That's how I cope with the winter finale.
I do not own the characters.
The moment his body hits the ground, Belle's world shatters around her. She slips slowly to the ground, unable to move. It doesn't feel real. After all they've been through, this was supposed to be their happy ending, united forever. They had clearly deserved it. But reality is that she'd never see Rumple's brown eyes again. A memory of his mocking smile enters Belle's mind as tears start flowing down her cheek. The people around her, who she thought were her friends, don't seem to care that she's near a breakdown. In this moment, the whole world seemed to turn against her. She's never felt so alone.
"How had it come to that?", she wondered. It started out as a normal day. They were enjoying their reunion after Rumple came home from his service in the war. She had been so afraid that he would never return, just another nameless fallen soldier, laying lifeless on the battlefield and never to return to their loved ones again. So from the moment she saw him leave the vehicle, along with fellow hurt soldiers, she decided to never let go of him again. Even though the war was still going on and there were still husbands and brothers out there dying, she allowed herself to be selfish for a moment and just be happy to have her true love back.
This morning, Rumple had woken her with a light kiss between her brows and the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was his dazzling smile. He brushed away a strand of chestnut brown hair from her face as he whispered:
"Wake up Belle, we have to prepare for Christmas".
She blinked a few times until sleep completely left and the ability to think clearly returned to her.
"And you, Rumple, are supposed to stay in bed! You shouldn't use your leg already!"
He looked at her with an apologizing expression. "I know, sweetheart. But it's our very first Christmas together, it has to be perfect!"
Another wave of sobs takes over Belle's body as the memory fades away and she realizes that all their Christmas decorations, every single piece chosen with great care and love, were sitting back at their little apartment, hardly used and never to be used again. She couldn't bear going back to that place without Rumple's presence lightening every corner with joy in their own little heaven.
Belle only realizes that she'd been laying on the floor as two unfamiliar hand lift her up, seat her in a car and wrap her in blankets. Everything was in black and white, like every bit of color vanished the moment Belle had lost her hope. The stranger's face moves in a colorless blur before her. He must be talking to her, since his lips are moving. Yet, no sound reaches her ears. All she hears is a loud buzzing noise and Rumple's scream. Over and over again. The last thing she'd ever hear coming from his mouth.