Author's note: Hi people! Sorry it's taken so long to update- I've been sick and fuzzy-headedness seems to impair writing ability.
I admit, that this chapter may feel a bit rushed, as I think episodes 17 and 18 will be predominantly flash back episodes. but I tried to include key things I'll think they'll show. (Though of course, I'm probably way off base in some regards.)
Hope you enjoy it, though! This chapter is basically setting everything else up.
~..~..~..~..
Emma, Neal and Henry hurried back to Gold's shop as fast as they could.
"Papa!" Neal called out as they burst through the door. "We did it! You're safe!"
Gold appeared at the doorway to his office, his eyes staring at the dagger that Emma held in her hand.
Emma stepped forward and offered the blade back to its owner.
"You have your freedom back," Emma told him.
Rumple was quick to reclaim the dagger, clutching it to him like the lifeline it was.
Exhaling with relief, Rumple raised his eyes to meet Emma's gaze.
"Thank you, Miss Swan," he said gratefully.
Emma shrugged.
"We made a deal," she said. "And I uphold my end."
"As do I, Miss Swan," Rumple nodded. "And I will continue to teach you, if you like?"
Emma nodded. "I think I need it."
"Indeed," Rumple agreed before turning to his son.
"Bae," he whispered and was thankful when his son enveloped him in a relieved hug.
"You're safe now, Papa."
"Thanks to you," Rumple nodded as he stepped back. "Thanks to all of you."
"See what happens when you trust your family?" Emma smiled.
Rumple smiled slightly before turning his gaze onto his grandson.
"That was a brave thing you did, Henry," Rumple told the boy. "You take after Charming in that regard."
"I did it with a deal, though," Henry added. "That came from you."
"You clearly have a few things to learn about dealing safely, though," Rumple told him.
"But he doesn't need to learn that," Emma said quickly. "The danger's passed."
"Yeah, our whole family worked together to beat the two Evil Queens,' Henry said proudly. "I think we should celebrate."
Laughing, Neal gripped his son's shoulder.
"A family dinner?" He asked, sceptical.
"Why not?" Henry asked.
"Well," Emma shared a look with Neal and Gold warily. "We should talk to Mary-Margret and David first."
"Yeah," Henry agreed, nodding. "We'll need to decide to have it at home or at Granny's."
"While you do that," Rumple said quickly. "Bae, son," he said quietly. "I would like you to meet Belle."
"Your girlfriend?" Neal raised his eyebrows.
Rumple nodded. "She's lost her memory," he explained, "as she fell across the town line. Regina had been keeping Belle prisoner throughout the curse, so she had no cursed-life memories to fall back on. She remembers nothing of who she is, or who I am." He took a breath. "But I know I can help her remember who she is," Rumple finished. "And I would love for you to meet her."
After a moment, Neal nodded, a smile spreading at the corner of his mouth. He could see the love in his father's eyes as he spoke of the woman he loved. Was it possible that the good man he remembered was still there?
"I'd like that," Neal agreed.
"Okay," Emma said. "You guys go to the hospital, while Henry and I track down Snow and David, and we'll call you later?" Emma looked inquiringly at Neal, who nodded in agreement.
"Talk to you later."
~..~..~..~..
Tamara sat on the deck surrounding the convent, sketching.
The Blue Fairy had left not long ago, saying that the acting Sherriff had called, asking for her help.
It had been strange, seeing her old boss again, Tamara thought as she moved her pencil across the paper with bold, clear stokes.
The other fairies had been so grateful to her, thanking Tamara profusely as she unrolled the cloth she had brought, revealing the rows and rows of fairy wands held within.
They had been so grateful to her, to have their magic back.
But all the Blue fairy would say was that the preparations that she had made, ensured that it was possible for their magic to return, now that their 'lost sister' had found them once again.
'Lost sister' Tamara repeated in her mind. 'And whose fault was it that I became 'lost' in the first place?'
However, she reminded herself, the years separated from her kin hadn't been all bad. She had accomplished quite a bit since she left.
Tamara smiled as she continued to sketch. And now that she was back...she could accomplish so much more...
~..~..~..~..
Belle had just finished eating her lunch, and as she placed the tray aside, she noticed another rose suddenly appear in the vase that sat beside her bed.
Gasping, she turned to see Mr. Gold standing in the doorway.
"I told you I'd bring you another rose," he smiled.
Smiling, Belle stood up quickly.
"You came back."
"The danger has passed, Belle," Mr. Gold assured her as he stepped into the room.
"So...you're safe?" She asked. "Cora and Regina didn't hurt you, like you said?"
"We're all safe, sweetheart," Mr. Gold nodded.
Smiling, Belle stepped forward timidly, and Mr. Gold took her hand in his own.
At his touch, Belle could feel herself relax, even though her heart began to quicken. How could he have this effect on her?
He had told her that they loved each other. That she made him want to be a better man. And he had vowed that he would always take care of her, even if she never regained her memories.
And now, he held her hand with such a look of devotion that Belle felt she may have to sit down again, lest she fell.
What had she done to earn such emotion from this man?
"I wish I could remember you," she whispered.
"I know, love," Mr Gold told her gently. "As do I. But it's alright. Now that we're safe again, I'll help you remember who you are."
Belle could feel the emotion rising in her chest in response to the feeling behind his words.
Then she caught sight of another, younger man, standing hesitantly in the doorway.
Following her gaze, Rumple mentally berated himself. "Of course, my apologies," he said, gesturing for Bae to step into the room.
Belle gazed curiously at this new man who entered the room. He was much younger than Mr. Gold, dressed in dark clothing, and the only colour that he wore was in the dark green scarf he had around his neck.
His dark eyes regarded her with a mixture of surprise, wonder and curiosity.
"Belle," Mr. Gold began. "I'd like you to meet my son, Baelfire."
Belle's eyes widened.
"You can call me Neal," the man smiled charmingly as he extended a hand.
"Bae, may I have the honour of introducing you to my Darling, Belle." Mr. Gold finished with quiet pride as Belle took up Neal's hand.
"It's nice to meet you...Neal?" Belle wasn't sure which name to use, but Neal nodded to let her know it was alright.
"The pleasure is all mine," Neal told her sincerely, before turning to his father. "It's nice to meet the woman who can bring the best out of my father."
"I do that?" Belle asked, surprised as she turned to again look at Mr. Gold.
"Every day," Mr. Gold told her softly.
"And now," he continued. "I think it's time we try and get you out of this hospital, Belle."
"Oh," Belle remembered. "Doctor Whale said that I'll be able to leave soon. The problem is," Belle amended shyly, "I don't know where I can go."
Rumple smiled, thankful that he now didn't have to worry about finding the good Doctor himself.
"Well, you have a couple of options, actually, Belle," he told her. "You have your own apartment, at the library, where you work."
Belle wasn't so sure about that idea.
"I'd be alone there, right?" She asked warily.
"Hey, it's not so bad," Neal tried to lighten the situation, "if you like microwave pizza."
"What's that?" Belle asked blankly.
Neal raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"No memory of any life in this world," Rumple reminded his son.
"Right," Neal said with an exhale. "Sorry, Belle."
"Your next option," Mr. Gold continued quickly, "could be to take a room at Granny's, our local hotel. I'd cover any bills you have," Rumple assured her, "and you would have your friend Ruby there to help you. Bae's staying at Granny's at the moment, as well," he added.
Belle was still unsure.
"Ruby was the one who told me that the magic I saw on the road was just a nightmare," Belle said slowly. "If she's lied to me before, how will I know whether or not she's lying to me again?"
Rumple swallowed before taking a breath.
"There is another option," he told her slowly.
"What's that?" Belle asked, tilted her head curiously.
"You come live with me." Rumple breathed.
Belle gasped slightly as Neal shifted his eyes to his father.
"I have plenty of room," Mr Gold's eyes were hopeful as he regarded her. "And if you need anything at all I'll be right there to help you. I'll help you adjust to this life, Belle."
Belle studied the man before her.
He had scared her at first. She still didn't remember him.
But the memories that she did have of him...
He could use magic, and Belle turned slightly to see the roses in the vase beside her bed.
He loved her, the devotion in his eyes and his words showed that clearly enough.
He hadn't lied to her, answering all of her questions and proving to her that she wasn't crazy.
And he'd promised to take care of her...
Belle nodded slowly, making her decision.
"Alright," she agreed.
"Alright?" Mr. Gold echoed, questioning.
"I'll stay with you," Belle told him softly. "You promised to take care of me."
"I will, Belle," Mr. Gold told her sincerely.
Belle nodded. "Then I will go with you," she agreed. "I trust you, Mr. Gold."
Rumple smiled. Unable to stand it any longer, he reached forward and wrapped Belle into a gentle hug, and was thankful when, rather than pulling away, she returned it, albeit hesitantly.
"You can trust me, Belle." Rumple whispered.
~..~..~..~..
Snow walked numbly along the road in silence, her husband supporting her as they made their way down the street.
The Blue fairy walked slightly ahead of them, keeping her eyes open in case Regina had decided to follow them, as well as giving the couple what privacy she could in such a moment as this.
"Snow?" Charming said softly.
Snow looked up at the man she loved, her eyes blank.
"Are you all right?" He asked. "How are you feeling?"
Snow lowered her eyes in thought.
How did she feel?
"I feel..." Snow's voice was faint, as if she was far away. "Nothing."
David frowned with concern.
"You must still be in shock," he said, increasing his pace.
Eventually, they came up to Mr. Gold's Pawnshop, where Emma and Henry were waiting by the car.
"Are you all right?" Emma called out when she caught sight of them.
"We're fine," Snow answered.
"We gave Mr. Gold his dagger back," Henry said proudly. "He and my dad have gone to the hospital now to see Belle."
"Really?" Charming asked. "I was hoping to have a talk with Neal, myself."
"Why?" Emma asked.
"Why do you think?" Charming asked his daughter.
"We were thinking of having a family dinner tonight to celebrate," Henry put forward quickly. "You could talk to him then."
"What?" Charming and Snow stared.
"Should we have it at our house or Granny's?" Henry continued.
"Our house," Snow answered quickly and all eyes turned on her. "A family dinner should be held in a family home."
"I was hoping you'd say that," Henry smiled before turning to his mother. "Shall we call Neal now?"
"Woah, wait a minute," Emma tried to calm down her son. "Let's not get too far ahead." Turning back to her parents, Emma saw by their expressions that something was wrong.
"You guys don't look happy," Emma commented, concerned. "What happened?"
Snow lifted her chin.
"Everything's fine, sweetheart," Snow assured her daughter. "Our family is safe now."
Realizing there was more to the story, Emma quickly pushed Henry towards Blue.
"How about we head to Granny's now, for something to eat," she suggested. "Blue, could you take Henry on ahead?"
Catching on, Blue nodded. "Of course, Sherriff," she said, stepping forward obligingly.
Falling in beside her parents, Emma began walking behind.
"Okay," she demanded. "What happened?"
Snow took a deep breath.
"Cora's dead," she told her daughter. "I killed her."
Emma stopped.
"What?" She asked. "But-we had the dagger and Henry."
"And she would have kept on coming after us until she had regained them again, or until we were all dead," Snow shot back. "This way, no one else has to die because of her...or me."
"You?" Charming didn't understand.
"You supported Regina's execution," she reminded him. "I didn't. And now because I spared her life, we lost our home and countless people now have lost their lives." Snow shook her head regretfully. "Their blood is on my hands as much as Regina's, and now," Snow lifted her chin, "Cora cannot harm anyone ever again."
Emma took a few moments to think over what her mother had said.
Slowly, she nodded in agreement.
"You're right," she said slowly.
"What?" David was shocked that his daughter approved of murder.
"No, she's right," Emma insisted. "Cora would have found another way to get the dagger and become the Dark One herself, and then we'd all be in trouble. I don't even want to think about what could happen to Henry..." Emma turned to her mother.
"You did what you had to, in order to protect our family," she told her. "Isn't that what a parent does?"
Snow flung her arms around her daughter with relief.
"Oh, sweetheart," Snow said tearfully. "Thank you for not hating me."
Emma smiled slightly.
"If it makes you feel better," Emma told her, "When Henry ate the poisoned apple, I told Regina that she would die if he did."
"Mom!"
They turned to see Henry running back toward them. Blue was nowhere in sight.
"Henry, what is it?" Emma asked quickly.
"You have to come quick!" Henry gestured for the group to follow him. "It's August!"
~..~..~..~..
Neal walked beside his father as they left the hospital, having just arranged for Belle to be released into Rumple's care. He was going to take her home that night.
Neal couldn't help but notice how much lighter his father seemed as they left.
"Belle seems pretty special," he put forward hesitantly.
"Oh, she is," Rumple assured his son. "She'd have to be, of course, to love someone like me."
"How did you meet?" Bae asked curiously.
"That," Rumple sighed," is a long story, son."
"Which story?" Bae asked, and his father turned his head, confused.
"Which fairytale are you?" Bae clarified.
Smiling in understanding, Rumple raised his eyebrows.
"Can't you guess?"
Bae thought for a moment.
'Belle...which story had Belle...' Then it hit him.
"Beauty and The Beast?" He asked, and his father nodded to confirm.
"Fitting, is it not?"
"Well," Bae considered with a grin, "the story always ends with the Beauty turning the Beast back into a man again. So, it makes me hopeful."
Rumple paused to regard his son.
"It does?"
Bae nodded. "If she makes you want to be the man you were, maybe one day I will get my father back. The good man that I remember."
Rumple swallowed.
"I could see him, you know." Bae added slowly. "When you were looking at Belle, I could see my father again in your eyes. So, yes," he repeated as he continued along the street, "it makes me hopeful."
Smiling, Rumple caught up to his son.
"Belle and I have another chance now, Bae," he said, hope lacing his own words. "When she comes home, we'll be able to start again."
"I guess this means you won't be coming to the family dinner tonight?" Neal asked wryly.
Rumple chuckled. "Do you really think I'd be extended an invitation?"
Neal shrugged. "Well, you've actually got more of a chance than me, I think. I doubt Emma would even want to see me."
"Oh, I think Emma's fine with seeing you, son," Rumple assured his boy, "especially if Henry has anything to do with it. Tamara, however," he admitted, "may be a different story."
"Yeah," Neal nodded, seeing the point. "That'd be awkward."
Rumple thought for a moment before speaking again.
"You said that you met Tamara at her restaurant?"
"Yeah," Neal said slowly, "I lied about that."
"What? Why?"
Neal sighed. "Because at the time, I did not want to talk to you," he admitted.
"And now?" Rumple asked hesitantly.
Neal took a breath.
"You know August?" he asked.
"August Booth?" Rumple confirmed. "You mean Pinocchio?"
Neal nodded. "I didn't know he was Pinocchio at the time, but yeah."
"What about him?"
"Well, believe it or not," Neal said, "Tamara and I met because of him."
"How?" Rumple took the bait, wanting to know about his son's life here in this world without magic.
"It was just over a year ago," Neal began. "I was already living in New York, when one day, August contacts me at my apartment, and tells me to come outside. I go out to see him sitting there on his bike, just like how he was when I first met him, and he told me about Emma and the Curse."
Neal sighed, remembering.
"Anyway, he said that he was on his way to Storybrooke, Maine, as Emma had just arrived there and had decided to stay. He said that he needed to go too, in order to keep her on task to break the curse. I asked him if I could go with him, but he told me that it would be better if Emma didn't have anything to distract her from her mission. I was forbidden to see her, at least until after the curse broke. But, he couldn't tell me how long that would take."
"You didn't think you'd ever see Emma again, did you?" Rumple asked his son.
Neal shook his head.
"As I turned to walk away, Tamara and I literally ran into each other." He smiled now, at the memory. "Coffee went spilling everywhere, I'm apologising, and she just bursts out laughing. Not a reaction you usually see in New York." He told his father.
"She was different," Rumple surmised.
"Yeah," Neal smiled. "Everyone in New York usually dresses in dark clothes, but when I met Tamara, she was wearing this bright orange coat. And rather than yelling at me for bumping into her and spilling coffee on her, she laughed, taking it all in her stride."
Rumple nodded.
"We talked for a bit, and I offered to buy her a cup of coffee later on, to make up for the one that had spilt."
"And the rest is history?" Rumple asked.
Neal nodded before becoming pensive.
"Tamara and I got engaged just two weeks before you guys showed up." He admitted.
"How did you ask her?" Rumple was curious.
"In Central Park," Neal answered slowly. "It was one of her favourite places to go in the city."
"And what made you ask?"
"I loved her," Neal answered simply. "Isn't that all that matters?"
"Absolutely," his father agreed. "True love, son, is the most powerful thing in the world. It can overcome anything." Rumple turned to his boy, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"And I'm happy to know that you've found it, Bae."
Neal smiled.
"Thank you, Papa."
~..~..~..~..
Emma ran until she came across Blue standing beside Marco, who was crouching beside a figure lying on the ground.
"Please," Marco was imploring the Blue Fairy. "Can you save him?"
"What's happening?" Emma demanded as she approached.
"Emma?" a voice said stiffly and the Sheriff's eyes widened as she saw a fully wooden August lying in Marco's arms.
"August?" Emma gasped. "You're alive?"
"Sort of," the wooden man replied with effort.
"Please," Marco turned back to the Blue fairy. "Please save my son, like you did before?"
Blue's eyes were sad.
"He would only be real if he remained selfless, brave and truthful," Blue reminded Geppetto. "And he has clearly not lived his life as such, which is why he's turned back to wood."
"But can you save him?" Emma asked. "Can you make him real again? He helped me to break the curse, I think he's earned something."
"Emma..." August's voice was strained as he struggled to speak with his wooden mouth.
"Please, Blue Fairy," Geppetto begged. "Please save my son."
Blue took a breath.
"I cannot turn him into a man again," Blue admitted, "as he has not lived his life accordingly. However," she added quickly, "I am able to turn him back into a real boy, just as he was before the curse struck. This way, he can relive his life as a good person."
"He is a good person," Emma insisted. "Better than a lot of 'real' people, actually."
"He'll be a boy again?" Henry asked. "How old would he be? Would we be in the same class at school?"
Blue laughed gently.
"He'd be seven years old," Blue explained. "The same age he was when the curse struck."
"The same age when he found me," Emma whispered.
Geppetto gazed down at the wooden man who was his son.
"I would love nothing more than to have you back in my life, Pinocchio," he told his son. "But would you be able to live your years over again? Grow up with me for a father, as a family, the way we should have been?"
After a moment, August nodded stiffly.
"I have a lot of things to make up for," he said slowly. "Reliving my life gives me another chance." His blue eyes flicked to stare at the Blue Fairy.
"Will I keep my memories?" He asked.
"If you like," Blue granted and August nodded.
"I need to remember what I did, in order to make up for them." he said.
Blue nodded. "Very well."
Raising her wand, she carefully drew it along the air above August's body. The wooden man's form glowed bright blue, shrinking until, when the light faded, a little boy lay in his place.
"Pinocchio?" Geppetto asked as he watched his little boy slowly sit up, marvelling at his young, real, human hands.
"I'm a real boy again," he whispered, lifting his head to gaze at his father. "I'm a real boy again, Papa!"
Laughing happily, Geppetto embraced his son. Now, they could be a family, just as they were meant to.
"Thank you," Geppetto said to the Blue fairy.
"This time, make sure you remember Pinocchio," Blue told the boy firmly. "Be selfless, brave and truthful. As long as you do that, you will always be real."
Pinocchio nodded. "I promise, Blue Fairy," he said earnestly. "This time, I will be good."
"Then go," Blue smiled, making to leave herself. "Live your life together with your father, as a family."
Smiling, Geppetto helped Pinocchio to his feet.
"August?" Emma couldn't stop staring at the little boy who now stood in front of her.
Pinocchio smiled sadly. "Hi Emma," before his eyes filled with tears and he came forward to give Emma a hug.
"I've done so many things wrong in my life," he cried as Emma awkwardly returned the hug. "And most of the things I did wrong, the things I regret the most, were with you, Emma. I'm so sorry."
"Hey," Emma told him, kneeling down to look her friend in the eye. "It's okay August. I know you were just doing what you thought you needed to do to protect me, and to make sure I broke the curse."
"I told Neal to leave you," he admitted. "I took away your true love."
"Neal told me about that," Emma said. "And you may have told him to leave, but he could've said 'no' and he didn't."
"I stole from you," August continued to confess. "Neal gave me twenty thousand dollars to give to you."
Emma's eyes widened.
"What?"
"He wanted me to give you the money, along with the car," August continued in a rush, wanting to get everything out in the open, purging himself of the guilt. "He said that he'd feel better about leaving you, if he knew that you were taken care of." The boy hung his head. "I was supposed to be the one looking after you, but I took the money for myself and I spent it."
"Pinocchio," his father admonished.
"I could've kept Henry with that money," Emma breathed.
"That's how I justified it later, when I brought Henry here," Pinocchio explained.
"You brought Henry here?" Emma asked and Pinocchio nodded.
"When I'd found you'd had a son, and then found that Regina was looking to adopt a child, I thought it was the perfect way to ensure that you'd have to come here eventually." Pinocchio explained. "So I told myself that it was a good thing that I'd taken the money, or else you would never have had any reason to come to Storybrooke."
Emma just stared blankly in shock.
"It was you?" Emma repeated in a whisper.
"I left you," August continued his confession. "I left you so many times. In the foster system, in jail... and while I tried to make up for it after I arrived here, it was too late."
"But the curse has been broken, son," Geppetto reminded his boy. "You kept your promise to help the saviour. Without you, my boy," he continued, "we would all still be trapped."
August kept his young eyes on Emma.
"That still doesn't make it okay that Emma grew up alone." He said. "That she had to lose the man she loved and her son."
"No," Snow took a step forward for the first time. "And it's not okay that I sent her through the wardrobe alone, or that I spared Regina's life so that she could cast the curse that brought us here in the first place. None of it was right."
"But at least, now," Snow continued, helping her daughter to her feet. "We can start again. We can pick up the pieces and rebuild our lives, our families and our home."
There was silence as everyone absorbed this perspective of their situation.
Geppetto took hold of his son. They now had a second chance to be a family, and he wanted to begin their new lives as soon as possible.
"Come, my boy." He told his son. "Let's go home."
"Come see me if you need anything," Pinocchio told Emma and Henry. "I'll help you."
Emma watched numbly as Geppetto led little Pinocchio away.
"Are you okay, Emma?"Snow asked.
"I'm fine," Emma said quickly, gathering herself together.
"You don't have to put the wall up anymore, sweetheart," Snow told her daughter. "You can talk to us now."
"What was that August said," Henry asked," about Neal being your true love?"
"He was my first love, not my true love," Emma said firmly. "There's a difference."
"Sometimes your first love is your true love," Henry countered, gesturing to Charming and Snow. "Just like your parents."
"Let's go to Granny's," Emma said quickly.
~..~..~..~..
Regina lay a rose atop of her mother's coffin, which she'd placed in her vault, under her father's tomb.
'Cora. Beloved wife and mother,' the plaque read.
"Goodbye Mother," Regina whispered. "I promise: they will pay for everything they have done to our family."
She had lost everything. But most importantly, she had lost her son. Henry had been the only thing that she had in her life that brought her light.
But she was alone now, while Snow and Emma had their happy little family, which had apparently grown to include Rumplestiltskin, of all people, as his son was apparently Henry's biological father. What were the odds of that happening? Regina thought furiously. How could it be that everyone was able to find love and have a family but her? Why was she the one who was left alone, with nothing, while that little flake of Snow could win every time and still self righteously claim the high ground?
For over the years of the curse being active, Regina had come to realise that even though she had won, she had still been alone. And not having someone was the worst curse imaginable. That had been why she had ensured that her enemies were kept from those they loved, throughout the curse, but it had also been what had made Regina adopt Henry in the first place.
She had been so grateful to have Henry in her life...
And now he had been taken from her.
She had to get him back. That was all that mattered.
As she climbed up the stairs from her vault, she began mulling over the possibilities.
Ideally, of course, she would like to go straight after Snow, to make her pay for taking her mother's life. However, Regina knew that she wouldn't be able to get close, now that Rumple had his dagger back.
Regina paused.
Rumple...
He was the main obstacle she had to overcome before she could enact her revenge and reclaim her son. And while his dagger was his main weakness, it wasn't his only one. He had another weakness...
Belle. Who was still in the Storybrooke hospital with amnesia.
Regina transported herself home with a thought and found herself in her living room.
When Regina had cast the curse, she had been in charge of giving each member of Storybrooke their new identity. One that would keep them from the things that they loved. And while, like David, Belle had avoided being originally altered by the curse, like David, Regina had still planned for a way to trigger Belle's cursed memory if needed.
David's trigger had been placed in Mr. Gold's pawnshop: the windmill that had graced the front lawn of the Nolan house.
Belle's trigger, however, Regina had kept in her possession, to use if she ever needed to.
And now, the time had come.
Moving over to a section of the wall, Regina pressed a hidden lever that caused a panel in the wall to move aside.
Smiling, Regina removed a slim white box, tied with black ribbon.
Opening it, she checked the contents.
'Yes,' she thought. 'This could be just the distraction I need to get Rumple to forget about his precious dagger.'
~..~..~..~..
Later that day, Ruby made her way to the hospital, carrying a bag full of things that she'd retrieved from Belle's apartment, for Belle to take when she left later on that night.
Apparently, she was going to be released into Mr. Gold's care. Ruby wasn't sure how she felt about that. Gold clearly did care about Belle, but knowing his history with people...Ruby was admittedly concerned for her friend.
But, it was ultimately Belle's choice, and Belle had chosen to go stay with Mr. Gold.
Still, Ruby had asked if she could get Belle a few things from her apartment anyway, and drop them off to Belle in the hospital before she left, just so she had a few things of her own to take with her.
As Ruby entered the hospital lobby, she spotted Dr Whale straight away.
"Hey, Dr. Whale," Ruby greeted. "I'm just here to bring Belle some stuff from her apartment," Ruby held up the bag.
"Good idea," Whale nodded. "Having a few of her own things could even help trigger her memory."
Ruby nodded in agreement, but Whale stopped her before she could move on.
"Oh, Ruby," he added. "When you go up, could you take this with you?"
Ruby took the flat white box from him. It was tied with black ribbon.
"Someone left it for Belle at the front desk," Whale explained.
Ruby nodded. "Must be from Mr. Gold," she surmised. "I'll take it to her."
She made her way to the elevator.
A few minutes later, Ruby knocked on Belle's hospital room door.
"Hey," she greeted gently as she made her way into the room.
"Hi," Belle greeted warily.
"I, uh, brought you a few things from your apartment." Ruby placed the bag on top of Belle's hospital bed. "I thought you might like a few things of yours to take with you when you leave later."
Belle nodded, "Thanks, Ruby."
"Oh," Ruby remembered, "I was also told to bring you this," she continued, holding out the box. "Someone apparently left it for you at the front desk."
Belle reached forward to cautiously take the box.
"What is it?" She asked.
"I have no idea," Ruby admitted. "Maybe it's from Mr. Gold?"
Belle shook her head.
"If he ever wants to give me something, he gives it to me personally, or it just appears in front of me." She explained, examining the box carefully. "He doesn't leave things at the reception desk."
Ruby swallowed. "What do you mean, 'they just appear in front of you'?" She asked.
Belle raised her eyes to match Ruby's gaze.
"Why did you lie to me, saying what I saw was a nightmare?" Belle asked, letting Ruby know that she now knew everything, or at least enough. "You said you were my friend."
"I am your friend," Ruby insisted.
"But you tried to make me think that I was crazy," Belle told her. "You lied to me."
"I was just trying to protect you," Ruby told her. "As well as our town. Mr. Mandel was still here, and I didn't know whether I could trust you not to tell. We can't have outsiders knowing what we are."
"You could've at least told me that," Belle insisted. "Mr. Gold did. He answered my questions. Before then I wasn't sure about anything. No one would tell me anything, I knew nothing!"
"I'm so sorry, Belle," Ruby felt guilty, watching the tears make pathways down her friend's cheeks. "But now you do know a bit about our town and who we all are, and you're going to be leaving the hospital soon."
Belle nodded. "Yes," she said, wiping her tears away. "Mr. Gold's taking me home later."
Ruby smiled.
"Now, you have a second chance to build a life for yourself," Ruby said hopefully. "You can make new memories."
Belle nodded, a hopeful smile pulling at her mouth.
She tugged lightly at the ribbon that held the box shut.
"Now, I'm curious," she said to herself. "What could this be?"
Opening the box, Belle froze.
Ruby moved until she could see over her friend's shoulder.
Lying inside the box was a delicate, gold necklace. A tiny, clear jewel, possibly a diamond, dangled from the thin, delicate chain.
Slowly, Belle lifted the chain from the box, her eyes mesmerised by the tiny jewel.
"What is it?" Ruby asked. There was something not-quite-right about Belle's expression.
"I think..."Belle whispered. "I think this was mine."
"Really?" Ruby began to feel hopeful. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Belle sounded sure. "This used to be my mother's."
Ruby watched, amazed as Belle's entire demeanor appeared to change. She sat up straighter, lifted her chin proudly and crossed her legs with confidence as she placed the necklace around her neck with practiced ease.
"Are you alright, Belle?" Ruby asked. It was strange. The woman before her now looked like Belle, but it was as if someone else was smiling back at her with a confidence that was almost aggressive.
"I remember," Ruby's friend answered surely, standing up gracefully. "But, my name's not Belle."
Anxiety crept into Ruby's heart as she watched her friend moving around the room gathering her things.
"Then, what is your name?" Ruby asked warily.
Flipping her hair confidently, her friend's smile did anything but reassure Ruby.
"My name's Lacey," she said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a life to get back to."
~..~..~..~..
Author's note: What do you think?
I realise that Snow/Emma/Charming didn't appear to be making as big a deal over Snow's killing of Cora here, but I was thinking that they would all still be in shock, not having enough time to fully absorb what happened.
I was really wanting to have Emma, or Neal beat up August in this chapter, but seeing the set photos I found of Selfless, brave and true, I figured he went straight from wooden man, back to real boy again. And I just couldn't see Emma or Neal beating up a child, no matter how angry they were.
Besides, each of them did have a choice in their respective situations, so many events weren't entirely August's fault.
Still, I would have liked to see it, and I wrote it in my story 'Return what has been lost' so it was out of my system.
Thank you to Linzerj for the idea of Belle's necklace being her memory trigger- it's the one she wore in FTL. I figured that, while Mr. Gold had the windmill, Regina would keep Belle's trigger item, as Gold would recognise anything that Belle owned appearing in his shop.
I'm begining to get some ideas as to where to take this story, but as usual, I am open to any ideas/theories that you guys would like to share.
In the mean time, in my next chapter...we meet Lacey! or at least, my version of who I think Lacey will be...
Mr. Gold is soooo going to be taken outside his comfort zone! I'm actually looking forward to writing her. I'm glad Neal got to visit Belle in the hospital first though...
Please review. How am I doing? Good? Bad? Am I rushing events? Not doing enough character development? Focusing too much on some characters and not enough on others?
Please tell me, I need feedback so I can improve my writing.