So I am so glad to have this fourth chapter up and going I am so happy to see that ya'll loved the others ones it starts to get really good right up in here so get ready not saying that it wasn't before it was just you know rising action then climax and falling action and maybe MAYBE a resolution gotcha there now didn't I hehehee I'm evil ok Belle's up well from now on you should know I will close to always start with Belle and end with Rumple so yea thanks Remember RxR no fave or follow without review thank you
Claire flipped the page from the book and continued to read from its passages. Word after word her mind was refreshed of the pages that her eyes trailed and absorbed the words. Claire could feel the swirl of déjà vu enthralled her into turning the pages. Somehow she knew exactly what was going to come next. She ran her fingers gingerly over the words and felt the entire plot come swirling into her mind. She gasped, recoiling her hand. She shut the book throwing it to the night stand as it if were on fire. She felt nausea begin to bubble its way to her throat and she just had enough energy to run to the small water closet and aim for the sink. As the bile forced its way through her esophagus she wished there was someone there to soothe her. Tell her it was going to be okay. She spit almost glad there was no one there because that was unladylike. She turned on the faucet and shut the door leaning back onto it feeling the coolness bite back her squeamish temperament. She closed her eyes wishing for the protective arms of her beloved around her. Except that couldn't happen. She didn't have one. Claire opened her eyes steeling herself and turned the water to cold. She grabbed a wash cloth and dampened it placing it on her forehead and around her face. She used a different to wipe her mouth. Her head pounded as a migraine raged its way to her temporal lobe. She wanted this gone. It was bad enough she was shot now she was having weird visions. They're not visions. They're not visions. She tried to persuade herself, but somehow she knew it wasn't true. They couldn't have been visions it felt so surreal like she had already read the book not as if she was going to read the book. Like a memory somehow. Maybe the man who shot her had the answers. She put the wash cloth in the sink and nimbly began to work her way through the hallways. She found the ICU with no trouble from any of the staff. They had gotten used to her casual meanders. She began to look through the windows. She didn't recognize any of them. She saw there was one more door without a window and wondered who was in there. She tested the silver handle to find it was locked. She looked around cautiously and grabbed a hair pin from her hair. She hurriedly picked the lock and heard the satisfying click of the door unlocking. She put the pin back in her untidy hair and opened it with her back to the door and her eyes precariously scanning the darkened hallways. Once she was in she silently shut the door and spun around. The sound of a heart monitor beeped softly. No moonlight or stars reached this room. It gave Claire a daunting feeling of who occupied it. As she walked forward she saw a silver gleam catch what little light there was in the room. She stopped waiting for it to move again, but it stayed frozen in its place. She tiptoed to get a closer look. If it weren't for the sound of oxygen being pumped evenly into the body she would have thought he was dead. His barely beard covered his face and tubes ran from his nose and mouth. Black hair lay matted and speckled with the dial lights from his monitors. Claire sat down in the chair next to his bed. She watched him as he slept and wondered how she came into acquaintance with the man in the bed. Why had he shot her? Why was Mr. Gold so adamant in making sure she was okay? As her brain combed through the possibilities the man's eyes slowly opened and sent Claire into a standing position. She could faintly see the shine of his blue eyes in the dim light. She stayed in the shadow of darkness. He chuckled with venom in his voice.
"A surprise to see you here." He managed to turn his head to look at her and his eyes blazed with rage. What had she done? Who was she to him?
"Who are you?" She tilted her head as if that would give her the answers she was looking for from the new perspective.
"My name is not the one you should be asking." She turned her head the opposite direction confused by his riddled answer.
"Then who should I be asking that to?" He showed his teeth and she was weary and regretting stepping into the room.
"You'll know soon enough." A wicked expression devoured his face.
"Why did you shoot me?" She had the dreaded feeling that made her think of swimming in shark infested waters.
"Don't take it personally. I only wanted to hurt the Crocodile for what he did to my love. You were only collateral damage." She felt like she was punch in the stomach. She wouldn't let him see that though. She maintained her interrogative bravado. "Now you will live the rest of your life wandering like a child who lost their mother." His snide remark made her want to shiver.
"I seem to be doing well so far. Lost is not something I dwell in." She clenched her fists and stood a little straighter to emphasize her statement.
"Not now you don't." He riddled her once again and she figured no answers were going to be compiled from him, so she gave him one last even stare and unclenched her fists. She blinked and turned on her heel retreating back into the empty, shadowed hallway. She stayed catching the breath she didn't know she held and closed her eyes. Crocodile? How many names do people in this town have? She tried to pacify her bedlam. Out of the few people she had met only two of them she knew when she had been shot. And maybe had the answers. Now with one down there was only one to go.
xXx
After the shop was cleaned and checked for any stolen items Rumpelstiltskin decided to uphold his end of the deal; it would be hypocritical if he didn't. He walked to the queen's house to evaluate the flaws and loopholes in his grand plan, for it could be the last great plan he would ever have. He ran it over in his head again and again. He had lied many a times before, but none as great as this one. One that would not hurt only him, but his beloved as well. He mumbled under his breath as he clicked open the sheriff's station door. Emma was there and it made him look for some way to let Regina out of the cage. He had timed it right that he probably didn't need to.
"Come to give a statement?" She asked putting her pen down and standing up.
"No, I came as a visitor." He could see Regina out of the corner of his eye jump to the bars and try to poke her head through.
"Why would the likes of you want to see someone of my current positioning?" She said through the bars. He turned his head acknowledging her.
"If I remember correctly Mr. Hopper justified that it was not, in fact, you who had supposedly killed him, but Cora in a disguise that happened to look like you." He set the cane in front of him gripping it tightly putting his weight on it. Ms. Swan eyed him suspiciously. "In fact I do believe it is time for Henry to be picked up from school is it not?" He looked out the corner of his eye at her and she kept her eyes half lidded.
"Don't kill each other." Was all she said before she grabbed her jacket leaving without a look behind her. He waited until he could no longer hear her before walking forward. Regina straightened back from the bars, but kept her fingers clenched firmly on the metal barricades.
"What do you want Gold?" She spat.
"Now dearie, is that any way to speak to the person who is going to show you where Cora is hiding?" Her breath hitched and her eyes widened in terror.
"How did you – " She couldn't finish before he snapped his fingers and the lock snapped. A soft churning sounded as the gate rolled open. She still hadn't moved. "What's in this for you?"
"Nothing brings two people together like a common enemy." He could see the wheels grinding in her head as she weighed the options. Seconds ticked by before she took the first step out of the cell. He gave a placid smile and hurried to hide it. He began to walk before she even managed to conjure up another question. "Come along dearie, time is of the essence." Soon after opening the door he heard the sharp tap of her heels on the linoleum floor. Soon she was adjacent to him and he could see her black curled hair sashay as she walked.
"Where is she?" She acted as though she was calm, yet her voice was flickering with hate and fright.
"This is a place better shown than told." They began the trek to the docks. By the time they saw the white masts in the horizon Regina stopped in her tracks, looking pale.
"Why here?" She sounded like it was more to herself. He half turned and waved his hand in the direction.
"Why not here?" She shakily continued to walk not looking at anything in particular. He let her go ahead of him and he looked around. Hook's ship was in the farthest plot he knew, but didn't think Cora herself would be vacating in that wreck. He could see and almost hear the memories replaying in his head. As they neared the end of the wharf a malicious voice arose from the current around them.
"Regina. You're a sight for sore eyes." The evil queen halted and looked almost frozen.
"Cora." It was hardly audible from his vantage point behind her.
"Is that any way to greet your mother?" A vile laugh erupted behind him and he turned slowly to look at Cora. She was dressed for a show. A flowing black dress that curled around the boards at her feet was speckled with red and he couldn't help but imagine that it wasn't dye. Regina hadn't turned around, but he knew she was trying to calm herself. "Rumpelstiltskin. Long time no see." He heard the creak of the planks underneath him and knew she had turned to look at him.
"You set me up." She choked through anger.
"Indeed it seems I have." He didn't turn. He stared at Cora with masked fury.
"Now that your end of the deal is upheld I see no further use for you." She waved her hand in indication for him to leave, but he held his ground.
"Who says I'm giving her to you." Cora's attention snapped back to him and a manic glare held him firm.
"What?" Her hand was still in midair from her usher for him to leave.
"Belle doesn't remember me, not fully, who says I have to give her to you now. All I did is send her to the docks, in which I had accomplished." A wind picked up and the salty brine from the sea attacked his eyes. His hair furled around his face as he retained concentration on the malevolent mother.
"You are dealing with fire Rumpelstiltskin, you know what is at risk." A stray strand of black graying hair came loose in the zephyr. The groaning from the wharf below him gave away Regina's movement.
"How did you get here?" She asked moving to the space between Rumple and Cora. The tension in the air cackled with energy. Not taking her eyes off of Cora, Regina spoke again, "Rumpelstiltskin this is not your fight." He was taken aback. Maybe it's true, she is changing. What would come from this he didn't know, but he knew he didn't want to wait around and find out. He didn't risk the chance on her mind changing and used what little magic he could muster up and transported to the entrance of his shop. Knowing Cora he wasn't going to walk away from that conflict. He looked in the direction of the coast and winds swirled around bring clouds and the sound of thunder with it. He entered the shop turning the lock on the door. Not long after he stepped in his cell phone rang. The caller ID said Dr. Whale. He wondered what he could possibly want.
"Gold. You need to come down here, you are being summoned." Confusion traced his expression.
"By who?"
"Belle."
Bit of a cliff hanger sorry if this one was longer than the others unless you like that wink ha sorry damn school has been infuriating and blocked my who writing inspiration but you all say that last episode right of course you all did now I think I'm in denial but the breaking true breaking of the cup is superposition its good and bad at the same time it destroys the bond forged by mistakes and heartbreak like the ultimate reset button but it also gives them a reset a chance to show her he can change and show him that all of her protests that he is not a beast is true we are as shattered as the cup but we can manage we did for this long come on pull through Rumbellers WE GOT THIS
