Starting Over

By RosexKnight

Belle familiarizes herself with Storybrooke and its inhabitants, seeing glances of a man from her past and doing her best to start over where she can.

Chapter Two ~ Glances

The windows were closed, she noted. Had he closed them when she'd left? Well, she'd fix that wouldn't she? Her conversation with the dwarf about True Love in the tavern that night had given her new resolve. She'd made her way back to a place she thought she'd never come back to, only to find the gates open for her and the heavy wooden doors of the front opening to her touch. But he was nowhere to be seen.

Spinning, He was probably spinning. He was always spinning. Oh how she hoped he was spinning.

There was a layer of dust that had accumulated on everything. How long has she been gone? Surely not this long. She pushed the thought from her mind as she made her way to the great hall. A fire was going, the only light in the room. Her former master was sitting at his wheel before it. With great relief, she started towards him, but she'd taken no more than three steps before the wheel stopped, and Belle could swear she felt a chill in the air colder than any dungeon he'd ever put her in.

"Rumpelstiltskin?" Her voice came cautiously, unsure of what his reaction would be to seeing her again after sending her away. After she'd told him he'd be miserable… "Rumple?"

"I told you I no longer required your services, dearie."

There was no more softness in his tone. Not even the playful sing-song that was present when he made the petty threats of turning her into a toad or skinning her for her pelt. It made her freeze in place, unwilling to move by what? Fear? The feeling felt out of place in her. Yet there it was, spreading its cold chill straight to her core.

"I know. I just…"

"You what? Came to mock the monster some more?"

"No I-"

He turned sharply, and in an instant he was upon her. His hand was around her chin, long fingernails raking against her skin in a way that made her whimper. His gaze was dark, filled with something that killed Belle to see directed at her.

He snarled, tightening his grip painfully, and Belle could feel the tears welling in her eyes. Tears that he seemed to relish. "I don't want you."

"No." She choked out in a sob. "You don't mean that."

"I've never meant anything more."

"Rumpelstiltskin please…"

"I don't want you."

She awoke with a start, bolting upright in the bed that felt far too cold. She was unable to stop the tears falling onto the red and black covers. She blinked, trying to re-orient herself in the foreign room. Lacey. Open window. Storybrooke.

Right.

Belle realized she was trembling, and wrapped her arms around herself to calm down. It was a dream. It wasn't real. It was a dream. It wasn't real. She repeated those words to herself over and over until finally, she was calm. Well, as calm as she could be.

She banished the horrid dream from her mind as she set about getting ready for the day, showering and trying to find something in her closet that she didn't feel so out of place in. She finally settled on a blue sundress, leggings, small sweater and made her way down to the flower shop.

"Ah. I was wondering when you'd be about." Her father, who she had grown more used to seeing over the past few days, greeted. He was arranging some sort of bouquet of carnations, intermingled with filler flowers Belle hadn't learned to recognize yet. "Sleep well?"

No. "Yes thank you." She said. "Is there anything I can do?"

"I'd love some tea…"

Belle nodded and went to put on a pot. She hadn't done too much helping in the flower shop. Mostly just given her father tips about color coordination and learned to work the register. But in doing so she'd met a few people. The Charmings, Ruby, Emma, Henry, even Leroy had come to visit. It helped, seeing others. Seeing how close-knit the town was. She liked it. It brought her comfort that she never had in The Enchanted Forest.

She came back with the pot and cups on a tray only to find the door to the shop locked. She could hear her father talking with someone through the door, and the sound of his voice sent a chill through her and nearly made her drop the tea.

A powerful force came over her, and something in Belle had to get a look. Had to see him. Had to make sure she was right. She rushed back up the stairs to the window that looked down into the shop, only to see a glimpse of someone in a navy suit leaving. Her heart gave a squeeze, and by the time she was back in the shop, Gaston had replaced the Spinner at the front of the counter with her father.

"Oh. Sorry, Gaston I didn't know you'd be joining us." She said, not really caring that she'd only brought down two cups.

"No harm done." Gaston said as Moe sipped at his tea. "Belle, I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to lunch this afternoon."

"Uh…" Belle blinked, looking between her father and Gaston before nodding. She needed to get out of this place. "Sure. Of course. Let me just, um, get my purse."

"Don't be long."

The town was busy with life. The hustle and bustle from the days before had died down, and the people seemed to be settling back into a normal lifestyle. Well, as normal as things could get. The brunette leapt at any occasion to get out of the shop, even if it was on Gaston's arm.

"I wish the library wasn't closed…" Belle mused as she and Gaston waited for their food. "Not that the books I haven aren't nice but variety would be nice."

"Books have never been my calling." Gaston said, fiddling with his fork, his voice holding his you're-always-reading tone that Belle had learned to ignore long ago, just like the sidelong glances he threw at Ruby every now and then. "But I am finding getting re-accustomed to working at The Rabbit Hole quite awkward."

Not as awkward as me. Belle thought to herself, instead answering much more pleasantly. "I'm sure you'll manage. This land does not give way to kings and knights. But everyone seems to have settled back in nicely. The dwarves are even mining."

"Indeed. Your father he…he quite likes having you in the shop."

Belle nodded, looking out the window. She felt trapped there. Suffocated. She didn't know what to do with herself anymore. It was obvious that Gaston had something else on his mind. He took her hand in his. His hand was warm but his grip too hard. Not painful just…possessive.

"Belle I-"

He cut himself off and his head jerked to the bar, where Granny and Ruby were muttering something about rent and Mr. Gold being here any moment. Belle faltered her pulse skipping. Gaston paid her no mind, simply bolting to his feet, and tugging at her.

"What's wrong?" She asked, pretending it was only the food she was cross about.

Gaston didn't stop, and all she could do was follow as he laid some cash on the table and pulled her into the back room. In that moment Belle heard the bell of the door chime, and the two froze. She squirmed, tugging herself out of Gaston's vice-like grip on her wrist, but it was soon on her shoulder, holding her in place as he listened, like a deer trying to make sure the hunter was gone.

"Gaston!" Belle hissed, surprised at how low her own voice was. The other side of the door would never hear, but perhaps that was a good thing. "What is wrong with you?"

"I gave your father my word that I would protect you. That you would never see that monster again." He said firmly, no kindness in his voice.

"He's no-" Another knee-jerk reaction, and the brunette had to stop the words from tumbling out. "You didn't have to be so rough about it."

Gaston immediately let go of her, as if her words burned his hand. The bell chimed again, and before Belle knew what she was doing she opened the door to the back hallway, seeing a figure in a black suit shut the door of a Cadillac and drive the car off. Something in her sank, but she quickly composed herself and went back to her table.

"Belle…" The man came back, sitting with her. The food was brought out shortly, but neither touched the burgers on the table. "Belle, my beauty, tell me what is wrong. And forgive my brutish behavior. Your father and I only want to protect you. You understand that right?

She didn't answer right away, looking out the window in the direction the car had gone. As if expecting it to come back for him to find her. She shook her head "I will always find you" was Charming's motto, not The Dark One.

"Belle." The man adjacent her had a harsh tone now, obviously annoyed without her immediate response.

"Of course I know." She said softly, reaching for her burger.

"I promise you, that beast will never find you. Whatever he put you through, you will never experience it again."

She gave him a broken smile as she ate her burger. No. She supposed she wouldn't.

"I got you something." Gaston said as they arrived back at her father's shop. Belle gave him a confused look. "You'll like it." He promised.

Excitement bubbled up in her chest She would like it. Perhaps he'd gotten her a new book. At this point any would do. But instead, he pulled a silk ribbon from his pocket. "Oh." Belle said, trying to make her voice seem light. It was a lovely yellow ribbon, but not what Belle was expecting. "It's lovely."

"Only the loveliest for my beauty. Plus, it matches mine." He brought his ponytail to the front, showing off the yellow ribbon that tied it. "I was hoping you'd wear it on our next date."

The brunette swallowed, taking the ribbon from him. Next date. He said it as if he expected it. Her chest squeezed as she nodded. "Of course."

He took her hand and kissed her knuckle. "Until then."

As he started away she turned and went back into the shop. Her father was writing something on a clipboard as he examined the flowers, making sure the cold weather had not affected them. Winter was apparently a hard time for flower sellers to keep stock, but Belle remembered flowers around the castle year-round.

"Ah! You're back. How was lunch?"

"Fine." Belle said.

"That's a lovely ribbon. A favor from Gaston?"

"Yes. For me to wear on our next date."

He chuckled, genuine happiness behind it. "It's good that you two are having a proper courtship. Perhaps this Christmas we'll have a proper family dinner."

Christmas. She searched Lacey's memories for the foreign holiday, and found snow, TV specials, and…loneliness. Yes. She knew about that. Seems the holiday was next month. No wonder the town was starting to light up so much with stringed lights. She hoped her father didn't expect her to be married then…

"You're unhappy." He said. Belle realized she was staring at something that wasn't there. She'd forgotten to respond to her father. "If it's about that monster I assure you-"

"It's not." She said, her voice firm in her lie. Who knew she'd miss him? She swallowed again, forcing down the lump in her throat. "I'm sorry, father I just…I feel out of place here…"

He nodded, seeming to accept something. Opening a drawer he brought out a key labeled "Library" and handed it to her.

"What's this?" She asked.

"Where you belong." He said, "Someone mentioned getting it up and running for the children. I volunteered you to help. It will be under your care, and you'll have many volunteers at your disposal. I've already talked to Gaston as well. He'll be checking up on you. Dealing with…"His voice trailed off as Belle hugged him.

"Thank you, father."

"You're welcome. Now go get some rest."

She nodded, going up the stairs obediently and closing the door. She sat on the windowsill, tracing the key with her fingers. She watched as the sun set and the town light up. A light in a particular shop went off, and a figure in a black suit emerged, locking the door and going to his car. He paused for a moment, as if feeling her eyes on him, but it wasn't long before his car was going back home.

The lump formed in Belle's throat anew. She missed him. Whether he wanted her, or even knew she was here didn't matter. She went to her bed, wrapping herself in her blankets and for the second time that week letting the tears fall before she went to sleep.