Chapter Seven: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

.

"What are you confused about?" Regina demanded. "We got you out of that prison I put you in, you're not going back."

"No, it's not that," Belle said distantly. "It's like I've forgotten something important, but everything is still in my memory. I remember the Enchanted Forest and living in the asylum, but something's missing."

"Do you have an idea of what is about and maybe we can try and trigger the memories that way?" Killian suggested.

Belle thought for a moment. "Um, let's see. Magic, dark magic definitely. White hair? Uh, lots of darkness for sure."

"Excuse me did you say white hair?" Emma asked paling.

"Yeah," Belle murmured. "White hair and blond hair. Kinda like yours."

"She's back too?" David whispered.

"Belle," Emma said cautiously. "Do you remember me as the Dark One?"

Belle blinked slowly. "Yeah, you were the Dark One and so was Killian, but Killian died and now no one's the Dark One."

"Not exactly," Regina muttered.

"What do you mean?" Belle asked anxiously.

"Gold decided it would be grand to have Emma kill me with Excalibur since he enchanted it to give him back the Dark One powers," Killian grumbled.

Belle slumped into her seat, face in hands. "Again?" She whispered. "He goes behind my back and deceives you all again?" She repeated.

Mary Margaret reached out for the girl. "I'm sorry, Belle," she whispered.

"So do I just ignore him now, or do I reach out to him?" Belle asked.

"Reaching out may be good," Emma said nodding. "Although it could cause more heartbreak once he remembers."

"I'm reaching out," Belle decided. "Maybe I can change him this time."

.

Belle approached Mr. Gold's Pawnbroker Shop with caution. The sign said open, so she gently eased the door open and started to look around.

"What can I do for you?" Gold said from behind her.

Belle spun around, heart pumping. She sighed in relief when she saw it was just him.

Rumplestiltskin on the other hand, had wide eyes. "What are you here for?" He stammered.

Belle smiled innocently. "I just looking for a gift. For a friend."

"For a friend," Gold repeated distantly. He snapped into dealmaker mode. "And this friend's name? Interests?"

"Oh," Belle laughed nervously. "Ah, David Nolan. You know, he just got out of that coma, so I wanted to get him a welcome back gift."

"I've never seen you around before, dearie," Gold said with narrow eyes. "What's your name?"

Belle's thoughts flew by as she struggled to find a name. "Um, Lacey. Lacey French," she blurted, mentally cursing herself. "Lacey Belle French," she amended. "That's my full name."

"Well, Miss French, I suppose I may have a nice gift for you to give Mr. Nolan. Search around and see if something catches your fancy," Rumple swept his hand to gesture at his store.

Belle nodded and glanced around to see if there actually was something for David. Now that the lie was told, she had to act on it to make it seem like truth.

.

The man was alone. Alone in a dark room. Someone slid food in through a flap in the door. The man ate it out of hunger. He didn't know how long he had been in here or who he was. He only knew he was not meant to be here. And it was her fault.

The pretty girl with the blonde hair. The deputy sheriff. She was to blame. How he knew this, he did not know, but he was certain it was her fault.

"Emma," he muttered. "Emma, I will find you. I will always find you. And I will make you pay."

And the man slipped off to sleep with that one thought.

.

Emma walked downstairs at Mary Margaret's apartment, and saw a bouquet of flowers on the table. Raising her eyebrows she carefully examined the flowers for who they might be for and from.

"Good morning, love."

Emma spun around, hear racing. She groaned when she saw Killian. "Really?" She asked annoyed.

"I didn't send those, love," Killian protested.

"Wasn't talking about that," Emma muttered. She glanced at the flowers. "So who did send these? David?"

"Dr. Whale actually," Mary Margaret said as she walked into the area. She grabbed the flowers and tossed them in the garbage.

"Last time he sent you flowers, I threw them out," Emma remarked. "Now you're throwing them out. Haven't you grown up?" She asked teasingly.

Mary Margaret rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Well, this was all before I remembered. All the Dr. Whale stuff. Now I remember and so does David."

A knock at the door startled them. Belle rushed in.

"I'm sorry," she cried the words tumbling out of her mouth. "I meant to tell you yesterday, but I completely forgot. Rumple thinks my name is Lacey Belle French. You have to call me Lacey." She looked at them apologetically. "It was the first thing that came to my mind."

"Well, you were Lacey for a time," Emma said sighing. "Only problem comes when Gold actually remembers and calls you out on that."

.

The man was dreaming. He was standing over a woman who looked fearfully at him, but at the same time brave. He held a knife high in the air and swung downwards. Instead of hitting her, he poked holes into a reed and ordered her to run.

Who she was was a mystery to him, but she seemed familiar. The hair was different. The woman had long locks of hair, while a familiar face sprung out at him with short hair.

The scene shifted and the man was standing in front of a new woman in a circular room. This woman reached toward his chest and to his shock, ripped his heart from his chest.

He awoke with a start. Gasping heavily. He had seen both those women with Emma.

"You are going to pay, Emma Swan," he hissed. "Very dearly."

.

"Should I just outright tell him?" Belle asked at Granny's.

"No," Regina instantly decided.

"He would trust her," Emma said torn.

Killian nodded. "Aye. The Crocodile would trust Belle-"

"Lacey," Belle corrected.

"-Lacey with anything," Killian continued. "Besides, we have the dagger."

Emma reached down to her left hip to feel for the dagger sheath and hilt.

Ruby walked by. "Can I get you guys anything else?" She asked.

"No, I don't think so," Mary Margaret said glancing at everyone. "I think we're good for now."

Ruby nodded. "Um, not to pry, but, Emma, why do you have a dagger now?"

Emma instinctively grabbed the hilt before releasing it. "As deputy I need to protect myself and I have resolved to not use guns."

Ruby shrugged. "Alright. Call me if you need anything." She walked off.

"Emma!" David groaned quietly. "News will spread across town now! We can't just hid the dagger now!"

"Oops," Emma said sheepishly.

.

The man strained his memory. Who was he? Why was he getting these dreams? Why was he here?

Suddenly as if he was in a trance before, the man's eyes shot wide open and he remembered.

Sheriff Graham, or the Huntsman, sat up in the stone bed. He had to get out. He had to warn Emma, or did he want to hurt her? Maybe Regina had cursed her. That's why she was acting odd. He had to save her.

.

A/N: Oh! So at this point in time, I think I may end the curse early, but only a slight chance of that happening. Graham is going to be part of the reason for the price Emma will pay. Actually, all things considering, I may even end the curse next chapter. The whole Desperate Souls thing and all. They are desperate to break the curse. And besides, I really don't know what to do for it anyway because it focuses on the election. Ugh! This is getting increasingly difficult. But I will not end it! I will not end my stories, even if I have to take a decade off, just to get some ideas!

So yes, Graham remembers being the Huntsman. How will that play out?

Did you like Belle coming back too? I just didn't want Rumple to take advantage of her not remembering, so he can play the same tricks again. I feel so bad for Belle that she's in love with this man who doesn't treat her well. I mean, he made her his servant, gave her the "real" dagger, lies, deceives, etcetera. Poor Belle.

So curse broken or no for next chapter? I guess you'll just have to read and see what the fingers write.