Disney's Tinker Bell in Storybrooke
A Disney Fairies / Once Upon a Time Crossover
Season 1, Episode 10, Chapter 3

STORYBROOKE, MAINE

Friday night came. The phone rang. It was Hartley Winter. He was calling to take Claire out on a date at the movie theater. After what had happened at Granny's on New Year's Eve she couldn't bear to talk to him.

"I called myself a MILF right to his face. How could I be so stupid?" she kept asking herself in mumbling tones. "He must think I'm a bimbo. A cheap date willing to jump into bed with just anyone."

Claire had already dressed for the occasion, choosing one of Ruby's dresses. Ruby had talked Claire into coming to her place and trying on some clothes. For some reason whenever Claire was around Ruby the waitress could talk the older woman into trying to act sexy. Tonight the mother of two chose a tight, slinky, backless number with thin shoulder straps that went around the neck, a broad and low cut front to accentuate her cleavage and an impossibly short hemline. On her feet were Ruby's four inch stiletto heels. It was Ruby's "never fail" dress, meaning it never failed to get her date into bed.

"Is that what you're wearing?" Vidia asked, stunned. Claire had asked for her opinion. "You're the queen. You can't dress like that. I mean, it's bad enough that you wear those work clothes. This…, this is so short. Even Tinker Bell's little green dress isn't that short, and believe me its short." Claire felt pretty much the same way. Every time she moved around in it Claire kept having to pull it down as it felt as though the dress would ride up and show her underwear.

Maybe this is why it was Ruby's never fail dress, Claire thought. Flashing around some peek-a-boo would arouse any man. I don't want to arouse anyone. I want Hartley to like me for who I am, not how fast I can put out.

Claire gave up on the idea entirely and instead curled up in her bed, pulling the covers over her head. She felt utterly foolish for even thinking this might be a good idea and it only amplified her mortification. This was why she refused to answer the phone no matter how many times Mr. Winter called.

Several minutes later, the doorbell rang. He had come to her house. "Mom, your date is here," Tina announced at the doorway to her bedroom.

"Tell him to go away!" Claire replied from under the covers.

"He wants to talk to you," Tina replied. "He says it's important."

Then Vidia appeared in the door and added, "Lord Milori is not leaving until you talk with him."

"He's not Lord Milori," Claire said throwing the covers off. "And he's not James Bond, either. He's just Hartley Winter."

"Will someone please tell me who James Bond is?" Vidia asked, quite exasperated. "Why does everyone keep comparing him to Lord Milori?"

"You used to call him that," Tina told her.

"Me?"

"Hello, Claire," a deep, masculine voice said. "Pardon me for being so forward."

He had come to her bedroom.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him. Claire was indignant. Now he really does think I'm easy.

"May I come in?" he asked in his most disarming voice. "I think we have much to discuss this evening."

She sighed. Claire knew this wasn't going to end without an explanation. She nodded her head and sat up to speak with Hartley, but she kept a big, fluffy pillow between herself and her gentleman caller.

He sat next to her on the edge of the mattress and began with some most disturbing news. "I spoke with Ruby and she explained what happened."

"Eep!" was the sound that slipped from her lips. Claire's eyes became as big as saucers. Her whole body trembled. "I'm not that kind of person, Hartley. I can assure you. Probably just the mood and the drink and, and, and…"

"I would hardly think such vulgar things about you, Claire," he said, cutting her off.

"Well, I'm no bimbo," she replied. "I don't want to have sex with you. I mean…," that sentence just wasn't going to come out right no matter what. "What I mean is…, I don't know what I mean. But I'm not a cheap date."

He smiled at her profound insistence. "Claire, you are not a M…, MI… I can't say the blasted thing, it's just so coarse."

"MILF."

"Yes, thank you. Claire, ever since your husband passed away you have forsaken your own happiness to care for your two daughters. To keep this lovely roof over their heads, put clothes on their backs and place food on the table. It is a most noble sacrifice. You have been selfless beyond measure."

She smiled. Did he really understand?

"Two months ago, you took a chance on changing that. You began to act for yourself. Your girls are old enough now to care for themselves in a healthy capacity and it was only natural for you to start looking out for your own well-being. Now perhaps on New Year's Eve the revelry and alcohol had an effect on you, but it is merely your growing desire to satisfy your own needs coming to the fore."

She groaned inwardly. No, he didn't understand.

"So, you think I want to have sex with you? Is that the desire you think I'm trying to satisfy? Is this why you come over, to take advantage of it and have a good time? Well you can leave right now if that is your intent. I will have no such man in my house who wants a good roll in the hay."

Hartley's eyes widened at such an accusation. "No. Not at all. Claire…," he took in a deep breath and took her hand in his, "Claire, I… Claire, I love you."

Did he just say it?

"I am in love you. And I possess a deep respect for you," Hartley continued. "How you feel towards me I do not know, but I cannot bring myself to act in such a profoundly boorish way. I would never steal your virtue."

Claire smirked just a bit. "Well, technically I left my virtue in the back of a VW Microbus owned by some boy in my college dorm named Lloyd. He had a strange fascination with Scooby Doo and made up his van too look like the Mystery Machine, but with a mattress in the back and shag carpeting on the walls."

"Uh…, well that's neither here nor there," Hartley replied, desperate to change the subject.

"He was rather odd, actually," she continued. "I'm not exactly sure why I even agreed. Maybe when you're nineteen a Scooby Doo van just looks so cool."

"My dear-."

"Come to think of it, he wasn't very good. I think I may have fallen asleep for a few minutes."

"Claire, please!" he begged. "No more."

"I'm sorry," she answered. "I suppose I'm just nervous."

"There is no need. I shall not violate your trust," Hartley said to her. "What I want is to give you my love, not my…, well let's just say I've never cared much for Scooby Doo. Or the Microbus."

"Before or after Scrappy Doo?"

"Does it really matter?"

Claire felt such relief. Not only did he not think any less of her for what happened, but he actually understood. What a truly wonderful man. "No, it doesn't matter. Can we have that date now?" she asked him.

"Unfortunately, the film has already started," he said. "However, I did bring an alternative."

From his coat pocket he removed three DVD movies he had rented from Lydia's video store. He presented them to her. They were Dr. No with Sean Connery, Sleepless in Seattle featuring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, and lastly The King and I starring Yul Brenner as the King of Siam. "I wasn't sure what your tastes in films were."

"A James Bond film, a romantic comedy and a musical," she observed. "I do so love a good musical. And Yul Brenner was just perfect for this role."

"Excellent choice. Shall we retire to the parlor and enjoy the movie?"

"Yes, please, but allow me to change." Claire had to explain Ruby and the dress and why she didn't answer his calls this evening.

"Of course," he said. "Although remember, we did share a dance floor while you were in just a robe and my underwear."

"Yes, but we weren't fixated on sex back then," she reminded him.

"Quite right." Hartley left the room so she could change into something far more appropriate. Minutes later she descended the stairs wearing a lovely black dress and matching heels. "You look magnificent," he told her.

Claire blushed at his compliment.

"I hope you don't mind, I had Tina make us some popcorn for the movie," he said.

"Not at all," she said. "I was going to ask her to do the same thing."

Hartley had already inserted the movie into the player prompted the DVD to the very beginning. The two sat on the sofa. While the movie played Hartley put his arm around her shoulders and Claire placed her head on his. She was happy to have found such a darling man. A man very much like her Charlie in this way. He was decent, hardworking and disliked jumping to conclusions about her. Even when she nervously rambled on about her past he was willing to overlook it and declare his love for her. During the film, she looked into his eyes. She found no pretensions hiding behind them. Claire then whispered into his ear, "I love you, too, Hartley."

He responded by leaning over to kiss her affectionately on her forehead. She lay her head on his shoulders once more and they finished watching the movie.

~O~

While their mother and her date were downstairs, Tina and Vidia had retreated to their mother's room. It was just large enough for an alcove a book shelf, a television set and two comfortable chairs. The two girls sat and watched Dr. No.

In the middle of the film Vidia piped up and asked, "This is James Bond? So why did I compare him to Lord Milori? He's nothing like him."

"Ugh," Tina complained. This again? "Maybe it's one of the other actors." She then had to explain how over the very long run of the movie series the character of James Bond had been played by several actors including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan. The current James Bond was Daniel Craig.

"Who do you think reminds you most of Lord Milori?" Vidia asked.

Tina sighed. "His name is Hartley Winter. And which Bond actor? Probably Roger Moore. Maybe Pierce Brosnan."

"What about Daniel Craig?"

"Hmm…, no I don't think so."

"Who else did you say played this character?"

"George Lazenby, but he couldn't act. That leaves us with Timothy Dalton, but trust me there is no way that Timothy Dalton could remind anyone of Hartley Winter or Lord what's is name."

"Lord Milori."

"Whatever. Sorry, but no. Dalton and Mr. Winter are just way too different."

"Alright, if you say so."

~O~

At the conclusion of their evening, Claire and Hartley stood by the door. She had wrapped her arms around his neck and he put his arms around her waist. They remained there kissing and talking a bit, then kissing again, and talking a bit more.

"Can I see you again tomorrow evening?" she asked him.

He kissed her before answering. "Of course, my love. What shall we do? Watch a movie, go dancing or attend the theater?"

She kissed him in return as a preface to her reply. "Dinner and dancing would be wonderful."

He pressed his lips against hers. "Excellent, dearest, I shall be here tomorrow at shall we say, six thirty?"

"I'll be waiting with anticipation," she replied before kissing him goodnight.

"Tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow."

They shared one last kiss before exiting. When he was gone Claire leaned up against the door and sighed. She had indeed found her perfect man.

This ought to keep you Milarion fans out there happy until the Valentine's Day episode. Thanks for reading. Please leave a review.