Chapter 7

"Hello" came a chirpy voice as Belle, blurry eyed, stretched under the woollen blanket and tried to move to where the voice had come from. She moved startled when her eyes fell upon Jefferson.

"Don't be alarmed!" He saw that his greeting had surprised her.

"Were you watching me sleep? How long have you been here?" Belle did not ask these questions with the real concerned curiosity that perhaps they should have been. In fact at first she did not seem to mind or be bothered at all by Jefferson's presence. If anything she welcomed it.

"About an hour I'd say. You're rather adorable when you sleep." Belle did not know quite how to answer this or indeed how to react. Although she did trust Jefferson and Mr Gold did too for that matter, which only added to his trustworthiness in her own eyes, somehow Belle did not feel it was right for him to address her in this way and suddenly she felt guilty for gladly welcoming his company near her. Things between Belle and Mr Gold had become very intimate and though they were not officially 'courting', Belle felt that perhaps Mr Gold would be hurt if she returned the over welcoming posture Jefferson was presenting her with.

Jefferson noticed her change in sitting position and quickly added. "Mr Gold told me to look after you. He's gone out, probably to his shop. He'll be back soon I imagine." Just hearing Jefferson mention his name placed Belle back at ease. It was not Jefferson's presence, she surmised, that was making her feel edgy. It was Mr Gold's absence. After all they had been living in one another's pockets for the past two months. Yes, he had left to go to his shop several times before, but Belle had always been occupied doing something Mr Gold related, so when he had returned she had never truly noticed his absence, but right now, however, she certainly did. What interestingly surprised Belle was how much his absence seemed to affect her. Honestly, she did not like it. Belle wanted to be in control of her own life and realising how dependant she had become on Mr Gold almost frightened her. It was Jefferson's voice asking "coffee?" that brought Belle out of this negative thought. "Sure." Belle replied and they both walked into Mr Gold's kitchen, a kitchen that was filled with same amount of Antiques as the rest of his large house.

"He really likes these old, quirky looking objects, doesn't he?" Belle said as she smiled and picked up a tin box that contained tea bags. Jefferson gave out a small laugh. "He sure does" holding up a rusty looking teaspoon. Belle sat down at the kitchen table and watched as Jefferson moved around the kitchen opening cupboards and draws with complete confidence. Clearly he had done this 'making coffee' thing a few times before. Belle noted that Jefferson was a well dressed man. A man who seemed to take pride in his appearance. At this moment he was wearing fitted black skinny jeans, a white shirt and a black done up waist coat. A simple outfit but one that suited him well, Belle felt. Belle blushed as she realised how intently she had been staring at Jefferson. Gathering herself quickly together she asked: "So how long have you been working for Mr Gold?" Belle was not sure if she had asked the wrong question but there was certainly something about it Jefferson did not like. For his shoulders appeared to have tensed and he looked to be grabbing the handle of the kettle a little too tight than would perhaps be deemed necessary.

"It's quite a long story to be honest Belle." Yes, there was definitely something wrong. Jefferson looked like he was desperately trying to find the right words to say. Eventually he sighed and said: "I know about it too, Belle." Belle looked at him confused. "The curse. I know Mr Gold has told you about it." Belle nodded in agreement. There seemed little point in lying to him about it. "As you know we are not from here. More truthful perhaps, we do not belong here. We all had lives in the Enchanted Forest. You did, Mr Gold did . . . I did. I had a daughter Belle. A beautiful, loving daughter." Jefferson looked sad and turned to the kitchen table carrying two mugs of warm coffee. Belle took hers and blew over it to help it cool down before then tasting it. Jefferson stared glassy eyed at his cup. Belle wondered if it would be rude of her to ask him to carry on with his story or would it be better to leave him in silence. Belle didn't get the chance to decide for Jefferson burst into life again and began telling his life's story of himself and his daughter, Grace.

They were happy together. Just the two of them. Although Jefferson gave no mention of Grace's mother, Belle couldn't help but receive the impression her mother had died. Belle continued to listen as Jefferson told her about the games of hide and seek that he and Grace would play in the forest and all the imaginary games Grace would play by herself. 'Tea Time' she had called it. The story took a darker turn, however, when Jefferson mentioned the Queen, Regina. Belle's inside performed a summersault. Jefferson did not specify what type of work the Queen had asked him to do, but it resulted in him being trapped in a place called 'Wonderland' and not being able to get back home to Grace. On finishing his story, Belle could see that Jefferson was on the verge of tears. "Mr Gold has told me he knows where she is in this world and will show me where if I help him out for the next six months. I have nearly done 3 months already, so HALFWAY!" Jefferson sang the last bit manically causing Belle to feel slightly uncomfortable again. Belle wasn't sure why Mr Gold had not already reunited Jefferson and Grace. Surely it made sense to do so as it almost seemed cruel to keep them apart. On the thought of the word 'cruel', Belle bit her lip and scolded herself mentally for using the word 'cruel' in the same sentence as 'Mr Gold'. 'He's been so good to you!' Belle reminded herself.

"So how are your lessons going? Interrupted Jefferson. Belle smiled: "Quite well thank you. Though ..." She stopped herself before she could reveal too much, but to her dismay she had not been quick enough. Jefferson eyed her curiously. "Though?" he enquired.

"I'm not sure if I should say."

"Something bad?" Belle did not like the way Jefferson's eyes lit up as he said this.

"No" Belle retorted forcefully.

"Come, come Belle. You must tell. I told you my story at your request. So please, share one with me." Belle eyed him carefully. Jefferson was right. He had shared his story so why shouldn't Belle confined in him her memory flashback? As Belle had sat and listened to Jefferson, Jefferson kindly returned the same courtesy. On her conclusion she added "But I have not yet told Mr Gold, so please refrain from doing so." Jefferson nodded slowly.

"So your memories are returning?" He asked intently.

"Yes, well no ... not really it was only a flashback and it has only happened once I ..." Belle was cut off by a strange ringing sound coming from Jefferson. Seeing the confused look on Belle's face, Jefferson gave a small laugh, reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a small silver slab ... thing. "It's called a mobile phone. Don't worry, Mr Gold has one too." Jefferson grinned, pressed a button and held it to his ear and said "Hello." Instantly, however, his grin fell. Jefferson stood and said "I'm on my way." He shoved the mobile phone back into his trouser pocket. "I've got to go." He announced.

"Was that Mr Gold?" Belle hopefully asked.

"No it was . . . someone else. Sorry I've got to go." Without waiting for Belle's response he left the kitchen. Belle yelled "Thanks for the coffee!" but the slamming of the front door was her only answer.

'Curious. Very curious.' Belle thought. She walked up to the sink and began washing the used mugs. Once she had completed this task she slowly strolled into Mr Gold's sitting room and for the first she really examined the objects he owned. Some of them made her laugh as they simply reminded her of Mr Gold. Belle passed some odd looking trinkets on the mantelpiece when her eyes fell upon something that seemed vaguely familiar. A Chipped Cup. Belle reached out to it, as she held it in her soft hands she was overcome with the same dizzy feeling she had had only two hours earlier.

The air had gone hazy and Belle could only just make out that she was in hall of some kind and then she saw herself again. Flashback Belle was wearing the same dress she had done in her first flashback. Belle couldn't quite see clearly enough to understand exactly what was going on but she heard memory Belle say "I'm sorry. It's chipped" to which a voice, unmistakably belonging to Rumplestilskin - Mr Gold, replied "It's just a cup." There was a brief giggle and the air again turned fuzzy. Belle felt nauseous as another memory seemed to be pushing its way into her mind. "Never Forget!" were the words that this new memory brought with it. The air became clear and what she saw this time made Belle panic. She could see herself again, but to Belle's distress her memory self was another cell. A different cell from what she had been rescued from but it was still a cell, only the walls were dark blue instead of white. "Never Forget!" Belle's memory self screamed with her hands covering her head. Another voice came out of the darkness. A woman's voice. An unfriendly, mocking voice. Regina's voice.

"Oh you will forget my dear. You will forget who you are. Who he is. What he even meant to you. He will be nothing to you. And you will be dead to him." Regina laughed hysterically, as memory Belle screamed. "Never Forget, Never Forget" over and over. Eyes wide and panic spread over her face. "Goodbye Belle. Enjoy your last memories of him." Regina cackled and gradually her voice began to fade. Memory Belle continued to yell "Never Forget!" She jumped to feet, grabbing a stone as she did so from the gravel floor and began carving these words into the wall. "Never Forget, Never Forget ..."

The words swam around Belle's head till she could feel soft carpet on her knees and the smooth chipped cup in her right hand. Belle sat on Mr Gold's living room floor trying to process the days interesting events. The two flashbacks and Jefferson's story and quick exit. Belle was still sat there when she heard a loud click and heart warming "Belle?"

With a smile Belle thought "He's home."