Ruby watches as her creation leaves with her new father. A bitter sweet moment for the three of them, it seemed more bitter than sweet however. She takes in a deep breath and exhales to hide her discomposure, but her body gives away the tell-tell signs of her nervousness. Ruby's heart thumped rapidly in her chest from both fear and anxiety. She put her hand above her heart to steady it's fast pace, closes her eyes and continues to take in deep breaths, but nothing she does seems to relieve the tension she has.

"Are you alright?" Merlin asked. "Should we just tell him?"

"No, we have to do this right." Dr. Ruby Lucas explained. "We-we have to let her find out on her own." Ruby choked out almost on the verge of tears.

Merlin took a step closer to the doctor. He saw how shaken up she is, hell he is too, as is Ariel. He brings Ruby into his embrace and rests his chin on top of her head while he strokes her back to bring her comfort. "Did you tell him about improv mode?" Merlin asks quietly. Listening ears are everywhere.

"Yes, not straight forward, but he's aware of it."

"Good, the pieces will fall into place soon." Merlin said to ease Ruby's mind of any doubts, but the things that they have done could not be easily forgotten. Just maybe, trying to help Belle achieve consciousness wasn't a good idea. The scientists wasn't sure what kind of effect it would have on her.

Deep in the secluded lush forest, Belle and Carter were hidden from the world. It had been three months since Belle was brought home. Three blissful and exultant months together. The scientists were right, Belle fit into his life like she was there from the beginning. Every day he would find himself laughing or smiling at her because of something cute or silly she had done. To Carter she was a real human being and no one could tell him otherwise. Especially when he saw the red in her cheeks when she blushed, or the twinkle in her eyes when she was excited, the curiosity in her demeanor when she was reading a new book or the feeling of her soft lips when she placed a kiss on his forehead.

Every morning, was the same. Belle was programmed to automatically wake up at 8 AM. She stretches and yawns her sleep away, and then the urgency to relieve herself quickly follows. After getting dressed, she picks out a new book and reads from it until her father meets her in the kitchen. She greets him the same everyday, with a loving good morning and a warm hug before asking him what he would like to do today. The first few times she did that took some getting used to for Carter. To watch her every morning do the same thing over and over again, was sort of unnerving. But it didn't take him long to adjust because she was just that believable to him and her repetition just became a part of his daily routine.

"Worlds do not end, but grow when probability divides the situation. This way or that way. Each one exists." Belle read aloud from a book that's titled The Big Picture before closing it and placing the book down beside her on the bed. "Daddy, what does he mean by probability divides the situation?"

Carter blew the wet paint on Belle's toenails to dry them before dipping the brush into the baby blue nail polish. "I believe he means that there's more than one universe, where the possibility of an alternate reality exists for every situation." Belle's father said while spreading the polish copiously over her nails, and then blew on them again.

Belle giggles and wiggles her feet. "Dad that tickles."

"Hold still Belle, I don't want to get any on your skin sweetheart." He smirks before putting the polish down and holding her feet to tickle them with his fingers. Belle giggles and tries to jerk away from her father's playful tickling, but Gold had her at his mercy. Tears from her laughter formed in her eyes, until Carter knew she had enough and stops. "I didn't realize how ticklish you were."

"How could you forget? You've been tickling me since I was a baby." Belle said reminding Gold of her false, man-made memories.

Carter loves Belle. Their favorite thing to do together was cook and Belle was an excellent helper. In fact she was very good at measurements and time allotted for cooking. Gold supposed that was just the computer in Belle being well at math. After they finished cooking, she would set the table, and Carter would pour her a cup of milk and himself a glass of red Merlot. They would eat together and enjoy each others company. Carter always took this time to let Belle express her memories. He was always so fascinated by them. How realistic and believable they were, how clear she remembered them and how vividly she could relay them. The scientists were basically playing God and Carter didn't mind because they broke the mold when they created his daughter.

"Must have slipped my mind sweetheart." He said to stay immersive in their little world. "I know how much you enjoy when we cook, but how about we go out for dinner this time?"

Belle jumped for joy when she heard his suggestion. "I would love to, I have the perfect outfit for the occasion."

"Good, go get washed up and we will leave in an hour."

She practically leaps from her bed, leaving Gold in her room with a loving smile on his face. He did the same and got cleaned up. About thirty minutes into waiting for Belle, he left his room to go find her. He passes by her bathroom and notices it was cracked open. Gold was a curious person too, perhaps that's why he asked for Belle to be made so curious as well. He peeks through the space between the door and its frame and sees his daughter in nothing but her panties and bra, looking in the mirror at herself. Bountiful curves and legs that just keep going with skin still flush red from the steam of her hot water. Carter felt the steam too, but unlike Belle it wasn't from hot water, it was from his own blood making him hot. As much as Carter didn't want it, the image of his daughter's unclothed body was imprinted into his mind. He quickly closes the door to give her some dignity and waits downstairs for her. Although he felt like it was too late for himself, fathers aren't suppose to see their daughters naked and their definitely not supposed to have a feeling of arousal from it. He sighed to himself, beating himself up for almost coming out of his role as Belle's father.

Belle was still in the restroom staring at herself in the mirror in a precarious state. Uncertainty was written all over her face. She knew who she was, but who was she really? She felt like she had been other people, lived other lives, alternate realities. She pushes the thoughts aside and continues to get dressed and then went downstairs to her awaiting father.

On the way to the restaurant, Carter tries to forget the beautiful shape of his daughter's naked body. He tells her funny jokes instead to keep them laughing on their way to the restaurant. The laughing helped and Carter even felt closer to her. Belle loved her father's jokes, they were so simple, and answer were always so easy, though she could never guessed them correctly. They arrived at the Italian restaurant and were escorted to their seats promptly. Millionaire Mr. Gold was renowned in their small metropolis so service was always high class whenever he dined there. The table they sat at was secluded and dimly lit by candle light. Red velvet upholstery draped the wall setting a contemporary feel. The waiter came quickly with a smile and a bubbly personality, she took their beverage orders before whisking away to fetch their refreshments. He engaged Belle in small talk, loving to just hear her speak in her Australian accent. Before long the drinks came out and the waiter took their order. Carter requested the Braciole di Manzo, which was only a fancy name for stuffed beef rolls covered in a tomato basil sauce. Belle, being a regular 17 year old, ordered spaghetti.

"Will this complete you and your daughter's order?" The waiter asked causing Gold to revel within himself with pride. He loved that others acknowledged Belle as his daughter. It made him a proud father.

"Yes, that will be all" he said and their waiter scurried away to her next customer.

Now with the two of them alone, Carter takes in the all sight of his beautiful little girl. Just sitting there she was perfect to him, he couldn't ask for better daughter. While talking and waiting for the food to be brought out, Carter thought it would be best to relieve himself now instead of waiting until his dinner was brought out. "Belle would you excuse me for a moment?"

"Sure dad."

He leaves her alone in the booth. Belle took the time to survey her surroundings. She saw people laughing, eating and chewing delightfully while talking, some not. There was a couple that caught her attention in particular. The look he was giving his date was that of true love, it reminded her of something. Something familiar, maybe a memory. Then suddenly she felt a rush come over her, she was no longer in the restaurant with her father, but in a familiar castle library surrounded with high shelves filled with books. Her attire even changed, she was wearing a bright golden yellow ball gown, her hair no longer down but brought up in curls and holding it in place was a tiara. In her hands, Belle was holding book titled Her Handsome Hero. Where was she? What is this place that appeared to her from nowhere, and the familiarity of the castle brings her more uncertainty. She ventures deeper into the great halls of the castle's library until a voice pierces through her thoughts.

"Hey I know you." The voice said pulling Belle out of her now unfamiliar memory.

Belle glances down at her hands that were just holding the book, it was gone too. She shakes her head to clear her thoughts before giving the young man who was standing beside her a smile. "You do?"

"You're Princess Belle, from EnchantedWorld." The young man said with astonishment. "My name's Killian. My brother Liam and I used to go to there just to see you and go on your adventures when we were boys." He takes in the sight of her in full detail. "What are you doing outside the amusement park and in regular clothes?" he asked inquisitively.

"I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about, but you really should be leaving, my father will be returning soon." Belle said failing to notice the inconsistency in her logic.

"Father? How can you have a father?" Killian asked with a baffled expression. "You're not real."

"Ahem." A voice behind Killian clears their throat. He turns and see Mr. Gold with a displeased look on his face. "Is there something I can help you with lad?"

"Oh-I was just looking at it. I just never saw one outside of the park, how did you get it?" Killian asked which only furthered Carter's anger. How dare this boy call his beloved daughter an "it" like she was nothing. He knew bringing Belle out of the house was a bad idea and this boy proved him right.

"She's not an it, now could you leave." Gold said which was more of a demand than a request. The young man leaves, but not before looking between the both of them with a grossed out expression.

Carter exhales before taking his seat. "Are you okay Belle?"

"Yes I'm fine." The smile she gives him is enough to make everything seem alright. But he's still worried about what the boy may have said to Belle. He knew she heard him call her an 'it', would this break her continuity?

"What did he say to you?"

"Something about, EnchantedWorld?"

"I see and does that mean something to you?" He asked to test her logic.

"No, doesn't mean anything to me."

Once again Belle did exactly what the scientist said she would do, she overlooks the paradox and Carter's able to take a sigh of relief. Dinner's fantastic and Carter even forgets about the ill-mannered young man that disrupted their evening together. After their main course, Carter orders his daughter a plate of tiramisu, to which she playfully refuses to eat unless he ate it with her. Carter gives into her cuteness and they both took scoops of the Italian dessert until nothing was left on the plate.

When they finally make it home, the orange sun was setting just beyond the horizon and the dusk skies appear a lilac purple. Carter walks his daughter to her room to retire for the end of their long day together. But Carter wasn't ready to stop playing with his daughter, the day wasn't quite over, and he was sure Belle wasn't ready to call it a night either.

"The night is still young Belle, what would you like to do, maybe watch a movie?"

Belle looks around her room, quite saddened at the fact that there were no pictures yet of her and her father. "How about we take some photos together?"

"What a lovely idea Belle, memories that will last a lifetime." He said while softly pinching her cheek. "Be right back sweetheart. I believe I have a camera somewhere around here."

It didn't take long for him to return with the digital camera. Gold started off the photo session by taking a beautiful picture of his Belle wearing a breathtaking smile with her head tilted to one side. She turns her head differently while Gold snaps another picture of her. After a few more snaps of the camera, Belle pulls her father down on the bed with her to take pictures together. He turns the camera around and begin to snap selfies of themselves. The first pose was Belle with her cheeks blown up, looking wide-eyed and silly while Gold was wearing a serious dad face, one that read don't mess with my Belle. The next pose was even sillier, Belle had her tongue poking out and her eyes crossed, while Carter mimics her same face. They were having so much fun snapping pictures of themselves and they almost laughed themselves into a tizzy. They collapse back on her bed together, exhausted from laughing so much.

Belle rolls over and faces her father as he lays there next to her. They were so happy together, both of them felt completed. Carter more so, he loves the feeling of having a daughter and never wants this happy moment to end. He gives her a contented smile and she returns one back to him. Belle slips her fingers through the creases of hair and pushes the fallen strands away from his face, causing Gold to close his eyes and succumb to the soft touch of her hand against his face. Belle notices this and rests her hand on his face, cupping his cheek in her hand. Gold finally reopens his eyes to meet blue ones staring back at him.

"Daddy, are you okay?"

"More than okay, Belle I love you so much, don't ever forget that." He said genuinely. "But tonight may you find rest in a deep and dreamless slumber." He said using one of her commands.

Belle has no choice but to do as she's told. She powers herself down, falling limp next to her father. Just like Belle, time seemed to had shut off too. The moment he was in maybe lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like a century or more. Carter's heart rate accelerates to the point of a near heart attack but he doesn't waste any more time. He kisses his 17 year old daughter intimately as she lays there unable to kiss him back, or do anything at all. When he pulls back from her lips, his heart breaks into pieces as he looks down at her staring aimlessly into her room. A tear falls from his eye. A lost father, unable to cope with the fact that he has just fallen in love with his daughter.

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-RL