Over the next few weeks, with either David or Emma accompanying him to make sure he was behaving himself, Will grudgingly worked his way down Main Street, checking locks, recommending stronger measures at just about every stop, and even installing them. He had to cover up a smile each time he showed the good business people of Storybrooke how easily their shops could be broken into; they were always shocked to see how defenseless they had been against any crime. 'Although,' Will thought, 'it isn't like there's a lot of crime in this town.' Although it seemed like every time something went missing, he was the first one the sheriffs went looking for, the first one they shook a judgmental finger at, the first one they cuffed and tossed in the slammer. 'Of course,' he shrugged admittingly, '9 times out of 10 they were probably right.'
While the townspeople were greatly pleased with his improvements, he was always careful never to install any device that could prevent Will himself from entering a shop, if and when he ever got back to his chosen profession. But the way David and Emma kept him on a short leash, hopping every day from morning til night, it looked like his penchant for thievery would be taking a backseat for quite a while. However, he assured himself as he showed Belle the new deadbolt on the library front door, he always had hope for the future.
Belle stood behind him smiling as he tightened the last of the screws. "This here will keep your books safe enough," he said as he straightened up and turned to look at her. "Wot?" he asked as she grinned at him. "Well, you know," she said, "the only one who ever broke into the library was you. I've never had any other trouble from anyone in town; everyone else understands the concept of a lending library!" Embarrassed, Will stared down at his boots. "Not one o' me finer moments, I'll give you that." He tapped the door lightly. "But maybe we should put some bars on the windows, just in case I get drunk some night and decide I need to use a brick to get a book again." Belle's grin turned to a giggle, and Will smiled too. At least one person in town didn't seem to mind him.
Once a week, right after David counted out his pay at the station, Will sauntered down the street to the diner, strolled in, and slapped a percentage of it down on Granny's countertop. No matter where she was, Granny always turned to him as if she had radar sensors on, and no matter how much he tried to deny it, she made him squirm just by staring at him, silently daring him to make one smart remark. And, he noted, that crossbow of hers was never out of reach. For all his bravado, she was one woman he did not want to mess with. Maybe it was the way she reminded him of his best friend—tough, opinionated, and never one to back down from a fight. Each time, he suffered the older woman's steely glare, and skarpered out as quickly as he could. It was always a relief to hit the sidewalk after his weekly stop at Granny's.
It was a sunny Friday afternoon when he headed there yet again. He figured he was about halfway through paying for the damages that damned furball had caused. Will still remembered that stormy night so long ago, when the rabbit had surfaced to tell him Alice was need of her knave. Of course Will had gone with him; what else could he do when he owed Alice so much-he couldn't deny her a thing. While Rabbit's magic always repaired the holes he dug, Will couldn't figure out why it didn't take care of anything else that got broken. Granny's place was full of dishes, glasses, tables, chairs, lamps, and so on, but Rabbit's magic had pretty much ignored the shattered remnants of Granny's furniture and crockery. 'And I got pinched for the damage,' Will growled to himself, promising that if he ever saw that Rabbit again, he'd—
"Afternoon, Will," Belle's soft voice broke into his reverie, and Will spun around to see the librarian walking up behind him. "Same to you, miss," Will smiled. "You know," Belle returned his smile, "you don't have to call me 'miss,' my name is Belle." She fell in step with him as he continued on to the diner. "Well," he answered cheerfully, "I don't want to be pushin' me luck you know, such as it is." "Granny's?" she questioned. "The very same," he answered, his hands shoved in his pockets. "Makin' me weekly pay off trip right into the dragon's lair."
Belle laughed and was like music. It roused a distant memory of another woman, far away in England. Will felt a pang as he suddenly pictured his best friend. The two of them had done a lot of walking and talking in the past, a past that seemed to fade a little more every day. Would he ever see Alice again? Belle brought him back to the present when she answered, "Granny's not so bad, you just have to get on her good side." Will sighed, "and just how would I be goin' about doin' that, seein' as how I can't even seem to find it?" He kicked at the dust along the sidewalk. "Well," Belle said thoughtfully, "you have to let others see your own good side first."
Will laughed to himself. "Me own good side? Can't say if that even exists anymore, let alone show it to others. You got any books in your library about that?" Belle regarded him kindly, "Will, you don't understand!" She gestured to the buildings along the street. "You're showing it already. Look what you're doing for Storybrooke! A lot of people feel safer now since you've helped them improve their security."
They arrived at Granny's, and he held the door for her. "Are you having dinner?" she asked cheerily. Will shook his head. "Nope, just payin' a wee bit more down on my bill, then I'm off." He glanced towards the kitchen area, where he could hear Granny's voice fussing behind the counter at the coffee machine. "Damn coffee maker," she grumbled, "why won't you heat water?" Belle took a seat at a booth while Will slid over to the counter and watched as Granny poked and prodded at the ancient machine on the back shelf.
"No one buying cold coffee then?" He quipped, leaning his elbows on the counter, only to wince at her withering look. Strands of her hair hung over her face, and frown lines marked her forehead as she wiped at her eyes. "I don't need your sass, Scarlet," she intoned, "I'm busy with this blamed piece of junk."
"Here," he cautiously eased behind the counter next to her, "Let me have a go at it." She grudgingly stepped back, wiping her hands on a dish towel. He looked at the machine's innards, reached around to the side and unplugged it, then started fiddling with the wiring while Granny stood at his shoulder, watching intently. Finally he glanced at her. "You know, ya bloody well don't need to be breathin' down me neck while I'm working here, it ain't like I'll make off with the whole bleedin' machine, ya know."
"Oh, I'm keeping both eyes on you. You better not swipe even one sugar packet from the tray, Mr. Sticky Fingers," Granny shot back.
Will stopped working and looked at her wide-eyed. "Really? Mr. Sticky Fingers? Is that the best you can do when referring to a dangerous bloke like meself?"
"Oh," muttered Granny, "I could do better all right. I'd like to blister you up one side and down the other." Will tried to open his eyes even wider while he worked, and look as innocent as he possibly could. "Well, now, that kind of rubbish ain't fit to come out of a lady like yourself," he answered as sincerely as he could.
"Don't try that charm on me!" she retorted, narrowing her eyes and tucking another errant strand of hair behind her ear.
"Charm?" he grinned, knowing he was egging her on but enjoying it immensely, "wot, you think I'm charming? More charming than our charming sheriff?" He tried not to smile as she sputtered in anger, instead focusing intently on the coffee maker.
"You hooligan! You just keep—" Granny stopped in mid-sentence when Will reached around, pushed the plug back into the outlet, and flipped the 'on' switch. "Give it a go now," he interrupted her. In less than a minute the hot water was steaming through the coffee filter. She stared first at the coffee maker and then at him as he headed out. Belle gave him a wide smile, which he returned with a wink and a nod. Granny reluctantly called out a "Thank you" to him when he reached the door. He waved a salute without looking back, and disappeared into the evening.