Author's Notes: I still do not own Once Upon A Time. Thanks for the reads and follows and reviews. I really appreciate it, keep them coming. Please let me know what you think and happy reading!


"Belle!," called Lady Reinette. "Belle!"

"Can I help, your ladyship?," asked Johanna.

Reinette smiled at the servant. "Have you seen Belle? She needs to get ready for the evening's events."

"I think I saw her go into the library, milady," said Johanna.

"Of course," said Reinette. "I should have thought of it myself. Thank you, Johanna."

Lady Reinette made her way to the library of the Summer Palace. King Leopold had built this place for Queen Eva and left nothing to chance. Though Queen Eva was not a prolific reader, she did read and the King had seen to that. It was a grand room with walls and walls of bookshelves and beautiful window seats to look out over the kingdom with. The library at Sir Maurice's was decidedly more modest, like a lot of things at Sir Maurice's so when she and Belle visited the Queen and Princess Snow every summer Belle made thorough use of the library.

"Belle."

Belle looked down from the window seat. She was a beautiful girl now and Reinette had no doubt this would carry into her womanhood.

"Yes, Mama?"

"You need to change before this evening's amusements."

"But, Mama..."

"Come now, Belle," said Reinette. Her daughter obliged and got down from the window seat. Reinette took her by the hand. "You are becoming a young lady. You must be careful how you present yourself, especially here."

"Why?"

"Because this is the court of King Leopold and Queen Eva, one of the most prominent in all the lands. Your best chance of making a good marriage is here." She caught Belle's scowl. "Not this year and not for a few yet, but surely someday."

"I would wish to marry for love."

Reinette smiled wistfully. "I wish it for you as well and I think you with your many virtues shall have your wish."


"I don't suppose there's anyone around here whose last name is dragon," said Beatrice as they walked inside the city building that housed Sheriff Swan's office.

"No," said August.

"Great," said Beatrice.

"Beatrice, I don't understand what you're hoping to find at the sheriff's station," said Belle. "I've already told you what I was."

"And I've already told you that's a bunch of crap. So we are going to find or rather not find your arrest records and meet the sheriff. It's a win-win."

"I don't know," said Belle.

"Well, I do and I'm the crazy one, remember?"

Beatrice walked into the sheriff's station where she found Savior Girl finishing up a doughnut.

Beatrice looked at August and motioned at Emma. "Really? Her?"

Emma looked at her skeptically. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm Beatrice French," she said. She motioned at her mother as she came in. "This is my mother, Belle French."

"Belle French?" Emma looked at her. "Is your dad Moe? From the flower shop?"

"Yes."

Beatrice spoke again. "Anyway, you have arrest records, don't you?"

"Yeah," said Emma.

"Then we need hers," said Beatrice.

"If you don't mind, Emma," August added.

Emma led them to a room full of file cabinets.

"Not very often people come in asking to see their arrest reports," said Emma.

"Well, I have reasons," said Beatrice.

"Are you guys just visiting?," asked Emma. "I didn't even know Moe had a daughter."

"He's not likely to mention it," said Belle.

Emma looked at Belle for a minute, like she was trying to figure something out in her mind. She went back to her work at the cabinet.

"Huh," said Emma, stopping the flipping through folders.

"Something amiss?," asked Beatrice.

"There's nothing here," said Emma. She looked at Belle. "You're sure you got arrested?"

Belle shrugged.

"There's nothing here." Emma walked to another cabinet.

"Nothing there," said Beatrice looking pointedly at her mother.

Emma searched through another cabinet. "Okay, Belle French."

"An arrest record?," asked Belle. "Misplaced?"

She cast Beatrice a sideways glance and the girl rolled her eyes.

Emma shook her head. "No, Graham was meticulous with his filing. Wait..."

"Something wrong, Sheriff?," asked Beatrice.

"I found you on an incident report, Belle," said Emma. "The late sheriff, Graham. He wrote it up. This was over fifteen years ago. I didn't think he was that old."

Beatrice shot August a look. "Really? How odd."

Emma frowned and handed the folder to Belle. "I think you should look at it."

Belle leafed through the pages. "I... I don't know what this is. I never..."

Emma looked at August. "August, why don't you take Beatrice out for a minute?"

"What does it say?," asked Beatrice.

"Come on," said August.


The party was made up of royal ladies and their daughters at the Summer Palace to celebrate the Festival of the Equinox Lady. It was one of Queen Eva's favorite events and invitations were hard to get, but Reinette had known her since they were children.

Reinette had been the daughter of a Duke, but was now married to a lowly knight from a small kingdom. Their marriage was out of necessity and Reinette regretted that necessity save for Belle. Love for her was the only thing she and her husband agreed on. They disagreed on everything else, including Belle's upbringing, like these trips in the summer. Reinette wanted to expose her daughter to the best society, Maurice would have been happy for her to marry any errant knight. Reinette knew that Belle was very smart and would need a suitable match. Being mistress of their land wouldn't be enough for her, though she would soldier on cheerfully through a life of duty. The only way to make Belle's life more interesting in Reinette's eyes was through a husband's station who was above their own.

"Now, Snow, girls," said Eva, "we have a special treat for the festival of the Equinox Lady. The good seer, Octavia, she's going to tell you something about your future husbands."

"Oh, a trifle, really," said Octavia. "Who will go first?"

None of the girls stepped forward.

Eva smiled in amusement. "No one? Snow?"

Snow White looked to Belle. "You go first, Belle. You're the bravest."

Belle looked to Reinette and she nodded her approval. Belle stepped forward to the woman.

"Your hand, child."

Belle held out her hand.

"You, child. You will find True Love..."

The girls giggled.

"With the most powerful man in all the realms."

The giggling stopped at the seriousness of Octavia's tone. Reinette's interest was piqued and she was quite pleased with the prophecy. One of the other girls took her turn as Belle came to Reinette.

"Mama, I don't want to marry for power," said Belle.

"And you won't," said Reinette, smiling. "Didn't you hear? You're going to find True Love."

"I want adventure."

"Adventure you will have," said Reinette. "Belle, with True Love anything is possible. Love is hope. You are going to have everything you could ever want."

"I'd want a library," said Belle.

"Well, I'm certain you'll get it," said Reinette.


August took Beatrice out onto the street. He leaned up against a ramp, looking as if he were in pain.

"Is something wrong?," asked Beatrice.

"Emma needs to believe," said August.

"Oddly enough, I've found a shortcut," said Beatrice. "It's called proof."

"This is her destiny."

"Good. I'm thrilled for her," said Beatrice. "I still need help with my thing. Now, who's Mr. Gold?"

"What?"

"Why wasn't I supposed to let him see me? And why is he so interested in my mom?"

"He's just-"

Beatrice shook her head. "Nobody's just anybody here. Who is he?"

August relented. "Rumplestiltskin."

"I haven't been sold to him, have I?," asked Beatrice. "You know, that whole firstborn thing? No, wait, my mom's too smart to not actually read the contract."

"No, you're fine. He's just... powerful."

"Well, there's no magic here so he's not all that powerful, is he? What are you not telling me?"

Beatrice stopped and turned. A woman with dark hair in a black pantsuit was staring at her from down the street.

"That's her, isn't it?," asked Beatrice. "The Evil Queen."

Belle came outside. "Beatrice, I-"

"What did she say?"

Belle was staring at Regina and Regina was staring back. Volumes were happening in looks between the two women.

"Mom?," asked Beatrice.

"It's okay, Belle," said August.

"No, I'm fine," said Belle, taking her daughter by the arm as she looked at Regina. "Sorry, Beatrice, you said this town was frozen in time, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

It was Belle dragging Beatrice back in the sheriff's office. Emma looked up in surprise.

"You said Graham died?," asked Belle.

"Yeah," said Emma.

She walked over to a plaque on the wall with the late sheriff's picture.

"He looks the same," said Belle.

"Okay..." said Emma.

"No, he looks exactly the same. He didn't age at all."

Emma shrugged. "Alright."

"Regina looks exactly the same," said Belle.

"Thank you for joining me at my point," said Beatrice.

"Maybe they just age well?," asked Emma.

Belle shrugged.

"Really? That's what you're going with?," asked Beatrice.

"I need to see my dad," said Belle.

"Is that a good idea?," asked August.

"No, but I can handle him," said Belle. "Thank you for your help, Sheriff."

Belle left, Beatrice followed.

"August," said Emma. "A minute?"

August stopped. "I should go with them."

"August, who are they? Really?"

August smiled. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."


"Sir Gaston!," Reinette exclaimed.

It was her first morning back in her land after the summer escape. This was often a difficult time, leaving the life at the palace and coming back to her own duchy, not because she had disdain for the duties of a noblewoman, it was her husband. They usually had a cursory meeting in the morning as she took breakfast in her room. They went over the day's events and at the end of this meeting, he had decided to drop in that he had made preliminary arrangements to marry off their only child.

"Not right away, of course," said Sir Maurice. "I know she is not of age, but when she is..."

"Why don't you just marry her off to a watering can?," asked Reinette. "They would have as much to talk about."

"What is the matter with Gaston?," asked Sir Maurice.

"He's a dolt and a braggart and he doesn't interest Belle in the least."

"You forget, milady," said Sir Maurice. "You've borne me no sons. I need someone to rule over my lands and no woman can do it on her own."

Reinette scoffed. "You underestimate your own daughter."

"Belle may have a sharp mind for a woman, but it's still a woman's."

"Whereas Gaston has no mind."

"Hold your tongue, woman."

"I have held my tongue for many years over many things, sir, but I am afraid my daughter's husband will not be one of them."

"I have her best interests at heart," said Sir Maurice.

"I have never doubted your love for Belle," said Reinette. "Merely your appraisal of her worth and your judgment."

"She is my daughter and I will do with her as I please," said Sir Maurice. "Now, if you'll excuse me, milady."

Reinette fumed. This would not stand.


Gold didn't look up as he heard the bell ring on the door of the pawn shop. He didn't need to.

"There you are, Mr. Booth," said Mr. Gold. "I was expecting to see you some time ago."

"I was busy."

Gold approached closer, his cane emphasizing every step. "And what might you have been busy with?"

August froze.

"Does it have anything to do with our new visitors?," asked Gold. "You've been holding out on me, Mr. Booth."

"I can explain-"

"Explain how when you were impersonating my son, you were holding back on Belle? Who does the girl belong to?"

August waited too long. "Who do you think?"

"Do you know what happened?"

"Regina sent her away. That's all I've ever known. I swear."

"Well, we all know what an oath from you means," said Gold. He went back behind the case. "Here's what you're going to do. You're going to keep working on Miss Swan. In the meantime, you're going to send Belle my way."

"What?"

"She trusts you and let's face it, she shouldn't, so whatever she's here for, whatever she needs help with, you'll suggest that I can help."

"Why should she trust you?"

"Because she used to and she can again."

"If the Curse was broken, she would."

"Yes, and I will wait with bated breath for you to deliver on that promise. In the meantime, this is what I want and you, Mr. Booth are really in no position to deny me what I want."

"I'll tell her," said August.

"Good boy," said Gold.


Belle and Beatrice stood outside Game of Thorns.

"This is a bad idea," said Belle.

"Um, you suggested it?," asked Beatrice.

Belle nodded. Yes, it had been her idea this humiliation was the best way to prove the truth to her daughter.

"Mom," said Beatrice, "there's nothing some jerk I haven't met yet can say to change my mind about you. I know who you are."

"That jerk is my father."

"We'll see," said Beatrice.

Belle took a deep breath and walked in. Beatrice followed.

Moe French turned around. Beatrice watched his face as he looked at her mother: it was like he was looking at a phantasm.

"Hi, Dad," said Belle.

"What are you doing here?," he demanded harshly.

"I'm visiting Storybrooke," said Belle. She took Beatrice's hand. "This is Beatrice. Your granddaughter."

Moe looked at Beatrice. There was something repelling him.

"What have you brought your bastard around for?"

"Excuse me?," said Beatrice.

"You made your choice, Belle."

"Dad, see, I don't quite remember-"

"Remember? Your disgrace? Your whoring yourself out?!"

"You can't talk to her like that!," shouted Beatrice.

"Beatrice, you should wait outside," said Belle.

"Yes, get that out of my shop."

Beatrice scowled. What had this man done to her mother? What was it he thought of her? She had no idea because this definitely was not in her story book. Whatever it was, he was wrong.

She was angry. So she knocked over the nearest flower arrangement to the ground and its vase smashed into pieces.

"Beatrice!," Belle exclaimed.

"You'll pay for that."

"It was an accident," Beatrice said flatly. She kicked over a stand of flowers. "Like that."

"Get out!," Moe bellowed.

Moe was walking closer. Belle stood between he and Beatrice, then pushed her out of the storefront.

"How long has your dad been an asshole?," asked Beatrice.

"Miss French."

Beatrice and Belle turned to see Regina smiling icily.

"I was surprised to see you here," said Regina. "Given the terms of our agreement."

"I have something to do in town," said Belle.

"Well, having seen that reunion with your father, it's safe to say you're done," said Regina. "I'll tell Granny you're leaving."

"No, I'm not done," said Belle. "And if you want to drive me out of town, you're going to have to work a lot harder at it."

Regina looked startled by what Belle had said.

"We'll see," said Regina.


Reinette waited in the forest in the meeting place that had been arranged. There was someone who was far more powerful than Sir Maurice, who would make any deal. She heard a rustling in the trees and the imp appeared.

"Are you him?," asked Reinette.

"Rumplestiltskin," he said with a bow. "And you are?"

She frowned. "I thought you knew everyone."

"Yes, you see, that is curious," said Rumplestiltskin, approaching her closer. "I don't know anything about you."

"Lady Reinette."

"And what ails you, Lady Reinette?"

"My daughter."

"Let me guess, you don't approve of her lover?"

"She's fourteen."

Rumplestiltskin's face immediately showed distaste at his own faux pas which Reinette thought curious. "Oh, sorry." He paused. "Then what?"

"My husband wishes to marry her off to the most obnoxious man in the village. She should choose her own fate."

Rumplestiltskin eyed her. "And that's what you want?"

"A seer has foretold that she'll find True Love. I want her to be free to do so. What would you ask in return?"

"So strange..."

"What?," asked Reinette.

"I can't see anything about your daughter."

"It's been foretold."

"No, see, I have the power to see the future and I don't see anything..."

"I've made my request. What's your price?"

"Don't hear that often..." He paused. "No price."

"That's not-"

"I'm not interested in the deal."

"What?"

"Because I don't know what you are. I don't make deals without knowing what it's going to cost me. You're dangerous."

Reinette was in disbelief. She had never heard of the Dark One refusing a deal. "What danger?"

"I don't know, but don't worry, dearie, if it's True Love, these things have a way of figuring themselves out."

He vanished as quickly as he had appeared and Reinette was left alone.

This would not stand. She would find someone to help her.


Gold polished a wooden chest. It had belonged to Belle's mother, a keepsake he had obtained for her though he had never met the owner herself. It had been years since he had paid any attention to it, noting in his cursed that it was a curious box with excellent craftsmanship and leaving it on the shelf, never trying to sell it. Now he thought it might suddenly prove useful.

"Mr. Gold?"

He recognized Belle's voice immediately and took off his apron.

"It's me. Belle French? We met at the inn?"

Gold pushed past the curtain of the backroom and smiled.

"I don't know if you remember," Belle said nervously.

"Of course I remember. Miss French. How goes your quest?"

Belle shrugged. "Mixed results. August said I should talk to you and Sheriff Swan says you're the only one she's seen win against Regina."

"Then you're acquainted with our illustrious mayor?"

"Yes, um, Sheriff Swan said you were a lawyer?"

"I have many interests."

Belle nodded. "Yeah, I can see that. Landlord, pawnbroker..."

"Do you need legal advice?"

"I can pay," Belle said quickly.

He shook his head."There's no need. Consider this consultation pro bono. What seems to be the matter?"

Belle took a breath and began. "Over fifteen years ago, I was taken from the Storybrooke Hospital's mental ward to Boston."

"Ah," said Gold, trying to act blase.

"See, my life before that's a bit hazy, which I know sounds awful..."

"Not at all. Please continue."

"When I got to Boston, the psychiatrists there said there was nothing wrong with me. One of them had a friend who was a law student and she investigated my case a bit and it turned out Regina had ordered me locked away."

"Had she?," Gold asked, gripping his cane. In the asylum. Where the people from her dungeon had gone. She had been there, but for how long? And what did the Blue Fairy have to do with it? He had never doubted her involvement. The Gold Fairy had never denied it.

Belle continued with her story. "Yes. She had a professor who was a prominent attorney in Boston and he represented me in a lawsuit against the mayor and the city. I settled out of court on the condition that I didn't return here."

"Is that so?," Gold asked, trying to hold back his anger.

"It was quite a bit of money," said Belle. "I've used it to further my education and look after my daughter, but Beatrice has been having problems lately."

Gold looked at her inquisitively.

"Mental problems. She may be having delusions and she's been hurting herself."

"Delusions?" Belle looked anxious and he added, "Anything you say is between us, Miss French."

"She thinks this town is under a curse where it's been frozen in time. Everyone's from some place called the Enchanted Forest and I'm Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Snow White, Prince Charming, they're all here."

Gold was stunned. "Is that so?"

"I know, it's... well, I don't want to say what it is because I don't want to think of her like that. She does seem to have a point. Regina hasn't aged a day, neither has my father."

"You saw your father?," he asked with surprise.

"Yeah, it didn't go well." Belle paused. "Anyway, I had to bring Beatrice here to prove the truth to her so she can get the help she needs, but Regina doesn't seem to like my presence and I'm afraid she'll want everything back. If that's what has to happen, I can live with it. My daughter's more important, but I have been saving a lot of it for Beatrice's college fund."

"And when you left Storybrooke, you were already pregnant?"

"Yes, that's most of why I settled. I would have preferred the truth, but I had a baby coming and no income, no family..."

"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Miss French. I think I understand what it means to do anything for your child."

"You have a child, then?"

"I had a son. Not anymore."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Belle.

"Never mind," said Gold. "If you could get me a copy of your settlement, I'll take a look at it. In the meantime, I think you'll find Mayor Mills won't be a problem."

"She won't?," Belle asked skeptically. "She certainly seemed like one earlier."

"If she approaches you again, you can tell her that I am handling your case and she can come talk to me."

"Really? That does it?"

"Absolutely."

"Well, thank you, Mr. Gold," said Belle.

"It's my pleasure, Miss French. You should be able to stay in Storybrooke as long as you need to."