Belle never truly forgave Regina. She never stopped having nightmares of a black eyed demon with the queen's voice and she never stopped herself from shaking whenever the woman came into view. No matter how hard Rumple tried, the memory of her captivity stuck with her for a long time. Until one day, when Rumple had an idea.
Her birthday was quickly approaching and so he gave her a small box wrapped in baby blue paper on the day before she turned 31. Her smile was bright, he remembers, but when she opened her gift, confusion settled into her eyes. For there, snuggled in the delicate paper, was a small doll that in every way resembled the Evil Queen herself. He pointed to it then, laughter creeping into his voice, and smiled. "You only need will it, and all will be well."
Belle left his shop later that evening, the doll resting in her purse, and she was still as confused as ever.
Later that night, the nightmares snuck up on her and she woke with a scream caught in her throat, wishing with everything she had that….all would be well. Belle tilted her head as a thought hit her. She crept into her kitchen, digging for the doll in her cluttered purse, and sat down at the table, staring at Rumple's gift.
Knowing him, something awful would probably happen to Regina if she poked it with a needle and, not that she would mind, she just didn't need to be on that woman's hit list a second time. So, Belle closed her eyes and willed herself to relax, to forget about the nightmares and torment and long nights spent shivering, and how Regina used her like a puppet on so many fraying strings, and her palm started to itch.
She opened her eyes to find that the doll was no longer there, but in its place the most beautiful rose she'd ever laid eyes on, with stark white petals that were soft to the touch. She ran her fingers down the stem absentmindedly, pricking her finger on one of the sharp thorns, and cried out in pain. Before she could blink, the rose fell from her hand and her head dropped to the table, her eyelids fluttering closed as she fell into a deep slumber.
When morning finally came, Belle woke with a clear mind, one free of nightmares and torment and long nights spent shivering and, especially, one without fear of the dark eyed queen. She carefully picked up the rose and smelled the tender petals, smiling to herself like she hadn't been able to in years.
Please R&R! ;)