Right Where it Ends
A/AN: Yes I'm back! Thank you for all your awesome reviews! I was hoping to get this out sooner but you know that thing called "life" can sometimes slow you down…Anyway this will be the last chapter spent in the Enchanted Forest. I don't want to too much time there because the majority of this story is meant to be spent in Storybrooke. Review please!
The morning sickness was waning when Belle entered her second trimester. Things within the dark castle had been relatively quiet, especially since Rumple never ventured outside the castle anymore to make a deal. He was her constant, always there to protect her. She was his most valuable treasure. She assured him that it was okay to leave her company now and again, but he refused. The only person he begrudgingly dealt with was his former student, Regina or the "evil queen" as many revered her. Rumple never spoke of his dealings with her. She almost wondered if he was hiding something from her. The queen wasn't allowed to know of her existence so when she paid a visit, Belle would stay in the library until they were finished.
It had been exactly one year since she'd left Avonlea. She thought of writing to her father, to relay the latest happenings to him. Belle picked up a piece of parchment, dipping her quill in some ink before penning him a short letter.
Dear Papa,
How are you fairing? I know it's been over a year since we've spoken, but I wanted to brief you on what has happened this past year. I started out as a servant in Rumplestiltskin's castle but things changed. Papa, he isn't the beast people make him out to be. He's the most caring and loving man I've ever met. We fell in love and six months ago we wed. I know this is probably a lot to swallow, but we're expecting a child. The doctor says it will come in winter. Aren't you proud of me papa? We'll finally have an heir! Please write back soon.
Love,
Belle
Belle wrapped the parchment up, tying it with the thin blue ribbon that held her hair back. She opened the window giving a whistle. A dove came landed on the sill. She tied the letter to its claw and commanded it to deliver her letter to King Maurice of Avonlea. She shut the window back as soon as the dove flew away.
"What are you doing by the window dearie?" inquired a curious voice from behind. Belle turned around to meet the inquisitive eyes of her husband.
"I was just getting some fresh air. It's rather stuffy in here." Belle supplied, fanning herself.
"Why don't we take a stroll in the garden then?" he suggested offering her his arm. She smiled brightly at him, looping her arm through his. "That sounds lovely Rum." she smiled forgetting about the letter she'd sent her father. Many weeks passed, and she heard nothing from her father. She wondered if he'd ever received the letter or if it had gotten lost but those thoughts were soon lost. The leaves began to change and her belly grew bigger, indicating that their child would soon arrive.
Winter came with fury making it impossible to cross the king's road. Luckily for Belle, her husband could magic himself to any location. He brought back with him the doctor who would deliver their child when the contractions began. The winter wind howled loudly outside the dark castle with each scream from her mouth. He longed to soothe her pain with some magical remedy, but he didn't want to bring harm to their child. After nine agonizingly long hours of labor, Belle gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with chestnut tresses and warm chocolate eyes. The first cries of life reverberated throughout the castle, filling Rumplestiltskin with a joy he never thought he'd ever feel again.
He held the small infant in his arms, marveling at how such a tiny creature could be so squirmy. Her innocent irises gazed at him, and she gave him her very first smile, one that would be burned in his memory forever. He handed the infant back to Belle who adjusted her breast to nurse. The child sucked contently, making the most precious sounds she'd ever heard. Rumplestiltskin marveled at his little family, wondering what he'd come to deserve this flicker of light amongst a sea of darkness.
"What are you thinking about Rumple?" Belle inquired to her husband, pulling him out of deep thought.
"How I can possibly deserve any of this." he replied, flourishing his hand towards her and their sleeping child.
"Because I love you, and you're worth it." she smiled, the color in her cheeks slowly returning.
"I love you too sweetheart, and I love-" he stopped looking at the tiny bundle between them. He met her gaze wondering what they should name their child.
"Adeline. Let's call her Adeline…" she suggested, staring down at their child contently.
"Our little Addy." he whispered, traces of the imp vanishing from his voice. He sounded more human to her than ever before in that moment, a serious expression brushed across his features.
"Yes, a product of the truest love." she sighed, holding the snoozing infant close to her chest. Neither of them had felt more serene than in that moment, and all was right with the world.
~X~
Maurice felt his blood pressure rise every time he read that detestable letter, the one he'd received from his daughter a little over six months ago. He couldn't believe he was going through with this but that imp must pay for defiling his daughter. He'd brainwashed her nonetheless. He waited in the middle of the woods like she'd told him a fornight ago in her letter.
"Well I see you made it after all." she replied in her thick accent. He turned to see a woman wearing black with an emerald pendent hanging around her neck that contrasted vibrantly with her skin.
"Yes I came!" Maurice replied in a startled manner once he glimpsed her skin. No wonder she opted not to show her face during the day.
"Did you bring payment?" she inquired looking distastefully upon his pudgy exterior.
"Yes I brought it!" he supplied, handing her the thin napkin which held the sacred relic.
"Excellent…You know I'll take any advantage when it comes to getting revenge on Rumplestiltskin." she smiled sinisterly clutching the relic in her hand.
"They said you would be the perfect one for the job. They said you were conniving enough to take on Rumplestiltskin, even evi-" but she stopped him mid sentence.
"I'm not evil darling…I'm wicked! Get it right!' she snapped threateningly which caused Maurice to hold up his hands in defense.
"I'm apologize for my error…Just please don't hurt Belle when you kidnap her." he pleaded hoping she would keep her word.
"You have nothing to worry about your majesty. I won't hurt a hair on that pretty head of hers, but Rumplestilskin won't know that. His defenses have fallen since he married your daughter. He won't be expecting our little surprise. He taught me everything he knows, and I'm going to use it against him. Foolish imp!" she gloated, green pendant sparkling in the moonlight.
"Just do whatever it takes to bring her home Zelena." Maurice said before turning to leave her in the shadows. He didn't turn back to gaze upon her sickly green skin. The color of it made his stomach turn.
~X~
Belle had just placed Adeline down for a nap. She decided to curl up with a good book for old times sake. She'd convinced Rumplestiltskin who was becoming a bit stir crazy to venture out on a few deals. She assured him that they would be okay without him for a few hours or so she thought. Belle heard a loud crash come from the downstairs hallway. She gazed at the bassinet beside her which held the sleeping infant, hoping to step out for a few minutes. Anything could've fallen off the wall and made that loud crash. She shrugged it off deciding to investigate. The castle was protected by magic and an intruder seemed unlikely. She kissed her daughter's brow before walking out of the expansive library. She made it down one set of stairs before the poppy dust assaulted her senses causing her to fall into a deep slumber.
~X~
Rumplestiltskin returned a couple of hours later to be greeted by the sound of loud wailing. He magiked himself to the library, scooping the crying infant into his arms.
"It's all right dear heart…Don't cry." he crooned. Adeline nodded off to sleep moments later. He placed her back in the bassinet surprised to see Belle's book carelessly tossed on the settee. This filled him with unease as he touched the book sensing it'd been in that position for a little over two hours.
He made his way out of the library trying to sense her but then her trail dissipated like she'd vanished in thin air. Rumplestiltskin tore the entire castle apart searching for her but to no avail. He sent Adeline away to be cared for by a man named Jefferson and his daughter Grace he dealt with on a regular basis. He gave the former hatter a bag of gold to care for his daughter while he properly searched the kingdom. After the snow began to melt, he trekked furiously through the woods, another day of searching fruitlessly wasted. He pulled at tufts of curl almost tempted to blow the entire mountain to smithereens when he saw it.
He rushed forward picking up the yellow and green floral cloth. It was Belle's cloak, covered in dry blood. He fingered the stitches lightly, remembering how she'd fussed over it when he gifted it to her. Why hadn't he seen this before? A surge of pain tore through his heart as a feral roar escaped his lips, causing the birds nestling in the trees to scatter. He searched the rest of the woods but to no avail. Belle was gone, probably eaten by a ravenous creature, her bones licked clean. His stomach turned at the prospect of finding any of her disassembled body parts. He retched in some bushes at the thought of finding her in a heap of rotting flesh. Something he hadn't felt in ages cascaded down his cheeks. He didn't magic them away, allowing himself to feel every wretched thing he felt for his deceased wife to empty from his body.
The desire to reek havoc on this land burned deeply inside of him. He would push Regina to cast the curse, to take them away from this wretched land. He had his daughter but it wasn't enough. He needed to find his son and set things straight. Perhaps he could give them both a happy life even if it meant she was gone. He looked up at the sky promising her that he would succeed even if it meant pouring out his wrath on all the other inhabitants. He would make sure their children had a good life. He would start by being the father their daughter deserved. Rumplestiltskin made sure the child was never out of his sight again. One day he would find out what happened to Belle. He would have his vengeance and maybe he would find the answers he sought once they reached the land without magic.
~X~
Belle looked out over the land from her tower room, the one her father had her imprisoned in after being kidnapped. The tower was protected by a special magic that made it impossible for her to call on Rumplestiltskin. The only person she ever seen was a green witch named Zelena who turned out to be Regina's sister. The green skinned woman loathed Regina and was angry about some curse she was chosen to cast. Belle learned that she was once a student of Rumplestiltskin's and that this was some type of revenge against him by taking her.
Belle refused to speak to her father after she learned of the trespasses he committed against her and her beloved. She regretted writing him that letter every day. Zelena entered her chamber one day with a scowl on her face.
"What's wrong?" Belle inquired to her, immediately picking up on her foul mood.
"My sister has succeeded. She has cast the curse Rumplestilskin made!" she seethed angrily.
Belle jumped up, running to her window, a cloud of ominous purple smoke coming hastily towards them, "What will the curse do?" Belle inquired to her captor utterly intrigued by it.
"It will take us to a land without magic and where happy endings cease to exist. We won't remember who we are when he get there." Zelena snarled, but Belle didn't look back. She kept her eyes on the purple clouds awaiting her fate.
"I'm going to find you in this new land Rumple. I promise." Belle vowed silently as the fog overtook them, whisking them to a land without magic.
A/AN: Off to Storybrooke next chapter! Rumple's curse isn't broken either. I wanted to include Zelena because her back story sucks. There will be some Wicked VS. Evil in this story too. Please review and tell me what you think! I'll try and update this at least once a week.
