Disclaimer: As you can probably tell from the fact I'm writing fanfiction, I don't own Once Upon a Time or any of its characters.
Belle fastened the last gold strand into her hair, rearranging her curls until all that showed were the small white pearls spaciously placed throughout the headpiece. She beamed at herself in the mirror, proud of the illusion that she had somehow managed to get the pearls to stick to her hair without fastenings. Her heart pounded in excitement as she examined her reflection, her chest swelling slightly with pride. Mrs. Rumplestiltskin… Mrs. Stiltskin? Mrs. Dark One? She wasn't sure what her married title was, to be honest.
She smirked as she heard the idle scuffing of a boot in the next room. Rumplestiltskin had been ready to go for a good hour now and she had fought off his attempts to hurry her process with magic. She had explained that she liked the build-up, the anticipation and preparation, almost as much as the ball itself. He seemed to understand with that explanation…but was still bored out of his skull waiting.
"I'm ready," she chirped, snickering at the thud of him jumping to his feet.
The door swung open, "It's about time dear-" Belle stood, timidly turning around.
The great dealer of words, the trickster with a silver tongue, could only silently take in his wife. It was more regal than her usual gowns, long off-shoulder gossamer sleeves fanning out like wings. The light golden dress shimmered demurely, slippers peeking out with each step. He smiled softly, clasping his hands together.
"Lovely," he breathed, following it up with a salacious smirk, "So lovely I'm tempted to take it all off again."
"Don't you dare," she scolded, taking his hands. He pouted and she leaned in, grinning conspiratorially, "After the ball if you're good."
Rumplestiltskin trilled in delight before offering his arm. She hooked hers around his and he escorted her from the suite they were lodging in for the night. They strolled down the stairway and through the tavern, paying no mind to the stares and gaping their appearance received.
Nothing could dampen Belle's mood. It was their first public outing as a couple, her first time accompanying her new husband on one of his social visits. The seaside kingdom of Marisol was a romantic choice for a business trip, and Rumple had promised her a stroll along the shoreline at some point. They followed the smooth stone paths, ignoring the citizens that shied away from them.
"So what is this visit about?" Belle wondered.
"Who says it has to be about anything?" Rumplestiltskin countered.
"The fact that we're going."
Rumplestiltskin smirked, hugging her tighter to him, "Well maybe we were invited."
"Since when are you invited to anything?"
"That hurts, dearie. True, but it still hurts," A few steps passed before he answered, "Not sure about the "why"; it's a ball for the young prince, trying to get him thinking about marriage."
"You think he wants to make a deal about his potential engagement?"
"Maybe, but at a ball this size there has to be some desperate fish in the sea. And I can show off my new trophy wife," he added proudly. Belle nudged him, ducking her head and blushing. He snickered.
The palace was a marvel, set right on the water with a harbor cutting into its center for royal ships to dock. Smooth pearl-white stone walls rose into tall towers, topped with red shingles and flags. It was imposing, but not overly intimidating. Belle decided she liked it.
They were stopped at the gate and Belle gave Rumplestiltskin a sidelong look, starting to question whether they actually were invited or he had just said that to make her go.
"Name?" The guard asked.
Her husband gave a slight bow, "Rrrrumplestiltskin."
The guard then turned to Belle, scrutinizing her, "And who is this?"
She gave a small curtsy, "His Caretaker, sir."
"Caretaker?" The guard echoed and she nodded.
"Of his rather large estate," she managed not to smirk, "Even the Dark One needs a date to a ball."
The guard still looked puzzled, but didn't hold them up any longer. Rumplestiltskin rested a hand on the small of her back, gently guiding her inside.
"Embarrassed to admit to our recent nuptials?" He asked.
Belle bit back a laugh. "He looked startled enough to see you with a woman. Saying I was your wife might've been too much to believe."
"Well I still find it unbelievable myself," he murmured, his voice losing its shrillness for a moment. Belle nudged him lightly and he chuckled, following the other guests into the massive ballroom.
It seemed like a lifetime had passed since she had been to a ball, but the sights were all the same. There were the same instruments leading the dancers with their usual tunes, the same flamboyant women and the same half-bored men, giggling young ladies and flirtatious young men, politicians and villains seeking out opportunity. And yet with all of the commotion, they were still noticed, dancers stumbling and bystanders gaping. Rumplestiltskin seemed unaware until he caught Belle's unease.
"Does this always happen to you?" She murmured.
Rumplestiltskin wrinkled his nose, "Not usually… Then again I so rarely use the front door. Maybe this is why."
Belle carefully observed the spectators. It wasn't just Rumplestiltskin, she was sure; they'd be averting their eyes if it was just the presence of the Dark One that bothered them. No, they were horrified, hardly able to look away from the sight of Rumplestiltskin with a companion. He had done business alone his entire career and suddenly here she was, at his side and relatively anonymous. She could only imagine what they were thinking.
Rumplestiltskin suddenly took her hand and she glanced at him. He inclined his head towards the far corner of the room.
"Sorry, dear; looks like they want to get started right away."
Belle followed his gaze to where a wizened gentleman stood, watching Rumplestiltskin with a strength belied by his frail frame. Rumplestiltskin raised the hand to his lips and kissed it briefly.
"Save me a dance?"
"Of course."
His hand slowly slipped out of hers and she fought the urge to giggle. He looked more like a beaten dog than the nefarious Dark One off to make a deal. She watched until he disappeared from sight, then turned to the festivities.
There were a few noblewomen she recognized; Marisol wasn't so far off from her homeland. She tried to approach them, strike up conversation, but they either turned away or full-out fled. Wherever she wandered, she was given a wide berth, feeling stares on her back and whispers over her shoulder.
She felt…tainted. As though merely being seen with the Dark One was call for ostracization. As though by being his escort she too became something menacing and dangerous. It was one thing for her village to be concerned…but another kingdom? Had rumors been spreading, or was merely showing up with him enough to get such a reaction?
Eventually she surrendered to standing off to the side, watching the party and trying to appear as though she was having a good time if Rumple should return. She was starting to grow concerned when she heard a voice coming from beside her.
"Miss Caretaker?"
Belle turned to see a middle-aged maid addressing her, short and plump with her hair pulled back in a kerchief. She glanced behind but there was no one else she might be referring to…and she had told the guard she was Rumplestiltskin's Caretaker.
"Are you alright, dear?"
Belle smiled, ducking her head, "Yes, thank you. Just…waiting." She tried not to let it sound too pathetic.
"For your master?" She ventured.
"For my husband," Belle corrected.
The woman nodded quickly, "Quite right… I think I saw him in one of the state rooms. Their business is almost done… If you like I could take you to him."
Belle nodded, "Yes please."
"Right this way."
She followed the maid, who seemed on edge for some reason. She constantly glanced around as if worried they were being followed, moving down the corridors at a clip that Belle found hard to keep up with. They went further and further away from the party, from mingling guests, and finally even other servants. Belle could hardly keep track of which way they were going, nonetheless what part of the castle they were in.
Suddenly they were outside in the castle's harbor, a small crew running about a ship as if preparing to depart. The maid took Belle's arm and tugged.
"Come on, dear. It's going to be alright."
"What is this? Where are you taking me?"
"Away, far away from that monster," she glanced back, misreading Belle's stillness, "He won't be able to find you, child; Prince Eric will make sure of that."
Belle let out a long groan as she realized what was going on, "Really?"
Up on top of a tower, surrounded by armed guards, Rumplestiltskin let out a long sigh.
"This is why I never go to things when I'm invited," he sneered.
The young prince stood, every bit the gallant hero as he pointed his sword at Rumplestiltskin. The older man stood nearby, watching the prince like a bird making sure its hatchling didn't try to fly too soon. The prince continued to stare down Rumplestiltskin.
"I've heard about you, Crocodile," he murmured, "About your dealings…the trouble you cause… And now you've gone and kidnapped a poor young woman and forced her to work for you."
Rumplestiltskin's face creased in honest confusion, "Who are you talking about? I haven't kidnapped anyone…recently."
"Don't lie to me, beast." He took a step closer, the point of his sword one jaw drop from Rumplestiltskin's chin, "She was the noblewoman of one of our allies. When we heard of her plight we knew we had to rescue her…and now no one will fall victim to you again."
"I really don't have any idea what you're talking about," Rumplestiltskin insisted, "Give me a name, names help."
"Rumple!"
Rumplestiltskin turned to see Belle storming out of the stairwell. She glared irritably at the prince.
"What is going on here?"
He seemed shocked to see her there. Rumplestiltskin glanced between Prince Eric and Belle.
"Wait…you're talking about her?" He pointed at Belle.
"Talking about me about what?"
"Apparently I kidnapped you instead of you making a deal to save your village and agreeing to go with me."
Belle turned back to Prince Eric, who was looking more and more confused by the minute.
"And so you're trying to save me," she guessed. Prince Eric was silent.
She stepped in front of Rumplestiltskin, her cheek practically brushing the sword as she stared the young prince down, "I don't know what you've heard, but I assure you that I went with Rumplestiltskin willingly from the beginning, and have stayed with him of my own free will since. Try to tear me from him and I will always find my way back. So I appreciate your "help", but it's not necessary. I can deal with this beast all on my own."
Prince Eric stared at Belle uncomprehendingly, "…you're under a spell," he insisted softly.
Belle smirked and shook her head, "No. It's just true love." The back of her hand came to rest against the flat of his sword, and she gently pushed it away. Prince Eric complied, lowering the sword and watching her with a vague sense of awe.
She turned around and took Rumplestiltskin's hand, "Come on, darling; my party mood's been spoiled."
Rumplestiltskin grinned, practically strutting as his wife led him away from the scene. The soldiers stood, completely confused as to what just happened. Their prince seemed to be lost in thought. The elderly man simply sighed.
"It's a pity she's taken," he remarked.
A plume of purple smoke later and they were back at their own castle. Belle dropped Rumplestiltskin's hand and started up the staircase out of the foyer.
"I just don't get it, Rumple; why is it that every young man assumes a woman needs to be "saved"? Are we really that fragile that we can't handle ourselves? Even so, do they really think I'd just sit there without trying, hoping that someone would…" She trailed off as she realized he wasn't following her.
She turned around to see him standing still, his eyes full of wonder and love. Belle tried not to flush at the intensity.
"…what?" She murmured, suddenly shy.
"…that was really sexy," he breathed, his voice losing its high pitch.
Belle huffed and shook her head, "Everything turns you on," she insisted, turning around.
She was caught by the wrist. She stopped and looked up at him, his expression tender.
"Only when it comes to you." His thumb rubbed against her pulse, "…no one's ever stood up for me like that before…" He confessed.
And there it was. The reminder of Rumplestiltskin's unglamorous past, a past only she knew intimately. Scars that would never fade, even with her touch… But she could at least keep his mind off of them.
She smoothed a stray lock away from his face, then smirked mischievously, "What was that about wanting to take all of this off because I was so lovely?"
The pain in Rumplestiltskin's expression retreated and he grinned, "Oh forget disrobing you, dearie," he warned, backing her up towards the nearest possible surface, "That's going to have to wait a bit."
Belle grinned, not minding the cool stone at her back. They had yet to try it up against a wall, and Belle was determined to experiment every possible scenario to be with her beloved.
II
Breakfast seemed pretty normal. Well, normal for having it in the ruins of an abandoned castle, the table lopsided and the chairs caked with dust. Even with the odd details, the standard practice of eating in a dining room on a table comforted Emma.
Belle came in later than Mary Margaret and her, tossing a satchel down beside her seat. It landed with a significant thump.
Emma eyed the bag, "…do a little brick collecting?"
Belle smiled and shook her head, "Just some light reading for the road. It's been days since I've been able to."
Last thing Emma had read was Henry's storybook.
Mary Margaret moved her food around, trying to make herself eat, "…where do we go from here?" She asked quietly.
"We go back," Belle said simply, "We have to."
"Why?" Emma wondered, "You saw the way they freaked out with you. They're not going to have anything to help us make the ash work."
"It's not about making the ash work," Belle murmured. Emma waited but Belle didn't elaborate.
Mary Margaret shifted in her seat, "It's about warning the survivors about Cora."
Belle flinched at the name, "…yes. Seems only right to tell them about You Know Who."
Mary Margaret nodded solemnly and Emma, reluctant at first, had to agree. Wasn't exactly a good guy thing to let a whole bunch of unsuspecting people deal with a powerful villain by themselves. Yeah it pushed the departure date back a bit, but it was worth it to go home with a clear conscious.
III
Mr. Gold knew about the Netherworld; it was the place that one's soul went to when they were placed under a sleeping curse. But neither Belle nor he had ever been victims of a sleeping curse… So what was the place he was dreaming of? How were they connected?
He heard the bell attached to Granny's Diner's door jingle, listened to the heavy footfalls…then braced himself as they stopped.
"…you have completely lost your mind," David declared.
And maybe Mr. Gold had. It was truly the only explanation for why he was allowing himself to be bossed around by an animal.
"…the cat wanted French fries," he muttered.
Unaware that there was anything odd about the situation, Figaro sat across from Mr. Gold, perched carefully on his back legs and munching at the plate of fries in front of him. David shook his head.
"How…"
"It wouldn't shut up," Ruby growled from the cash register as she put in an order, "It stood at the door yowling when Gold stopped in for the rent… You would've thought it was dying."
"And then it wouldn't leave," Mr. Gold muttered, "Shot right through when I opened the door."
"Then started meowing at someone until the guy finally figured out what the cat wanted," Ruby let out a long sigh, "I'd rather risk the health department than listen to that thing go on… Worse than someone blowing a dog whistle."
David continued to watch Figaro eat for a moment longer, "Actually I was meaning to talk to you today, about something Regina brought up."
"Oh, you two are on speaking terms?"
David shrugged, "It's for Henry."
"How very noble of you." Mr. Gold moved the plate closer to the window. Figaro trailed after it, freeing up some space for the other man to sit down.
He took the seat, focusing on the matter at hand, "I was talking the situation over with her and she said that you had trained a portal jumper, a werecat girl."
"Indeed."
"That this girl could not only travel between worlds, but take others with her."
"It's possible she could, with time and the right supplies."
"Have you approached her yet?"
"I'm not going to."
"Why not?"
Mr. Gold reached over and took one of Figaro's French fries, "Shouldn't you be asking yourself why Regina would give you such information? Why she'd help you bring back her arch nemesis and Henry's other mother?"
"Because she's trying to change, for Henry," David insisted.
Mr. Gold smirked, "Change isn't that quick, dearie." He bit the French fry in half, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing, "And neither is world-travelling with nothing more than your own magic. It would take a month before it would even be possible for her to go to our land, and another month to return. She's young and fairly inexperienced; she might be able to take one person back with her."
David leaned back against the booth, "So she wouldn't be able to bring them back."
"Not all of them."
He frowned, "…then why haven't you asked her to bring back Belle?"
Mr. Gold was silent for a moment, "…a single town in a world is not a very large target for her to hit. I don't want her missing it and getting her and Belle lost in the throes of time and space."
"Shouldn't you have more faith in her?" He asked, "You send shepherds you hardly know to go after dragons."
He shook his head, "That's different."
David narrowed his eyes curiously, "…you care about this girl, don't you?"
"Truth is that it's going to be a lot easier for them to find their way back than it will be for us to fetch them," Mr. Gold murmured, finishing off his fry.
David didn't pursue the subject of the mysterious apprentice further; the only one that seemed Rumplestiltskin wasn't willing to gamble with, except maybe Belle.
"You seem to be in a better mood today…" He pointed out instead.
Mr. Gold smirked, "I got a good night's rest."
Figaro gently batted his plate towards David, eyeing him questioningly. Since it was still half full, David picked up a fry and thanked the cat. Figaro purred his contentment before going back to his snack, and David glanced at Mr. Gold questioningly.
"I am no longer entirely sure that the cat has always been a cat," he confessed. The two men accepted Figaro's generosity and helped him eat the rest of his fries.
Mr. Gold hesitated, concerned it might sound weird even to the likes of Prince Charming. He said it anyway.
"Do you…sometimes feel something…mystical between yourself and Mary Margaret? Something you can't explain, but you can feel it in your gut regardless?"
"Absolutely," David said, "Why do you ask?"
He glanced around, before staring down at his hands, "…I think Belle and I connected last night through a dream."
David's eyebrows furrowed, "Is that possible?"
"I don't see why not," he rubbed at his left forearm, "It's just the "how" that's eluding me."
"Well where there's a will there's a way, especially for magic users," David said dismissively, "…do you think that you'll be able to do it again?"
"We're supposed to," Mr. Gold admitted.
David smirked, "Well, then tell Belle to give Mary Margaret and Emma my best."
Perhaps Mr. Gold needed someone more skeptical to talk these things over with.
IIII
Rumors spread about Prince Eric's ball and Rumplestiltskin's recently acquired mistress. It was correctly linked to the disappearance of Sir Maurice's daughter, but that was about all that the rumors got right. Some claimed that she stole Prince Eric's sword and pointed it against him. Others claimed that she took out his royal guard with a rapier, or magically turned them into a dozen rats.
These rumors were little more than propaganda spread from the loyal guard of Marisol, embarrassed for their prince that he should be so easily foiled. The rumors took on a life of their own though, growing until they included her "past". People were torn on whether the darkness was there before in the Caretaker or if it had materialized after she had been with the Dark One, but clearly she was evil for remaining with him and threatening Prince Eric.
Regina did what she could to aid these rumors along, tossing some of her own into the mix. Belle's name faded into near disuse, too pretty for a woman of such reputation. Nicknames flourished in its absence. Belle herself remained unaware of the rumors for a few months after the ball fiasco, too busy haggling with trolls and confronting harpies.
Belle took a deep breath of fresh air as she worked along the Dark Castle's boundaries, testing the barrier spells that kept out the local non-sentient malevolent beings. Though ogres weren't partial to mountainous regions, there was a substantial amount of werewolves that Belle would prefer never to run into again. Rum had explained that even the best of barrier spells had a tendency to wear down, and so she had taken it as a hint to see if she could find any weak spots.
She came upon the castle's gates and peered up at the wrought-iron, extending her magical conscious out. The spell she had felt along the walls was different here more…faded. Belle's hands wrapped around the bars to get a better sense of how exactly the spell worked. She tried to concentrate but the spell kept shifting, throwing her off. She frowned; that wasn't fair of Rumple. She had just mastered the basics; he shouldn't be allowed to throw curveballs at her yet.
"Excuse me, miss?"
Belle glanced over to see a young gangly man standing on the other side, a hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword. Belle smiled.
"Can I help you?"
He blinked, "…aren't I supposed to be helping you?"
Belle tilted her head to the side, "Why?"
The man seemed completely bewildered, "…because aren't you a damsel in distress?"
Belle pursed her lips thoughtfully, "I am a damsel. I am in distress. But I can handle it, thank you. Have a nice day." She turned back to the situation at hand.
He didn't leave.
"Ma'am I think you might be too close to the situation to grasp the danger you're in."
It was Belle's turn to stare blankly, "…last time I checked repairing barrier spells wasn't dangerous."
"I mean being held captive by the Dark One," he glanced up at the towers, "He's off at my village today on a deal; I could have you out of the mountains by sunset."
Belle sighed, leaning against the bars, "Listen, it's very sweet that you want to "rescue" me, but I don't need to be rescued. I'm here of my own free will and if I did want to leave Rumplestiltskin, I very well could. Understood?"
The young man nodded meekly. Belle gestured back towards the castle, "I can imagine you've come some distance…maybe you want something to eat before you return? Well, after I figure out this darn spell…"
She finally sealed off the weak spot and he hesitantly agreed to come in. They had lunch and chatted for a bit before he left. It was the most civil out of all the heroes' confrontations that Belle would have to endure for almost the entire first year of her marriage.
A week later Belle sank happily into her favorite reading chair by the fire, glad to have a day off for once while Rumple had the misfortune of dealing with Regina. She was completely engrossed as the bandit snuck up on the protagonist's love interest, reaching out to-
Belle squeaked as she found a hand clamping down on her forearm. Before she could blame her playful husband, she was pulled to her feet, her book falling to the floor.
"What are you- No! Let go of me!"
"We must go at once, before the Beast is alerted," Her intruder insisted, a burly man so covered in furs he looked part animal himself.
"The Beast is my husband!"
"You are enchanted, miss, but do not fret. We will find someone to remedy that."
She tried to dig her heels into the ground, tried to pull away, tried to do anything, but this brute wasn't getting the message. And if there was anything that irritated Belle it was being denied her own right to choose.
"I'm warning you; let me go before I have to do something drastic…"
But the "hero" merely rolled his eyes and tugged her closer, making to swing her over his shoulder.
Belle stumbled back as she was suddenly released, a cloud of purple smoke sending the problem away. She grimaced and smoothed her dress. She hoped "distant village" didn't mean she had sent him somewhere bad… But honestly, trying to drag her off like some neanderthal…
Things only escalated from there.
"You can't honestly like doing this," she insisted, sitting on the floor in her nightshift.
"Why wouldn't I?" Rumplestiltskin wondered as he sat on the edge of the bed, running her brush through her hair.
"I don't know… Just seems boring."
"Not to me," he murmured, curling a lock around his fingers.
Belle smiled and blushed lightly, wondering how long this "honeymoon" would last. Would he always be trying to find ways to shower her with affection, like the most adorable boyish crush ever?
She knew personally that she would never stop falling in love with him all over again every new day, would never want to stop being with him.
She jumped as she heard a thud. Rumplestiltskin paused and glanced quizzically at the door. It came again and Belle got to her feet.
"What in the world…?"
Rumplestiltskin watched from his perch as she went to the window and looked down. In a flash she went from puzzled to outraged.
"Oh hell no…"
She summoned a robe and pulled it on over her nightclothes before vanishing from the room. Rumplestiltskin blinked; he hadn't even had the chance to ask if she needed help.
The riled-up mob was not a group of heroes from afar attempting to do a good deed; they were a gathering of half-intoxicated men that had been partaking at a tavern, sharing grievances of the lower class. Someone had brought up Rumplestiltskin and his ways, and that eventually lead to the news of him stealing a beautiful young noblewoman to use as his Caretaker. Each for their own reason, ranging from moral integrity to "why should he get a pretty girl?", the inebriated gathering not only managed to get up towards the castle, but had crafted a battering ram out of a fallen tree. In time to chants of "kill the beast!", they drove the log towards the front doors of the castle, hoping that this would somehow counteract whatever locks or magical charms kept them closed.
Suddenly the doors flew open and the men stumbled back, dropping the log. Not just from the shock of the doors opening, but at the fabled woman standing in front of them in little more than bedclothes and a robe.
They might have gawked at her beauty, if she hadn't been so clearly enraged.
"You people are obviously not getting the message!" She snapped, "So here it is, as bluntly as I can put it. I love him. He loves me. No one's being forced to do anything. We are a happy married couple just trying to live our lives together, and I don't need anyone saving me."
There was a brief silence, broken by one of the older men towards the back.
"Do you reckon he sells love potions as strong as the one he gave her?"
Belle shrieked and, in a rare instance, lost her temper.
Rumplestiltskin glanced up when Belle returned, arching an eyebrow, "What was all that about?"
Belle held her hands behind her back, unable to look up at him, "…would you believe it was an old man selling chess games?" She queried hopefully.
She couldn't get him to stop laughing for a good five minutes.
II
Belle had spent the journey so far with her nose buried deep in a book. It might've been fine if Emma wasn't used to her and Mary Margaret chattering, or if Belle looked a little more relaxed. But it seemed like she was trying to set fire to the book with her mind by the way she was glaring down at its pages. Even when they stopped for a break she didn't look up.
Emma examined her bow, the weapon she hadn't really bothered with since she had chosen it. She took out an arrow from her quiver and tried to set it the way they were supposed to go. She succeeded, and then turned to an unassuming tree not far away. She drew back the string and fired.
Belle yelped and scrambled backwards as the arrow veered to the left and landed a mere inch from her foot. Emma grasped her forearm and winced.
"Sorry, Belle!" She called. Belle gave her a thumbs up, before trying to dislodge the arrow out of the ground.
It was going to leave a welt…
Mary Margaret timidly came up behind Emma, "Could I…?"
Emma wasn't sure what she was asking until she nodded towards the bow. "Oh, yeah, sure," Emma said, handing the bow to Mary Margaret.
"A lot of it is stance," she explained, pulling out another arrow and knocking it, "You don't want to face your target head-on; your body should be perpendicular. Use your mouth as an anchor… It sounds silly but really it works. Make sure its taunt…release when it feels right."
Mary Margaret's arrow whizzed through the arrow, embedding with a satisfying "thunk" in the targeted tree. It was…well it was like a movie with the ease and precision she shot. Mary Margaret passed her bow back to her.
"Practice makes perfect," she assured her. Emma immediately pulled out another arrow, preparing for another try. Mary Margaret gently corrected her posture and, once she was satisfied, Emma tried again.
The arrow fell short.
"Better," Mary Margaret praised, "At least you didn't almost shoot Belle this time."
"Always a plus," Emma mused.
Belle watched them for a moment, before setting her book down and getting to her feet. Mary Margaret's attention turned towards her.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
Belle met her gaze, "…bathroom," she insisted slowly before continuing on her way.
Mary Margaret's gaze followed her for a minute before she started after her.
"And where are you going?" Emma asked.
She glanced back and shrugged, "Bathroom," she insisted, before jogging away.
Emma sighed, and went back to her archery practice. Yeah, buddy system was a good thing out in the enchanted wilderness… But she'd never understand why girls couldn't go to the bathroom alone. Unless it was a "bathroom" trip.
It didn't take Mary Margaret long to catch up to Belle, who slowed her pace once she was at her side, "What's going on? You've been in a funk all morning."
Belle crossed her arms over her chest, scuffing her shoe against the ground, "…do you ever think about Abigail?" She asked, "Like…you know she's not a threat, but you can't help being concerned sometimes?"
The question seemed out of the blue, not to mention irrelevant, "Sometimes, I guess. Why?"
Belle took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "It was a long time ago… Before you or I were even thought of and Regina was just a vague idea… Rumple and She Who Must Not Be Named…"
Mary Margaret waited for Belle to proceed…but her mind filled in the blanks first. Her jaw dropped as her eyes widened, "Oh my god…" Belle closed her eyes and nodded, "Oh my god… Oh my god! Is Regina-"
"No," Belle cut her off quickly, "It never got that far…" She ran a hand over her hair.
Mary Margaret stepped closer, folding her arms tightly to her body, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just… Really worried. About what might happen if she got to Storybrooke-Well I'm worried about that in general, but also about what it means for me and Rum."
Her jaw dropped, "You don't really think Rumplestiltskin would cheat on you, do you?" She might not know much about the relationship, but the idea of either one of them cheating was laughable.
"Course not, he knows better," Belle said dismissively, shifting her weight, "I just worry… I mean he's been trying so hard to be good… I don't want her to come along and undo all of his hard work." She shrugged, "There's more than one way to tempt someone."
Belle turned back towards the camp, wincing, "Also, we're not telling Regina any of this. Gods know she's already traumatized enough, don't need to add that tidbit about her mom and push her over the edge."
II
He was in the room of mirrors again, looking through each one but all he saw was his own reflection staring back at him. He had no idea where this place was, only that he had to find it, had to find his way to Belle…
And suddenly he was standing in front of a looking glass that didn't reflect; it was pure white inside, giving no impression of corners or a ceiling. The only color in the room at all was a woman with her knees drawn up to her chest, staring blankly. Belle.
He examined the mirror but it didn't have any levers attached; there was no way to pry it open, no way to simply step into it. A whine rose in his throat as he stared at Belle, so close and yet so far.
Belle reached up, wiping something from the corner of her eye. A tear. Oh hell no.
Mr. Gold picked up his cane and swung with all his might at the mirror. Cracks started to form and he threw another swing, and another. The spider web spread until finally it shattered, the pieces raining down to reveal the room. Mr. Gold stepped in without hesitation.
Belle's head turned to look up at him and she scrambled to her feet, "Rumple!"
He opened his arms wide and she ran right into them, hugging the breath right out of his lungs. He could've sworn it wasn't a dream, feeling her warmth and weight, the silkiness of her hair…
And then abruptly she pulled away from him, her brow furrowing, "I'm mad at you!" She reminded herself, then hit his shoulder.
Mr. Gold stumbled back a step, staring at her in bafflement, "What?"
"I'm mad at you!" She repeated, storming off a few steps, "Because you either deliberately or unintentionally lied to me!"
"When was this?!"
"A while ago!"
"Then why are you peeved now?!" The way Belle's brain worked sometimes…
Belle huffed, staring at the expanse of white for a moment. She turned back around, shaking her head.
"Alright, I can't continue this, not when I miss you so much. But do recognize that I am not letting you off the hook," she warned.
"About what?!"
"Cora!"
The name seemed to echo between them. Mr. Gold went rigid.
"…we agreed never to bring her up again unless it was absolutely necessary," he growled.
"And it is absolutely necessary considering the fact she's actually alive."
It was the first time he had questioned the validity of this dream. Cora couldn't be alive… She just couldn't be. He shook his head slowly.
"…Regina told me she saw the body…"
"Maybe you should stop believing Regina when she tells you someone is dead," Belle muttered. She reached out and squeezed Mr. Gold's shoulders, gazing up at him fearfully, "She's trying to get to Storybrooke, to Regina…"
His hands rested on top of hers, "We're not going to let that happen. If anyone's coming through to Storybrooke it'll be you three, understood?"
Belle nodded, biting her lip, "…but how are we going to get home?" She asked quietly.
He reached up to smooth a lock of her hair back, "You'll find a way… And even so, I'll be looking too."
He pulled her into himself, tight around her. She buried her face in his neck, closing her eyes and pressing her forehead against his pulse.
"I miss you," she whispered.
"I miss you too, love."
Mr. Gold shot up in bed, gulping in air as his eyes darted around the room. Belle… She was in the Enchanted Forest… With Cora. But how…
His jaw clenched as he threw back the blanket. It seemed as though he had a visit to pay.
IIII
Little John stood next to his leader, gazing up at the Dark Castle as the rest of the Merry Men worked on getting the gates opened.
"You know no one's been able to rescue her yet," he rumbled in his baritone pitch.
Robin Hood merely shrugged, "And who's given it a try? Some amateur adventurers looking for an easy way to get into the ballads? Average men stupid enough to think it'll be an easy task? Well we're better than them, know our way around people…"
The front gates swung open and the Merry Men slipped into the gardens, using the shadows to creep closer to the doors. Little John watched them, mulling over why Robin would risk angering the Dark One again.
"…it's her we're after, isn't it?" He murmured, "The girl in the golden dress."
"Aye," Robin agreed, "She saved my life, helped me save Marion's, and ipso facto Rowan's. Least I can do is get her out of there since apparently none of the competent heroes will touch her."
"Maybe there's a reason," Little John said.
"And maybe that's the signal. Come on, you big oaf."
Little John and Robin maneuvered their way to the doors, which opened effortlessly. Robin motioned for his men to fall back, before creeping into the castle. Little John moved a few paces behind, trying his best to keep as quiet as Robin.
Maybe they'd make a little detour to see if his old bow was handy, Robin thought. Just because he could still use his current bow with accuracy that made the Sheriff look like a fool it didn't mean he didn't miss knowing no matter what that the arrow would find its mark.
It was sheer luck that the woman was sitting by the hearth, a book in hand while she stroked something in her lap. Robin gestured to Little John, who gestured to the rest of the band, and they all moved into the room, ready to charge up and announce their intention to her. Though it was a little odd that she was lounging about as though she owned the-
He saw it first and stopped abruptly, too abruptly for Little John to keep from nearly running him over. The Merry Men slammed into each other like an accordion, resulting in boot scraping, soft cursing and a few "you idiot" smacks. The woman's head whipped towards the men and she immediately shushed them.
"I just got him to sleep," she hissed.
The rest of the group peered around him to see what had stopped their leader dead in his tracks, their eyes widening in disbelief. Curled up at her feet, head resting in her lap, was none other than the Dark One. He shifted slightly, an arm tightening around her legs and his head rolling so he was now facing downwards. She resumed stroking his hair, glaring at the Merry Men.
"He's been up for three days straight trying to sort something out and I am not having him be woken up due to a dozen uninvited guests," she growled, her voice no higher than a whisper but carrying all of the power of a shout, "So please, if you have a deal you want to discuss, come in during business hours and we'll chat then."
The merry men stood gawking at the scene, unable to reconcile the wounds they had seen on Robin to the creature now cuddling to a woman who seemed to act like the master of the grounds. Robin Hood smirked, and then gave a small bow.
"Just checking up on you, milady. Glad to see you survived."
"And I'm glad to see you all healed up," Belle said, "Give your family my regards."
"Will do." Robin began shooing his bandits right out the way they came, letting the sleeping dragon lie and the fair maiden go back to her book.
As Robin expected, Will jogged up beside him once they were out into the foyer.
"We can't just leave her there!" He insisted.
"We can and will," Robin stated, "They're already in deep trouble and I'm not getting in the middle of it."
"What sort of trouble?" Will wondered.
Robin smirked, "Worst kind of trouble there is… True love."
III
Visitation…she shouldn't have to have visitation with her own son. Regina fumed, finally unpacking all of the things that had been in her city hall office and putting them in her home office. It was humiliating, being asked to step down as mayor in her own town, and for what? There were no elections, and not even Prince Charming could be a mayor, a sheriff, and a grandfather at the same time.
A small part of her mind rationalized that at least she could see Henry, that Charming hadn't decided to lock him in a tower or something. But still, he was so closed off from her… As he had been since Belle gave him that damned book.
She didn't know how to make him love her. Not forcing him to stay with her, quitting magic, keeping out of the public eye… What more did he want from her?
A chill went down her spine as she heard the tick-tick of an approaching menace. She straightened, keeping her back to him.
"It's rude to come in unannounced to someone's home."
"Never stopped you before, dearie."
Regina turned to see Mr. Gold. She had known him for years; knew all of his facial expressions and emotions. She could tell when she got his goat, could tell when there was something she was missing from one of his riddles. But the look he was giving her right now warned her that it was taking everything in him right now not to kill her.
She shifted, at least putting the desk between herself and him. She had been expecting this visit since she escaped her exile.
"You thought you could keep it from me?" He growled, his body getting tighter and tighter like a spring about to be released, "Thought you could lie right to my face and I'd never find out?"
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
Mr. Gold's lips curled back, "The fact that Cora is still alive."
It felt as though she had been doused with a bucket of ice. Perhaps this wasn't the visit she had been expecting.
"Cora is dead," Regina said flatly, "I saw the body with my own eyes."
"Then apparently she fooled you."
"And what makes you so certain that she isn't dead?" Regina paused, her mouth slightly agape, "…she's not in Storybrooke, is she?"
"Not yet," he muttered, "She managed to find her way to the Enchanted Forest though, and she's definitely interested in getting here."
Regina shook her head, "How do you even know this? …have you found some way to communicate with them?"
Mr. Gold hesitated, and Regina took it as a "yes".
"How? Mirrors? Scrying?"
He ran a thumb over the handle of his cane, "…Belle came to me…in a dream."
Regina raised an eyebrow, "A dream. You're coming in here flinging accusations because of a dream you had."
Mr. Gold was silent. Regina snickered.
"Oh Rumple, losing her has made you go a little crazy, hasn't it? Believing in dreams…" She tilted her head, "So if Belle told you Cora's alive and that's true, does that mean the dream in which I show up to a city council meeting in my underwear will come true as well? Because then I'll take some precautions about remembering to wear clothes."
He knew he had spoken to Belle… Even if it sounded crazy when he said it out loud. He didn't know how, but he knew he had.
II
"Have you ever considered a different hobby? One that doesn't involve ripping out internal organs?"
Hook leaned against the wall, watching as Cora gently set the last glowing heart into its box. She glanced at him and he shrugged.
"Embroidery, maybe? Starting up a scrapbook of different species of flora might be interesting…"
"Where's the fun in that?" Cora said dully, striding towards him, "Magic's the only thing that's really ever caught my interest."
"Well to each their own," Hook said dismissively, standing upright, "Not a soul alive out there, except for the three you had me send out."
"Good. And Snow White's group?"
"They'll be here in a couple hours," he glanced over his shoulder, "Quite the "welcome back" surprise."
"Only fair to warn them what they're up against." Cora stared out the door towards the distant horizon, as if she could spy the group approaching. She didn't usually let things trouble her, but she couldn't shake off the encounter, "Captain… Do you know of a sorceress by the name of Belle?"
Hook seemed surprised at the mention, "A sorceress named Belle? Well there was the crocodile's mate, but she walked the plank a few years before the curse. Turned into mermaid chow so fast there wasn't even any blood, unless they dragged her off somewhere and she drowned," he glanced at her, "Why do you ask?"
Cora's eyes fixed on a spot, jaw clenching so tight he swore he'd hear teeth crack. Had he not known better, he'd accuse her of being upset.
"Go play dead, Mr. Blacksmith," she said coolly, before turning back to her makeshift vault of hearts.
IIIII
There are no words for how sorry I am; the other dishwasher's back went out so I had to pull all night shifts and do all events by myself for a good four or five weeks. I was too exhausted to give this the attention it deserves. Buuuut school's back and the busy season's over (and though I wasn't promoted to cook, I was promoted to work only morning shifts now so yay!), so I am almost positive the updates won't take forever anymore.
Almost…
Anyways, thanks for your lovely support and for how little I've been bugged about updates. I appreciate you, all of you, and wish I could bake a cake out of rainbows and smiles for you. Crossing my fingers for Season 3!
Sneak peek: Belle turns out to not be as dead as Hook would've hoped. Awkward talks about immortality ensue. More fun with Mr. Gold and Regina.