Author's Notes: I do not own Once Upon A Time. Thanks again for all the reads and the great reviews! Please let me know what you think and happy reading!


The Duke of Padua finally rode into his home gardens.

"Your Grace!," the footman exclaimed as he bowed, taking the reins of the Duke's horse.

The Duke nodded and got off. "How is the Duchess? Has she delivered?"

"I know not, Your Grace."

The Duke walked into the Great Hall and heard a great howl as he began removing his gloves.

"I would say not," said the Duke.

"The wizard is here," said the footman.

"Merlin?"

The footman nodded.

"See that he is comfortable and tell him I will be with him shortly," said the Duke. "I must see to my wife."

"Yes, Your Grace."

The Duke leapt up the stairs two at a time and ran through the great house to the mistress' rooms. He was a lanky, yet oddly dashing figure and the servants were used to his running around his home. Maids hurried to and fro, looking at him curiously as he knocked at the bedroom door.

"Catherine?," he called.

"WHAT?!"

The Duchess was an acquired taste at the best of times. Fortunately, it was one her husband had long ago acquired. He cautiously cracked the door open.

"I just wanted to let you know that I had arrived-"

"Yes! I got that from when you knocked and said my name!"

"Right... Anyway, if there's any office I could perform for you, my lady, anything you require of me-"

"Yes, actually!"

"Oh?," he asked brightly.

"Go to Merlin, get him to turn the clocks back to nine months ago when you thought it was a good idea to have that third bottle of wine with the Sultan of Agrabah!"

"I thought you quite enjoyed that."

"Not anymore!," she snapped back.

"Right..." He paused. "I shall go to Merlin."


The Duke hurried downstairs to the sitting room. His four sons sat at Merlin's feet as the wizard told some story.

"And that is why you should never ever give someone a magic bean. They ruin lives. Ah, Your Grace."

The youngest turned. "Papa!"

"Hello!," said the Duke with a grin as the boy scampered towards him. The other three piled on for their turns at a hug.

"Do you have stories of the battlefield for us, Papa?," asked his eldest.

"Perhaps later," said the Duke. "Is it not time for your tutor? Go to him and let Merlin and I speak."

The boys left. The Duke turned to Merlin.

"Is it a girl?," asked the Duke with obvious excitement.

Merlin smiled. "What would make you think that?"

"Because my wife had borne me four sons and every time you have come, stayed a short while and left disappointed."

"Most men prefer a son."

"I have no preference but to have my wife and child healthy. That having been said, I do have four sons."

"You have a large land with many responsibilities necessitating many sons."

"I should welcome a daughter, though."

"Oh?"

"I love nothing in the world so well as my wife, why should I not love a daughter after her image?"

Merlin smiled. "True Love."

"I wonder, though, if it was a daughter you were waiting for all this time, why all the false visits?"

"Do you question my knowledge of the future?"

"Well..."

"Sometimes if one is too close to events, one cannot see them properly."

"Curious."

"Oh?"

"I only just had someone tell me-"

He stopped mid-sentence interrupted by a baby's first cry.

Merlin smiled. "Yes, that's her."


The Duke entered his wife's room. The midwife and maids backed away, giving him his space as he approached Catherine. Biting tongue not withstanding, she was quite a lovely woman with porcelain skin and red hair. She held the baby against her, smiling.

"Well, here is Papa..." she cooed.

"My lady," he said, placing a gentle kiss on her lips.

"You took far too long," she said.

"I was delayed. Forgive me."

"Always."

The Duke looked down. "I was really hoping for red hair."

"Oh, hush it, Alec... she's perfect."

"Merlin's here."

"Merlin? Is she the one he's waited for?"

"I think so. Finally, though, we have our little queen to help you rule us all."

"Reinette," Catherine said suddenly.

"Reinette?"

She looked back down at the baby. "Our little queen, Reinette."

The Duke smiled and kissed his wife in agreement. "Reinette."


"Okay," said Belle. She looked seriously at Beatrice as she sat on the bed in the room at the inn. "I'm going for a run."

"Okay. Have fun."

Belle shook her head. "No, for once, listen. I want you to stay in this room. I don't want you to go anywhere. I don't want you to commit any more felonies. I don't want you to hurt yourself-"

"I never hurt myself!"

"Please, Beatrice? Just promise me?"

Beatrice sighed. "I promise."

Belle nodded and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I love you."

"Love you, too," Beatrice said grudgingly.

It was five episodes of Doctor Who later when Beatrice got a knock at the door. She paused her iPad and walked over to answer it.

It was Savior Girl.

"August is wood."

It was an odd opening statement, but this whole thing was odd. "Um, yeah?"

"Henry ate a poison apple turnover."

Beatrice let out a breath of contempt and leaned against the doorway. "Why did Henry have a poison apple turnover?"

"Because Regina gave it to me."

Beatrice crossed her arms. "And Regina would be?"

"The Evil Queen."

"Not so crazy now, am I?"

"You did torch my car."

"For a reason."

"August says you used magic. He said you could help."

"Oh, God," said Beatrice, remembering the fortune teller's prophecy.

"Beatrice, I'm not ready for this. I need all the help I can get. I have to get some sort of magic to save Henry."

"And the Curse?"

"I'll work on it, but right now Regina is waiting. We don't have much time."

"Oh, good," said Beatrice. "Regina is waiting."

She walked over and put on her ankle boots, grabbed her iPhone and the purple sack from the voodoo woman.

"What's that?," Emma asked looking at the sack.

"Well, it mostly looks like some rocks and a couple of candles, but I think it might help," she said closing the door on the room and starting to walk out with Emma.

"How is that going to help?"

"Not a clue. It's really too bad I used all the magic zombie powder."

"The what?!," asked Emma.

"Come on," said Beatrice. "Her Majesty awaits."


The Duke looked across the room at the son-in-law he had been trying to make conversation with for the better part of the day. He had no love lost for Sir Maurice and had thought at one time he could learn to at least tolerate the man his daughter had chosen to marry, but he was now decided that was not to be.

The footman entered. "Sir Maurice. Your Grace. There is a visitor."

"I'm not taking visitors," said Maurice.

"He says he is Merlin."

"Merlin?," asked the Duke. "He's a friend to our family. Send him through."

Maurice nodded his acquiescence. The footman departed and soon returned with the wizard.

"Merlin," said the Duke. "How good to see you."

"Your Grace," he said. "Sir Maurice."

"Merlin, are you unwell?," asked the Duke. "Forgive me, you do not seem yourself."

The wizard paused. "Have you ever gotten to the near end of something, like a journey, and it's not quite gone the way you planned?"

"Yes, but perhaps you are where you're meant to be?"

"Indeed," he said, casting a glare at Sir Maurice.

"Come. Sit. My wife is with Reinette."

"Indeed I am not," said Catherine, entering the room.

"We heard nothing," the Duke remarked in alarm.

"You would not have," said Catherine. "She's an absolute lamb. A true beauty."

"It's a girl?," asked Sir Maurice.

"Yes," said Catherine tersely. "Your wife and daughter are waiting."

Sir Maurice left.

Catherine looked to Merlin. "Are you certain you wouldn't like to turn him into something?"

"That's not really my thing," said Merlin.

The Duke snorted. "Since when?"

"I truly wonder at that man," said Catherine.

"He passed the morning hunting," said the Duke.

Merlin looked out the window. Catherine looked at the Duke in puzzlement then back to the wizard.

"Merlin, I wonder if I might crave an indulgence," said Catherine.

"I suppose it should depend on what manner of indulgence."

"You've been following our families for generations."

"Yes?"

She shrugged in curiousity. "To what end? For how long?"

"Do you swear to the gods to never tell?"

They exchanged glances.

"By the gods," said the Duke.

"And I," said Catherine.

"Your great-granddaughter."

"Is she..." The Duke struggled. "I know she should be special, but to what purpose should you need her?"

"I've tried to build a kingdom before and it's fallen."

The Duke looked at his wife. "Do you mean Camelot? It's only just begun."

"Just wait," said Merlin.

"So, our great-granddaughter is to be a queen?," asked Catherine.

"I shouldn't worry. All your granddaughter must do is follow the path of True Love."


Once Sir Maurice was off and Reinette had fallen asleep, Merlin made his way into the nursery. he approached the cradle and took the baby in his arms.

"Here you are, Belle of Avonlea. I have been waiting a very long time for you. Despite what you may be told, you come from an unbroken line of True Love and that makes you perfect for what you are going to do. You will be a hero. You shall fear no beast and no one, no one decides your fate but you."


Regina walked up to the library with her huge ring of skeleton keys. She pointed at Beatrice. "What is she doing here?"

"I heard you needed help," said Beatrice. "Are you going to stop me?"

Regina froze. She actually couldn't and she silently cursed Gold in this instance. She opened up the library as Emma and Beatrice followed her in.

"Oh, my God, you guys have a card catalog and nobody noticed how out of date you were?," Beatrice remarked.

Regina didn't say anything. She walked over to a mirrored tree on the wall and placed her hand on it. She moved a few more levers and an elevator rose.

"Whoa," said Emma.

Regina motioned at the elevator.

"After you," said Emma.

"It's a two man job, one of us has to operate it."

"Great," Beatrice grumbled.

"And I'm just supposed to trust you?," asked Emma.

"You don't have a choice," said Regina.

"This battle I'm supposed to fight. Who is it? Who's down there?"

"I'm guessing a dragon," said Beatrice.

Regina turned to look at her. "How did you know that?"

"Fortune teller."

Regina stood closer to Beatrice. "If that imp is trying to double cross me-"

"What imp?," asked Beatrice.

"Yeah, what imp?," asked Emma. "Wait, what dragon?"

"Here's what you're going to have to do," said Regina.


The Curse was drawing to a close. Gold had waited for this day for a very long time, he was so close to achieving his goal. All he had to do was wait a bit and then go to the library.

He was very surprised to hear a knock at his shop door. He walked over to see Belle standing out front.

"I'm sorry, I tried to call."

"Yes, sorry, I was busy," said Gold. "Won't you come in?"

Belle walked in. "It's Beatrice. I went for a run, I was probably out too long, I just wanted to clear my head and it was so stupid!"

"Calm down, Belle. What's the matter?"

"She wasn't in our room. I tried asking August and his room had some creepy life-sized wooden doll in it-"

"Really?," asked Gold.

"Then I asked Granny and she said she saw Beatrice leave with the sheriff."

"What?," Gold asked, unable to hide his dismay.

"I went to the station, but nobody was there. I don't know what else to do. Do you have any idea where she might have taken her?"

Gold hurried back behind the counter and got the key he would need out.

"Miss French, I think it would be best if you stayed here for the moment."

"Where are you going?"

"To get Beatrice."

"Then I'll come with you-"

"No, Belle, please, do as I ask."

"No. She's my daughter!"

"Belle..." He paused. "Everything Beatrice has ever told you about the other realm, the Enchanted Forest, is true."

"What?"

"There was nothing wrong with her except she was born into a world she was never meant to be in and that's my fault."

"I really have no idea what you mean," said Belle.

"Which is why you should wait here. I'll call you the moment I find Sheriff Swan."

As Gold left, Belle was lost with a terrible sense of confusion and unable to do anything.


Belle French was an unusual expectant mother for the nurses at Beth Israel Hospital.

For one, the memory thing. She had only a vague notion of who she was and no notion of who the father was. No father, that was the second thing. It wasn't because they hadn't seen single mothers, it was because Belle was quite beautiful and quite lovely when they got to know her. No one showed up to be with her, parents, friends, no one. She passed her labor in her room, quietly, calmly and seemed genuinely grateful when the staff would come in to check on her.

Then it was a shock when seemingly out of nowhere her labor suddenly came on fast and hard like the autumn thunderstorm outside that had appeared out of nowhere.

Belle finally couldn't help it, howling as the nurses and doctor hurried to get into position.

There was a harsh crack of thunder and Belle screamed again, leaving her panting and out of breath.

"Just breathe, Belle," said the nurse. "You're doing fine."

Belle nodded, unable to speak. She felt another contraction come on and screamed again, joining in the thunder. There was a burst of lightning and the power suddenly went out.

"Oh, what the hell?," muttered the doctor. "Someone get me a light."

"What's happening?," asked Belle.

"It's fine. The generator will come on any second," said the nurse.

There was a hum as the emergency lights came on. Belle screamed again.

"This is it, Belle, you're almost done," said the doctor.

There was another final push and cry. The lights flickered back on as the baby let out her first cry.

"It's a girl," said the doctor, wrapping her up.

Belle waited impatiently as they did whatever checks and handed the baby to her.

"Hi," Belle said softly. "Hello."

Belle smiled. The girl with no memories, the girl who didn't know who she was, the girl with no one, she was a woman with a purpose now. She was a mother to this tiny creature born in the midst of this storm. Dark hair, lovely brown eyes, a face she had already fallen for.

"Have you picked out a name yet?," asked the nurse.

"Beatrice," said Belle.

"Really?," asked the doctor.

Belle shot him a glare and turned back to her baby.


The elevator stopped. Emma looked at Beatrice.

"Want out first?"

"Your kid," said Beatrice.

Emma walked out, sword drawn. Beatrice followed.

There was a glass coffin. Emma walked past it as Beatrice ran her fingers over it and sniffed.

"Do you smell ivy?," she asked.

"What?," asked Emma.

Beatrice looked up and realized they had made their first mistake as Maleficent growled.

"Emma..." Beatrice hissed.

They ran. Emma looked at her sword and dropped it. "To hell with this."

She drew her gun and fired at Maleficent. This only made the dragon hiss fire. Beatrice yelped and ran behind a stone pillar as Emma followed.

"Why did you do that?!," Beatrice shouted. "Have you ever heard a fairy tale where the dragon gets killed by a small firearm?!"

"Have you got any great plan?!"

Beatrice sighed. "Uh, Maleficent?," she called. "Maleficent?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to talk to her."

"She's a dragon!"

"Who was also a person." Beatrice dared to turn and look at the dragon. "Look, sorry about the Curse thing and Regina's really sort of a bitch..."

The dragon hissed fire against the pillar. Beatrice and Emma ran as Maleficent fell into a gorge.

"Do you think she's gone?," asked Emma.

"I think she has wings and you should back away from the edge."

Just then, Maleficent flew up out of the gorge.

"Really?!," asked Emma.

Beatrice turned to run and tripped, cursing her clumsiness as she heard her iPhone crunch in her front pocket. Emma grabbed her to help her up and her glasses fell to the ground.

She was about to turn back for them when she felt Emma yanking her and saw a very blurry flame.

"How bad did you need those?," asked Emma.

"Pretty bad."

"That magic you had. Any idea how to use it?"

"Not really. I can't see and I have a candle and some stones." Beatrice paused. "I can't see and I have a candle."

"Okay..."

Beatrice reached into the sack and pulled out a candle. She let out a sigh and blew on the wick, lighting a small flame.

"Okay, wow," said Emma. "Fire's not something we're really short on."

Beatrice blinked. "I can see."

"Okay, that's something."

Beatrice pulled out the stones. "I am going to throw these at that dragon and then I suggest doing something with the sword quick."

"What do the stones do?"

"Not a clue."

Beatrice turned and threw the stones, one managed to land in the dragon's mouth. It swallowed and lit up the scales. Emma threw her sword at the bright spot and the dragon burst into ashes.

"Oh, God," said Beatrice, suddenly covered in dragon ash, her candle taken out by the ash.

"Yeah."

Emma walked over where a golden egg laid atop a pile of ashes.

"Okay, I've got it."

"Cool," said Beatrice. "Would have liked to see that."

"You really need glasses."

"No kidding?"


Merlin walked into the hospital nursery, surveying down the rows of babies.

"Can I help you?," the nurse asked.

"Doctor Avalon," he said, brandishing his plastic badge. "Here to see Baby Girl French for an Ophthalmology consult."

"She's-"

"Yes, I see her," said Merlin walking over.

Merlin much admired the Land Without Magic. Though he had to say, he found the way children were born into this world somewhat strange. Bringing life into the world, that was the greatest magic of all and here it was charted and managed and supervised. He lifted the girl from her plastic bassinet and looked at her eyes.

"Oh, yes, Beatrice, that mean old witch did do quite a number on your eyes, didn't she? She didn't get you though, do you know why?"

The baby stared blankly.

"You are part of an unbroken line of True Love. On your mother's side. I won't even start on the absolute wreck on your father's side. You're too young. You might think you don't belong, but you are exactly where you need to be. What others might think are weaknesses, they are your greatest strengths. You don't see the world like others. You're afraid of the dark, so you never let the light go out. This, Beatrice, this is what I have waited for."

Merlin put her back down.

"Now, I will see you later."


Emma looked at Beatrice as they rode up the elevator.

"Would you stop shaking your head?," she asked, gripping the egg.

"I have dead dragon in my hair!"

Suddenly, the elevator stopped.

"Oh, come on!"

"Regina!," shouted Emma.

"Miss Swan?," Gold called down. "Miss French, what are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?," Beatrice asked.

"I was checking on Miss Swan and it's a good thing because it appears Regina's abandoned you."

"I'm coming up," said Emma.

"Miss French, what happened to your glasses?"

"Dragon."

"He's right," said Emma. "You first."

"I can't see two feet in front of me," said Beatrice.

"It's not that far," said Emma, helping her to the wall. "I'll help you on the ledge and then just pull yourself up."

"Yeah, because pull ups are what I'm really good at," said Beatrice.

Emma helped her up on the ledge.

"Here, take my hand," said Gold, closing the distance between Beatrice and the elevator doorway.

Beatrice reached and Gold pulled. He seemed surprisingly strong for an old guy who limped around with a cane.

"Are you alright?," he asked.

"Fine," said Beatrice.

"I'm coming up," said Emma.

"Well, you can't possibly scale the wall and carry that. Toss it up."

"Beatrice! You catch it!"

"Can't see! Can't catch!," Beatrice called back.

"We're wasting time," said Gold. "Toss it up. Your boy's going to be fine."

"You hold onto it. I'll be right up."

If Beatrice had been able to see, she might have noticed Gold as he came behind her and grabbed her by the arm as soon as he had the egg in hand.

"Gold! Gold!," Emma shouted.

"Hey, what?!" Beatrice struggled against Gold's grip. She was finding it very hard to shake off. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"Beatrice! What's going on?!," Emma called.

Before Beatrice could answer, she was rushed out of the library about the time she was far enough away to be able to see Regina tied to a chair and gagged.