Author's Note: Good news... you get two chapters in a week. Bad news... I decided to rip your heart out with this chapter.
I honestly didn't mean for it to be concentrated like this, it's just the way it turned out in writing.
I'm proud of it, no matter how it makes me/others feel. :)
I can't imagine not hearing how you guys feel about this chapter, so please review! Thanks!
Gothel sat in the flora of the Disney-Outlands border, observing and writing about her latest target. This one moved around more than Rapunzel had, and Gothel had shuffled on the border all morning, following the target's every move. It was exhausting. Maybe that's why she jumped when she felt the pirate captain's hand on her shoulder.
"What," she snapped, pulling her binoculars back to her eyes.
"I was wondering if I might speak to you," Hook said, a tad offended.
She huffed. "Might as well. You walked all this way. While you're here, you might as well hide yourself. Red is such a dreadful color for spying." He squatted on the ground next to her. "What did you have to say?"
"Oh, I was just wondering if everything was okay. After your entry on Rapunzel, I noticed that you're acting differently."
He, as much as Gothel hated to admit it, was right. After she had had an emotional realization watching Flynn and Rapunzel, she hadn't been the same. Still, he had no place to ask.
"What do you mean okay? Of course I'm okay! I'm still alive. I don't care anything about that brat or her husband. You have no right to ask me this! Return to your post, you snake!"
Hook's eyebrows went down, obviously livid. "As you wish, madam! Sorry my genuine concern for your mental health is oppressive to you!" He stomped off, leaving Gothel quite regretful and alone.
Belle sat at her desk, restlessly thinking, writing by only the light of a candle.
It was dark outside now, and it was dark in Belle's home. There was also something dark about the way the princess sat… stressed, alone, and relentless.
Adam passed through the library on his way to dinner, where he thought she was. He slowed his pace and redirected his footfall to where she was sitting. He came up behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders, making her jump.
"Shh… it's okay, it's just me." He kissed the top of her head, then watched her writing, balancing her chin on her head. When she didn't say anything, Adam knew something was wrong. "How is everything looking, Belle?"
"Well…" she sighed, dropping her pen and folding her arms across her chest. "Things certainly aren't going to come out in the black… again." She rested her head in her hands.
Adam went to the other side of the desk to face her. "But that's okay, right? What's one more month?"
"One more month is another few thousand dollars in the red. One month is another where a little gets paid off, but a little more becomes debt. Another month is just a month closer to the closing of my dream." Belle felt a burning in her eyes, but she pushed it down.
"We're okay financially. I mean, I bring enough in to support the two of us…" under his breath, he added, "Not the staff and castle, though..." Adam was able to keep a bright smile on his face.
"Oh, how did it get like this?" Belle asked desperately. "I only have a few employees, anyway. They're not the problem." She slumped further into the office chair. "But I'll have to fire them if we get any further into debt. Oh, how awful." She was in silent meditation for a moment, then added, "Do people just not read anymore? What is it? Is it me?" The tears brimmed up to her lower eyelid now.
"No. You're great! You know I… no, forget me… this town would not be same without you. You've brought the gift of reading to all of us, and everyone loves you!"
"Then why is my business failing?" She was vulnerable, and Adam sensed it and embraced her. Weakly, she said, "Can you explain it to me, Adam?"
"No, my rose."
"I'm worried."
"I am too."
"No," she protested, shaking her brown ponytail. "I'm worried about not providing for our future family."
Adam was wide-eyed. "You're not—"
"No," she smiled ruefully. "At least not yet, anyway." Belle grew solemn. "But when the day comes, I want to be ready."
Adam kissed her shortly and sweetly. "And we will be. Don't worry, Belle. Everything will be alright."
He blew out the candle, shut her balance book, took her by the hand, and led her to the dining room. She resolved that for the time being, she would remain the same strong, happy Belle that everyone saw… never letting them see the poor, suffering weakling of a princess she thought she was.
Alice Liddell and Andy Davis had heard their fair share of relationship teasing, both friendly and ill-meant. Their friends had even come up with a name for the relationship: "Aldy." Some took it even further. With all the questions (kidding, of course, but with some seriousness) of when they were getting married, Alice couldn't help but imagine how it would be. Alice Davis. It could work.
But the couple had gone little further than holding hands. Even their hugs were just beginning to be less awkward. The physical part of their dating said nothing about how close Andy and Alice had gotten, however. They talked about anything and everything… he was the single person she trusted most in the entire world. She would do anything for him, and she was sure he would do the same. When they were together, it felt right. When they weren't, Alice wished they were… so much so that it filled her thoughts, delighting her whenever she thought of getting to see him again. She had never been in love, but she thought she was beginning to be… and who better than with Andy? Her sweet, charming, sensitive, handsome, gentle, patient, darling Andy.
This particular night, she was Andy's house while Christopher was working late and the toys took themselves out to dinner. They were alone in the dim and quiet, their joyful conversation the only noise in the house. She lounged with her bare feet on his lap while he sat on the other end of the couch. If there was one thing about Andy, it was that he was funnier than he appeared.
They talked about their past before Disneyland. Alice didn't have to worry that he would think she was crazy, and he didn't have to worry that she would think he was strange. Their stories, however serious, were always met fondly when they were together.
"And then, you see, the Queen tried me, but it wasn't even a fair trial! It really was all a blur from there… I remember running by everything I had experienced there. And just as I was reaching for the Doorknob, I woke up, and Mathilda was shaking me. She told me I was dreaming, but I never did think so." She paused, biting her lip and cracking a smile. "You know what I think?" She leaned closer to Andy. "I think the Doorknob must've had someone help me back through the looking glass and up the rabbit hole." She smiled fully then. "So, what do you think?"
"I think you were right, Miss Liddell." He rubbed his chin. "Certainly sounds like a wonderful place."
"Wonderful… and horrible. I'm sure your home had its ups and downs."
Andy grinned wistfully. "Yes." He shot his blue eyes up at her, and the blood froze in her veins.
Andy's eyes were something else. As blue and clear as the sky on a cloudless day, but the age of wisdom and intelligence behind them, too. He truly saw everything as it was, but was able to see the beauty in it, as well. She knew she was the only one he had ever looked at with this particular gaze. This loving, chilling, wondrous gaze. While she saw his eyes every day, they still stunned her at times. Sometimes, they were a comfort and a familiarity, but other times, while just as familiar, were also mysterious and special. Alice felt like she could look into Andy's eyes forever and never see the same thing twice.
Both Andy and Alice noticed the pleasant silence.
Almost whispering, Alice asked "Penny for your thoughts?"
He did his infamous side grin, shaking his head, pulling his eyes down and away from Alice. Ignoring the fact that she didn't have a penny, he responded in the same manner, "You know what? Let me show you." And for once in his life, Andrew Charles Davis was bold.
Taking one of Alice's hands, he slid the other under her jaw, tracing the jaw with his thumb. Looking deep into her eyes, he moved closer to her. Before her brain could register what he was doing, he was kissing her. Everything from there seemed like slow-motion for Alice. The stage of feelings she went through were daunting… from startled to pleasantly surprised to overjoyed to peace and finally, she hurtled into panic.
For Andy, who was running on pure adrenaline, the moment only seemed to last for a millisecond. He was only hoping she was enjoying it as much as he did. She was so small and soft and so completely… Alice there in his embrace. Andy never wanted to let her go… as long as he had her, nothing could come to hurt her. He wouldn't let them.
But there, at the end, only a few seconds after it had begun, something was wrong. He felt her tense up. Gracelessly, Alice left the kiss, touching her lips and staring at Andy with utter fear in her eyes.
"Ali, what is it?" Andy asked, reaching out for her shoulder.
She dodged his grasp, stood up, instantaneously putting on her shoes and grabbing her bag, and briskly walked out of his front door, only loosely shutting the door behind her.
Guilt and regret made Andy move, otherwise he would have sat there in shock and shame. He called after her, "Alice! I'm so sorry! Tell me what I did!" He ran for her slim figure in the distance. He heard nothing back. "I'm sorry I kissed you, okay?" His throat tightened as he tried to plead with her. "I thought you were ready! At least let me walk you home!"
She was so far off now. He heard her faint reply: "I'm sorry, Andy! No!"