See you again

"What?"

Mr Gold was sitting on the couch again, and Belle was pacing up and down the room.

"I told you it wouldn't be easy."

"Not easy? You're asking me to believe in magic, Mr Gold, magic!" Belle was upset.

"So back to Mr Gold, isn't it?"

"What did you expect? That I would take it seriously? That I would what... believe? Please, I'm the one who's amnesiac but I'm the saner person in this room. How could just..."

Lost in her anger, Belle had not paid attention to his fist opening out and forming a ball of fire at the center of his palm. When she saw it, Belle was left voiceless.

"How... How did you do that?"

"As easily as that" he said, moving his hand towards a scrap paper and setting fire to it. Belle watched the flame devour the page and dying in a thin ray of smoke.

"What did you just do?"

"I made you believe."

"So... You weren't kidding... when you talked about magic... It does exist..." Fear had replaced anger in her voice.

"Yeah... It is as real as you and me..."

"Why did you hid it from me?"

"It was only to protect you. Magic... it sounds wonderful, allowing people to do whatever they want. But in fact, it always comes with a higher price than we expected."

"That's why your son left you. He was afraid." she asked, and he nodded.

"I'll go find the others. I guess Tamara is still somewhere and they'll help me find her."

"Can't I go with you?"

"I suppose you must be quite upset... I will understand if you prefer leaving me."

"No. I... am upset, for sure. And all of this, magic and all... it's still hard to swallow but, I guess if it was part of the previous Belle's life, I can get used to it too."

"You've always been so brave..."

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

They found the Charmings in the docks, and Belle tried not to laugh when she imagined him riding a horse with a shining armor. But everyone looked concerned. Emma was the first to talk.

"Gold. They've taken Henry. Tamara and Greg. They stole Regina's bean and used it."

"What?"

"They're gone. We don't know where, but we'll go after them." Charming explained.

"And can I know how you intend on crossing realms?"

"Thanks to me!" Hook exclaimed from his ship.

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's got a bean too." Emma explained. "He'll lead us wherever they went."

"Then I go with you." Mr Gold replied.

"What?"

Everyone turned to Belle and she perceived she'd spoken louder than she wanted. Mr Gold turned to face them, and everyone understood he wanted to talk to Belle in private. He waited for everyone to get on the boat before turning back to her.

"Belle I... I have to go...You have to stay here."

"Why... I... I want to help!" she exclaimed, but soon realized how ridiculous her request was. She didn't remember who she was and barely believed in magic. How could she have helped?

"Belle, you need to stay... There's something I haven't told you. There's a prophecy saying that the boy who'd help me find my son will be my undoing. This boy, it's Henry."

"What does that mean?" she asked, but she had understood. He wasn't coming back.

"I've failed my son all his life. But now, I finally have the chance to make amends. That's why I'm decided to save Henry's life, and give mine in exchange."

Belle wanted to cry. She raised her hand, and put away the few hair falling into his eye,like she did, the first night she stayed at his home.

"But I need you..."

"No, Belle, you don' 're brave, you're strong. You don't need anyone, especially not me..."

Charming suddenly appeared from the ship.

"Gold, we have to go."

"Okay..." he replied, his voice trembling.

"So, we have to say goodbye?"

"I guess so..."

"Look... I know that I'm totally ignorant about magic, but I think... no, I fell, that it isn't over. I will see you again."

Lead by her sadness, her despair, but also all the love she had for the man standing in front of her, she brought a hand at the back of his head and brought him down for a kiss. It was nothing like the soft and chaste kisses they had first shared, but when Belle deepened it and could taste her own tears on their lips, she felt a violent spasm ran through her body. Images like flashes came back to her mind, this foreign room with its long table, its chairs, its covered mirror and its set of tea, this chipped cup, and those eyes that had haunted her nights for so long. She broke the kiss, out of breath.

"What's... what's happening to me?"she asked, panicked, but she felt Mr Gold smile, taking her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him.

"Kiss me again, it's working..."

"What's working?"

"True Love's Kiss" he whispered, before his lips captured hers with a new hope. And this time, Belle didn't fight the pictures. She let herself get invaded, by this foreign room with its long table, its chairs, its covered mirror and its set of tea, this chipped cup, by the eyes. There was the loneliness of the dark cold room too, and the emptiness of the asylum, but contrary to her nightmares, the story wasn't over. This time, there was a kiss in front of a well, lost in a forest, there were laughters around iced teas and hamburgers, there were moments of happiness that had been shattered one night in front of the town line.

It's him who broke the kiss, and looked at her with the fear of having been to bold, but she reassured him with a smile.

"Rumple..."

"Belle?"

"Yes..."

"You're... back?"

"Yes! Yes, I'm back!" she said, and they fell into each other's arms, Rumple clenching on her as if she was going to disappear once again. Suddenly, Belle took a step back to look at him. Her eyes were reddened by tears.

"Rumple, please, don't go..."

"You know I have to... I have to save Henry."

"But what about me? Please, Rumple, I can't lose you when I've just found you..."

"And you won't, Belle, I promise. Whatever fate awaits me where they took him, I'll always be here, by your side, as long as you keep me in even the most secret place in your heart."

"I love you..."

"And I love you too. It's forever, remember?"

The boat had disappeared in the cyclone the magical bean had created. Before he left, he'd given her a tiny piece of paper containing a spell to protect the town. She had successfully casted it with the help of the Blue Fairy, Archie and the dwarves. And now she waited. She didn't know for how long she'd have to, but she didn't care. So, every day, she'd go to the docks, contemplate the sky from where one day, she knew the Jolly Roger would appear, and whisper to the wind.

"You'll find Henry. And when you do, I'll be here, waiting for you when you get back."