Later that evening, Katie and Edward were both on the way back to Granny's Inn.
"Well, this is our stop," Killian said to Katie as they got to the door. "Unless you're sure you want to stay here and not with me until things have cooled down with your parents?" he then asked with a small, playful puppy dog pout.
Katie gave a small smile. "I don't want to be a burden, Killian," she said softly. "But we'll both sleep on it tonight, and if you still want me to stay with you I'll do it, if I'm not ready to speak to my parents." she told him with a warm, but small smile.
"All right then," Killian said with a small smile back. "But you have my new number and I have yours... Rest in Peace old phone, right?" he then added as a light joke even if that was his fault.
Katie nodded with a small smile. She then leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss. Killian smiled back as he took the kiss before holding her face with his hand to keep the kiss to make it last a bit longer, winking at himself a bit as Edward already decided to go on ahead inside. Katie squeaked in surprise to that, but her eyes closed a little as she let him deepen the kiss a little. Killian chuckled, turning a bit red in the face and he started to sweat a little bit.
Katie pulled away when she needed to breathe. "Well, that was a nice good night kiss~" she breathed.
"Yes, I want you to have sweet dreams tonight and I wish to be a visitor to those dreams." Killian smirked as he winked at her.
"Well, I better head in, rebook the room, and then settle down so I can fall asleep faster then, huh?" Katie giggled.
"All right," Killian chuckled with a smirk. "You have a good night now, Katie.. I shall await for another visit with each other."
Katie nodded and then pressed one more gentle kiss to his lips before she headed inside. Killian smiled before he then went to head back over to his ship for the rest of the evening, having a bit of a spring in his step. Katie giggled, and booked in again, paying for another night, before she went upstairs to the room she was assigned for that evening. Granny nodded at Katie and let her go off once that was taken care of. Katie soon headed to her room, and then decided to try for an earlier night, but took another shower so she would still be clean. Edward spied on Katie again, though he felt something hurting and aching in his heart, finding himself unable to keep doing it much longer, so he stopped to just before she stepped into the shower and began to wonder what was wrong with him.
Long after her power nap, Cherry was distracting herself with her laptop computer as she was lying down on the bed of her room, typing away a storm, pondering what to get to eat probably later. Gold was making dinner.
Belle decided to sit by a window and read one of her books before sniffing the air and smiled. "Mm... Smells heavenly~..." she said to herself. "I wonder how long until-"
Cherry's bedroom door soon opened and closed and her feet were heard on the floor, traveling down the hallway.
"Too late." Belle then smirked at herself.
Gold smirked as he heard that too. Cherry peeked her head out into the kitchen, sniffing as she tried to follow the scent like a cartoon animal before she suddenly fell in the middle of the floor and she dashed behind the wall again before looking sheepish.
"Dinner will be ready shortly, if you could set the table and fetch Belle that would be very helpful~" Gold told Cherry.
"Aww, Goldibear..." Cherry playfully whined about setting up the table before she walked off. "Okieh~"
Gold smirked a little. Cherry playfully grumbled to herself like she was frustrated and annoyed while she set the table, showing that she was clearly feeling much better now before she then went to go and get Belle. Gold smiled a little to that, glad Cherry was feeling better. Cherry and Belle took a few moments before they soon came to join him to dinner, though Cherry a bit quicker since she always felt a bit extra hungry or thirsty after a nap. Gold soon dished up the food and put it in the middle so everyone could help themselves.
"How do you feel?" Belle asked Cherry.
"Hungry... Enough talking... Food..." Cherry said as she began to help herself eagerly. "Mm... I love a man who can cook~" she then cooed while gushing a bit.
"Well, luckily I can do that." Gold smirked a little.
"It smells and looks great." Belle beamed.
Cherry didn't say anything else as she just already helped herself to the food, nearly stuffing her face which made her look like a chipmunk due to her dimples. Gold smiled and soon made himself a plate before starting to eat.
"I didn't bother anyone with my typing, did I?" Cherry asked.
"No, I was curious of what you were writing about, but it's fine," Belle replied. "That's your business."
"No, you didn't bother me either, dearie." Gold told Cherry.
"I'll be sure to show you when it's done and edited." Cherry smiled sheepishly as she was working on a special project.
Overall, a good evening was had by all. Gold was getting ready for bed himself, having sent the ladies up ahead. Belle smiled warmly at him as she followed Cherry upstairs as the younger woman yawned softly. Gold smiled as he watched them go. Belle and Cherry soon both got ready in the bathroom before they split up together and went to their respective bedrooms for the night. A shadow soon came to sneak up right behind Gold to cast over him.
"Same room, dearies," Gold called up before his eyes flashed as he looked to the shadow. "Leave now, shadow being or you will find I'm not easy to deal with." he told it.
The shadow soon backed away before disappearing like a coward.
"Oh! Um, okay!" Belle's voice replied.
"I guess I'll go this way now~" Cherry's voice added before yelping. "Wah! Pillow traffic jam!"
Gold smirked to the shadow running off then went to join the ladies. Belle smiled as she sat up at the front of the bed while Cherry was lying on her stomach with her feet hanging over her head as she was at the end of the bed, playing on her phone.
"Blasted birds... I'll show YOU what angry looks like..." Cherry muttered to herself.
Gold soon entered and climbed into bed on Cherry's other side. Cherry looked a bit wide-eyed before she put her phone down and scooched over against Belle's lap.
"What took you so long?~" Belle teased as she helped Cherry so that she wouldn't fall off of the bed.
Gold chuckled. "Lie down, dearies, it's just sleeping." he said with a small smirk.
"All right..." Cherry said, crawling off a bit as she leaned down right over him then with a small smirk as she went to plug up her phone for the night. "Yoink!"
Belle giggled at that before Cherry got off and soon went to crawl back to the end to lie down and get comfortable. Gold however pulled her up to the middle and held one of her hands to keep her there.
"W-W-What the...?" Cherry uttered out. "What're you...?"
Belle saw that and soon decided to do the same on the other side, giggling a bit.
"Sleep time, shh~" Gold smirked.
Cherry's eyes darted back and forth. Belle then turned out the light and bundled down as she held Cherry's left hand.
"...What if I have to go to the bathroom?" Cherry asked awkwardly.
"Then you can wake one of us, we won't mind." Gold said quietly.
"...Okay," Cherry said softly. "...Good night."
"Good night, my dears." Gold told the two.
"Good night..." Cherry and Belle replied softly as they went to drift off to sleep that night.
Cherry tried to adjust since this was something new to her as she nuzzled between the two before she drifted off to sleep. Gold closed his eyes as even he started to drift off a little. Cherry muttered a bit in her sleep since she was on her back. Belle smiled as she slept easily and soundly.
Later that evening, Katie was in bed and starting to settle down, ready to sleep for the night. Just before she got settled into bed, her phone started to ring. Katie took a look at the caller ID and then answered the phone. "Hello?" she asked softly.
"Um... Hey, Katie..." David's voice greeted softly. "How's it going?"
"H-Hi, Dad." Katie said softly.
"How... How's it going?" David asked bashfully.
"It's going fine... H-How are you and Mom?" Katie asked softly.
"We're doing fine..." David replied. "We miss you a lot though. Y-Your mother and I, I mean."
"I miss you both too, but I won't change my mind about Cherry... I know she didn't do any of those things." Katie said softly, but did have to let him know.
"Yes... I understand," David sighed. "And I'm sorry I said what I said... Your mother and I both are sorry... We shouldn't have said those things."
"I-I will forgive you, if you can apologize to Cherry too." Katie said softly.
"We will," David replied. "I just have to know... When do you think you'll be coming back home?"
"M-Maybe tomorrow?" was the best Katie could offer. "I love you though, Dad, you and Mom." she told him softly.
"Tomorrow sounds nice," David said softly. "We were wrong and I'm sorry, we miss seeing you and your little friend."
"Good night, Dad, we'll speak more tomorrow," Katie said softly then. "I didn't sleep the best last night so I'm having an earlier night." she said quietly.
"All right, you have a good night now," David smiled. "Thank you for taking my call at least. Good night, my little princess~" he then added, sounding like a typical dad now.
Katie giggled to that. "Good night Prince Father," she said softly. "Give my love to Mom too." she told him before she would let him hang up first.
"I will," David chuckled. "Night-Night." he then said one last time before hanging up.
"Sleep sweet." Katie said softly before hanging up after he did, then placed her phone in reach before starting to settle down.
David smiled warmly after hanging up, looking a bit happy and relieved to have the call.
"How was she?" Mary Margaret asked him softly.
Katie soon settled down to try to sleep herself.
"She was pretty alright, going to bed early tonight though," David replied to her. "Guess she had a big night last night."
Mary Margaret couldn't help but look a little curious. She gave a small smile. "What about coming home?" she asked hopefully.
"She'll be coming back tomorrow," David said softly. "I'm just glad she did decide to come back home, though some apologies will be in order of course."
Mary Margaret gave a small nod. "Of course," she agreed. "Maybe we should head to bed ourselves~" she then suggested quietly, wanting to be well-rested so she could be fully awake when meeting Katie up tomorrow again.
"Sounds good to me," David nodded as he walked off. "I'll be right with you in a few moments, my Snow White~" he then said with a grin on his face.
"I shall be waiting, My Prince Charming~" Mary Margaret giggled softly.
David chuckled before he soon walked off to finish getting ready for bed in the bathroom before he then walked on out to go and join her to bed. Mary Margaret smiled at her husband.
"Now then," David smiled back. "Whatya say we have a bit of more alone time until sometime tomorrow?"
"I think we can~" Mary Margaret grinned.
"All right then," David chuckled as he went to climb into bed with her, rubbing up against her before he got comfortable. "I'm gonna let you find out why I call myself 'The Snowblow Master'."
Mary Margaret giggled and smirked a little. David chuckled as he dove in for Mary Margaret then, holding her face with one hand as he began to give her a sweet and deep kiss right on the lips.
Katie soon drifted off to sleep, finding it much easier now she wasn't so worried over Killian and her fight and the fight between her and her parents. Someone soon came into the room, trying very hard to be quiet while standing over Katie as she drifted off to sleep and grinned darkly while watching her sleep. Katie murmured as the person's shadow fell over her from the window. She turned onto her other side and slowly opened her eyes as she could sense she wasn't alone in the room. The other person soon took off and went to hide so that they wouldn't be seen so easily or quickly.
Katie muttered. "Darn shadow, haunting my mind..." she muttered then turned back over to her starting position and cuddled up to a pillow, kicking a leg from under the cover as it was quite warm and starting to drift off again.
The stranger peeked out a bit, watching her from afar with a wicked and crafty smirk forming while looking over Katie like a guardian angel or something even creepier and probably worse than a phantom. Katie soon drifted right off to sleep. The stranger kept watching for as long as possible that night. The stranger soon went to take one pillow away from the bed before darting off to another side of the room a bit.
Katie glanced to the lack of pillows. "I'm missing a pillow." she mumbled but shrugged and tried to go back to sleep.
The stranger lightly chuckled at that.
Katie's eyes shot open at the chuckle and then looked in the direction it came from. "Alright, who dares disturb my slumber?!" she almost growled, her mood grouchy when she was trying to sleep.
The stranger soon tried to hide away and keep quiet then, but it was a familiar stranger who kept quiet.
"Whoever you are I want my pillow back~" Katie murmured as she went to stand up to fetch her pillow back from whoever it was anyway.
The pillow was soon thrown right at Katie's face before the door opened and closed before the stranger could be seen. Katie grunted in shock, then not caring about her state of undress as most others were asleep she charged after the intruder.
"Katie... Are you all right...?" Edward asked innocently. "I thought I heard a loud sound outside my door."
"Someone or something came into my room, did you see anyone?" Katie asked him. She then realized she was practically naked and would be definitely considered naked by the standards of his time and blushed deeply.
"I heard something, but I'm afraid I didn't see anyone," Edward said softly before he awkwardly turned away, putting his hand to his face a bit. "Erm... Uh... I suggest you put on some extra clothes though if you, uh, wish to go exploring..." he then said with an embarrassed smile.
"I-I'll just return to bed, whoever it was woke me up..." Katie said embarrassedly and went to leave, blushing a pretty kind of pink.
"I'm sorry that had to happen," Edward soothed. "I hope you have a better sleep... I can stay awake a little longer if you want me to keep an eye out for you?" he then offered.
"O-Oh, I couldn't ask you to do that." Katie blushed.
"It was a thought," Edward shrugged bashfully. "But if you think you're well enough to sleep alone tonight."
"I-I can't ask you to sit up and watch over me, Edward," Katie said softly.
"Well, if you insist," Edward then said. "Might I suggest some music on that... Calling device of yours?" he then suggested as advice. "Might help calm you down? ...I know some good old-fashioned music always soothes my inner demon and beasts."
"The cell phone? I could, I guess," Katie said softly, she then bit her lip. "But what if the person or being comes back?" she then asked, more to herself quietly.
"If you're really that nervous, I think I should keep a closer eye on you tonight," Edward replied. "Or maybe invite your pirate friend over if you're skittish since you trust him."
"Oh, Edward, I do trust you." Katie told him, turning to him then and reaching up to at least touch his shoulder.
"You do?" Edward asked with a small smile on his face.
Katie nodded with a small and sincere smile. "I do." she agreed softly.
"I appreciate that," Edward smiled back. "Most people are just put off by me being big, tall, and a bit ill-tempered and treat me like I'm a scary freak or something."
"You're not a freak, you might be big and tall but that's just you, and everyone can be a bit ill-tempered now and then." Katie said softly. She then blushed but gave him a hug.
Edward blinked, surprised of the hug, but it was not unwelcome to him.
Katie had to wrap an arm around his waist, though her other came to rest over his heart. "You have a heart, like everyone else does." she smiled softly.
"Yes..." Edward nodded a bit as his heart beat when she felt it. "Not everyone gets that like you do, but you are very observant, my dear~"
Katie gave a small smile. "While I don't have a whole of my own anymore, I still have half thanks to the love of Killian." Katie said softly.
"He seems to be the whole world to you and you to him," Edward replied. "I do hope I find someone like that for myself eventually."
"I know you will." Katie gave a soft smile to him, then literally had to give a little hop so she could try and reach his cheek to give it a small kiss.
Edward lightly chuckled, amused by the gesture and endeared by the kiss. "Thank you, Katie," he then said. "Now, I think you've spent enough time awake right now and should head back to sleep now."
"A-Alright." Katie said softly.
"Good night then, Katie." Edward wished.
"Good night, Edward." Katie said softly.
Edward nodded and soon let her go off to bed then as he went back into his room. Katie sighed softly as she went back to bed, making sure to lock the door. Edward then closed his own door and went to get to his bed, seeing an extra pillow in his room, though he either felt seriously confused or secretly hiding other feelings about why it was in there.
Katie looked over the bedding and grumbled. "You know what? Fine, I don't need that third pillow..." she muttered and then settled down and soon drifted off to sleep.
Gold was holding Cherry's hand warmly, having actually fallen into a full, though normal, sleep. Cherry wiggled a bit as she tried to stumble out of bed to get up and walk out only to get flung and pulled right back right in the middle of the bed as she grunted with wide eyes as she seemed to forget about the hand holding. Belle smiled warmly, her hand still on Cherry's other hand.
"Sleep, dearie..." Gold murmured.
"But I-" Cherry whispered.
"Sleepy time." Belle replied.
"...I have to pee..." Cherry grumbled with a pout.
"Alright..." Gold murmured and let her hand go.
Belle then let go eventually. Cherry let out a small tired groan as she scooched down before yelping as she fell flat on the floor before she then stood up and walked off to the bathroom, mumbling to herself on the way before she shut the door behind her. Gold waited for Cherry to return. Belle slept peacefully, unlike her husband who was a bit more awake even though it was late enough at night as it was.
Cherry soon flushed and began to wash her hands, staring at her reflection before sighing. She then dried her hands as she decided to get a quick glass of water, staring down into the sink as she filled the glass up before she looked back up in her reflection before letting out a startled shriek as she dropped the glass as she jumped back as her heart jumped as her reflection changed into the form of Ursula looking right at her through the mirror. "Aaah!"
The Ursula in the mirror seemed to smirk. Gold jolted a little and got out of bed to check Cherry was alright. Cherry soon took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes wearily as she looked at the mirror, wondering if she was just seeing things or not.
"Cherry?!" Gold called out.
"Hello dear~" Ursula smirked.
"No... You can't be here..." Cherry said, turning away from the woman in the mirror. "I'm dreaming."
"Why can't I?" Ursula asked. "I have magic after all~" she said.
"No, no..." Cherry shook her head before she cried out. "RUMPLE! HELP!"
Belle jolted a bit as that screaming woke her up suddenly before she gasped as everyone else in the bed was gone except for her. Gold hurried to that, coming to where Cherry was. Ursula then disappeared.
Cherry shivered in the corner of the bathroom, looking a bit nervous and scared. "What the hell was that?" she then muttered to herself. "I must be seeing things..."
"What happened?" Gold asked her as he looked around.
"Don't you see?!" Cherry cried out, sounding a bit crazy right now. "She was there! Looking right at me and talking to me!"
"Who was, dearie?" Gold asked.
"Who else? Ursula!" Cherry replied as she stood up and pointed at the mirror. "She's right-" she then stopped before looking to only see her reflection. "...There," she then finished in defeat and anguish. "Oh, come on! You gotta be freakin' kidding me with that shit..."
"Ursula was there in the mirror?" Gold asked, just to make sure he understood correctly.
"Yes! Yes!" Cherry told him before she fell to her knees. "I am not crazy!"
"Well, while I haven't seen it myself, I know most of their tricks... So don't worry, Dearie, I believe you." Gold assured her.
Cherry let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," she then said. "I just... I don't know what that was all about... She was there... I kinda felt... Sick."
"Sick?" Gold asked in concern.
"I'm fine, I'm sure of it," Cherry said as she stood up and walked over beside him a little. "...Let's just get back into bed... A-A-And I promise I'll try not to run away this time... Wh-Why would I wanna leave?"
Gold pressed the back of his hand against her forehead to check her temperature.
"Ooh..." Cherry looked a bit wide-eyed and blushy-faced, sweating a bit, as that felt suddenly, though she was a bit warm right now, that was mostly from hormones as she tried to keep herself together for his sake. "Heh... No fever... But my blood's burning for you and Belle?"
"Hmm~" Gold hummed, with a slight purry undertone.
"Uh... Yes... Right... Time for bed..." Cherry grinned bashfully.
Gold then offered her his hand. Cherry looked over and soon accepted his hand calmly this time since they were official now before they went off together.
"Is everything okay?" Belle asked them quietly and calmly as she met them in the hallway. "I heard screaming."
"Just something in the mirror." Gold demurred for now.
"Oh... Well, I hope it's gone now..." Belle said softly. "Are you done, Cherry?"
"For now, yes." Cherry nodded.
"All right," Belle said before smirking, playfully dark and mostly lustful. "Because I doubt Rumple is going to let you go away again like that for the rest of the evening and I plan to do the same~"
"I ain't afraid of no ghost." Cherry grinned sheepishly as Belle just glanced over at her husband, feeling confused.
Gold chuckled a little. He then led Cherry to the bed. Belle soon went back over to her side of the bed. Cherry picked up her phone, just to make sure before she flinched at the bright light and soon turned it off for the night as she went to go to her space in the middle. Gold leaned over Cherry then to give Belle a little kiss, before he then did the same to Cherry herself. Belle smiled softly and warmly from the kiss. Cherry had a chipmunky giggle as she squirmed and wiggled in the bed from her kiss, flopping around a bit. Gold chuckled before lying down so they could sleep.
The next morning soon came in warm, but overcast. Katie woke up and soon got ready for the day. She then left her room after stripping the bedding off for Granny and putting it in the room's washing basket. She locked the door and then headed down to the desk to give the key back. Edward peeked his head out his door as he thought he heard something before looking over and watched Katie a bit, but tried not to be perverted or creepy, though that ship had sailed a long time ago.
"I can feel you lurking~" Katie grinned as she then glanced over her shoulder to Edward.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Edward replied innocently. "I just wanted to make sure you slept alright last night."
"I did when I finally drifted off, thank you," Katie smiled to him. "Did you sleep well?" she asked him.
"I did once I got to sleep," Edward nodded as he stepped down the stairs to come over to see her a bit closer. "I was just hoping that nothing bad would happen to you."
"Well, nothing did," Katie smiled warmly to him. Then had an idea. "Would you maybe like to come for a jog with me?" she offered. "You won't offend me if I say no." she told him.
"Hmm... I suppose some fresh air might be a good idea..." Edward replied. "Would you mind waiting a few minutes though?"
"Of course." Katie smiled to him.
Edward gave a small smile back as he went back into his room for a bit.
"Good morning, dear," Granny yawned as she came by. "Was this your final night or are you staying until later today?"
"I think this is my last night here, I got a call from my dad last night, so if I don't end up sleeping there though I'll stay with Killian tonight," Katie told the woman with a soft smile. "The bed has been stripped, but something mischevious stole a pillow last night so that's why there is one less in my room from last night." she then told her softly, as she held out the key.
"I see..." Granny nodded as she wrote something down in her book before accepting the key. "Thank you, dear. I hope it was a good stay, despite of the pillow thief."
"It was, thank you, Granny." Katie smiled warmly. She then smiled as she was waiting for Edward.
"I'm glad." Granny smiled back.
Katie nodded. "Let's go." she said, and soon went on a jog with him. She decided to go through the woods a little too, as it was a nice enough day to.
Edward followed as best as he could, though he luckily had enough strength and energy to do so despite the early morning, but he could help but yawn a few times. He looked all around their surroundings as they made it into the woods before he glanced at a cabin, looking curiously at it, though tried not to make a big fuss over it.
Katie noticed it too. "Shall we go investigate?" she had to ask him for his opinion.
"If you think that's a good idea," Edward replied. "Have you seen this cabin before?"
"No." Katie said, as she personally hadn't but quietly approached to look in.
Edward looked to her and soon walked with her to go and check out the cabin. It looked like a pretty woodsy and comfortable enough cabin with a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room area, a couple of bedrooms.
"This must be where Goldilocks lives after the Enchanted Forest?" Edward guessed.
"I wouldn't know," Katie said softly. "But I don't think so." she added softly.
"If there are three bears, I'm going to start running." Edward smirked to help lighten the situation.
"What are you doing on my property?" A familiar voice asked from right behind Katie and Edward, sounding a bit firm.
Katie squeaked in surprise. "Actually the woods belongs to everyone in Storybrooke," she automatically found herself correcting. She then turned. "Oh, Mr. Samdi," she noticed. "Sorry I've just never seen this cabin before." she then said apologetically.
Edward glanced over with Katie then.
"I see..." Baron said, mysteriously. "Interesting to see you outside of the store though..." he then said as a light joke.
Katie gave a small chuckle to that.
"Up pretty early, aren't we?" Baron then asked as he was coming closer to them.
"Jog." Edward nodded.
"I see," Baron smirked then. "I was just collecting some breakfast for myself~"
Katie gave a small smile. "We'll just head off, now we know you live here." she said softly, though was a little nervous at his sudden smirking.
"All right then," Baron smirked lightly. "I'd ask you to step inside, but you look busy right now."
"A bit busy, yes." Edward nodded.
Katie gave a small nod. "See you around." she said and was about to leave with Edward.
Ursula came from the side of the house an empty washbasket in hand.
"Run along then," Baron nodded. "You have a nice day now, dear."
Edward glanced over towards Ursula before he would walk on out with Katie fully.
"Y-You too~" Katie gave a small smile.
"Oh, guests?" Ursula then spoke up. "I insist we invite them in for a drink, Baron dear~" she said.
Edward just glanced over a bit.
"Ah... Well, if they have nothing else planned," Baron said with a bit of a friendly-looking grin. "We don't receive visitors very often."
Katie was about to politely decline but Ursula interrupted.
"I INSIST," Ursula said, with a nice though firm voice. "You are friends with our Cherry, aren't you?" she smiled to Katie.
"Ah... That tiny girl with the confusing sense of humor... Yes..." Edward nodded.
"Well... This is a really nice honor then, isn't it?" Facilier smirked then as he looked over at Katie as well.
"Y-Yes... She's like a sister to me." Katie gave a small smile.
"That sounds nice," Facilier nodded. "Then you really must come along and join us~"
"You too, if you wish, Mr. Hyde~" Ursula smiled as she ushered Katie inside.
"I suppose." Edward replied as he decided to go on inside.
"I'll be right there," Facilier nodded. "Make yourselves at home..." he then shared a smirk with Ursula once their guests came on inside.
Ursula smirked slyly behind their backs to Facilier. She then took them inside and started to make them a drink.
Facilier chuckled a bit as he walked off and checked his cards while also collecting some food in his basket. "Edward Hyde and the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming," he said to himself with a small smirk. "How very interesting... Two unlikely friends brought together to make things right in Storybrooke... Now for another phase in the curse..."
"Always wanna be starting something... Always wanna be starting something... You're a vegetable~..." Cherry muttered in her sleep as she was bundled between her two lovers, sounding a bit groggy before she fully woke up that morning.
Gold smiled a little as he looked to both his loves, then got up and decided to do one more breakfast before he would allow them to do a couple of the meals too if they wanted. 'Vegetable?' he thought to himself with a smirk.
Once he left the bed, Cherry soon cuddled right up to Belle, babbling in her sleep with a small smirk. "Mamasaymamamso, Mamasaymamaso, Mamasaymamaso, Mama Goose So~... Hee-Hee~..."
Gold shook his head fondly. Cherry giggled in her sleep as she snuggled up to Belle as he began to leave. Gold went down to the kitchen to start the breakfast.
"Scrambled eggs!" Belle called out just before he was out of earshot as she wrapped her hands around Cherry to cover her ears a bit.
Cherry muffled and shuffled around suddenly as that woke her up.
"Shh... Go to sleep, Baby Bear~..." Belle whispered with a giggle.
"Very well~" Gold chuckled as he managed to hear that.
"Good morning, dear," Granny yawned as she came by. "Was this your final night or are you staying until later today?"
"I want fried eggs!" Cherry called out once she got free, sprawling a bit as Belle cuddled into her.
Gold soon started to make the food. Cherry and Belle shared a look with each other before Cherry yelped as she was suddenly pushed down and the older woman was on top.
Gold soon dished up breakfast and called the two women down. Belle soon came down the stairs, though Cherry changed herself into a cat this time so that she would be quicker down the stairs before she soon changed back once she came to her seat, both of their hair was messed up and they both seemed a bit giggly around him right now. Gold raised an eyebrow and subtly glanced at Cherry's wrist.
Cherry seemed to be missing her cuff. "Food time..." she said, getting ready to eat.
Belle nodded before looking nervous as she bit her lip then. "It looks so good," she then quickly said. "We should eat it right now and enjoy this lovely morning together. Good? Good..."
Gold snapped his fingers and the cuff came back on, this time only he would be able to take it off her. He also made sure to see if Belle had any compulsions on her to have done that.
Cherry looked over and groaned in defeat. "...I should've known he would've noticed that..." she said before folding her arms and staring at the floor like a stubborn child.
Belle looked over at him bashfully and innocently. "...I'm sorry!" she then cried out. "I had to help her... She just gave me those cute little puppy dog eyes~"
"That cuff is on there for her protection, or should we just let the darkness consume her?" Gold told Belle, then looked to Cherry. "Only I can take that off, dearie, and it's on there to protect you." he told her.
Belle didn't answer his question, she just frowned and agreed that he was right.
"I don't like it..." Cherry pouted before she looked up at him with sad puppy eyes, putting a finger up to one of her dimples to look cute. "Can't I just leave it off for a little while?~"
"No, dearie, you may be cute, but I won't take it off you." Gold told her.
"Hmph..." Cherry pouted as she hugged her hands over her stomach before she sat up. "...At least the eggs look good..." she then said, breaking up her toast into pieces to go onto the eggs before she would eat them and soon began to do so.
"Taste nice too." Belle added as she decided to already eat up.
Gold then started to eat his breakfast too. Cherry and Belle ate up their breakfast, though at least the cuff wasn't itchy as it was a quiet breakfast so far.
"A-Any plans today?" Cherry asked softly. "I thought maybe... I could go outside... Visit the library... And do absolutely nothing magical at all..."
"Well, with the cuff on you won't be able to do magic, maybe you could go to the library with Belle though." Gold nodded.
"Could I?" Cherry asked Belle with her puppy dog eyes.
"Aww~..." Belle cooed before she suddenly hugged Cherry. "Mm... Of course you can~"
Cherry muffled, waving her arms out from the sudden hug. Why must she always be a sandwich whenever it comes to Belle? Gold had to chuckle a little to that. Cherry and Belle soon both went back to sitting down to finish up their breakfast once they got out of the hug.
Gold finished up his. "Will you girls join me for lunch?" he then asked.
"Sure!" Belle smiled.
"As long as you promise not to yell at me~" Cherry pouted softly.
"Why would I shout at you?" Gold asked.
"I dunno..." Cherry said softly. "Guess that was just a silly dream, but don't worry about it..." she then grinned sheepishly. "Next to Killian or Regina yelling at nothing... Just forget it~"
Belle frowned softly in concern. Gold frowned a little in concern to that too.
Cherry soon finished up her breakfast. "Thanks for breakfast," she then said. "I'll get the dishes."
"I'll get them today, why don't you sit and relax a little bit?" Belle suggested, stopping her as she decided to clear the table today.
"Thank you, dearie," Gold told Belle. He stood himself and kissed her cheek before kissing Cherry's cheek too. "I'll head off to work." he said.
"Okay..." Cherry said as she scratched the cuff a little bit, though of course, that wouldn't do in getting it off. "Have a good day."
"See you at lunch, Rumple." Belle smiled warmly at him.
"See you at lunch, dearies." Gold said as he went to get ready for work.
"Goodbye." Cherry and Belle replied as he left and it was now just the two of them.
Gold waved to them. The girls waved at him before Cherry soon went to get ready for the day and get dressed as Belle went to wash up her dishes. Regina glared at her apple tree and stomped the ground a few times in anger and annoyance as it was getting a little bad again. Gold glanced as he drove past.
"Dammit..." Regina grumbled as she stormed off back inside her home. "If that little bitch did this, I swear, I'm gonna freeze her in place and skin her alive and then I'll bring her back to life and do it again and again and again..."
"This place looks and feels really cozy." Edward had to admit to Ursula.
"Thank you, and once Baron comes inside I insist you tell us all about Cherry." Ursula said to Hyde then told Katie.
"A-Alright..." Katie said quietly.
"I couldn't tell you too much," Edward said softly. "But she has a very interesting sense of humor... She was talking in riddles when I first saw her... Something about my mother being a slowblower and sounding like a ranting German saying that she would be back?"
Katie gave a small giggle and patted Edward's hand.
"Are you two hungry?" Facilier asked as he came by inside then.
"I don't think my stomach's awake right now." Edward chuckled bashfully.
"I-I'm fine, thank you." Katie gave a small smile.
"Baron cooks very well~" Ursula smiled to them.
"...Maybe just a little plate of eggs." Edward shrugged.
"Now you're talkin'," Facilier chuckled as he soon walked off to do that as he went right into the kitchen. "No one can resist my good, old-fashioned cookin'~"
"A-Alright." Katie agreed then quietly.
Facilier nodded in approval.
"I never could say no to a good meal." Edward bashfully said to Katie.
Katie gave a small smile.
"So... How's your day...?" Edward awkwardly asked Ursula.
"It's been fine so far~" Ursula smiled.
"That's nice." Edward nodded.
"It does seem like a lovely and perfect day so far," Facilier beamed. "I'm so glad you decided to join us~"
After breakfast and Katie telling Ursula and 'Baron' about Cherry, Katie gave a soft smile. "We better carry on." she said softly and politely.
"Thank you for coming," Facilier smiled back. "It was nice to spend some time from you without you needing to spend a penny in the store~"
Katie gave a small smile and nod. "It's always nice to make friends." she said.
"Very nice, I just hope you didn't mind the singing I gave you during your breakfast." Facilier chuckled.
"Sing better than I do," Edward smirked. "Now, I suppose we'll get out of your hair now."
Ursula smiled. "Thank you for telling us about Cherry." she told Katie, and even gave the girl a hug.
Katie blinked in surprise from the hug but gently patted the woman on the back in the hug.
"Glad I could somewhat help." Edward said as he shook hands with the man of the house.
"We should do this again sometime, you have a safe journey back now." Facilier nodded.
Ursula then pulled Edward away to shake his hand herself. Katie blinked and offered her hand to shake 'Baron's'. "Baron" looked over and smiled, holding his hand out to Katie then. Edward looked at the couple, feeling something suspicious. In fact, he felt it during the whole visit, but he did his best to keep it to himself so he wouldn't be seen as rude or just lashing out as he decided he would do a little more investigating for Katie's sake.
Katie put her hand in his to shake it. "Thank you for breakfast." she told him.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, dear," Facilier smiled. "It's also been nice to get to know you better and to meet a special friend of my little princess's."
Katie smiled and nodded. "Well, good bye for now." she said.
"So long and don't be a stranger." Facilier nodded as he went back inside with Ursula.
"See you much later then." Edward added as he escorted Katie out the door so that they could leave the cabin for right now.
Katie gave a polite wave. "Sh-Shall we jog back to town?" she asked him then.
"Yes, I believe we shall," Edward nodded. "Maybe I'll take a quick nap before lunch since you got me out of bed so early." he then added as a bit of a tease.
"You were the one stalking me, my good sir~" Katie gently nudged him in the side before jogging off ahead with a giggle.
"Oh... So I was," Edward chuckled before he went to follow her. "So, you want me to take you to the door and I'll get back to the inn then?" he then asked calmly and politely.
"That would be lovely." Katie smiled warmly to him.
"All right," Edward smiled back. "I enjoyed the jogging company at least. It's nice to meet people who can see the good in me."
Katie smiled and took his hand soothingly before they continued jogging. Edward looked to her as they soon went off again, though he was a bit slower than she was, but he did manage to catch up. Katie smiled to Edward, then once they arrived at her mother's apartment she looked a little nervous.
"Well, here we are," Edward said as he stood with Katie. "That was a nice little jog even if it was really early."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Katie said softly. She gave a small smile. "You have my number now, so if you need anything call me." she told him softly.
"Sure thing," Edward nodded. "Just forgive me if it's a little awkward at first."
"It's alright, if you need me just tell me you need me and I'll be on my way." Katie smiled soothingly to him, and then knocked on the door to the apartment.
Edward nodded. "Adieu." he then told her before walking off.
"Just a sec!" David's voice replied on the other side.
Katie nervously rubbed her arm as she waited.
Eventually, David came down to the door with a warm and inviting smile. "Katie... There you are..." he said, sounding and looking very happy to see her again.
"Hi, Dad." Katie said softly with a small smile.
"How are ya?" David smiled back before he soon gave her a hug.
Katie hugged him back. "I'm alright." she said softly. She then blinked as Mary Margaret carefully pulled them inside and joined in the hug.
"Welcome home." Mary Margaret told her daughter.
"We're glad to have you back," David said softly. "It really hasn't been the same since you left. We're also terribly sorry about what had happened."
Katie closed her eyes to enjoy the hug. "I forgive you both, but it's Cherry you need to apologize to most." she said softly.
"Yes, and of course we'll apologize the very next time we see her." Mary Margaret smiled.
"Would you like to invite her over to lunch or dinner?" David then suggested.
"I'll give her a call and ask, though I think she'll be lunching with Mr. and Mrs. Gold," Katie said quietly. "Give me a moment to give her a call?" she then requested to them, as they were still in the group hug.
"Of course," David nodded. "We'll make it up to both of you. We were wrong to say those things that we did, we hurt you both terribly... I felt bad as soon as you ran out the door..." he then added softly.
Katie gave them both one more squeeze in the hug before she had to step away. "You don't need to make it up to me," she told them. "And I love you guys so, so much... but Cherry has been known to me longer," she said softly.
Mary Margaret moved away to a separate part of the apartment to give Katie peace to speak to Cherry, going to make them all a warm drink. David nodded as he decided to go around with Mary Margaret, though he sat and waited while she would make the call.
Gold was at work, though was looking for some protective stuff.
Regina soon came inside. "All right, I'll let your little friend off the hook, but I need some help with my tree if I'm going to live in this miserable town..." she said, not in a very good mood obviously as she decided to have a look around.
"Nice of you to knock, and a pleasant day is it not?" Gold retorted back, in reply to her sudden entrance and statement. "Give me a moment, I'll see what I have." he then told her.
Regina rolled her eyes at the first thing he said. "No rush." she told him as she took a look around.
Gold put his own search on hold to find something to help Regina.
"Katie helped heal my tree, but it's quitting on me again," Regina said as she crossed her arms. "I need that tree, Gold."
"Keep your hair on, dearie..." Gold smirked. "Maybe you should get her to do it again, she would probably love to help her grandmother~"
"That's not funny." Regina looked very annoyed.
"It's the truth isn't it, dearie?" Gold smirked.
"Are you going to help me or not, Grandpastiltskin?" Regina soon retorted.
"Touché, dearie." Gold narrowed his eyes to that.
Regina smirked. "Looks like I win this round~," she then said before looking over with him. "This better work..." she then mumbled something icily about "his little shadow mermaid".
"Dearie, if you really want help I'd advise you not to insult Cherry." Gold told her firmly.
Regina raised an eyebrow at him, but she was quiet then.
Gold soon came over with a potion. "Pour this onto the ground around the roots, but not directly onto the roots." he told her.
"All right," Regina nodded as she accepted it. "Around the roots... Got it."
"Not on the roots, or your tree will completely rot." Gold said quietly as it needed the nutrients in the soil to temper its work, as otherwise it would work so well it would fail.
"Very well," Regina nodded. "I'll let you get back to... Whatever the hell you were doing back here... What do I owe you?" she then asked.
"Your assurance you will stop blaming Cherry when you have no concrete proof." Gold decided.
"It's not my fault if strange things are happening when she happens to come into Storybrooke," Regina narrowed her eyes. "It's like every since that double rainbow showed up, things have been really different around here."
"They're important, dearie." Gold said.
"All right," Regina sighed and rolled her eyes while accepting the potion. "I'll stop blaming that bug-eyed little friend of yours... Thank you."
Gold narrowed his eyes at the insult.
"I'll be going then." Regina said as she walked off with her potion at hand.
"Bye-Bye, dearie." Gold nodded.
Regina nodded as she soon walked off away from the shop. Eventually, his phone went off after Regina had left with a text from Cherry, asking if he wanted to be escorted to lunch or to meet up.
'When it's closer to lunch, then you can come collect me for lunch. x' Gold replied.
'We were just discussing,' Cherry replied. 'Sorry to disturb your work...' she then added with a sweat-drop emoji.
'It's alright dearie. x' Gold replied.
'Talk to you later... Sorry about earlier... And this right now... Bye...' Cherry replied, apparently sounding apprehensive over the phone even if her voice wasn't heard.
'No worries, dearie, see you and Belle at lunch. x' Gold replied before continuing on with his work.
'Okay, see you,' Cherry replied with a few hearts before she set her phone down and sighed as she stared at the cuff before she went back to organizing the books since Belle asked her to. "My baby takes the morning train... He works from 9 to 5... And then he takes another home again... To find me waiting for him~..." she then lightly sang to herself during the work.