True Love's Proof

Chapter Four

If someone had told her that she would be thankful for having Nick Rush beside her when the world turned in on itself, Belle would have laughed. However, sitting across from a man who claimed to be Rumplestiltskin's son, all of the questions she should be asking choked each other out and silenced her.

It was Nick who was grilling the man while Belle examined his answers. It didn't help matters that the only thing Rumplestiltskin ever said about his son was he had lost him. That wasn't a lot with which to gauge truthful answers.

His name in this world was Benjamin Spinner. He tried to keep Baelfire but the social worker that handled his case had thought it was a name from an overactive imagination. When Bae had insisted keeping some kind of tie to his father, it was the social worker that suggested "Spinner" as the surname.

"How did you know your father would be here in Storybrooke?"

Belle held her breath, knotting her fingers underneath the table. It was the first to-the-point question that Nick had asked and a very important one.

Bae looked between the two of them. "He's here? He's really here?"

Belle squeezed her hands to keep them from shaking. "If you didn't know he was here, why did you come?"

Bae's eyes shifted and roved over the cafe. "It's not an easy answer, I'm afraid."

Belle watched Nick's head bob in understanding. "Then it isn't going to be very easy to find your father."

She wanted to hug the obstinate man for his protective streak towards Rumplestiltskin. But she was surprised to see his disinterest in Bae's plight actual produced results. Bae had reached into his pocket and produced a folded piece of paper.

"I'm not proud of this." He offered the page to Belle.

It was a letter, written in a child's hand. Belle bit her lip as she skimmed over the words. Yet another lost child searching desperately for a lost father. Just when the full realization of who signed the letter settled in her mind, someone barreled through the front door of the diner. Belle quickly folded the letter and passed it back quickly to Bae who returned it to his pocket before turning in his seat to see who had come into the restaurant.

Emma was standing there, eyes wide and pale with shock. She raised a shaking finger in Bae's direction. "Get the hell out of here."

Bae looked equally surprised to see her. "Emma..."

"Get out." She repeated in a steadier voice. "You can't have him. You stay away from us."

Belle saw a brief flicker of anger in Bae's eyes in that moment she could see Rumplestiltskin in his features. But he managed to push it down as he stood to face the Sheriff.

"You never told me."

"It was never your business."

"Let's move this outside, shall we?" Nick cut across the both of them. Amazingly enough, Bae and Emma started to move towards the door. Belle quietly followed the trio out of Granny's and noticed a brief nod of thanks pass between Nick and Granny. However by moving things outside only allowed for the voices to be raised even higher.

"What do you mean this isn't my business?" Bae pulled out the letter and held it up for Emma to see. "He's my son!"

Emma leaned up close to him and dropped her voice low. "No, he's my son."

"Only because you never told me about him. Emma, you know I never would left you in a lurch-"

"But you did, Ben. You left me in that jail-"

"I was in the middle of my training. I tried-"

"Bullshit." Emma stepped back. "You leave us alone."

Belle watched the Sheriff stalk off down the sidewalk, Bae following close at her heels and wove her fingers together to keep them from reaching out to anyone. This was not going well, something that should be a joyous occasion was now marked with threats and shouts. Was that the way of things, here in this cursed world? Nick was staring at her, waiting for answers most likely.

"Henry," Belle said shakily. "Henry wrote the letter to Bae."

"The mayor's son?"

"The mayor's adopted son. Emma is his birth mother."

Nick scrubbed a hand across his face. "I thought relationships on Destiny were complex."

"Welcome to Storybrooke."

"Are you comfortable with taking him to Rumplestiltskin?"

Belle nodded slowly. "I think it's up to him though. He didn't come here looking for his father."

"Doesn't change the fact that his father is here. What kind of reception will he receive?"

Belle remembered with painful clarity finding the forgotten child's room in the Dark Castle, the abandoned clothes and dusty toys. He had kept her chipped cup and welcomed her back with tears and embraces despite whatever it was that was now causing him to push her away. "He would be warmly received, I have no doubt."

Bae came back around the corner, hands shoved in his pockets and shoulders tight. His resolve was rock solid when he rejoined Belle and Nick.

"I want to see my father."

Nick nodded and headed in the direction of Rumplestiltskin's home, Bae right on his heels. Belle fell into line numbly, trying to figure out how to deal with the two emotions warring inside of her. Bae would get his reunion with his father, tear soaked and genuine, that bridge would be mended. Knowing Rumplestiltskin the way she did, he would most likely help Bae gain contact, possible custody even, with Henry as well.

But there was the little wisp of jealousy underneath everything. She had been welcomed back in a tearful embrace only to be cast out for some unknown reason. As much as she didn't want to feel it, there was a small part that hoped he would do the same to Bae. At least she would know it wasn't her but that he was driving everyone from him.

She hated herself for feeling that way though. Her true love was about to be reunited with the son he feared lost forever to him. Despite the selfish twist in her gut, she was happy for him, even if it hurt.

Belle was thankful for it being Sunday evening. Her father always came over to her apartment for Sunday dinner and after seeing Bae to Rumplestiltskin's front door, she was thankful for something to do with her hands. The fact that her happiness was tainted by the touch of anger and jealousy bothered her to no end. She hoped that by tomorrow morning her joy would be all that remained.

She glanced over her shoulder to check on Nick, who was still seated at her small kitchen table, scribbling down more equations. She had invited him to join her and her father for dinner tonight more because she didn't want to be alone with her conflicted feelings. She was slightly surprised that he agreed with no fuss but chalked it up to a day of miracles.

"Thank you," she said quietly, pausing in the middle of chopping vegetables for the soup.

Nick didn't even look up from his notebook. "For what?"

"For asking all those questions, for looking out for Rumplestiltskin."

His pencil paused briefly before he nodded and kept writing.

"Why did you do it?"

The pencil stopped again but this time he set it down. "I don't know."

She "hmmed" quietly and went back to slicing carrots. Nick and Rumplestiltskin were so similar in more than just looks. It seemed both were afraid of the implications of feeling emotions. There had to be a part that cared about Rumplestiltskin or else he wouldn't have been bothered to ask Bae those questions. Or maybe it wasn't Rumplestiltskin that he was concerned over but her. He knew that Rumplestiltskin was her true love, her happiness was tied to him and Nick was protecting that.

The thought startled her so much that the knife she was using neatly sliced into the tip of her finger. She managed to quiet her cry down to a gasp and was able to get her finger over the sink by the time she heard the chair scrape on the vinyl floor.

"Belle?"

"I'm fine," she glanced over her shoulder and was surprised to see him standing next to her already. "I just cut my finger. It's nothing." She turned on the faucet and ran the cut under the water flow.

"Do you have a first aid kit?"

"That's not really necessary."

His hand closed around hers and gently turned it slightly so he could see the damage. Belle's breath caught briefly at the touch and his proximity. Yes, his concern was for her and that only added to her conflicted emotions right now. He released her hand and stepped back, allowing her to breathe again.

"Still, you're going to need to bandage that or," he shot her a half smile, "I finish chopping the vegetables."

"Bandages are in the bathroom, cabinet underneath the sink."

When he left the room, she turned the water off and wrapped her finger in a paper towel. While she waited for Nick to return with the bandages and thought how easily Rumplestiltskin would have handled this situation. A quick wave of his hand and all would have been well. She would have insisted she didn't need magic for such a minor thing but he wouldn't pay her any mind and heal it anyway. But he wasn't here right now and the towel she had wrapped around the finger was slowly turning red. He wasn't here because he chose not to be and that flash of anger came to the surface again.

The coincidence of Nick's arrival and Rumplestiltskin's shunning did not go unnoticed to her. There was something that was happening, in the background of the town or curse, she didn't know. But it was clearly being kept from her. It was moments like these she had to keep herself from stalking out of her home to see him, give him a decent shake and remind him that true love is the most powerful magic. How could he not realize that yet? Nick returned with a box of band aids and a tube of anti-biotic ointment.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Belle swallowed a sigh, recognizing a stubborn streak when she saw one. She expected him to be rough, his verbal callousness bleeding into his physical touch but he surprised her. He was painfully focused on the task of cleaning, drying and bandaging properly, she was afraid to
breathe in case it disturbed him. She waited until he finished before asking a question that had been on her mind since the previous evening.

"Why you?"

He gathered up the supplies, his eyes refusing to meet hers. "What?"

"Why did Rumplestiltskin pick you for me?"

For a moment it looked like he was avoid the question or feign ignorance but then decided against it. "I don't know. He asked me to watch over you, keep you safe, from what, I don't know."

"Did he say why?"

Nick shook his head. "Something about handwriting on the wall and not being able to change it."

She nodded. "That's what I thought."

He tossed the bandage wrappings in the trashcan. "Care to elaborate on that?"

Belle went back to finishing cutting up the carrots and dumping them into the soup. "Rumplestiltskin can see the future. Some times are clearer than others. He must be very certain this time."

"He doesn't think it can be changed, whatever it is."

Belle stared into the broth and tried not to cry. Her worst fears had just been confirmed. He had seen the end, whether it was his or the towns, it didn't matter. He saw the end and he provided her with a new protector. He was keeping his promise but then again, he always did.

Someone was pounding on her door.

Belle rolled over and glared at the neon green numbers of the alarm clock. It was four eighteen in the morning. She laid her head back on the pillow and willed herself to be brave. She didn't expect the end to come so soon.

"Miss French?"

It was the Sheriff. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes and she pulled her robe on with shaky hands. Do the brave thing and bravery will follow. Do the brave thing and bravery will follow. Do the brave thing-

She opened the door and saw Emma's face fall slightly. Just another person in Storybrooke who wore leather armor to cover the emotions that were so close to the surface. "Sheriff Swan."

"Miss French. May I come in?"

Belle folded her arms across herself. "You're not here for a social call. What's happened?"

Emma actually looked sympathetic but steeled herself. "Mr. Gold had a heart attack tonight. I'm sorry."

"Was anyone with him?"

"Yeah," Emma stared down at her boots. "His son was with him."

"Good. No one should be alone at that...time."

"Do you want me to call someone for you? Dr. Hopper? Your father?"

Belle shook her head. "No, thank you."

Emma shifted uncomfortably on her feet. "I thought you should hear it from me. I know you two were, um..."

"Thank you, Sheriff."

"Belle, if you need to talk to someone, anyone," she took a deep breath, "call me."

Belle managed a smile. Apparently she wasn't the only one trying to be brave tonight. "I will keep that in mind, Emma."

Emma gave her a brief nod and quickly left back into the night. Belle closed the door and suddenly didn't know what to do with herself. She turned the lamp on by the couch and sank down. It was true love, shouldn't she have felt something when he...she couldn't even think the word just yet. The enjoyable dinner she had just shared with her father and Nick seemed to have happened a lifetime ago.

A sharp knock at the door startled her. Maybe Emma had gone ahead and called Dr. Hopper anyway. She really wasn't in the mood to be consoled. She needed to be brave now. She needed to be strong. But the knocking persisted with more force than she had ever seen the good doctor use.

Perhaps it was her father, but he had a key. Standing up, she stood by the door for a moment.

"Who is it?"

"It's Nick. Bae's at Granny's, he told me what happened."

She wasn't sure she take looking at him right now, seeing the similar face. "I'm alright, Nick."

"I would prefer to see that for myself."

Of course he would. He was her protector now. Her protector was gone now.

"Belle?"

She hadn't realized she had sobbed until she tried to draw in breath for another one. She fumbled with the lock and finally managed to turn the door knob. Nick looked drawn and disheveled but she didn't allow herself to dwell on the details. Pressing her cheek against his shoulder, she let herself cry. She had promised to go with Rumplestiltskin for forever. She had rested in the comfort that they would be together for the rest of time.

But no one told her that forever could be so short.