Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time, only my OC.
Storybrooke
The days following the election had certainly been eventful, after becoming Sheriff, Miss Swan had reunited Hansel and Gretel with their father.
It appeared that every happy ending she fixed, the more the Curse weakened. Although he was beginning to question just how perceptive she was, she had allied with Sidney Glass in an effort to expose Regina's corruption, their attempt at going up against her, had gone down in flames spectacularly.
He shook his head, Sidney wasn't exactly a skilled spy, he wondered how long it would take before Miss Swan realized where Sidney's true allegiances lie.
More interestingly, it appeared a stranger had arrived in Storybrooke, which was strange since—aside from Miss Swan—no one ever came to Storybrooke. He claimed to be an author, but there was something familiar about him, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
All recent excitement aside, Valentine's Day was fast approaching and Storybrooke was getting ready to celebrate, though it appeared that not everyone would be celebrating in good spirits.
Moe French, the owner of the flower shop, had taken a loan from Gold and had defaulted, unable to pay it back, in response, Gold had his truck confiscated.
He shook his head and sipped his tea as he listened to the ladies' chattering as they started planning their 'girls' night out.'
The Enchanted Forest
Belle wasn't sure what to expect when she agreed to come serve Rumplestiltskin in exchange for saving her father's lands from the ogres.
She didn't regret her decision, but that didn't mean that she wasn't apprehensive about living with the Dark One, she'd heard the stories. The last thing she'd wanted to do was to anger him, and give him reason to kill her.
"You will serve me my meals, and you will clean the castle," said the Dark One from his seat at the dining table.
"I-I understand," said Belle nervously.
"You will dust my collection and launder my clothing."
"Yes."
"You will fetch me straw when I am spinning at the wheel."
"Got it."
"Oh, and you will skin the children I hunt for their pelts."
Belle dropped the tea cup she had been holding, in shock, "That was a quip. Not serious."
"Right," she said hesitantly, bending down to pick up the cup. "Oh…my. I'm so sorry, but, uh…it's chipped." She showed him the cup. "You-you can hardly see it."
"Oh, it's just a cup," said Rumplestiltskin dismissively.
Suddenly a figure appeared in a cloud of blue smoke, clad in a dark blue cloak, holding an ebon staff topped with a blue crystal, wearing a sword at his waist, "Rumple, I've brought you a—?"
He trailed off suddenly as he noticed her, "Who is this, Rumple?" he asked.
"Of course, where are my manners? Alator, Belle; Belle, Alator." said the Dark One, introducing them quickly.
Alator inclined his head respectfully, "Pleased to meet you, Belle."
She curtsied, "Likewise." she smiled.
He returned his gaze to the Dark One, "Why is she here, Rumple?"
"We made a deal." Rumplestiltskin said simply, as if that explained everything, "She's my new caretaker."
Alator suddenly felt very worried, and very sorry for the poor girl.
Storybrooke
Gold?" Alator called as he entered the ransacked house. He stopped short at the sight of Emma and Gold standing several feet apart from each other. "Uh... I believe you called?"
"Indeed." he turned to an expectant looking Emma, "Sheriff Swan, you can go now. I know exactly what was taken and who did it. We've got it from here."
She frowned, "No, you don't. This was a robbery – a public menace. And if you don't tell me what you know, I'll have to arrest you for obstruction of justice." she refrained from smirking, "I have a feeling you don't want to be behind bars."
Gold shared a look with Alator, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod. Emma eyed both of them, confused at the silent communication between the two men.
Eventually, Gold sighed, "Indeed not. Alright, his name's Moe French. He sells flowers. He recently defaulted on a loan. A short time ago, we had a little disagreement over collateral."
Alator resisted the urge to scoff, a 'disagreement' was putting it lightly.
Emma's eyes narrowed, "Okay, I'll go get him, check him out."
"I'm sure you will – assuming I don't find him… Let's just say, bad things tend to happen to bad people." He hissed softly, holding back a malice-filled sneer.
"Is that a threat?" Emma asked, almost in disbelief.
Alator and Gold shared another look.
"Observation." Alator replied calmly, meeting Emma's gaze, "Good luck, Miss Swan."
The Enchanted Forest
Alator teleported into the Dark Castle in a cloud of blue smoke, in his hand he held a small bouquet of red roses.
At first, Alator had been greatly concerned for Belle and her well-being. After all, living in the Dark Castle certainly wasn't a safe or pleasant experience. But after a few visits, it was clear that Belle was in no immediate danger.
If anything, her presence in the Dark Castle had brightened up things, literally and figuratively, and not just the castle either.
It hadn't been apparent at first, but gradually he had noticed how Rumple seemed softer and more tender, whenever it came to Belle.
But the sight that awaited him was not the sight he had been expecting.
Rumple sat at the table, looking desolately at the pedestal, atop which sat a familiar chipped teacup.
It was then that Alator understood, he sighed pensively and shook his head, "Oh Rumple, what's happened? What have you done?"
"She's dead," he said sadly, "I was a fool—I-I let my temper get the better of me, and I sent her away. Now she's dead."
Rumple started weeping softly, as Alator laid a comforting hand upon his shoulder, as he quietly mourned Belle's demise.
Storybrooke
Emma sat at her desk, watching Gold carefully, as he sat on a cot in one of the cells across from her, as she went about eating her lunch, "Pastrami, You want half?" she offered, before taking a bite, "You know, I still owe you that favor. Nice fatty pastrami. Delicious way to clear the books."
Gold looked at her through the cell bars, "Well, I don't need a reminder that you owe me a favor." he paused, "And when the day comes that I make my request, it'll be for more than half a sandwich." Emma smiled slightly.
"Sheriff Swan?" the mayor called as she entered the room with Henry, "I'm letting you have thirty minutes with Henry. Take him out, buy him ice cream."
"You want me to leave you alone with a prisoner?" asked Emma suspiciously.
Regina simply looked at Gold, "Twenty-nine and a half minutes."
Henry smiled, "Hi Emma."
"Hey." Emma smiled in turn.
"Bring me back a cone," said Gold jokingly.
Emma sighed, "Just this once. Come on," she stood, grabbing her coat, "Let's go." she said, leaving with Henry.
"Well… You really wanted that little chat, didn't you?" Gold remarked.
Regina smirked as she approached his cell, "Apparently, this is the only way I could do it."
"Please, sit." said Gold, gesturing to the couch beside the cell, and Regina sat down, "Now, when two people both want something the other has, a deal can always be struck. Do you have what I want?"
Regina smiled, "Yes," she said simply.
Gold glared, "So, you did put him up to it, then."
Regina shrugged, "I merely suggested that... strong men take what they need."
"Oh, yeah," he nodded, "And you told him just exactly what to take, didn't you?"
"We used to know each other so well, Mr. Gold. Has it really come down to this?" Regina asked.
"It seems it has, yeah." Gold replied, "But you know what I want, what is it you want?"
"I want you to answer one question. And answer it simply," she leaned in, eyeing him carefully, "What's your name?"
"It's Mr. Gold." he said simply.
Regina looked at him sternly, "Your real name."
Gold leaned closer, "Every moment I've spent on this earth, that's been my name."
"But what about moments spent elsewhere?"
He paused for a few moments, "What are you asking me?"
"I think you know," Regina's eyes narrowed, "If you want me to return what's yours, tell me your name."
Gold smirked, "Rumplestilskin." he stood up to grab the cell bars, "Now give me what I want."
"Such hostility." remarked Regina.
"Oh yeah." she took her shoulder and reached in, taking out the chipped cup, "Over this?" as Gold reached through the bars to grab it, as Regina teasingly moved it out of his grasp, "Such a sentimental little keepsake." she remarked as he finally grabbed it, releasing her grip as he snatched it back through the bars.
"Thank you… your Majesty." Gold murmured as he sat back on the small cot, examining the cup, before looking at her, "So, now that we're being honest with each other, let's remember how things used to be, shall we? And don't let these bars fool you, dear. I'm the one with the power around here. I'm gonna be out of here in no time, and nothing between us will change."
Regina stood and moved closer to the cell, gripping the bars, "We shall see." she said simply, before leaving.
Soon after, Emma walked back in, "It's your lucky day Gold," she held up an envelope filled with cash, "Someone in town actually likes you. You made bail."
To say that Alator was surprised would be an understatement. Truthfully, when he had heard about Moe French's robbery, he had been expecting some form of retaliation on Gold's part, but that he'd gone that far, so far as to kidnap and nearly beat French to death with his cane…well in hindsight, he supposed that wasn't too surprising either—but it was still quite shocking, even for him.
Once he'd heard about Gold's arrest, he had anonymously paid bail for his release, along with a message to meet with him at his home.
They were presently sitting in Gold's parlor in silence, on the table sat a pair of teacups.
They sipped their tea in silence for a few moments before it was broken by Alator, "I warned you, Rumple." he said softly, "About tipping your hand in front of Regina like that, as well as the potential consequences."
Gold nodded pensively as he sipped his tea, "I know."
Alator sighed, "Well, it doesn't matter now. What's done is done."
"Indeed."
Alator sighed, he turned and looked at the chipped teacup, sitting atop the china cabinet, "I miss her too, you know. In my own way." he remarked quietly.
"You do?" Gold asked.
"Yes, I do, not as much as you do, perhaps, but I still feel her loss keenly. She was good for you Rumple. She brought out a softer side in you, a side perhaps even you had forgotten about."
"That she did." Gold agreed, "But that's of little consolation, I'm afraid." he remarked bitterly, "I was a fool and she lost her life as a consequence."
"She would have died eventually, Rumple," Alator said in a melancholic tone, "Such is the burden we bear. As we both know, magic—in one form or another—usually has a cost, and this is especially true of immortality. We remain untouched by time, yet are forced to watch as all those we love wither away with its passing."
Gold sighed, it was true, the passage of time was different for an immortal, what was a few years compared to a few centuries?
"But it isn't wise to continue to dwell on the past, Rumple," Alator continued, "Lest you forget to focus on the present and plan for the future."
Gold nodded and looked down pensively at his teacup, he'd had a chance with Belle, and he had foolishly thrown it away, he would never get another chance with her. But Bae… he still had a chance with Bae, he would find his son and he would make things right.
A/N: One of the recurring themes in this chapter is the concept of immortality and the cost that often accompanies it. I feel like this also serves to show how both Gold and Alator are in many ways alike, yet also, so very different from each other. Also, given the background and context of this particular chapter, I thought this would be a good place to broach this particular subject with the audience; romance.
I have a love interest in mind for our Blue Sorcerer, but I won't be focusing on romance at this early stage, we'll get more into depth in later stories. but when the time comes, I suspect you'll be quite shocked by my choice, and it'll have an impact on the changes in the storyline, later on.