"I think Cherry's shadow is using its own mind." Gold told Belle quietly.
"What?!" Belle gasped before cupping her mouth and whispered a bit softly. "...What does this mean?"
"I'm not sure yet, but we can figure it out." Gold told her as he took her hands in his.
"I do hope so." Belle said softly, lightly squeezing his hands.
The shadow soon shot through the window and went to do something. Gold gave a small smile. Belle smiled back before giving him a sweet kiss. Gold kissed her back.
In the meantime, Killian decided to stop texting for a while since Katie was being quiet and thought maybe she got busy before he decided to get prepared for his lunch date with her and Felix. Katie then texted Killian to let him know she'd be on the way very soon, she was just finishing getting ready.
"Hopefully it's yummy," Killian replied with more pizza emojis. "You disappeared earlier... Your talking phone expire?"
'I don't want you to worry, I'm safe and unhurt, but I was almost run over... Hyde saved me. xxx' Katie texted Killian back, deciding text would be better as that way Felix wouldn't overhear and worry too.
Killian narrowed his eyes at the mention of Hyde, but let it slide for now. "As long as you're safe..." he then replied back. "I'll see you shortly then."
'See you shortly, love you, My Captain~ xxx' Katie messaged him back, giving a heart kiss emoji too.
Killian soon sent the same emoji back, filling up her phone screen with heart bubbles everywhere to represent his love for her. Katie giggled softly and then put her phone away for now, finished getting ready and then headed out so she could meet Killian and Felix for pizza. Granny soon got ready to get herself over to the diner just as Katie got ready to leave the inn temporarily.
"Hi, Granny, I'll keep the key until tomorrow, just in case I end up the night here." Katie told the woman with a small chuckle.
"All right, dear," Granny smiled before looking sharp in warning. "No monkey business though."
"No monkey business." Katie promised with a chuckle and then left to go meet Killian and Felix so they could grab pizza for lunch.
Granny nodded as she soon walked out the door with Katie and soon went over to her diner to meet up with Ruby. Killian showed off a bit more of his ship to Felix before they would go and see Katie for lunch, talking to the boy like he would with his own blood son.
Katie decided to head for the ship, so they could all go together.
Killian sat comfortably to the side as Felix smiled, pretending to steer the ship as he took the helm after being told what to do and how.
"Ahoy! Permission to board, Captain?!~" Katie called out.
"Oh, what do you think, lad?" Killian asked Felix as he turned over a bit.
"Uh... Yes!" Felix soon said as he waved at Katie. "All hands on deck!"
Katie giggled softly and came up the gangplank to head up on the deck of the ship. "Well, look at my two handsome men~" she grinned.
"I'm not handsome." Felix said bashfully.
"I always was, so you are too." Killian smirked at him.
"Yes, you are, you're both handsome," Katie said firmly but kindly. "So are we ready for pizza?" she then grinned.
Felix smiled bashfully.
"Pizza, yes," Killian nodded before he soon did a certain whimsical gesture and imitation. "Come sail away with us, Dearie, for a life of adventure, family, and cheesy cheese with a delicious crust that children really seem to enjoy~"
Katie looked confused to that not getting the reference. "Is that meant to be Gold?" she asked him, tilting her head.
"Perhaps in a former life," Killian smirked, trying to have some fun. "Let's go get that pizza."
"Please," Felix added, sounding a bit dramatic. "I haven't had a good meal in 10,000 years."
Katie giggled a little to that.
"Shove off then." Killian said, though not meanly as he went to take Katie's hand to escort her off as Felix walked away from the helm.
Katie smiled as she took his hand. She then smiled to Felix. "You're going to love it..." she smiled to him.
"Oh..." Cherry blinked before laughing as she face-palmed herself, not seeing either of them yet. "Here I was, sitting in my room feeling like I was grounded or something... But okay, I guess I'll step out for a little bit."
"I sure hope so." Felix nodded as he followed them.
"Lots of kids seem to," Killian agreed. "I've seen commercials where a giant rodent in clothes even eats it."
"We'll try you with plain cheese to start off and I'm craving pepperoni so you can have a taste of that too," Katie smiled, then smirked to Killian. "It doesn't taste like baloney so don't worry." she told him.
"You don't like baloney much, do you?" Felix asked Killian.
"Have you ever tried it? I think not!" Killian replied, a bit overdramatic. "Somehow gruel is an improvement."
Katie smiled, feeling happier now she was with her two favorite boys. "I love you both, so much..." she said softly.
"I think I love you most though, luv." Killian smiled back warmly.
"No, I love you both the most..." Katie giggled.
"Nothing can replace a mother's love." Killian softly told Felix.
Felix looked emotional from that, but didn't say much, though he did nod in agreement with him.
Katie looked around, and then pulled Felix into a hug wanting to comfort him but not embarrass him. "I might not be your birth mother, and I wouldn't want to replace her in your heart, but I hope you have enough room in there for me too." she said softly.
"I sometimes miss her... And wonder where she is... Even if she wasn't always there anyway..." Felix said softly.
Katie looked to him to that.
"Do you want to tell us about her...?" Killian asked curiously.
"...Should I?" Felix shrugged, a bit unsure.
"How about we go grab the pizza to take out and go and sit in the park or something and you can tell us about her?" Katie suggested softly.
"Well... Okay..." Felix nodded. "I try not to think about her, especially in Neverland, but... I wonder about her."
"I understand," Killian said softly. "I felt very close to my own mother when I was much younger."
Katie gently reached up and squeezed his shoulder soothingly, taking Killian's hand soothingly too. Killian smiled warmly at Katie as they soon continued to get going. Felix followed them, staying a bit close, even if he was a little "too old" to cling to Katie like that, but that didn't seem to bother him.
Soon, both trio of people had their food and had finished eating it. Katie looked to Felix and gave a soft smile.
"That was nice," Killian chuckled. "I would've loved some more of that cheese-filled crust, but I might need to buy new clothes first."
"I might never eat pizza again," Felix said before burping suddenly and then sighing in relief. "More please."
Katie chuckled to them. "I'm going to have to jog again to burn off the calories tomorrow." she said.
"Perhaps you'd like some handsome and charming company with you on your next jog?" Killian smirked as he leaned in a bit, looking her dead in the eyes as Felix watched them.
Katie blushed a little, but then decided to have a joke, knowing Killian knew she thought he was handsome and charming anyway while showing Felix she thought he was too. "I don't know... Felix might not want to be up that early just to go jogging with me." she smirked.
Killian playfully pouted.
"I don't like getting up early," Felix replied. "I don't believe in waking up before the sun does."
Katie chuckled, then playfully sighed. "I guess you could join me then, my Captain~" she told him with a chuckle.
Felix laughed a little bit.
"Well, I'm so glad I was your second choice." Killian smirked.
Katie winked to Felix then smirked to Killian. Felix kept his laugh while Killian smirked back.
"How early do you go?" Killian asked Katie.
"This morning I woke up around 6:00 AM to go." Katie told Killian.
"Hmm... I suppose I could manage that," Killian replied. "Doesn't sound too bad."
"I think that's before school starts." Felix piped up innocently.
Katie gave a small smile.
"Tell us... What was your mother like?" Killian asked Felix.
"Pretty mostly..." Felix said softly. "She wasn't around very often... I think she worked a lot... I don't fully remember. She wasn't home all the time though and sometimes there was food... But I was then told about Neverland which would be a lot better for me."
Katie placed her hand gently on his arm soothingly.
"You don't leave me too, will you?" Felix asked them.
"We are never going to leave you," Killian promised. "And based what I've seen Katie do with little Henry Mills, you're in good hands with the Motherly Touch Department."
"Of course I won't leave you Felix, and even if Killian and I have babies in the future, you'll still be our first son." Katie smiled softly to him as she gently stroked the boy's cheek.
"I never had any brothers and sisters..." Felix said softly. "I don't know what I would do."
"You won't be alone," Killian reassured. "Plus you can always learn how to be a good big brother."
Katie nodded with a warm smile. Felix gave a small smile back, enjoying the company and love.
"There's a smile." Killian approved happily for the boy.
Katie smiled warmly. "Well, shall we take a bit of a walk before we have to return?" she suggested softly.
"All right then," Killian nodded. "You ready to go, Felix?"
"Hmm... All right," Felix said once he stood up. "I guess that pizza's lying peacefully in my stomach now."
Katie stood up with a small smile and then had a soft joke to tease Killian. "Come on, Handsome, you can escort me." she said but then linked arms with Felix and walked with him a little.
Felix shuddered slightly, shaking a chill down his spine, but smiled as he kept going with Katie and Killian.
"Ooh, rejected and foiled again," Killian gasped playfully. "What's this kid got that I don't?"
"A pretty lady wrapped around my arm?" Felix smiled bashfully to answer that question, trying to joke too.
Katie giggled to that. "Are you alright?" she asked softly though as she felt him shake.
"Just got a chill down my spine," Felix said softly. "I guess I'll be okay though."
Katie squeezed his arm comfortingly, then continued on the walk with him and Killian. Killian looked around for anything suspicious before he kept going with Katie and Felix.
"What's for dessert to eat?" Felix soon asked.
"Eat?" Killian smirked. "You ate six slices of pizza!"
"I feel empty inside." Felix smiled innocently.
"I think I'm going to introduce you to Skittles..." Katie said with a grin to that.
"These again?" Killian teased.
"What's a Skittles?" Felix soon asked Katie.
"They're delicious, ignore your father's teasing you'll love them." Katie told him, turning them so they could go to the supermarket where they could get big bags of Skittles.
Felix soon nodded at Katie as they came up towards the supermarket then.
"I think I need to get a supply of something for myself," Killian said to Katie. "You get his Skittles and I'll be right back?"
"Okay," Katie gave a small smile to Killian. "Come on, Felix, I'll show you the wonderful candy that are Skittles." she grinned.
"Okay." Felix nodded as he went to follow her.
Killian soon went over to the nearest freezer and went to stock up on his supply of rum.
The shadow watched him and cackled before disappearing, going to deal with that next when the time was right. Katie collected quite a few bags of Skittles, having a feeling she would need them.
"Are these Skittles too?" Felix asked Katie as he found a pack of M&M's.
"No, those are M&Ms." Katie told him, then looked at which pack they were.
"Oh..." Felix said, putting them back as they were simply milk chocolate and not the peanut ones. "I don't like those kinds," he said as he pointed at the yellow pack. "I don't like peanuts, so please don't make me eat them."
"You can have these kind of M&Ms..." Katie smiled as she picked up a couple of blue packs for him. "You like chocolate, right?" she double-checked.
"Whenever I could get some, yeah," Felix nodded as his eyes lit up then. "It was the best thing I've ever eaten. It was like Heaven."
Katie nodded and picked up a couple more then. "Come along, this will do for now, let's go find your dad." she smiled softly as she then led him along.
Felix nodded and he soon followed her on the way out. Killian soon gathered plenty of bottles to go home with as he looked around for Katie and Felix to check-out with them at the front. There also seemed to be a school-aged girl behind the counter this time as she looked over at them. Katie put everything on the conveyor belt so it could be bagged and paid for.
"Is this everything for you?" The girl asked as she helped them out.
"For right now, yes." Killian nodded.
"All right..." The girl nodded back as she did her job, focusing very hard.
Katie gave a small smile as she watched carefully.
"Okay, that'll be $10.25." The girl soon told them after a little while.
Felix just stood in silence and shrugged.
"You got this?" Killian asked Katie then.
Katie nodded and paid for the items. "Here." she smiled as she handed over the money.
"You're welcome, now you have a nice day." The girl said as she accepted the money and gave back a couple of bags.
Felix decided to take the one with Skittles as he looked very excited to try them.
"Don't eat the green ones." Killian whispered to Felix.
Katie glanced to Killian as he whispered that. Killian grinned bashfully before he took a bottle and did a silly-looking dance before he jumped right out of the doors.
"...Well, that just happened." Felix said to Katie as the girl next to him giggled a little at the pirate's random silliness.
Katie shook her head softly as she giggled. "Come on," she smiled and led him out of the store so they could catch up to Killian. "Silly man..." she muttered amused though.
Felix looked around as he thought he saw something, the corrupted shadow that was causing trouble in town before he kept going with them.
"Step lively, lad," Killian advised on the way out of the store. "Also, I do my best, Katie, it's not always grim, dark, and serious with me." he then added with a light chuckle.
Katie giggled but rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek. "Come on, silly man, we need to go and split this bounty, except the rum, you can keep that." she told him with a chuckle.
"You got yourself a deal." Killian smirked eagerly from the rum part.
Felix chuckled at them, feeling very comfortable and humored by them as this was going to change his life for sure.
Cherry stared out the window from her bedroom with a bit of a miserable frown after she heard some things she really did not want to hear as it was close to dinner time, but she couldn't defend herself... The only bright side was that it was all over for now, but for how long? She knew she had friends to protect her like Katie, but right now, she felt like she was all alone in this world. Gold was in the shop's basement, making a potion to try and help Cherry which was why he wasn't comforting her. Cherry held her stomach as she began to feel hungry and soon looked over her shoulder as she looked over to one of her blank notebooks. She soon went over to it, leaving a note that she would be going out for dinner tonight and soon left it in the foyer of the house as she grabbed her jacket and hiked up her hood as she had tears in her eyes and soon decided to find her way back over to her parents' cabin. Ursula was smirking as she held up a big pearl that she and Facilier could use to watch Cherry.
"Hurry home, little dear... Hurry home..." Facilier smirked as he and Ursula watched as Cherry was on her way back to them.
Cherry sniffed as she wiped her eyes, trying her best not to cry, but she couldn't help it and not even a song she often listened to on her phone to help cheer up after a stressful situation could help as her heart ached as she made her way to the cabin. Ursula put the pearl away and then put on a smile to greet Cherry as if she didn't know the girl's problems.
"H-Hello?" Cherry sniffled as she soon knocked on the door. "Are you guys still here?"
"Ah... Our little pearl..." Facilier greeted calmly and warmly as he opened the door. "You've come back... Though you don't seem to be happy after you've gone to see your friends again."
"Not really..." Cherry frowned as she looked a bit miserable.
Ursula gave a concerned look and came over, pulling Cherry into a hug.
Cherry hugged right up against Ursula, sniffling and shivering. "I just don't understand," she said as her voice softened and cracked a bit. "Why do they think it was me? I'd never hurt anyone."
"It's so sad when the people you thought you could love and trust would simply stab you in the back," Facilier cooed. "Please... Come in and sit, you look hungry."
"They don't deserve you, if they'll blame you like that~" Ursula cooed.
"I've never seen any of them so angry... Even Killian got mad at me because his rum got replaced with milk..." Cherry said emotionally before she moved over to the kitchen table to sit down with them. "I never thought David would yell at me... It was just like in some nightmares I've had."
"You're so damaged," Facilier said softly, patting her on the back as she sat between them. "Why don't we get you some nice, hot soup? You look a little cold and hungry."
"I am a little hungry." Cherry nodded, sniffling a bit from her sadness and a bit of a chill in the air.
"I'll fetch the soup~" Ursula told them and went to do so.
"Thanks..." Cherry said softly as she got settled.
"Just sit back and relax, my dear," Facilier smiled warmly, going to get the drinks for them. "No one is going to hurt you as long as you're safe with your family."
Ursula smirked just a little, once only Facillier could see.
Soon, the soup had been eaten and Ursula was brushing Cherry's hair. Cherry hugged her knees as she sat comfortably, drifting away a bit from the gentle and comforting hair brushing. Facilier smiled fondly as he watched them from afar, giving Cherry the real feel of a family as she started to relax. Ursula gave a warm smile herself.
"It's nice to have some family time, isn't it, dear?" Facilier asked.
"Time..." Cherry repeated before her eyes flashed open as she gasped. "Oh, shoot! What time is it?! I gotta get back! I-"
"Just relax... Forget about your troubles back home... Stay around a while..." Facilier told her in a hypnotic voice, trying to relax her as she soon sat back and nearly melted in her seat as Ursula brushed her hair. "It's going to be all right and we'll get you back home in time... Just sit back."
"Mama and Papa will look after you~" Ursula added in the same kind of tone.
"Mama... Papa..." Cherry slowly whispered as she began to relax again, practically melting like butter.
"That's right..." Facilier smiled warmly. "And you can stay with us as long as you'd like."
Ursula hummed softly, continuing to brush Cherry's hair until it was all done.
"Hm... This is nice..." Cherry said as she looked at her reflection with her phone, stroking it a bit. "Thanks."
"It really suits you, dear," Facilier smiled. "Then again, you always look pretty in whatever you wear for you are our little princess."
"Oh, uh, I couldn't be a princess." Cherry said bashfully.
"Well, I was the daughter of the King of the Sea." Ursula said.
"That makes you royalty..." Facilier said as he took Cherry's hand a bit. "Even if you don't remember it or know a lot about it."
"I'm slowly remembering..." Cherry replied as she sat with them. "I mostly remember being with... Erm... Papa for most of my life."
Ursula nodded a little.
"Now, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?" Facilier offered. "Especially for your mother since she was unable to see you most of the time in your life."
"I really need to leave now..." Cherry said in a near panicky tone of voice.
"It'll be alright, you don't have to leave yet~" Ursula told her.
"Um... Uh... Okay..." Cherry said as she tried to ignore the time as she sat with them. "I guess we'll get to know each other... Such as..." she then glanced over at Ursula. "Why did you leave me when I was a baby?"
"Boy, this sounds familiar." Facilier remarked to himself.
"I wasn't able to raise you, you were conceived and born in human form and I still lived in the sea." Ursula told her.
"Oh?" Cherry asked in surprise.
"Seems you took after my side of the family, dear," Facilier added. "So your mother thought it'd be best that I take you in and show you some of my tricks. You did use to ask about your mother a lot of the time and every once in a while, if you were good, I'd tell you something about her."
"That... That sounds... Nice..." Cherry said softly as she gave a small smile at the bond and being a Daddy's Girl.
"I would've stayed, but I couldn't stay long on land." Ursula told her.
"Oh..." Cherry said softly. "...I remember being told that you're always with me whenever the water splashes waves."
Ursula smiled a little with a nod.
"What do you remember outside of Storybrooke?" Facilier asked Cherry. "Any friends or family there that we don't know about?"
Cherry paused thoughtfully before shrugging. "I remember bits and pieces, though a big chunk is when Katie became my friend," she then said. "Then we ended up here... I didn't think I'd be from The Enchanted Forest like when she found out she was the biological daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming... I kinda like this life better though... My former life seemed a little boring compared to being here..." she then said with a sheepish, small smile.
"So they have a child?" Ursula mused with a smirk. "And yes it is quite exciting here." she added.
"Perhaps you'd like to see if you still got it." Facilier added as he handed her a deck of tarot cards.
"Oh... Uh... I dunno..." Cherry said, though she took the cards. "I'll see what I can do, I guess."
Ursula came and sat next to Facilier. Cherry shuffled the cards as she took a look at them, though she had a small, sneaky smirk on her face that nearly formed.
"She has your eyes, dear." Facilier smiled at Ursula fondly.
"She has your smirk." Ursula smiled back to Facilier.
"I'll be sure to use these sometime... Maybe... If I see you guys again..." Cherry said to them as she pocketed the cards.
"Are you leaving then?" Facilier asked softly. "We were just getting to know each other. And wouldn't you like dessert?"
"...I shouldn't," Cherry sunk in her seat slightly. "I'm trying to diet?"
"You don't need to diet." Ursula told her.
"...All right, one piece of dessert, and then I gotta go," Cherry said, trying to be assertive, but not overly firm with her estranged parents, after all they had been so kind. "Okay?"
"Of course, dear," Facilier said as he hugged her over her shoulders. "I borrowed a recipe from an old friend in New Orleans..." he then added before kissing her cheek as he went back to the kitchen briefly.
Ursula watched him go. "It'll be good." she realized then.
"All right..." Cherry said as she sat back comfortably. "Also... I'm not linked to the sea like you... I guess that explains why I could never learn how to swim."
"Well, I could try to teach you." Ursula offered her.
"You can try," Cherry nodded. "Hopefully it works this time."
Ursula smiled. "Just no trying without someone around until you get it." she smirked.
"Hmm... All right..." Cherry nodded.
Katie had argued with Killian and her parents who were blaming Cherry, and so was in her rented room at Granny's inn. She twisted the ring on her finger, not planning on taking it off but it helped her think as she paced. There was a knock at the door then.
Katie blinked, but went to the door. "Who is it?" she asked.
"It's Edward, but I come in peace." Hyde's voice replied on the other side.
Katie sighed ever so gently as she tried to calm herself but opened the door. "Yes?" she asked softly.
"I know you don't think of me much right now, but would you care for a drink?" Hyde asked her as he glanced down at her, sounding calm for a change.
"A drink... Actually sounds nice," Katie said softly, rubbing her forehead above her eye. "But I don't want to risk alcohol in case I'm pregnant..." she sighed softly. "It's too early to tell yet but I looked at the dates, He got me at the optimal time..." she muttered, a bit annoyed though not at him.
"I see..." Hyde nodded a bit. "Perhaps some tea then?"
"Hot chocolate?" Katie countered.
"Hot... Chocolate..." Hyde repeated before he soon nodded in agreement, being calm and quiet. "...Sounds divine."
Katie gave a small smile to him for that. She grabbed her key and jacket and came over so they could pop to Granny's to get a hot chocolate each. Hyde soon took his own key and went to shut his room door and lock it before deciding to go out with Katie.
Katie looked up to Hyde. "Sit in my room or yours?" she asked him softly as soon as they got back into the Inn.
"Whichever you feel the most comfortable, though maybe you should get away from whatever ailed you in your room and come stay with me until you grow tired." Hyde offered.
Katie thought a moment and nodded. She gestured for him to lead the way with a small smile. Hyde gave a small smile back as he brought out his key and went to unlock the door and let her come inside so that they could relax and unwind together. Katie entered and looked for a place to sit. Hyde brought Katie inside and soon brought her over to the little table in the room that looked out the window, thinking she might enjoy the view a little bit.
"Thank you, Mr. Hyde." Katie said softly as she sat down in the offered seat. She took a sip of her hot chocolate and let out a soft exhale, releasing the steam.
Hyde soon sat across from her with a small smile. "My pleasure, Miss Katie," he said before he soon did the same, feeling warm and safe from the comfort and deliciousness that was from a nice hot cup of hot chocolate. "Delicious~"
"Mm-hmm~" Katie nodded, as she gave a small smile to that. "Please, call me Katie... No Miss." she told him then.
"Then perhaps tonight you can call me 'Edward'." Hyde then compromised.
"... Edward." Katie said after a moment of thought, trying it out and giving a tiny smile.
"There we go," Edward smiled before sipping more of his hot chocolate. "I'm sorry you had a rough day, though I'm sure tomorrow will be better."
"I hope so, and I hope Cherry's alright." Katie said softly as she looked out of the window, idly drawing patterns on the tabletop.
"I wouldn't worry too much about that little friend of yours," Edward said calmly. "She can probably take care of herself and maybe you can talk tomorrow if she's up for it."
Katie looked to him at that. "It doesn't stop me worrying about her." she said softly.
"I envy you at least," Edward said to her. "I wish I had some friends."
Katie bit her lip a little, then reached out and gently put her hand on his. "I'll be your friend." she told him softly.
"You will?" Edward asked with a small, non-violent smile. "Even after what happened?"
"Yes, I mean... You were just following instructions, and, um, you haven't tried to do anything even with that dea.," Katie said quietly.
"Yes, I suppose that you're right," Edward nodded calmly. "I may be scary and violent-looking, but... I'm not as bad as my 'better half'."
Katie looked down to that and then back up to him. "I-I didn't want to, but I don't regret what I did... He was hurting Cherry." she said quietly, her voice low.
"It's all right... You did the right thing," Edward reassured Katie. "And I'm not mad at you for it."
Katie gave a small tiny smile to that.
"So... Are you expecting... Anything?" Edward asked, gesturing to her stomach a little bit. "Or do you not know yet?"
"I don't know yet... It will take at least a couple of weeks before I'll have any sign." Katie said softly.
"Oh, I see," Edward nodded. "Hopefully you get a better doctor than Frankenstein, right?" he then added, trying to make a little joke.
Katie gave a small smile at his attempt. "I don't want to see him again..." she said quietly. She then started to pull her hand away from where it was still on his.
"I'll make sure that you don't as long as I'm in this town," Edward nodded. "That is, unless you'd prefer the pirate over an old monster like me."
"Y-You're a little scary looking, but you're not a monster!" Katie exclaimed as she stood up to move in front of him and hold his face in her hands so he would listen. "No matter what happens with anything, never ever call yourself a monster!" she told him.
Edward looked a bit wide-eyed, though not overly scared or timid, just surprised. "You really don't think that I'm a monster?" he then asked softly.
"No, I don't." Katie said firmly.
"Interesting..." Edward said softly. "That's so nice of you to think and say. Thank you."
Katie then realized what she was doing and blushed with a small bashful chuckle. "Y-You're welcome." she said softly and started to release his face.
Edward smirked playfully at her nervousness before he siipped more of his hot chocolate with a nod as they lounged together for a while.
Katie soon finished her hot chocolate and looked at the time. "I guess I should head off to bed now." she said quietly.
"Oh... I suppose it is rather late," Edward admitted. "Well, this was a lovely experience, Katie. I'd love to try it again sometime if you were available in the future."
Katie smiled. "I try to make sure I make time for all my friends." she told him with a soft smile. She then went to go so she could get to her room.
"Until next time then," Edward smiled back. "Sweet dreams tonight, Katie."
"Sweet dreams to you too, Edward." Katie smiled at him and then left.
Edward nodded as he let her go for the night with a small smile, being calm and quiet for now. Katie soon entered her room and took off her clothes, climbing into the bed in her underwear as she hadn't picked up new clothes to change into. Edward took out the special gem he was given and watched Katie with a small smirk before he decided to crawl into bed that night as well. Katie tried to settle down but the fighting from earlier and reminder of Victor caused her to start to have a nightmare.
A little while soon passed and Facilier brought out some paper towels and the dessert he had freshly prepared. "Freshly powdered beignets?" he then offered.
"Well... Maybe just one..." Cherry said as she accepted the one given to her before she bit into it and moaned a bit, gushing at the taste. "Oh, my Goose~..."
Ursula took one herself and hummed. "Delicious." she told him.
"Only the best for my two favorite girls." Facilier nodded as he took one for himself, happily eating it up.
Cherry cracked a small, peaceful smile as she ate and relaxed with them, having a better time than she expected. Ursula was actually enjoying this a bit too.
Cherry's eyes began to feel heavy a little after finishing her dessert. "...I should go," she said softly as she yawned and tried to stand up off of her seat, though she didn't know what time it was right now. "I'll come back again later... Mama and Papa..."
"It won't be the same without you, but we understand," Facilier smiled warmly. "You get back home safe now, dear, and don't be a stranger."
"Walk safely~" Ursula told her.
"I will..." Cherry nodded as she soon got up and left, tossing her powdery paper towel into the trash on the way out.
"Sweet dreams." Facilier whispered as Cherry made her way back over to the mansion.
Gold was waiting in his favorite chair that had its back to the door. Cherry soon looked around her surroundings, luckily making it back over alright without any further disturbance or interruption and without getting lost as she soon opened the door and quickly dashed inside and tried to shush the door as it creaked a bit behind her hand as she went to seal it shut and lock it up for the night, hoping she wasn't back too late.
When she had shut the door and tried to walk past the room, Gold turned on the light. "What time do you call this, dearie?" he asked.
Cherry gasped as she stepped back a bit with wide eyes and she smiled nervously. "Y-You gotta stop sneaking up on me like that... It's not nice..." she then said to him, trying to hide her fear, though it was highly noticeable in her tone of voice. "I guess Belle went to bed early tonight... That sounds like a great idea, huh?"
"Did you not think that Belle and I would be worried you weren't coming home?" Gold asked Cherry, not letting her get away with it.
"You said after dinner!" Cherry defended as her arms flailed. "It took me a while to eat dinner!"
Gold hummed to that.
"I did!" Cherry told him assertively. "...Then maybe I had a little bit of dessert... I paid attention the time, really, I did..." she said before falling on her knees in front of him. "I-I'm sorry... I just... You don't understand."
"Then tell me, make me understand if you think I don't." Gold told her.
"...Okay, I didn't think I'd get this far," Cherry said softly as she rubbed her arm before sighing. "Uh, well... I just wanted to catch up with my family for a little bit. No harm done at all... Plus... They comforted me in my time of need and they were proud of me... But I guess you wouldn't know what that's like, now would you?" she then added, a bit sharply, trying to brave his tone and temperament.
Gold stiffened to that. "No, you're right, I wouldn't." he said coldly.
Cherry flinched from his cold tone. "Oh, crap, I went too far..." she said as sweat rolled down her face. "All right!" she then said in a high-pitched voice, her mental capacity giving up on trying to brave up against him. "So, uh, I'll just go to my room for the rest of the night and I won't disturb you so you can get some rest... Bye..." she said as she shuffled away from his gaze as she went to go up to her room, appearing to be trembling slightly and not just from the cold, bleak atmosphere.
Gold sighed and rubbed his cheek tiredly.
"G-Good night..." Cherry said to him, shivering slightly before she kept on going to her room, but she stared down at the floor on her way into her room. She didn't bother changing into her pajamas, she soon lay right down on her bed and bundled up, wrapping the blanket up around her as she sighed, part of her feeling like she deserved this and another part feeling like he shouldn't be bossing her around like that, though unknown to her, it was her father trying to control her, especially her shadow to push her more into the villainous side.
Gold gave her a 'good night' in reply but then set to go back to bed himself. Cherry sniffled, shivering a bit more before she went to close her bedroom window before flinching as she saw bars against the window like in a jail cell before she sighed and shut the window, throwing the curtains over it, and soon went to get back to sleep as tears dripped onto her pillow as she felt so sick and unhappy. Belle turned over in her sleep, though she looked like she was crying a little bit in her sleep.
Gold came over, seeing Belle crying. "Belle?" he asked softly.
"I'm asleep..." Belle said through some sobs so that he wouldn't see her crying.
"What's wrong, Belle?" Gold asked quietly.
"I just... I don't know what we're going to do..." Belle frowned as she soon looked at him, not even bothering trying to pretend to be asleep as she was obviously very sad. "About... Everything that's going on and what's going on with Cherry... What can we even do?"
Gold carefully helped Belle into a sitting position and hugged her. "I'll figure out something, you know I will." he said.
"You're so brave and smart," Belle sniffled as she hugged him right away, still tearing up a bit. "At least we have each other."
"And once this is all over we'll still have Cherry too, but I promise you, Belle, you'll always have me." Gold told her.
"Oh, Rumple..." Belle whispered as she squeezed him a bit in the hug as she sighed shakily through her tears.
Gold stroked her hair soothingly as he hugged her back warmly. Belle gave a small, purring smile as she blushed, though her eyes were still wet, she had stopped crying as she bundled down with him to get some sleep. Gold settled down a little too. Belle snuggled up into him as she drifted off to sleep eventually. Gold stayed awake a bit longer, but couldn't escape Morpheus' grasp.