TWO-SIDED FAIRY TALE
Author's notes: This is an AU on Prospect Park's One Life to Life on the one hand and takes place during the beginning of the second season of Once Upon a Time on the other. I beg for a mild suspension of disbelief, as the timing of the stories doesn't mesh entirely well.
CHAPTER ONE
Since Belle had returned to him, Mr. Gold had wanted to come home from his shop as early as possible to spend as much time with her as he could. Storybrooke was still in various states of chaos and he was still trying to figure a way out of town with his memories intact, but he was also concerned about Belle. This was a new land for her with strange and wonderful technologies and it could still be a little disconcerting for someone who came from what was basically an agrarian society.
He returned to his mansion to find Belle in tears in from of the computer. "Belle, dearie, whatever is wrong?"
Belle was wiping away her tears. "Oh, nothing, just something silly," she said to him.
"Nothing that makes you cry can be silly," he insisted. "Please, you can tell me."
She shook her head. "I was just watching this program on the television. This couple was reminiscing about their lives together, both the good times and the bad. And he mentioned about it being a fairy tale. Well, the woman said they should have a happy ending which there's didn't and he said it wasn't over." She point to the computer. "I went on that thing you said was the internet and I found so much more of their story. I was just watching a lot of it and it just made me cry." Her face broke into a smile.
"And what was there story?" Gold asked.
"It was the story of true love," Belle said. She told him how the couple met, how the woman, whose name was Blair, learned a truth about the man, named Todd, and schemed for a place in his life, how he learned he wasn't who he believed he was and that he was a wealthy man. She told him that they surprised themselves by truly falling in love with each other. Belle told of their many marriages, their children and how he had actually been lost for so many years, but returned to her and their family.
"He was a beast of a man once, capable of great cruelty but surprising kindness as well. His love for her changed him for the better and she loved him despite many betrayals and lies. And they even freed themselves of each other once, but still returned to that love. Sound familiar?" she asked.
"Maybe a bit," Gold admitted, seeing what she was saying.
"They were even compared to a fairy tale, by her mother. He had a disfiguring scar, like a beast and she was a great beauty who was never really appreciated for much more than that," Belle said. She looked back at the computer. "It is odd how the same stories are told, if with different names and in different settings."
"Some stories are timeless," Gold said. "I have learned that even here, people know of fairy tales and magical worlds. They are told to children usually. Adults tend to grow out of them."
"I guess it is unsettling," Belle admitted, "seeing something so close to my life, the life I remember, being played out elsewhere."
"It is understandable," Gold said, "seeing as how so much of this world is still new to you." He looked at the screen again. "Was that why you were crying? It was upsetting you, reminding you of what was?"
"No, I was crying because it was a beautiful story. And, it gave me hope," she said.
"Hope?" Gold asked.
"Yes, that there is still a love like that for me here," she said giving him a knowing smile. "We are all freed from the Evil Queen's curse and I've been freed from my imprisonment by her. I've returned to the man I love, who is a good person, despite what he may think of himself. And, I guess I question still if that love is still there. Seeing this story of Todd and Blair, it gives me hope for my own life and love."
"Oh, Belle," Gold said. "I do still love you. You must know that."
"Yes, I do," she said, giving him a gentle kiss. "I guess I just need assurances that in this land without magic, there is still such a thing as true love."
"This is a land with magic again. And true love is the purest one of all," Gold reminded mer. "It has the power to bring back which we have lost, no matter how bleak it may seem. Always remember that."
"I will," she assured him. "Maybe you should watch some of this story. It may give you hope in the power of true love."
"I know how powerful that is," he said. "I needn't see my life retold anywhere." He took his handkerchief out and handed it to her. "Now, dry your eyes. They are far too sad for me to see."
"These aren't tears of sadness, but tears of joy, tears of hope…for anyone who loves. Especially the two of us."