Sorry sorry sorry for how VERY late this update is! Life's been...hectic. Most of my time has been consumed with job hunting and trying to decide basically what to do with myself in regards to furthering my education. I got quite twisted around and agitated with lots of doubts and concerns and annoying voices in my head that are probably best ignored 99% of the time. Eventually my mom just asked me: If money and time were no object, what would you want to do? And thus I have decided: I'm going to pursue a master's degree in English, try my hand at teaching (hopefully on a collegiate level, which is my goal) and (again, hopefully) get my PhD in English at some point. My Bachelor's degree, though, is...not in English. So tricky paths ahead, but this is what I love most (if you couldn't guess from the plethora of nerdy English nonsense I do on this site), so hopefully it'll work out. Either way: busy. That, and as I was having my existential crisis I couldn't get myself to write a single word for any of my stories. So, here I am, my head (almost) on straight, and hopefully able to indulge myself in some writing while also figuring out how to get into a Masters program for English at a school close enough to home to commute. Wish me luck! On top of that, I then got a job working with special needs kids and I'm pretty much done by time I get home. So, to the reviewer who I said "one week" to- I am sorry, I blame the job, please forgive me. And, enjoy this update, you wonderfully patient people who have stuck by me. Thank you for that.
11/29/22 Edit: And now I've caught up! This was very helpful, tbh, I feel like I may do more edits in future.
February 14, 2012 Continued
By the time Rumpelstiltskin was able to pull himself out of his reverie and daydreams of Belle to realize he had just been manipulated (and blatantly, obviously manipulated at that) he had already decided to largely ignore the fact that he was off his game enough for it to take this long to realize the fact, and that he was also off his game enough that Miss Ward hadn't even bothered to try a more complex and convoluted method to keep him where she wanted him.
When one's own student doesn't even bother to use more than a five minute verbal ploy and it still succeeds, one is forced to reassess their mental capabilities and biases.
However, Gold had other business for this evening, so he put those thoughts away for another time when he'd have the leisure to go over them and all their details.
Considering how careful the Misses Swan and Ward were to keep within the rules of this realm, despite now knowing that the citizens of Storybrooke were from another one entirely, Rumple didn't believe he could trust them to bring any justice to Belle until the curse was fully broken. Then, no doubt, the sisters would happily pursue justice for everyone (which, really, might get him into a bit of hot water- he'd have to plan carefully to remain in at least Miss Ward's good graces). Rumple couldn't wait on this- he'd waited long enough. Belle had waited long enough. She deserved justice in a way few people did, he thought.
He choose to ignore the voice in his head (one that sounded rather like Miss Ward) that pointed out Belle would have preferred mercy over justice, especially for her own father. He'd had hundreds of years worth of practice in ignoring the voices in his head. Previous Dark Ones could be...chatty.
Ada stirred her drink before taking another swallow. She giggled as Ruby cracked a rather risqué joke and Ashley blushed furiously. Suddenly, a chill went up her spine and her prickings broke out in a furious jangling of nerves. Ashley and Ruby gave her concerned looks as she actually gasped from the sensation.
"I'm sorry," she exhaled in a hasty breath, "But I've got to-" she cut herself off and fumbled for her phone, dialing Emma immediately. She wasn't sure what her prickings were trying to tell her, but Ada was just praying her sister and Henry were fine.
"Hey, A- I've," Emma answered after the second ring, but the redhead was immediately speaking over her in a rush of concern.
"Emma! OH, thank god- I just got the worst case of prickings and I was so worried- are you ok? Where are you? Please, don't do anything, Emma- I just- the prickings, I can't let-"
The man known as Mr. Gold was behind the wheel of the truck he had taken as collateral earlier. In the back, the man who was the current target of his ire was gagged and tied up. Rumpelstiltskin pulled up to an abandoned cabin in the woods and Mr. Gold, with a pistol, opened the back of the truck allowing Moe to slowly climb out, still tied up. The man's eyes were wide with shock, fear, while Rumpelstiltskin's eyes were filled with a icy anger.
Ada continued to babble as Emma tried to calm her with promises that she was fine, that she was safely in the Sheriff's station, no cars anywhere nearby, that she was sure Henry was fine as well, that the prickings must be trying to tell her something else. Ada's words slowed and then stopped.
"Gold. He's up to something," she muttered and then, without another word, hung up. She turned back to the table where Ruby and Ashley waited for her, concern all over their faces. Ada grabbed her purse and threw some bills on the table.
"I'm sorry, girls, I'm going to have to cut this short. I'll see you tomorrow, but I've got to go sort something now." Ruby nodded and Ashley started to say she hoped everything worked out alright but Ada was already on the move.
If her prickings weren't forewarning her of something horrible happening to her family, then there was one other likely explanation: Rumpelstiltskin had done something.
Ada just hoped she was in time to stop it from escalating.
Two men entered an abandoned cabin deep in the woods. The first turns to stare at the second in horror. Rumple cocked the gun in his hand, pointing it more firmly at the former King Maurice. In a chilling voice he told the florist: "Now, you see, here's the thing—I don't normally let people get away."
Emma immediately went to the station's ancient computer and banged it as she tried to search where Gold might be hiding out while "up to something." The problem was, of course, that the man owned almost all of Storybrooke.
"Let me explain, okay?" Moe French begged Mr. Gold, who sent his gun on a table and pulled up a chair. "Let me explain."
"Oh," Gold sighs as he sits himself down, he knows Moe will not be able to explain to him what Rumple truly wishes to know- not until the curse is broken, but still...watching the man squirm may be interesting. He silences once more the voice in his head that asks what Belle would think. "Well, that is...fascinating. Truly fascinating." Quickly, but with purpose, he brings up his cane and presses it into the throat of the former King Maurice, his eyes steely as he explains the game, "I'm going to let you breathe in a second, and you're going to say two sentences. The first is going to tell me where it is. The second is going to tell me who told you to take it. Do you understand the rules?"
Moe nodded, tears glistening in his eyes and managed a horse "Yeah."
"Good," Rumpelstiltskin replied. "Let's begin."
Gold removed the cane.
"I needed that van."
"Ah, ta, ta," Rumple tisked, "Now, you see, that is not a good sentence." Faster than most would think the crippled man could move, Gold struck out.
Moe cried out. And Rumple actually physically shook his head to rid himself of the voice that simply repeated Belle's name over and over again.
And then: "You're not a monster. You think you're uglier than you are."
Ada realized, as she stood in Gold's empty pawnshop, that she had no idea where to begin looking for the imp, and her prickings, while informative, were not a tracking device.
Feeling a moment of hopelessness, she sighed and sat at Gold's chess set, her eyes skimming the shop around her for any clue of where the pawnbroker might be.
She was sure, wherever Gold was, Moe would be there.
What sort of state the flower salesman might be in, she couldn't begin to say.
Gold almost growled as he tried to ignore the voices in his head. The noise was not helped by Moe's continued begging and shouting. It was beginning to get a bit overwhelming, and he didn't want to loss his tenuously fought for control. If he couldn't control himself...
Well, no point in dwelling on that.
Moe watched as the pawnbroker seemed to struggle with some sort of inner demons, and hoped.
Emma kicked down the door of the cabin she had thought might contain Rumpelstiltskin, and was gratified to see him there, with Moe tied up to a chair.
"Oh, thank god!" the kidnapped man said, "Help! I think he's losing it!"
Emma kept her eye on Gold as she untied Moe and instructed him to go to the cruiser. Rumpelstiltskin, rather than reacting to her presence, sank down into his own chair, head cradled in his hands.
Emma dialed Ada's number.
Ada sat in what had previously been Moe's seat and gave a nod to Emma, who left the cabin to get Moe to Whale to be checked out.
The redhead remained silent, just watching the man before her. In the silence of the cabin, Rumpelstiltskin began to regain control and quiet in his own mind, silencing the voices in his head.
Except for one.
"You're not a monster."
"It's missing. Belle's cup," he murmured to the girl across from him. "He," Gold spat out the word, "Took it. And now it's gone."
Ada stayed silent.
"Someone told him to take the cup, someone who knew," Gold hissed.
"There's only one person we know who has their memories, who knows who you are," Ada pointed out, "You didn't need Moe to tell you what you already know."
"But where did he put it?" Gold shouted, and then calmed suddenly. The man gave a smirk, "Besides, maybe I wanted to hurt him. Give the man a taste of his own medicine, is that the phrase?"
Ada was quiet.
"Time we got out of here," she finally whispered, and stood.
Mary Margaret and David strolled down Storybrooke's darkened streets, hand-in-hand.
"So how is Emma adjusting?" David asked. They had eaten a romantic dinner in one of Storybrooke's finest restaurants (which, to be fair, wasn't as fine as something that could've been found in a city like Boston, but it was the thought that counted, right?) and were now...well, meandering he supposed was the right word. They had talked all night and yet found no end to the conversation that flowed around them and between them.
Mary Margaret gave a small smile, "I think it's going well, though, I'm worried- she's so used to living with Ada that things are still a bit of an adjustment. And now, with Henry...well, I think she's trying her best, but still- I wish she'd ask for help a little more often," Mary Margaret trailed off.
"But she's stubborn," David finished her thought, "Like you." The two of them paused for a second, and David wondered where that comment had come from.
"Like me?" the school teacher questioned. "You think I'm stubborn?" It certainly was something she couldn't remember ever being accused of before.
David thought for a moment, "Yeah, I mean, I think, I guess," he trailed off. Then, he smirked. "Well, you were pretty stubborn about how you were going to accept a relationship with me- it was entirely on your terms!" He laughed at the abashed look on the brunette's face.
"To be honest," she confessed, "When you showed up that day...I probably would've caved even if you hadn't completed that...list of requirements," she waved her hand at the term, unsatisfied with it, "I was just...so ready to be with you. It seemed like we'd been working to just be together for ages and I was so tired of waiting. You know?"
David stopped and, under a street light, turned to face her fully, he looked down into her eyes and gave a soft smile. "Yeah," he murmured. "I know." And with that, he kissed her.
Emma and Ada sighed in unison as Emma locked the cell door that separated Rumpelstiltskin from the rest of the world.
"You know why I'm doing this, right?" Emma pointedly questioned as she put the keys away.
"Well, dearie," Gold began while tilting his head to the side in an eerie, almost reptilian manner, "It wouldn't do to give any sort of hint to the mayor that you might know more of what's going on than she'd like. And you, not locking me up after I kidnap and beat a seemingly innocent flowerman might imply that you know he wasn't so innocent and bring up more than a few questions. It might also imply that you were trying to stay on my good side- which, really, would be a drastic change of character for our daring Sheriff Swan."
"Or," Ada countered with a huff of annoyance, "It could be that you took the law into your own hands and, innocent or not, kidnapped and beat a flowerman."
"He used to be a king," Rumpelstiltskin tossed out carelessly before continuing, "And where I'm from, the victim of a crime was allowed to pursue his own justice without interference however he saw fit."
"Well, buddy, you're not in the Enchanted Forest anymore," Emma told him, grabbing her coat to leave for the night, "And as long as you're in my world, we play by my rules."
Ada sighed as she grabbed her own bag and coat before helping Emma turn out the lights and lock up the station. "Goodnight, Rumpelstiltskin," she said as she flicked off the final light switch, "May you dream of your Beauty," she added on a soft sigh, just loud enough to be carried to the man sitting on the cell's narrow cot and wrap around his heart.
He wasn't so sure he wanted to dream of Belle, when her father's blood was still on his cane, locked up in evidence.
"You're not a monster."
Regina sighed as she waited in her foyer with a glass of cider in one hand. Her skirt and shirt were perfectly pressed, perfectly coordinated. Her home was perfectly decorated in a tasteful representation of her style. Her hair was perfectly styled, her make-up perfectly applied, and her cider was perfectly made, poured, and sipped.
Everything around Regina was perfect, but she could see the cracks appearing in her perfect veneer.
Her son was not perfect. Seeking out his birth mother, seeking out anyone other than her, questioning the world she had provided to him. Seeking more than her, questioning her.
Just a few miles away in one of the B&B's rented rooms was a woman who was questioning her right to be Henry's mother. After everything she had sacrificed for that boy (she never bothered to make a list, mostly because there was a voice in the back of her head implying that she had never sacrificed anything she wanted for Henry, that she only did what she wanted and Henry was merely expected to fall into line, but she repressed that voice and avoided actually making a list)- to have Henry questioning her was bad enough, but to have strangers judging her parenting?
And Gold...she had a sinking suspicion he was awake and stirring trouble. It would help explain why the adoption, the slightly shady adoption she'd had Gold procure for her due to impatience, was being so thoroughly examined.
Miss Swan hadn't yet bit on the traps Regina had set for her, so the mayor had focused on an older enemy, one whose pressure points she had long known.
And he had broke.
But she wanted a verbal admittance. With Rumpelstiltskin it was always about words- the words you said, the ones you didn't, the shades of meaning you were too slow, too stupid to catch in time. The words you missed.
She wanted his words. And she would get them.
At her feet on her coffee table was an imperfect tea cup.
It had a single chip.
Ashley felt a sort of swoop in her gut that caused her to look at the door the exact moment Sean entered. Ada's advice was still ringing in her ears, so she didn't even question why he was there, it just seemed like the universe knew she had wanted to talk to him, had needed to talk to him, and had, therefore, provided her the opportunity.
Ashley fully intended to grasp it.
"Ashley," Sean said with a nervous looking smile, and she was so focused on her words that she didn't even notice the flowers in his hand.
"Sean," she grinned, "I need to tell you something- I know, I know that you need to work as many hours as possible right now. I get that, and I appreciate that, and I think you're so amazing for doing it-"
"Ashley," the man attempted to cut in, but the blonde girl who had forgotten her own story continued on.
"But I need you. I want you. And not just for a few minutes when you come home before you drift off. Yes, it's important to save money to provide for our family, to maybe save so we can one day have a bigger family, but, Sean," and here she took a step forward and cupped his jaw in her hand, smoothing her fingers over his cheek, "It's more important to have you. So, so," she began to run out of steam and tried to remember Ada's words, "You can't work yourself to death, and we need a date night soon. Ada is fully qualified. To babysit," she added quickly, shaking her head.
Sean chuckled, his grin widening as he watched her stumble as her speech winded down, his own free hand reached up to mirror hers, and he guided his love towards him as he looked into her eyes and felt a strange sort of peace settle over him, as if everything had already been decided, his question had already been answered.
As if she were already his wife.
"Marry me?" he whispered, forgetting, in the moment, to get down on one knee, to pull out the ring he'd saved for her. Sean simply smiled and breathed.
Ashley stuttered.
"I'm actually on break right now," he chuckled, "But I wanted to ask you tonight, so..." he trailed off. "I've only got twenty minutes, Ash."
"Yes!" Ashley practically shouted as Sean suddenly remembered the ring and got it out for her. The two chuckled and laughed, in their own bubble, not noticing as the rest of the bar applauded and cheered them.
"My truck's outside if you want to take a ride, before I head back to work. It's not much of a date, but I promise- we'll take Ada up on her babysitting offer soon." He gave her a winsome grin.
"It's the best date," Ashley told him, chocking on tears of happiness. When the night began, she'd never expected it to end like this.
"Then, your carriage awaits," Sean told her, offering his hand. Ashley slipped her fingers into his, letting him lead her outside. The couple smiled and grinned, barely hearing or acknowledging their congratulations.
They did not remember that they were already married.
They did not remember that he ring Sean had given Ashley had rested on her finger before.
February 15, 2012
"Now you've made your choice. And you're going to regret it. Forever. And all you'll have...is an empty heart. And a chipped cup."
Rumpelstiltskin was used to nightmares. He had all the former Dark Ones whispering in his ears ever since his name appeared on the dagger, after all. Nightmares...nightmares were nothing new. But there were a handful that could still wake him with a twisted grip on his heart. Bae. Belle. Sometimes even Milah's accusing eyes would wake him, but it was mostly the loves of his life- his son and his...well, he had never given them the opportunity for her to become his anything.
His regret?
No, he couldn't regret not letting Belle break his curse. She didn't know it- but he'd needed it to get back to Bae. And he hadn't explained.
So he woke with a twist to his heart, but no gasp. Still, he had a sinking feeling the woman sitting at the desk across from him knew what had woken him anyways. Her eyes- so still, like the green moss that would grow deep in the forests of his home realm- they seemed to parse and parcel souls, hearts, minds. They broke people apart to their essential pieces and labeled them. No...that wasn't quite right. Broke implied some sort of pain to the process. And labeling implied a sort of judgement. Her eyes, rather, identified the elements of a person, their hopes, their dreams, the parts of the past that clung to them like the dust of a road, and then, not labeled, but sympathized, felt them. Took them into herself and recognized them.
No, Rumpelstiltskin preferred the breaking and labeling. The taking and recognizing was hard for a soul, for a heart, for a mind such as his to handle.
Ada handed him a to-go cup and he smelled coffee. Rumpelstiltskin weighed the pros and cons, the possible costs, the nuances of accepting the cup before he finally took it.
He had a sinking feeling the woman across from him knew that too. Just as she knew about the teacup hidden away in the cell with him- the price of admitting he had his memories to the Queen.
"Tell me the story again, please," she whispered, her voice in the same soft tone she had used last night, when she told him to "Dream of your Beauty."
He sighed and his eyes drifted half-way shut, his gaze resting on the bars before him, but unfocused.
"There was a war. A small war, in the grand scheme of things, but even small things have a way of changing the course of the future. And in the last, desperate days of the war, a King and a Princess became desperate enough to call on a monster to make a deal. He came. The price was simple- the Princess in exchange for an end of the war, an end in the favor of the tiny kingdom. The King refused, spouting..." Rumple waved a hand, "All sorts of nonsense. But the Princess, she was smart, held a book in her hand during the entire meeting, and she spoke up- she said yes. So the monster took her away to his castle, put her in the dungeons, forced her to work as a servant a sort of...reverse Cinderella. But still, she did not break, she did not bend. She cheerfully went around cleaning, and kept asking questions. She buzzed about all day, asking where this came from, what that land was like, why did the monster spin so much gold when he had more than he could ever use already? At night she cried in her dungeon, he could sometimes hear her, but each morning she would get up and begin the questions and cleaning again. She devoured every book she found in the monster's home. Then she made a fatal mistake.
"She kissed the beast, and he ate her heart. She was returned home, and shamed and tortured, and betrayed. She jumped from a tower to escape it all. And that, dearie, is what happens to girls who are foolish enough to fall in love with beasts."
"You heard about her death through Regina?" Ada questioned.
"I've already told this to you, dearie, don't be tiresome."
"And you believed Regina?" Ada asked skeptically.
"She didn't know what Belle meant to me," Rumple muttered, his eyes still resting on the bars before him.
Ada just stared at him, "Well, if you did as good a job hiding it then as you do now," she trailed off without finishing the sentence.
Gold's head snapped up and stared at her, "What do you mean?" he hissed.
"Gold," Ada began, her tone conversational as she turned her gaze out the window to the streets of Storybrooke, "You are a master bullshitter. I mean, a true master at lying your ass off. But," she turned to stare at him, "If you think that everyone in the entire freaking Enchanted Forest couldn't pick up on the fact you loved her," she gave him a skeptical look, "You've clearly used your own talents on yourself and succeeded in bullshitting the bullshitter."
She got up to walk away with that, but turned back with a huff and actually shook her fists a little as she returned to sit across from him, "I can't even walk away, damnit. Because you're upset. Damnit. This is why Emma tells me to stop picking up strays."
So that's the chapter. Whew. Again, so sorry it took me so long to update again. And again, thank you to those who stuck by this story. You are lovely, wonderful people. I just hope the chapter was worth the wait (or, rather, at least worth...y'know...half of the wait).
