Chapter 35: Selfless, Brave and True/Lacey
"There's something I just don't like about her. You know, no one is that nice and selfless. I mean, who just packs everything and follows someone across the country. And now he told her about everything. And then, there is everything with August. She appears and he almost dies? There's something off about this, right?" Said Emma looking at Rose expectantly.
Rose looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. Emma frowned and pointed at her.
"Don't look at me like that. Just tell me that you also see something wrong about his whole situation."
"Well…" Said Rose with a shrug. "I'm just glad I can get a word edgewise. You have been ranting for the last 10 minutes. I thought you were finally going to get me out of here, but okay we can talk about your ex's new girlfriend, and how she is evil just because she's with Neal."
Emma glared at the redhead and scoffed. She was trying to come up with something to prove that she wasn't jealous, and saw Dr. Whale peeking in the room from the door. When she saw him he quickly turned and left. She turned to Rose to ask about that, and saw that her friend was glaring at the spot the doctor had been. She looked at Emma and sighed.
"He is too afraid to come in when I'm alone. But seeing as you aren't in the best mood, he decided to try later, probably when Belle comes by before visiting hours end." She said slumping on the bed. "And for this "problem" you are having with Neil's girlfriend, if your instincts tell you there is something more to all of it, then do something about it. Your instincts have never failed you before. And if you need help, you can always take me with you."
Emma looked at the grinning Rose and chuckled. But in the end, she decided that her friend was right. There was something off about Tamara, and she was going to find out what.
Gold was looking at Henry and Neal having a mock sword fight in the park. He was mulling over the dream he had that night. Yes, Henry was supposed to be his undoing, but if he took care of him, he would lose his son forever.
While he was deep in thought, Regina approached him. After just a few words, Gold realized that she didn't know of Henry's parentage. When he told her, she accused him of knowing beforehand, but that was not the case. He couldn't have predicted that his own son would be the father of the Savior's kid. Regina told him that he would never be accepted by them. He was too dark, he always chose darkness. Gold didn't want to hear it. But Regina wasn't stopping there.
"If your own son couldn't bring out the good in you, who will? We both know that the only other person that could do it, can't."
And with that she left him to his thoughts.
Rose was looking at the books that Belle got her from the library. They were discussing which one was better, when there was a knock on the door. Both women looked up and saw Mr. Gold. He looked at Belle and silently asked her to give them a moment. She nodded and squeezed Rose's hand telling her that she was going to get some coffee.
"I'm sorry to intrude, but we haven't had the chance to really talk about that phone call. I know that you have no memory of me. But my feelings for you are real. And I just needed you to know that in case. Well in case I died." He looked at her with care.
"Well, you are alive, and I'm glad. And I believe your feelings were true." Rose said with a smile.
"Really?" He asked a little surprised.
"Of course. If you could really fake such emotions, maybe you should consider a change of career." He raised an eyebrow at her comment. "Come on. You would win an Oscar."
"So, you truly believe that we have met before?" He asked hopefully.
"Well, I know for a fact that I can't remember an entire year. That means that it's very plausible that I met you during that time. And if the way you speak and look at me is anything to go by, I think we knew each other pretty well. I'm just sorry I don't remember it." She told him with a small smile.
"Once you remember, everything will make sense."
"From what I heard from others, you are a resourceful man. Maybe you could help me remember?" She asked him with hope.
"Maybe we can help each other remember who we were." She looked at him in question. "My firebird, you always made me want to be the best version of myself. And right now I need that. So, yes, I will do everything I can to bring you back, for you and for me. And I believe you've been locked up here long enough. Let me see if I can get you out."
"Yes!" Screamed Rose raising her arms in victory. "I might not remember you, but right now you are my favorite person in the universe!"
When he left the room, he found Belle at the door. She looked at him with a smile.
"I understand now." She said with a tinge of sadness in her voice. "She accepted you as you were, and encouraged you to be better, without forgetting who you were. I just wanted you to be better and forget your dark side. I'm sorry that it took a while for me to realize that."
"Well, now it's in the past." He said putting his hand on her shoulder. "I think we are better suited as friends. You didn't do too well with my methods, remember?"
Rose and Belle were packing the few things she had at the hospital while Mr. Gold went to get her discharged. That was when Regina came into the room. Belle immediately tensed up, but Regina just shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but could you be a dear and let us talk for a moment?"
Belle was about to object, but saw Regina move her hand slightly. If Regina cast a spell to send her away, she couldn't protect Rose. So, she nodded silently and stepped outside. But she stood right behind the door listening to what they were saying.
"I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Regina. I'm the Mayor of this town. Just wanted to make sure you're okay." She said with a smile extending her hand to Rose.
"Yeah, I think I've seen you around." Said Rose shaking her hand. "Thanks for taking the time to come see me. But I'm just about to leave. Finally! Mr. Gold is going to help me recover my memories, and so are Belle and Ruby. They've been great keeping me company."
"Are they really going to help you?" She bent over and conjured a small book. "I think you dropped this."
"Oh, thank you. It's one of my travel journals." Said Rose without really looking it over.
"Well, maybe what you need is to get back on with your life. You never know what might trigger your memory." She leaned close to her and lowered her voice. "Who knows, maybe you will be able to remember by going back home."
"Maybe." Said Rose softly with a frown looking at her journal.
It had just been a few days since Belle had made the deal with Rumpelstiltskin to save her town from the ogres. She still cried every day and night for her family. But one day, the Dark One had had enough of her cries. They were arguing about it when they heard a crash. A thief tried to take a wand and kill Rumpelstiltskin with a magic arrow that never failed. But he was the Dark One, and he wasn't so easy to kill.
He was torturing the thief, and Belle couldn't take it. She took the opportunity when he left for a while and released the prisoner. She told him to run as she couldn't for her family's sake. He told her to be careful as the Dark One was not known for his forgiving nature.
Rose was at the apartment packing some of her stuff. Belle had informed Emma and Mary-Margaret about what had happened at the hospital.
"But, why now?" Asked Emma.
"Well, weeks have passed and there has been no progress with my memory. I'm really thankful at everyone for trying, but I'm getting tired of waiting." Said Rose still packing.
"But Mr. Gold said that he would help you." Said Belle taking out the clothes Rose had just put in the bag.
"And I appreciate it. He can try and find a way to help, while I go back home. There is a wonderful thing called a phone." Said Rose trying to get her clothes from Belle.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Asked Mary-Margaret with a frown.
"I'm not one to sit idly by and wait for things to happen. And maybe getting some distance will help. Focusing on a new expedition might help me." Emma was about to say something, but Rose shook her head. "I have most of my research books back home. You know that."
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Mary-Margaret opened it and saw Gold. She gave him a sad look and let him in. They went to the room the others were in. He saw the bags, Rose packing and Belle unpacking. Emma saw him and sighed.
"You can try to change her mind. But it's not looking good."
They explained Rose's idea of going back to England and start another expedition. He looked at the redhead and was about to ask her about it, but she just shook her head and gave him a small smile.
"I appreciate your help, but I don't think that me staying here is going to solve anything. If the reason I came was to help Emma with her son, I think she has enough help. I've never been good at staying in one place for too long. Maybe I need this. Go back home, focus on something else not related to this year I don't remember." She sighed. "As I told the others, we can keep contact over the phone in case you find something that can help me remember."
Gold was too stunned to say anything. Belle took him aside and told him how Regina spoke with Rose. She told him that most of the conversation was nothing bad, but that she didn't hear the last part. With that Gold got a murderous look on his face and left the apartment.
He arrived at the Mayor's office and burst into the room demanding answers.
"I didn't do anything. I just assumed that Rose would have something in common with her forgotten self. She was never comfortable staying in one place for too long. I just reminded her of that. In a way, I brought some of the old Rose back. You are welcome." She said with a smirk.
Gold demanded her help to make Rose stay and tried to threaten her, but she just reminded him that he had to behave for his son's sake. And the only way to break a curse was true love's kiss, but that proved to not work for them before. It managed to bring Rose back from the sleeping curse, but it didn't bring her memories back.
He was going to leave and try to convince her to stay, but Regina had one last thing to say.
"Good luck, Gold. Oh, and give my best to Rose. I hear England is beautiful this time of the year."
Gold was furious. Belle, Emma and Mary-Margaret had managed to convince Rose to postpone her departure until they had talked with Dr. Whale to confirm that it was safe for her to fly for so many hours. And it didn't take much convincing for the doctor to have the earliest appointment a couple of days later.
Now he had to find a way to make her stay. If she left, who knew if she would ever be back. He had to make her fall in love with him again. He didn't really want to, but Prince Charming was his only option.
David's idea was for Gold to make Rose see the person she had fallen for. He managed to do it once, and they were on their way, before she lost her memories again. David asked Ruby if she knew where Rose could be. She wasn't too thrilled with their plan, but if it would help keep Rose around, she would play along. She told them that they had decided to have a drink at the Rabbit Hole after her shift. To celebrate Rose finally getting out of the hospital.
Later that day, Ruby and Rose were having said drink at the bar, when a man sat down beside them. He told the bartender to serve the ladies another drink, but he almost fell of his stool when Rose turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"S-sorry. I didn't know it was you." He said in fear and left quickly.
"I'm not that scary. Am I?" Said Rose looking at Ruby in wonder.
The two friends looked at each other and at the man practically cowering at the other side of the bar and burst into laughter. At that moment, Gold and David came in. Gold sat down next to Rose and Ruby got up and went to sit down with David a little farther away.
"Oh. Hello." Said Rose slightly surprised to sim him at the bar. "For some reason I didn't think you would really enjoy a place like this."
"Well, what can I say? Love the ambiance." He said with a smirk.
Rose shrugged her shoulder with a small smile and turned to her drink. Gold looked over her shoulder at David and Ruby, who gestured him to talk to her.
"Now that you've decided to go back home, perhaps we could spend some time together. Before you leave?" He said nervously.
"Like a date?" Asked Rose looking at him with a raised eyebrow. He nodded and Rose shrugged her shoulders and smiled at him. "Sure, why not?"
She took a last sip from her drink and went to join Ruby, while David approached Gold. He got some time with her, now it was time for the hard part.
That night, Rose and Gold had their date. It was mostly small talk. He was too nervous to truly enjoy himself, and she noticed. By the end of the night, he walked her to the apartment.
"It was nice getting to know you a little better, Mr. Gold." Said Rose with a smile.
She turned and went inside the building. Mr. Gold looked after her with a frown. He knew he had just lost the chance to win her back before she left. And he felt anger inside that he hadn't truly felt in a long time.
Rumpelstiltskin and Belle were on a carriage going after the thief. He didn't just escape his imprisonment thanks to belle, he also stole the wand. Belle was certain that he did it for a good reason, but the imp didn't care.
They stopped and encountered the Sheriff of Nottingham. But as drunk as he was, he still recognized the Dark One. He tried to make a deal to tell them about the thief's location in exchange for some time with Belle. Rumpelstiltskin wasn't too keen on that deal and decided to make one of his own.
After giving the sheriff his tongue back. He told them about the thief.
"The thief that you're after, I've been chasing him for years. He ruined me! He stole the woman I love and made me the laughingstock of all of Nottingham." Rumpelstiltskin asked him about his whereabouts. "Well, the last I heard, he was hiding out in Sherwood Forest. He goes by Robin Hood."
They turned to leave, but the sheriff had one last warning.
"Be careful. He is never alone. His Merry Men are dangerous. Lately more than ever." He told them with a flash of fear in his eyes.
They made their way through the forest until they found him. All the way Belle was trying to convince him not to kill the thief. They saw him waiting for someone, and moments later a cart appeared, with three riders and a woman on the back.
Two of the riders left in one of the horses. The other stayed behind as a look-out. Robin Hood approached them, and it was clear that the woman was sick. He used the wand to heal her. As much as Belle tried to convince the Dark One that the theft was for a good reason, he was still adamant about killing him.
He raised the bow and aimed, but then they saw the woman getting out of the cart and her cape opened, showing her pregnant belly. It took a moment longer, but the imp fired the arrow anyways. The only thing was that he missed.
Robin and the pregnant woman got on a white horse and the other rider got on a palomino horse and the three left.
Belle saw that he missed on purpose, and realized that he truly wasn't as evil as everyone said. She started to see the man behind the Dark One. The person that was under the curse. Back at the Dark Castle, Rumpelstiltskin showed Belle the library. Only he and a certain redhead had set foot on it before. But he thought she would appreciate reading some books. Belle seemed to like them a lot.
Gold made his way back home, when someone bumped into him. He saw that it was the Sheriff of Nottingham, and a snarl appeared on his face. He was angry, and the perfect outlet just happened to bump into him. He tried to apologize, but Gold wasn't interested, he just wanted to vent his anger. He started to hit him with his cane, until he heard a scream from behind him.
"Stop!" He turned and saw Belle looking at him with wide eyes. "What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry dearie, but this, this is who I am." He turned to hit the Sheriff again.
Belle stepped in front of him and spread her arms, trying to make him stop the beating.
"No! You are not like this. You don't need Rose at your side to be good. You've done great without her remembering you. You only went this far once. What happened?"
"I do need her. She is the one that makes it easy to remember that I can be myself, not just the Dark One. And now she is leaving! So move and let me do what I do best." He glared at her.
"No!" She looked at him pleadingly. "Remember that thief? The one that stole the wand? You let him go and Rose had nothing to do with it. There is good in you, and you don't need Rose for it to come out."
He lowered his cane, looked at her with an empty look and turned around.
"There is much that you don't know. I will leave him alone for now, but don't expect me to stop every time, just because you ask."
He made his way home thinning about what Belle said. There was something about that day that she didn't know.
The Dark One was aiming to kill the thief. He had seen that the woman was pregnant, but his mind was clouded with anger, and he was determined to kill him. Then he heard one of the remaining horses neigh and his eyes strayed slightly to it. He saw the other rider petting a palomino horse, and that is when he paid attention to them. The rider was wearing a dark red cloak. The only thing visible was their gloved hands that were petting the horse.
Then his mind cleared of the anger and realized what he was about to do. The Dark One may have been able to leave a child without a father, but Rumpelstiltskin wasn't. He saw the thief and the woman mount the white horse and left with the other rider close behind. The rider turned their head slightly and a lock of dark red hair could be seen from under the hood.
Yes, Gold knew that the Dark One was a powerful evil being, but he also was Rumpelstiltskin, a simple man. So far, the only one that had been able to accept him completely had been Rose. She knew that The Dark One and Rumpelstiltskin were different sides of the same coin. Everyone else had just focused on one side. Even Belle focused on Rumpelstiltskin, because she couldn't truly accept the evil of the Dark One. That was the cornerstone of their friendship.
Rose helped him keep balance between the two. Without her, well he could be really unpredictable. He appreciated Belle trying to do what Rose did so effortlessly, and he would try for her and Neal. But he couldn't make any promises.