CHAPTER THIRTEEN: CLOCKS
They sat in Mr. Gold's couch. Graham and Rosalie were giving each other questioning looks - both equally confused on what was happening. Mr. Gold had never been opposed to them going out to dinner before and he certainly had never been so rude in front of her. What had made him behave this way?
After several minutes in silence, Rosalie finally decided to engage Mr. Gold. She placed her hand on his arm and when he turned towards her, she could see the undisguised rage on his face. His hands were clenched so tightly around his cane that his entire arm was trembling. What's wrong?
She saw his jaw bone twitch before he finally replied. "Nothing."
Rosalie huffed and stomped her foot. I'm not accepting that, anymore! I'm tired of all these secrets! Whatever happened today must've involved me or else you wouldn't have been so rash with taking me home.
"Regina is getting desperate." He sighed and slowly relaxed. "She managed to convince a chef to poison your food."
"Poison?" Graham was shocked that the mayor would resort to something that could be so easily linked to her. Not only that, in this day and age, most poisons could be easily pumped out of the body with quick response from the hospital. Did she intend to kill Rosalie or just scare them?
"The poison came from the Enchanted Forest," Mr. Gold explained. "There is no cure here. She must've brought back some of her possessions when she cast the curse."
The mausoleum! Rosalie remembered that the vault of hearts wasn't the only thing in the basement. There was a short hallway that led to another tomb and shelves with tiny bottles.
"Yes." Mr. Gold nodded before a smile slowly spread across his face. "We could raid her supplies, but I have a feeling that the curse will be lifted, soon. Until then, I expect you to take meals in my presence."
From the corner of her eyes, Rosalie saw Graham's shoulders slump with disappointment. She smiled at him and patted his leg. He was going to survive.
Why do you think Regina wants me dead?
"Mainly to get back at me," Mr. Gold replied. "She should've been more specific with her request."
Rosalie tilted her head. Request? Why would you do something for her?
"Say it was part of the deal for helping them drop the battery charges."
She pursed her lips. What did you do? And tell me the truth, this time!
He smiled at her. "I kidnapped Kathryn Nolan."
Rosalie's hands flew to her mouth as she let out a silent gasp. He was the one who led her to being arrested? Why?! Kathryn was my friend! I was arrested because you kidnapped her!"
"I never break my promises, dearie." She could see the darkness in his eyes. "She wanted something tragic to happen to Mrs. Nolan. We actually mused over her intentions at the pawn shop, today. She wanted Mrs. Nolan dead, but you know how it is. Intent is meaningless."
So what's going to happen, now? It must be clear to everyone that Mary Margaret and I were set up. Are they going to reveal that it's her?
He smirked. "Of course."
...
After yesterday's ordeals, Rosalie was feeling lazy, again. She wondered if she had been a cat in her past life. If she could, she wouldn't mind just staying in bed all day and do nothing. Well, maybe have a nice book in hand and a plate of chocolate chip cookies.
Alas, she managed to drag herself down to the shop. Mr. Gold was standing in front of the door with a thoughtful look on his face. "We're going on a stroll, today."
She frowned. Why?
"Come."
Obediently, she walked with him down the street and into the forest. Why were they here? She kept pondering what he possibly had planned when she spotted August. She was about to run to the man, but Mr. Gold stopped her. "Stay here. Don't let him see you, yet."
After a short moment, she nodded her head.
Mr. Gold approached August and managed to startle the brunet. "I know who you are and I know what you're looking for."
Rosalie crept closer, trying to hear what they were saying.
"Well, then... I guess all the lying can stop... Papa."
Rosalie gasped. How could that be? Was Baelfire Pinocchio?!
"You were right, Bae. You were always right. I was a coward and I never should've let you go. I know it's little consolation, but... I just want you to know that ever since you left, ever since you crossed the barriers of time and space, in every waking moment... I've been looking for you. And now that I've finally found you, I know I can't make up for the past - for the lost time. All I can do is to ask you to do what you've always done and that's to be the bigger man... And forgive me. I'm so sorry, son. I'm so sorry, Bae." The sadness and desperation in his voice and face was brutally evident. Mr. Gold was a strong, stoic man and to see him like this broke Rosalie's heart.
August smiled and embraced him into a hug, which Mr. Gold happily returned.
"Oh, my boy. My beautiful boy. Can you truly, truly forgive me?"
"I forgive you, Papa." Rosalie smiled at August's reply, but something began to nag at her.
"You were looking for the knife."
"I thought that if you still had it, it would mean that you hadn't changed." Alarm bells were beginning to ring in her head. How did Mr. Gold know that this was Baelfire?
She contemplated whether to reveal herself or not, but perhaps Mr. Gold had something planned. She didn't want to ruin it, yet.
"Well, let's go and find it and see." They went into a nearby cabin, which Rosalie assumed was Mr. Gold's, since he probably owned everything in Storybrooke, and they came back with a shovel
They began to walk through the forest until Mr. Gold stopped them. Taking the cue that that was where the dagger was hidden, August began to dig.
"I buried it here shortly after Emma came to town. Things were changing. Didn't want to take the change of Regina finding it," Mr. Gold explained.
"Of course."
"I should be right about here, son. Look. Look." Mr. Gold bent down and picked up an object wrapped in a tan-coloured cloth. He unravelled it and extended the blade to August.
Mr. Gold smiled at him. "I want you to take it. Destroy it - the way I know you always wanted to. I found you and I don't need it anymore. I choose it once. Now, I choose you."
Rosalie rubbed her head, trying to find out why her gut seemed to be twisting around. Baelfire was Pinocchio. Baelfire was Pinocchio. She paused. How could Baelfire be Pinocchio? Pinocchio was initially a puppet and was turned into a boy by the blue fairy, but Milah gave birth to Baelfire. That would mean...
"That's remarkable," August said, rotating the dagger in his hand in wonder.
She jumped out from behind the tree and raced towards the men.
"By the power of the darkness, I comman - Oof!" August fell as the blonde launched herself to his side and making him lose his balance. He barely escaped stabbing himself with the blade.
"Rosalie, what are you doing?"
The girl pointed at August and shook her head, trying to tell him that this man wasn't his son.
August growled and pushed the girl aside. She winced as the fallen branches scratched her bare skin. This wasn't the man who had listened to her that afternoon. This man had a hidden agenda.
"I command thee, Dark One!" August raised the dagger and tried again.
"You're not my son." Mr. Gold had a devastated look on his face. "You're not Baelfire."
"Papa, why would you say that? I'm just trying to use your power to help us," August tried to convince him otherwise, but it was too late. The ruse was up.
"Enough! It's over, Booth, or whoever you are. My son would never try to use me and he would know that this knife cannot harness any magic in this world because there is no magic in this world. That's why he chose this place." Mr. Gold looked heartbroken. "He didn't want me..." He quickly snapped out of his reverie and snatched the dagger away from August.
Rosalie stood up and brushed herself off. She quickly made her way over to Mr. Gold. If anything happened, hopefully the two of them would be able to take on August. At least with the dagger back in their possession, they seemed to have the upper hand.
"How do you know about this knife?" Mr. Gold asked. His hand was fiddling with the dagger before he pointed it at August. He stalked over to the man until his prey was backed against a wide tree trunk.
Mr. Gold snarled at him with the knife at the man's neck.
Rosalie bit her lips and hoped that he wasn't going to kill him. The August that she came to know was a kind man and she believed that it was still in him. There had to be a reason why he wanted the dagger.
"A little fairy told me," August uttered out.
"Why did you want it? If you know who I am, then you know who I am. The chances of you surviving this little encounter are pretty slim, so why take the risk?" Hearing this, Rosalie was immediately by Mr. Gold's side with a hand on his shoulder. He didn't respond to her touch.
August swallowed hard. "Because I'll die, anyway." Rosalie's eyes widened and she tried to move Mr. Gold's hand down. "I'm sick. I'm sick and I need magic. I was going to get the saviour to believe, but that woman... I don't think I'm going to make it long enough to see that happen."
So her initial assumption was correct. He really was going to turn back into a puppet and when he does... Would he die? Would he become inanimate, once again?
Mr. Gold finally removed the dagger from August's throat and passed it over to Rosalie who deftly took it. Was he really trusting her with this?
"She trusts you - it might be enough. Try again." Mr. Gold took a step back and August gave him a shocked look.
"You're going to let me live?"
Mr. Gold scoffed. "You're going to die either way. This way, at least I might get something out of it." As he began to walk away, Rosalie gave August a sad look
She truly sympathised with him, but the way he had approached it was wrong. If what he told me about the story is true, then the only way to cure the illness was to be brace, truthful, and unselfish. She quickly scrawled the words on to her notepad and gave him the piece of paper. With a smile, she ran after Mr. Gold.
Should we hide this, again? Rosalie stopped Mr. Gold with her notepad. She held out the dagger to him.
He took the dagger and hid it in his suit.
Rosalie continued to follow him, wondering where he was going to store it.
They walked until they arrived at the Storybrooke Library where the broken town clock stood. He took out the old skeleton key that resembled the one that she had found in her cell.
When the door opened, she looked at all the shelves in wonder. How many books must be in here - dusty and abandoned. If Mr. Gold owned this building, perhaps she could work here instead and restore it. She'd never complain about her work, she'd just read all day.
Mr. Gold continued to walk without her and she quickly tried to catch up. They entered into an old elevator and ascended to the top floor.
The musty smell was making her nose itchy and she couldn't help but sneeze. Where was he going to store it? The floor was empty.
He stopped in front of the clock. It was odd seeing it from the other side. Mr. Gold somehow managed to slip the dagger into the long hand of the clock. It clicked into place and with a few wiggles, he was satisfied.
Before they left the library, Rosalie decided to ask him. Do you think we can reopen the library? I'd love to work here.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Perhaps it'd be at your best interest to stay in the pawn shop, for now."
She frowned at him and pouted. What was wrong with working in the library?
...
The next day, Rosalie grudgingly sat in the pawn shop. She didn't particularly feel like working, or whatever she usually did, to show him that she was unhappy with his decision.
"You're behaving like a petulant child," he had told her, but she ignored him.
At the moment, he was discussing about a clock with Marco. She didn't quite understand the mechanics of it, so she opted to playing around with the spyglass, again.
As noon arrived, she was about to take her lunch break, but August arrived with an anxious look on her face. She recalled that he had called in the morning and spoke to Mr. Gold about something. What was he up to?
"Ah, Mr. Booth. I'll be with you in a moment," Mr. Gold told him. She was surprised at how indifferent he was. Just the day before, August had attempted to control him with the dagger. Even she would be less than happy about it, no matter the circumstance. "On second thought, tell me - as one admirer or antiquities to another, do you think it's worth my while having this clock repaired?"
Instead of replying to Mr. Gold, August couldn't seem to stop staring at Marco. Rosalie tilted her head and curiously watched him.
"I'll take your silence as a yes, then," Mr. Gold stated.
"You know, I'm very busy, right now and uh... I'm just a one-man shop, but uh... I'll get to the clock as fast as I can," Marco nervously told Mr. Gold. He wasn't sure why the man had called him, but he wasn't particularly eager to be in the pawn shop.
"I wouldn't ask for anything more," Mr. Gold replied with a smile.
With that, Marco quickly picked up the clock and turned around to leave. As he did, he greeted August. "Good day."
With the same dumbfound look on his face, August stuttered back, "H-how are you?" Unfortunately, Marco had already walked out the shop.
"First time seeing dear old dad since you arrived at Storybrooke?" Mr. Gold jeered, taking a jab at what had occurred the day before.
Rosalie finally understood why August looked so nervous. Marco was Geppetto - his maker and father! It must've been hard to finally see him again and having the man not really his own son.
"I'm so-sor - " August was cut off by Mr. Gold.
"You know, what surprises me is, why a man who claims to be at death's door can't even bring himself to say hello to his father. What are you afraid of?"
"What's, uh... That's my business."
Rosalie wondered if setting up the meeting between August and Marco was what Mr. Gold had planned, but it seemed that that was not the case.
"Fair enough," Mr. Gold replied. "Let's talk about ours. You claim to be the only person who can make Ms. Swan believe - that you could get her to do exactly what she was brought here to do and yet, for a man who's running out of time, you don't seem to be in much of a hurry."
"It's not me slowing us down," August argued. "It's her. All she can think about right now is getting custody of her kid."
And she's a hard one to convince, Rosalie added.
August snorted. "After meeting with her, I wouldn't be surprised. She's a real work of art, isn't she?"
"Sounds like Sheriff Swan needs a course correction," Mr. Gold told them.
"She's coming to you for legal advice," August offered.
"And you want me to steer her toward you?"
August squared his shoulders. "I can get her there - to believe, trust me."
"Ah, I'm sorry." Mr. Gold has his usual taunting smile on his face. "It's just that, knowing who you are and your nature, ,trust is a big ask. Fear not. A gentle nudge I shall provide."
August huffed and left the shop.
Do you really think he can do it?
"We'll see, now, won't we?"
I'd like to have faith in him, but Emma is really, really, REALLY stubborn. She made sure to emphasise her point. Graham has tried. I have tried and God knows much many times Henry has tried and he's her son.
"Be patient," Mr. Gold told her. "Some things are not meant to be rush and Mr. Booth will not be the one to convince Ms. Swan."
Rosalie gave him an incredulous look. Then why did you make us think otherwise?
"Perhaps I felt like having a bit of revenge," with that, Mr. Gold hobbled into his office.
She stared at the curtain, as she usually did when she wanted to start yelling and throwing things at him. Revenge? What was August going to do or perhaps... What was Emma going to do? August had a plan to make Emma believe and the only way to do so was to bring solid evidence. Rosalie could assume that Emma hadn't taken her advice to look at the Mills' mausoleum, so August must have to actually bring it for her to see.
The only thing that she knew of that August could show Emma was... His illness? Was he already turning into wood? Emma must believe it if she saw that, but... since Mr. Gold thought of it as revenge against August, then... Emma wasn't going to believe it even after seeing August was turning back into wood?!
With that train of thought, Rosalie felt like tearing her hair out. She couldn't wait until the curse breaks. Perhaps if the people remembered their past selves, they wouldn't be so confusing!
Granted that Mr. Gold never lost them in the first place and he was still the most infuriating person she knew. The same could be said with Regina, so perhaps everyone shouldn't regain their memories if they were going to be like them.
Rosalie sighed and took out her lunch box. She couldn't even go out to eat, now. Life in Storybrooke sucks.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I know there are a few of you who want a Rumpelstiltskin/Belle romance and some of you who don't. I haven't quite figured out what I wanted to do with her, yet, but I think her first appearance will be in the second part of this story after all this fiasco has passed in Storybrooke.
I would like to thank all my reviewers: Utau54, Jordan Lynn 7, gossamermouse101, kawaiixkisses, Virginia I, LadyOfSlytherin101, Abb1120, .142240, and an anonymous (mer). All of you are amazing and I love reading them. They give me so much motivation to keep writing, especially at this tough time where I'm finding it difficult to find inspiration. You guys become my source of power.
I'd also like to thank everyone who has favourited and followed this story. The support has been wonderful.
Love interest poll:
1.) Graham = 25
2.) Hook = 4
3.) Peter Pan = 3
4.) Rumpel = 28
5.) Pan and Hook = 1
6.) Graham and Hook = 13
7.) Rumpel and Hook = 3
8.) Rumpel and Pan = 2
9.) Other Permanent Triangle? (I've never/rarely seen a story actually end with the main character having both romantic interests. Since it's a fairy tale, I think I have a little more freedom in terms of morals and laws.)
Reminder: One vote per review per chapter
It seems that Rumpel has pulled a lead there. Also, I'd like to ask everyone... How would you like me to spell his name: Rumpelstiltskin or Rumplestiltskin. I've been seeing quite a few different ways. I have always referred to him as Rumpelstiltskin, but shortening his name to Rumpel looks a bit odd. I'd love to keep that spelling: Rumpelstiltskin. Are there any suggestions regarding a shortened form or a nickname for him? Any and all ideas are welcome.
Thank you.
Echo