Chapter 4
Henry didn't want to admit it to anyone, especially himself, but he really liked the tire swing in front of the French's home.
Marie fixed it earlier this summer with some help from his mom (his real mom thank you). Ever since then Henry and Paige played on it non-stop.
Marie's front yard had become a sanctuary for the schoolchildren of Storybrooke.
Henry had to admit; it was a lot more fun than the Evil Queen's playground. Although Marie's yard only had one swing, Marie often came out to play with them when she wasn't working for Mr. Gold. Tag, baseball, she even taught them how to play rugby once although Henry was really bad at it!
Henry really liked Marie. He hoped, when she first arrived, that she would remember fairytale world since she had been isolated from the rest of Storybrooke. But… that wasn't the case.
She was beautiful like a princess was supposed to be. When she first arrive on the scene, Henry scoured the book for a story that fit and was surprised to realize that she was Belle, a daughter of a simple knight who was trying to keep his keep together in the face of ogres. Belle, the tamer of monster and man alike, taken away from her true love before she could save him.
The book never said if she lived or died, it was difficult for Henry to tell if the Queen was lying when she told Rumplestiltskin that Belle died. He remembered his heart cracking when he read about the agony the man went through, believing that his true love was dead.
But then Marie showed up and she fit Belle. Henry knew in his heart that she was Belle and his new goal was to reunite Belle and Rumplestiltskin.
That was if he could only figure out who Rumplestiltskin actually was.
He was the trickiest of all the characters in his book, there were a few times where Henry suspected Dr. Whale of being him, but then again Mr. Gold fit the character as well. There were a few other weaker choices but those were the ones he privately thought were the most likely candidates. He didn't confide in Emma about this, he knew she wouldn't really get this part of Operation Cobra.
However, he was pleasantly surprised when Emma came up to him in Marie's yard with a few ideas about Rumplestitskin. Henry, instead of playing with the other children, was swinging and reading his book.
"Henry!" she called out as she exited the French's house. Henry craned his neck to look over at his biological mother and beamed.
She didn't look nearly as thrilled as Henry. Her Sheriff's badge hung proudly on her jacket and she was frowning down at Henry when she reached him.
"What do you know about Rumplestiltskin?"
Henry started to speak but Emma held a hand up, continuing, "Because I think I may have a lead on that."
Henry snapped his book shut as he leaped off the tire swing, "Who?"
Emma rubbed a hand on her forehead and sighed. She often sighed when discussing Operation Cobra, "Mr. Gold."
"I knew it!" Henry whooped before mentally calculating a way for Belle and Rumplestiltskin to reunite.
"Not so fast kiddo," Emma winced before muttering, "I don't even know why I'm telling you this."
Henry schooled his face so it would look like the perfect combination of sweet and eager.
She fell for it, "Kid, Marie was over at our place last night, kind of sounding. . ." she hesitated, "a little off-kilter."
"But," Emma continued, "she said something about Rumplestiltskin in one of her clearer moments, and then she demanded us to call Mr. Gold. I don't know why she even said the name Rumplestiltskin, but you have that whole idea that she's Belle, and Rumplestiltskin is the beast so I figured…"
He rushed at her and gave her a hug. "Thanks Emma!" he said, his voice muffled by her voluminous hair.
He could feel her cheeks as squeezed back, "No problem Henry."
There were times where Henry knew for sure that Emma loved him and this was one of those times.
Belle, not Marie, stared at the door that Emma disappeared through.
The Sheriff had come by to "check up on her" after her behavior the night before, but she didn't ask too many questions other than:
"Are you ok, Marie?"
and
"What was up with the Rumplestiltskin comment?"
Belle, as Marie, answered both very succinctly, "I'm fine thank you and Henry told me that Mr. Gold was Rumplestiltskin in his fairy tale book so the name stuck."
Belle had no idea if either of those retorts were true. She felt fine, but very embarrassed at her anger, outrage, and sheer insanity, especially towards Emma and Mary Margaret (and she even felt a piercing of guilt about Rumplestiltskin although she tried to hush it up). However, she immediately regretted saying anything about Henry and his book as Emma raised an eyebrow at that answer.
Never bring up someone else's child if you're trying to escape answering questions, it's a poor decision.
Emma didn't say anything, instead she looked back through the door, where Belle knew Henry was swishing his legs back and forth on the tire swing.
Belle wished she could join him; it sounded like much more fun than being questioned about your sanity.
Emma had hemmed and hawed for a bit before leaving the French residence with a small warning, "Marie, I don't know what happened to you in there, but don't let it affect your life out here."
The real warning was clear.
Mess with Henry and you'll die.
Emma was already a decent mother, even if she didn't realize it yet.
Belle chewed the inside of her lip. She couldn't decide whether to go to Rumplestiltskin or not.
She loved him still. She dearly wanted to be by his side, but she was so enraged at him. Not even for abandoning her as she told him the night before, but for not believing that she loved him in the first place.
It took all of Belle's courage to even admit she loved him. He changed her opinion of him little by little until she was so smitten by him that even an Evil Queen could see it lined on her face.
She missed him, but knew, this time, she couldn't go to Rumplestiltskin.
Rumplestiltskin had to come to her.
And if he didn't, well there was a library in Storybrooke that seemed like it needed a good dusting.
Belle was good at cleaning up dark, old places.
Regina didn't like to lose.
Her new playground stood empty as the schoolchildren took to the hot summer streets.
Even Henry (although she shouldn't really be surprised at that) left the playground for the cool shade of the Frenchs' tree.
Damn that girl.
She was only useful as a pawn and yet the pawn escaped the grasp of the Queen.
This wasn't how chess was supposed to work.
This pawn was possibly the worst pain in her side yet. It was a toss up between her and Miss Swan.
Speaking of which… Regina took out a manila folder from her desk and smiled wickedly at it.
Sidney, the mole, had received more information from the Sheriff. Apparently he met up with her last night after she received a little visit from the girl.
"Miss Swan said she was spouting the same nonsense as Henry," the note said, "the sheriff even mentioned a name, Rumplestiltskin."
Regina stopped reading.
Her eye was twitching too much to concentrate on any insipid theory Sidney came up with underneath the facts.
The girl remembered.
Well… this changed the game quite a bit.
Slowly, Regina's eye stopped twitching as she considered what her next move could be.
Unfortunately for Regina, she had an unexpected visitor.
Rumplestiltskin knocked three times before springing himself backwards.
Just in time for the door to swing open revealing Regina's scowling face.
"What do you want," she sneered.
He pasted a half-assed grin on his face, "To talk about the facts, dearie. You know… the real ones."
He could see the debate rolling in her dead eyes before it ended with the door slamming in his face.
How rude.
He reached over with his cane and knocked once.
She didn't answer.
Rumplestiltskin rolled his eyes, plucked out his very own set of keys from his suit pocket and unlocked the door.
He readied his cane in case of attack but was only greeted with slimy words, "I could call the Sheriff on you Mr. Gold."
"Now why would you do that Regina?"
Fury flashed in her eyes, "You just threatened me by breaking and entering."
Rumplestiltskin laughed, how could he not, when she was missing the point entirely, "If I wanted to hurt you dear, Henry would be in Emma's hold already."
Regina crumpled at the vision. "What do you want?" she seethed.
How could he persuade her of this nicely, "If you do not leave Belle alone I will end your little experiment here. Everyone will remember and everyone will want you dead."
As expected, Regina rolled her eyes, but he wasn't done with her yet, "Don't forget that with a small little word I can make your life a living hell."
This was when the fear crept into her face. Rumplestiltskin lapped it up.
"Should I say it then, your highness?"
Rumplestiltskin watched as she steeled herself. She smiled, her white teeth bared, "You understand this Rumplestiltskin, if your girl or yourself or anyone else come after Henry, I'll be sure that you'll be situated quite nicely in Sheriff Swan's cell. Is that clear?"
"Likewise," he spat, enjoying the way his spit landed on her forehead. Humming merrily he slammed the door shut.
As he stepped onto the walkway outside, he wondered when she would realize that both of their decks were empty at the moment.
There was only so much emotional trauma and damage you could do without magic.
A child's laugh interrupted his thought, and he turned to see Henry with Sheriff Swan.
"Mr. Gold," Henry called out before he charged up the walkway. The young boy cocked his head, "What are you doing here?"
Mr. Gold, as he had to think of himself as, leaned on his walking stick, "Oh just visiting our lovely Mayor. How are you Sheriff Swan?" He attempted a smile at the blonde. She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at him.
At least she wasn't completely stupid and insipid like most of the sheep that dwelled Storybrooke. It was probably where Henry got his bravery. It sure wasn't from Regina.
"Mr. Gold," Sheriff Swan nodded, without breaking her stance. She looked determined not to seem ruffled, but her shoulders were tense and she avoided looking at him in the eye.
From that, he surmised that they were talking about the book again.
"So, uh, Mr. Gold," Henry started.
"Henry," Emma warned, her eyes widening.
The boy ignored her, "Have you seen Marie? She was supposed to play with us kids, since it's her day off working for you and all, but she didn't come out today. Emma visited her earlier but she's not saying anything." At the last sentence, Henry stole a peek at his biological mother.
She grimaced.
"I have not had the chance to see her since last night when I had to drive her home. She wasn't feeling in tip-top shape, you see, Henry. But I'm sure she'll play with your classmates again in no time at all."
To Mr. Gold's surprise, Henry frowned, "But shouldn't you go and check up on her? She's your employee after all."
"I'm sure after a visit from Emma, as well as a visit from our beloved town psychiatrist, she'll be a bit tired today. I'll see her at work, I'm sure." The lie slipped out easily. He wondered if he actually believed Belle would come to him again. She did it so many times before. It wasn't hard to think that maybe she would show up again.
A soft voiced changed that opinion, "I don't think she'll be coming to work for a while, Mr. Gold." Mr. Gold glanced at Emma in surprise. Her face softened at his expression and he wondered wildly if he looked as upset as he did the night he beat Belle's father. He shouldn't be this upset. He knew that he was going to lose her. It was always inevitable.
But maybe he believed his own lie more than he realized.
He cleared his throat, "What do you mean, Sheriff Swan?"
She unfolded her arms and placed her hands on her hips instead, "Listen, Mr. Gold, I don't know or understand your weird past with her. I really don't get it. She said some weird things last night before you got there, and…" Emma looked back down at Henry who was smiling at her encouragingly.
Bae's face flashed before Mr. Gold. He closed his eyes for a moment until Emma spoke once again.
"I don't think she's going to forgive whatever you did, or didn't do, until you go over there and talk to her yourself."
"But that would require bravery, Sheriff, and I've never been a brave man," He flashed a true Rumplestiltskin smile at them and Emma shivered.
But Henry faced Rumplestiltskin head on, "Mr. Gold it's not hard! Just say that you're sorry! And that you love her!"
"What?"
"Henry!" The blonde wisp looked horrified at her son's words, "Henry, what?"
"But it's true!" Henry protested.
Rumplestiltskin wanted to laugh. Or throw a tantrum, but the two feelings weren't mutually exclusive in the Dark One's case. Even a child in a cursed realm could see his feelings for Belle.
No wonder the damned queen was able to manipulate her, if the two of them were that obvious.
They were probably worse than Snow and Charming.
Now that was a horrifying thought.
"It's alright, Miss Swan," he said. "People see things that they wish to see, regardless of the validity of those assumptions."
He bent down to Henry's height and winced when his knee cracked.
"Mr. Gold?"
"I'll go visit Miss French for you. Do you want me to say anything in particular to her?"
Henry twisted his mouth as if he was trying to think of the right answer. Clever boy.
"Tell her the truth," the young man decided with a nod of his head.
Rumplestiltskin smiled.
That was the right answer.
It was late afternoon when Belle finally prodded herself out of the house. She had skimmed all the books that her alter ego owned, cooked, and cleaned, but she couldn't help but feel that she was in hiding.
Belle did not hide.
So out she went, smiling as a few children passed her by on their bicycles, waving hello to their favorite playmate.
It was nice to see that even in a cursed land such as this, children could still smile.
She wasn't sure where she was walking to, although she made sure that she wasn't near Mr. Gold's home or shop.
The sunlight draped over her, despite it being quite late. She was quite glad that she wore one of her sundresses because it was still hot. She felt a sweat drop dancing down the back. She hoped it wasn't noticeable.
"Ah Marie!"
Belle turned to face Dr. Whale. He smiled cheekily at her, and she wondered who he really was.
A prince? A villain? An adventurer? A stooge?
Did it really matter?
"Hello Dr. Whale," she said, giving him her sweetest smile.
"I was wondering if you were feeling any better? I heard you may have had a relapse last night."
The smile threatened to ebb away, but Belle forced it to stay, "I'm very well thank you. Is there something I can help you with?"
The Doctor eyes brightened, and she wondered if he was truly that lonely for company.
"Well, actually, Marie, I was wondering if you'd like to join me for a meal at Granny's."
The smile did slide off her face then. Oh dear.
"Um, well, I don't think that would be a good idea-" she faltered. How do you explain that you already have your true love especially in a place like Storybrooke?
Especially if you aren't speaking to your true love.
She could see the argument form on his lips but he stopped suddenly. Belle looked down and saw a cane on Dr. Whale's arm.
Relief swarmed her.
"Now, Dr. Whale, are you harassing my employee?" Rumplestiltskin's silken voice muttered.
Belle didn't want to face him, she was afraid she'd beam and ruin whatever Rumplestiltskin was about to do.
Dr. Whale, however, she could look at. And he looked quite puzzled, "Mr. Gold," the good doctor began, "I was just asking her out on a date…"
"Alas, she's too busy for any dates at the moment, I have her working hard. On the floor, on the table…" Rumplestiltskin's words drifted out to where they could be understood by both parties.
Belle blushed and was now even more determined not to look at Rumplestilskin.
Dr. Whale, to his credit, saw the blush and heard the words.
"Ah, I see," he frowned, "Well, if you ever are free Marie, give me a call?" He stuffed his hands in jean pocket and walked off to the diner, presumably to hit on Ruby.
Poor Ruby.
"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you."
Belle looked away from him, "It's all right."
She could feel his hand mere centimeters away from her face, but right as she turned to face him, he pulled his hand away.
He looked so human now. His eyes were such a lovely shade of brown instead of inky irises, his hair straight instead of curly. But his heart hadn't changed and he looked at her the same way he always did.
It was a grand mix of wonder, fear, and love. The lilting of his eyebrow, the soft expression around his mouth, every little expression he made
She wanted to kiss that mouth again despite her anger.
Which was melting away every second.
"Should we talk here?" she asked, darting her eyes around Main Street. People milled about, August was even leaning against the wall of a shop across the street.
He eyed the two of them and smiled.
She swallowed, nervous. His angle was something she didn't want to think about.
"Belle, I love you. I'm sorry for everything," Rumplestiltskin whispered, aware of their company.
Her eyes watered, but a smile broke out of her anyways, "I'm so, so mad at you Rumplestiltskin. But I love you too."
He didn't smirk or say anything.
He smiled.
She wanted to see his smile grow, "So can I kiss you here?"
His lips were on hers before she could finish the thought.
The End.
Author's note: I'm sincerely sorry for this outrageous delay. I'm very bad at writing consistently and ever since the finale I was having a hard time getting my shit together for this fandom. I hope you liked the story! I hope to write more once the season returns, but we'll see.
Thank you for reading!