True Love
It was the beginning of the year 2023. New year, new opportunities. Bae and Hope went with Vella to Los Angeles by plane of course. She had a couple fashion shows, photoshoots, and meetings with her agency, open calls and a meeting with her new record label. Hope went because Vella's agent felt he could get her a couple modeling gigs. They ended up wanting her in the fashion show and the photoshoots.
Bae went with Vella to her meeting with her record label. She had been in the studio recording music and it was about time they released her first single.
"We like your single. The EP is sounding great. We'll release it in April, in time for the summer wave. We'll release your single in a couple weeks, start shooting the video and get you out there promoting it." The head of APR, Canon said.
"Sounds great! There's just one thing, I don't want to be portrayed as anything other than who I truly am. I'm not some raunchy sex kitten and I won't be responsible for putting negativity into the world." Vella said.
"You're much more assertive than you were before." Canon said.
"I know. Do we have an understanding?"
Canon didn't answer immediately. "You see Vella, sex sells."
"You don't have to be slutty to be sexy." Vella replied.
"Here's the thing, we need to sell-"
"Sell- I'm the artist and I don't want to be a difficult one but I won't compromise my dignity so if you have a problem with my very simple request, you can shelf my music."
"… Okay. We'll do it your way."
They left the record label.
"I'm proud of you." Bae said.
Vella smiled. "Thank you for supporting me and not being afraid of me growing, for me to be stronger."
"Of course. I was raised by strong women. They don't intimidate me and as I've always said, I just want you to be happy." They kissed.
Then they met Hope at the photoshoot for Seventeen magazine, she was definitely a natural. When that was over they headed to the fashion show. Vella gave Hope some pointers on how to walk a runway but not how to command the room, she learned that from grandma Regina. They loved her at the photoshoot and the fashion show. They just wanted more of her.
-v-
Henry was in his room massaging Goldie's back then he kissed her neck.
"Your room is amazing. You left this place to live in the forest?" Goldie asked.
"You want to stay here? You realize you can't leave right?" Henry replied.
"I can live with it. It's a huge castle, I can avoid your mother." Goldie said.
There was a knock at the door. "Come in!" Henry invited. It was Seiko, delivering towels to them. "Thank you, Seiko."
"Can I get anything else for you?" Seiko asked.
"Yes. Would you bring me a bowl of fruit, dear? You're a doll." Goldie said patronizingly.
Seiko looked at her for a moment then shot a look at Henry. He already knew what she was thinking. He was still sitting behind Goldie so he signaled Seiko that he was going to handle it. So Seiko just gave a polite smile and left the room. Henry moved to the side of Goldie.
"You can't talk to the servants that way. My mother doesn't even talk to them like that and if they don't get it from her, they will not take it from you. They're practically family."
"Family that serves you?"
"They have jobs, we pay them. It doesn't mean we don't care about them. Secondly, her job is not to bring you fruit."
"Her job is whatever you ask her to do."
"Here's what you need to understand and I'm sorry I have to be so blunt but no one trusts you and no one likes you. You don't want to tick off anyone who lives here. I'm not exactly in their good graces either but they owe no loyalty to you, luckily for you, you're carrying my child."
"How they feel about me won't affect the way you feel about me, will it?"
"No. No one can come between us." He kissed her.
-v-
Roland was teaching Alexandra how to shoot a bow and arrow and they were taking a break from her lessons.
"I wish my family taught me how to fight and shoot like yours. Your family is so badass. As much time as I've spent here, I should have jumped on the bandwagon sooner." Alexandra said.
"Well your kingdom and family are more peaceful. My family is about survival. If you're going to survive you need to be prepared to fight back." Roland replied.
"Was your time away exactly what you needed?"
"Yes it was. We had so much fun but it was good to know they still missed us, missed home, even though they are basically living whole new lives."
"There's still no place like home."
"Yeah, I come home to find out King George wants to take over our kingdom and our people are getting more and more rowdy."
"It is a bit crazy out there. I've never seen this before. My mother says she's afraid people may go back to how they used to before the curse, the first curse."
"It won't go that far. My family is on it. There's a plan in motion… Come on, let's get back to your lesson." They kissed then got back to work.
-v-
Jane and Rumple were packing with the ship's crewman to leave the jungle. It was time to go back to Misthaven. Jane still hadn't gotten a good look at the gorillas she so desperately wanted to see. She saw a few but that wasn't enough. More importantly, her heart had grown for Tarzan and she didn't know if she should just leave him. Should she invite him to come along? All she knew was that she would miss him when she was gone.
Tarzan stood in the trees with a bouquet of flowers and observed the scene for a moment before swinging down to Jane.
"Jane!" He called with the biggest smiled on his face.
She smiled too but it was bittersweet. She was happy to see him but she was leaving. She took a few steps over to him. "Tarzan…"
"Flowers for Jane." Tarzan held out the flowers for Jane and she took them. How sweet, how lovely, how affectionate. "Jane stay with Tarzan?" Wow, what a time to say such a thing but one thing he knew was he didn't want her to ever leave him and he wasn't even aware that that was very close to happening.
"Uh… uh… uh…" Jane stuttered before tears fell and she ran off. He didn't understand. Rumple went over to him.
"Why Jane sad?" Tarzan asked.
"Jane go bye-bye!" Rumple said.
A frown came across Tarzan's face. "Jane stay with Tarzan." He said as more of a refusal to accept the situation.
"Jane go home!" Rumple replied.
"Jane stay with Tarzan." He repeated, this time with sadness in his voice. His head dropped low.
"Take us to see the gorillas, she'll have to stay a little while longer." Rumple said. He felt sympathy for the guy. He wished all he had to say was, "Belle stay with Rumple," in order to never lose her. He could see how the two felt about each other but he was ready to take his baby girl home.
"Show Jane gorillas." Tarzan smiled. Yeah, that would give him more time…
-v-
Bae and Vella were still in Los Angeles. Hope was back in New York, she was teleporting back and forth anyway, not that Vella knew any such thing but she knew she had gone back for good.
They were at breakfast at the hotel and since Vella's birthday was in a couple of days, he had a surprise for her.
"So why again did you say you wanted to go to the Caribbean? You come to Los Angeles often, is there really a big difference?" Bae asked.
"Uh… yeah! It's totally different. In pictures and videos, it's just so beautiful, it looks so peaceful. Something about that environment just sits right with me. Plus, if I had to choose between that and going back to cold Michigan, I'd choose that." She took a bite of her waffle.
"Are you sure?" Bae put two tickets to the Caribbean in front of her. Her eyes widened then she almost choked on her waffle before she swallowed.
"… Is this for real?" She questioned.
"As sure as the sky is blue."
She was in shock. "This- this is too much!"
"No it isn't. I cashed in some gold a few months ago and I hardly spend, I can afford it. Besides, it's your birthday princess and if there's any day for a wish to come true it's that day." Tears fell from her eyes. He laid his hand on hers. "What is it?"
"No one has ever done anything like this for me and for years there wasn't even anyone who cared about my birthday at all. Didn't even get a Tastykake with a candle in it."
"No more of that. It's your day and we're going to celebrate it right."
"Thank you. I truly love you. That heart of yours is something special."
So he'd been told. "I love you too." He replied before they kissed.
-v-
Hope and Andy were at a drive-in theatre, Andy often liked a date that was more private. There was only so much he could deal with a crowd of people per day but he made exceptions. They were watching or were supposed to be watching the new Chloe Grace Moretz, romantic action flick. In Hope's new obsession with movies and television, Chloe was becoming one of her favorite actresses. Instead of actually watching the movie, they spent a good portion of it making out, as most people their age on a date do.
They took a break for air and just looked at each other for a moment.
"You're beautiful." Andy expressed.
"Thanks handsome." Hope replied.
"A lot of people, including us felt that it wasn't smart of us to make a go at a relationship but I'm glad I did. I've never felt-"
Hope cut him off by kissing him again, causing another make out session. She liked that he was expressing how he felt but she sensed an, "I love you," coming and she knew she wasn't ready for what that might mean for them.
-v-
Melody was visiting so Emery took her dancing. They were the only young people there. They fit in better with the seniors in this world, at least when it came to dancing, slow dancing, ballroom dancing. Melody loved to dance but she wasn't very good. She had two left feet, probably because half the time she had a tail. Emery spun her around and pulled her back to him.
"You look beautiful. I miss you so much." Emery said.
"How much longer do you think it'll be before you come home? I want to marry you and have little mer-babies."
"I'm not sure but I'm hoping soon."
"I am trying to be understanding. We have eternal love but being without you even for a little while is torture. I'm starting to understand how your mother felt without your father for so long."
"I'm sorry. I understand, I do. If Bae isn't ready to go home in six months then I will leave without him and come home."
"Six months in our world or six months in this one?"
"This one, which means it'll be less time."
"It's still a long time but I've waited this long… I don't want to be selfish."
He kissed her. "You're not. I love you."
"I love you too."
-v-
It was a tough day for Goldie. The morning sickness had her down for the day and Henry was doing his best to try and take care of her.
"This can't be normal." Goldie said as she lied back on the bed.
"From what I hear it is. It's different for different women. I grew up around a lot of women." Henry stroked her hair.
"I'm going to sound like a big baby but my stuffed bear would really bring me comfort."
Henry kissed her forehead and smiled. "I understand. I'll see what I can do about getting that for you."
"But your mother won't let you leave."
"Let me worry about that."
Henry found his parents in the family room with Roland. He was showing them pictures from his trip to the other world. They joked and laughed. What a cute moment. Henry rolled his eyes and cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Henry! Care to join us?" Regina invited.
"Not really. I need to go to Goldie's cabin. We were unable to get any of our things and specifically, Goldie wants her stuffed bear. She doesn't feel well today and it would make her feel better, at least emotionally. So will you let me go?"
"You can go but your brother has to go with you." Robin replied.
"I have to come back, my pregnant girlfriend is here." Henry said.
"Your brother goes or you don't go." Regina said. Roland didn't look too happy about it himself. "Okay Roland?" She asked.
"Sure…" Roland said.
"He won't be a problem. He still has that bracelet on." Regina said.
"Let's go brat." Roland got up from the chair and the brothers both gave each other a deadly look before they walked out of the room. "Just so you know, if you try anything, I'm not opposed to shooting you with an arrow."
"Ooh, suddenly such a badass. Isn't violence against everything you stand for brother? Am I sensing a bit of darkness in the Dimple Monster?"
"You'll sense an arrow in your ass if you don't shut up."
-v-
Bae and Vella entered their suite in the beautiful Caribbean hotel. There was an all-white canopy bed and a Jacuzzi with an open view of the ocean. It was serene.
"Wow." Vella uttered. "He must have cashed in a lot of gold because this was not cheap." She thought. She didn't come from wealth so she never had time to splurge. What she earned from modeling and occasional performances either went back into her career, school, debt or basic survival. Maybe she could splurge a bit but whenever she had anything left over she put it into savings. She never wanted to struggle the way she used to. On one hand, she was jumping out of her skin in excitement but on the other hand she didn't want Bae to use his last just to make her happy but decided not to worry about it. She had to learn to enjoy the moment and she trusted he wouldn't spend what he didn't have.
"I hope this is a birthday, you'll remember forever." Bae said.
"It already is." She hugged and kissed him. Then they didn't waste any time getting to the fun. They parasailed, swam with the dolphins and snorkeled. After all that they grabbed a delicious exotic bite to eat then went back up to their room and lied on the bed from exhaustion.
"I don't know when I ever tired myself out from having so much fun and there's more to come tomorrow." Vella said.
"I'm glad I didn't have to go my entire life without this day." Bae responded.
They smiled, staring up at the ceiling. Suddenly, Vella sat up with her back against the headboard.
"What's in that head of yours?" Bae asked and sat up with her.
"Something I probably should have said to you months ago." She replied. He looked concerned but he still had his not so little secret lingering in the air. "It's just that things are so good and this sometimes can make things change and maybe it wouldn't but it could. I probably should have said something before we shared a bed miles away from home. It's a wonder I even consider this since my encounter with any successful relationship are all fiction but-" She rambled nervously.
"-Vella. My love, where is this going?" Bae cut her off.
"Right… I've been waiting until marriage. It's a wonder I even want to get married, my parents were so… Anyway, that's it."
"Waiting for what?" Bae asked genuinely confused.
She was confused that he was confused. "To have sex."
"Oh! That's all?" He scooted back down on the bed. Now she was really confused. She leaned over to him.
"Oh, that's all? That's it?"
"It's not really a serious matter." Apparently, this was foreign in this world? "Did you think that was why I brought you here?"
"No. I don't know. I mean, you haven't even tried. Things have been too perfect. It's hard not to think the ball is going to drop at some point."
A ball like this secret hanging over their heads? As much they felt like even the universe wanted them together, both of them were a little afraid that maybe it didn't. "I've never had sex either." Bae replied.
"… What? Really? But you're a man, you're – well look at you, great personality, women fond over you." Vella was shocked. This isn't commonplace nowadays.
Bae thought about how this world worked in comparison to his and he never really dug into the culture but in retrospect he could see how this may be surprising. He sat up again. "I was with the same woman from fifteen to twenty-one. We crushed on each other as children and we always just assumed we'd marry but years went by and we knew things weren't quite right because we knew what it was like to be in love with other people. It took a while to realize it but we could tell the difference. We knew we weren't right so that wedding everyone expected, never happened and we broke up. Most people where I'm from don't court for too long before they marry."
"Court?" She thought. That's a pretty old school term.
"Now she's with who she really loves, my cousin Roland."
"Roland?" Your ex starts dating your family? Messy! "Wait, I thought you said he was your uncle?"
"… He is. I meant uncle." He didn't have time to explain his family tree right now.
"Uncle, cousin, either way, that's a bit odd so who was it who made you realize you didn't love her?"
"Not obvious?"
"Me?" Vella questioned.
"I know it sounds crazy but even though we only saw each other three days when we were fourteen, I fell in love with you. I didn't understand it then but I did later."
"Actually, it doesn't sound as crazy as you may think. I have moved a lot in six years, been homeless, been in shelters and I have lost a lot of things but I never lost that stuffed crow you gave me." She giggled. "Maybe I just wanted Prince Charming to save this damsel in distress. You know, I think you've worsened my fairy tale obsession with your stories. " She joked. "No but really, I understand. No one else could be you."
"Exactly. She just wasn't you." He replied then they cuddled close together. Maybe it's about time he told her his truth. Tomorrow, it's time.
-v-
Tarzan took Jane and Rumple to see the gorillas. He tried to introduce her to his mother but she ran off. All the other gorillas were pretty angry that he brought those humans into their world. They can't be trusted but they were also curious and they wondered why he was always running off but human or gorilla, you know love when you see it and he loved Jane and Jane clearly loved him. The humans weren't so bad, at least Jane wasn't. Jane even tried to talk to them in their language, they respected that.
"Now Jane stay with Tarzan?" He asked and tears fell from her eyes.
"Tarzan, I can't. I have to go home… You can come home with me. I'd love it if you did." Jane replied.
"I don't know anything else. This is Tarzan home. This is only thing I have of Tarzan's family, both of them. I don't know what to do."
"I get it. I feel the same but if you decide you want to come, meet us at the ship before sunset." They kissed.
-v-
Meanwhile in Michigan, Hope and Andy went ice skating. Hope loved all the things he introduced her to. Hope finished lacing up her ice skates then Andy helped her up.
"Promise to catch me?" Hope asked.
"Trust me?" Andy asked.
Hope just smiled and nodded. He held her hand as they stepped onto the ice and helped keep her balance as they skated around the rank.
"This isn't so bad." Hope said after a few go rounds around the rank. Andy let one hand go.
"How's school?" Andy asked.
"A lot better! I think I might actually graduate on honor roll. My first report card could've been better but I'm on a roll now. The mean girls have some kind of bet to see how badly I'll flunk calculus. Jokes on them, I've got this. They will learn. So, speaking of mean people… I've been avoiding asking you this question because I figured you'd tell me when you were ready but if people are going to be staring at us all the time, it'd be nice to know why."
"Right… Well, I'm not a murderer."
"Good. You know that's my deal breaker." Hope joked.
Andy turned to face her and held both her hands again as they slowed down their skating. "Truth is, a lot of people found out that… when I was a child, I was in a mental institution. They haven't treated me the same since."
"Oh. Why were you sent there?"
"I… thought my toys were moving and talking to me." Andy replied, still ashamed about the ordeal. "I was afraid that we'd be over in a flash if you knew I wasn't wrapped tightly in the head."
"As the saying goes, 'All the best people are mad.'" Hope joked to lighten the mood. "Honestly, it doesn't bother me. I've heard crazier things, maybe they were talking to you. I wasn't there."
"You don't have to try and make me feel better."
"I'm not, Ranger. I'm being honest, at least now, if anyone has anything to say, I can stand my ground and I'm not in the dark."
"There's something I've been meaning to say to you."
"What's that?" She was hoping it wasn't 'I love you.'
"I love you." Andy expressed followed by the worst moment you could anticipate after such an expression. Hope slipped on the ice, fell, hit her head and was knocked unconscious. "Hope! Oh God." He quickly dialed 911 as people started to crowd around them.
-v-
After a day of ziplining, touring the island and basking on the beach, Bae and Vella walked back to their suite hand and hand with her head on his shoulder. Bae was thinking about how he was finally going to tell her his little secret.
"I better get some homework done. I wouldn't want to lose my 4.0 GPA during my very last semester. Besides, I don't want to think about school at all tomorrow on my twenty-second birthday!" Vella said.
Bae suddenly stopped, grabbing his heart. It felt tight all of a sudden like it would when Vella was hurt.
"Are you okay?" Vella asked.
"Are you?"
"Baelfire, I'm right next to you. You're the one who looks like you're having a heartache."
"No, it sounds crazy but when you were hurt I'd often get this feeling in my chest. I didn't know what it was until I'd find out what happened to you later."
"I'm fine." She said as they opened the door to the suite and he had a seat on the bed while Vella got him some water. Her face was full of concern.
"I'm alright." He said with his hand on her thigh as reassurance. "Listen…" Bae thought he'd jump into telling this secret. If he didn't do it now, when would he? He still had worry in the back of his mind that something was wrong.
His phone rang and since no one was supposed to call while he was away, he had a bad feeling that this phone call would give him an explanation to his bad feeling. It was Emery, he answered.
"Bae." Emery started, his tone was a bit distraught. "It's Hope. She hit her head, she's not waking. She's at The General Hospital in Michigan."
"Okay." Bae said simply before he ended the call.
"Is everything alright?" Vella asked.
Bae hated lying but… "Yes. I know you have homework to do so I am going downstairs. There's karaoke or something going on." He kissed her. "I'll be back in a little while." He headed out the door, made sure he was alone in the hallway then disappeared in a poof of light blue smoke.
Vella shook her head and sighed. "He's lying to me."
-v-
Bae found Emery with Andy at the hospital.
"What's going on? Where is she?" Bae questioned.
"She slipped while we were ice skating. They're taking her to surgery." Andy explained.
"We have to get her out of there!" Bae panicked.
"What?" Andy was confused. "She's in good hands!" They ignored him.
"I have an idea." Emery said.
"What? No." Andy continued.
"Okay. We don't have time to waste." Bae replied to Emery before they started to walk away.
"What are you two talking about?" Andy asked.
"Trust us! We know what's best for her!" Emery exclaimed before he and Bae ran off. Emery explained his plan until they found an empty room. They changed into their clothes from their world, put the hood from their capes on, added a mask and drew their bow and arrows. They looked like vigilantes from a renaissance fair. Hopefully, what they were about to do wouldn't give the real vigilantes in this world a bad name.
They ran out and found the operating room they were going to use for Hope's surgery. They were just in time. They hadn't cut anything yet.
"Back away from the patient!" Bae yelled. Both of them pointing their arrows at the doctors.
"Back away now before we put an arrow in you, each and every one of you! Now! Move it!" Emery threatened. The doctors stepped back reluctantly. "Get out!" Emery shot an arrow and missed on purpose to get those doctors moving and they ran out of the door.
Emery waved his hand to lock the door behind them. "We have to hurry before we lose her."
"Hope, if you can hear me. Stay with us, okay?" Emery said as Bae held his hand over Hope's head. It wasn't working as quickly as usual but it was working. Suddenly, Hope sat up and gasped for air. They hugged her with tears in their eyes.
"Thank God." Bae said.
"That was too close." Emery added. They teleported to Maleficent's just in time for security to miss them as they burst in.
"Now that my head is well, could you heal my leg? It hurts so bad!" Hope exclaimed and Emery healed her.
"What the hell happened to you?" Maleficent asked.
"I slipped while ice skating, after Andy poured his heart out and told me he-" That L word again. She didn't want to talk about that with Bae and Emery right now. "Wait, where is Andy? He must be so worried."
"Still in the waiting room I assume." Emery said.
"Guys!" Hope exclaimed.
"Excuse me. We were a little busy trying to save your life and making sure you didn't become a test subject because that's exactly what would happen if they get your blood." Bae said.
"No one has made me a test subject." Astrea said.
"Not yet." Maleficent said. "I keep telling you to stay away from those doctors. Anyway, I'm happy you're alright. No more slippery sports for you young lady or at least get a man who has the good reflexes to catch you. I don't want the Charmings knocking down my door because I failed to keep one of their little charms safe."
"Thanks my princes for saving me but I better get to my other prince so that he knows I'm safe. Bro, get back to your princess, okay."
Bae nodded. "Just be careful, make sure no one sees you when you go back to that hospital."
"I will be careful." Hope said and hugged her brother and uncle one last time before she teleported out.
-v-
Jane was waiting for Tarzan, hoping he would come before they got on the ship but she didn't see him.
"Jane." Rumple called standing on the ship with his hand extended to her.
"Okay daddy." She took his hand and stepped onto the ship. They started sailing away and she stared back at the jungle still hoping he would come. Rumple saw how torn his daughter was and he knew he had to be honest and not do what's innately easy to him and be selfish.
"Jane, you love him. You should be with him." Rumple said.
"But our family… I can't stay here. I can't be without you."
"One day, we'll go back home but perhaps this isn't the time. Maybe you came here because you were meant to be with him. True love must be fought for."
Tears fell from her eyes. "Thank you papa." They jumped off the ship and sailed back to shore. They hadn't gotten far. When they got back to the shore Tarzan finally got there in his father's suit.
"Tarzan go with Jane." Tarzan smiled.
"Maybe one day but you're not ready so for now, Jane stay with Tarzan." They kissed and he spun her around.
-v-
Roland and Henry arrived at Goldie's cottage. Henry went into the bedroom and Roland followed.
"You don't have to follow me every moment, you know?" Henry said but Roland just ignored him, studying the environment.
Henry saw the stuffed bear on the bed but looked through a few drawers for some clothes, books, whatever little things they left behind that they may need or that would make Goldie's stay at the castle more comfortable. He rummaged through the drawers to make sure he didn't miss anything that they may need or want but more so for her as he didn't have much there.
As he searched, he found a book under some clothes and he decided to look through it to see if it were anything important that Goldie may want with her. The book was full of her handwriting.
He skimmed the first page, "My parents abandoned me. There is no such thing as family. There is no such thing as true love. People always leave. All you have is you. Survival of the fittest, it's you or them."
That touched Henry, it was so sad and here he was complaining about his family. He really knew that no matter what he did, they wouldn't ever abandon him. Maybe Goldie felt that he could abandon her at any time, that's all she knows. Maybe he should just propose to her but maybe he hadn't because he really doesn't want to. What does it matter? She's having his child. They understand each other, don't they? Do they really? Does Henry even understand himself?
He flipped ahead and landed somewhere in the middle of the book. It was a violation of privacy but he wanted to know how she felt. The next few things he read had the opposite effect.
"I finally found a home today. It was the home of some couple and their son. I used the potion from the witch to turn them to bears and sent them on their way to the forest. I think the end justifies the means."
"I met Prince Henry today. I saved him from a situation I contrived in the first place. He shall fall in love with my golden charms and one day I shall be queen. I would have had an easier time with Prince Emery but you take what you can get. Just means, more royals to get out the way before I get there."
Henry looked up from the book and had the same look in his eyes that his mother used to get before she ripped someone's heart out. He put the book in his bag then went over to the bear, picked it up and examined it. His trust was totally shot so everything was suspicious. Why did she really want this damn bear?
"Why are you studying it that way?" Roland asked. Henry ignored him. He saw a slit in the stuffed animal and put his hand in it. He felt something and pulled it out, a potion bottle, presumably the one that turns people into bears.
"What the hell is that?" Roland asked.
"Nothing." Henry replied.
Roland held up his bow and arrow and pointed it at his brother's arm. "Answer the question."
"You won't use that?"
Roland let the arrow go, landing it straight into Henry's arm. Henry dropped the potion on the bed and grabbed his arm.
"At some point you'll learn to stop underestimating me." Roland said as he picked up the potion off the bed and read the label. "Planning to use this?"
"Ah! No! I'm going to dispose of it!"
"I'll handle that for you. Let's go." Roland pulled the arrow out of Henry's arm. Henry screamed then Roland walked him toward the door. Henry no longer wanted the bear anyway.
"Why are you being such an asshole?" Henry yelled.
"Me? Really? Ask yourself why you've been the asshole then you'll get the answer."
"What? The love is gone brother?"
"Not for my brother but I don't know you." Roland stated.
Meanwhile back at the castle, Goldie had finally gotten out of bed from her very sick morning. She was only feeling a tad better but she stared out of the window and watched Seiko in the courtyard.
"You must die." She thought before there was a knock at her door. She turned to find Regina standing there with a trey.
"I heard you weren't having a good morning so I brought something that helped when I was carrying Henry. He was a handful even in the womb." Regina said kindly.
Goldie chuckled. "I recall, taking food from Queen Regina is deadly or at least would put you in a long sleep."
"Correction, taking apples from me will put you in a long sleep. There are no apples here."
"Just so you know, your son would wake me from any sleeping curse."
Regina smiled. "That's debatable but I'm out of that business. I'm simply trying to help you. You are carrying my grandchild, after all."
Goldie took the tea and crackers off the trey. "Strong!" She exclaimed after sipping the tea.
"But it works… Avoiding us only makes us more suspicious of you. You can't leave but you can let us get to know you. Maybe things will change."
"Why are you being so nice?"
"This family prides ourselves on forgiveness and kindness and blah, blah, blah so it would only be fair to give you a chance. I mean, I was The Evil Queen and I had multiple chances before I got my act together. My family didn't give up on me and that helped but I had to do the work on the inside. Anyway, enjoy your tea." Regina left the room leaving Goldie a bit conflicted inside.
-v-
Henry was sitting by his mother's apple tree, contemplating how he should handle Goldie when Seiko walked out. Clearly, there was something wrong so she sat next to him and playfully bumped him arm to arm, the good arm.
"I know I've been extremely tough on you lately and I'm not at all sorry but what's wrong?" Seiko asked.
He sighed. "You were right, you were all right about Goldie and I should have known. How could I be so oblivious?"
"Were you really or did you just ignore the signs because you were focused on other things or because you're not even seeing clearly about yourself? You were taught to use love even when things go awry so do that. You can catch more flies with honey, you know?"
"You must have me confused with my sister. My family's rules don't quite work for me but you were right. I didn't, don't love her, never have. That's why I couldn't bring myself to marry her but I was mesmerized by her."
"I think the word you're looking for is lust but it happens, however, not often around here. True love is too important."
He kissed her on that note. Just how he remembered it. There was a spark that he didn't understand before but he did now. She pulled away.
"I won't be some servant you settled for because the first girl didn't work out." Seiko said.
"That's not it at all. That was the first thing that has felt right to me in a long time."
"You have a child on the way. We're just friends. Listen, approach Goldie with love, if you keep at it, you should get through to her. Love is the light keeping darkness away, remember? I have to go." Seiko rushed back into the castle and Henry watched her walk away from him.
-v-
Vella still had her head in her books when Bae walked back in trying to pretend like he was perfectly fine but he was wasting his time Vella knew he wasn't. She closed her book.
"Hey love." Vella held her hand out for him and he took it as he joined her on the bed. "You're not the only one who can tell what's wrong with the other but you don't have to tell me. I'll be here for you like you were for me."
He looked at her a moment before he laid his head on her legs and she stroked his hair.
-v-
Hope appeared in a hospital janitorial closet and added a jacket with a hood so that she could hide her face. Then she stepped out and eased to the waiting room where she saw Andy pacing the floor wondering what happened to her and where she was. When he walked close enough so that she could grab him, she grabbed his arm and pulled him into the hallway with her.
"Shh!" She said quickly.
"Hope?" Andy questioned. She took his hand and walked back into the janitorial closet before she took the hood off and hugged him. "How are you here? You're not real! I'm losing it again."
"Calm down. I'm real and in the flesh. I'm okay!"
A tear fell from his eye. "I saw you…"
"My brother and my uncle, they healed me. That's why they wanted to get me from the doctors."
"What?" The look of confusion was apparent on his face.
"You told me your secret, now it's time I tell you mine…"
To be continued…
What do you think of these couples and where this twist on Toy Story/Andy?
