HERE COMES THE GAME CHANGER!
And you thought I was done with plot twists (pfft, never).
Oh, and I'm really, really sorry I took so long to update! was being weird and my laptop was being updated and whatnot but here it is!
I do not own Once Upon a Time, or any of its characters. However, I adore them as if they were my own.
Belle was curled up in a comfy chair between the scent of old books and roses. She had just picked up a copy of a book about a boy wizard who went to a magical school in England when the bell at the front door chimed, indicating that someone had walked in. Belle huffed, exasperated that someone had cut into her reading time and she went to the door. To her surprise, it was Rumple.
"What are you doing here, R—Mr. Gold?"
He drew his hand back from the rose sitting on the front desk. His breath caught in his throat, taking in her new and simple blue sundress with her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. This was very different compared to her usual skintight black dresses, elaborate updos and heavy makeup.
Stammering, he said, "Lacey. I didn't know you'd be here at these hours. It's quite early in the morning."
"Well, I work here, don't I?"
Mr. Gold shook his head, confused.
"No. Not that I remember. Since when?"
"Since…" Oh no. Had she really forgotten to tell him?
"No one in this town makes a move without me hearing about it and without Regina giving her consent about it. What. Did. You. Do," he whispered, accenting every word.
Belle blew up at him, "Unbelievable. The citizens of this town are not pawns in your stupid game. I don't have to explain myself, or my actions, to anyone! Not even you, Rumplestiltskin!"
At this, he froze. She said his name. He turned to face her.
"What did you call me?"
She inhaled deeply, her eyes watering.
"I called you Rumplestiltskin. It's me, Belle. I remember everything now."
"What?"
She motioned for him to sit down on the chair next to him. As he settled in, Belle began to explain.
"Remember when we first kissed? Well when we kissed, I didn't know if you felt it too but something in me changed. I was confused at first but then I started remembering it all. I was a princess that had given up her freedom for the sake of a deal with a strange man. A man whom I had fallen in love with, not for his appearance but for his heart; because even though he did not see his own full potential, I did. There was goodness in his heart that I wanted to bring out and he had just kissed me and I wasn't sure if he remembered me as well. But I was not that princess, I was the drunken bar girl. So I pretended to be that girl until I felt like it was time for me to tell you, Rumple. I'm sorry it took so long."
Rumple sighed and got up from his chair, knocking down his cane and rushed over to her. He took her face in his hands, tears spilling down his cheeks and he kissed her once again.
"I love you, Belle."
"I love you too, Rumple. Now not to kill the moment or anything but can you please explain to me why we're here?"
He went into a full detailed storytelling session of what had occurred in the last five years. Belle was shocked, surprised and horrified all at once. Before he could continue, Belle cut him off.
"Wait, do you realize what this means?"
He shook his head.
"The spell is one-third broken because you and I found each other. Do we know of anyone else who could help with this?"
Rumple's eyes widened, knowing exactly who they needed to accomplish this.
"The prince. The princess. The savior. And the pirate."
"Well who are they here? In Storybrooke, I mean."
"You'll know when you see them. Come, dearie. We're going to find them."
Taking her hand, the bell of the library's front door chimed again as they ran out in search of their accomplices.
Across town, Mary Margaret and David were strolling back to her place after dinner at Granny's. The sun was setting and the sky was a canvas painted with a watercolor palette. Her hand was wrapped around his bicep while she leaned into his shoulder. David smiled to himself, feeling happier than he ever had before. Just then, he decided to show her how he truly felt and suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"What is it?" she asked him, looking almost bewildered. David stepped in front of her, smiling lovingly at her and quietly chuckling to himself.
"What?" she asked again. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, closing all space between them, looking deep into her green eyes and kissed her. The kiss lingered for a while and when he drew back, Mary Margaret's eyes were wide open.
"I love you… Snow," he whispered.
"I love you too, Charming."
She laughed and hugged him as tight as she could.
"You found me."
"Did you ever doubt I would?"
"Honey, what are we doing here? What is this place?"
"Remember the curse that Regina cast on our kingdom?"
Snow breathed in, "Oh… of course. Wait, is it broken?"
"I'm not entirely sure."
Just then, as if by fate, Rumple and Belle found them.
"Hello, Snow White. Prince Charming."
The prince sighed, with an annoyed expression spreading across his face, crossing his arms.
"Rumplestiltskin. What do you want?"
"I want to help you. You see, you both remember who I am and maybe know who she is," pointing at Belle. "And you remember who you both are. But…"
Charming's hands balled into fists, "There's always a but with you."
"…the curse is not entirely broken," Rumple finished, holding up his hands as if in surrender.
Snow looked confused, stepping in front of her husband and confronting Rumplestiltskin.
"What do you mean it's not entirely broken?"
"The curse is only two-thirds broken," Belle chimed in. "The curse will only be broken if true love is found three times."
Charming and Snow shot glances at each other.
"Well between us, it was found once," Charming said. "Then you and Belle. Who's left?"
Rumple laughed his maniacal laugh, the one that sent chills down anyone's spine.
"Only the two most important pieces of this chess game, of course. Your daughter and her fiancé…"