This episode is meeting all of my expectations in such a wonderful way~. Let's see, this chapter is going to a mix of the two worlds. I plan to try and reconcile my story with what happened this week in skin deep. Hopefully without harming my fave Disney princess. Although, since the you know what started to work, it's going to be tough, but I have a theory. I'm so glad I went with black hair. It's similar to Belle's, but hers is lighter…Hrm, not giving away any of my plans. So to Awesome Fat Kitty Yes, I have seen the newest episode. I did enjoy it greatly, but it made me a little sad, and caused some writer's block. Overall I liked it, but I was desperately looking for loopholes to insert Girl in it, but they didn't make it easy but I am going to try and keep with the series canonically. As far as the back story with them I plan on writing how the show does it, going back and forth from future and past. I plan on tackling Rumple's return to his wife soonly, but I'm rather nervous about it, because I have this fear that the show will do it and ruin it for me before I can write it. Anyway thanks again for the review. And now enjoy the newest chapter~. And as far as Ren's chances I don't want to shoot them down but I think I may make it a little more heartbreaking for her soon. Oh, long author's note…my bad.
"Mr. Gold, are you here?" Ren asked as she entered the pawn shop. It was dark inside, but the light was on. Surely he was here. He never left the shop.
"Mr. Gold's out at the moment." Essie shouted from behind the drape making Ren jump slightly. "He went to go speak with one of his associate." Essie explained as she came out to stand at the counter. "I can take a message? If it's important?" Essie offered. Ren smiled awkwardly.
"Um, no, that's not necessary. I just wanted to speak to him is all." Ren answered softly glancing around at the shop. "I heard his home was broken into."
"Yeah, somebody took a bunch of his stuff. He was real ticked off about it. But don't worry, the sheriff and Mr. Gold are on it. Whoever did it will get caught." Essie consoled her with a grin. Essie knew just as well as anyone not to mess with Mr. Gold. There were some things that you just didn't do. Steal from Mr. Gold was at the top of that list.
"Oh, yes. Well, I knew that." Ren brushed her off with a harmless smile, before eyeing a set of china cups. "I was just wondering if they stole anything of value."
"Don't know. Mr. Gold hasn't talked to me about it." Essie answered back frowning at Ren's brush off. She didn't seem her usual carefree self. "Something wrong?"
"No, I was just curious." Ren answered softly as she looked sideways at Essie. "Thanks for your help. I'll just come by sometime tomorrow." Ren continued as she turned to leave. Essie nodded silently eyeing Ren's back.
Just as Ren opened the door the phone rang loudly, making Essie jump to grab it, while Ren turned to eye her silently.
"Mr. Gold's Pawn, This is Essie speaking, how may I help you?" Essie answered frowning at Ren. What the hell was she staying for?
"Essie, call my lawyer and have them meet me tomorrow at the jail. The numbers are all in the office." Mr. Gold's voice came through angry and short making Essie jerk slightly at the sound of her boss' voice. He sounded pissed.
"The jail? What are you doing there?"
"Sheriff Swan has arrested me. Now, call my lawyer and arrange the meeting. You're to open the store tomorrow. Understand?"
"Yes, sir, but uh, what'd you get arrested for?"
"Essie, please don't be stupid. Just call the numbers, and get it arranged."
"Yeah, I got it. Anything else?"
"Could you come by and drop off my pain medicine?"
"I thought you quit?"
"I did."
"Then why do you need it?"
"I may have over exerted myself. Just bring it by with the necessary papers."
"'Kay, but uh, what should I tell your costumers?"
"What costumers? Essie it's late no one should be there. Now stop being-"
"But there is someone here." Essie interrupted noticing the way Ren was idly loitering by the door to listen in.
"Then kick them out."
"But it's your MVC." Essie argued blinking in surprise. Something was up if Mr. G wanted her to kick out Ren.
"MVC? Essie stop it with your nonsense, I only have a few minutes."
"Most Valued Costumer, Mr. G. It's You-know-who. You really want me to kick her out?" Essie hissed in the phone turning away in case she was still listening.
"Regina? Hell yes, kick her ass to the curb and don't ever-"
"Ren, you clod!" She whispered hurriedly cutting off his rant.
"What's she doing there?"
"Came looking for you. What do I tell her?"
"Tell her…Tell her I, I'm sick."
"Ok. See ya soon, boss." Essie said and then hung up the phone. Ren was now facing her completely with a smile curling her lips. Essie frowned and ducked into the office in the back. With a sigh Essie looked through the papers until she found the one labeled 'Lawyer.' It had six different numbers on it. With a sigh she came back out to find Ren still there waiting.
"Mr. Gold's sick. I got to close up early tonight, sorry." Essie explained as she fished out the old prescription bottle out from under the till. She'd stashed it there almost a year ago for bad days. It hadn't expired yet, but it would in a while. Well, it was still good. With a sigh she tossed it in her purse as she fished out her phone deciding that the stupid lawyer didn't deserve a message on his office number and went straight to home phone.
"I understand." Ren answered softly and opened the door to let Essie out as she hurriedly dialed the number and proceeded to press send. "Have a nice night, Essie." Ren called as she left. Essie frowned after her.
With a shake of her head Essie dug out the old prescription sheet for Mr. Gold and started locking up.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Enchanted Forest*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Girl danced happily around the fire, clapping her hands in time with a tune only she could hear. The trees danced with her letting their leaves fall into step with her moves. It was a scene familiar to the forest. It was the dance of joy. A dance only done when there was love blooming in the forest. The firelight danced up along her form highlighting cuts that were scattered over her face and arms. The forest seemed in a hush waiting for the end of the dance to reveal what cause this dance. Girl let out a bright laugh and spoke in her stilted speech. "Love will bloom, and she will swoon. May love and blessings, grace this." She paused to let out another bark of laughter.
Snow White's face appeared in the flames suddenly mingling with the face of Prince James before the flames begin to fade. Girl paused to catch her breath and watch the flames when a sudden large gash appeared across her cheek, making her stand up straight to look about.
No one was around, that much was for certain. At least not near her. With a frown, Girl set out from her campsite, ignoring the gnaw in her belly that demanded food, to look to see who had entered her forest. The sound of horse hooves gave her pause as she neared the road. She had learned many a new word, by crouching here near the road, but now she saw a carriage come running up the road towards her making her let out a yelp and she fell back into the ditch.
"Who goes there?" Came a yell from the road. Girl let out a pitiful whimper as she pulled herself up to crawl back out of the ditch. "State your name!" Came another yell making Girl growl slightly. Whoever they were yelling at should hurry and answer. She didn't know many names yet.
"Stop, lower your weapon." Came a soft female voice. Girl frowned and crept further up the ditch to peek at who was speaking with such a kind voice only to be greeted by a spear pointing at her face.
"What?" She whispered softly eyeing the blade warily as she stood up finally visible to the travelers on the road. A woman stood silently watching her with dark black eyes, dressed in black, Girl was reminded of the funeral processions that came through the woods sometimes, but they were rare and often had more than a handful of people with them. Silently she eyed the group curiously. "Who?" She asked louder this time.
"Who are you?" The woman asked. "Surely you know this land is mine." The woman growled her eyes narrowing angrily. Girl frowned. She didn't like this woman. Magic radiated from her. The trees rustled in warning. "You're trespassing in my forest. Now, who are you?" She ordered. Girl glared at that.
"Forest? Not yours. Forest forests." She stated matter of factly, proud of having remembered the strong words. Another cut scraped along her arm and she looked down at it with a frown. These people weren't touching the trees. It must be someone else, she thought already preparing to move on and find out who was cutting down trees.
"What are you babbling about? I am the Queen. And this is the Queens forest. Therefore it is-Where are you going?" The queen growled watching as the girl turned and started walking down the road as if bored of her.
"Someone cutting trees. I find them. Find why they cut trees." Girl explained pausing every word or so to make sure was choosing the right ones. She was fairly certain she was missing some of the words in those sentences, but as another cut mad itself known on her leg she decided it didn't really matter.
"Cutting the trees? You mean to say you know someone is cutting down trees?" The Queen asked following her as she continued.
"Yes. Cuts. Not stopping. Someone is cutting down trees." Ren said smiling with the use of a new word. Her old tutor would be proud. Idly she wondered how the man was doing and if his wife and had been particularly angry with him.
"Those cuts on your face, there from people cutting trees?"
"Yes." Girl answered stopping as she heard the sound of an axe hitting a tree nearby. With a frown she ducked down under a branch and spotted a wood cutter. "You cutting trees?" She asked loudly startling the man. She'd seen him in the woods before with children. Perhaps he had cut more than usual. The Queen followed her and smirked at the sight of the woodcutter. "Son and Daughter cut trees, too?" She asked.
"Girl! It's you! You startled me." The wood cutter called back. They had met before and once girl knew he didn't mean to cut the whole forest down she had let him be. "No, my children are gathering kindling. I'm only cutting this tree." He answered back as girl skipped down to watch him set the axe down.
"Who cutting?" She asked eyeing the fallen tree with sympathy. People needed wood to live, but it still hurt to see her friends die.
"Who else is cutting, you mean?" He asked leaning on his ax, waiting for Girl to realize her mistake. Girl nodded but didn't look back at him. She was a smart girl, she had learned lots of words over the short time that the wood cutter had known. He smiled as she climbed up onto the stump of the tree to look around.
"Well, there's a man building a home deeper in the forest." The wood cutter answered pointing southward. Girl nodded and started to set off. "Wait!" He called following after her. "Wrap your cut up!" He warned noticing the cut on her arm. Smiling girl held her arm out to him. With a sigh he removed his scarf and wrapped it loosely around the cut before sighing as she started off again. "Be careful, I hear he's a monster!" He warned not even noticing the Queen behind him.
People could be so selfish sometimes, Girl thought as she ducked around several low branches. The wood cutter was a nice man, but the man building the house certainly couldn't be. It was cruel of him to cut down so many trees just for some house he probably would only stay in for a little while. She'd have to tear down the house sometime. After all, she didn't allow houses in her forest. It was one thing if it was a village seeking refuge, as she had seen many of those come and go in her forest, but to clear land for one man? That was ridiculous. And if the number of cuts on her were anything to go by, he was trying to build a mansion.
Well, she'd see about that.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Story Brooke*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Ah, thank you, Essie." Mr. Gold smiled happily taking his medicine bottle from Essie as Ms. Swan watched.
"What are those?" Emma asked eyeing them both suspiciously . Of course, she couldn't just trust him, could she? You assault one unarmed man after abducting him and suddenly you're evil.
"Pain medication." Mr. Gold informed her as he popped the lid off. Thank god, Essie had remembered not to put the childproof lid on it, or he'd of probably wound up assaulting another person.
"Wait a second, I can't-"
"They're legit." Essie interrupted. "They're for his leg. Normally he doesn't need them, but he definitely overused his leg today, so he needs it." She explained easily.
"And I'm supposed to just trust you?" Emma asked skeptically.
"Well, yeah. But I have the papers in the car?" She offered with a shrug as she leaned against the door. With a sigh Mr. Gold stepped back to sit down on the cot. His leg barely ached, but at least the pills numbed him, helped him not think about what was stolen. What he still hadn't gotten back.
"That'd be wonderful." Emma answered following his assistant out of the room. With a sigh Mr. Gold let his head fall forward. Whoever told that bastard to steal the cup would pay. He'd kill them. He'd slaughter them all for taking that cup. Out of all the things he'd owned, why that one?
Because it was the only thing that mattered to him, that's why. And what a sad thought that was. Out of all the precious treasures he owned it was a stupid chipped cup that brought out the beast in him. It was worse than the accident. It brought up all his memories and felt his chest tighten in aching.
It was true, he'd loved Belle. Loved her with all his heart, or what was left of it. When he'd learned of her death he'd been devastated, but now, the loss of the cup…It was like losing her all over again.
"Sheriff Swan?" A soft voice called startling Mr. Gold. He sat up trying to collect himself when he saw her come around the corner. Her hair hung loose around her face, and her face was pale, strained, and concerned as she came in. It was Ren. The Girl with no Name. His confidant, and she didn't even remember him. He couldn't tell her what had happened.
When Belle had died, Girl had healed his broken heart sewing it up as Belle had sewn it before. Calmly she had been there for him, never questioning or trying to replace Belle, simply stitching up his wounds and protecting him. And he'd loved her, loved her as he had loved Belle, but he couldn't, couldn't look at her with Belle's memory still fresh in his mind. It hurt too much to see her.
"Sheriff Swan, are you here?" She called worriedly pushing her hair back from her face. The light catching on several tear tracks.
"She's stepped out, dearie." Mr. Gold rasped. With a sigh he cleared his throat, hoping his fury and depression didn't show. "She had to look at some papers my assistant had."
"Mr. Gold!" Ren jumped clearly surprised, her eyes going wide for a moment. "I didn't see you there."
"Something wrong?" He asked raising an eyebrow at her. He couldn't show how concerned he was. If the sheriff came back, she'd never let it go.
"I was looking for the Sheriff."
"Obviously." He replied drily rolling his eyes. "But what for?"
"I, that is. Well, you see, my house phone line was cut." She stated looking nervously about.
"And? Was your house broken into?" He'd kill that fat ass Mr. French if he'd set one foot on Ren's lawn.
"No, just the line was cut, and a bit of vandalism on the back wall of my house."
"What happened?"
"Someone painted the back wall." She stated her cheeks turning red.
"Why?" He asked standing up to limp closer to the bars. He'd definitely kill the vandals.
"I don't know." She mumbled looking away. "I know it's silly since nothing was damaged, but when I tried to call my line was dead and when I went outside to check the main line had been cut clean through." She mumbled looking back at him. "I was worried after what happened to you so I went to see you to see if it was similar, but Essie said you were sick."
"You thought the same person who burgled me, burgled you?" He asked. Ren nodded shyly looking down at her feet making him smile. How did she still manage to warm his heart even after all of this. "I doubt it. That person is currently in the hospital."
"Oh." She breathed out. "Well, are you feeling better?" She asked stepping up to the bars to look at him. He sighed and leaned away slightly.
"A bit. I'll be fine by morning." He answered hoping his own tear tracks were not as obvious as hers. She flinched when he pulled away but still she carefully looked him over.
"You don't look very sick, but you do look pale." She pointed out softly. "Let me check your temperature." She offered wiggling her arm through the bars to reach for his forehead, making him lean away.
"That's not-" He stopped when her other hand gripped his sleeve holding him still so she could reach him. "Necessary." He whispered as her fingertips brushed his forehead.
"Lean closer, so I can feel it." She ordered starting to stand up on her tip toes to reach him better. His heart clenched tightly as she flattened her hand against his skin, he nearly stopped breathing. He was too raw. Too soon for him to deal with this now, he could hardly stand it as she looked thoughtfully at him.
"You don't feel feverish, a bit warm, I suppose." She murmered softly as he rocked forward into her hand. Tears slowly began to form in his eyes. He couldn't stand this. He'd lost Belle forever, and now all he had was Girl and it wasn't even her. It was an empty imitation of her. He shut his eyes, praying she didn't see the tears forming.
"I'm fine, I told you." Mr. Gold whispered softly.
"You're shaking." Ren said softly her face twisting into worry.
"Ren?" Emma asked as she came back inside making Ren let go of his arm. Where she had touched went cold without her hand there. "What are you doing here?" Essie followed her in quickly looking surprised to Ren there.
"I-I needed to report someone trespassing on my land." Ren said leaning against the bars in surprise, her back brushing against Mr. Gold's fingers. He was tempted to stroke her back like he used to when she was scared in the woods, but held off.
"Oh, well, my phone is working." Emma pointed out eyeing her suspiciously.
"Mine isn't. That's the problem they cut my phone line and vandalized my back wall." She explained, turning almost completely away from Mr. Gold. "I needed to file a report so I came down here to talk with you and file one." Emma nodded silently.
"Ok, well, let's talk in the office." Emma offered leading Ren into the office with a frown towards Mr. Gold. "Have a nice night, Essie." Emma dismissed her shutting the door as she sat Ren down.
"What was that about? You two looked pretty close there, boss." Essie teased as she turned to go. "Maybe she'll kiss ya good night before she leaves. That'd be one good thing about tonight."
"Good night, Essie." Mr. Gold rasped not even bothering to look at her as he watched Ren start to speak to the sheriff. She looked so scared and startled. "And Essie? Have one of my associate's check over Ren's estate. I won't have people terrifying her back to England."
"Yeah I'll just give 'em a ring." Essie responded with a frown eyeing Mr. Gold uneasily. Whatever the robber had taken from Mr. Gold had really pissed her usually calm boss of.
Hehehehehehe Chapter 9 done. And 20 thousand some odd words. Ah, yeah sorry for the long wait. But Chapter 8 was supposed to already be up before the 13th's episode. But boy was that one a twister. So, I've decided Ren met Rumple before Belle and before his curse, but they meet again after Belle's untimely…erm, accident. Since you know and we know she's not really dead. Dang it. Messing up my plot line. Again. –sigh- I'll just work through it. I'll think of something. I'd love to have any advice and someone to bounce ideas off of. Also did I mention I'm up to like 40 some odd pages? At this rate it will be a mini novel. Maybe the writers will discover this and put Girl in. Sigh I can hope.
