A/N: I am so sorry you guys for the wait you have had to go through! I've been struggling with writers block, along with school taking up most of my time this semester. My days this semester are extremely long now, so I probably won't be posting as frequently as I was but I will do my best to upload at least once a week. Again, I am so sorry for the hiatus, I had no intention of it going on for this long.

Chapter 14: Making Friends

After cleaning herself and her apartment up from the previous night and morning's events, Danny sat beside her window, clueless as to what to do next. She couldn't face her sister yet, that conversation would be too difficult. Remembering her deal with Emma, she debated going to see Dr. Hopper, but found that she couldn't bring herself to muster up the courage. Danny had never been one to talk about her problems, the only one who knew about her past was Emma and that was because they were each other's lifeline. Danny looked out her window across the street to the old boarded up library, only now, she noticed it was no longer boarded up.

Deciding to go investigate, and hopefully find a book to take her mind off of her current problems, Danny grabbed her keys, and dashed out of the apartment, leaving her cell phone behind.

Arriving quickly due to her excitement, Danny pushed the door to the Library open hesitantly, "Hello?" She called out softly to the seemingly empty building.

Entering slowly, Danny looked around contented when she sees the books lining the shelves all throughout the room. At that moment, a woman popped out from behind one of the shelves, startling Danny at her abrupt appearance.

At hearing Danny's gasp of surprise, the woman's face quickly becomes apologetic, "I'm so sorry to have startled you!" She says contritely, an apologetic smile gracing her face. "I heard you come in, Danny Swan isn't it?" She paused for confirmation. "I'm sorry, Danny, but I'm afraid the library isn't open yet."

Danny's face fell at the news, but she lingered in the building, staring longingly at the novels. An idea came to mind as she looked at the stacks of books piled up on a desk in the corner. "Is there anything I can do?" She asked hopefully, needing a distraction. "Maybe I could help you catalog the books or something? I won't be any trouble, I swear."

The woman that Danny now recognized as Belle, hesitated for a moment before nodding lightly. She had noticed the longing look that Danny had given the books, and recognized a fellow book lover. "I think that would be lovely," she said sincerely, smiling widely at Danny. "Just grab a stack of books from that bookshelf over there and enter the IBSN number into one of the computers."

Danny nodded graciously and offered a hesitant smile back.

While they worked, Belle started up a conversation in order to pass the time faster. "I'm afraid I haven't had much of a chance to get to know you or your sister yet, but I really would like to," Belle said eagerly.

Danny gazed passively at the cheerful woman for a moment before responding, "Yeah, well even if you had the time, it isn't likely you would have seen me very much," she said frankly. She was going to stop there, but the curious look Belle had sent back caused her to continue, "I tend to keep to myself... Out of habit." She trailed off, not knowing what else to say.

Belle nodded sympathetically and returned to her books. Normally, Danny would have returned to the silence, bearing it well and even relishing in it, but Danny had suddenly found the urge to want to talk to someone. Someone other than her sister, that she could talk to that wouldn't judge her or pity her. The warmth and kindness that radiated from Belle made Danny feel completely at ease with the new librarian.

There was a slight pause while Danny considered what to say next, "What made you decide to reopen the library?" she asked, something she'd been wondering since she saw the library was no longer boarded up.

Belle's face lit up at the topic, "Oh I've always loved books," she said reverently, "ever since I was a kid I would go to the library we had in our castle and read for hours at a time. Rumple knew that," she said lovingly, "and he wanted to make me happy, so he offered me the keys and the library for me to take care of."

Danny smiled at Belle's obvious love for the man, ignoring the sharp pain in her chest that suddenly flared to life. "I'm glad you two were able to find each other," she said honestly to the woman. "If anyone could make Mr. Gold a better man, I can bet it'd be you." Danny finished with an involuntary yawn, her sleepless night catching up to her.

"Long night?" Belle asked, an amused smile on her face.

"You have no idea," Danny said softly. Belle's caring nature and the carefree atmosphere in the room caused Danny to elaborate, "I have these nightmares. I've had them for years, you'd think I'd be used to them by now, but they still manage to get to me." Danny offered a weak smile at the woman sitting across from her before her eyes widened in realization at what she'd just said. "Oh my god, I'm sorry-" she started quickly, mortified at what she'd revealed, before Belle smiled reassuringly.

"Danny, its alright," Belle said cutting her off mid-rant. "I understand we haven't known each other very long, but it seems to me that you could use a friend right now. You can talk to me," she encouraged, reaching over and rubbing Danny's arm softly in a comforting gesture.

Danny's face smoothed into relief at the woman's words, "I don't know what it is about you, but I feel like I can trust you," she laughed skeptically at her own words. "That doesn't happen to me a lot," Danny paused for a moment, trying to put her words together, deciding how to begin.

"They started when I was seventeen, nightmares, memories, whatever you want to call them. Bad memories, sometimes even the good memories; it doesn't matter because the moment I wake up, everything else follows. I get this barrage of images that remind me of the things I've lost in this world. I've never had anything constant in my life, except for Emma of course. The longest I stayed in one place was a little over two years, but that was a long time ago," Danny trailed off at that, thinking back to that point in her life. Thinking back, Danny realized just how long it had been since she had talked to anyone other than Emma about her personal life. She smiled softly when she realized that talking to Belle made her feel marginally better, like some of the tension on her shoulders had been lifted.

Belle grabbed Danny's hand, squeezing lightly sending her a reassuring smile. "I don't know what kind of horrors you've been through in your life, Danny, but if you ever need to talk about it, you can come to me. I swear I will never tell a soul."

Danny looked into Belle's eyes searchingly before nodding. "I know… Somehow, I know that," She said assuredly. "It's just so hard for me. The only person who knows is Emma, and even then it took me months before I told her what happened. I just need some time is all."

Belle nodded at that statement, silently letting the issue go. Getting up to stretch, Belle looked around and noticed that the clock said 5:30 already. "Goodness," Belle said surprised, "Has it already been 9 hours? We should wrap it up for the day."

Danny had looked up in surprise, suddenly realizing that she had left her phone in her apartment. Cursing quietly, Danny agreed with Belle's statement, "Despite the seriousness of the last few minutes of our conversation, I had fun today, Belle. Would you mind if I came back tomorrow maybe?"

Belle smiled widely at Danny's words eager to make a new friend. "Of course you can! I quite enjoyed the company today," she said happily.

Danny thanked her before rushing off to her apartment to check her phone, knowing that there would be messages from her persistent sister. Turning it on, the message quickly appeared notifying her that she had 12 missed calls from her sister, 2 from Mary Margaret and one from David, her father. Sighing in frustration, she went to throw her phone to the side deciding she would eat before returning any calls, but before she could her phone vibrated, Emma's name flashing across the screen.

Danny let out a quick breath before hitting accept and putting the phone up to her ear.

"Thank god!" was the first thing that came out of the speaker. "I was about to go to your apartment and knock the door down! Where have you been?" Her sister's voice was worried and demanding.

Danny grimaced, while making her way to the fridge, "Sorry, Em. I went to the library after noticing it was open, I guess I must've forgot my phone."

"I swear you would forget your head, if it wasn't attached," Emma chastised before continuing. "I was calling to see if you wanted dinner? I could pick something up from Gran's and come by if you did."

"Sure thing," Danny said, not wanting to leave the comfort of her apartment, as she realized that she had nothing but moldy bread and alcohol. Wincing slightly at the smell, Danny quickly tipped her garbage can open and threw the bread out. "Could you get me a bacon cheeseburger? I'm just dying for something that isn't rodent." She paused before adding, "No pun intended."

Emma chuckled drily, "I know what you mean. Thank god we don't have to eat anymore of that. I'll be by in about 15 minutes, leave the door unlocked will you?"

Danny agreed before hanging up. Stripping her clothes off, she hurried to take a quick shower in order to pass the time before Emma arrived with the food.

"Knock, Knock," She hears Emma call from the kitchen as Danny towel dries her hair.

Walking out to greet her, Danny inhaled the smell of her cheeseburger and fries that are awaiting her. "Oh my god, Em. You are a life saver!" Danny called as she bounds over to the food. Emma chuckled quietly, already sitting at the couch with a salad in her lap.

Plopping down on the couch, Danny quickly opens the to go bag and starts to devour the food, like a starved man. Emma laughs loudly at the picture, "Slow down there girl, or you'll end up throwing up in about 10 minutes."

Danny paused, smiling up at her sister sheepishly. "Sorry, I kind of haven't eaten since we've gotten back, I've been preoccupied."

Emma smiled softly at her sister, rubbing her back soothingly, "It'll get better, Danny, I swear. I will do everything I can to help out."

"It's okay actually, Em. I think I've found something that might help." Danny said confidently. At Emma's questioning look, Danny elaborated, "I told you I went to the library today. I met Belle there, you know, Rumplestiltskin's Belle. She's a really great person, I think…" Danny trailed off, not wanting to get Emma's hopes up. "I think being around her, and the books, I think it'll be good for me."

Emma looked at Danny in slight disbelief, thinking this was too good to be true, but seeing the sincere look on her sister's face, she conceded, "Alright," she said letting it go and changing the subject. "Ugh, you'll never guess what Henry and I walked in on this morning!" Emma exclaimed with a disgusted look on her face.

Danny laughed at Emma's face, "Lemme guess, you saw Mary Margaret and David's reunion!"

Emma shuddered at the all too fresh memory that was still burned into her brain. "Yes, it was traumatizing for me and Henry… But mostly just me." Emma paused with a laugh before becoming slightly more serious. "He's been asking about you. They all have. I know you said you think you'll be okay, but maybe you should try spending more time with Henry... David too. Don't shut us out again, Danny."

Danny looked at the floor guiltily. "I won't. I promise. I was actually thinking that maybe you, Henry and I could go out to breakfast tomorrow. Then afterward I was going to go see David, because I know how much he worries."

Emma nodded encouragingly at Danny's words, her eyes lighting up at the mention of breakfast, "Breakfast sounds great, Danny! I'll tell Henry tonight, when I get back."

Their conversation paused for a bit, allowing the two women to finish their food in silence. Emma stayed quiet, trying to think of a way to broach the topic of Hook with her sister. Danny could easily get defensive, if Emma wasn't careful with her words.

Emma looked up as Danny moved to look in her liquor cabinet, "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Emma called across the room.

Danny scoffed while grabbing two cups and a bottle of scotch. "Jesus, Em, its just one drink. Lighten up a bit."

Emma rolled her eyes at her sister, but accepted the drink that Danny had poured for her, sipping it slowly. Broaching the touchy subject, Emma started with, "So you kind of disappeared last night… What was that about?"

Danny's hand paused, her glass raised halfway to her lips, before she slowly lowered it, considering how to respond to her sister. She knew where this conversation was heading. "You of all people should know that I don't really like crowds. I just wanted to be alone. It's been a really long couple of weeks, Emma."

Emma nodded, "I know, I just thought that maybe their was something more to it…" Emma trailed of hoping she would take the bait.

Danny glared at the blonde, "What do you want me to say Emma?"

"I just want to know what happened? I saw how you interacted with Hook-"

Danny snarled at the sound of his nickname, "Don't talk about him."

"I'm sorry," Emma stuttered, taken aback at the ferocity in her words. She had only ever heard her sister this angry when Emma herself was in danger.

Seeing the surprise on her sister's face, Danny suddenly deflated, sighing before asking again, "What do you want me to say?" She paused slightly looking away from her sister. "I came back here. I was just so angry about everything that happened. I worked myself ragged on my punching bag and then I got roaring drunk." Danny took a large swallow of her drink, numb to the burn it provided going down. "I'm not sure what it was about him… Despite his questionable loyalties at first, he made me feel safe. I was comfortable around him, I thought we could trust him. You know how hard that is for me," she sighed softly, before looking up at Emma and asking the question that had been bugging her for a while now. "Why did he betray us? What happened while Aurora and I were captive?"

Emma winced at the question, remorse written on her face, "Danny, I am so sorry. I want you to know that, I truly am. But when Mulan told us that you had been captured, I saw red. I needed someone to blame because I should have been with you, I should have protected you. So I blamed him, Mary Margaret did to, and we… we knocked him out. We thought he had somehow told Cora where we were, so we left him."

Danny stood up abruptly, pacing quickly around her living room as she processed the information. She was not surprised at her sister's brash decision, but she was disappointed. Disappointed that despite her practically constant defensive of his character, Emma still hadn't wanted to believe her.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Danny blew a quick breath out of her nose before nodding curtly. "I understand," she grit out, "but I don't agree with what you did, Emma."

Emma nodded, standing up and grabbing her things. "I know Danny. I fucked up, and I wish I could back and change it, but I can't. I'll leave you alone now, give you some time to think. Just don't take it out on Henry, please. Come to breakfast, Henry misses his Aunt," Emma pleaded.

Danny nodded dismissively, hearing the door shut behind Emma as she left. Grabbing her drink, Danny walked over and poured herself another. She could tell that it was going to be another long night.