Cora's Storybrooke, Chapter Two: Belle and Cora

Author's Note: I wasn't going to update until tomorrow, but I finished writing the chapter early and thought to myself, "Why not?"

Characters:

Cora Mills

Belle

Mother Superior

Archibald Hopper

Leroy & The Dwarves

The mines were filled with the smell of sweat. Leroy and his brothers had been swinging their pickaxes for the past twenty minutes, slowly getting closer to the vein of fairy dust that the Storybrooke residents wished to impregnate with Gold's potion.

Slightly further down the passageway, Cora stood with Dr. Hopper.

"Thank you for supporting me, Dr. Hopper," Cora smiled at the cricket. "This is two good turns you've done me now: You allowed me to be with my daughter and now this. I'm sure I owe you a favor."

"Not at all, Cora," Archie replied kindly. "I knew that you were a different woman once you had your heart back. I just needed to see if you know how to use it, and you clearly do. Your rehabilitation is a joy to see. You do know that I'm always willing to advise you whenever you need it."

"Thank you, Dr. Hopper," Cora responded.

"Please, you can call me Archie."

Still further towards the entrance, Belle was standing with Mother Superior.

"I miss him, Blue," Belle said. "I know that he had to go, but I wish he had taken me with him."

"Oh, Belle," the Blue Fairy smiled blandly. "He knew how much you'd be able to help people here. It's good that you stayed. Besides," she continued, glaring down the passageway. "Otherwise, I'd be stuck here with that old witch."

"She seems alright," Belle said. "She actually seems kind of nice compared to all of the things everyone says about her."

"Cora has always been good at seeming." The fairy said coldly.

"Hey!" came Leroy's gruff baritone. "We found a vein!"

"Great!" Belle exclaimed.

The four non-miners approached the dwarves.

"So the instructions say to pour it on the vein?" Cora inquired.

"Yep," Belle replied. She uncorked the phial and poured the potion.

A beam of bright light shot upward from the exposed vein of fairy dust.

"We've got to get up top!" Archie shouted over the magical crackling. "I bet this looks really neat!"

Everyone followed the excitable psychiatrist out of the mine.

"Wow!" he gasped. "It's just like Star Wars!"

"What is Star Wars?" Cora asked curiously.

Archie opened his mouth, excited to explain his favorite film series to a newcomer.

"It's for nerds," Leroy cut him off.

"What's a nerd?" Cora pressed on."

"Archie," Leroy answered again.

The dwarves all broke into laughter. Archie scowled indignantly at all of them.

"Call me when you want to watch Die Hard!" Leroy finished, laughing and leading the dwarves away, presumably to Granny's.

"It's been a long day," the Blue Fairy stated. "I'm going back to the convent."

"Alright, see you later, Blue," Belle said.

Cora nodded at Mother Superior as she walked away.

"So…" she said, turning to the younger woman.

"I was thinking, if you'd like, I could make dinner for you tonight," Belle suggested. "We don't really know each other all that well, and if I'm going to be helping you protect the town, we might as well be friends."

"Oh!" said Cora, taken aback. It had been a long time since someone besides Regina had shown Cora this level of direct friendliness. Hook had a more passive style when dealing with her, probably because she had nearly killed him when first they met. "I'd be glad to join you."

"Great!" Belle exclaimed, taking Cora by the arm. "I figured we'd hang out at Mr. Gold's house, since that's where I'm staying."

Fear and suspicion rose within Cora. "What do you mean hang out? Are you trying to kill me?"

"Why would hanging out with me kill you?" Belle asked, confused.

"You do understand the concept of death by hanging, do you not?"

Belle burst out laughing, realizing Cora's misunderstanding. "No, I'm not going to hang you! I doubt I could if I wanted to. No, in this world, hanging out is when people spend time together and get to know each other."

"Oh!" Cora sighed, relieved. She was still wary of the younger woman. "Maybe, in time, I'll come to understand the witticisms that people use here."

"You will!" Belle smiled encouragingly. "I can show you the world!" Again, she took Cora by the arm, walking her towards Gold's large house.

"Nice sunset tonight," Cora remarked.

"Shining!" Belle responded.

"Shimmering!" Cora continued.

The two women were having dinner at the small table in Gold's dining room. Belle had made a delicious stir-fry for the pair to enjoy.

"How's my cooking?" Belle inquired.

"Splendid," Cora remarked. "You did a nice job on the chicken in here."

"Thanks! So, what do you think of Storybrooke?"

Cora chewed the thought as she chewed her food. "Hmmm…" she pondered.

Her arrival in Storybrooke had been so laced with intrigue that she hadn't had much time to explore the town itself, and her time with Regina had been just that: time spent in Regina's house.

"I really don't know," Cora responded. "I haven't had much time to think about it. Besides, the curse created this town. I don't think it's supposed to be pleasant."

"Hahaha, maybe not," Belle smiled, taking a sip of merlot. "Even if Regina didn't want it to be pleasant, I think it is. It's our home. And now, it's your home too."

"Quite right," Cora agreed.

"What do you do for fun?" Belle asked her guest.

Cora thought back to the pastimes she had enjoyed in Storybrooke. There was the makeover that Regina had given her, the pizza and Downton Abbey party she and Regina had with Hook, and a lot of talking.

"I do enjoy the magic box."

"The television?"

"Yes."

"We could watch a movie!"

"What's a movie?"

"It's like a play, but it's recorded on a disc so you can watch it again a bunch of times."

"Oh!" Cora exclaimed. "Yes, I know what you mean now."

"Well, finish eating and we'll watch something."

Cora was constantly surprised by this young girl, who wasn't intimidated by her in the least. Now I understand why it works between her and Rumple.

After doing what was commanded of her by Belle, Cora absconded to Gold's living room.

Belle grabbed the remote and turned the television on. "Oh my goodness! This is the only thing we can ever watch when he's here!"

Cora looked at the screen. An old man was standing behind a glass counter, haggling with a man over the price of a dilapidated antique. "What is it?"

"Pawn Stars. It's the only thing he ever wants to watch. The men own a pawn shop like his, but theirs is larger. People come in to sell them things all the time."

"How dull," Cora mused.

"Right?! Let's watch Black Swan!"

"If you would like to," Cora meekly replied.

Belle giggled girlishly and placed a DVD into the player.

One Black Swan later, the women sat together on the couch, both fighting back tears.

"That was quite good," Cora noted. "The mother in the movie really cared about her daughter. She was also very pretty."

"I like Mila Kunis," Belle said.

"Who?"

"The girl from That 70's Show."

"What seventies show?" Cora asked.

"Never mind," Belle chuckled. "The mother made me think of you, Cora. You really do care about Regina. I think it's wonderful."

"Thank you, dear," Cora replied. She felt this was the time for meaningful conversation. "Where is your mother?"

"She died when I was young."

"I'm very sorry, Belle. My mother died young too. We were very poor and she became sick when I was a girl. My father never recovered from the heartache."

"My father was the same way. Except he just became distant. He's here, in Storybrooke. He owns the flower shop."

"Do you see him often?"

"No. He tried to keep me from Rumple, and almost caused me to lose my memories in the process."

Cora didn't speak at once. After all, she had turned Belle into Lacey in order to get Rumplestiltskin back. "That wasn't a very good thing."

"No. You know, I knew your husband," Belle continued.

"Henry?" Cora asked, surprised.

"Yes. He served Regina in her castle back in our land. Sometimes he'd bring me food when she had me locked up. He was a nice man. I'm sure he was a very good husband."

Cora smirked and took a sip of wine. "He was a good enough husband. He did give me my daughter."

Belle sensed that she was approaching dangerous territory with Cora and didn't want to undo her good work.

"Well, I'm going to bed soon. Do you like me to walk you home?"

"That's very kind of you, dear. I can walk myself, though. I daresay I can handle myself."

"I know you can," Belle laughed. "Thanks for hanging out with me today, Cora. I think you're a great lady."

Cora smiled at the girl. "Thank you, very much, Belle. I think we're going to get along just fine."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Cora," Belle yawned, pulling Cora into a hug.

Cora hugged Belle back before excusing herself and walking out through the front door.

A nice girl. A very nice girl indeed, she thought.

Cora silently walked back to 108 Mifflin Street, which felt rather deserted without Regina. Come home soon, my daughter. With that thought, Cora laid down in her bed and fell fast asleep.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I thought it was fundamental to bond Cora and Belle as friends, resulting in a very fun chapter to write. Please review!