Chapter 13—"Both A Little Scared"


"How did things work out for your friend?"

Fiona knew she should not be here. She should not be making friends with young Tinker Bell, despite the enjoyable afternoon they'd spent together. More importantly, she probably shouldn't lie to the young fairy who looked at her like she was the only actual mentor she'd ever had. I shouldn't feel guilty for this! I'm the Black Fairy, not some insipid lapdog of Blue's! Yet Fiona did feel guilty, just a little. She hadn't felt this strange sense of belonging since her short-lived marriage to Malcolm—or at least not anywhere outside of the Dark Castle. She'd formed a small family with her son, and she was self-aware enough to know that her irritation with Belle was what had her coming back to the Sacred Vault.

Tink scowled. "Not well. Blue told her she can't remain a fairy if she chooses love."

"Ah, still singing that old song, is she?" Fiona shook her head, wishing she wasn't surprised. She'd been young and in love once, too, and she'd taken the same road that Nova might end up taking. I wish her better luck than I had. Fiona surprised herself with the thought, and that made her swallow. I'm getting soft.

"I showed Blue the histories that show fairies—senior fairies!—falling in love and having children, but she told me to mind my own business."

"She's not terribly open-minded, you know." Fiona gestured towards herself. "You might say that I know that from personal experience."

"What, because there's no Gold Fairy and you're here in disguise?"

Fiona's jaw dropped. "What…what gives you that idea?"

"I asked around." Tink shrugged diffidently. "No one's heard of you, so either you're changing your color, or you're not a fairy at all."

"No one's heard of me." Fiona couldn't help snorting in amusement. "Oh, that's not the problem, not at all. Although I do suppose that I am somewhat disguised…as who I used to be."

"What do you mean?" Tink sounded more curious than angry or wary, and Fiona had to give her credit for courage.

"First, tell me why you've listened to a word I've said if you knew I wasn't actually a senior fairy." Two could play at the curious game.

Tink shrugged again. "You pointed me at the books I wanted, and your information was good. So, that means you actually knew things and were willing to help, unlike ninety-nine percent of everyone else here."

"I doubt you'll say that once you know who I am." Sadness welled up, threatening to close off her throat. This was the third time she and Tink had met, and perhaps Fiona had just been a fool to think they might be becoming friends.

I don't need friends. I have my son, and that's enough.

"Try me." Tink snorted. "I'm a hairsbreadth away from being kicked out, anyway. I told Nova that love was more important than being a fairy, and Blue was standing right there. What can be worse than that?"

"Having actually been exiled. Although, come to think of it, I don't think dear Blue ever got around to officially throwing me out of the order. She certainly didn't take my wings when she sent me to the Dark Realm, anyway." Fiona pressed a finger to her lips as she mused, forcing herself to be flippant. "But she's always been just a tad inconsistent when it comes to taking fairies' wings away, hasn't she? I think it's her own little power play, personally."

"Well, she is"—Tink cut off, her jaw dropping open. "Hold on, did you say the Dark Realm?"

"I did."

"But that makes you—"

"The Black Fairy." Fiona looked Tink straight in the eyes, keeping her expression aloof while she prepared herself for rejection. But all Tink did was look at her incredulously.

"Really? I thought you'd be a lot…I dunno, horrible."

"I can be more horrible if you wish."

"No!" Tink looked so horrified that Fiona had to laugh. But then the young fairy went on, her eyes wide and shocked. "Oh, no. You're in here, around the most sacred information that the fairies have to protect, and I've just sat here chatting with you! I'm such a—"

"Don't call yourself names, dear. It's hardly necessary." Fiona waved a casual hand. "If it makes you feel better, I read the dangerous tomes in here long before Blue exiled me. I'm just here for other research, now." She'd copied everything she could duplicate with magic, too, and that information was already back at the Dark Castle. But some old scrolls resisted magical copying, so Fiona was stuck reading them the old-fashioned way, which was how she'd met Tink in the first place.

"Aren't you supposed to be in exile?"

Come to think of it, it was a minor miracle that Blue hadn't tried something in the decades Fiona had been free. Had Blue not acted because she didn't know how to imprison Fiona again, or because Fiona hadn't done anything particularly terrible? There was no way that Blue couldn't know she was no longer in exile; Blue wasn't a fool, and Fiona hadn't been terribly subtle.

She didn't like the implications of that line of thinking, but Fiona smiled, anyway. "I've never been good at doing what I'm told."

"I should report you." Tink made no more to leave, though, or even to draw her wand.

"Go right ahead." Now it was Fiona's turn to shrug. "I'm hardly going to return to the Dark Realm quietly, not after I've been reunited with the son Blue kept me from for so long."

Tink's jaw dropped again. "You have a son?"

"I do." One moment's more spent studying Tink's shocked expression led Fiona to make a split-second decision and tell the truth. "Why do you think I'm here? I'm looking for information to help him."

"To help him? Why would your son need help—and how would he still be alive when you've been in exile for hundreds of years?" Tink was quick, and Fiona could see her doing the math in her head.

"Because my boy became the Dark One when I wasn't here for him." Fiona felt her eyes narrow as anger boiled through her bones. "And unlike Blue, I aim to destroy that curse once and for all."

Tink just stared. "But you're…you're supposed to be the evilest of all fairies."

"Perhaps I am. I'm no longer concerned with petty ideas of good versus evil. I just want to help my son, and damn Blue for eternity if she gets in my way. She let this happen to him. I will not let it stand."


She had been so engrossed by the window that Belle hadn't seen Rumplestiltskin all day. Or the night before, for that matter. Finally, however, she tore herself away from watching her father and her friends—or even just the townspeople who lived outside the castle—and sought her employer out. Belle wasn't an idiot; she knew that showing her that magical window into the outside world was Rumplestiltskin's way of apologizing. Part of her thought that she should stand on ceremony and demand an actual apology for the way he'd thrown those teacups at her, but Belle really didn't want to do that. Rumplestiltskin wasn't some knight raised with courtly graces; he was a damaged and lonely man who she was only just now beginning to understand.

And he's not a monster. Not deep inside.

So, Belle rushed to catch his arm before he could disappear up the stairs to his tower, where he always shut himself when he wanted to be alone. "I wanted to thank you." He gave her a funny look, so she continued: "For letting me see my friends. And my papa. It's wonderful to know that they're all right."

"Well, it seemed that you should know that I kept my end of the bargain." Rumplestiltskin shrugged like it was nothing.

"I already knew that." Belle smiled, though it seemed to throw him off balance. "I trust you."

A giggle. "More fool you, then, dearie."

"Will you stop that? I'm trying to thank you for being kind."

"Kindness is always an exercise in futility." His scowl was so deep that it was almost a pout. "I'm not kind. I'm the Dark One."

"Being kind is never futile." Taking a deep breath, Belle lifted her chin and looked him in the eye. "I am grateful. And I'm sorry if something I said made things worse. I just want to understand you."

"I am what I am. It's best you don't try to understand it." Rumplestiltskin sneered, but Belle could tell his heart wasn't really in it.

"Why not?"

"Because you don't need to know the monster's weaknesses!"

Belle rolled her eyes. "I just said that you're not a monster. Stop being ridiculous."

"Ridiculous?" He reared back, looking offended. 'I will have you know that—" The words sputtered out of him until Belle put a hand on his arm, which made Rumplestiltskin's mouth snap shut with an audible click.

"I want to know you because you're you. Your weaknesses are your own. I just want to know Rumplestiltskin, not just the Dark One."

"Why—why would you want to know that?" His voice had gone soft and uncertain, and his reptilian eyes seemed softer and browner. Belle was sure that was just an illusion, and yet she could see how confusion smoothed away some of his rough edges, making him look more human than Belle had ever seen.

So, she smiled as gently as she could. "Because you're worth knowing. Because you're my friend."

Last time, when they'd fought, he'd corrected her and called himself her employer. This time, Rumplestiltskin did nothing of the sort. His voice was a broken whisper. "Monsters do not have friends."

"Then it's a good thing you aren't a monster." Belle squeezed his arm again, and Rumplestiltskin flinched. The movement was almost invisible, but Belle felt it through her fingers, and it made her stare. How terrible had his life been that he flinched away from a gentle touch? What caused that haunted mixture of longing and terror in his eyes?

The Black Fairy had said that life had been unkind to him, and not just because he'd been the Dark One. Belle was beginning to see that. She was convinced that Rumplestiltskin had been a good man before embracing the darkness his mother wanted to free him from, but what must it take to make a good man choose this kind of path? Asking him if he wanted to be free of it had definitely been a mistake, and Belle promised herself not to do that until she knew a lot more.

She wouldn't ask for details about his life right now, either. Rumplestiltskin clearly wasn't ready to share, not so soon after their fight. She couldn't understand why she hadn't seen it before. He hated himself, hated what he was. He blamed himself for being a monster; that was clear from every iota of his body language. The Black Fairy loved him despite the darkness. She didn't put up with any of Rumplestiltskin's nonsense, but she loved him despite it all. Can I do that? Belle wondered to herself. She couldn't lie; the depths of the darkness in Rumplestiltskin's soul frightened her. Yet she also found herself drawn to the light he tried so very hard to hide, so she squeezed his arm again, a little harder this time.

"I'm your friend," she repeated. "Assuming you will let me be."

"I…I would like that." Rumplestiltskin's smile was as hesitant as his smile, but it still warmed Belle's heart.

"So would I."


Even killing that annoying outlaw woman didn't make Zelena feel any better. The knowledge that her obnoxious little stepdaughter—an odious, spoiled brat if there ever had been one!—had found shelter with Regina, of all people, was enough to drive a woman insane. And now she heard that James had abandoned Abigail for Snow White! There was absolutely no justice in the world, and Zelena just wanted to scream.

Yet she didn't. Queens had more dignity than that, and she was the Queen. She was the most feared monarch in all of the Enchanted Forest, and the powerful didn't complain to their underlings. No, powerful witches got revenge, and that was what she was going to do. To start with, Zelena was going to put a few strings on her own bow, too. She wasn't going to wait for Rumplestiltskin to hand things to her—even if she was certain that her teacher was sweet on her and would give her all she wanted in good time. Rumplestiltskin was nothing if not stubborn and unpredictable, though, so she needed some leverage of her own.

Which was why she invited the pirate back, of course. The fact that he was easy on the eyes certainly didn't hurt, either. But he was there for business; he'd already proposed to undertake one voyage on her behalf which had turned out quite profitably, although Zelena now had a new proposal for him.

"If I hear right, you're the Crocodile's student. So why is it that you'd be offering to help me get revenge?" Hook eyed her cautiously, and Zelena made a mental note that he had something of a brain to go with that pretty face.

"Because I'm not an idiot." Zelena shrugged as casually as she could. "Rumplestiltskin uses everyone. And I'm not really in a mood to be used."

She was in a mood to use this pirate, of course, but she wasn't going to say that. Zelena had learned to temper her impulsiveness in her years as queen, and she knew exactly what she was doing. She also knew that Rumple saw her as different from everyone else, which probably meant she wouldn't need the pirate—but it didn't hurt to be prepared.

"Aye, he does." Hook sized her up, cocking his head. "So, what exactly is it that you want me to do, love? It seems to be that you've got magic in your corner already, so why come to a devilishly handsome pirate?"

"Well, the devilishly handsome part doesn't exactly hurt." She gave him a smile, meeting his eyes with her own. Hook didn't seem to miss the unspoken invitation, but he didn't jump for it, either. That's annoying. Zelena bit back a sigh. "I thought we might ally, you and I. I'm sure a pirate such as yourself knows plenty of people who dislike the Dark One, and I'd like to become their patroness."

Hook snorted. "Would you, now?"

"Yes, I would." Not snapping the words took all of her self-control, and they still came out sharper than Zelena would have wanted. "I also want revenge of my own, and I thought you might be willing to help with that if…properly compensated."

"Now you're talking, love. What type of treasure do you have in mind to barter?"

Zelena blinked. She hadn't meant to give the greedy man gold, but he seemed to want it. Was he so obtuse that he'd missed the not-so-subtle invitation to become the Queen's lover? Surely even a pirate could guess how lucrative that position could be.

No matter. She'd give him gold for now, and seal his allegiance to her later. Zelena was sure she could wrap him around her finger quickly enough, and that would serve her purposes, even if she did have to fork over cash in the meantime.


Belle hadn't been expecting a visitor, so she'd headed out to the garden to pick some peaches after her conversation with Rumplestiltskin. In the beginning, Belle had been surprised by how much life surrounded the Dark Castle, but after a while, she'd come to suspect that Rumplestiltskin actually liked the garden and the many types of fruit trees. He'd never admit it, of course, but the Dark One could easily have destroyed the beautiful garden in a temper tantrum. Except he usually breaks his own belongings, instead, she thought to herself, still mulling over what had happened. She was glad that they'd spoken; it was obvious that he clearly regretted his actions. The Black Fairy's advice had been to let him stew, but she felt much better after their conversation.

Yet Belle still wanted to understand what had brought him to be like this. His mother had said that his life had been hard, but how could that force someone to seek darkness like this? Belle could see glimpses of a good man hidden beneath all that evil, but how could a good man want to become the Dark One? There was so much that she didn't understand.

"So, you are the poor child whom the Dark One has enslaved."

The new voice made her spin around, almost dropping her basket of peaches in surprise. Then Belle found herself faced with a real fairy. This one, unlike the Black Fairy, was tiny and hovering in the air, and she was dressed in a brilliant, glowing, blue. Belle recognized her immediately, having read plenty of books that described her.

"You're the Blue Fairy!"

"I am." The Blue Fairy smiled gently. "But you can call me Blue, if you like."

"All right." Then she considered what Blue had just said, and Belle straightened instinctively, disliking the implication. "I'm not his slave. I came here of my own free will."

"Of course you did. People tell tales of your bravery far and wide." Blue's eyes glistened. "But it is still terrible that Rumplestiltskin has forced you to become a servant instead of the lady of your own castle. You must be suffering."

Belle shrugged. "I made a deal with him. Rumplestiltskin saved my people, and in return, I came with him. Forever." She found a slight smile creasing her face. "Besides, he doesn't treat me badly. Not at all."

There were moments when she wanted to throttle her employer, but that didn't mean Belle actually thought he was the monster he claimed to be. He was kind to her, so very kind. He'd given her the library, a beautiful room of her own, and Rumplestiltskin actually cared what she thought about things. He was the first man in her life who had ever actually listened to what she had to say. Yes, he was volatile and she hated the evil festering inside of him, but he could also be surprisingly good and amazingly gentle. When he wasn't throwing teacups at her, anyway.

He could have hit me with any of those cups, though, and he didn't. I don't think he wanted to, even if that doesn't excuse his poor behavior.

"That is a surprise." Blue looked thoughtful, and then shook her head as if to clear it. Without warning, magic flashed in the air, and suddenly Blue was human-sized, brushing her skirt off daintily. "As encouraging as that is, I can free you, if that is what you wish. I can keep you from the Dark One, and to protect you from him."

"But I made a deal."

"Child, you've certainly served enough time in this terrible place to pay the price of the magic used to free you."

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean I'll break my word." Belle squared her shoulders. "That's not who I am." A part of her almost mentioned that Rumplestiltskin would surely avenge himself upon her people if Belle broke her deal, but she wasn't actually sure that he would. After all, the ogres were gone, and Rumplestiltskin did always keep his end of a bargain.

"You deserve to return to the life you were meant to have, Belle. This dreadful castle is no proper place for a young lady."

"I don't find it so terrible." And Belle had already discovered that she didn't want to be proper, or at least not in the way that men like Gaston wanted.

Blue looked at her appraisingly. "If you're worried about the Dark One's reaction, he need never know. It can be arranged."

"Thank you, but no. I will keep my promises, and that's final. I don't need 'saving' from my own choices." If Belle spoke more firmly than she meant to, well, that was hardly her fault. Rumplestiltskin might listen to her and care what she had to say, but she got the feeling that the Blue Fairy didn't care about her opinion. She kept pressing as if more reasons would make her forget her sense of honor and duty—or as if she wanted to leave at all!

Truth be told, Belle liked it there. Even when Rumplestiltskin drove her mad, he was fascinating. And…and he was kind. When they weren't fighting, she could talk to him for hours about books and history, about worlds he'd travelled to, or about great creatures and people he'd seen. And Belle was freer in the Dark Castle than she'd ever been at home. Here she would never be forced to marry an oaf who tortured ogre children, never forced to be a broodmare for his desired army of sons. Belle could be herself here; even at his worst, Rumplestiltskin never implied she should be someone else or change her mind about what she believed in.

"I see." Blue pressed her lips together, looking displeased.

Belle offered up what she hoped was a welcoming smile. "Is there something else you wanted? Did you perhaps wish to visit with Rumplestiltskin? I can make tea if so."

Of course Blue didn't want to see Rumplestiltskin, not if she was offering to 'save' Belle, so Belle made the offer with relish.

"No, thank you." Now Blue looked like the cat who'd been stuck catching the canary, and Belle felt a little guilty for enjoying the senior fairy's discomfort. She had meant well, hadn't she? Or was there something else that Belle wasn't seeing? The glint in Blue's eyes gave Belle pause, and a knot of worry began forming in the pit of her stomach, until a new voice spoke up:

"Is this how you spend your time these days, harassing young women who don't want your attention?" The Black Fairy laughed. "Really, I thought you'd have something more noble in mind."

"There's hardly any cause more noble than saving an innocent girl from a monster, Fiona!" The Blue Fairy drew herself up proudly. "But I would not expect you to understand that."

"My son is not a monster, and if he is, he's only what you allowed him to become." The words were a dangerous hiss, and Belle felt the need to take a step back so that she wasn't in between the two fairies. She wasn't afraid, not exactly, but getting out of the way just seemed sensible.

"I am not responsible for Rumplestiltskin's choices. He embraced Nimue's path, and—"

"Oh, spare me your sanctimonious drivel," Fiona snapped, and then much to Belle's surprise, looked her way. "Are you enjoying talking to this interfering little gnat?"

"Um." Belle swallowed, having not expected to be pulled into this conversation. Every tale she'd ever read of the Blue Fairy said that she was good and wise, and even if that wasn't entirely true, Belle didn't really want to get on her bad side. Not unless she had to. "I think she was just leaving."

"Oh, my, that's diplomatic." Fiona—was that the Black Fairy's real name?—laughed before turning back to Blue. "I think that's your invitation to leave."

Blue's glare at her darker counterpart was poisonous. "Not without offering Belle one last chance to escape the both of you."

"I don't need escape." Belle tried to keep her voice calm, but it was hard. "I already told you that I don't need saving, either, and I certainly don't need you interceding on my behalf. I am where I want to be, thank you."

"Are you certain, child? If it's this one you fear—"

"I'm not here out of fear," Belle cut in quickly, trying to stamp on her irritation. Had Blue not listened to a word she'd said? Then she changed the subject. "But I do have one question."

That made Blue smile again, and Fiona's scowl deepen. "All you have to do is ask."

"Who is Nimue?"

"No one who needs concern you," Blue answered just as Fiona said:

"The first Dark One. Unimportant unless you're interested in who started this whole disgusting mess." The glance Fiona sent her way said that she knew Belle was interested, but now wasn't a time to ask. Looking at Blue's pinched expression, Belle supposed it could wait.

"You are the one who started what you call a mess, Fiona," Blue said archly. "But speaking of which, have you told your son the truth of why you were exiled? Have you told him what you took from him?"

Fiona froze.

"Leave." The word was as cold as ice, and made Belle shiver. She'd never seen the Black Fairy look so dangerous, so frigid. "Leave while you still can."

"I will go, but not before telling you this." Blue's voice was calm, but even Belle could hear the underlying threat. "Go back to the Dark Realm. Return to your exile, or I will tell your son what you did to him, and why he suffers from the fate you've deemed so disgusting."

And then Blue was gone, leaving the Black Fairy pale in her wake and Belle staring at them both.


"My sister is insane. I'm so sorry." Regina squared her shoulders as she spoke the words, prepared for her friend to blame her for the most recent atrocity—but much to her surprise, Snow just reached out and put a hand on her arm.

"It's not your fault. You never even knew her until she decided to kill us both."

"And an entire town for sheltering us." Gritting her teeth made a sharp, grinding noise in her ears, but Regina didn't care. If Zelena had been in front of her right now, she probably would have done her damnedest to murder her sister.

Unfortunately, Zelena liked to hide behind her royal guards, so that was obviously not going to happen any time soon. That, and her sister had apparently inherited their mother's magic, and Regina lacked any talent—or at least training—in that regard. Maybe she could learn, but she had no one to teach her.

"She also murdered my wife." A new voice made her and Snow turn, and Regina felt like she'd been hit between the eyes with a hammer.

The man facing them grimly wasn't the most handsome fellow she'd ever seen—though he was quite close to it. But there was something about him, something about the pain in his blue eyes, or maybe in the way he held himself like someone who refused to fall apart no matter how broken his heart was, that made Regina's heart ache. There was something else about him, too, something that stirred feelings deep within her like she hadn't felt since Daniel. When Zelena had killed her True Love, Regina had thought she would never feel anything like that ever again, but she felt her heart flutter helplessly.

Don't be stupid, she told herself firmly, not sure where these alien feelings had come from. He's mourning.

"Oh, my goodness." Snow, of course, reached out to put a hand on the man's arm. "I'm so sorry to hear that. But you and your people are certainly welcome here. Are you the man that Little John spoke of?"

"I am. Robin of Locksley." A grimace. "People tend to call me Robin Hood."

"I'm Snow, and this is Regina. Like you, we're enemies of Zelena's." Snow's smile was so gentle that even a grieving man had to answer it, and Regina was glad that Snow was doing the talking, because she didn't know what to say. "John let us come to your camp after Zelena started hurting the people who were sheltering us."

"And you're very welcome here. Any enemies of the Wicked Queen are friends of mine." His mouth set in determination, and Regina forced herself to focus.

"Thank you," she said as calmly as she could. "But…you should know that Zelena is my half-sister. She's no friend of mine, but…you should know."

Most people didn't react as well as Snow always did, but this Robin Hood just took it in stride. "Well, if she liked you, I expect you wouldn't be here. Let's find the two of you somewhere to sleep. I can't promise luxuries, but I can promise you'll be safe with us."


Fiona had no idea what to do.

Blue's words kept echoing through her mind, reminding her over and over again that there was a terrible truth hanging over her head. She had told Rumplestiltskin that she was exiled for trying to banish all the children born the same winter he was, but she'd never told him the most critical secret: that he'd been born to be the Savior and she had taken that from him. Fiona had spent her first few years in the Dark Castle promising herself that she would eventually tell her son the truth, yet she'd thought of it less and less as time passed.

I thought I could leave that in the past, and bring him back to the light without that knowledge, but Blue is going to take that chance away from me.

She wanted to kill someone and the human girl who spoke up from her left made an incredibly tempting target. "Are you all right?" Belle asked all too kindly, making Fiona wheel to face her. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Of course I haven't! There's no such thing as ghosts," Fiona snapped before she could stop herself. Magic crackled in her palms, and for the first time in quite some years, she thought about how good it would feel to kill someone.

Rumplestiltskin would never forgive me. But what did it matter? Rumplestiltskin would probably never forgive her for the giant omission of the fact that he'd been destined to be the Savior, anyway, so what did it matter if Fiona killed the girl he was so busy falling for? Might as well give it all up with a bang, she mused darkly. Lose the family we've built. Doom my son to a life of lonely darkness. What does it matter?

"Well, I can't help if you don't tell me what the problem is!" Belle glared right back at her, and a part of Fiona knew exactly what Rumplestiltskin saw in her. If Rumplestiltskin were not stupidly in love with her already—

She slammed the door shut on that thought with an effort and an external sneer. "What could a stupid little human girl do to help someone like me?"

"Absolutely nothing if you refuse to tell me what this great secret is that you've kept from Rumplestiltskin." Belle didn't even flinch; she just crossed her arms and waited.

"It is no business of yours!"

"Of course it isn't." She could tell that the girl was barely managing not to roll her eyes. "But if it's something so terrible, you should tell Rumplestiltskin before Blue can."

Fiona narrowed her eyes. "You assume I'm not leaving."

"I hope you're not. It would—well, I think it would shatter him."

The bluntness of that response took Fiona aback, and she found herself blinking. Her poor boy was so fragile, and she knew that her leaving would hurt him greatly. Of course, if she did leave, he'd never know that she'd chosen her power over his—but Fiona had always known, deep down inside, that the truth would come out eventually. Even if she'd been confident that it never would, Fiona couldn't really contemplate leaving her son. She'd just said that to see how Belle responded.

Damn the girl for being so good.

"Yes, it would." Fiona looked away, swallowing hard as she allowed herself to look at the choices laid out before her. "But so might this."

"The way I see it, you don't really have a choice." Belle's voice was more gentle, but she didn't shut up, even when Fiona glared at her again. "Either you can tell him the truth, or Blue will. And…and I don't think she's one of Rumple's biggest fans."

"You can say that again." Fiona couldn't help snorting, although she did feel compelled to be honest. "That is probably my doing. She hates me more than she'll ever hate him."

"And she'll punish him for that hate." Belle looked angrier than Fiona had ever seen her, but it was worth noting that Belle didn't seem to blame her. Most people would. "She'll hurt Rumplestiltskin because she wants you to suffer."

"She'll tell him because she thinks I'm too much of a coward to do it myself." Fiona knew that was true, and as much as she hated to admit it, Belle wasn't wrong. She sighed. "You're right. I have to tell him the truth of why I abandoned him."

She just wasn't sure how.


A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who is still reading. I hope I'm not starting to bore anyone, so please don't hesitate to drop me a line if you're enjoying yourself!

Next up is Chapter 14—"The Truth too Late," in which Rumplestiltskin learns the truth how his mother cut his destiny away and Belle tries to help him through the aftermath.