CHAPTER – Half of a Heart
As soon as they arrived in town to work, Belle kissed her husband goodbye and they parted ways to their own establishments. It was agreed on the way into town that they would meet each other over at the library today instead of the shop for lunch. Unlike this past week, Belle had an objective in mind. She was brimming with ideas about her book club. Perhaps there were a lot of other people in town who matched her own enthusiasm in books? Maybe she could divide the group into two clubs: One adult and one junior. She shook her head at the idea. She was getting ahead of herself. She had to get the word out first and she needed to choose some books for her club to talk about.
As she walked around the library putting up the remaining books from her cart she realized that not only were there books from this world, but there were books from their world as well mixed in together. This would be an excellent topic of conversation! She thought. She would find a book that she's read before from their world, and find another similar book from this world to compare it with. They could discuss the characters, their choices, how the morals aren't so different in this land as it is in theirs. Brilliant! She proudly thought to herself.
On paper she drew out many drafts of the flyers she intended to post around town. When she finally committed to the best one, she went to the library's computer to digitally recreate what she planned on paper to the screen. Working the computer took some time, since all of her working knowledge of technology from this world came from Lacey, and it wasn't much. Sure Lacey could probably tell you all the delicious vodka combinations, but her knowledge on anything else was pretty limited.
She jabbed a few keys here and there, clicking the mouse this way and that, not realizing how much time had flown until her husband entered the library to greet her.
"Ah, so this is what you look like when you're in your element," he observed. He had a look of bemusement watching her focus and concentrate.
"I can't figure out this damn…" she said clicking the mouse repeatedly in frustration, "thing."
"I'm pretty sure two clicks should suffice."
"This isn't my element. Books are my element. Papers and pens are my element. But this… computers. Not my element."
He walked over to her behind the desk and looked at the monitor with her.
"What are you trying to do?" he asked.
"I'm trying to make that look like…" she lifted her sample to show him, "this."
"You've got the font there, but it appears you're looking to find the program to match your border."
Belle spoke many languages, but this was not one of them. "Um… what?"
"Do you mind if I, uh…?" he gestured to sitting in her chair to explain, to which she gladly obliged. She got up and gave him her seat and watched studiously. "This," he said using the curser on the screen to show her, "is the font and over here… if you want to choose a design, simply click on this… this is called a 'tab'. Then here… see… borders… then choose the design you want. Then click 'ok'."
"Font. Tab. Borders. Ok," she repeated back. The way he moved around the computer so comfortably was unbelievable. "Is there something in this land you don't know how to do?"
He chuckled at her reply, "Oh, there's plenty."
"Well thank you," she said reaching for her jacket.
"Actually, I came by to let you know that I can't make it to lunch today. I do hope you're not too disappointed."
"Is everything ok?"
"Yes, everything's fine. I just have a business meeting that requires my attention. It's rather time sensitive, actually."
"That's fine. I was going to print out these flyers anyways and go hang them around town."
"Are you sure it's alright? You don't mind?"
"Rumple," she said calmly, trying to ease whatever anxiety he had about disappointing her, "it's ok. Really! I think I can survive one lunch without you."
"Ok. I really am sorry about all this. I hate spending my personal time on business when I'd rather be spending it with you."
"Go on ahead. I insist. I was going to go into Granny's for lunch and catch up with some people anyways. Meet you back at your shop later?"
"Sounds great," he said.
"Good."
… …
Belle exited her library with a stack of flyers in one arm. She turned around and using her spare hand locked the door behind her. She made her way towards Granny's because she knew it was the most heavily trafficked building in the entire town; the village pub. She gleefully walked across the street to the diner and even caught herself skipping at one point. Before entering the diner, she flattened her skirt and did her best to keep her composure.
When she opened the door, she became bombarded by dozens of conversations that were happening simultaneously. She could see a couple of tables being tended to by their waitresses, some were in their booths laughing and enjoying their conversation, the chef was calling out ready orders from within the kitchen hitting the serving bell every few minutes. She knew that the diner was a busy spot, but she never been to it during an afternoon rush.
"Belle!" shouted a woman's voice she recognized. Belle turned to the sound and smiled when she saw that it was Ruby. "Hey!"
"Hey!" Belle called back. "I'm starting a book club. I was wondering if I could leave a few flyers here since this is the place where…" she said glimpsing around at the other people, "everyone seems to go to."
"Oh sure! Leave those here, I'll put them up in a moment. As you can tell we're really busy at lunch time."
"I can see that."
"But hey, don't be a stranger! Come on by sometime. I'm gonna need some help packing and moving soon."
"Why? Where are you moving to?"
"Nowhere. I'm consolidating. Now that we've got the Lost Boys staying with us at the Inn, we've got to make some room for the boys who aren't really boys anymore. Granny wants to give them their own space. So I offered to move some of my old stuff from the curse to give them that space."
"Well that's very kind of you."
"Yeah, well, I've got some items in there that I've been meaning to get rid of anyways. Let's just say I'm not ready to explain certain items of clothing. But hey, I gotta run…"
"Oh no, I understand. You go on ahead! Thank you for putting the flyers up for me."
Ruby spun at her heels and turned to continue delivering food to their tables. Belle looked at all the people that were there. A few people she recognized, a few she didn't. She saw Leroy and some of his brothers occupying a booth. Then she saw Mary-Margaret and David walk in with Prince Neal taking up the next available table.
"Well hey stranger," called out Granny to Belle. Belle stopped her gawking and quickly turned to face Granny.
"Hi Granny," smiled Belle.
"Let me guess… two burgers, fries and two iced teas to go…"
"Actually, it's just me today, so just one order to go. And… I know this is going to sound strange but… instead of iced tea can you give me orange juice instead?"
Granny gave Belle a quick once-over, but before she could formulate an opinion she quickly replied, "Sure."
"Oh and Granny!" Belle called after the old woman seeing that she was turning to put her order in, "I'm starting a book club at the library. I already gave Ruby the invitation flyers to put up in the diner, but I was wondering if you knew anybody that worked at the schools? I'm trying to get everybody of all ages from the community to come out."
"That's the person to talk to," Granny replied pointing her pen at Mary-Margaret. Belle turned back around and placed a friendly hand on Granny's arm, "Thank you! You really are the best."
The old woman gave Belle a warm smile and left to put her order in. Belle turned leaving the counter to approach the Charmings at their booth.
"Belle!" greeted David holding baby Neal.
"Belle," said Mary-Margaret smiling, "It's so good seeing you."
"I believe congratulations are in order," said David, "Henry told us about your marriage to Rumplestiltskin."
"Congratulations," Mary-Margaret said sweetly. She paused for a moment, noticing something slightly different about Belle, "David, was I glowing that much after we got married?"
"Probably more so."
"Well thank you, both of you," answered Belle sheepishly. "I actually came over to talk to you…" she said looking at Mary-Margaret.
"Me?" Mary-Margaret said surprised.
"Here," said David offering the unoccupied booth to Belle.
"Thank you," Belle said gratefully, sitting down and getting a better look at the couple. "Yes, you see I'm starting a book club for the community, and I'm trying to spread the word to everyone of all ages. I figured that the school would be the best place to offer this extra-curricular activity."
"Oh yes! What a wonderful idea!" said Mary-Margaret excitedly. Belle took a flyer and handed it to her across the table.
"I was hoping with your past employment with the school system that you would know somebody to hand this to and help me spread the word."
"Of course, I certainly will and if anything, I'll definitely come. This is exciting!"
"That makes two of us. Well it's this Saturday, so hopefully, there should be a big turn out."
"I look forward to it," said Mary-Margaret beaming back. Belle reflected on the relationship she had with the Charmings. It was a brief correspondence when they were sent back to their land by Pan, but there was something missing as to how they returned to Storybrooke. It was now or never and she didn't know when the next opportunity would arise again for her to find out. Her curiosity begged her to know more.
"I've… been wanting to ask you both something," Belle continued. David and Mary-Margaret both nodded. "Now forgive me if my memory is a little vague, there was something unclear about the year we spent in the Enchanted Forest... When we were sent back, I remember coming to you guys and informing you about Rumplestiltskin's resurrection. I also remember us working together and traveling to the Dark Castle to talk to him about defeating Zelena. After your visit to Glinda, I remember you guys talking on the way back to your castle about going back to Storybrooke, about getting back to Emma… but I also recall that it was the Dark Curse that brought us to Storybrooke. Did you guys ever find out who it was that enacted it the second time? I thought that the steep sacrifice was giving up the heart of thing you love most. Was it Regina again?"
"Actually," David began, "it was us. We used my heart."
Belle did a double-take and looked back and forth between David and Mary-Margaret. She was confused, "Um, if you sacrificed your heart… then how are you still alive?"
"Regina helped us," answered David. Belle was still confused.
"Let me explain," insisted Mary-Margaret. "David's heart was used to enact the curse. You're right, in order to enact the curse you had to sacrifice the heart of the thing you loved most. And the person Regina loved most was Henry."
"And of course Henry was here, in this land," added David. "I told Snow to use my heart, and she did."
"So technically David was dead," continued Mary-Margaret. "He sacrificed himself. And then Zelena came and interrupted the process by altering the curse with memory loss."
"…which is why when we arrived back in Storybrooke," David contributed, "we didn't remember anything of the past year."
Mary-Margaret went on, "But she did eventually leave and it was in that moment I realized that my heart was strong enough for the both of us. So I asked Regina to split my heart. She was reluctant at first, but I insisted. Regina took my heart, split it in half and returned each half back into our bodies."
"So, let me get this straight," Belle said, "you two are functioning on only half a heart?"
"It worked!" Mary-Margaret pointed out.
"Snow's heart was strong enough for the both of us," concurred David.
Belle was stunned, "Wow… that's… amazing. I would have never pictured Regina doing something like that for you guys."
"She really has changed. Just like your Rumplestiltskin," stated Mary-Margaret. "Is it true that he gave Hook his hand back?"
"Yep, I guess they both have changed," remarked Belle. "Well, thank you for that. I always wondered what happened exactly. See you Saturday?"
"I'll be there."