Summary: Belle is reunited with her Cousin Aqua, Alti in Storybrooke, and has been keeping a secret from Rumplestiltskin.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of ONCE UPON A TIME

Rating: T+

Pairing: Rumple/Belle Hook/Alti (OFC)

THE BEAUTY AND A MERMAID:

STORYBROOKE INDOOR POOL:

Hook used his right foot to push open the metal door while he balanced Aqua in his arms. She was still holding on to him; a little tighter this time as he moved. It was making him smile in a way he hadn't in too many years. How fortune favored him and condemned him at the same time. She was back in his path only to be focused on Rumplestiltskin, and pain of pain she was somehow related to Belle; the woman he had tried on a couple of occasions to kill. Why did life do this to him? Hook would really like an answer this time, even though he had asked so many times already. Pulling out of his musing's, Killian went to the edge of the pool and crouched so he could put Aqua in the water. She splashed away from him and moved out into the middle of the pool before he even had a chance to stand up. He noted that her long blonde hair fell over her shoulder's covering her perfect monds that fit perfectly into the palm of his hands. "I can get you a shirt if you require one?" Hook offered suddenly feeling the need to have her bare flesh covered from eyes that would see her other than his.

Aqua tried not to look at him as she shook her head, "No, it weighs me down in the water." She answered sinking down lower in the water reveling in the warmer water. The harbor had a slight chill to it. Aqua sighed heavily. She hated this place, this Storybrooke, a place where existed yet kept them trapped so they could not return to their land. As far as she knew she was the only mermaid here, the only siren. That made her dangerous, made her desired. If she wasn't turned back to being a human soon, then it would also make her helpless. She had no legs, she couldn't run for her life, but her voice came with a price. All magic came with a price. It was why she was a mermaid again. Aqua just hoped that Rumplestilskin would be able to make her a human again because she didn't have the luxury of making a deal with a sea witch.

Hook had a lot of time to kill. Cora was off doing what she did best; sowing discord among people while his plans for murder came to a screeching halt because of the mermaid in the pool. Sighing, Killian shed his long coat, pulled free his shirt and shucked his boots. He stuck his right foot into the water feeling that it was warm and inviting. Moving farther into the water, Jones marveled at how different the water in this world felt to back home. It was too still, it didn't buzz along his skin. It was just water. Killian shook his head as the water rose up to his chest. Aqua was floating, not really looking at anything or listening for him. She was distracted, just how he wanted to keep her. Before she had a chance to get away, Jones looped his arms around her and pinned her to the edge of the pool will the full weight of his body pressed against her. Aqua wasn't fighting him off of her this time. She looked timid, almost scared. "What's wrong love?" Killian asked, concern tightening his chest.

Aqua shook her head fighting back tears that were threatening to spill. He was staring at her with his big muddled grey blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. She hated that about him. The notorious captain perceived a lot more than people thought. Captain Hook was a man of many hidden talents. "I don't…" She started to say but then she heard the door open. In the fraction of a second she pushed him off and swam away from him pulling her anger around her. "I told you I would drown you if you got in here with me." Aqua snarled putting on a show for her cousin and for Gold. She didn't want them to see that she was about to break down, about to wrap her arms around Killian Jones and tell him how she hated what she was. That wasn't the Alti everyone knew. She was brash, she was bold, and she didn't care what life dealt her because she could handle it. In truth, Aqua couldn't handle not being able to walk, being trapped by the confines of water. For 28 years she had had two legs and she had loved them. She wanted them back but she also wanted to go home to her family.

"Awe, love, legend says a mermaid's kiss can protect a sailor from downing, I was only hoping to prove that theory correct." Hook teased standing the shallow end of the pool wiping the water off of his face and slicking his hair back. With his back to the couple he looked at Aqua and with his eyes he promised her a conversation. She looked away from him trying to hide the blush that crept up into her cheeks. A deep dark chuckle bubbled up in his chest, echoing all around them. Jones stepped out of the water to be greeted by the deadly glare of not just Rumpelstiltskin but of his young paramour; Belle. Hey both wanted him severely injured or dead. And, he couldn't really blame them after all he had done; all he still planned to do to them. He had bent down to reach for his boot, but magic swirled around him making him panic for a moment until he realized that he was fully dressed and dried off. "Much appreciated." Jones brushed at the sleeve of his left hand.

"Get out." Gold snarled filling his voice with what remaining power he had until he could rest, until the magic in the town could recharge him. Until then he would have to rely on being intimidating with what power reserves he had left. "You helped, now you can go." Gold pointed to the door. He didn't want that pirate anywhere near Belle or near Alti. For now he was responsible for the mermaid, for her safety and he would put her in harm's way again.

"Now now crocodile, I was only helping." Hook smirked, "But I do have to return to my ship." It would be better for him to take his leave before he let his anger and passion get the better of him and he did something that would set him back with Aqua, though, he already had a long road to travel where she was concerned.

Aqua sank down below the water so only her eyes were visible and the top of her head. She didn't want them to see her bottom lip quivering from the effort to not call Jones back to her. He had some sort of power to put her at ease that not even Gold possessed. It scared her, it thrilled her, and it reminded her of what she could not have with him.

Belle looked back at her cousin seeing only her eyes and the top of her head. She started to giggle lightly with how ridiculous Aqua looked. "You look absurd." Belle laughed startling Aqua so she raised the rest of her face out of the water where she promptly stuck her tongue out. Mermaid's always had a childish streak in them that never went away. Kicking off her shoes, Belle went to sit on the edge of the pool and dangle her feet in the water. It had been so long since she had been swimming, and the last time she had had been with Aqua when they were girls, before her mother died.

Aqua swam over to the edge, mindful to avoid the exact spot where Hook had pinned her and rested her arms on the slight lip of the pool lifting her upper torso out of the water mindful to keep her hair over her shoulders. "I'm sorry," She muttered knocking her head against Belle's thigh. "I really never…."

"Hush…" Belle leaned down and kissed her cousin on the head. "I've been running on overdrive lately. My emotions have been all over the place." Aqua looked at her and Belle smiled. "I over reacted." She had to believe that her beloved cousin and her true love wouldn't have betrayed her in such a manner even though they had been under a curse. Then she looked over at Rumple who was standing back by the door watching through the window for any sign of danger or of Hook or Cora.

Rumple secured the door and then ambled over to where Belle sat splashing her feet in the water. To his eyes, she couldn't look any more adorable than she already did. She smiled at him, crooking her finger at him to come join her. Rumple smirked coming over to them. "Don't think I'm going to put my feet in the water." He joked but he sat down next to Belle as best as he could.

Aqua looked at him and smirked at him. "You have to join in the fun." She teased looking at Belle where they shared a knowing glance. Belle then turned to Rumple and distracted him, claiming his lips in one of the most passionate kisses Aqua had ever seen. That left her free to snatch his always polished shoes and socks before he knew what was happening. Aqua tossed Gold's shoes and socks over by the doors and then swam out into the center of the pool.

Rumple gasped against Belle's lips. She literally stole his breath. "That was payback wasn't it?" He teased shooting a glare at Alti who did her best to look innocent while not looking at them at the same time. Gold made a mental note to never let these two turn on him. He had enough enemies already. The thought made him chuckle with the idea of Belle and Alti turning on him. As much as he didn't understand it, both of them cared too deeply about his well being. Now, he had no choice but to pull up his tailored pants leg and stick his feet in the water. At least he was alone with both woman and they had seen his scars. The water lapped against his skin making the scars on his right leg glisten.

Belle watched Aqua turn her back exposing her right shoulder, turning her face from Rumple's scars. It wasn't from horror or revulsion, but shear unadulterated sympathy for such wounds to have been inflicted upon him. She then saw a scar marring he cousin's skin that at one time had been a deep laceration. "Aqua what happened to you?" when her cousin looked at her she motioned to the scar.

"Nothing…" Aqua lied quickly keeping her eyes from Gold. "It was a stupid accident," She shrugged it off and turning so Belle would stop looking at it. Though, as she faced her cousin she saw the angry stare of Rumplestiltskin. Instant guilt washed through her. "well, ok…" She cut her hands through the water, "Maybe not stupid." This time she looked right at gold when she spoke. "I was at the Drunken Sailor working when I saw Mr. Gold come in, take a back table, and watch me the entire night. I was dancing, getting tips from the fishermen who were too damn drunk to tell a $20 from a dollar. Earlier in the day e had left me a note saying he wanted me to come home with him. I thought, sure, another $300; easy money and I liked it." Then she looked at Belle adding quickly. "I had no idea that he would actually come to the bar on the night I was being paid to take my clothes off."

"I said nothing." Belle defended lightly, but she was happy Aqua added that in there. "So, how did the scar happen?" She prompted getting Aqua to finish her story. Except, there was a small part of her that didn't want to hear any more about Gold being with Alti. It was too strange to her ears as it was.

"My shift was over and I had to leave by the back door but I had planned on coming around to the front where I knew Gold would be waiting for me. Only," Alti looked to Gold this time. He offered her a soft smile. In his eyes she could see that night playing out again. It made her look away from him. "I was waylaid by two very drunk men who are not very nice, so to speak. Before I knew it I was struck in the back of the head and hauled off to one of the boat houses along the harbor. I barely managed to scream. One of the men cut me very deeply on the shoulder, but that's as far as it got." Alti looked Gold right in the eyes this time, "Gold was there and he nearly beat both men to death before they could…." Alti stopped talking and curled around Belle's legs rather than reach out to Gold.

Gold took up the story where Alti left off. "I saw she was on the ground, bleeding, and I helped her back to my home where I patched up her shoulder. I tried to take her to the hospital but she didn't want to; fought me tooth and nail actually. Alti flat out said that if I took her to the ER she would bail out of the car and take her chances." Rumple reached out to her and ran the knuckle of his index finger down the bridge of her nose affectionately. "So I took her home with me, but it was because of me that she was targeted in the first place." He stopped talking. There were few things he ever felt guilty about. Belle and Alti were the only two women he didn't want to have hurting because of him. "It wasn't your fault," Both Belle and Aqua said at once. It was Gold's heart.

"Can you make me human again?" Alti asked now that she had a chance. She wasn't ready to continue talking about the scar along her shoulder. It was something that truly hurt Gold "I mean I love my tail and swimming is great, but I would love to walk to Granny's for a cheeseburger." She joked, but it was lost on Gold and then she knew something was up. "You can't turn me back can you?"

Gold sighed running his hand through his hair."I didn't say that." He defended.

"You didn't have to. Your look said it for you." Aqua backed away trying to calm down. "I can't be like this." She said tears springing to her eyes again.

"I know." Gold said looking at Belle and then to Aqua. "I can't turn you back yet. The magic I expended last night to keep you breathing took a lot out of me in this world where magic in not a native element in the day to day life. I have to recharge so to speak."

"It either you or the Blue Fairy and I'd rather not go to a woman who flat out called me a whore once." Aqua scoffed.

"You may not have a choice." Gold warned. "The Blue Fairy has fairy dust that dwarves are manufacturing for her. She has magic."

"No." Alti crossed her arms. "N. O. NO!"

"Bind her to me then," Belle piped. "Use the what makes me human to turn Aqua back." She had been nosing around in some of his books lately trying to understand what drove him to use magic all the time. She had come across a binding spell, at least she thought she had.

Gold turned to Belle, "No, that's dangerous for the both of you."

"Why?" Belle asked.

There was no se trying to hide the truth, Belle would see right through him and cleverly crafted words. "If I bound her to you, yes she would be human again, but at a terrible price. If Alti were to die then you would turn into the Siren that she was, complete with a tail. If you were to die," Rumple's voice cracked on that word. "Then Alti would die." He explained turning pained eyes from Belle to Alti.

"Then put in a safe guard." Aqua said. "I know you can."

"Yes, you could do that." Belle agreed letting hope fill her eyes.

"Belle…" Gold shook his head. "The only safe guard I know of to break this kind of binding spell would be for Alti to willingly shed her own blood and turn back into a mermaid to free you." He looked at Aqua trying to make her understand, "You don't want that kind of choice weighing upon you."

"We want to do this." Belle urged. "It's our choice."

"Yeah!" Alti added. "Get with the magic voodoo and make me human."

"And again, I can't…" Gold grabbed his cane and brought his feet out of the water so he could put his shoes back on. "I have to recharge. Tomorrow night at the latest I could do this spell." He gave Belle one last pain filled glance asking, begging, her not to do this. The he banished the emotion seeing that this was what Belle wanted. And on the first day he met her she had boldly stated, 'No one decides my fate but me.' It rang in his head showing the bravery of his true love. "This is dangerous." He repeated.

"What danger?" Aqua shrugged. "I won't turn back into a mermaid if I slice my finger on a paring knife right? It has to be willing, to the full extent of the definition right?" This was the best option she had heard without hearing Sea Witch crop up anywhere.

"We'll do it." Belle said. "And that's final." She stated when Rumple looked at her deeply pained again. This was her choice.

"Then tomorrow night it is." Gold felt his heart crumble. This would be one more thing he would have to try and keep Belle from getting hurt by.

Aqua splashed her hands in the water, "I'll just stay here, swimming around…" The other two looked at her and she smiled, "Just swimming." She shrugged, grinning at them until the both returned the smile. Aqua tried to keep the smile on her face even though she was dreading being alone tonight with nothing to do, no music to listen to.

Belle was about to leave with Rumple when she stopped and said, "Maybe I should stay with her tonight so she's not alone." Leaving Aqua alone seemed sort of cruel. Last night she would have entertained such a notion, but today she didn't have the heart to leave her family alone. "She might need me." Belle touched Rumple's face.

"I need you." Rumple said fiercely, quietly. "I want you so close to my side that I don't have to worry every second of every moment that someone will try and hurt you to hurt me because I love you so much." He confessed. "This, what you want to do, is a worse fate than someone trying to kill you; a terrible secret you have to guard."

Aqua piped up, "Belle, go home, I'll be fine." She smiled. "I don't want you sleep on cold stone. It's not fun." She made a shooing motion with her hands sending out a spray of water. Belle was going to argue but she ordered. "Go home." She could see that Belle wanted to stay but Aqua didn't want to have anyone around her right now, not when her mind was going in so many directions.

THAT NIGHT:

Hook slipped through the shadows of the sleeping town until he stole through the doors of the pool. The lights were low and coming from the water that seemed to glow on its own. Killian searched the water for Aqua until he found her sitting on the bottom of the deep end. Like an idiot he just waved at her and then motioned for her to come to the surface. He walked to the edge of where the deep end started so he could wait for her and he didn't have to wait long. Aqua broke the surface about to unleash and assault of angry words but he halted her holding up a bag of food for her. "I come bearing gifts."

Aqua sniffed the air smelling fried fish. It roiled her stomach. "You have got to be kidding me?!" She exclaimed pushing away from the ledge. "You brought fried fish. Are you insane? I'm a mermaid! That stuff makes me sick!" She yelled contemplating flicking her tail and sending a wave of water over him. "Thanks, but uh, no thanks." She was about to dip below the surface again when he pulled out another bag and this time she smell pasta.

"I thought we could eat dinner together," Hook held up his finger to signal her to be quiet, "The fried fish is for me." He sat down, stretching out his legs, and set her bag next to him enticing her to come to him. "Come on, you have to be hungry." With his hook he nudged the bag until it was teetering just on the edge of the ledge about to fall into the water. It was miraculously saved by his beautiful mermaid companion. 'they certainly are fast swimmers.' Jones thought with a smirk as he bit into a fried filet of a fish he had caught a few hours ago.

Aqua watching him take a bite of his food and said, "That better not be a fish I know." She warned opening her own to breathe in the scent of pasta with tomato sauce. A moan escaped her. Food Nirvana. She took the fork he offered and immediately devoured her meal. Aqua didn't realize how hungry she was until her food was gone and all that was left was the dissipating scent in the bag and the last bit of taste on the fork but she was stuffed and happy. Looking up at Hook she said, "Thank you."

Jones inclined his head, "Of course. I can't leave a beautiful lady to starve. What kind of gentlemen am I?" He asked crumpling up his bag with the remnants of his food that he hadn't eaten. He stood up and stretched watching Aqua swim in a wide circle; her eyes were fixed on the ceiling and she had a lazy smile on her face as her fingers drew up and down her flat abdomen. That only made Killian track his gaze up to where he could see her lovely breast's unobstructed by her hair. There, in the faint light, he could make out the slight trace of scales that covered the rest of her body. All mermaids he had come across were different, when he touched their arms there was still the touch of skin, but somehow softer. It took a trained eye to spot that they were truly different from everyone else. "Should you be swimming so soon after eating?" Hook asked.

"Mermaid." Aqua answered stopping her movements so she could look at him. "What?" He had the strangest look, almost tender and compassionate, line his face. A face that looked younger than he actually was. Hook traveled between Neverland and other worlds where time passed by differently keeping him from aging. "Why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something on my face?" She asked drawing his attention to her face once more.

"No, I was wondering if you wanted me to strip down so you weren't the only one clad in skin." Hook winked at her teasingly hoping that she would tell him to take his clothes off. Since leaving earlier, Hook had thought of nothing else but Aqua, but the water, and of her arms wrapped around him. Cora had been ranting on and one about how Regina was stubborn, but he hadn't heard her. His mind had been elsewhere with Aqua, before he had lost her.

Aqua crossed her arms over her chest and said, "Seeing as I am the only one with her assets bared for all to see, yeah, take your clothes off Captain Leather Pants. Help a girl feel a little less self conscious." She noticed that his gaze tracked down her torso making out the rise of her breasts. It should have offended her, but it didn't. He was looking at her with pure make lust, with desire even through she had a fish tail.

"Oh, my sweet Bonnie Lass, you have nothing to feel self conscious about." Killian smirked eyeing her in a lascivious manner. Then, he chose to give her a good show. Jones kicked off his boots, shucked his jacket slowly, and set about unbuttoning his shirt one handed. All the while keeping his eyes centered on her chest.

Aqua huffed, "Hey," She made a motion to point out where her eyes were, "My eyes are up here." But still he stared at the rest of her. Aqua sank beneath the water just to avoid his forthright stare, but missed it as soon as the water enveloped her vision.

"I know darling," Hook smirked sitting down on the concrete ledge so he could slip into the water wearing just his leather pants. "Feel better?" He asked swimming out to tread water in front of her. Even though she didn't say it, Hook could see the gratitude in her eyes. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Aqua never minded being naked, but to be the only one would tax even her considerable lack of caring. He had stolen away into the Drunken Sailor for a pint when he had seen her on the bar dancing to some faze paced song and she had been untying all the ties of her shirt. Hook had hidden away in the shadows enthralled with her all over again.

"Thank you." Aqua sank down in the water p to her chin watching Hook watch her. After all these year he was still dark, still a stunning marvel of the male form, and he still wore the dark kohl lines around his eyes like a god. Killian had a way of seeing into her soul, seeing what she was truly feeling better than anyone else. It scared her, it thrilled her most of all, but she was reluctant to trust him knowing that his penchant for revenge was his sole lover, his temptress. If he had another chance at Rumpelstiltskin, she knew Hook would take it.

"What has that pretty face of yours looking so sad?" Killian slipped his hooked hand around her waist bringing her in tight against him. She was strong enough in the water to support them both; her body was built for the water, to breathe it in, to see all the wonders the ocean kept from mortal men. "A beautiful creature such as you should never seem so full of sorrow." He said feeling moved to find out what was on her mind. Jones had never thought he would find her here. What had she done to cross Regina to end up here? Gently he reached his right hand up and cupped her face.

Alti knew she should lie, she should concoct some story to throw him off, but she couldn't muster the desire to pin a tall tale; not with him so close to her, his body pressed to hers. "Just a lot on my mind. First and foremost… my tail," She moved it so that is raised out of the water wet and shining. "I have to decide if being human is really what I want." Ok, so she could lie, but it wasn't really a lie because she had thought about it a lot since the curse broke. Then again, she had already made up her mind. At least she wouldn't have to make a deal with the sea witch for human legs.

"Is it?" Hook asked. "I kinda like you just this way." He said lightly, tenderly. "You are the embodiment of the ocean, of beauty." She smiled at him and then she leaned back to dunk her hair in the water so she could slick it back from her face. It treated him to another glace of her sumptuous breasts that would make his mouth water to taste them. "You, like this, would drive men mad." He complimented speaking from experience.

"I can do just that." Alti agreed knowing that her enticing Sirens Song could make anyone do anything she wanted. "I could sing you a song so sweet that it would make your heart swell or I could sing a somber tone so sad you would want to take your own life." Her tone conveyed seriousness. "Don't try and play me or I will make you regret it."

"Whatever do you mean love?" Hook asked playing along, though he knew to what she was referring. The last time he saw her, they hadn't parted on good terms. Killian had been giving Aqua all of his attention, but the moment he had heard word of Belle, of the woman who was rumored to hold the crocodiles heart, he had abandoned the mermaid and left to break into the Queen's tower dungeon.

Aqua pushed him away, "Do the words, 'I'll be right back' mean anything to you?" She snapped pushing her hands through the water to create a small wave right in Hooks face. He sputtered water and used his right hand to wipe the droplets off of his face without smudging his kohl lines. "I waited for you like an idiot!" Alti shouted pulling herself up to sit on the ledge on the opposite side of the pool. "And all the while you tried to kill my cousin."

Hook floated in the middle of the deep end, kicking his legs to keep him above the surface staring at her. For the first time in his life he felt guilt over what he had done to her. She was staring at him with pain filled eyes and it was because of him. Any minute he almost expected sharks to start circling and they probably would have had they been out at sea. Oh the saving graces of being in an indoor pool. "I had no idea…at the time…. that Belle was your cousin, though I can see it now; the eyes, the skin, the voice, and the accent. You two are related by blood and that would make her…"

"Off limits," Aqua stressed. "You so much as go near my cousin and I'll make you regret it." She crossed her arms again glaring at him as he cut through the water towards her. Aqua tried to keep her heart from beating wildly out of control as the dangerous pirate came towards her. Every cell in her body heated up at his approach. "I know you tried to kill her and nearly succeeded in having her memory erased. But Gold kissed her and True Love wins," Hook levered himself up putting his face close to hers, "Do it again and I will MAKE you kill yourself." Aqua made her tone dark, full of ice. She wanted him to know the price for messing with her family.

"How would you do that then sweetheart?' Hook asked putting his lips dangerously close to hers. Aqua lips were the same color as her scales; a delicate aquamarine pearl blue. Oh, how he wanted to taste her again, to have her tongue dancing with his. All he had to do was lean in a little more, close to last inch, and kiss her.

Aqua got a sudden, wicked idea, and she was going to act on it. He wanted to know how, then she was going to show him. Putting her lips against his, she stole a kiss, and then she began to sing. The melody her voice created was sad, full of pain, of self loathing. She hated herself and thus made Hook feel what she was feeling. She wanted him to know her pain, to know her anguish. She wanted him to case himself mortal harm, to take his life. Hook reeled away from her, back into the water, and he was about to willingly sink below the surface, to willingly drink down the water to fill his lungs like air, when Aqua stopped singing and said, "That's how. Do not cross me."