I've started with season 3 because this story is about Belle - not amnesia Belle or Lacey. As has been the case, Broken will continue to blend with the show. I'll note any significant deviation.
Belle felt nausea as she lay down in a cabin on the Jolly Roger. The trip through the portal had left her weak in the knees and if it hadn't been for Rumple holding her up she feared she would fallen overboard. However, it was insecurity more than illness that led Belle to seek refuge below the deck. The recent return of her memories was more painful to bear than before. When the curse at large broke, others could relate to her struggle. Now she alone had to process the events that transpired in her mental absence. This task was made that much harder as her assailants were now her travelling companions.
Closing her eyes, Belle thought of her memory loss and drugging at the hospital, the painful but loving phone call from Rumple as he laid on his deathbed, and - worst of all - the false memories implanted by Regina that led her to take on the darker persona of Lacey. Scenes of encouraging Rumple's darkest moments and the relationship he shared with this other person haunted Belle. So much so she could not tell if it was travel or the painful thoughts that left her feeling weak.
"Are you feeling better Sweetheart?" Gold asked entering the cabin.
Belle nodded in response but even that subtle movement was too much and she cringed in pain.
"You should have stayed in Storybrooke."
"No. We've been apart for too long. I couldn't stand the thought of being left behind." Belle said reaching out for his hand and guiding him to sit next to her.
"I've told you of the prophecy. The boy will be my undoing," Gold reminded allowing himself a moment to be distracted by Belle's ring. "But he's also my grandson. I must save him."
"We will." Belle promised fighting dizziness to sit up and look Rumple in the eyes. "We will save Henry."
Gold pulled away from Belle and stood to his feet. "Henry will be saved."
"We're going to Neverland." Belle said after several minutes of silence. "Your father is there. What does he want with Henry?"
"I do not know." Gold replied his eyes darkening at the reference. "Whatever it is the boy is in grave danger. Pan will stop at nothing to get what he wants."
"How do you plan to stop him?"
Belle asked the question but knew she wasn't prepared for an answer. This new enemy was very powerful and while she couldn't be certain she feared he was more powerful than her husband. In the past - no matter whom the enemy - Rumple had always been confident that he would be victorious. Looking at him now she was reminded of all the men who left Avonlea during the Ogre War - resigned to their fate.
Belle wanted to offer words of encouragement but she had none. She knew nothing of Pan's magic. The stories she read were of a mischievous boy who fought the pirate currently captaining their ship. Belle held back any hopeful words about the future because while they could find Henry, Baelfire was gone. She knew they had never had the reunion Rumple hoped for and she felt partially responsible. Given his loss, she believed it would be selfish to talk about their future together.
"I love you." Belle whispered after determining there was nothing else to say. "I love you very much."
"I know you do." Gold replied caressing her cheek. "All I want is for you to be happy."
"I am happy. I'm happy with you," Belle added, unwilling to let him push her away.
"I must know that you'll be happy without me." Gold pleaded, water welling in his eyes as he looked helplessly at his wife. "You are a precious light that must always shine Belle. Do you understand?"
"No and I won't." Belle protested wiping tears away from her face. "We're going to save Henry and then we're going home to Storybrooke or the Enchanted Forest or wherever. But we're going there together Rumpelstiltskin. You made me promise you forever and I did. You never go back on a deal."
Gold's shoulders sagged at Belle's speech as he wished he'd insisted she stay behind. He had tried but when she refused he couldn't bring himself to deny her request. After their most recent separation and the loss of Baelfire he had not been ready to let her go. Now he realized he only delayed the inevitable.
"Lay down Sweetheart. You should rest before the ship lands."
"You'll stay with me?" Belle asked taking his hand and holding it tightly.
"I'll sit right here."
Belle didn't know when she had fallen or sleep or how long she had been in the cabin but when she awoke she found herself alone. She searched below for Rumple but could not find him. On the main deck she saw that each member of the crew had taken claim to a part of the ship but again she did not see her husband. With few alternatives Belle decided to ask Mary Margaret where Gold was.
"Where's Rumple?"
"Belle!" Mary Margaret exclaimed caught off guard. "He's - um - well… he left."
"Left?" Belle repeated stunned.
"Yes. He said he was going to go find Henry." Mary Margaret replied doing her best to soften the blow and mask her frustration with Gold.
"Of course he is."
"You don't seem surprised." Mary Margaret noted taken aback by Belle's reaction.
Belle leaned over the edge of the ship and looked off to the dark island far off in the distance. She pondered what Rumple was doing on the island and when she would see him again. She knew that she would, she refused to believe otherwise, but she couldn't help wondering how long they would be apart this time.
"He doesn't really play well with others," Belle replied curling her lips slightly.
"That I know." Mary Margaret chuckled, grateful for a reason to relax. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." Belle turned crimson at the reminder of her seasickness. "I don't know what happened. I grew up sailing with my father. Water has never been a problem before."
"Well you've been through a lot." Mary Margaret reminded with a sympathetic smile.
"Haven't we all?" Belle followed her companions gaze across the ship to Emma, who stood alone staring into the night ahead. "How is she?"
"Strong." Mary Margaret replied shaking her head. "Stronger than she needs to be. Stronger than she would be if we had been there for her. If we had raised her."
"It's not a bad thing to be strong."
"It is when you know nothing else. When you can't trust the people around you or your emotions. Neal was her first love and the father of her child. There was so much they needed to do together. So much to discuss. She never got the chance and now she never will. And it's all my fault."
"It's not your fault."
"Isn't it?" Mary Margaret shot back pulling away from Belle. "We didn't have to send her away. We could have found another way. After we did…we didn't have to encourage her to stay in Storybrooke. We could have let her have the life she deserved. A life with Henry. Away from villains and magic and curses."
"You can't change the past." Belle reminded gently. "You could have not told Cora about Regina and Daniel. Your father could have stayed single or married someone else. You could have lived your life as a princess and never met David and never had had Emma in the first place. We make hundreds of choices every day that shape our destiny."
Mary Margaret closed her eyes and took a deep breath to absorb Belle's words. "You're right. The choices I've made have led me to my husband, my daughter and my grandson. I just wish I could help her. Take the burden off her shoulder."
"Whether or not Emma can admit it - you are helping. She might feel alone right now but she's not. You're here for her and she knows that."
"I hope so."
After a battle with mermaids and a dangerous storm, the rocky trip to the shore seemed peaceful in comparison. Belle's nausea had returned and she was slow to recover. When she did, she found herself behind Regina as the group debarked from the ship. As Belle moved to cross the threshold she was pushed back by an invisible wall.
"What have you done?" Belle asked shakily getting on her feet.
"This isn't a camping adventure." Regina replied coolly. "I'm here to save my son. You have no place here."
"I'm Rumple's wife. That makes me family. I want to help save Henry."
"You barely know my son and your husband left you. If he felt you could be of use he would have taken you with him." Regina challenged. "Instead he asked us to babysit you and keep you safe. You're safe on this ship. When we get Henry we'll come back."
"You can't do this." Belle argued pounding against the barrier. "The others will notice."
"Maybe they will. Maybe they won't." Regina shrugged tossing up her hands. "But you've been awfully sick my dear. It's best that you rest up. Goodbye Belle."
