Author's Notes: I do not own Once Upon A Time which is a show on ABC where seriously, Prince Charming used to be married to Irene Adler. I hinted at that before in another one of these, but I'm not quite over it. Thanks again for the reads and reviews. I really appreciate it. Spoilers for There's No Place Like Home, I guess? Please let me know what you think and happy reading!
"Whose wagon are we in?," asked Beatrice as they rode through the Enchanted Forest, a place she thought could really use road signs.
Hook didn't answer.
"It's just we aren't supposed to be changing the past and we seem to be pretty crappy at it and you just stole some guy's wagon," said Beatrice.
"We needed transportation, I procured it," said Hook.
"Okay, let's not have any more major moves without running it by me first."
"You may have him in your thrall but not me, Dark Princess," said Hook, motioning at Joseph.
"Yeah, you would pretty much be dead."
They heard a scream.
"That sounds like Snow White," said Joseph.
They came upon the pair. Snow White was tied up in some sort of trap, Charming was taunting her from below.
"Why do people find this romantic?," asked Beatrice.
"You seem to have forgotten who your father is, love."
"Not even if I tried," she muttered.
Charming continued to taunt Snow as her net swung in the air. "Relax. I'm not gonna turn you in. All I want is the ring you stole."
"Not the jewelry type."
"Indeed. I noticed."
"I don't have your ring."
"Then why don't I believe you?"
"You should. She's telling the truth, mate." He bowed. "Prince Charles."
Beatrice laughed. "Prince Charles? Seriously?"
Hook shot her a glare. "Lovely ball the other night. Mutton was a tad overcooked, but that happens. Snow White doesn't have your ring, my princess does."
"Oh, she's your princess now?," asked Beatrice. "I am so telling her that."
"And I need your help to get her back," Hook finished, ignoring Beatrice.
"She has my ring. That's two women who robbed me. Where is she?"
"He can count," said Joseph is mock astonishment.
Snow White laughed.
"That's the problem," said Hook. "The Queen's Castle."
"Actually, that's not a problem at all," said Snow White. "I know it well. It used to be mine. I can get us in there, but not from here. So you let me down, you get your princess, you get your ring and I never have to see your charming face again."
Charming swung his sword and cut down the rope to Snow's net.
They piled back in the cart and began the trip to Regina's castle. Snow White sat across from Beatrice in the back.
"You look familiar."
Beatrice now recalled that her mother and Snow White had been very good friends growing up. Also, she looked like her mother.
"No, I don't," said Beatrice.
"You look like someone," said Snow. "I just can't think of who."
"I've just got one of those faces..."
Recognition dawned on Snow's face. "You know who you look like..."
Beatrice held her breath as she waited for her to finish.
"Belle of Avonlea. Do you know her?"
Beatrice then thought of a perfect explanation provided again by that leading time travel authority, Doctor Who.
"She's my cousin."
"Is she?"
"Yeah, we get that all the time. I'm Adeola from Padua," she said, adding on the name of her great-grandparents' province for a touch of plausibility.
"Adeola?," asked Joseph.
"Yeah, you're acting like you've never heard my name, Sherlock. Lady Adeola of Padua."
"I haven't heard much of old friends since I've been on the run from my stepmother," said Snow White. "How is Belle?"
"She's good," said Beatrice. "You know, she's got stuff going."
"I'm glad." Snow smiled fondly. "Is she still betrothed or has she married?"
"What? To Gaston?," Beatrice sneered. "That loser?"
"Did she meet someone else? Who is he?"
"As much as I hate to interrupt your female chatter..." said Charming.
"Oh, my God, that is going on the list..." said Beatrice.
"What list?"
Snow White answered for her. "The list of stupid comments made by charming princes."
The cart stopped.
"Is this it?," asked Hook.
Snow White looked up. "That it is. The Summer Palace."
"We'll move after the sun goes down," said Charming.
Beatrice looked up. Regina's palace.
Her mother would be locked in one of those towers.
"You know, Belle used to come here and stay with us every summer. Before my mother died."
"Oh," said Beatrice, trying not to betray her emotions.
"Belle used to love the library. I'm sure Regina's had it torn down."
"Right..."
"We're gonna need help to get in," said Snow. "I'll be back."
Snow White hurried off. Joseph walked to Beatrice.
"She was the Queen's prisoner here, wasn't she?"
"Yes."
He turned with her to look at the palace.
"How did it happen?," he asked.
"What?"
"How was she ever parted from your father? It doesn't seem as if it would be a simple thing to break into the Dark Castle."
"Her dad, Maurice, he was working with the Blue Fairy. They wrote and said he was dying."
"So she went to his side. Alone."
"Yes."
"Then what?"
Beatrice shrugged. "They tried to kill me. The clerics. They poisoned her, tortured her and when that didn't work, they put her under a sleeping curse."
"Yes, but how did she come to be Regina's prisoner?"
"Snow White makes the Blue Fairy release her, but my dad's already gone to prepare for the curse. Before they can be reunited, Blue takes her away and gives her to Regina for a tree."
"A tree?"
"An enchanted tree."
"And you still don't want to change anything?"
Beatrice shook her head. "I can't change anything."
"You won't consider the possibility you can."
"I'm not screwing over everyone else just for me," said Beatrice. "And even if it wouldn't-"
"Continue."
Beatrice sighed and shook her head again. "He wouldn't pick me."
"Beatrice, your father does love you."
"Yeah, I know and... he doesn't love me the way he loves Neal. He never will and if they have another kid, he won't love me like he'll love that kid. That's just what is. I will never have that." She looked at Joseph. "I don't see you running to change your future."
"I may have suffered some identity crises, but I had a family to look after me," said Joseph. "I wouldn't give them up."
"Then you should understand."
Night fell over the Queen's Castle. They readied themselves for the incursion and suddenly Red appeared out of the woods.
"Hey! Who the hell are you?," said Charming.
"Name is Red. I'm a friend of Snow's. She sent me to help you get into the Queen's Castle."
"How?," asked Hook.
"Use your imagination," said Beatrice.
Red removed her cloak and transformed into a wolf before their eyes. She turned and stalked towards the palace.
"Right..." said Joseph.
"Well, allons-y," said Beatrice.
They followed Red inside to the dungeon where she took on one of the Queen's Black Knights. Charming knocked another down and Hook put the cloak back over Red, returning her to human form.
"Someone's coming," said Red.
They stood on guard again and were relieved to see Emma emerge from the darkness.
"Swan."
"Hook.'
"What the hell are you doing? You're depriving me of a dashing rescue," said Hook.
"Yeah, because you're the only one here," said Beatrice.
"Sorry, the only one who saves me is me." Emma slid the ring off her finger. "Speaking of which. I won't be around much longer unless we find where this belongs."
Charming spoke. "I think that belongs to me."
"You guys have a way out of here?," asked Emma.
"Follow me," said Red. "Snow told me where to meet her."
It was then they noticed the woman Regina had taken prisoner next to Emma.
"Thank you, Leia."
They followed.
"Swan, you didn't," said Hook.
"She was to be executed in the morning. I couldn't just leave her there to die," said Emma.
"Actually, if she's to die, she pretty much has to," he responded.
Emma looked at Beatrice. "I suppose you think the same thing."
Beatrice shrugged. "You already busted her out. I'm not throwing her back in."
Charming returned. "I hate to break up a reunion but we have to keep moving. We have to find Snow White."
"Where is she?," asked Emma.
"Yes, slight problem," said Joseph, looking through a broken window.
Beatrice and Emma rushed over. Snow White was tied to a stake as Regina stalked across the room.
"We have to get down there before it's too late," said Emma.
"I don't think we can," said Charming.
Emma looked at Beatrice. "Beatrice?"
Regina conjured a fireball in her hand.
"Yeah, get ready for the timeline to be truly messed up," sighed Beatrice.
Beatrice held out her hand and a broom appeared. Before Regina could throw her fireball, she was on the broom and flying down towards the Evil Queen.
"What is she doing?," asked the woman.
"She's a witch," Charming said in astonishment.
"You seem so much smarter here," said Joseph.
Regina watched as the broom flew down and she had to dodge Beatrice's magical fireball which caused hers to fall impotently to the ground. Regina launched another, landing Beatrice off her broom and on the marble floor.
"Who are you and what are you doing in my castle?," Regina demanded.
"What does it look like?," asked Beatrice, standing up.
"Guards! Get another stake!," Regina shouted.
The Black Knights came running towards her and Beatrice stamped her foot to the floor causing them to slip and slide on the ice.
Furious, Regina raised her hands again to launch another fireball. Regina took a deep breath and a wall of ice grew from the floor and across the room, blocking her view of snow. She conjured another fireball but it bounced off helplessly.
Beatrice ran over to the stake and waved her hand, releasing Snow from her bonds.
"Come on," said Beatrice.
"You did all that," Snow White said in astonishment. "You have magic."
"Meet us outside, guys!," Beatrice shouted at the others looking down on them.
"On it!," Emma shouted back.
The next morning at their campsite Beatrice found the gratitude a little hard to cope with.
"You're a sorceress," Snow White said in astonishment. "Belle never mentioned she was related to a sorceress."
"She doesn't quite know it yet," said Beatrice.
"Thank you again for saving me."
"Yeah, no problem."
"I feel like I should do something else to thank you," said Snow.
"That's okay."
"She wasn't alone," said Charming.
Snow White turned to Charming with an amused look. "Right because that was you on the broom and putting up the big ice wall and stopping the Black Knights..."
"I stopped a Black Knight."
"Yeah, that was real charming of you..."
Beatrice went and sat next to Emma, Hook and Joseph.
"They're warming up to each other," said Emma. "This could work."
"Now we just have the problem of the Evil Queen seeking revenge against Beatrice," said Joseph.
"Well, when she meets me she won't have magic for a few days so maybe she'll have time to cool off," said Beatrice.
"Or we could hope the identical cousin story holds," said Hook.
Emma looked at Beatrice. "You did look sort of different when you first came to Storybrooke."
"That's a problem for the future," said Hook. He cast a glance at the woman as she talked with Red. "We have another problem in the present, namely what do we do with her?"
"I had to save her," said Emma.
"Sure, you did the noble thing, but she's supposed to be dead. Her presence in the Enchanted Forest could have unforeseen consequences."
"She's just a sweet, innocent woman."
"What if she had a child who grows into a mass murderer?," asked Hook.
"The Dark Curse is barely two years away," said Joseph. "If she has a child he won't grow into anything for a long time."
"It could be something else," hook bit back. "We're best not finding out. She doesn't belong here."
Emma spoke. "I know exactly what we can do. Take her with us."
Hook looked at Beatrice. "Don't you have an anecdote to share about the time sorcerer?"
Emma looked at Beatrice. "Well?"
"Actually, Emma is proposing exactly what the Doctor would do and has done on several occasions."
"Really?," Emma asked, pleased at the surprise.
"Yeah, totally, we bring her back with us, she can't mess with the timeline here," said Beatrice.
They went over to the woman and put the idea to her.
"The future?," she asked skeptically.
"You can't stay here. You were supposed to die hours ago," said Emma.
She shook her head. "I don't understand. I just want to get back to my family."
"They need to believe you're dead," said Hook. "Because that's what they've always thought."
"Trust us," said Emma.
"With all due respect, I don't trust you or believe you."
Beatrice shook her head. "That's why he has the blue box..."
"What?," asked Hook.
"I just think we would be easier to believe with a big blue box that says police."
"Might we speak alone?," asked Joseph, surprising his companions.
"Alone?," asked the woman with equal surprise.
"Over there ought to do," said Joseph.
Joseph led the woman away.
"What's he doing?," asked Emma.
"Like I know," Beatrice answered.
Joseph turned the woman around and faced them both away from the others.
"Best you not make a lot of noise," said Joseph.
"Why? What are you going to do?"
"I only mean to tell you that I know who you are," said Joseph.
"You do?"
"I do. I also know that if you return with us, we can find your family."
"You do?"
"I do, but the others were telling the truth. We can't leave you here. So please, just come with us and don't tell them why you've changed your mind. It will be easier if they don't know until we get there."
"You promise my family will be there?"
"I promise."
"Then I'll go."
They turned around and returned to the group.
"She's agreed to come with us," said Joseph.
"Quite a change of heart," said Hook.
"I'm very persuasive," said Joseph.
"Well, now we just have to make sure my parents are back on track," said Emma.
"What?," asked the woman.
"Have any of you seen Snow? She went to the stream but she hasn't-" Charming patted down his pockets. "The ring. She took it."
"Really?," asked Emma. "Do you know where she might be headed?"
"She was seeking passage on a pirate ship. There's only one way to get to the harbor from here. The Troll Bridge."
Charming ran off.
Beatrice looked at Emma. "The book?"
Hook gave Emma the storybook. She anxiously flipped the pages and illustrations and lettering appeared on the pages.
"We did it!," said Emma. "Now all we have to do is go back to the Dark Castle and go home!"
"The Dark Castle?," asked the woman. She looked at Joseph.
"Save the questions for later," said Joseph.
At the bridge towards the Dark Castle, Joseph stopped walking.
"Beatrice?"
"What?"
He motioned at the tweed greatcoat. "I'm not wearing this back to the future."
Beatrice sighed and waved her hands. There was a puff of smoke, Joseph was returned to his black suit, Hook to his leathers, Emma to her red jacket and Beatrice to her party dress. The woman stared at them in amazement.
"Is that what they wear there?," she asked.
"Yeah and actually you've been in Regina's dungeon which didn't look all that clean so..." Beatrice waved her hand and the woman appeared a rose-colored shirtdress, brown leather boots and a wool coat. "If that's not okay, I'll give you some money when we get there."
"It's fine," said the woman.
The front doors magically opened. Emma, Hook, Beatrice and the woman followed the open doors to the Great Hall. Joseph paused as he heard Belle hum not far off. She had another handkerchief out, dabbing at her chin.
Something seemed amiss and he reached inside his breast pocket and pulled out a piece of paper next to Beatrice's pendant.
He walked towards Belle.
"Belle."
"Sherlock," said Belle. "Shouldn't you be in the Great Hall? Rumple is waiting and you need to get home."
He held out Beatrice's pendant.
Belle was astonished. "How did you get that? That's my mother's pendant?"
"I got it from your daughter," said Joseph.
Belle was dumbstruck.
"I, I-"
"You need to go get Rumplestiltskin out of the Great Hall and he needs to freeze the others so they won't know what we're discussing."
"Why?"
"Please, Belle. For her."
Rumplestiltskin stood behind a table and put together a potion. "Is it done?"
"We're ready," said Emma. "Everything's done. My parents are back on track."
Rumplestiltskin motioned at the woman. "And you've brought some luggage."
The woman stiffened.
"Yeah, it's a long story," said Emma. "What about the portal? Can you reopen it?"
"Yes, there was a problem. It would seem that only one who's traveled through the portal can reopen it, so unless you can wield magic..."
"Yes," said Beatrice.
Rumplestiltskin frowned at her. "What?"
"Yes."
"You wield magic?," he sneered.
"Yes, I can wield magic and I traveled through the portal so we can just get this thing started and we will be out of your way..."
"Where's the other one?," asked Rumplestiltskin.
Beatrice turned around. "He was right behind me."
"Where did he go?," asked Hook.
The door to the Great Hall opened. Belle stuck her head in.
"Rumple?"
"A few minutes. I'm almost through with them."
"No," said Belle.
Her tone made the others look up in surprise.
"No?," asked Rumplestiltskin.
"No," said Belle, attempting to soften her tone with a smile. "I need to speak with you right now in the other room."
Rumplestiltskin grimaced as he set aside the potion.
"Wait here," he said curtly to his guests as he walked over to the door.
Before he could inquire about Belle's strange behavior, she made yet another request.
"And you need to freeze them now," she whispered.
Rumpletiltskin didn't understand but he sensed Belle's urgency. A snap of his hand had the guests stunned in place. Belle grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him into the grand foyer. Joseph leaned up against the table.
"What now?," asked Rumplestiltskin. "I suppose you changed something and you don't want the others to know."
"Not quite yet," said Joseph. "But I don't want the others to know."
"What was your name again?"
"Sherlock," said Joseph. "We met the other day in the village."
"I didn't meet anyone in the village-"
"Think harder."
Rumplestiltskin frowned.
"Alright, I'll give you a hint: my uncle is the librarian." He lifted Belle's wrist. "I asked about this bracelet."
Belle's eyes widened. "But you..."
"Yeah."
"I'm still not seeing the point, dearie," said Rumplestiltskin.
"I just thought since you were about to take a forgetting potion anyway you might want to know her future."
"No," said Rumplestiltskin.
"No? Too bad really. Spoiler one, she is going to get a letter that her father is dying," said Joseph.
"Papa?," asked Belle. "He's dying?"
"No, he's not," said Joseph. "Also, spoiler two, not your father."
Belle was incredulous. "What do you mean he's not my father? Of course he is my father. And why would he say he's dying if he's not?"
"To lure you home," said Joseph.
Belle shook her head. "Why would he do that?"
"Because they know."
"Know what?," asked Rumplestiltskin.
"You know," said Joseph staring at the wizard, "you always purport yourself as being so clever but all the evidence is right here in front of you and you can't see the forest for the trees."
"See what?"
"I would have thought it would have been useful in your trade."
"What?!," he shouted.
"Well, let's start with the excess saliva."
"The what?"
"She's carrying a handkerchief with her to deal with it. Changes in taste, sudden cravings-"
"What?"
"Increased libido is another, but it's difficult to tell what would count as an increase with you two, but I thought the obvious would have been the increased breast size-"
"The what?," demanded Rumplestiltskin.
"Her gowns are too tight! How did you miss that?!"
With a wave of his hand, Joseph was slammed against the wall. ]
"Rumple, stop!," Belle shouted.
"Did you just hear him?!"
"He's right!"
"Right? About what?," he asked staring her in complete confusion.
"I'm... I'm..."
"Pregnant!," Joseph spat from the floor.
"She is not-"
"Rumple, yes, I am," said Belle.
Rumplestiltskin finally turned to her. "You're what?"
Her face broke out in a smile. "I'm pregnant."
"Oh, Belle..."
"You're not upset?"
"No, sweetheart, of course not. Here." He embraced her. "I had no idea."
Joseph brought himself to his feet. He leaned over a table, still recovering from the magical blow. "Might I continue?"
Belle turned back, holding Joseph's hand. "You said they know. They know I'm pregnant?"
"Yes."
"Why would they care?"
Joseph paused.
This was the difficult part.
"I'm going to assume that there are three possible pasts for me. The first is the one where we never came here. Alas, that's gone. Second, I don't tell you what I'm about to tell you and events play out as they always have. Third, I tell you what I am about to tell you and you take the memory potion, maybe thinking you can stop it anyway and events play out as they always have. I know it's unlikely, but I invite you to contemplate the fourth option. I tell you what I am about to tell you and you make some changes."
"And why would we do that?," asked Rumplestiltskin.
"Maurice sends the letter because it's the only way to get you home and it is the only chance they have of murdering your daughter."
"Murdering?," asked Belle, pulling closer to Rumplestiltskin.
"They're going to take away your voice and tie you up and pour poison down your throat," said Joseph. He looked at Rumplestiltskin. "The child will live. Just maimed. Would you care to know what happens next?"
"Yes," Belle answered while Rumple's mouth was still hanging open.
"The Blue Fairy who is behind all of this will realize she can't kill the child so she will put Belle under a sleeping curse and just let you think she's dead."
"A sleeping curse?"
"Yes, by the way, your daughter will always be afraid of the dark. Anyway, Belle awakens from the sleeping curse just in time to be traded to the Evil Queen," said Joseph.
"I would never let that happen," seethed Rumplestiltskin.
"Oh, see, you won't have a choice because you won't know because you'll be awaiting the arrival of the Dark Curse."
"The Dark Curse?," asked Belle.
Joseph caught the glint in Rumplestiltskin's eye.
"Yes, the one the Evil Queen is plotting," said Joseph. "It's meant to take everyone in this realm away and forget their true identities, to separate you all from what you love. And it works. You will be a patient in an asylum."
"An asylum?," asked Belle.
"A place for mad people. Not very nice. I've never cared for them. You'll stay there until one day your daughter begins to grow and Regina will send you away and you will stay away."
"Away?," asked Rumplestiltskin.
"Yes, far away from you, with no memory of who she really is or who she loved and for fifteen years, your daughter will believe that you didn't care or worse and then even when you manage to find each other, after you find your son, would you like to know what happens then?"
"What?," asked Rumplestiltskin.
"Your daughter realizes she is second place."
"What?," asked Belle.
"What's worse than realizing she's in second place is that she think she belongs there," said Joseph. "She accepts it. Right now, she thinks you two are considering having another child and she's trying to talk herself into third. Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this?"
Rumplestiltskin shook his head. "No..."
"She would and has given up worlds for you. I had to talk to you alone because she didn't want to put the choice to you and it was not about wanting to ensure the future, it was that she was certain you wouldn't pick her."
They were silent.
"What do we do?," asked Belle.
"I recognize that keeping this knowledge will change your possible future and therefore, I would like to make a deal."
"A deal?," asked Rumplestiltskin.
"If you choose her now, I will give you the name Baelfire has taken in the Land Without Magic and how to find him on enchanted parchment to be opened after the Dark Curse breaks." He waved the paper in the air, then fished through his pockets for a pen. As he wrote he continued to speak. "Also, she needs to be fifteen when that happens."
"But the Dark Curse-" Rumplestiltskin protested.
"I'm not interested in excuses," said Joseph. "I'm interested in a deal. Isn't that what you do?"
They were quiet.
"Or you don't and I am perfectly happy to carry on how we were. You won't know the difference."
"Fifteen?," asked Belle. She was clearly more interested, but Joseph thought that it was rather she was more willing to demonstrate her interest. Rumplestiltskin was trying to play it cool, but even with reptilian eyes, Joseph could read the man.
"Yes, there are other conditions," said Joseph.
"Of course there are," said Rumplestiltskin.
"For her. She has to be introduced to coffee at a young age, when Doctor Who comes back from its hiatus, she needs to watch it. An iPhone would probably be good." He looked at Belle. "You'll need to be fingerprinted at some point."
"Why would you do this?," asked Rumplestiltskin.
"Because he loves her," said Belle.
"What?"
"She's right in there," said Joseph, motioning at the door to the Great Hall.
"Beatrice," Belle said with a smile.
"Beatrice." He looked at Rumplestiltskin. "Aren't you glad it wasn't the one flirting with the pirate?"
Rumplestiltskin was silent.
"Do we have a deal?," asked Joseph holding out his hand. He motioned at the paper. "I've written it on the outside. Fifteen. Coffee. Doctor Who. Belle needs to get fingerprinted. You might try to get a Starbucks in Storybrooke, there really is nowhere to sit when you just want to have a cup of tea and not have a werewolf flirting with you, but I won't make that a part of the deal."
Rumplestiltskin took his hand.
"Also, you might find that Regina is looking for a girl who can conjure ice..." Joseph added.
Rumplestiltskin glared.
Rumplestiltskin snapped his fingers. Belle and Joseph followed behind him as the others sprang to life.
"Where did you go?," asked Emma.
"I had to use the bathroom," said Joseph.
"Okay..." said Beatrice. "Could I have the wand?"
Rumplestiltskin waved his hand and the wand appeared in Beatrice's palm.
"Thanks," said Beatrice.
"Have a safe journey," said Belle.
"Thank you," said Beatrice.
Belle stepped back with Rumplestiltskin as Beatrice waved the wand. Belle gasped as the vortex appeared and the visitors from the future jumped in.
The vortex dissipated and the Black Fairy's wand clattered to the ground.
"Gods..." breathed Belle. "She just did-"
Before Belle could finish her sentence, Rumplestiltskin was on his knees, his eyes closed as he pressed his hands to Belle's abdomen.
"Rumple?," Belle asked. "What are you doing?"
"How could I have not seen it?"
"Rumple?"
Rumplestiltskin looked up. "She's powerful, Belle. So powerful."
Belle stared down at him, unsure how to respond to such a comment.
He saved her the trouble.
"And loved," he whispered against her stomach. "So loved."
Belle smiled and ran her fingers through Rumplestiltskin's curls, content to let him nuzzle there as long as he wanted.
2002
Beatrice sat in the coat closet and sobbed. She was curled up against herself and had been since she ran in here.
He didn't love her. He didn't love her.
The door opened. Beatrice didn't look up until she heard the tap of a cane against the hardwood.
"Daddy?"
Mr. Gold looked down at the pitiful heap on the floor.
"It's only the third day, sweetheart and I dare say you aren't going to learn anything inside the coat closet..."
"Where's Pamela?"
"She has a dentist appointment and your mother is at work. Now, why are you in the coat closet?"
She mumbled.
"I'm sorry?," asked Gold.
"They said you didn't love me."
"Who said that?"
"The other kids. They said you were the meanest man in town and you didn't love me."
Gold grimaced as he got on his knees. His leg would throb, but he needed to look into her eyes.
"Now, they were partially right. I am the meanest man in town, but there is nothing I love quite as much as you, Beatrice and I have for a long time."
"Since I came out of Mommy?"
Gold smiled. Beatrice had just learned the broad strokes of that particular aspect of life and she seemed to be incredibly curious about it.
"Since I knew you were inside Mommy," said Gold. "Come here."
He pulled her close for a hug and she reciprocated by squeezing his neck.
"Come on," said Gold standing up, brushing himself off. "You can come with me to the shop."
"I have school..."
"The day's almost over and I think you'll be alright to miss this once," said Gold.
She took his hand and followed him out of the coat closet.
"Mr. Gold," said the teacher, "I am-"
"Miss Wales," said Gold, cutting her off, "is bullying something you allow in Kindergarten?"
"No, Mr. Gold, of course not-"
"Then do you have difficulty controlling a group of five and six-year olds?"
"No, I-"
"See because the next time I find out my daughter has been made to cry, that's when we're actually going to find out how mean I am."
"Yes, Mr. Gold," said Miss Wales.
"Good." He took Beatrice by the shoulder as she returned with her princess backpack. "Come along, sweetheart."
As they walked out and almost made it to the Cadillac, they were intercepted by Mayor Mills, pushing her son along in a grey stroller. Beatrice immediately made for Henry much to Regina's chagrin. She made a game of waving at the baby as Regina was forced to watch. Henry made goofy smiles and drooled while Beatrice covered her eyes to play peekaboo.
"Mr. Gold."
"Madame Mayor."
She turned to look at Beatrice. "Are you feeling unwell, Miss Gold?"
Beatrice fell silent. Regina intimidated most adults in town to say nothing of a shy five-year-old.
"Dismissal's not for another two hours," Regina added, looking at Gold. "I would hate to see you get in trouble for truancy."
Gold smiled. "That is if Sheriff Humbert's patrol car ever gets repaired."
"I'm sorry?," said Regina.
"Well, I noticed his car's been parked outside your house for hours at a time each night," said Gold. "I just assumed it had broken down there. This is why it's so important to make capital investments. Perhaps we could discuss it at the next council meeting."
"I don't think that will be necessary, Mr. Gold."
"No? Perhaps Sidney Glass could write an article about it."
"Good day, Mr. Gold," said Regina, pushing the stroller quickly away. "Come on, Henry."
Gold smiled. Of course he could have just said please, but it was so much more satisfying to needle Regina in other ways. He put Beatrice in the backseat and began to drive.
"Henry's adopted, right?," asked Beatrice.
"Right."
"But he grew in some mommy's tummy, not Regina's..."
"That's right."
"Then where is she?"
"Where's who?"
"Henry's other mommy."
"I don't know, sweetheart," said Gold. He cast a glance in the rearview mirror. "I suspect we'll find out someday."
Storybrooke, Present
The party for the new prince continued into the night. Belle watched the door, catching the suspicious glances of both of her grandmothers. Catherine and Venus had been in a flurry of conversation since they first sat down hours ago. Neal was with Henry. David and Mary Margaret beamed as friends came one by one to meet their son. Belle wished she could enjoy the party more, but right now she was worried about her baby.
The doorbell dinged and Belle looked up. It was only Pamela, she stood with her umbrella in one hand, pressing her slight weight into it. She was a waifish thing with stern eyes that belied her true personality.
"I didn't find her," said Pamela. "I didn't find him, either."
"Did you try looking?," asked Merlin.
Pamela smiled tightly. "Well, I didn't see any elderly wizards doing anything-"
"Elderly?," asked Merlin.
"Yes, elderly, it's a small wonder you can even walk with all the creaking in your bones..."
"Creaking in my bones? Yeah, why don't we see how much my bones creak when I crack that umbrella over your skull?"
"I would love to see you try."
"Oh, you bet you would."
"Thank you, Miss Lyndon," said Gold, cutting them off. They could have gone on all day. "I appreciate your looking."
"So the Wicked Witch really did herself in?," asked Pamela.
"Yes," Gold answered without hesitation.
"Very well then," said Pamela. "If I had to hear one more wicked pun, I might have done her in myself."
Pamela walked off towards Venus and Catherine.
Belle checked her watch and looked up at Gold.
"Should it have taken this long?"
"Sweetheart, she'll be fine."
"But we don't know that," Belle argued. "We've never known anything past today."
Merlin looked at Belle. "You saw her leave did you not?"
Belle frowned. "We ought to go to the barn."
Just then, the bell to the door dinged and Emma rushed in towards David, Mary Margaret and Henry. Beatrice was behind her before the door shut.
Belle let out a huge breath.
"And what sort of time do you call this?," asked Pamela.
"Sorry."
Pamela gave her a squeeze. "Wandering around unescorted with a young suitor?"
"You'll get a reputation," Venus teased.
Beatrice went to give both great-grandmothers their own hug.
"Where's your pendant?," asked Catherine.
"Joseph has it. I had to take it off." She looked back at Pamela before the woman could get a word out. "Not like that. Emma was there."
"She is not a suitable chaperone," Pamela added quietly.
"So, you're not going to feel better if I say Hook was there?"
"No."
Beatrice walked over to her parents. "Hey. Guess where I was?"
"Well, wherever you were, you didn't answer my calls," said Gold.
Beatrice slid in the booth next to him.
"Oh, I don't know," said Emma, walking over with Henry's book. "Does the Enchanted Forest sound like it's outside your coverage zone?"
"What are you talking about?," asked David.
She flipped open the book. "Remember Princess Leia?"
"Or Lady Adeola of Padua?," asked Beatrice.
"What are you talking about?," asked Henry.
"Adeola?," asked Neal.
Mary Margaret stared at Beatrice as she held the newborn prince. "I knew it!"
"Wait, so Belle doesn't have an identical cousin that looks just like Beatrice?," asked David.
"Wow, you guys actually believed that story," said Beatrice.
The door opened again. This time it was Joseph and Hook escorting the woman in. Gold got up and walked over to Joseph.
"Mr. Gillette."
"Mr. Gold."
He followed Joseph's gaze over to the table where both families had crowded around as Emma and Beatrice told their tale.
"You don't recognize someone," said Gold.
"I met Venus this morning," said Joseph. "The older woman..."
"Belle's other grandmother. Catherine." Joseph looked at him. "She came to the Dark Castle to help Belle with her pregnancy."
"You took my deal."
"We shook hands."
"I didn't think anything had changed..." He looked over at Beatrice. "I remember things how they were."
"You changed them. The price you pay may well be remembering them the way they were."
"You put the parchment in my pocket. It was your hand," said Joseph.
"You may get your memories back, you may not," said Gold. "Anyone else?"
"The woman with the umbrella."
"Pamela Lyndon, Beatrice's nanny."
"She's seventeen."
"During the Dark Curse, good help was difficult to find and even more difficult to dismiss. Would you like to know her true identity?"
"She has an umbrella and Jiminy Cricket is taken..."
Beatrice caught sight of Joseph and excused herself from the table.
"You have my necklace," she said to Joseph.
"Oh, right," said Joseph, reaching into his breast pocket and pulling it out.
Beatrice turned around and pulled her hair to the side. Joseph felt nervous under Gold's watchful eye as he fastened the pendant.
"Thanks," said Beatrice, excusing herself as Catherine called her back.
"There is one thing I have been curious about for some time," said Gold.
"Oh?"
He motioned at the woman they had returned with. Hook was getting her a beer.
"You were in a unique position during your visit," said Gold. "Did you know who she was?"
"You knew?"
"Belle and I had seen her before."
"I knew," said Joseph.
"Well," said Gold, "a brave choice."
"There is something I do need to know," said Joseph. "Regarding Zelena..."
"Don't worry about it," said Gold.
"What?"
"Don't worry about it," said Gold.
He walked back to Belle and Beatrice.
"Sweetheart," he said, putting his hand on Beatrice's shoulder, "Mom and I need to speak to you."
"What did I do?," she asked, getting up with Belle.
"Other than travelling back in time?," asked Merlin.
Gold and Belle brought Beatrice outside.
"We need to talk about the wedding," said Belle.
"Oh," said Beatrice. "I'm fine. You guys can do what you want."
"Beatrice," said Gold, "we got the impression you thought we were trying to replace you."
"I, uh-" She shrugged. "I don't know."
"Beatrice," said Belle, "other than finding your brother, you are the only baby we have ever wanted."
"Really?"
"Yes, really," said Belle. "Ever since I was a little girl, all I wanted was a little girl of my own. I wanted you."
"Okay," said Beatrice.
"Besides, I have no desire to be up all night with a squalling infant," said Gold. "We did have fourteen years with a one-year old."
"That's not to say that if we were blindsided by another child we wouldn't love him or her just as much," said Belle.
"And we'd be perfectly happy to stay up all night with a squalling infant," Gold added.
"This is a lot of qualifications..." said Beatrice.
Belle smiled. "Because sometimes you get news and your whole life changes in an instant and it can be the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to you. So, if you think this wedding is a precursor to replacing you, we won't do it."
Beatrice shook her head. "I wouldn't ask that."
"I know," said Belle. She hugged her daughter. "You are so good and so sweet, but you've been through a lot lately and we just want to know you're okay."
"I'm okay."
"For now..." said Gold.
Beatrice looked up and followed her father's gaze. Regina was walking down the street with Robin and Roland.
"Gold, Belle," said Regina, walking inside.
Beatrice looked at her parents. "What's going on?"
"Nothing. Why don't we leave? We could get frozen yogurt or perhaps Starbucks is still open..."
Belle looked at Gold. "We have to go back inside, Rumple. My grandmothers are in there."
Her parents walked back in.
"Seriously, what's going on?," Beatrice asked as she followed.
Nothing had happened yet, but Merlin was already standing and putting on his coat.
"Merlin, where are you going?," asked Mary Margaret. "We haven't even named the baby yet, we were waiting on Regina."
"Yeah, put it on Twitter." He looked to Pamela. "You. What are you standing here for?"
Joseph looked between the woman and Regina. Emma was reassuring the former. She approached Regina and Beatrice went to Joseph.
"Do you know what's going on?"
"I made a deduction..."
"So, what is it?," asked Beatrice.
"Marian?," gasped Robin.
"Oh, my God," hissed Beatrice.
"Robin?"
"I thought you were dead, I thought I would never see you again."
As they embraced, Regina's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
"Mama?"
"Oh, Roland, oh, my baby..."
By this time, all eyes in the diner were on the spectacle. Regina turned to Emma.
"You. You did this?"
Emma looked like a deer in headlights. "I just wanted to save her life."
"From you..." said Beatrice.
Emma froze.
Regina turned to Beatrice. "And you."
Gold had sided up to Beatrice and had one hand on her arm. Belle was next to him. "Come on."
Regina was still seething. "Troublemakers just like your parents."
"Watch yourself, dearie," Gold said in a low voice.
"I'm sorry, Regina. I didn't know," said Emma.
She looked to Beatrice.
"What? I'm not apologizing," said Beatrice.
Regina seethed. Emma looked at her desperately.
"Look, you want an apology? I'm sorry I had to break into your stupid castle because you took Emma to your dungeon, I'm sorry I didn't have the heart to let you execute someone, I'm sorry I had to save Snow White and ice over... what room was that? Your stake room? It didn't have furniture."
Regina turned to Belle. "Do you even have a Cousin Adeola?!"
Mary Margaret walked over. "Hey. Let's all just calm down."
"Luckily for you all, I've changed," said Regina.
"Regina..." said Robin.
"Are you two together?," asked Marian.
As Marian began to express her serious misgivings about that, Regina disappeared into a plume of smoke.
Emma looked at Beatrice. "Did you have to phrase it quite like that?"
"Did she have to try to kill everyone in town multiple times?"
"I've got to go talk to her." Emma marched off after Regina.
Beatrice looked at her parents and Joseph.
"Okay, all I'm saying is a heads up would have been good..."
A Long Time Ago In The Enchanted Forest...
Regina seethed at her ice wall.
"Well, it's a bold interior decorating choice!," a sing-song voice taunted.
Regina turned towards Rumplestiltskin.
"Do you know who did this?"
He gasped in mock shock. "What would make you think I know?"
"She was powerful," said Regina. "More powerful than any witch I've ever seen. I assumed she was one of your pupils like Tish and we all remember what happened to Tish."
"Not one of mine," said Rumplestiltskin. "Stymied by a little ice wall?"
Regina crossed her arms and stared back at it.
"You really don't know her?," asked Regina.
"I'm afraid I can't help you, dearie."
"Whoever she is she stole my vengeance," said Regina. "I will find her and I will take what she loves."
"Don't want to lose focus, dearie. You wouldn't want to miss your chance at revenge upon Snow White."
"If you ever bother to complete my curse."
"These things take time," Rumplestiltskin said tightly. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
Rumplestiltskin transported himself back to the hall of the Dark Castle. He could hear Belle reading from the room she had already chosen for the nursery next to her bedroom.
"Why, he is the prince's jester, a very dull fool, only his gift is devising impossible slanders, none but libertines delight in him and the commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy, for he both pleases men and angers them, and then they laugh at him and beat him. I am sure he is in the fleet, I would he had boarded me!"
Belle turned from the window. She smiled at him.
"Rumple, you're back," she said. She rushed over and gave him a hug.
"How are you feeling?," he asked.
"Better after you tell me what happened with Regina."
"I cast a spell, I managed to push all thoughts of revenge upon the girl to the back of her mind."
Belle scoffed. "It's too bad someone couldn't do that for Snow White." She shook her head.
"It will work out for her. Eventually. You saw her daughter."
They sat together on a cushioned stool, Belle laid her head on his shoulder.
"This Dark Curse the Queen's plotting... are we going to be alright? Our child? You said it was for revenge and you're not exactly her favorite person..."
"I'll make a deal with the Queen, one she can't refuse," said Rumplestiltskin.
"You're good at that, sunshine."
Rumplestiltskin looked up, perturbed to see Merlin casually sitting across from them in a chair. Belle gasped.
"It's you..." she said.
"You know him?"
Belle looked up at Rumplestiltskin. "When I returned to you, he helped me. He saved me from some terrible knights." She paused and turned towards Rumple. "You know him?"
"He's plagued me as long as I can remember..."
Merlin was nonplussed. "Well, now that we've established that we all know each other," said Merlin, "let's talk about Beatrice."
