"Papa, Max and Ben won't let me play with them!"
Prince Charming lifted her eyes from the ambassador's letter as his son's voice echoed from behind the oak doors. Anticipating what was to come, he got up from his desk and opened the door. Tommy stood on the other side with his arms folded in front of him and small tears on his eyelashes. His shirt, stained with grass and mud, hung crookedly from his narrow shoulders. He opened his mouth to continue his complaint, but a loud, harsh sneeze came out instead.
"Where are Max and Ben right now?" Charming asked as he took a handkerchief from his vest pocket and wiped his son's nose.
"In - the - west - garden," Tommy answered in between sneezes.
His eyes were puffy and rimmed with red. Charming gently touched his son's cheek. Even with years of experience with crying children, he still felt sore at thought of his kids crying, especially because of each other. Charming decided that some time away from his work would do him some good, so he took his son's hand and walked with him to the garden. As Tommy had said, Max and Ben were running through the rose bushes to a game of their own invention.
"Boys," Charming called to his two other children, placing his hands on his hips. Max and Ben run to their father when they heard his voice, then frowned when they saw that Tommy was with him.
"Did you tell Tommy he couldn't play with you?" Charming asked, adopting the more stern voice he used when disciplining the boys.
Ben let out an exaggerated sigh, "He said he didn't want to play with us!"
"That's right, he did." Max agreed.
"No I - didn't!" Tommy remarked. "Papa - he's - lying!"
Charming looked intently at Ben and Max, and when they began to squirm under her scrutiny, he felt certain they were lying.
"How many times do I have to tell you, you're brothers and you should stick together," Charming told his two sons. "Ben, Max, please stop being leaving your brother out of your games."
"Yes papa," they chorused without no small measure of annoyance.
"Boys..."
Max threw his hands up, "We will - promise!" To prove their point, Max and Ben each took one of Tommy's hands.
Charming couldn't help but smile and gave all three of them kisses on the forehead. Satisfied with the results, Charming began walked back to the castle when he heard footsteps and rustling coming from behind them. "Someone there?" he asked.
Whoever was in the bushes stopped, then began running in the opposite direction.
"Stay here!" Charming commanded his sons before he went off in search of the trespasser.
If the rumors about the Evil Queen's return were true, Charming didn't want to put his family at risk. Nagaraj told him he was being paranoid, but Snow shared his concerns. Eventually he got close enough to notice that his target was a woman with long, red hair wearing a long, dark green cloak. Otherwise, he couldn't make out any features.
When they reached the edge of the garden, on the border of the forest surrounding the castle, Charming began to catch up with the strange woman. He reaches out and caught the edge of her cloak, but it slipped through his fingers a moment later. The woman crossed the invisible line where the palace's magic protective barrier ended and, before Charming's eyes, she vanished in a swirl of purple-black smoke.
A sorceress.
Charming felt his guts melt into water.
No, there was no one someone could have sneaked into the palace with all the guards and warlocks on duty. Had someone betrayed them?
He shook off his disorientation and thought back his sons. He had to get back to them and make sure there were okay. He found them right where he had left them, wide-eyed and surprised. Only now, Red had arrived and she stood by the boys, holding Ben's hand, with a concerned look on her face.
"What happened?" she asked when she saw the perturbed expression on his face.
Snow sat at her throne staring into the faces of her warlocks.
Four of them; 3 women and 1 man. One barely as old as Snow herself, another old enough to be her grandmother. A rainbow of features; pale white skin and skin like rain-heavy soil, blue and grey and brown eyes, tall and short and slender and fat. They wore black robes outlined in white and red. All of them bore the mark of the royal family on the backs of their hands: two identical swans flying on either side of a castle.
One of them had let a stranger slip into her home and she couldn't be sure they hadn't betrayed her.
The most senior of the royal warlocks, Frau Holle, stood a pace ahead of the others and went over the castle's security protocol as she had since she worked for Snow's father, King Leopold. Snow respected Frau Holle and has trusted her since she was a little girl, but someone with unknown intentions had come within feet of her husband and children, and she wanted answers.
"I know all this," Snow interrupted, "Do you have idea who it could have been?"
Frau Holle gasped shortly, unaccustomed to being spoken to so bluntly. She regained her composure and told her queen, "Your Grace, I've concluded that the person responsible came from the Land of Oz based on the magical energy she left behind."
"Anything more specific?" Snow pressed.
"No, your Grace," Frau Holle answered. "But fortunately, not many people in Oz are gifted with magic, which narrows the list of suspects considerably."
"How much so? What are our chances of finding this person?"
"Their most sorcerer in the Great Wizard of Oz, but it's said he never leaves his castle," Frau Holle explained. "Behind him are the Four Cardinal Witches, who rule the four corners of Oz. Common sorcerers are typically not well-education in the art of magic, as the Cardinal Witches guard their secrets closely, sharing their knowledge only with their chosen successors."
Snow leaned back in her throne, formulating a proper response to the intrusion of her kingdom. Something didn't add up.
"Why would a witch as powerful as you just described be snooping around like common spy?" Snow wondered.
"I can't say," Frau Holle admitted.
Snow nodded. She hadn't completely ruled out the possibility that one of her warlocks had secretly turned against her, but something told her Frau Holle was telling the truth. She needed more time decide what to do, so she dismissed her warlocks and retired to her chambers.
"Fancy a drink?"
Emma looked up to see Killian Jones holding two glasses of beer, one of which he held out to her. She lifted her jacket to reveal the deputy badge at her hip and said, "Sorry, I'm on duty."
"Unfortunate," Killian smiled back. "Mind if I sit?"
Emma scooted over on the bench so he could join her.
They faced the center of the town square where a small group of teenagers performed a play about the town's founding. Since they were both fairly new to Storybrooke, neither of them were familiar with Miner's Day, but they found the town's traditions charming and the residents' enthusiasm contagious.
Strings of lights formed a wide tent over the square, flickering on as the sun fell. Winter descended on Storybrooke in full force; trees stood stark and bare; a deep, persistent chill forced everyone into heavy coats and scarves; and a layer of ice and snow covered everything in sight. Despite the uncomfortable conditions, the entire town had come out to celebrate. Nuns from the Our Lady of the Snows convent wove through the crowd like bees through a garden trying to get people to buy their homemade candles. Ashley, Teddy and Ruby sat on a bench across the square, giggling while August Booth knelt in front of Ella's stroller and blew bubbles for her.
Emma spotted Henry sitting by his mother on a small platform with Mr. Gold, Mother Superior, and members of the town council. The tension between the adults quietly threatened to spill over at any moment. Poor Henry. The kid sit slumped with a scowl, occasionally casting longing glances at her, Mary, David, or his friends. She hadn't seen him much since Mr. Gold agreed to quit Regina's custody case and whenever she did, he was firmly under Regina's steely gaze.
Speak of the devil; Regina looked from the actors to Emma, her dark eyes piecing with hatred.
"Where did you say you from again?" Emma asked Killian, hoping he would distract her.
Killian raised an eyebrow, "I didn't. Where are you from?"
"Hey, I asked first," Emma gently punched his shoulder.
"Okay, fair enough," Killian chuckled. "I'm from New York. And you?"
"That's kind of difficult to answer," Emma replied. She noticed that Killian had a look of understanding. "I was adopted, then un-adopted, then bounced around in foster care for a while. I've never really had a home."
"Well, it's never too late to get one." Killian nodded toward the center of the square, where the young actors had finished their play and the crowd broke out in cheers.
Emma felt warm, though a light snowfall began to descend. She watches as snowflakes settled in Killian's long, dark hair. Then she realized that she hadn't answered him yet. "I guess that's true for some people."
She began to feel uncomfortable, so she looked away and noticed Ashley and Ruby getting up to leave; Teddy bid them goodbye and went to sit next to his mom and aunt.
Graham, who had been standing by the podium, walked to where Emma and Killian. His eyes narrowed when he noticed how close they were.
"Hey, Graham, what's up?" Emma greeted, her voice flat. Just as she started getting comfortable around Graham, she found out he was sleeping with Regina and their relationship nose-dived into perpetual awkwardness.
Killian said hello too, but Graham barely acknowledged him. He told Emma, "Some people headed to Haven Pond for ice-skating. I need you to keep an eye on things."
"Got it," she nodded. Graham took another moment to look between her and Killian and she stiffened wondering what he thought of them. 'Why did she care what he thought of them?' Emma wondered to herself.
Killian playfully patted her on the back, "Duty calls, Deputy."
"I'll see you around Jones," Emma smiled at him.
She nodded at Graham, before she went off and squeezed her way through the crowd to reach her squad car. The falling snow made her more cautious than normal, but at least the roads hadn't frozen over yet. The drive home might be a pain though, she figured.
Haven Pond lay half a mile west of the town in the middle of the forest and the residents mostly ignored it during warmer months. Now that the weather had taken a turn southward, Haven Pond began attracting visitors. She found a small group of people, most of them teenagers, gliding around the frozen water. The gentle lull of their conversation filled the otherwise silent forest. They paused when they saw her, so Emma had to assure them that no one was in trouble, she was just there to keep an eye on things.
The rest of the afternoon passed by peacefully.
"Help! Help!" A young girl of about ten came running down a nearby hill. As the screaming child grew closer, Emma recognized her as Henry's classmate Paige. Tears streaked down her reddened eyes, her mouth twisted in a horrified grimace.
Emma ran over to Paige and caught her just as she tripped and almost fell into the snow. The crowd silenced, Paige's sobs and labored breathing echoed into the cold air, as Emma looked into her face.
"Hey, kid," Emma whispered, "Are you okay? You're safe now, okay?"
Paige nodded shakily. After taking a moment to calm herself, Paige at last explained herself. "I found...I found a heart in the woods."
Emma narrowed in her eyes, "What do you mean?"
"A heart. Someone's heart, lying in the snow, surrounded by blood."
All the blood drained from Emma's face. "Oh god."
Emma commandeered one of the adults to keep an eye on Paige while she went into the woods to check on the heart. Behind the line of trees, not 50 years from the pond, a trickle of blood crept down to Emma's feet. Horrified, she followed the trail to a red-blood fleshy lump lying frozen in the snow.
"Fuck."
The Priscilla Jefferson Case just got more interesting and dire for the residents of Storybrooke, but Rumpelstiltskin took the news with mild annoyance. He wanted to return to the hospital to visit Belle, though Dr. West assured him that her condition had improved since she was admitted. He wanted Belle back in her room, safe from prying eyes and gossip-mongers. And from Regina.
That evening, after Priscilla's little girl found her heart in the forest, Rumpelstiltskin returned to the hospital. The artificially-warmed air hit him in the face like a slap after hours standing in the icy wind. The staff and patients had grown accustomed to his presence since Belle's admittance and no longer stared or whispered or flinched when he walked past them. His feet brought him Belle's room while his mind was otherwise occupied with curses and schemes and fears and regrets. When he opened the door, the sight inside made him pause. At first, he thought he was hallucinating.
The Thorne family stood in the tiny room, apart from the daughter, Dawn, who sat with her baby in the flimsy white plastic chair Rumpelstiltskin typically occupied. Their heads turned slowly turned like the hinges of old oak doors so they could all glare at him. Rumpelstiltskin's hands began to sweat. The Thornes didn't know Belle in this world, did they? He couldn't remember them ever mentioning another daughter, or a sister, in all their years in this realm.
"Good evening," he said evenly.
Moe Thorne, the former King Stephan, exhaled deeply and crossed his arms. "Mr. Gold, we're glad you're here," he said in a tone that promised something Rumpelstiltskin knew he wouldn't like.
"You're compassion in this trying time is much appreciated," Rumpelstiltskin nodded.
Dawn Thorne scoffed harshly, "You must a real narcissist if you think we're here to comfort you. Don't forget, before she was your wife, she was my sister."
Damn Regina. He was going to kill her as soon as the curse broke.
Rumpelstiltskin mentally found his balance and forced himself to look penitent to his apparent in-laws. "Forgive me, I wasn't thinking straight. It's been a long day."
"Yes," Rachel, Stephan's queen Leah, agreed, "That news about the little girl in the woods was shocking for us too. Poor thing, having to see something like that."
"Absolutely terrible," Rumpelstiltskin replied.
The Thornes remained ill at ease. After a few more tense moments passed, Moe asked, "I think we're overdo for a talk about what's best for Belle."
Rachel interrupted, "Not today, honey. I think Gold intended to spend a moment alone with her, right?"
Rumpelstiltskin nodded, "I would great appreciate that."
"I don't thin-" Whatever Dawn planned to say was lost the sudden cries of her baby. She groaned.
Her mother laid both hands on Dawn's shoulders and said, "Let's step out for a moment. I'm sure Pippa is sick of being stuck in this cramped hospital room."
Dawn and Moe continued giving him unhappy looks as they all politely said goodbye and walked out.
Rumpelstiltskin wasn't naive enough to think he wouldn't come into conflict with Belle's new family again, but right now he just wanted to be with his wife.
"I wish I could talk to you face to face," Belle said aloud in the empty parlor, hoping the Beast heard her.
The Beast answered, as always, as an invisible voice looming in some undefined space above her, "I hope you're content wishing, dearie."
She smiled at the nickname. Since arriving in the castle, she slowly chipped away at the Beast's aloofness like a miner patiently swinging his ax in a dark mine. She asked him about books, about his life, about the castle, and what other subject fluttered into her mind. Sometimes he even gave her a straight answer. Familiarity lessened her fear of the Beast and his castle, though it did little to alleviate her boredom or homesickness.
"Do you like me?" Belle wondered.
"Why would I like you?" the Beast scoffed.
Belle shrugged, "Aren't we friends? If for no other reason than because we have no one else to keep us company?"
"The fact that we're trapped in this godforsaken castle together doesn't make us friends," the Breast growled in his inhumane voice.
If he was trying to scare her, it wasn't working. His presence had become as mundane and ordinary to her as the wallpaper in her bedchamber or the wildflowers she picked on her daily walks. Comfortable. Like she'd always known him.
Curled up with a blanket while watching the fireplace, Belle desperately wished she had a new book to read, since she had finished the ones she brought from home several times already. She said as much to the Beast. He didn't respond and she didn't know if he heard her. Oddly, she didn't feel embarrassed this time; speaking aloud with no certainty anyone was listenig had become part of her new life.
The next morning after Belle ate breakfast, her ball of light led her to a large wing on the first floor of the castle. She pushed over the heavy, painted oak doors and nearly collapsed at the sight.
A grand, magnificent library; more rows of books that she could count, all stacked up nearly to the roof, multiple stories above. Belle had to stop herself from running around, and forced herself to explore at a steady, reasonable pace. A large desk was nestled in one corner of the room; a collection of couches and ottomans in another. The tall, wide windows flooded the room with light and provided a breathtaking view of the castle grounds - she could even see the greenhouse from a reading nook on the west wall.
"Oh, so you do like me!" Belle laughed as she began her search for a book in earnest.
The Beast didn't answer, but Belle didn't think he would.
The DNA results came back a little more than 2 weeks later. The heart belonged to a human woman, presumably in her late 20's or early 30's.
In the meantime, Graham and Emma combed through the woods and the abandoned mansions over and over again for anything they might have missed. The crime scene baffled them; a human heart lying in the snow, but no blood trail or other remains in the area. Maybe it had been planted.
Emma felt sick that they hadn't taken Priscilla's disappearance seriously as they should have, especially when she remembered how Priscilla had spent an entire night in the hospital just so a stranger wouldn't have to wake up alone. And Emma had repaid that kindness with... nothing. What had she ever done for Priscilla Jefferson, the woman who seemed odd but had never done anything wrong to anyone?
The Miner's Day celebrations came to an abrupt halt after a bystander sent by Emma ran into the town square with the news. Parents kept their children at home more and the children didn't complain much. Mayor Mills declared that the culprit would be caught soon and life in Storybrooke would return to normal before long. The city counsel issued a temporary ten o'clock curfew, with some grumbling from the Rabbit Hole's regular late-night patrons.
Conner Xue, overcome with worry for his homeless friends, walked to the police station 3 days after the heart had been found and let the Zimmer twins' situation spill from his lips like a river over-spilling its banks after a heavy rainfall. He began crying by the end and hated himself for getting emotional. Emma told him it was perfectly alright to cry and that he had nothing to be embarrassed about. Graham made a call to the Maine Department of Human Services, but they didn't answer.
"Live here? We were just exploring," Ava lied when Emma came to pick them up.
Emma frowned, "That's not going to work this time, sweetie. Conner told us everything."
"Are... are you gonna split us up now?" Nichloas asked, his lower lip trembling slightly.
Emma placed a comforting hand in his hair. "I will do everything possible to make sure that doesn't happen," she vowed. "I've seen enough siblings get torn apart in the system to last me a lifetime. I'll foster you myself before I let you and sister lose each other."
As it turned out, that's exactly what she ended up doing.
AN: I'm back in school and won't be able to write as often, so I'm reducing my scheduled updates from twice a month to once a month. If I have time, I might post addition chapters, but don't count on it. Thank you to everyone who commented, favorited, or followed. I'm sorry for the change, but I hope you'll be patient with me.
