Zelena had grown up in the Dark Castle, it had always been her home, but as she walked up to the front door she felt like a stranger. The front door was never locked, so she pushed it open and went inside knowing her father would know someone was there.
The floor was swept clean, all the windows were uncovered and she could see flowers in a vase on a table at the centre of the hall. Her father usually kept this area as dark and unfriendly as he could, to make any unwanted visitors feel uncomfortable. Removing her hat and cape, she placed them on the table next to the flowers, taking one from the vase to smell. The rose was father had mentioned a new housekeeper, but any staff he hired never lasted long and they never made changes to the castle.
She listened for a sound that meant someone was there but the castle was silent. Perhaps the new servant was in the gardens or had gone to the market for supplies, she didn't really care. She had come to browse her father's library, to see if there was a spell that could help her find her sister or at the least let her speak to her. Clearly her father didn't want to help. So she climbed the stairs and went to the library, pushing open the large doors.
At first she didn't see the young woman who was hidden behind a pile of books, but as she walked towards the table her footsteps alerted the other woman that she was no longer alone and an unfamiliar face appeared.
When she stood, Zelena was even more confused. The woman wasn't dressed like a servant, she was wearing a simple gown but one of good quality materials.
"Who are you?" Zelena asked. "What are you doing here?"
The woman smiled, recognising Zelena from the portraits Rumplestiltskin kept of this daughter and quickly curtsied to the Queen. "I'm the housekeeper, and you're Zelena. Welcome home, your father isn't here at the moment, I don't think he knew you were coming..."
"You're the housekeeper? You don't look like one."
"I am... I was... my name is Belle."
Zelena looked at the pile of books on the table. "Have you been organising the library?"
"Rumplestiltskin allows me to read them when I've finished my chores for the day."
"And you have time to read all of these?" Zelena waved her hand towards the books.
"Not yet, they're part of a collection so I brought them all here so I could read each book in turn."
"Well I'm here to use the library for some research..."
"Perhaps I could help, do you know what you're looking for?" Belle paused and smiled, "although I suppose as you've grown up here you'd know the contents of these shelves better than I do."
"I'm sure I can find them, but thank you."
"Would you like anything to eat or drink? Dinner won't be ready for a while but I have some cold meat I can make into a sandwich, or some cake?"
"Not at the moment." Zelena stared at her for a moment, feeling puzzled, "you seem very cheerful for someone working here. The old servants kept out the way and barely spoke. Doesn't it bother you to be in the Dark Castle?"
Belle shrugged, "It wasn't what I expected when I came here and I've grown used to it. Your father has been very kind, for example letting me use the library."
"You and I must be the only two people to ever use that word to describe him."
"Which word?"
"Kind."
"Oh, well he saved my people from ogres and instead of keeping me locked up in a dungeon in exchange I've got the freedom of the castle. Things could be worse."
Zelena stared at Belle, trying to decide if she was crazy or just naive, then remembering that she didn't have time or any interest in figuring out the answer she walked towards the cushioned seat by the window. Holding out her hand, she called the first magic book to her and made herself comfortable as she settled down to read.
Belle didn't say anything about the use of magic, she had already gone back to her own reading so the two sat in silence gradually losing awareness that the other was even there.
Snow hadn't left the bedroom to join her for dinner, even when Regina asked her so she'd taken a plate into the room and left it near the princess. Regina had spent the rest of the evening alone by the fire. At first she sat staring at the flames, then as more time passed she began practising her magic - now that Snow knew the truth she didn't have to hide it. After it was dark, and she began to feel tired, Regina knocked on the bedroom door. There was no answer, so she went inside. Snow's dinner was untouched so she picked it up and took it back to the kitchen area, placing a bowl over it in case Snow grew hungry later and wanted some. As she got ready for bed, Snow began crying.
"Talk to me, Snow. I want us to be friends. Please," Regina tried to get her to stop crying.
Snow didn't answer. When the crying continued, Regina picked up her pillow and blankets.
"Very well. I don't know how much longer the snow will last, but I think I'd better sleep in the other room."
She carried her items out to the fire, laying them over the soft sheepskin rug which had been a gift from the Huntsman, along with the meat from the animal. It would be warmer by the fire, she told herself, much better than the bedroom. Closing her eyes she drifted off to sleep.
She awoke some time later to a hand shaking her shoulder. Opening one eye she realised it was still dark and she sighed feeling sleepy.
"What's wrong Snow?" she asked.
"I'm sorry. I don't want us to f-f-fight."
"I don't want that either. Can we just be friends and go back to sleep?" Regina yawned, "we can talk about it in the morning."
"Okay," Snow's voice was soft.
Regina waited, listening for her to return to their there was only silence, she opened both her eyes and looked up.
"Go back to bed Snow."
"You can come back to the room too."
"I'm too tired, and it's warm here."
"Okay."
There was a shuffling noise as Snow left and Regina closed her eyes. A few seconds later, she heard Snow coming back and groaned.
"What's wrong now?"
"I'm sleeping out here too."
"Fine," Regina turned on her side away from Snow, realising the other woman's intentions.. "But it's not like I'm planning on leaving tonight."
"That's not... it's warmer out here."
Regina didn't bother to challenge her, instead she went back to sleep.
Rumplestiltskin returned to the Dark Castle around three in the morning. Zelena was sitting at the dining table, waiting for him and drinking a cup of tea. Belle was sitting near the fireplace, fast asleep. She had insisted on staying with Zelena while she waited for her father to return, so Zelena used a teeny spell to put her to sleep. As he passed his servant, Rumplestiltskin paused as if he could sense the magic she had used before turning back to Zelena..
"What brings my darling daughter home at this time?" he asked, smiling at her.
"I've been here several hours."
"You should have told me you were coming. I would have planned a feast and we could have spent the time together."
"I met your housekeeper."
"And?"
"She's very young. Very beautiful."
"She keeps the castle tidy while I'm away and brews a good pot of tea."
"I'm sure," she'd seen the way he looked at Belle, she knew there was something else going on.
"So what brings you here? Do you need my help with something, or someone?"
"I came to use the library."
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
"Yes and no."
"Oh?"
"The spell I wanted, it doesn't work."
"Are you sure?"
"You're protecting Regina from our mother, I understand that but I want to speak to my sister. I want to see her and know that she is alright."
"You doubt my word?"
Zelena smiled, "I just don't understand what you're getting out of this. There are other ways to help Regina, why cut her off from those who care about her?"
"Do you trust me?"
"It's been so long since she left, it's difficult not to worry. Tell me one thing, if you won't talk about Regina, how do you really feel about the girl?" Zelena pointed to Belle. "Tell me the truth and I'll believe you."
"She is a very bright young woman, she reminds me a little of you in fact."
"Don't tell me about her, tell me how you feel about her."
Rumplestiltskin looked over at Belle, as if afraid she might wake and hear them.
"It's fine, she'll sleep until morning," Zelena assured him. "You might just get your breakfast a little later than usual, is all."
"Are you afraid I'll fall in love with her and become a different person?"
"She seems to like you the way you are,.and if you're not careful you will change to try and please her. That would be a mistake."
"Oh?"
"Whatever you've been planning all these years, I doubt it involves a girl like her. Don't lose sight of what is really important to you." Zelena stood, "I should return to my castle."
"Such a short visit."
"Will you visit me again before the end of winter? I have a midwinter gift for you and I was hoping we could celebrate the day together, but I'd understand if you have other plans," she gave a pointed look towards Belle.
"I would love to visit for the holiday. Thank you."
He walked her into the hall. As Zelena walked through the front door she looked over her shoulder at him, "if you think I'm impatient, you should see the books mother has been reading."
AN: I considered having Belle living in the castle while Zelena was growing up, with Rumple getting her to help look after Zelena while he was out and about causing trouble, but decided it would be better to keep them almost the same age like in the show (it gives Zelena a reason to dislike the match and makes Belle a nice surprise for her).