A/N: Hello, everyone! Amid the rampant in-fandom fighting going on lately, I decided to present a different view on several relationships. This story is going to merge Rumbelle and Golden Swan together (though not at first), so if that isn't your cup of tea feel free to move on in peace! If it sounds curious, however, please stick around and enjoy the fun ;)
Any romantic BellexEmma interaction is going to be slow moving as I have to believably develop a relationship between the two women before we can get to the good stuff. They won't be jumping one another's bones straight out of the asylum haha Any questions you may have for me should be left in reviews or pmed. I love to know what people are thinking, and I will answer them all!
The muted thump thump of leather on linoleum announced the presence of a visitor to Moe French's hospital room. As he opened his eyes, he found himself looking into the face of the last person he wanted to see. "Sheriff Swan, what are you doing here?"
Her thin expression turned sour at his greeting. "In case you haven't noticed Mr. French, you stole and were assaulted. Seeing as both of those are crimes and I'm sheriff, it's my job to investigate." She collapsed into the chair at his bedside. "If you weren't sitting here, you'd be in the cell next to Mr. Gold's."
Moe's face turned white. "I don't want any trouble. I just want my van back."
"Well Mr. French," Emma sighed, "this was not the way to go about it. Now, I need to get your testimony for Mr. Gold's court-"
"No!" French interjected. "Just let him go! I don't want any trouble. Leave it be, sheriff, please?"
In a normal situation, Emma might be feeling guilt right about now, but Mr. French was withholding information, and she didn't like being lied to. "There's something you're both not telling me, Mr. French. I expect this behavior from Mr. Gold, but what could you possibly have to hide? Is this about more than just your van?" She prodded.
He remained silent as he stared out his window.
Emma sighed again. "I arrived early enough to hear part of your conversation, Mr. French. And I heard something very curious. Mr. Gold mentioned a 'her'. Who was he talking about?" She leaned in closer as she finished her question. Her proximity allowed her to catch Moe's sharp intake of breath.
"I don't know what you're talking about, sheriff!" He was sweating now.
"Y'know Mr. French, I think you do. If you don't tell me, I have less pleasant ways of finding out. You don't want me to book you on obstruction of justice as well, do you?"
Moe's eyes shut with a grimace. "Sheriff, please…"
Emma's face softened. "Mr. French, I'm only trying to help. Please, let me do my job."
"She," Moe groaned and his open eyes reflected only pain. "The 'she' Gold was speaking of was my daughter, sheriff. Her name was Isabelle, and she used to help out at my shop when she wasn't volunteering at the town library."
Emma's eyebrows were nearing her hairline as he finished his confession. A daughter? What did Mr. Gold have to do with this?At her questioning gaze he continued.
"Izzy was a beautiful girl, but much too kind for her own good," Moe added with a frown. "Of all the people in town to get mixed up with, she somehow found her way to that snake, Gold." His frown deepened. "I don't know how he did it, but he tricked her into thinking she cared for him. One day she came home and boldly declared that she" Moe's frown transformed into a grimace as he spat the next words, "loved him and would be moving in with him no matter what I said."
Emma's brows furrowed. She had a feeling she knew where this was going, and she didn't like it…not one bit.
"I didn't know what to do, sheriff. I couldn't lose the one thing I had left to that beast. He's nearly twice her age for God's sake!"
"What did you do?" She interrupted with a hiss.
The pained look returned to his face. "I was beside myself. I didn't know what to do so I contacted the only person I knew that could stop Mr. Gold…the mayor."
Emma scowled. "I knew it. And what did Madame Mayor suggest you do with your daughter?"
Moe's eyes closed as he choked out a sob. "She told me to send Izzy to Dr. Hopper," he somehow soldiered on through Emma's growl, "and I did. He was supposed to cure her of her madness, but—"
"Cure her!" Emma raged as her chair clattered to the ground, "your daughter had feelings for a man you didn't approve of and you sent her to a shrink for treatment?" This man was out of his mind. She couldn't sit through this horror story any longer.
As she stormed toward the door a thought leapt to the front of her mind. Where is she now?Emma turned to Mr. French and growled, "Your daughter, where is she?"
Moe quivered in fear and hid behind his good hand as he replied, "Regina said—she said Izzy was suicidal and Dr. Hopper couldn't handle her anymore, so she was committed."
Emma's eyes narrowed. "Storybrooke doesn't have a mental hospital."
Moe swallowed his fear as he peered up from between his fingers. "But the hospital has a ward."
"Where?" she hissed.
"I don't know," he whispered, "when Mayor Mills—"
"Of course, it's Regina!" She groaned. "What is wrong with you people? What about her looks even remotely trustworthy to you?"
Moe frowned and shook his head. "I'm not proud of what I did sheriff, but desperate times call for desperate measures and I was at my limit. I didn't know what to do."
"Wrong." Emma's eyes narrowed. "You just did what was easiest. You're lucky I got to you when I did, French. Mr. Gold would have killed you."
The pained look returned to his face. "I probably deserve it. I haven't even visited Izzy since she was committed. They told me it would be a bad idea. Slow down her recovery if I upset her again." That confession was making him suffer.
This whole situation is fishy.
"Do you know where I can find the ward, Mr. French?"
"I don't," he admitted, "but Dr. Hopper should. He went with the mayor the day Izzy was committed."
Emma nodded, a plan already forming in her head. Dr. Hopper had info she wanted, and expertise she needed.
"Alright Mr. French. I'm going to look into this, but I need you to keep your mouth shut. If Regina finds out about my plans, she'll find some way to ruin them. And something tells me you won't be seeing your daughter again if she does." She gave him a pointed look before heading for the door.
Moe's soft voice stopped her in the doorway. "Good luck sheriff." At her look of confusion he continued. "I only ever wanted to protect Izzy, but I was focused on the wrong things after I lost her mother. Just make sure my little girl's happy and healthy. That'll be enough for me."
Emma's face softened and she nodded before sweeping out. She had another visit to make. Hopefully the doctor was in.