An almost-completely original chapter! And a return to the flashbacks! I'm kinda proud of myself. This chapter does a lot of jumping back and forth, between present-day Storybrooke, the Enchanted Forest and Wendy's cursed memories, so I put headers on each change
"So," said Wendy, sitting in the booth across from Henry. "Spill."
He raised an eyebrow, sipping his hot chocolate. "Spill? Spill what? I'm not spilling my cocoa." He drew it into his chest protectively.
"Tell me what you found out," she elaborated, biting her lip to keep from laughing. She glanced around; Killian was standing at the counter, ordering for them. She lowered her voice. "About The Beast. Who he was?"
"Oh!" Henry lowered his cup, excitedly removing Once Upon a Time from his bag. He flipped through it, searching for the correct story. "It was the chipped cup that did it. I remembered seeing it here."
"You did? Where?"
"Mr. Gold's shop."
"Mr—" she began incredulously, before realising that she had risen her voice. "I thought he was Rumplestiltskin," she hissed.
"He is."
"He can't be both."
Henry shrugged. "He is," he repeated.
"But Belle hates Mr. Gold," said Wendy, slumping in her seat.
"That's the curse." Henry slid the book over to Wendy to take for safekeeping. "It's keeping them apart."
"But what can we do? Mr. Gold's scary."
"But Belle likes us," Henry reminded her, the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "We can work with that."
"And what about Mary Margaret and David?"
The small smile disappeared. "I don't know … I guess we could keep looking for Frederick?"
"Yeah," said Wendy, as Killian joined them.
"What are we talking about?" he asked, smiling at them both.
"Nothing," Henry replied, picking up his hot chocolate again. "Just Cobra stuff."
"I thought I was a part of Operation Cobra," he replied, pouting exaggeratedly at them.
Wendy smiled, patting his arm consolingly. "You are."
Five Years Ago. Storybrooke, Maine.
She knew that Killian meant well; that he was trying to do the best thing for her after her parents had died. But she just couldn't deal with him living in her house, occupying the space that had once belonged to the people she loved most in the world.
So she ran.
She went to the library, deciding that no one would look for her there. It was almost comforting, to lean against the shelves, breathing in the smell of the books.
That was, until she was discovered.
The woman – she must have been the librarian – was kind-faced and pretty, with her long curly brown hair and bright blue eyes. She knelt in front of Wendy.
"Hi," she murmured.
"Hi," Wendy mumbled in return.
"I'm Belle. What's your name?"
"Wendy."
"What are you doing in here, Wendy?" she asked, but her voice was not judgemental.
"I like books."
Belle's eyes lit up, as if this was a magic key to any conversation. "Really? What's your favourite book?"
"Winnie the Pooh."
"I love that book," Belle smiled. "But my favourite book is Pride and Prejudice."
"Can I read it?"
"When you're older," the woman promised. "It might be a bit too difficult for you to understand right now."
She said nothing.
"Are you hiding, Wendy?"
Timidly, she nodded. Belle cocked her head to the side. "Why?"
"My Mom and Dad are dead," Wendy whispered. "And I don't like Killian."
"Well, if it weren't for him, you'd have to go into care. Do you know what that is?"
She shook her head.
"It's where they put you in with a bunch of other kids whose parents are gone, and you wait until you find a family who wants you. See, with Killian, you don't have to wait. He's already here."
"And …" Wendy's voice was uncertain. "He wants me?"
"I'm sure he does," Belle assured her. "He came from England, didn't he?"
She nodded.
"That's an awfully long way to come," she smiled. "Why don't I take you home? I'm sure he's worried about you."
"Okay."
Killian hugged her when Belle brought her home, and gave her a necklace.
"Do you know what that is?" he asked. She shook her head. "It's fairy dust. Magic. And it will always keep you safe."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Present Day. Storybrooke, Maine.
Wendy beamed as she sat across from Belle in the latter's kitchen. She had finished Peter Pan earlier that day, and had already phoned Killian to let him know where she was. It was a Friday, so she could spend the night.
Belle placed a mug of hot cocoa and a plate of biscuits on the table , before sitting down. "Okay, tell me everything."
Wendy launched into her analysis of the book – how strange but exciting it was to share her name with the main character; her general mistrust of Peter Pan; her thoughts on the Lost Boys. Belle listened intently, adding her own thoughts and comments.
They had operated this way for years – Belle encouraging Wendy to read a new book and share her thoughts on it . She did the same with Henry, Wendy knew. Rarely did the three of them meet together, however. Henry read different books than Wendy did, and it would be pointless to discuss two different novels at the same time. She was glad that Henry wasn't with her, if she was honest. He might have said something about Mr. Gold that would make Belle suspicious.
"Can I read Pride and Prejudice?" asked Wendy, suddenly remembering a five-year-old promise.
Belle's expression was thoughtful. "How about you try Little Women, and if you like that, then you can read it."
Wendy gave a catty grin. "Scared I won't like your favourite book?"
"Terrified."
Twenty-eight years ago. The Enchanted Forest.
"Hi … you must be Belle."
"The Queen sent you, didn't she?" she asked, resigned to her fate. "She wants you to kill me."
"I'm not here to kill you, love. I'm here to rescue you."
Belle blinked at the man as he unlocked her shackles, unsure whether she should trust him or not. "Rescue me? Who are you?"
"A friend," he replied. "We haven't much time. Go down the stairs. A girl called Wendy is waiting for you there. Do as she says; she'll get you out."
"And what of you?"
He grimaced. "I have to talk with the Queen. Maintain cover. She's going to come, and when she does, I'm going to pretend to knock you out. Go along with it, okay?"
Belle nodded urgently. He raised an arm, which ended in a hook, and struck her. The pain stung, but she would pay that price for freedom. She fell back, squeezing her eyes shut.
"So pretty …" the man seemed to muse, his voice suddenly darker than it had been when he spoke to her. "Yet so useless."
"No, not useless," Regina corrected. Belle kept still, despite the involuntary shudder that the queen's voice sent through her. She had tortured her, after all. "She's a valuable chess piece."
"Do I look like I'm playing a game of chess? My hook, if you please."
"No."
"The asking was me being a gentleman."
"Is that any way to address a queen? Even a pirate should have better manners than that. Yes … I know who you are … Captain. I know why you came here from Neverland. And I know all about the crocodile you wish to skin. "
"Then you also know that I'll stop at nothing."
"So dedicated and resourceful. No one has been able to fight their way past my defences before. She can't help you kill Rumplestiltskin, Hook. But I can, if you do something for me. Care to join me for a drink?"
They left the tower. Belle waited two minutes – judging by the amount of breaths she took – before sitting up. She picked up the cloak the pirate had used to disguise himself and wrapped it around her shoulders. She crept, as silently as possible, to the foot of the stairs. Could she really trust him if he wanted to kill Rumplestiltskin? Or was that just him maintaining his cover, as he'd said he had to?
"Hey!" a whispered shout beckoned her. A girl – no older than thirteen, by Belle's estimation – emerged from the shadows. She looked the part of the pirate, too, in a frockcoat, long leather boots, and a cutlass attached to her hip.
"Are you Wendy?"
The pirate girl nodded frantically. "We need to go. Our ship is docked at the port. It's not far, on foot. Killian will meet us there."
They crept along the passageway, Wendy pointing out the booby traps that needed to be avoided.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Killian is an old enemy of Rumplestiltskin's. He murdered the woman he loved. We figured if he saved the woman Rumplestiltskin loves, he'd be in our debt."
"And he doesn't like to be in debt," Belle nodded. "Clever. But I doubt he loves me anymore. He threw me out."
"Love doesn't just die like that. Killian sought revenge for three hundred years."
Belle raised her eyebrows. That explained why he'd wanted to kill Rumple. "And he's given it up?"
Wendy shrugged. "More or less."
They reached the end of the passageway, climbing out into the forest. Belle closed her eyes against the sun, taking deep breaths of fresh air.
"I've lost track of how long I spent in that place."
Wendy smiled at her. "You're free now."
Belle hugged the girl, surprising her. She returned the embrace nonetheless.
"Sorry – I just – it's been so long. And I didn't – I couldn't let myself believe that I would actually be free. But now I am. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Come on, wait 'til you see The Jolly!"
They continued on their way, this time trekking through the forest.
"Is Killian your father?" asked Belle.
Wendy shook her head. "A common misconception. We let people believe it, though. Why else would he take care of me?"
"It's good of him to."
Wendy smiled. "Yeah, it is."
"There she is," Wendy beamed proudly at the ship, when they reached the dock. "The Jolly Roger."
Belle smiled. "She's beautiful."
Wendy helped her onto the ship, and showed her to the cabin where she would stay until she figured out what she wanted to do.
"Does she know that the Dark One is imprisoned?" asked Smee, when Wendy joined him above deck.
"No," she sighed. "I thought we'd let her get over the trauma of her own imprisonment first."
"How long 'til the captain gets back?"
"Who knows? Depending on what Regina wants him to do, hours or days."
"Stay docked, then? And when she discovers her missing prisoner?"
"Then, we fight."
"Bad news," Killian announced, as he appeared on board The Jolly. Wendy, standing at the ship's wheel, barely made a start. She turned to face him.
"Because we don't have enough of that?"
He grinned at her, pulling her into a hug. "How long was I gone?"
She frowned into his shoulder. "You don't know?"
"I was sent to Wonderland. Time moves differently there."
"Eight days."
Worry overcame the captain's face. "The queen mentioned nothing of her prisoner's escape, upon my return."
Wendy smiled wryly. "Oh, she knows. She contacted us – the mirror in your quarters. But she has decided to let it slide. Any ideas as to why?"
"That would be the bad news," Killian sighed, breathing in a lungful of sea air as though to calm himself. "The queen has plans to enact a curse that will take us all to a new land. Your land, I believe."
Wendy stared at him, her heart leaping despite herself. "I could go home?"
He looked almost sad. "It's not quite that simple. We will be stripped of our memories, and trapped in one place. You'll be no closer to your family than you are here."
"But," he added. "Regina offered us a life of … comfort. Provided I kill her mother."
"Provided you – what?"
"l didn't, if that's what you're worried about. Though I should have – however bad Regina is, Cora is worse. She may go back on her word on account of Belle. Though, if the curse is coming as soon as she Implied, Belle will be imprisoned once again soon enough. Where is our guest?"
"In her cabin. Sleeping, I expect."
"Has she learned of the crocodile's fate?"
Wendy nodded. Killian mimicked the gesture. "And?"
"She wants to see him."
"Fair enough." He suddenly smiled. "Looks like we're going to the castle."
"Your majesty," Killian bowed to the queen who had agreed to hold an audience with them. Wendy and Belle curtseyed.
"Ladies. Captain Jones," the woman inclined her head – still beautiful even in the very late stages of pregnancy. The fairest of them all, indeed."I had thought you no more than a legend."
He smiled. "I'm flattered. But here I stand, a mere man."
"Why have you sought me out?"
"The Dark One. I hear you keep him locked away. As you should. But, it appears that even the darkest of hearts can find light. Belle, here, is his true love."
Snow White stared at the woman, shock evident on her features. "Yet his curse still holds?"
Belle cast her eyes to the floor, despondent. "He couldn't accept that I loved him. He thought it was a ruse … something to do with the Evil Queen. He threw me out. The queen has held me prisoner ever since. A pawn to wield against Rumplestiltskin."
Snow smiled. "You speak his name, as well as the truth. What would you hope to accomplish in visiting him?"
"Regina had him believe that I was dead. If he can see the truth… perhaps he will turn against her. She needs his assistance to cast the curse. I know that much."
"She shared information with a prisoner?"
Belle shook her head, blue eyes – usually so soft – suddenly hard, like crystals. "She tortured me whenever something went wrong in her plans."
Silence fell over the four of them like a stifling blanket. Snow stood from her throne – a laborious effort – and wrapped her arms around Belle.
"I promise you, my Lady, that I will not rest until that evil witch has been defeated." A frown overcame her beautiful features. "In this world or the next. Come, I will take you to Rumplestiltskin."
The journey to the mines was spent in silence, until Snow broke it; asking polite questions.
"How did you meet?"
Wendy glanced at Killian, and then back to Snow White, smiling. "Neverland. He held a dagger to my throat."
The queen laughed. "And now you are as close as father and daughter. Well, I hit my husband in the face with a rock."
"An interesting meeting." Killian cocked his head to the side, grinning. "Care to elaborate?"
She told them the story of how Regina made her a fugitive; stealing from carriages to survive, and how she had met her prince.
"Oh," she said, glancing out the carriage window. "We're here."
An attendant helped her out of the carriage, with a bowed head and a respectful "your Majesty". He did the same for Wendy and Belle, both of whom smiled at him.
"Stay back, and stay out of the light," Snow ordered them, taking a torch from a bracket on the wall. "Rumplestiltskin," she called out.
"Back again, dearie?" an eerie voice replied, and green-tinted fingers grasped the bars of the cage. "Oh, but it is not you who wishes to speak with me, is it?"
Snow held her head high. "No. It's someone else. Someone you believed dead."
Belle emerged from the shadows. "Hello, Rumple."
He shrank back, his face contorting. "No! It's a trick!" he pointed a finger at Snow White. Killian reached to touch her arm. She stood back. "You tricked me!"
"It's me," said Belle, her voice quiet, taking small steps towards the cage. "Regina tricked you, not Snow White. She imprisoned me in her tower, told you I was dead."
The formidable Dark One was cowered on the floor of his prison, hands over his ears, repeating "no" over and over again.
"He's mad," Wendy whispered.
"That's not a lie, lass," Killian replied.
"Solitude would drive anyone mad," Snow explained. "Imagine what it would do to a man who can see the future."
Wendy shook her head. She could not allow herself to pity this man.
"We should leave them be," said the queen, turning back towards the entrance of the mines. With one last look behind her, Wendy followed, Killian after her.
"He must have mourned her," said Killian, his voice thoughtful. He shrugged. "Seems like monsters can love after all."
"Killian?" Belle called, after several long moments of silence. "Wendy?"
With a worried glance at each other, they returned. Rumplestiltskin looked in a better state. He stood at the edge of his prison, one hand linked in Belle's through the bars.
"It appears," he said, as if it physically pained him to speak the words. "That I owe a debt of gratitude to both of you." His eyes still held intense dislike toward Killian. "That is, if you've given up your pursuit of revenge?"
"Aye," said Killian, though it looked like it took a huge effort to say. "Doesn't mean that I trust you, Dark One."
Rumplestiltskin gave an eerie giggle. "I don't expect you to trust me, dearie. I expect you to honour a deal. I will owe a favour to both of you. Just the one. You don't get one each. "
"What's the point in you promising us a favour if we're going to end up cursed in a matter of weeks?" asked Wendy, one eyebrow raised. "Unless you can stop Regina from casting it."
He tapped his forehead with his free hand. He could see the future, Snow had said. "Regina will cast the curse. I can't stop her. But there will be a Saviour, who will break it."
"Emma."
They turned to see Snow standing behind them, a hand on her swollen abdomen. "My daughter, Emma. She'll be the Saviour."
Rumplestiltskin nodded. "And when the curse is broken, you can ask me for a favour. Choose wisely." He giggled.
"Deal," said Wendy. She glanced at Killian, and he nodded tersely.
"That concludes our business here," he said. "Take as much time as you need, Belle. We'll wait for you."
"Thank you, Killian. For everything."
"You're welcome, my Lady."
Five years ago. Storybrooke, Maine.
"Can I have a book?"
Belle blinked, before a grin spread across her face. "Wendy! Of course you can. Why don't we have a look through them?"
Wendy nodded, glad that the librarian hadn't questioned her presence. "Does Killian know you're here?" Granny had asked, when she'd tried the diner. They walked through the shelves, Belle pulling down books as they walked, telling Wendy about them. Eventually, she decided on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
"It's a magnificent book," Belle smiled. "I hope you'll like it."
"I'll tell you about it when I bring it back," the girl promised, hugging the book close to her chest.
"Okay. See you then."
"Goodbye."
Present Day. Storybrooke, Maine.
"Hey," said Killian, smiling when Wendy launched herself into his arms. "Did you have a good time?"
She nodded. "I've decided which book I'm going to read next."
"Oh?" he raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"
"Great Expectations."
"And what are your expectations of it?" he asked, taking her bag from her. She rolled her eyes.
"Thanks for having her," Killian added, with a nod and a smile to Belle. She waved the spatula she was using to make eggs.
"It's my pleasure. There aren't many book lovers in Storybrooke."
"True," said Killian. He shared a conspiratory glance with Wendy. "But one day you'll take over the town with all that knowledge."
Belle laughed. "Maybe. If you and Emma don't arrest us. "
"With Henry and Wendy at the fore? Not likely."
"Will you stay for breakfast?" asked the librarian, pausing her hand before she made them food they didn't want.
"Why not?" Wendy shrugged. Killian set her bag down by the door.
"How's your dad doing?" asked Killian, as he and Wendy sat down.
"Okay. He was a little shaken up, but he has his van back. How's it going at the Sheriff's station?"
Killian nodded. "Well. It's a better job; better pay."
"And you like it," Wendy added. "You smile more."
"Well, selling fish is hardly the most glamorous of careers," Belle gave an impish grin.
"Says someone who ate the fish."
"I still do," she folded her arms. "Aiden relies on my custom, now you've up and left him."
Killian's face fell. "He doesn't think that, does he?"
"No," she replied, softly, but firmly. "He was the one who had to work with you, after all. He noticed that you were miserable."
"I wasn't miserable."
"Yes you were," said Wendy, at the same time as Belle said, "Fine. Unhappy, then."
"Why did Graham never make you Deputy?" Wendy frowned, after Killian had finally conceded to the fact that he hadn't exactly loved his job.
Killian stared guiltily at his eggs. "He asked. I said no."
Wendy paused, fork suspended in the air. "Why?"
"I'd just moved here. You needed me, and if I'd worked longer hours, I wouldn't have been around as much."
The anger and confusion melted from her face. She leaned over to kiss his cheek. She picked up her fork again, and shot a grin at her adoptive father. "I don't need you now, is that it?"
"Less than you did then. Plus, I know you had something to do with Emma asking me. "
"Come back with proof," Wendy muttered, focusing on her eggs.
Belle laughed.
"Belle?" Wendy called out, wandering the shelves as she searched for the librarian. She'd finished Great Expectations, and wanted to return it, and possibly cajole Belle into allowing her to read Pride and Prejudice. Or at least Little Women.
"Up here!" Belle called, from the top of a ladder. She looked down. "Finished already?"
Wendy smiled up at her. "Yup! Can I read Pride and Prejudice now?"
Belle laughed softly. "Sure. I'll give you my copy. There's some good annotations, if I may say so myself."
Wendy laughed too, placing a hand on the ladder so that Belle could descend safely.
"One second," the librarian promised, rushing off to the desk to find the book. She glanced up at the sound of a cane against the floor.
"Mr. Gold," she greeted stiffly, hugging the book to her chest like a shield. The last time she'd seen him, he'd been in her father's house. "I suppose you're here for the rent?"
The corners of his mouth twitched upward as he took in his surroundings. "I do enjoy books, you know." He took a step closer, his cane clacking loudly on the floor. Belle tightened her grip on the hardcover copy of Pride and Prejudice. "But yes, I'm here for the rent."
She nodded, turning her back on him as she walked to the safe, her heels making more noise than his cane had. The sound echoed through the empty library.
"There's fifty dollars short." Belle extend ed a hand. He took the money. "You'll have it next week."
"No need," Mr. Gold smiled, his golden tooth glinting. It made Belle uneasy, but she merely raised her eyebrows. "Consider it an apology."
His brown eyes seemed sincere. She blinked.
"Apology accepted."
"Well," said Wendy, as she emerged from the shelves after Gold had left, one eyebrow raised. "That was interesting."
It took Belle, with her eyes still on the door, a moment to reply.
"Yeah … interesting."
I like the Killian/Belle friendship. I was happy to see it on the show, and that Killian was apparently the best way to trick Belle. I hope to see more next season. They can bond over being the true loves of the Dark Ones. I hope that it was plausible that he would free Belle.