As promised, this story will continue to update every Wednesday unless I have a conflict (or I decide to add a surprise chapter for reasons). Feedback is welcome! And Swanfire fans, their storyline will kick off in the next chapter.
I do not own 'Once Upon a Time.'
Chapter 3
Nick was sitting behind the counter in his shop reading when Bae entered. He was carrying a stack of posters. Nick didn't even look up. "Reading something good?" Bae asked as he set the posters on the counter, and Nick finally looked up at him.
"Very good. That's the problem." Nick said. "It's a script – Belle wants to do this film. And I can't find one damn reason to disagree with her so far." Bae laughed a bit.
"How many sex scenes does it have?" Bae asked.
"A few, but – the topic matter isn't exactly – family friendly. But it is interesting. And very well written. And I will be an extreme jackass if I don't support her on this one." Nick grudgingly admitted.
"What's the topic matter?" Bae asked.
"Oh, just a little bit of statutory rape, that's all. And guess who plays the predator." Nick said.
"Holy shit." Bae replied.
"Yes, exactly. Although Belle is right – the character is very complex, she's not really someone to root for but – she is interesting. Belle will do a fantastic job. And they have assured her that the young man playing opposite her will be of legal age, he'll just – look younger than he is. It's filming in Scotland after the first of the year – right by my old stomping grounds. Belle wants to enroll Olivia at my old school, she thinks it'll be a good experience for her."
"What do you think?" Bae asked.
"I don't know. We thought this new school she's at would be a good experience for her and I'm starting to wonder." Nick said.
"Yeah, she's really full of attitude, isn't she? That's why I have boys." Bae teased.
"Yes, I had a say in that matter." Nick remarked sarcastically.
"Technically you did." Bae joked.
"Oh, shut up. You know, there's days that I wish I could simply either hit a fast forward button and move to her eighteenth birthday or rewind a couple of years and get my sweet little girl back."
"Well, when you invent that, let me know, there are bunch of things in my life I wouldn't mind fixing as well." Bae said. Bae's phone rang, and he reached into his pocket and picked it up. "Hey. Yeah, I know." he said, with an obvious flirtatious tone in his voice that Nick immediately noticed. Bae listened for a moment, then started to laugh, an enormous smile coming across his face. "Yeah, right, very funny. No, I'll sign it when I get into the office, I'll be there in a bit. Alright, I'll see you then. Bye." Bae continued to smile as he hung up the phone.
"May I give you a piece of advice?" Nick asked.
"I don't know why you bother asking, you're going to no matter what I say." Bae replied.
"Do NOT fuck up your relationship with Emma again." Nick said. "You have children, and you know from experience how ugly that can get."
"Emma and I are fine." Bae said.
"No, you're not. That's been obvious for MONTHS. And that call there – that was your new assistant, wasn't it? What's her name again?"
"Tamara." Bae replied.
"Yes, Tamara. She's a lovely girl. But there are lines, and I don't want to see you crossing them." Nick said.
"I'm not crossing any lines dad, I was just being nice. I like her, she's really funny and she's very smart." Bae told him.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with being nice – that little phone call was beyond being nice. You were flirting with her." Nick said.
"Bullshit." Bae said.
"Bae – do you really want me to re-hash my past for you? I know what flirting with an assistant sounds like, I've done it many times myself and I know where it leads. Emma does not deserve that, and neither do the boys. Trust me – you will spend much of your time in thoughts of regret if you continue on this trajectory."
"You're over-reacting. I just came here to drop off posters, Belle asked me to pick them up at the printer. I'm not here for a lecture." Bae said.
"Just tread carefully. Please." Nick said to him.
"Don't worry about me, dad. I'm fine." Bae said. "See you later." Nick sighed as he watched Bae walk out the door.
The students from Nick's Wednesday class exited with much chatter, except for Zelena, who seemed to keep her distance from the group as she collected her supplies. She was the last one to leave. "Well – it seems like you did quite well for your first class. I'm impressed." Nick commented.
"I told you – I've been practicing for a while." Zelena replied.
"I'm really not sure you need this class, to be honest – you could probably skip ahead to the next level." Nick told her.
"Thank you, but – I just want to get this experience. You really think I did well then?" Zelena asked.
"I think – you have quite a bit of potential." Nick said, as they walked out into the main area of the shop. Zelena noticed the poster in the window.
"What's that about?" Zelena asked.
"Oh, the Halloween party. It's a charity event my wife does every year. She set up a foundation to honor her mother's memory, this is our fifth year hosting. It's a fun event, and one hundred percent of the profit goes to the foundation." Nick told her.
"That sounds lovely. Are there still tickets?" Zelena asked.
"Yes, I sell them here, actually." Nick told her. "Are you interested?"
"Very interested. Actually – oh gosh, I'm not sure I want to tell you this, you'll probably think I'm a nutter." Zelena said.
"I can't imagine what would make me think that." Nick said.
"Well – back home I – well, when I was younger, before I met my husband – my sister and I worked with a magician. Learned all sorts of tricks. You think your wife would be interested in me doing a little show?" Zelena asked.
"Really? Well, I can ask her. Sounds fascinating." Nick said.
"I also, um – well I have a bit of the gift of second sight." Zelena said.
"I'm sorry, what?" Nick asked.
"Psychic. I do palm readings, tarot cards – that sort of thing." Nick just stared at her. "I know, you think I'm mad, I always get that look when I tell people."
"No, of course not – I'm just not much of a believer in that sort of thing. But my wife – she's always had a bit of a fascination with it, I bet she'd love the idea. Tell you what. Why don't you come by here on Friday morning? Belle is usually here at that time, and you can tell her some of your ideas." Nick suggested.
"You really think you'll be interested?" Zelena asked.
"Well, I wouldn't ask you to talk to her if I didn't think she would." Nick said.
"Well, alright then. I'll see you Friday. Thank you so much!" Zelena said excitedly, and she left the shop.
"So what do you think?" Belle asked Nick as they stood behind the counter at the shop together. They were looking over the first draft of the contract for the film that they had been reading the script for.
"I'd like another day or so to go over it, just to make sure we haven't missed anything, but – so far it looks fair. They really want you for this part, don't they?" Nick asked.
"They said they're not going to cast anyone else until I make my decision. I told them I'd give them a firm answer by Monday." Belle said.
"Well, let me take it home for the weekend, and I'd like to have Bae give it a look too if you don't mind." Nick said.
"That's fine. You're really okay with me doing this film?" Belle asked.
"Yes and no, but – over the past years I've learn how to discern a good film from crap and – if you don't do this project I think there will be lots of regret on your part down the road, and I don't want that for you. I'll survive three months of Scotland in the worst time of year to be there. I'll be inside working most of the time anyway, you'll be the one freezing your arse off shooting outside scenes." Nick said.
"Well, there aren't that many of them. I'll manage." Belle said. "And don't forget – I'll have you waiting for me to warm me up when I'm finished each day."
"Now that will be something I look forward to." Nick said. He turned to Belle and pulled her into a kiss just as the door to the shop opened. Nick and Belle quickly pulled themselves apart. "Zelena, hello. I want you to meet my wife. Belle, this is Zelena Campbell – one of my new and potentially brilliant students."
"Oh my gosh, you really are her. Belle French. It's an honor to meet you." Zelena said as Belle shook her hand.
"Well, thank you." Belle said, blushing a bit. "Nick has told me quite a bit about you, it's nice to finally meet you. He said that you might be interested in doing a bit of a performance at our dinner. That would be lovely. What all do you do?"
"Well, I do some magic tricks – sleight of hand, illusions and whatnot. My father was a professional magician, he worked all over London, I used to assist him when I was a girl, I took over for my mother after she died." Zelena said.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. My mother died when I was very young as well." Belle said.
"Yes, well – we managed somehow. Anyhow, I also do tarot, palm reading, psychic readings – that sort of thing." Zelena said. "I could do one for you if you like, to show you."
"Alright, I actually have work to do, I have an order to complete by the end of the day so – I'll let you two girls talk." Nick said, rolling his eyes as he walked over to his spinning wheel and sat down.
"Just ignore him." Belle said.
"Oh, it's alright. My husband is the same way, he's always thought the whole thing was a bit ridiculous." Zelena said. "It's all just for fun anyway, I don't take it very seriously. So – how about I read your palm, does that sound good?"
"That sounds fun! Which hand?" Belle asked.
"Well, your right hand shows what is already pre-determined, and the left shows your life's journey." Zelena said.
"Do a little of both." Belle said excitedly, and she put out both hands in front of Zelena. Zelena studied them for several minutes.
"Well, you do have quite a long life line. That's fantastic." Zelena said. "Oh, and look at your love line – see how it's very thin at the beginning and then it gets thicker and more prominent right about there." Zelena said, pointing at a particular point on her hand. "That's probably when you met your husband. Let's look a little bit at what might be coming for you." Zelena studied her hands for a few more minutes.
"Well? What do you see?" Belle asked excitedly. Zelena gasped suddenly. "What is it? Is it something bad?"
"It's – nothing – it's just a silly little game anyway, like I said – don't take it too seriously." Zelena replied.
"What is it? Please, tell me." Belle said.
"Well – according to what I'm seeing – something that you love is – going to be taken away from you." Zelena said.
"What does that mean?" Belle asked.
"Really, it's – it's probably nothing. I wouldn't worry much about it." Zelena said. "Anyway – I do other things too, maybe the magic show will be more fun. I'm sorry, I – I didn't mean to upset you, really."
"It's alright – like you said – it's just for fun. Probably just means one of my favorite pair of heels will break or something." Belle joked.
"Yes, that would be a horrid tragedy." Nick commented. Belle looked over at him.
"No one asked you." Belle said. "Anyhow, um – it is a charity event, so everyone buys a ticket, even my family does, so -"
"Of course, that won't be a problem at all." Zelena said. "I see you hold it at the public library, how – interesting."
"Yes, I rent just a portion of the building, though after the success of the first year, I get many donations that offset the cost, and the library has been nothing but gracious. The second year they started doing flashlight tours during the event for an extra fee that serves as a fundraiser for the library, quite a few people take them up on it. It's said to be quite haunted." Belle said.
"Oh, that sounds exciting, I may have to do that as well." Zelena said.
"It is a costume party too, but there's no real theme – my family does a theme every year but you can dress as whoever you like." Belle said.
"Oh, don't worry I love that sort of thing." Zelena said. "Tell you what – I'll write up a proposal about what I'd like to do in my show and give it to Nick on Wednesday at class."
"That sounds perfect. Thank you so much, I really appreciate this." Belle said.
"Well – it is for charity. I should go, I have quite a bit to do if I'm going to get ready, all of my magic supplies are back in England. I'll be in touch then." Zelena said. "Very nice meeting you." Zelena left the shop, and Belle walked over to Nick.
"So – you still think she has her eye on me?" Nick asked.
"Yes – but it's alright, she seems very happy with her husband. She seems nice. A bit quirky, but – nothing wrong with that." Belle said.
"Yes, we all have our quirks, don't we?" Nick replied.
"I can't help but wonder about that palm thing, though. What on earth am I going to lose?" Belle pondered out loud.
Several days later, Belle sat in bed reading a book as Nick climbed into bed next to her. "What are you reading, love?" he asked.
"Just something I picked up at the library yesterday." Belle said. Nick glanced at the title.
"Palm Reading For Beginners. Are you fucking kidding me?" Nick asked.
"It's very interesting. You know, anyone can learn to do this." Belle said. "I think I'm getting the basic gist of it. Let me see your palms."
"Belle, I'm tired, alright? I had a long day at the shop, I have a ton of projects to finish, and you know this time of the year gets busy for me." Nick said.
"Yes, and you get very cranky until our anniversary because you're always determined to be finished by then. It'll take two minutes, let me see your palms." Belle said. Nick sighed and grudgingly held out his hands. "Well, that's interesting. Your love line looks quite a bit like mine – small in the beginning and then it gets bigger, just – the small part is a little longer than mine, but – well, you found true love later than I did so – that makes sense."
"Are you done?" Nick asked.
"Just a minute, do you have to be so crabby? If you want to see where Olivia gets her attitude, look in the mirror." Belle remarked. Nick sighed, and Belle continued to look at his palms. "Huh." she said out loud.
"What's that mean?" Nick asked.
"What, you actually want to know now? I thought you thought all of this was 'a bunch of ridiculous shite' as you put it several days ago." Belle said, imitating his accent.
"Working on your Scottish accent, I see." Nick said.
"Trying to. Well, anyhow – see that little circle there. That's on your life line – that indicates an accident. That must be your car accident." Belle said.
"I hope there's no more of those." Nick said.
"No, there aren't. This one though – this is your head line. There's a little circle there, further in than the one on your life line." Belle told him.
"What does that mean?" Nick asked.
"Emotional trauma." Belle said. Nick just gave her a puzzled look. "Well, you asked."
"Sweetheart – any supposed 'emotional trauma' that I encountered has been long gone, because I am married to the love of my life. Now – how much longer are you going to have your nose in that ridiculous book?"
"I just want to read a little more. Is that alright?" Belle asked.
"That's fine, I'm quite used to it." Nick said. He leaned in and gave Belle a kiss on the lips. "Goodnight, love."
"Goodnight." Belle said quietly. Nick sighed as he snuggled up next to Belle, nestling his head on her shoulder. Belle continued to read the book for nearly an hour, until she became too tired to focus. She put the book on the nightstand, careful not to awaken Nick as she moved. Just before she turned out the light, Belle took Nick's hand and looked at his palm once again. She traced her finger gently across his palm, causing Nick to shift a bit in his sleep. Belle then reached over to turn off the light, and snuggled up close with Nick, and she laid awake for nearly an hour before finally succumbing to sleep for the night.
Next Chapter sneak peek:
Emma and Bae have struggles
Henry and Nick have a heart-to-heart
Nick's insecurity with Belle's new project escalates