Belle spent a good portion of her morning walking around the library with a clipboard in her hands documenting all books. Section by section, she looked at each individual book. As if with a fine-toothed comb, she carefully wrote down book titles distinguishing the ones native and foreign to this land. Although the task was arduous and monotonous, she found it quite exciting. So she hung about the library's giant catalog and went through each card. It was fairly easy to distinguish between the two kinds of books; the Storybrooke books had very thorough information like published dates, publishers and author names. Unlike the books from their land which had little to no information to their accreditation besides the author's name.
It was another peaceful morning at the library until Belle heard the library doors open. She paused her task and wondered what time it was. She looked at the library's clock that was hanging on the wall beside her.
10:37 a.m.
It's way too early for Rumple to be meeting me for lunch, she thought. So she concluded that it had to be another citizen from the community genuinely interested in checking out a book. She quickly set down the clipboard on top of the catalog's metal drawers and excitedly walked over to the person who entered the establishment.
"Belle?" shouted a woman's voice. Belle headed down an aisle and rounded a bookshelf to discover Emma Swan by the circulation desk.
"Emma," Belle said with surprise. "I don't suppose you're here to check out a book?"
"Not exactly," she replied with a serious look on her face. Belle never considered herself an expert on reading body language, but she could tell that there was something else on her mind. "Mary… Mom… said that you were handing out flyers for your book club."
"Are you planning on coming?" Belle said excitedly as she ran behind the front desk to her pile of extra flyers.
"I'm thinking about it. However, when you're sheriff you don't exactly get a day off."
"Ah, I understand. Well, Sheriff, I think you're doing a fine job."
"Thank you," Emma said with a weighted sigh, "It's a thankless job, that's for sure. Oh! I never got a chance to congratulate you on your marriage. Congratulations."
"Thank you," said Belle, blushing a little bit. She moved a couple books on her desk, and upon finding the pile of flyers handed over one of the copies to Emma.
"Hold on to it. In fact, bring the copies with you."
"I'm sorry, are we going somewhere?" Belle asked confused.
"There's a person I want you to meet down at the Sheriff Station. You can post some flyers up along the way there."
"Oh, ok," replied Belle, finding Emma's request to the station a bit cryptic. However strange the request was, Belle trusted Emma and consented to go with her. For all Belle knew, it could have been someone from her past that was still searching for her, "uh, let me just grab my things and lock up the library and we can get going."
Belle hastily grabbed her keys, threw some tape into her pocket and with the pile of flyers in her arm, they both exited the library's doors. After a few minutes of walking in silence, Belle realized that there weren't really many occasions where she was one-on-one with Emma. She thought about the rough interactions they had shared in the past, and although their relationship to each other had gotten off to a bad start she was willing to let bygones be bygones out of respect for the one person they had both cared about… Neal.
Belle reflected on her time spent in the Enchanted Forest with Neal. She mourned briefly over the time lost to Emma and Neal due to Zelena. Belle understood the feeling all too well; of seeing your loved one sacrifice himself to save you. It was an indescribable feeling and something Belle didn't wish upon anybody, even her worst enemy. And with all the commotion of what happened with Elsa, it made her wonder how she even arrived in Storybrooke to begin with. With the town resuming 'normal' activities, Belle assumed that Emma knew of Elsa's current whereabouts. After all, Emma was Storybrooke's Sheriff. It would have been very negligent of Emma if she wasn't kept apprised of the town's safety, especially if Elsa lurked around town.
"So… I have to ask," Belle began breaking the silence, "how did Elsa manage to get to Storybrooke?"
"Well, to be honest, I think Killian and I accidentally brought her back from Zelena's time portal."
"You went to past?"
"Yeah, now that it's officially in the past I think it's safe to say that we actually visited you and Rumplestiltskin once, at the Dark Castle."
"Really?" Belle asked inquisitively. Belle thought back in her past and wondered if she ever remembered seeing Emma at the Dark Castle. But because it was so long ago, and because Rumplestiltskin had made so many deals that she gave up in even trying to remember.
"Yep. I have to admit, seeing and being in his castle was a little more intimidating than visiting his Pawn Shop. And he…" Emma said referring Rumplestiltskin, "was incredibly frightening. I mean, it definitely caught me off guard seeing him for the first time in full Dark One form. Poor Neal," Emma reflected, empathizing with her deceased loved one, "I can only imagine what it must have been like as a kid growing up with Rumplestiltskin as his father."
"So wait," said Belle as she approached a public bulletin board pinning one of her flyers to it, "you interacted with us? Couldn't that have disrupted the whole space-time continuum?"
"I almost did, actually. I almost never existed because I had accidentally altered the way my parents met. Long story short, it was Rumplestiltskin in the end that helped make sure we didn't destroy the future."
"Because if he didn't," Belle concluded, "then he wouldn't have been reunited with his son. But how come he doesn't remember? I never heard him mention the significance of your arrival before."
"It was one of those the-less-you-know-the-better kinds of situations."
"Ah, yes, you're right. That would have been another alteration to the future."
"Besides, Mr. Gol… Rumplestiltskin… made himself a special… Forgetting Potion. For the longest time it seemed like he was helping us, but then later he didn't help us."
"What do you mean? How so?" Belle asked completely confused. A few telephone poles were en route to the Sheriff's office and she began taping her flyers to them.
"Well, Rumplestiltskin did do his part in finding us a way home… and we tried to get home right then and there, but it required magic from me and I thought I was still cursed by Zelena. So Killian and I were stuck with Rumplestiltskin; and he didn't know what to do with us, so he threw us in this room with no doors or windows thinking that we were either too dark or too unpredictable."
"Oh," Belle briefly interrupted, remembering the very room he had warned her to stay away from during her stay at his castle. "I know exactly of the room you're talking about."
" So there we were, stuck in that room. There were many odd end items in there and I think Killian might have knocked over a pot. Anyways, for a good while I struggled trying to get my magic back. And with Zelena dead I technically should have had my powers back, but I didn't believe in it then. Eventually I was able to figure out my magic and Killian and I were able to get home. And I think… it was then that we accidentally brought something else back. I believe that's how Elsa got to Storybrooke."
"Wow, that's quite a tale."
Emma scoffed over what Belle said, "You know what's funny? Rumplestiltskin said the exact same thing when I was trying to convince him that we were from the future."
"So… where is Elsa now?" Belle asked with concern as they approached the Sheriff's station.
"Funny now that you mentioned it," said Emma holding open the door for Belle as they walked through. Belle looked at Emma suspiciously, wondering what she meant by the comment. Belle entered the building and cautiously walked down the hall with Emma to the Sheriff's office. When they entered the room she saw Dr. Hopper sitting in one of the vacant chairs.
"Archie?" Belle asked.
"Belle," Dr. Hopper said greeting Belle with a friendly hand shake, "I'm so glad you could come."
"Emma," said Belle starting to panic, "What's going on? What's Archie doing here?"
"He's here because of me," said Elsa entering the room. Belle was feeling cornered, like she had just fallen into a trap.
"You guys do realize that she tried to hurt me, right?" Belle explained, nervously looking back and forth between Emma and Dr. Hopper.
"I'm here to apologize to you Belle," said Elsa with blunt honesty. Instead of the shimmering blue dress that Belle remembered seeing her in, she wore something modern; a pair of jeans and a pastel green cashmere sweater. Elsa timidly approached Belle and went for the closest chair to sit down. She was trying to look as peaceful and non-threatening as possible.
"And I'm here," inserted Dr. Hopper, "because for the past few weeks she's been seeking therapy from me. Emma sought for my assistance when Elsa spoke of wanting to assimilate to Storybrooke. So I told her, that the best step in wanting to be part of this town, would be to make amends to all the people she's wronged. She mentioned having wronged you. So instead of having her approach you by herself, we," Hopper said gesturing to himself and Emma, "thought it would be best to be here to buffer any hostility that may still be there between you two and to make sure you were both safe while she approached you to apologize."
Belle was definitely caught off guard by the whole situation and wanted to be angry with their presumption, but after a few moments to collect her thoughts she realized that they did do all this out of concern for her as well.
"Belle… I am sorry. Please… if there's anything I can do to make up for what I've done to you, I'll do it. I am in your debt."
For a moment Belle was speechless and wondered if this was what it was like to be her husband; having someone being in debt to you. She had seen the deals her husband made when they were living in the Dark Castle together. Deals, debts and favors were all guises for power and she wanted no part in it. She had no desire for power, even when she was still a princess being groomed for royalty she knew that kind of life wasn't for her. She understood a long time ago that power wasn't necessarily bad, just misunderstood. Power, like magic, is only an illusion. And that was why she had an aversion toward it.
She realized, whether it was being in debt to someone or someone in debt to you, she didn't like it. Belle believed that if people were to do good deeds, then they should do it out of their own volition. Not because they felt obligated to. Actions spoke more to a person's character than owed intentions ever would. And if Elsa claimed to be this inherently good and misunderstood person, then she should prove it by doing good for others. Belle didn't need or want anything from her, so why wait to be called upon to perform a good deed? It didn't make sense to her. So much time is wasted already on procrastination and selfishness, and Belle felt it selfish of her to take that favor. Especially when that time could have been better spent on helping others who desperately needed it.
So Belle replied, "I accept your apology. However, you are not in my debt. Unlike my husband, I don't believe in that sort of thing. If you do feel the need to do something for your guilt, I suggest you help the next stranger who comes into town. And instead of freezing them, help them. Who knows? That person may even be your enemy, but in my experience, those are the people who are struggling the most and deserve the most help. So if you are in debt to anyone, it's to those people."
"I will do that. Thank you," acknowledged Elsa, "That was very diplomatic of you."
"I was a princess once," Belle remarked, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly, "I remember a thing or two from back then."
"And you never stop being one," Elsa smiled, "You would have made a fine Queen in your kingdom."
"Thank you, I appreciate that. But um… that isn't my life anymore. And I'm actually quite happy here in Storybrooke… much happier than I ever was as a princess in a kingdom," Belle said trying to welcome Elsa to the idea of Storybrooke. "We're all equals here, all striving to be happy. And I just hope that you can find your happiness here too."
"I will certainly do my best," stated Elsa as she looked at Dr. Hopper expectantly.
"Well that certainly went well," observed Dr. Hopper, "I suppose we should just head down to my office and we can resume the rest of our session there."
Elsa nodded in concurrence to Dr. Hopper then turned to Emma, "Thank you Emma."
"Of course, no problem," Emma replied. Belle remained behind with Emma and they both waited for the pair to leave. When they were finally gone Belle asked curiously, "What problem were you expecting?"
"I don't know… maybe she'd do something, or Mr. Gold would intervene on your behalf…"
"I may not have magic, but I can certainly take care of myself."
Emma, surprised by Belle's confident response, apologized, "I'm sorry I ever doubted you."
"It's ok. Just don't surprise me like that again. Tell me next time. I can handle it. Trust me… I've handled and dealt with many beasts before Elsa arrived."
"I believe you."
"Here," said Belle remembering the original reason for her coming with Emma to the Sheriff's office. She handed Emma a good chunk of her stack of flyers, "spread the word and uh, invite Henry too."
"Invite Henry where?" asked Regina as she strode into the Sheriff's office.
"Regina," Belle said, surprised to see Regina, "I was just telling Emma to invite Henry to my book club this coming up Saturday."
"Are those your signs I keep seeing around town? Well, besides the paper being wasted and the potential litter on the ground… I actually think it's a good idea and a great extra-curricular activity for Henry and young kids alike."
"Thank you?" questioned Belle, unsure whether Regina's comment was intended to be a compliment or ridicule. Realizing that it wasn't beyond Regina's vernacular to be condescending, she decided to go with a compliment.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say that sounded like a compliment," commented Emma.
"Which reminds me," Regina said facing Emma and almost completely ignoring Belle, "we need to talk about Henry's education. I think, now that everyone's settling in, he needs to focus a little more on his studies and I think with some encouragement on your part he'll be more inclined to do so."
Seeing that her presence was no longer needed there, Belle decided to exit the building and chimed briefly, "Thank you Emma."
"Thanks Belle."
"Send my regards to Gold… and oh," Regina began, remembering something and turning to Belle, "that's right you both got married." Her tone was very sour and the way she said it sounded like she was stating some trivial fact.
"Yep," stated Belle, standing awkwardly in front of the Mayor and Sheriff.
"Well congratulations on your marriage," said Regina bitterly. There was almost a hint of jealousy in her voice. "I'm sure you and Gold are just blissfully happy, but just be careful dear," the Mayor warned blithely, turning her back on Belle.
"Careful of what?"
Regina looked down at Emma's desk and began leafing and picking through Emma's organized paperwork, "Well, if you guys are anything in love like the Charmings… you'll have little Dark Ones running around and I think this town can only handle one Dark One."