Once Upon a Time does not belong to me! All characters and references to the show belong to ABC and Channel 5
Once Upon a Time: School's Out! The Third One-Chapter 14
When Regina woke up on Sunday morning, she was pleased to see that everything was as she had left it the night before. Her outfit-a grey silk shirt and black pants-was still hanging on the back of her door, the items on her desk weren't arranged differently or strewn about on the floor, and when she checked, she couldn't find anything strange in her school bag or her purse.
Smiling, she released a contented sigh and started to get dressed in her correctly organised clothes, completing the outfit with a pair of two inch black heels. She took the lack of disturbance as a good sign, a calm feeling spreading through her as she set about her day with a clear head.
And now, maybe she could figure out who was trying to mess with it.
OUAT
Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, DAMN!
What the hell is wrong with me?! James wondered frustratedly as he sped through the Knight House, pulling on his Stable Eating uniform as he flashed down the stairs, crashed into the lounge, and dove on the occupied sofa. This was his second week of working at the deli, and he had already been late once (In the despair of loosing the Troll's game he'd forgotten to set his alarm and ended up arriving ten minuets after he was due at work) and his new, crazy-ass boss had screamed himself hoarse when he'd eventually turned up. That was not happening again!
"Sorry, Hansel!" James hurriedly apologised to Hansel Tillman as he practically dove onto his lap, ramming his hand down the side of the sofa "Hey, you haven't seen my car keys anywhere, have you?"
Wordlessly, Hansel shook his head, looking quite freaked out when James groaned and continued searching.
"Where the hell are they?!"
"Looking for these?"
James stilled, heaving himself off Hansel (who promptly ran out of the lounge) to meet the voice that had spoken.
It was Thomas, and he was holding James' car keys, a sheepish look on his face. Despite him being his best friend, the two had barely spoken since the game loss except for during practice. James figured it was just sour grapes, eventually assuming that, once the defeat had worn off, the glares and hateful murmurs would cease, and they could work on thoroughly thrashing the competition in the end of year final.
James nodded "Thanks" he said, stretching out a hand to take the keys as Thomas passed them over.
"So, uh, how've you been?" he asked moronically. James shrugged.
"Oh, you know" he said, his tone light with sarcasm "Got a new job to support my pregnant girlfriend...lost a football game...got blamed for the whole thing...got screamed at by a crazy deli owner last week..."
Thomas sniggered and James gave him a hard look. The blonde cringed apologetically, but the grin didn't leave him.
"Sorry. But listen, I think the whole Trolls defeat" he said, as if the last two words were curses "Is starting to wear off for the team. They're thinking of letting you sit with us at lunch again and Arthur's actually started calling you by your real name now"
"Oh good, so I'm no longer 'Clot-Pole!'" James responded, still keeping his tone light as he stood up "Listen, I'd love to stay but I've gotta go, my new boss gets really, really pissed if I don't turn up on time"
"Right" Thomas nodded, and James patted him on the shoulder as he passed. When he got closer to the door, the blonde called out after him:
"Hey! The team and I are going to the Rabbit Hole tonight" the Rabbit Hole was a local bar, and was almost as much of a hot-spot as Stable Eating because the owner, an old man with spectacles and long white hair, was pretty lax about underage drinking, not giving a damn how old you were as long as you had cash "You wanna come?"
James paused for a second, mulling it over. Having a drink (or ten) with his team mates would be a great way to get back in their good graces...but what if Snow White needed him?
Then again...
"Sure" James nodded "I'll be there"
"Cool. We're meeting there at nine. See you there, Captain" Thomas grinned, and James returned it before walking out of the dorm and, once he looked at his watch, running like hell to his car.
OUAT
"So, you really think it might just be someone trying to freak you out?" asked Daniel, washing dishes in the back room of the deli while the new guy, James, gathered up the dirty plates that had accumulated in the five hours the deli had been open.
Regina nodded elegantly, twirling a china plate between her fingers "I just know someone put that apple in my bag, Daniel, it's the only explanation"
Turning to her, the bus boy leaned against the sink and pulled the plate out of her hand "And you're sure it wasn't just a snack you forgot about?"
Regina gave him such a hard look he almost looked down to check he hadn't turned to stone, she took a step towards him, her expression suddenly dangerously calm "Mr Hay, my bag is a $1200, Gucci handbag from Italy. Do you really think I, Regina Cora Mills, president of the Student Body, would use it as a garbage can?!"
Daniel blinked "Um...no?"
"Very good!"
"Right. Sorry" he started washing up the plate in his hand, silent for a moment, then he asked her "So who do you think would wanna do this to you?"
Regina let loose a laugh. She had screwed over so many people at that place the real question was, who wouldn't wanna do this to her? "Well, no names come to mind off the top of my head, but don't worry, Daniel" her voice lowered "I will find out"
"No" Regina turned to him curiously when Daniel turned around, putting the plate down and narrowing his eyes at her, his expression almost cold "We, will find out. You think I'm just gonna sit around while some asshole tries to mess with my girlfriends head?" he spoke determinedly, and Regina released a sad sigh.
"Dan-"
"No!" he stopped her before she could come up with some reason why he should leave this alone "Regina, you are the woman I love, and if someone wants to mess with you, or hurt you, or even make you sad, then they're going to have to go through me first! And I won't go down without giving them hell first!"
For a moment, Regina's expression was completely blank, surprised at the conviction and love in his words. Then, slowly, a bright, beautiful, white-toothed smile spread across her lips, her whole lovely face lighting up before she leaned forward and planted a grateful, passionate kiss to his lips.
Forgetting all about the dishes, Daniel's arms locked around her waist, his hands trailing up her back as she pulled his flush to her and let him deepen the kiss. Regina sighed softly, her arms wrapping around his back-
"Hey Daniel, I hope you made some room for oh man!"
They jumped apart, their heads whipping around to meet James Nolan, new employee of the deli, standing at the door holding a tray crammed with filthy plates and mugs, cringing slightly when he realised what he was seeing.
"Daniel, I thought the boss said she-" he gestured to the irritated girl "Wasn't allowed back here anymore?!"
"Don't you have somewhere else to be annoying, Nolan?" Regina spat before Daniel could answer.
"Yeah. But my co-workers making out in it!"
"Alright!" Daniel cried before the situation could get anymore heated. He turned to Regina apologetically "Regina, I'm sorry but-"
"I know!" Regina rolled her eyes in irritation, giving him a swift kiss on the cheek "I'll see you in the deli" she added fondly, making sure to give James a scorching glare as she walked into the deli.
Shaking his head, James walked into the room, letting the door swing shut behind him as he moved to dump the cutlery into the sink, but Daniel quickly stopped him, his hands shooting out to catch the tray before the china could crash into the sink:
"Woah, hey!" he cried, keeping the tray aloft "Don't dump them all in like that, it could break the china!" he finished, taking the tray from James and putting it to one side before pulling the cutlery out one by one and washing it.
James nodded in understanding "Right. Sorry"
"Don't worry about it" Daniel shrugged "I was new here once, too" he put a plate in the drying rack that James automatically picked up and started to dry with a dishcloth. The more experienced bus boy softly smiled "You'll get the hang of things eventually"
James scoffed "That's optimistic! You've been working here for, what, nearly eight months and you still forget not to let your girlfriend into the backroom?"
"Hey, that's not my fault!" Daniel protested "She ambushes me!"
"Yeah right!" James laughed, and Daniel looked at him critically.
"Oh come on, you can't tell me you haven't been in a relationship where you couldn't keep your hands off her. I've seen you with that Snow White girl!"
James gave him a look that was slightly warning and slightly cocky. Daniel smirked, and continued with his work.
"Yeah, well, that's different" said James, and Daniel sent him a look that said 'How?' and he smirked "I don't make out with her in places of work!"
"Ahh" his workmate made a sound in understanding, and for a few minutes all was silent in the back room of the deli. Then, Daniel's lips moved:
"Prude"
OUAT
Rumplestiltskin was on his phone again. He and Belle were in the library, and his girlfriend was watching him as he spoke into his phone, his tone hushed so Ms Krone wouldn't hear him speak to his mother about the custody hearing, which had taken place that very day:
"Mum? Yeah, it's me, Rumple. Is everything alright?"
"Nothing's certain yet, my boy" came Katrina Gold's voice through the phone. Her voice was echoey, like she was talking in a tiled hall in the court-house "Your fathers made his statement, and I've made mine. In an hour they're going to give us the verdict"
Rumplestiltskin tensed, his fist clenching until the soft pads of Belle's fingertips closed over it. He smiled at her weakly, paying more attention to his mother than to her:
"Mum, listen" he said seriously "The man may be a brilliant lawyer, but in this he's got no case! He's never been a constant in Bae's life, it's obvious he doesn't care about him, and you've clearly taken better care of Bae than Mordred Gold ever could! The kid is proof itself, he's a complete Mama's boy!"
"Rumple!"
"Well, it works out for you, doesn't it?!" he hissed "Mum, there's no way he's gonna win this"
He heard his mother take in a deep breath "Oh Rumple...I don't know about that"
Something clenched in Rumplestiltskin's heart "What do you mean?"
"Well...he kept bringing up the fights, between me and him. The fact that I would often be the one to start shouting and...God, Rumple, you should've seen the way they looked at me-"
"Mother. Stop. For Baelfire's sake you cannot give in" Rumplestiltskin said, his heart clenching tighter at the thought "You have to fight this."
"I am!" Katrina snapped "Trust me, my son, I am not gonna let that...beast...walk away with my boy!"
"Good" Rumplestiltskin responded, and Belle's hand clenched around his knuckles. He glanced at her, and then added "I...I believe in you, Mum"
On the other line, he heard his mother let out a small sigh "Thank-you, Rumple, that means a lot"
"Just tell them what a crap dad he is and they won't even consider taking Bae away from you"
Katrina chuckled breathily, like she found him funny, but didn't really have the energy to laugh properly "O.k, I've got to go back in there soon, and I'll have to switch my phone off. I'll talk to you later, my darling"
"Alright"
"I love you, Rumple"
"I...I love you too, Mum" he repeated, ignoring the slightly amused look on Belle's face "Tell Bae the same, good luck" he hung up the phone, staring at it in the palm of his hand until, from beside him, he felt one of Belle's delicate fingers trace the back of his hand.
"It'll be alright, Rumple" she said softly. Rumplestiltskin groaned.
"How can you know that, Belle?" he said harshly "How can anyone know that? Mordred Gold is a twisted bastard who will use any means to get what he wants and torture people purely out of spite!"
Belle chose not to comment, and she didn't react to his harsh tone.
"Yes, I know that sounds similar to me!" he hissed, but Belle was shaking her head, putting a slender arm around his shoulders, gently touching his cheek until he was facing her.
"Rumplestiltskin Gold" she said softly "You...are ruthless, snide, narcissistic, malicious, stubborn, and sometimes you are downright cruel"
"You sure you're not laying on the compliments a bit thick, dearie?" he sneered, and Belle shushed him.
"But you know what else you are?" she paused for a moment, as though she actually expected him to answer "You're kind, loving, selfless, and above all else your heart is pure" her fingers trailed back a little, gently fingering his hair. Belle gazed upon the face of her love, seeing the calm and reassurance overcome him, the stress and tension starting to leave his expression "You, my darling Rumplestiltskin, are nothing like your father"
She pulled him towards her then, wrapping her arms around his back and pulling him in for an embrace that lasted only a moment before Rumplestiltskin pulled her back and stared into her face adoringly, wondering what he could possibly have done to deserve such a beautiful glimmer of light in his life of darkness "I love you" he whispered.
Belle smiled at him "I love you, too"
He pulled her in for a kiss, but their lips touched for only a moment before she broke away from him, sudden apprehension on her face.
"Wait a minuet" he frowned in confusion when Belle craned her neck around the bookshelf isles, her head twisting as though she was looking for something. Or someone.
Whatever she was looking for appeared not to be in sight anyway, because moments later she turned back to him, pulling him down for a mouth-crushing kiss that eradicated all memory of the incident from his mind.
OUAT
"James, I promise I'm fine!" said Snow White, smiling as her boyfriends worried voice filled her ear from her phone. It was a couple of hours after his shift had ended, and darkness was starting to fall in the sky "No really, I am! You go hang out with your friends, you deserve to have some fun...oh, you worry about me too much!...no, I'm not asking her that...no I don't...James...ugh! Fine, Ruby?"
From their position on Snow White's bedroom floor, their fingernails painted vibrant colours of red and black, Ruby and Belle (Ella was finishing her due-two-days-ago English Lit paper) looked up. Ruby raised an eyebrow and Snow White gently huffed "James wants to know if you'll...look after me while he's gone tonight?"
"Aww!" cooed Belle, her nose scrunching with cuteness while Ruby grinned.
"Sure thing, James!" she called to him "I'll make sure she doesn't run in front of any buses!"
Belle burst into shocked giggles while Snow White glared furiously at them both "Thanks a lot, Ruby!" she lifted the mouth-piece back to her lips "Ignore her, she's crazy! I'll be fine. Go have fun. I'll see you tomorrow...I love you too, and so does Emma"
"Awwww!" both Ruby and Belle cooed this time, although the effect was somewhat tarnished by them waving their fingers about in an attempt to dry their wet fingernails.
"You two are so cute!" Ruby sighed, and Snow White tilted her head at her.
"'I'll make sure she doesn't run in front of any buses?!'" she quoted, incredulity dripping from her voice, and Belle noticeably suppressed a laugh when Ruby swallowed. For a moment, she held Snow White's gaze, and then shrugged.
"It sounded funny in my head?"
Snow White shook her head at her in mock-disgust "You know what, Ruby? You're a little evil"
"Ahh" Ruby sighed fondly, gazing at Snow White and unthinkingly raising a hand to her cheek "But that's why you love-oh crap!"
Belle and Snow White exploded into laughter when Ruby, as she raised her hand to her cheek, instinctively curled her fingers and pressed her still-wet nails to her face. The two girls only laughed harder when, slowly, she pulled her hand away and revealed four perfect, nail shaped red prints on her face that started from the corner of her mouth and trailed up her cheek.
"You look like a clown gone wrong!" Belle gasped, making Snow White laugh even harder so that she keeled over on the bed. Ruby stared at them hatefully, her cheeks tinted red. But not as red as the polish on her skin.
"This isn't funny, I've ruined my face!" she cried, waving her hands in front of the four vibrant marks "I look like...like..."
"A clown gone wrong?"
"Shut-up, Belle!"
"Oh calm down!" Snow White was still giggling as she sat up, her hand cradling her swollen stomach. Her laughter had caused Emma to wake up, and was now giving her mother a good royal kicking "I think I've got some remover in my bedside drawer, hang on" she told a miserable Ruby, and leaned sideways across the bed to reach it. She crouched down as she pulled open the top drawer, aiming to reach inside and grab the damned remover and some soft paper towels, but something else caught her attention. Something bad. Something terrible. Something all to familiar that caused all of the blood to rush out of the beauty's face and her hands to protectively cover her stomach. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the drawer, as much as she wanted to, she couldn't. From behind her she dimly heard Belle make another joke about Ruby's red face, but she barely registered it, the little, poisonous token from her past staking an almost unbreakable claim to her attention.
"Belle, shut-up! Snow!" Ruby cried in agony "Please give me the remover before I sign my own death warrant and kill Rumplestiltskin's girlfriend!"
"Get Jiminy" Snow White's reply was flat, monotone, like all emotion had left her. From behind her, Belle and Ruby stopped joking around, looking at their friends back in confusion as she reached into the drawer with a shaking hand.
"What?" said Ruby. Belle peered around Snow White, trying to see what she had in her hand, but whatever it was, Snow White held it clasped to her chest.
"I said..." she almost whispered, starting to turn around "Get. Jiminy"
She turned around fully, the hand that was cupping the object to her chest falling for all to see. Belle gasped, a hand lifting to her mouth in terror at the sight of it, and Ruby's whole face-red nail polish and all-went completely stiff, her dark eyes fixing on the thing in Snow White's perfect, pale hand.
"Go and get him. Now" she ordered, her hand clutching the blood red apple in her hand, and her fingernails digging into the skin around the small, but definitely familiar, even toothed bite mark.
And underneath the mark, scratched into it as though with a sharp pin, was one jagged word:
Remember?
Wow, this chapter just FLEW out of me! Seriously, I wasn't expecting all of...this! I hope you like it, I'm not to sure about the apple thing so please tell me what you thought, and I'll update ASAP, I have something coming up in this that I've been wanting to do again for a while...I wonder if any of you can guess what it is...