as she drifted into her sleeping state. "Yes, Lucinda. I do. I really believe she would go back for the beast. I know she would."
He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his daughter's forehead, letting his lips linger for a moment longer than they should have. He loved this child more than he could say. He was a bit overprotective and he knew what that had cost him the first time. He was sure he was not going to make that same mistake again. "Good night, my sweet Lucinda." He stood from his spot on the bed and drifted towards the door, looking back at his sleeping daughter and feeling his heart overflow with the love he had for her. She was his little girl, his darling princess. Nothing could ever change his feelings for her, no matter what she may do. No matter what anyone should do.
He closed her chamber doors gently as to not wake her, and when he turned his attention forward he was delighted by the sight. His beautiful wife in her own nightgown, leaning against the wall with her arms folded in front of her, her long brown hair disheveled, but her eyes just as blue as the sapphires he gave her for their anniversary last year. "Princess Beauty is unlike any princess I have ever heard about before, but I believe you left a part out from that tale." He leaned against their daughter's door and examined Belle from head to toe. "Did I now?" She giggled and nodded. "Yes. You forgot the part where she tugged so hard on the curtains she fell and he caught her. Or the time she chipped the teacup. Or what about when they first kissed and he threw a fit." He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "A thing in the past that I have asked forgiveness for on so many occasions and that you have accepted on so many occasions."
She tried to keep her laughs silent, not wanting to wake their daughter in the room close to them. "How could I forget? Either way, I got tired of waiting up for you. You said you were going to get her and bring her back to bed. She needs sleep, just as you do, Rumple." She extended her hand, offering him her love, warmth and comfort. "Come to bed with me." He gladly took her hand just as he took his daughter's early that night. Except, this time, he pulled her off the wall and straight into his arms, bringing the tip of her nose to his. "I would happily follow you across the oceans and worlds if that meant we could be forever together." She blushed a bright rose red at his words. He could be so romantic at times that it made her feel like a little girl again. He leaned in closer and brushed his lips against her's, closing his eyes and just letting all of the feeling absorb him. He owed too much to this woman, he could never make up for it. She gave him life, light and love, as well as a second beautiful child. She gave him hope and a reason to live again, and for that he was eternally grateful. "To bed then," he whispered when he released her lips from his own and scooped her up into his arms, carrying her to their own bedchambers.
Fairytale Land of the Present
Just a few more steps and she would be there. A little closer. The anticipation grew within the stomach of the predator, adrenaline lining her brow. So close, just a little more. She was so unaware. Not expecting a single thing as her enemy hid upon the wooden beam above it all. Watching. Waiting. Finally, the last step was taken and it happened.
Maid Mary-Lu stepped right into the pit she had created on the golden floors of her home, sending the woman tumbling down-down into this hole that had just appeared when she was sure it had never been there before. But a pit does not show up out of nowhere. Someone had to have placed it there, and she was sure she knew who it was.
She looked up in a fit of rage and fire fueled her eyes. She was simply not paid enough to deal with this little brat. And that little brat held her gut as she laughed hysterically from the high beam she sat upon near the ceiling. Her personal hand maiden stood on her feet and tried to reach the edge of the pit to try and pull herself up, but it was just too deep. She just tumbled back over, landing on her bottom, causing it to ache...and only making the pest laugh harder.
"You laugh now, you little worm. But just wait till I get out of here and tell your parents! Especially your father! You are going to be so finished when I get up there!" Maid Mary-Lu shouted, but the tiny child had to take the threat seriously.
She grabbed ahold of one of the many ropes tied to one of the beams, the ropes that controlled the oversized curtains that covered the windows, and stepped off the beam allowing the pulley to bring her safely to the ground. Her boots smacked against the solid floor and she sprinted off down the halls, racing and running to be seen as innocent and making the hole in the floor disappeared as she did so. She knew she had a limited amount of time to get back to her bedchambers, she needed to get there fast. Skidded across the floor, her boots making a large squeak echo throughout the walls and corridors as she turned down yet another hall to make it safely to her chambers. Maid Mary-Lu could never take a joke. Not ever. She had to have known that by now. Maid Mary-Lu has been her hand maiden for nearly sixteen years. Sixteen years exactly in just a few weeks. Boy, how the time flies.
She reached her large chamber doors and pulled it open with a tug, slipping her skinny body inside the slot she created between the door and the frame before pulling it closed behind her. She wasted no one time, not even bothering to check her appearance as she headed straight for her spinning wheel and filled it with the fresh straw Maid Mary-Lu had bought for her that morning. With one quick whisk of the wheel, the straw spun itself into gold, landing gracefully into her waiting basket. It wasn't the best she has ever made, but that was because she made it quickly in hopes of making it seem as though she has been at it for hours. Once satisfied with the amount already in her basket, she slowed down her pace and cautiously focused on her creation, remembering moments of rage and then calming herself with memories of joy. Her father taught her that magic needed to grow into balance. It can't just be one thing at a time. It has to bring the opposites together because the whole world was made of opposites, and so was she.
"You really thought you could fool me, dearie?" She turned her head at the sudden obstruction of her devious plan, spotting her father sitting in the far corner of her room. "How long have you been sitting there?" she asked with nerves in her voice, still a bit shaken at suddenly spotting him. He still frightened her on occasions. "Long enough." He stood up from his seat and made his way over to her. She bit her lip harshly and looked back at the wheel, spinning it gently and slowly, admiring its work and focusing on anything, but her own failure. "So, you know what I did to Maid Mary-Lu, don't you?" She did not need to look up from her work to know that he was directly above her, staring her down with those define amber eyes of his. He still made her feel so small, especially when he was angry and it was hard to tell what emotions he was feeling at the moment. "Yes, I do," he whispered back and she took in a deep breath. "You're mad at me." It wasn't a question, rather a statement because she could feel some strong surge of energy developing from the emotion he felt and was filling the room. "No, not mad. Rather, disappointed."
Confusing, but she figured disappointment was worse than anger. She became sour of herself and silently smacked her head with her imagination. "I thought I taught you better than to get caught," he went onto say and smile inched its was upon her lips. She peeked through her thick, long lashes up at her father who was grinning down at her. She smiled up at him. "You did. Forgive me for not remembering." He lolled his head, as if deciding whether or not he should accept or decline her request in his forgiveness. "Well, considering the fact that you are my daughter, I guess I can forgive you for this one slip up. But no more after this, deal?" She squinted her eyes and folded her arms. "Daddy, I know better than to make deals with you." He laughed and mussed up her hair for her smart tactics and charming wit. She was growing up to be quite the woman.
"Can we practice sword fighting today, daddy? I have been practicing an awful lot and I believe I have gotten a lot better. I did what you told me to do, securing one hand behind my back and only handling my sword with my right." He nodded proudly at her and offered his hand for her to take. She grasped it and he pulled her to her feet. "Why is it you cannot enjoy what most princesses do? Gowns and balls and...and-"
"Princes?" she raised a brow and smiled. Her father looked to her a bit stunned by her choice of words, but she laughed it off and locked arms with her father as he began to lead her out of her room. "Don't worry, daddy. Guys are not for me. Neither are the gowns and parties. I would much rather spend my time in breeches and a tunic." He patted her hand delicately, even though he knew she could withstand a great amount of pain. "Believe me, white rabbit, I know. However, we cannot do sword fighting today. You and your mother need to make an appearance else where." She rolled her eyes and kept them locked on the floor. "Which kingdom now and why aren't you coming?"
"Your family's. Prince Henry's, Princess Emma's, Snow White's...Prince Neal's; they are expecting you to be there. You must start getting ready now. The carriage will be here to take you and your mother within an hour."
"Why aren't you coming?"
"Maid Mary-Lu has already prepared your dress and was on her way to your dressing room to help you until the magical hole incident in the corridors."
"Why aren't you coming?"
"And your mother is nearly finished preparing. You know how punctual she is. She wants to be there early."
"Father," she stopped and pulled her arm away from his, stepping in front of him and preventing him from moving any further, forced to look into her eyes. "Why aren't you coming?" He took in a deep steady breath as he witnessed the pain and wonder lingering in her eyes. Aw, she loved him. And he knew she did. He placed his palm as softly as he could manage on her cheek and she leaned into his touch. "Sweetheart, you know why I don't go to these kind of events. It is best I stay hidden and not out in public. It just makes everyone more comfortable."
She sighed and blinked to get the water out of her eyes. "But they're family. They would love to have you over. They do. And I know Henry would be more than happy to see you again. He loves you." He took in a deep breath and removed his hand from her face. "Trust me, sweetheart, it is better I stay put. But you and your mother go, and you have a wonderful time, and tell me all about it when you get back."
He took her hand in his and began to lead her away. "Just trust me, Lucinda, it is better this way." She huffed and walked with him without a fuss. "No one seemed disturbed by your presence in Storybrooke." He throat laughed at that comment, but kept walking on. "You were not old enough to remember Storybrooke, but things back then were different. I didn't...you know...look the way I did back in Storybrooke. Things were a lot easier, but this our home and this is how it must be. If my power dies, I die. I don't want it either, but at least I am able to control unlike how I used to."
"Like when you lost Bae?" The question slipped out before she had time to truly process it. It stung her the moment she said it and she knew it most likely hurt him more when it was spoken. She quickly turned to her father and apologized frantically. "I am sorry, daddy. I didn't mean to say that." Yet he showed no sign of pain, rather disappointment in himself. "No need to be sorry, Lucinda. It is true. It was because of my selfishness that I lost my son, my boy. The most important person in my life. Bae is gone and that is not a mistake I can fix no matter how hard I tried, attempting to break the Laws of Magic a numerous amount of times, even Belle doing the same. I never have given up on it either, but I learned my lesson. And it was from that lesson that I have gained two more very special people in my life- your mother and you."
She gave a ghost of a smile and gripped her father's hand tighter. She had only heard stories of Baelfire; what he looked like, how her father had abandoned him, spent over twenty eight years trying to get him back, taking care of Henry and eventually giving up his life to save his son, only for Bae to return the favor. She really wished she could have met her brother. Based on what she has heard about him, he was one heck of a guy.
"So, there is nothing I can say to convince you to come?" she asked and Rumple shook his head. "I'm afraid not, sweetheart, but you must understand that it is only for your protection. It is best that your friends, that the people on the outside, don't know who your father is. I ruined Bae's childhood like that. I don't want to ruin yours." She understood his reasoning, but she had only hoped that her father would understand that her family always came first. Before friends, before herself. She knew her father needed her even more than she needed him, though she did not bother to share that only-known-to-her fact with anyone. "I understand, daddy. I'll let it go." He pulled her head to him and kissed her crown. "That's my girl." He draped his arm over her shoulder and walked her to her dressing room where Maid Mary-Lu tapped her foot rapidly on the solid ground, arms folded and a look of disgust on her face.
"Your Majesty," she bowed her head to Rumplestiltskin and he grinned in return. "My daughter would like to formally apologize for her harmless prank, and hopes your bottom did not suffer any damages." Lucinda tried to hide her chuckles but it was no use. It was clearly visible she was dying of laughter. "I'm fine, Your Majesty. I shall get her ready for the occasion if that is all."
"Thank you, Maid Mary-Lu." He handed his daughter over to her and the two woman disappeared into the changing room, off to prepare Princess Lucinda for her step or regular or whatever nephew or cousin or whatever Prince Neal was to her's birthday. She didn't even bother to memorize her family tree on her father's side. Things past Bae, Emma and Henry just got too confusing. (Fact: If Lucinda was a real character, Prince Neal would be her "brother in-law" if Emma and Bae had gotten married.)
Rumple slumped away back to his own chambers where Belle stood on a stool before her hand maidens, they shaping they dress to look perfect on her elegant body. She could see her husband enter through the reflection in the mirror and smiled upon his arrival. Her head turned quickly around to face him, and just as she always does, she flashed him her greatest smile. "Is she getting ready?" her adorable accent asked him, sending chills down his spin whenever he heard her speak. "Yes, she is, darling." His next statement was for the maids in the room. "May I get a moment alone with my wife, please?" The maids stopped their tasks and bowed to him. He still wasn't used to that.
After they had gone, Belle stepped off of her stool and made her away over to her clearly aching husband. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to look into his eyes, but he was avoiding direct contact with her blueness. He knew if he were to look her in the eyes he would be at her mercy. He wanted some power and will left within him. "Did you frighten her again?" she asked, but he was quick to shake his head. "Oh no, dear. Nothing like that. She asked why I would not be going with you."
"Henry will be wondering as well. You barely see him, and when you do it is only when he comes here. Rumple, I love you, but you need to start seeing that side of the family more often. That's your son's family. That is your family." He knew she was right, though he does not often like to admit when he is in the wrong. "I know he is the last connection I have with my son, but Belle, we both know that it is best if I stay here. She doesn't seem to understand when I tell her such things, so I was hoping that on your way there you may speak to her. Explain to her that it is best I remain here, alone, so that I can be who I am and not hurt anyone." She used her knuckles to softly stroke his chin, he falling victim just to her mere touch. He shut his eyes and focused on the warmth that came from that small, yet so meaningful action. Oh, his sweet Belle. "You never hurt anyone anymore, Rumple. The moment you start believing that is the moment it will be true. I'll talk to her, but she has a very good question that deserves an ever better answer. One that only her father can give." He lost it. His eyes locked with her's and just as he predicted, he found himself unable to argue with her, rather just move into her and press his lips against her own. "I messed up being a father the first time because of this bloody curse. I don't want to mess it up again." Belle shook her head and held her husband even tighter. "You are already turning out to be a wonderful father, as I knew you would."
"What kind of father frightens their own daughter so terribly that she nearly falls off of the roof to plunge to her death?"
"The kind that is responsible enough to catch her."
He took in a deep breath and moved away from her, unable to stand for much longer. He strayed towards their overly huge bed and sat on the edge of it. He wished things were easier. He wished he could get rid of this blasted curse. But the only way to do that was to go back to what they thought was home, but it wasn't. It was just one stop he had made on a lifelong journey to just spend a few extra moments with his son and hopefully earn his forgiveness.
"Oh, Belle. I do love her. More than anything, but she just doesn't see. She doesn't see consequences. She doesn't justification. She needs to know that everything comes with a price. That some things in life you have to earn. Everything has been handed to her since the day she was born. I love her, truly, but she is one spoiled child who simply does not know the difference between right and wrong," he did his best to explain while he twiddled with his thumbs in his lap.
"And you did at her age?" Belle questioned. And when he didn't respond, she took his hands in her own and made his attention, his focus point, be her once again. "Make her see. Make her see that there is good and bad in this world. That no matter how rich one is, that does not excuse them from being a good person. Make her see that you can be the man you once were."
"A coward?"
"No," she brought his hands to her heart and held them there for moment, until his eyes met her's once again. "Light."
I leave it at that for now. Let me know what you guys think and trust me, we will be getting more into it. I got a big plot planned for this story. Thanks for the support and don't forget to check out my other story entitled Trickster! Thanks again.