Author's Notes: I do not own Once Upon A Time which is a show on ABC where they break your heart and wonder why you're upset. Anyway, thanks for the reads and reviews, I have gotten back to none of them and I am sorry. This chapter has turned out more fluffy than I originally intended, but there's some plot in there if you look. Also, I do not own a show called Doctor Who which is a show on BBC written by a sadist similar to those behind OUAT. Anyway, a lot of this contains references to a Doctor Who Christmas special called "The Snowmen" which is about well, snowmen and you can watch on Hulu if you want, it's just that Mr. Gold's experience basically reflects what many parents go through when watching their first Doctor Who. Anyway, please let me know what you think and happy reading!
Also, if you're reading this from outside the U.S., you may be unaware of something called Reese's Peanut Butter Christmas trees since I think some of you may not understand the magic that is peanut butter. It's okay, I will never understand Vegemite, Marmite, some really bitter Italian soda I can't remember the name of. Anyway, it's peanut butter coated in a thin layer of chocolate in the shape of a Christmas tree, they have four seasonal shapes and they are amazing. Anyway, happy reading!
Gold was having an unusual Christmas in that it was the only time Christmas had actually been celebrated in his house. There was a tree with piles of presents underneath. There was a wreath and even some subdued lights on the outside that Belle hired Leroy to put up, much to the confusion of his neighbors. Belle and Beatrice had woken up late and now Gold made them breakfast.
"Aren't you supposed to run screaming to the tree or something?," asked Gold as he handed Beatrice her pancakes. Chocolate chip as she had informed him on the virtues of the dish.
Beatrice eyed him. "You have noticed I'm sixteen?"
"I had noticed, but I am just going off what I know from television."
Belle smiled. "She used to run screaming. She gave up on that a few years back."
"Then what can I expect from the day?"
"Well, we opened our gifts, then caught a movie and ate Chinese food."
"So long as we are done by nine," said Beatrice.
"What's at nine?"
Beatrice looked up at him as if he were stupid. "The Doctor Who Christmas Special."
"I thought we were all having dinner," said Gold.
"Well, it ought to be over by then," said Belle. "Everyone's supposed to come over around seven."
"You people can do what you want," said Beatrice. "I'm watching the Doctor Who Christmas special."
Following a leisurely breakfast, they made their way to the main event. The spruce was decorated with a mix of antique ornaments and the rather more whimsical collection from Belle and Beatrice's collection containing miniature New York landmarks, Daleks and Disney princesses.
They let Beatrice get in first since the majority of the gifts were hers. Clothes, bags and Reese's Christmas trees which seemed to be her favorite candy ever. Gold waited anxiously as Beatrice opened her gift from Belle, the ancient copy of Much Ado About Nothing. Then Beatrice gave Belle her gift.
"It's not that big," said Beatrice. "I found it on Etsy."
"It doesn't matter how big it is. You know it's the thought that counts." Belle opened and gasped at a brass cuff with books and a quote engraved on it. Belle read it aloud. "She is far too fond of books and it has turned her brain."
"So you bought your mother a label then," Gold teased.
"It's perfect, Beatrice, thank you," said Belle, putting it on. "I think Papa is due a gift."
Beatrice sheepishly handed him a box. He opened it and went past the tissue paper to find a tie. A gold tie in silk.
"You got me a tie," said Gold.
"I know," Beatrice said apologetically. "I was having a hard time and I didn't know what you liked-"
"No, sweetheart, I do like it and you got a pocket square," said Gold. "Not to mention that this is the very first Christmas present anyone has ever given me."
"It doesn't suck then?," asked Beatrice.
"No, of course not," said Gold. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."
"I'll open one of yours," said Beatrice.
"They're just trifles, really..." said Gold.
It was too late. She was opening one. "You got me the TARDIS cookie jar! Thank you! Oh, I have an idea for this." She tore in the box and started loading it with the many Reese's Christmas trees from her stocking.
Storybrooke's ever-growing prison had begun to take over half the municipal building that housed the sheriff's office. Merlin entered the room where Mother Superior sat behind magically erected bars. He held out a plate.
"I brought you dinner."
Mother Superior scowled.
"Fine," said Merlin, placing it on a stool. "Eat it. Don't eat it. What the hell do I care if you go hungry?"
"I still don't understand who you are or why I am in a jail cell. You act like you know me and I have never met you."
"You killed a woman."
"I'm sure I didn't."
"I am sure you did."
"Why would I do that?"
Merlin sat on a chair and pulled it closer to Mother Superior, causing her to move further back on her mattress.
"Once upon a time, there was a boy and a girl who lived in a magical land among the clouds. The boy lived a lonely life as his mother was constantly bringing lovers home- which is an entirely different issue- and he grew close with the girl. One day, when they were all grown up they decided to build a new world. A better one. Only it wasn't better. The boy tried to build a kingdom, but saw it was doomed as soon as it began. Then one day he had a revelation that a princess could one day set everything to right.
"Only the girl didn't think so. She feared the day she would lose her power. She called the princess a monster and spent three hundred years trying to stop her. She connived, she deceived, she imprisoned her mother, she tore children from their families and she murdered."
Mother Superior shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Merlin sighed. "Of course you don't." He stood up. "Won't you excuse me? I have a Christmas dinner to attend."
Belle looked across the table and smiled. Beatrice was hard at work with her crayons. They had come to Starbucks and taken a table to study. The semester had just ended but Belle was hoping to get a bit of a jump-start on her thesis research over the winter break. Beatrice was only too happy to join her mother in a big girl activity and concentrated on her own "studies" which consisted of her storybook, a pad of drawing paper and a huge crayon box.
"Have you thought about your Christmas list yet?," asked Belle.
Beatrice didn't answer. She continued coloring.
"You'll want it ready when we go visit Santa Claus so you can know what to ask him for."
"I don't want anything."
Belle frowned. "That can't be true. Perhaps a house for your dolls? What about a bicycle? We could take it to Central Park."
Beatrice shook her head.
"I know. Why don't we go to FAO Schwarz before we meet Santa and see if anything strikes your fancy?"
Beatrice's gaze turned outside. Belle followed it to see a homeless man holding a cup, begging for money. Belle looked back to Beatrice's pitying expression. She was always like this which Belle sometimes found to manage since the sight seemed to put Beatrice in horrible despair.
Belle got out ten dollars and handed it to Beatrice.
"Go buy a coffee and a sandwich. Take it to him and give him the change. Okay?"
Beatrice brightened up as she went on her mission to the counter. Belle watched from the doorway as Beatrice gave the snack to the man and he seemed to be a mixture of shocked and grateful.
The day went on. Regina arrived at the house with Neal and Henry who helped Henry play with a new remote control airplane Regina had gotten him in the backyard. Merlin was the next to arrive, greeting Beatrice as he followed Belle and Gold to the kitchen.
"How is our beloved Mother Superior?," Gold asked Merlin, handing him a Scotch.
"As helpful as you might expect," said Merlin.
"Could we please discuss something else?," asked Belle. "It's Christmas."
"Yes," said Merlin. "I would note that it's been Christmas for some time now and the Charmings have not graced us with their presence."
"They had some emergency calls," said Belle.
"They always have an emergency," said Gold.
"Too bad," said Beatrice. She went into the cabinets and got out the popcorn and air popper.
"Do you want to spoil your dinner, sweetheart?," asked Gold.
"No dinner. Doctor Who," said Beatrice.
"I wish you would reconsider," said Belle.
"Uh-uh. I've been waiting for the Doctor Who Christmas special since October. David, Mary Margaret and Emma just came up with their emergency like three hours ago. Doctor Who has clearly been on the schedule longer, not to mention it's been on almost fifty years."
"She has a point," said Merlin.
Belle walked into Beatrice's bedroom. The girl was standing at the window looking out as night fell over Manhattan.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for the first star of the night."
Belle looked out. The sky wasn't quite dark enough to counteract the city lights and it was a bit cloudy.
"I'm afraid it may be a while and you need your rest."
Beatrice took Belle by the hand and tucked her into the bed.
"Any progress on your Christmas list?," asked Belle.
Beatrice shook her head.
"But, sweetheart," said Belle, "how will Santa know what to get you for Christmas if you don't tell him what you want?"
"I don't want anything."
"I know that can't be true," said Belle.
Beatrice looked down. "I'm saving my wishes."
"Saving them?," asked Belle. "What are you saving them for?"
"Something big."
"How big?"
Beatrice handed her the storybook. "Read to me."
Belle smiled. "Which story shall it be? Rumplestiltskin and Cinderella? Hansel and Gretel and the Evil Queen? What about when Snow White meets Prince Charming?"
"Beauty and the Beast."
"You're a little obsessed with that one. What about one of the Oz tales? We've never read about the Wicked Witch..."
"No, I want Beauty and the Beast."
"Well, if that's what my public wants..." Belle teased. The book almost fell open to that story. "Once upon a time, there was a land called Avonlea and in it lived a nobleman's daughter called Belle..."
Gold looked back at the living room. The Charmings had arrived at long last with a hundred sundry excuses about what irritating people in the town had kept them away. Something about Goldie Loxley helping herself to someone else's Christmas presents and Mrs. Schuman had gotten the bright idea to get all of her children razor scooters causing untold havoc. They were finally seated and getting into the prime rib roast.
"Is Beatrice not joining us?," asked Mary Margaret.
"Doctor Who is on," said Belle.
"I don't understand," said David.
There was a pile on of words as Merlin, Gold and Regina all tried to get out their own response to that, stopping as they found they were talking over each other.
"Couldn't she just watch it later?," asked Emma.
"That is apparently not a possibility," said Gold.
Mary Margaret could not leave well enough alone, turning to the living room.
"Beatrice?," called Mary Margaret. "Why don't you eat with us?"
"I would have if you people had bothered to show up on time!"
Regina smirked. "She does have a point. It was rather rude of you to keep us all waiting."
Gold got up.
"Rumple?"
"I'll handle this," said Gold.
Gold walked into the living room.
"Not moving. Doctor Who," said Beatrice.
"No, actually, I was wondering if I could join you," said Gold, glancing back as Mary Margaret began recounting her day.
She looked up. "You want to watch Doctor Who?"
He nodded. "If you'll have me."
Beatrice nodded. Gold sat down. Feeling one last moment of doubt, Beatrice turned. "Do you know what this show's about?"
"From what I've seen it appears to be about a sorcerer who uses an enchanted blue box to travel to different lands."
"Not so much." She put her hand up. "Too late. Show's on."
Gold tried to follow. The Christmas special appeared to be about a magical snowman, possibly enchanted by a dark wizard.
"Is the snow enchanted?"
"I don't know."
"Is the snow globe enchanted?"
"Dad, the show just came on. I don't know yet."
"I know. He's captured the soul of someone in that snow globe."
"Dad, I don't know the show just started."
"Are they being eaten by snowmen? That's just ludicrous."
"It's Doctor Who," she said like it explained everything.
The show went on. More killer snowmen appeared and it seemed as if they were linked to the girl character's thoughts.
"I told you, the snow is enchanted," Gold said feeling vindicated.
Beatrice was distracted by something else. "Look! He's wearing Amy's glasses!"
Gold tried to ponder the significance of this. He tried to follow the rest of the show, wondering what spell might have enchanted the ice and were there any practical applications he could think of for enchanted ice? Then a green woman appeared.
"Is she cursed?"
"No, she's just a Silurian."
"Are they all cursed?"
"In that they've been living under the Earth since they thought the moon was going to fall, maybe."
Beatrice awoke as soon as her night-light went out. She was about to call for her mother when she heard her window rattling.
Then she saw the eyes.
The bright blank eyes and around them she saw the shadow.
Then the window opened and the shadow flew towards her. Beatrice shook, too petrified to scream. The shadow lifted her from her bed, grabbing her by the shoulder harshly and before she knew what had happened she was out of her window and among the skyscrapers, losing sight of her apartment window.
She was being taken away.
"Snow that learns. I told you it was enchanted," said Gold. He pointed at the villain. "Is he going to cast a curse?"
"There will be no curses," said Beatrice.
That's when a potato man appeared on the screen. "What about him? Is he cursed?"
"No, he's just a Sontaran."
"Well, he's a moron."
Neal came out. "Are you guys really going to watch a TV show instead of having Christmas dinner?"
Beatrice gave him a stern look. "Never call Doctor Who a TV show again."
"Well, sorry if I don't see what the big deal is," said Neal.
"I'm sorry you don't get it," said Beatrice. "I'm so, so sorry."
Neal shook his head and went back in the other room.
"Was that supposed to be funny?," asked Gold.
"It was incredibly funny," said Beatrice. "As usual, I'm the only one who knows that."
Gold turned back to the television. "What do they mean memory worm?"
Beatrice didn't dare move.
The shadow still held her. She was going further and further away from home. A thousand thoughts raced through her brain. Where was she going? What was happening? Why?
Then all of a sudden there was a burst of sparkling light and she was suspended in the air. A terrified glance at the shadow revealed he was encased in the light as well, seemingly paralyzed by it. Slowly the light moved down and Beatrice found herself on a rooftop being taken into strong arms.
"Merlin," she said, remembering a flood of other encounters.
"That's right, sweetheart." She wrapped her arms around his neck and turned his attention to the shadow. "You shadow. I thought I made myself clear to your master."
The shadow struggled against the light that seemed to be imprisoning him.
"What does he think he's going to get?," Merlin demanded.
Beatrice buried her face in Merlin's neck and started sobbing.
"You go back to him and you tell him that the Dark Princess is and shall forever remain under my protection." He nodded towards the sky. "It's the second star to the right and straight on til morning."
The light dragged the shadow away into the night.
Merlin looked at the pitiful sight that was Beatrice crying. "Come on, Beatrice. Time to get you home."
Gold watched in confusion as Beatrice began laughing hysterically.
"See, he's being Sherlock Holmes and Moffat writes Sherlock Holmes. The Doctor is being Sherlock Holmes!"
Gold stared blankly at her.
"It's BBC fangirl Christmas on Christmas!"
"Which one's Sherlock?," asked Gold.
"The one with the cheekbones."
Gold froze. "Since when do you refer to people as 'the one with the cheekbones?'"
"It's Benedict Cumberbatch. That's how everyone refers to him. Shh."
Belle entered as the dead governess entered the children's bedroom.
"I told you her soul was captured in the enchanted ice," said Gold.
"Enchanted ice? You're making stuff up."
"Is this what you two are really going to do?," asked Belle.
"Mom, stuff is happening!," Beatrice said frantically, trying to wave Belle away as the ice governess chased.
"You want out of there, don't you?," asked Gold.
Belle sighed and leaned in. "Regina and Merlin are having a snark contest. David and Mary Margaret are practically throwing Emma at Neal."
"I could get rid of them," said Gold. "For a price."
"Could you just sit down?!," said Beatrice.
Glancing back at the family dinner, Belle had a brief glimmer of guilt and then decided against it as she sat on the couch next to Beatrice and picked up one of the Reese's trees.
Merlin carried Beatrice back into her room and placed her on the bed. With a wave of his hand, the window slammed back down and locked.
"I've enchanted it now," said Merlin. "That shadow won't be getting in again."
"Why did it want me?," she asked, sobbing as Merlin sat down next to her.
"Let's not talk about that."
"Where was it going?"
"Someplace I am going to do my best to keep you out of." He saw her still trembling and picked her lamb up off the bed to hand it to her. She squeezed the toy.
"What's his name?," asked Merlin.
"Gyro."
"Well, that's on the nose..." said Merlin. "Do you know I gave it to you?"
Beatrice didn't answer.
"I chose the lamb because it reminded me of your papa."
Beatrice looked up at him with big eyes.
"You have his eyes," said Merlin. "He once spun wool and spent a lot of time with sheep."
"Was he a prince?"
"Not at all."
"In Beauty and the Beast, the Beast is a prince."
"Well, Disney took some artistic license with that one..." He paused. "Actually, a lot of artistic license. I think that's a conversation for another time."
"You're going to leave now, aren't you?"
"I am. Now you, go get into bed with your mother and by the time she opens her eyes, you will have forgotten everything."
He gave her one last squeeze and sent her on her way.
Peter Pan. He had considered it a great triumph when he freed Rumplestiltskin from the coward's influence and saw him off to that abysmal realm to be his living tomb. Pan wasn't satisfied with that, though, sending his shadow to steal children.
He was not getting this one.
"I told you. Dead is dead."
"Rumple..." said Belle.
"I'm just saying..."
Belle scowled at him. "She's upset, there's no need to rub it in-"
"Shh! She said the thing!," said Beatrice.
It was at this critical point in the episode Mary Margaret came in. "Guys, I brought dessert if-"
"Shh! Stuff is happening!," Beatrice shouted. "She said the thing!"
"Okay," said Mary Margaret retreating to the kitchen. She walked back into the kitchen. "Guys? I think maybe we should just go home."
The Charmings made their departure with Henry, then Regina.
"See, I thought she was like an ancestor, but she said the thing she said in the future and now she's in the present..."
"I'm sure they'll sort it out," said Merlin. He looked at Gold. "Enjoy Christmas, sunshine?"
"Yes, I did," said Gold.
"I wish you could have spent more time here," said Belle.
Merlin shrugged. "Well, Tamara, Greg and Mother Superior, they require constant attention, you know."
Belle gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night. Good night, Beatrice. Good night, sunshine. Merry Christmas."
Belle saw Merlin out and came back. "Maybe now we could watch a movie together."
"Can't," said Beatrice. "Matt Smith's on Graham Norton."
Belle awoke to find Beatrice burrowing in the blankets next to her.
"Beatrice," said Belle, still fumbling for consciousness as Beatrice slammed her body towards hers, more force than Belle thought should have been possible with the seven year old's small body.
"Turn on the light," Beatrice said weakly.
Belle turned on the bedside lamp and turned to see Beatrice. Her face looked tear-stained and she was holding her lamb.
"Sweetheart..." said Belle. "What's wrong?"
"I don't like the dark."
"I know. That's why you have your night-light."
"It went out." Beatrice nuzzled up to her.
"Oh, my poor baby. There's no need to be frightened," said Belle, wrapping her arms around Beatrice. "No need at all."
"I never want to leave you."
"Beatrice, why would you ever leave?"
"I don't want to be alone."
"You never will be," said Belle.
"I don't want to be like the man on the street."
"You mean that homeless man?"
Beatrice nodded. "He's all alone."
"And that's why you worry about homeless people..." said Belle.
"Like Beast."
"You're worried about Beast?"
Beatrice nodded. "He's alone."
"Beatrice, you know I'm not really Beauty and your father's not really Beast, right?"
Beatrice just squeezed her.
"Not everything is a fairy tale," Belle said softly.
