Staying at home is comforting, but sometimes it is boring, too; when she feels restless, when she feels like she is suffocating, restricted again between four walls, even if they belong to her little pinkish room or the bright little kitchen. This morning she already did all the chores, she even fixed something to eat for dinner and baked a cake - Mary Margaret gave her the recipe, saying it's the easiest cake in the whole universe, and, by the look of it, this time she managed to make something edible. She grabs her purse and walks out from the back door. She almost never uses the front door, not when she is alone.
She likes the shop, but there were too many people coming in during her first weeks at home, buying flowers just for the chance of catching a glimpse of this long lost child, of the lost daughter - of the mad woman. The shop is not a place when she feels safe, not during opening hours. There is another place, another shop where she feel safe. But it's too early for her to go there.
She walks past the diner's, and catches a glimpse of Ruby walking around and carrying plates and cups. She walks past his shop, but he is nowhere to be seen, and she can't just go in without a reason, right? That would be strange.
So she goes to the park, determined to read the book she has in her purse: sitting on a bench in a quiet corner hopefully no one will notice her. But today her mind just won't stop spinning and spinning around. She puts the book away, goes up and walks a little, enjoying the fresh air, the sun, the birds. And then she smiles. Isabel French is happy, she thinks, and laughs aloud. Not everything in her life is perfect, of course, but she is free; she has friends; she talks a little bit more every day with her father; she has a job. And she wants to be brave. And for her that means to go around Storybrooke without fear. Yes, Isabel French would be strong and brave.
The nightmares and the fear would never go away, not completely. She knows it very well. But she will face them. If someone tries again to take her away from her life, she will fight, and fight hard. She would do what Emma does. And she knows that her father, Emma, Mary Margaret and Ruby will defend her.
And Mr. Gold will protect her, too. Yeah, she is sure about this. He will help her.
She exit the park, and looks around unsure of what to do. Go to Granny's? Sure thing she can drop by to say hello to a friend, can't she? But then she thinks otherwise, and walks down the streets, to where her father's van is.
"Hi, papa".
Moe French turns around, a big vase full of white lilies in his hand.
"Isabel", he smiles seeing his daughter. Then his brows frown a little, concerned, "It's everything all right?".
"Yes. Don't worry, I just felt like taking a stroll in the park".
"Oh, good!", he says, smiling again and putting down the lilies.
"Do you need a hand?", she asks.
"No, everything is all right. Peter will come in a minute to help me unload, and he will stay here while I'm at the shop", Moe replies, never looking away from his daughter's face.
Things are easier, now. He must admit it, since she started working, Isabel is more relaxed. And he knows the sheriff is keeping a close eye on Gold, and on himself, of course. So he doesn't have to worry. Well, not too much.
Isabel is looking at the red roses, brushing them lightly.
"You know that once, when you where four, I had to banish you from the shop if there were red roses. And that means almost all the time", he says, a hint of playfulness in his words.
"Why?", She asks, perplexed.
Moe chuckles lightly, "You had developed the habit of go straight to were the red roses were and then picking out petal after petal saying 'he loves me, he loves me not'". He laughs. "And you were so concentrated you wouldn't stop unless you were literally taken away from them. You did that only with the red roses, your favourites. And when I asked you who you were referring to, you just replied, oh so seriously, 'The man I will love, of course'".
"I really did that?"she laughs, blushing.
"Of course, princess".
"Princess?", she asks.
"It's how I called you when you were little, sometimes it was my little princess, and mum would say 'If she is a princess, you know what I am?' And then I would reply, 'Of course, you're the queen of my heart!" She would scold me, then, every single time, and you would say 'Of course mama is a queen'", he sighs, before adding, "It was a little game we played. Sometimes you called her Queen of daddy heart".
"That is lovely", Isabel says, but her smile is sad, and Moe notices.
"What is it, Isabel?".
"Nothing, It's just… I'm sad, and sorry, because I don't remember nothing".
"Oh, no, don't be", he reassures her gently. "It doesn't matter if you don't remember, I'll do that for you. I'll tell you all the little stories, all the funny things we did, as a family. The times you laughed, the times you cried, the times you were happy or you were mad. You know, you always had a little temper, and you were stubborn. At thirteen you told me not to call you princess any more. Then, a few days later, you came back from school crying because some stupid guy was making fun of one of your friend, you told him to stop and the teacher grounded you because you were making a fuss in class. When I consoled you you told me 'I remember what I said, papa, about calling me princess. But could you please forget it for now and act like I am still you little girl?", Moe stops talking, too absorbed in the memory.
"What did you reply?"
He looks at her, a tender gaze, and brushes her cheek with his rough hand. "I told you, 'of course princess'. And you will be forever my little girl. You still are, Isabel".
She smiles, leaning in his hand, saying, "Yes, papa. I am".
"And don't worry, these kind of things takes time. We will wait and see what the future will bring, all right, princess?"
She nods, and say, "Ok, but I have a request".
"Yes princess?"
"Could you not call me princess in public? Just when there is just the two of us".
Moe's laughter makes a smile spread wide in Isabel's face.
"Of course, princess. These are exactly the same words you said to me that afternoon after school".
"So we have a deal", she smirks.
He nods and takes out of the van some more flowers. After a couple of minutes Isabel says, "Papa, do you mind if I eat out at lunch?"
"Eat out?"
"Yes, Emma and Mary Margaret keep asking me to join them at lunch at granny's. And I think today I would like too", she says, then adds, "If you don't mind".
"Of course not, princess", Moe smiles, "Go and have lunch with your friends".
They say goodbye and Isabel walks toward the diner's. It's a little early for the lunch, but she can sit down and wait, reading the book and sipping a cup of tea.
Ruby is behind the counter, and when she turns to greet the new costumer she smiles brightly.
"Izzy! What a nice surprise. Wait, don't tell me! You'll have lunch here?", Her face is hopeful, and her smile bright.
"Yes, with Emma and Mary Margaret", Isabel says, shyly.
"Yes!" Ruby literally jumps, attracting more attention on the two of them, but Isabel doesn't care. Today is a good day and if her friend is happy just to have her here for lunch, even if she has to work and can't join them, then the tension she feels in her stomach is worth the dazzling smile Ruby is giving to her.
"You know what?", says ruby hugging her tightly, "I will make you an enormous milkshake, and the dessert is on the house. We need to celebrate! "
"Will I be able to work after?", Isabel teases.
"Of course you will", Ruby flashes a wonderful grin, "you will have the evenly taste of Granny chocolate cake in your mouth! Nothing could go wrong when you eat that cake! Now, sit down and wait for the girls, they'll be here in half an hour. I can't wait to see their face when they realise you're here".
When Emma and Mary Margaret arrives the place is almost full. They are genuinely pleased to see Isabel there, and, when she explain she is there to have lunch together, Emma says "Well, it's about time. I almost thought you don't like our company."
"Emma...", Mary Margaret scolds, but then Emma smirks and winks, and Isabel laughs and when Ruby, adds "I think I saw a pig fly this morning..", while putting their drinks on the table, all the girls laugh.
The lunch is a quiet one. A little chat about everything and nothing. And when an enormous slice of Red Velvet is in front of Isabel, she looks up at Ruby and says "I will never be able to finish all of this".
"Oh, well", the girl replies, sitting down in the free spot on the table, "granny sliced it, and told me to have my fifteen minutes pause now and go and celebrate with you. So I grabbed four forks". She smirks.
"What a lovely idea", says Mary Margaret, "I feel fifteen again… sharing a cake, talking about boys…".
"I don't care how old I am", Emma states, after taking the first bite of the cake, "but I think this cake is amazing!".
The others just nods, mouths full of the delicious dessert.
"Oh," sighs belle, after a while, "I made your cake this morning, Mary Margaret, but I doubt it would taste this evenly."
Ruby laughs "Well, this is the best cake granny can do. I tried the recipe a couple of times, but I think what I did wasn't edible, so, don't worry. The only pity is that she make the red velvet once in a blue moon!"
"Yeah, really a pity, call me as soon as she bakes another one, even if it's three in the morning, or the apocalypse is upon us", Emma murmurs licking her fork.
"Emma! Mary Margaret says, "mind you manners".
Belle laughs, and licks her forks, too, "No, she is right, it's so delicious you need to lick everything clean".
Ruby nods and Emma smirks, "See? Three against one! Don't be a school teacher with me".
"But I am one", Mary Margaret replies, and the girls laugh together.
"By the way, how's your hottie doctor?", Ruby asks looking at Isabel.
"My what..?", she asks her, confused.
"Doctor hopper, silly. If I have been talking about Whale I would have used another word...", she muses, adding "something in the line of lecherous".
"My therapist... hottie?", Isabel stutters.
"I never thought hot and Archibald Hopper could share the same sentence", says Emma snickering, " except when he orders a cup of coffee, maybe?",
"Oh, you shut up, and you, close your mouth, Izzy!", laughs Ruby, "He's so shy and embarrassed he's cute. And I like that kind of cuteness. God knows it is not the usual reaction I have from men.. it's refreshing.. and have you seen those freckles?", the girl adds, leaning on the table, like she is sharing a very big and important secret: "When he is beet red you can't told them apart…".
"Sounds like someone has a crush..." muses Mary Margaret, smiling
"Maybe"… Ruby says with a not-so-sheepish grin.
"That's good", Isabel is looking kindly at the diner's door, or maybe across the street where the doctor's office is. "He is so kind and gentle... and he certainly acts all funny when you are near", she adds whit a soft giggle and a meaningful glance at the girl.
"Oh, you noticed", ruby smile is a knowing one
"We all did, Ruby", says Mary Margaret, while Emma just rolls her eyes.
"So, it's time for a little action", ruby licks her lips.
"Ruby! You will terrify the poor doctor", Mary Margaret states, while Emma mutters something like how the poor man doesn't know what is coming his way.
Ruby stands up, her pause is finished, and she is ready to go back tending the other tables. But first she leans down towards the other women and says in an little innocent voice. "I'm eager to bet I will have a lot of fun, and that my cute, hottie doctor will never object to anything I will do to him". She smiles her predator smile and turns away, hips dancing around in her tight shorts and ponytail flowing.
The women laughs at her boldness, and Isabel watches her fried, hoping she will have that kind of courage if she will ever be interested in someone that way. Her mind trails off and the first person who comes in her thoughts is Mr. Gold... but Isabel has no time to register the whereabouts of this thought. Henry appears at the door's of Granny's diner, running over their table and starting to chat with Emma and Mary Margaret. When the teacher excuses herself and goes back to the school, and Emma is gone to another table to talk with Leroy, Henry turns towards Isabel and says.
"Isabel, may I ask you a favour? I need your help to figure out something".
"Of course, Henry. I just hope I can help you, I know so little about this town", she says, a little unsure.
"Oh, don't worry, you'll be fine. I just want to ask you some questions, so I can figure out who you are".
"Who I am?".
"Yes, in my book".
Isabel listens carefully when Henry explains to her the whole Operation Cobra. He doesn't stop when Emma returns to their table and give him a warning. And he is more that pleased when Isabel tells him to go on.
"So everyone is a character of a fairytale?", she asks, when he ha finished.
"Yes!", Henry beams.
Isabel just smiles, "Someone could say that my story is unbelievable, or even impossible, but it happened. And, and how I can not believe in fairytales, when I had a hero rescuing me?", she teases Emma, who just shrugs while Henry is totally in Business-First mode. Holding out his book and turning the pages, thinking out aloud.
"A princess secluded in a dungeon.. I don't have that in my book", he seems genuinely concerned, "If it was a tower that would be Rapunzel, I mean, you would be Rapunzel".
"But isn't Rapunzel blonde?", Isabel enquires, amused.
"You will find out his book is not so orthodox about fairytales", says Emma.
"That's because they are not just fairytales, they are true", says Henry, a little exasperated.
Emma starts to say something, but Belle speaks before her, "Well, you now what? Fairytales shouldn't be orthodox in any way".
"Yes", Henry smiles broadly, and then his smile fades "But I still can't figure out who are you...".
"So you know who is everyone in town?", Isabel asks "Like... who is Mr. Gold?".
"Oh, that I don't know, either". He frowns, "His character must really be difficult... and bad".
"Henry..." Emma warns him.
"Why bad?" Isabel asks, genuinely curious. She watches watches Henry carefully, and he is so happy she doesn't mock him and is actually interested in Operation Cobra that he thinks hard before answering her questions, counting down on his fingers.
"First: he has power, and he uses it. Second: he always gets what he wants. Third: he always obtain the best of every bargain, even if you think you have fooled him, and believe me, you have not".
"Does he bribe or cheat?", Belle asks.
"Not that I know of", he says, while Emma looks at the cealing.
"Did he ever brbreak a bargain or step out of his word?".
"No, never". Henry says
"So he couldn't be so bad, after all", Isabel says with a warm smile, registering the confused expression in henry's face and the way Emma is avoiding looking at her. She will talk to her friend, in private, one of these days.
After a While Henry acknowledges, "No, maybe he is not so bad. But he is the only person my mother, Regina, fears, and that's a pretty damn thing to accomplish".
"Henry mind your words!", Emma says while Isabel starts to laugh and soon even Henry and a reluctant Emma join her.
"Thank you, Henry, I will keep that in mind while I'm near him. And if I see something that could help you figure out who he really is, you know, the fairytale land we all come from, I will let you know immediately", she smiles.
"Yes! Another person working for Operation Cobra. See, Emma, she thinks I'm right".
Isabel smiles to Emma, and the sheriff smiles back, "Yes kiddo, another one. But now you'd better go, before Regina finds out you had lunch with me. And I must go, too, in a moment, I have some work to do".
Henry leaves the shop, and Emma turns once again towards the girl.
"Have a nice day, Isabel, and remember, if you need anything, just call me, and I will come immediately".
"Thank you for your concern, Emma. But I'm perfectly fine and I am sure I don't have anything to fear, not from Mr. Gold. Yes, I perfectly know who you are referring to". She says raising an eyebrow.
"Isabel, you don't know him, what he did…" the sheriff trails off, unsure of what to say to this girl that was looking straight into her eyes with a resolute expression.
"You know, Emma, that I will do anything you ask me to, because I trust your judgement". She sighs, dropping her stare and shaking her head a little. "But I thinks everybody is too harsh on Mr. Gold. How many time has any of you passed with him?"
"Too much for my taste", says Emma, sharp.
"Oh, Emma", Isabel sounds defeated, if not a little disappointed. "I've heard the stories about him. And I also know that most of them are true, maybe a little exaggerated, but true. I'm not denying it. But I've also heard all the stories circulating about me… and I'm sure he did, too. But he aired me, nevertheless. He gave me a chance, so who am I to deny him of one, too?".
"Ok", the sheriff says, slowly, sitting again to look more intently in this girl's blue eyes. "But if he ever does something to you, or mistreats you in any way…"
"Oh, why does everybody thinks he will do that? He's always been no less that a perfect gentleman with me, and then you, Archie, Mary Margaret and even Ruby keeps telling me he is bad. I know he owns almost all the town, he is my father landlord, too. And, yes, Ashley told me about her baby. But he did let go, didn't he?".
"After he made another bargain with me."
"A bargain you proposed, if I've heard it right".
"Did he told you that?".
"No, Henry did".
"Henry?".
"He was warning me, too, the other day. But, Emma, do you think he will hurt me, do you really think that?".
The sheriff seems to reflect a little, and then gives in. "No, I don't thinks so. Not intentionally, anyway. I had a long talk with him about his intentions and motives, when he told Archie he would get you a job".
"Did you..?", Isabel asks, incredulity clear in her voice and face.
"Of course I did. I promised to protect you, remember? And I always keep my promises".
"And?" Isabel asked, curious.
"And what?
"Your 'long talk with Gold about my job'. Do you really believe you can say something like thins and then simply walk away?".
Emma studies Isabel expression for a moment, something in her gut was telling her the girl was too eager to hear about Gold, but then she rejects the thought, and starts telling.
"He was oddly, collaborative, answering every single question. That surprised me. And, believe me, it's not an easy task. I'm not 90% sure his answers were accurate, but... how to explain this. I got the impression that he really wanted me to be reassured he had no ill intention and that you will be completely safe and sound with him. And that sounded completely and utterly the truth in my ears. Anyway, in case my instinct got he wrong..."
"But it is usually right", Isabel interrupts her, smirking.
Emma Narrows her eyes, "In case I was wrong, I prefer to be reassured you will call me if anything occur, anything at all. Ok, Isabel?"
"If that will give your mind a little peace, then I promise to call you. And I mean it. But, you now, I like working for him, and talking with him, too.", Isabel smiles
Emma looks at her intently. "Do I need to worry?"
"About what?"
"You seem too fond of Gold for my taste..".
"Emma!" Isabel scolds. "I don't think I'm fond of him", she replies, hoping the warmth she feels on her cheeks doesn't mean she is blushing, or hoping Emma wouldn't notice is she is indeed blushing. "It's just... it's nice, you know, to work and then have a little chat. He is not exactly a friend, but I enjoy spending time with him, and working in his shop".
Emma opens her mouth to speak, when her radio cracks and the sheriff is needed somewhere else. She has definitely noticed her blush, and the looks in her face means "we'll have a little talk no this particular subject, and soon", when she leaves and just says "I gotta go, be good, and behave, Isabel".
The girl just laugh before saying, "Yes mum. Have a nice day", and laughs some more at the not-so-amused-but-that's-funny look the sheriff gives her while she walks out Granny's door.
"Since when you call Emma mum?", asks Ruby, marching towards her table with an odd expression.
"Since she is so overprotective about me working for . It's been a month, already, and I'm perfectly fine".
Ruby arches an eyebrow, and Isabel scoffs, "Oh, come on! I'm sure you wouldn't like it if I start to call you, mum, too. I will do it, you know".
Ruby seems horrified by the thought, "Gosh, no, I'm too young and pretty to be a mum. And I want some more years of fun before settle down..."
"Settle down with who? I remember that no more that twenty minutes ago you were calling my doctor hottie…", Isabel teases.
"Whatever. I will be eternally grateful if you don't call me mum, but I'm open for the position of big sister, or little sister, or both. You decide. And now, I gotta go before granny starts shouting at me. Again".
The fact that her friend has changed the topic strikes belle: there is something going on between Ruby and Archie? She doesn't thinks so, but maybe they just need a little push to be happy together, and they would be well suited for each other, oddly as it would seem at first glance.
A little smile surfaces on her face when the thought of Mr. Gold appears in her mind. It is the second time, today, that her brain associates her employer while she is thinking about love and relationship.
She blushes again as she stands up from her table and waves goodbye to Ruby and Mrs. Lucas. It's almost time to go to work, so she walks slowly towards Mr. Gold's pawnshop.