Chapter 20
Belle continued to walk down the street alone. The day's events having really taken it out of her, she was completely exhausted. After leaving Mr Gold in the clearing, Belle had gone straight back to the hide out house, gathered her belongings together in a suitcase and left. Whilst walking down Storybrooke high street, she thought back over to everything than had happened to her over the past 2months. She had been rescued, discovered her magic, betrayed, loved and had battled an evil queen. 'Not bad' she chuckled to herself. Mainly Belle noticed how much of a strong individual she had become. Although she still had plenty more self learning to accomplish, for example she would need to find a job, she was proud of herself at what she had achieved, especially in regards to Mr Gold. Belle, loved him completely. Despite whatever he had done and what people told her he had done to them nothing would ever stop the love she felt for him. Like Belle, he too needed to discover himself. Mr Gold, or perhaps more correctly now Rumplstilskin, had been so long without magic that having his powers returned to him may mean something new. It had killed Belle to say "Perhaps you care for your magic more than you care for me" but she needed to say it and perhaps this would motive him to change. Stop magic completely or use it for good instead of for selfish reasons. This was something Rumplstilskin would need to find out himself. Belle hoped he would discover that soon as she was missing him desperately already. Not quite knowing where to go or what to do Belle dragged her suitcase into a diner she just happened to be passing.
The place was buzzing. People were everywhere introducing themselves and discussing their experiences. 'Oh cause the curse is broken' Belle thought to herself as she wheeled her suitcase to the counter and sat on a stool. The girl she had heard a lady exclaim 'Red' to earlier came up to her.
"Can I get you a drink? We are all celebrating here." Belle looked around her and smiled. Everyone in the diner had huge grins on their faces. Although Belle felt happy she somehow didn't feel she belonged here, celebrating with these people. It she was honest with herself, Belle really just wanted to be on her own fast asleep. Belle smiled at Red, leant over the counter and whispered "Really I'm looking for somewhere I could spend the night ... and a job" she quickly added. Red looked at her curiously. "What's your name?" Belle swallowed not sure whether to reveal who she was, but then she sighed and simply replied "I'm Belle." Red's eyes widened. "Oh your Belle!" Red smiled and knelt to look under the diner counter, when she popped back up again she held a small black box in her hand.
"This is for you." Red slid the box across the counter to Belle. "Some guy left it here and told me to give it to you should you pop by."
"Who was he?" Belle didn't really need to ask the question, she could guess from the joined up writing that spelt 'I hope you find this helpful' on the back of the box.
"He didn't give his name. All he said was to give this to you and that it will help you find what you are looking for." Red sighed after she finshed, giving Belle the impression that she had been trying not to forget anything she had been told. Red quickly added "Oh and he said something about the old library?" Belle frowned not having a clue where the old library was. Red saw the look of confusion on her face. "The library is just down the road to the left. It's all boarded up at the moment but if you want to check it out then you know where it is." Red smiled brightly at Belle and walked away to serve another customer. Belle examined the little box and slowly opened it. Her heart warmed when she saw the key.
Belle grabbed her suitcase and followed the directions Ruby had given her and 5minutes later she found herself outside the library. As Red had told her it was indeed all bordered up, but that could not swipe the smile off her face. Belle lifted the key into the library lock and opened the door, walked inside it and felt instantly at home.
"Make sure she takes it and that you direct her towards the library". Mr Gold had left the key to the library in a small black box in Grannies diner for Belle. He knew she would pass this way and would probably drop in for something to eat after clearing her belongings out of the hide out house. Mr Gold had considered giving Belle the key personally, but he did not want to upset. He aimed to attempt to be the man she wanted him to be and wanted to prove himself first by giving her the space and time she wanted. The key to the library was to help her but also a comfort to himself knowing she had somewhere safe to be.
Having given Red the key, Mr Gold had strolled back to his shop, he had one piece of magic that he wanted to do before trying to go back to living without it. On arriving he had gone straight to his office and pulled out another map of Storybrooke from the umbrella stand. He laid it open across his table and waved his hand over it. Light blue mist seeped out of his palms and covered the map. At first nothing seemed to happen but then the drawings map began to grow slightly, not in an alarming way but in such away to suggest a three-dimensional look. Mr Gold smiled to himself, his magic had obviously worked. He scanned the map clearly looking for something or someone and there she was. It wasn't a drawing of Belle it was a little square box that had her name inside with the word 'content' written next to it. The little box was within the hide out house they had both used, but Mr Gold knew perfectly well she would be vacating it soon. What Mr Gold was doing was making sure she was ok. He wasn't trying to stalk or keep tabs on what she was doing, he was simply caring. He loved Belle to the deepest part of his being. As he had said so in the forest he had only got her back and he would wait for her and find her again, so with this map he would always be watching her, just in case she needed his help.