Closer

Morraine's eyes fluttered open, and she looked to the east and smiled. The horizon was painted red, fading into the blue velvet that the stars had so beautifully graced. She hadn't seen a sunrise in a long time, and she recalled what she said about a first sunrise.

Her first sunrise in three centuries.

She looked to her shoulder, where Bae rested his head. His breathing was slow and even, and his face was perfectly relaxed. He looked as if his mother hadn't left him and his father hadn't abandoned him, as if his entire world were perfectly normal and there was nothing to trouble him. She lay her head on top of his.

OUAT

Morraine hadn't in straight terms told Bae what had happened to her on the line, but he understood in some manner what she had said. His easy way with her returned, despite the circumstances, and she even noticed that they had grown closer.

Then he disappeared one night, and only his father returned. It was now her turn to know instantly, by Rumpelstiltskin's expression and bearing, that something was wrong. She spent the first part of the night weeping in her bed, and then she made a silent vow: to see or hear one more word as to the fate of Baelfire.

OUAT

Bae didn't remember a lot of his three centuries in Neverland. Everything blurred together after a while, save his arrival, his designation as Weirdo, his vow to Morraine spoken to the shell surrounding the Nowhereland, and the day Peter decided to have him killed.

Bae didn't remember the reason, though he assumed it was one of two: he was either deciding to grow up or he hadn't pleased Peter in some way. He remembered everything more clearly than a forest spring when Peter said, "Kill him," and the natives emerged from their hiding places around Hangman's Tree. The first round of arrows sent Bae running.

First, he was aimless. That was how he spent much of the day, really. His only thought was to lose them. But it wasn't just the natives Peter had set on him: mermaids, fairies, and even some local birds had it in for him that day.

That was how he determined that he needed to get off that island.

OUAT

Bae stirred and looked up, and his breath caught. The old fire burned in Morraine's eyes, kindled by delight. He followed her gaze to the eastern horizon and smiled. The fire that was the sun burned through the veil between night and day, giving a fresh light to everything around them.

He adjusted his position and looked back at her. "Beautiful," he whispered. She grinned and kissed him. He moved his hand over hers, and she pulled back. "Beautiful," he said again.

"Handsome," she replied. "And brave, and good."

"You're a lot braver than I am, to have found the strength to survive in the Nowhereland."

"It's easy when you're tied to a tree."

"It's also very difficult, because you can't defend yourself as easily against the nightmare creatures when you're forced to stay stationary. Peter could've set them on you at any time, knowing that you were defenseless."

"He needed me. He believed I could see the future."

"And it takes a lot to maintain a lie like that."

"You say enough crap, some of it comes true. All I had to do was keep talking about nonsensical things." Bae laughed, and Morraine kissed him again. "I missed hearing you laugh. It's been too long."

"Yeah, it has." Morraine leaned against Bae and exhaled slowly. "I talked to Rumpelstiltskin last night. I think we found the connection again."

"That's good. It means we have a viable option, and you can talk to your father again."

"I do miss him."

"Like I said, it'll work out out." Bae nodded.

OUAT

A burst of magic woke Bae from a doze, and he shot to his feet. Morraine stood shortly thereafter. "What is it?" she asked.

"I don't know," he replied. "Maybe they do."

"Should we ask?"

"We should at least follow. Look, they're setting out now."

"Are you sure?"

"I think so. I have a good feeling."

The two of them stood at the edge of the woods and watched the four women-Bae noticed his miscount almost immediately-and then they started to track the group.

OUAT

Rumpelstiltskin walked into the library and set the book on the desk. Bracing himself with one hand, he looked around. "Did you find him?" Belle asked, appearing from behind a shelf.

"If by that you mean, do I know where he is?" he replied. "Then the answer is yes. But I don't know how to get to him."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I think there's a way." He took a step toward her and leaned on his cane. "I think the key is in the communication."

"Communication?"

"I can communicate with my son from across the veil." The tears started to come again. "I can talk to my boy."

"That's...that's fantastic. You can tell him everything."

"And I so badly want to. I started, last night, and he's figured certain things out."

"Is he alright?"

"He sounded like it."

She continued to approach him, and her smile broadened. "This is...this is...amazing."

Rumpelstiltskin nodded. "Could you help me? With another book?"

"Of course. What're you looking for?"

"Something on communication between realms, if that book is in this realm."

"Books on general magic are there," she pointed to the back of the library, "and books on inter-dimensional magic are there." She pointed to the back left corner. "And please, be careful."

"I have only one purpose: to find my son. I will use this magic for nothing else." Belle nodded. "Thank you." He walked in the direction Belle had indicated.