Emma twisted her hands in her white cloak. Merlin, her father, and the others had returned from rescuing Lancelot but Belle was no where to be found.
"I thought she was walking with you," Charming had said to Lancelot, who looked just as confused.
"And Merida is gone as well!" Merlin added.
Ever since the horse back ride to the meadow, things had been awkward between the two of them. Neither had out right said anything, but the silence, the unknown, was driving Emma crazy. But Belle had appeared in her room every evening since that day and for that the Dark One was thankful.
And now she was missing.
The Curse tittered around Emma, just as worried and annoyed as she.
"How could you have let her go off with these bafoons?" he questioned, "Now's she's probably been kidnapped or found some bleeding heart to go help and gotten her self in trouble-"
"Shut up," Emma hissed, "Shut up, If she's in trouble, I can save her. I'm the savior."
"Not anymore, dearie, you're the Dark One now. And thankfully saving the beauty is exactly what we Dark One's do best," he giggled, "Besides causing chaos and making deals, that is!"
Emma growled, drawing glances from Merlin and her parents.
Suddenly, Belle walked into the dinner. All heads swiveled in her direction.
"Belle! Where have you been?" Mary Margret gasped, "We though you were captured by Arthur and compromised the whole plan!"
"I'm fine, thanks for asking," Belle snapped, "Just kidnapped by by your local red headed archer queen. But don't mind me, I'm sure this bump on my head will heal."
With that, she brushed past a shocked Emma, storming into the back room.
"Ooh, she's a bit perturbed, isn't she," the Dark Curse grinned, "I know from experience that angry sex is superb."
"Did you seriously just blame her for what happened?" she demanded.
"Emma! She could have ruined everything! If she had stayed with Charming and Lancelot, everything would have been fine," Mary Margret replied.
"Your mother is right, love," Hook agreed.
"You heard her! Merida kidnapped her!" Emma cried before turning on her heel to find Belle, "I should have killed her when I had the chance."
Belle was tucked between the jukebox and the wall, cloak wrapped around her, and the rose jar in her arms.
"Are you okay?" Emma slid down the wall across from her, arms wrapping around her own knees.
"Yeah," Belle hugged the jar, "Of course, I'm fine. Not that it matters."
"It matters! It matters to me," Emma nudged Belle's foot with her own.
Belle bit her lip, not quite meeting Emma's gaze, "Thank you."
"I can go kill Merida if it'd make you feel better," the Dark One offered, and Belle giggled.
"No, don't do that, she has a kingdom to rule and we wouldn't want you getting any darker. I heard about what happened when you released Merlin, you used a lot of dark magic,"
"Yeah, well," Emma shrugged, "It had to be done."
"Regardless, you shouldn't be using magic, it's not good for you, or your heart," Belle crawled closer.
Emma rolled her eyes, "Yes mom," she sighed, not noticing how close the brunette was, but when she turned, Belle kissed her.
The Dark One's arms wrapped around her, deepening the kiss. Slowly, gently, they savored each other, kissing much longer than they did in the field.
When the broke apart, Belle grinned, cheekily, "Not quite like your mother, though."
"No," Emma was breathless, "Not at all."