#the place where they find all the blank story books and rumple and belle have their honeymoon

[lilacmoon83]

Operation Castle

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 11: The Library

"It's just a bunch of books about other lands and fairy tales," Alivia said in a condescending tone.

"This one is all about Oz…and this one is about Camelot, except King Arthur is not exactly as noble as we thought," she said, as she put the books on the General's desk.

"And then there's a whole row of these that are completely blank," she added.

"And your point?" General Shaw asked. She looked at him incredulously, like the answer was obvious.

"It means all this is pointless. I don't know what any of it means," Alivia exclaimed.

"But they do…and the blank ones may be more valuable than you think," the General responded. She threw up her hands.

"How?" she asked.

"Because all the ones that are written have been written with a single pen. A pen that chooses only someone deemed worthy of recording the history of these other places," he replied. She rolled her eyes.

"A pen chose someone to write these?" she deadpanned.

"Obviously there is someone behind the pen, but essentially yes. I know where the pen is…and soon it's going to lead us to someone worthy," he replied.

"If you know where it is…then why not just take it?" she asked, but then realized the answer.

"You don't think it will choose you?" she asked, with a bit of smugness.

"Of course not," he snapped.

"And the person that has it can't use it either, no matter how much he wishes he could. His situation doesn't change for the better unless he finds someone that can use it and he'll do whatever he has to in order to find that person and beg them to improve his situation," the General said.

"And that's when we step in," she surmised.

"Exactly. And we still have leverage over our team. When they discover how this magic works in this land, we can make them fix our problem. Once things are back to normal, they can live out their lives in a compound with maximum security," he explained.

"So freedom was never really on the table?" she asked. He shook his head.

"It's too risky. We have to let them use their magic to prevent the total destruction of this world and then we have to lock them away in a magic dampening facility so they can't turn on us in the end," he replied. She blew out a breath.

"I know they're not like us…but they're still people and most of them haven't done anything wrong," she pointed out. He smirked.

"Read the book. Some of them have done plenty. As for the ones they haven't, it is unfortunate, but for the greater good," he said. She sighed and picked up the book, before walking out.

~*~

"Wait…so there's a library here in New York with a book like Henry's?" Emma asked.

"Not exactly like Henry's as far as content, but they look like his. They're all stories of other places in our realm and other realms," Neal replied.

"And you think this can help us?" Snow asked. He shrugged.

"I don't know…last time I was there, I was looking for something specific and didn't pay much attention beyond the subject I wanted to know more about," Neal replied.

"And what subject was that, mate?" Killian interjected, as their eyes met. He sighed.

"It was after August told me about the curse. I was looking for a way to destroy magic…or keep you from finding me," Neal admitted, as he looked at his father with clear regret.

"You had every reason to react like that," Rumple confirmed.

"It's worth taking a look," David suggested.

"I'd really like to see this collection," Belle said.

"I can bring some of it to you and Dad tomorrow. There's lore about the Dark One there that I never really could make sense of," Neal replied.

"We can cover at Castle," David agreed.

"I just wish there was a way to wake everyone up," Snow lamented, as he squeezed her hip gently.

"Me too…I just don't think this is a curse this time," David said.

"And even if it was…this one doesn't have the failsafe that I added to the first one," Rumple said.

"Your true love. I'm not sure there is a Savior this time," he added.

"Then we have to save ourselves," Emma interjected. They nodded and decided to disperse for the evening.

Together, they put Bobby down for the night and stood over his crib, arms around each other, just watching him in silence for a while. He kissed her hair and she finally turned in his arms. She slipped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. He pressed another kiss to her hair and then led her out of the baby's room, grabbing the monitor on the way. He watched her closely, as she sat down at her vanity and brushed her hair, which now reached just past her shoulders. He was often fascinated by her and loved watching her, but he could see the barely hidden terror behind her green eyes. Gently, he put his hands on her shoulders and as always, she leaned into his touch. He knelt down beside her and pressed his lips to her cheek and then her neck lovingly. A single tear slipped down her cheek and he immediately swept it away with his thumb on instinct.

"I wish I could promise you that they won't find out about his powers…but I can't," he whispered. She nodded.

"I know…" she answered.

"But I can promise you that I'll die before I let them touch our son…our daughter…our grandson…or you," he promised. Another tear slipped down her other cheek and she turned to face him.

"That's what I'm afraid of," she confessed.

"I know the lengths you'll go for us…and they could take you away. I might never see you again," she lamented.

"You'd find me…just as I've always found you," he insisted. She sniffed.

"Maybe in our World…but this one is so different, Charming. We found each other and were together against all odds. True love prevailed…at least for a little while," she said.

"It prevailed in the end…which was in this world," he reminded her.

"Maybe…but Storybrooke was still different than it is out here. We were still isolated, for the most part and it was when Greg and Tamara came along that things really spiraled out of control," she said.

"No one believes in anything in this world…let alone true love!" she exclaimed, as she got up and paced a bit.

"Do you know how many of my teaching colleagues had happy marriages? How many were either divorced or married, but cheating on their spouse?" she asked. He sighed.

"Probably about as many of my fellow cops," he confessed sadly.

"I stuck out like a sore thumb among them and I know you did among yours, save for Killian. Even his former ways probably pale in comparison to some," she added. He snorted.

"Yeah…I can think of a few names. But not even this world can dull our love. That's not possible," he said, as he cupped her cheek with his hand and she again leaned into his touch.

"I know our love will never fade. But if we're separated…breaking you out of a prison in this land will be even harder than breaking you out of the Evil Queen's prison," she said. He smiled slightly.

"I know…and I'm going to play by their rules as long as possible so we can stay together. But magic adds a new level to this. With Emma figuring it out, it won't be long until Regina and Gold do too. Then maybe we can set all this right," he suggested.

"I miss Storybrooke…" she said. He kissed her forehead.

"Me too," he replied, as he swayed with her. She smiled, as they danced, even with no music. They had never really needed music anyway and were very good at making their own.

"Trying to distract me by romancing me, Prince Charming?" she teased. He smirked.

"Is it working?" he asked. She smiled.

"It always works with you," she replied, as their lips met in a passionate kiss. He gently swept her into his arms and carried her toward the bed.

"Have faith…our love can beat all the odds, break curses, and change the world," he assured her and she melted into him with those words…

~*~

The next morning, Emma and Neal stood in front of the large, very old library that Neal had spoken of the night before. Henry had tagged along, since he was so curious and they didn't anticipate any danger in this mission.

"So…how do stories about our land and other lands end up in a library in the Land Without Magic?" Emma asked.

"No idea really…though some of the texts speak of an author. No idea who it is, but if they're here…maybe he or she is from here too," he suggested.

"So an author that writes all the stories?" she asked.

"History," Henry chimed in. Neal smiled.

"He's right…the author is recording history and some other authors in this land must know of the history. Enough have made their own version of many of the stories in the book," he said. She snorted.

"Yeah…with my Mom singing to birds and being completely unable to defend herself," Emma said.

"Well…yeah, they got that one way wrong. I think your parents' official story is better," he replied.

"Way better," Henry agreed, as they went inside. Slipping past the one employee was easy. She looked overworked and the place was clearly understaffed and they arrived at the room.

"Wow…" Henry said in awe, as he picked a book and began to leaf through it.

"It's about King Arthur," he said.

"Yeah…Camelot. It's in our realm, but you have to cross the Caspian sea, manage to make it through Nottingham and across the Avalon River to get there. It's weeks to get to the Caspian sea and months on horseback after that," Neal explained, as Emma picked a book.

"Whoa…it's Oz," she said.

"Now that one is not in our realm," he replied.

"It's real too…" she uttered and he gave her a look. She rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. I get it," she said, making him smile in amusement.

"Hey…what are these?" Henry asked.

"I've never been sure," Neal replied, as they took out some dusty scrolls from the bottom shelf.

"What language is this?" Emma asked.

"No language known in this realm…but if one person might have an idea, it would be my Dad," Neal replied.

"You think we can smuggle these out of here?" she asked.

"Shouldn't be too hard," Neal said, as he grabbed Henry's backpack and put a few of the scrolls in it.

"No one suspects a kid," he said, as he ruffled his son's hair. Henry smiled and put his backpack on, just as Emma's phone rang.

"Dad?" she asked, as she answered it. Neal smiled at how natural that seemed for her now.

"Crap…okay, we're on our way," she said, as she hung up.

"Problem?" he asked.

"Yeah…a really big one in Central Park," Emma replied, as they hurried out.

~*~

Killian dueled in a practice spar with David that morning in one of the training rooms in Castle. He found himself on his back for the third time and sighed. David was in rare form this morning and playing for keeps.

"You do know this is training, yeah mate?" he asked, as the blonde helped him up.

"Sorry…" David said, sighing, as he took a drink from his water bottle.

"It's just…it feels like a house of cards. They find out about…you know and all this changes really quickly. Snow is terrified," he whispered, but Killian could hear the fear behind his voice as well.

"Mate…the tiny one is very important to us all, especially me. I may have memories of my previous life, but it doesn't erase the last three years. They won't have an easy time getting to him," Killian promised. David smiled.

"Thanks," he said, as they heard the alert coming from the main war room and hurried out to see what was going on.

"What is it?" Killian asked.

"It's coming from Central Park," Casey said, as he put the visual on screen.

"Bloody hell…" Killian uttered.

"What the hell is that?" Casey asked.

"A giant?" Alivia asked.

"Worse," Snow replied.

"Much worse…that's an ogre," Rumple said.

"What's the difference?" Alivia asked in annoyance.

"Giants are just giant. Ogres are true monsters and blind as bats. But their hearing is ten times that of a human and with all the people and screaming, sneaking up on it won't be possible," David answered.

"This is really bad…ogres hate humans. People are going to get hurt," Snow said.

"Let's go…" Casey said, as he cocked his gun.

"No guns…it's too loud. It will just piss it off," David said. Casey growled and grabbed a sword with a bit of uncertainty. The rest of them grabbed their weapons, as David called Emma on their way out…

~*~

August sighed, as he walked with purpose toward his destination. The guilt of what he had just done ate at him, almost ravenously. But he needed answers and when he ran across a peculiar shop earlier in the day, he knew he had to inquire about his answers from there. It was the same man; he was certain. The Dragon from Hong Kong, now operating a shop in lower Manhattan, filled with herbs and trinkets alike, claiming he could offer holistic cures and alternatives to modern medicine. Usually someone like him would be regarded as a kook and his methods as pure hocum, but August had seen the fruits of his labor. He was the real deal, albeit a crook that profited off those needing magic where medicine had failed.

It was absolutely abhorrent, but he had knocked off a local bodega with relative ease during the lunch rush. The owner wouldn't have discovered the theft until he was long gone with the bank bag he had not hidden well enough behind the counter. He only hoped his deplorable actions would lead to a way to save him and his people.

He entered the shop and eyed the old man behind the counter.

"Well, well…long time no see," the Dragon said, without turning to face him. August was surprised, but probably shouldn't have been. He had no clue who this old mage was back in their land, but clearly he had been a powerful Sorcerer.

"I need answers," he demanded. The Dragon smirked and opened his arms.

"Answers I have…but there is always a price for my wisdom," he said.

"Your wisdom could help people and yet you fleece good people of all their money," August replied.

"I am just a man trying to make a living in this world…and I hardly think you are one to judge, Pinocchio," he countered.

"I have money…but first, you're going to give me answers," August said, as he took something from his pocket.

"About this," he said. The Dragon's eyes immediately filled with greed at the item and he made a move to hold the pen. But August was quick and pulled it away.

"You get money, not the pen and I get answers," he said, as he opened the bank bag and showed him the stack of cash. The Dragon smirked.

"Ill gotten gains and you dare to judge me?" he chided.

"Look, you and I both know that whatever that trigger did, it's probably going to slowly destroy this world, so unless you want to die with the rest of us, you need to tell me what you know and how I find the person that can use this thing," August said. The Dragon smirked.

"Ah…then the pen has rejected you and I'm sure it would reject me as well. Neither of us can use it and the last lost the right by betraying his duties," the Dragon said.

"So the man I found that night…" he uttered. The old mage nodded.

"The disgraced author cast back to this land after he tried to write his own story and destroy the most valiant of heroes. He failed though and they remained on the path of light," the Dragon explained.

"He would have faced the Sorcerer and been stripped of the pen and his freedom…but he became a victim of the vicious streets of this world," he added.

"So…that was the author I took this from and now the Sorcerer can't find the pen?" he asked. The Dragon nodded and smirked.

"Oh he will find you…or rather his Apprentice will eventually. You had better find a worthy host for that pen before he finds you," the old man warned.

"Then help me!" August pleaded.

"Even I don't know who the next author could be…they must be someone that will always do the right thing. A true believer…which is quite scarce in this world," he said. That struck August for a moment and he looked at him.

"A true believer?" he asked, as the Dragon smirked and nodded.

"I see you have someone in mind," he said, as he extended his hand. August tossed the bank bag at him and ran out of the shop.

"Just the truest believer there is," he said, as he rounded the corner and heard some sirens. Cops flew out of the car and he pocketed the pen, as he put his hands up. If he couldn't get the pen to the next author…then they were all doomed.

"You're under arrest," the officer said, as he was placed in handcuffs and hauled into the police car.

[themadlostgirl]

When It’s Cold

*Felix simps come get y’all juice!

The hyperfixation hit me hard and because I just have to add backstory and character development to every single request I get, this one shot request is another mini-fic. I do not know how long it is going to be but I am hoping to keep it under ten. I already have like 5 chapters written now. Also, Felix deserves some multi-chapter love dang it!*

Prompt: Reader and Felix are stuck in Storybrooke together. What will happen next? Spoilers: it’s feelings and fluff and a horny teenagers being stupid.

Requested by: anon

~~~

“I blame you.” Felix said.

“How is this my fault?” I retorted. Felix and I sat on the docks of Storybrooke overlooking the water.

“You’re the one that convinced me to come to Storybrooke with you. Now look what’s happened! Pan is dead and we have no way to get back to Neverland.”

“We’ll find a way back to Neverland.”

“And how do you figure that? There is no more shadow to ferry us, we have no magic bean, or any pixie dust to fly us back. We are stuck here!”

“Will you calm down?”

“You want me to be calm? How can you expect me to be calm after everything that has happened?”

“I don’t know but you panicking is not going to help us any. Storybrooke is the only town in this realm with magic. If there is a way to cross realms we will find it here so stop worrying so much and start brainstorming. Like you said, there is no more shadow so our reliable way of getting back is gone. Magic beans are scarce if any even still exist. So our only option is to find some method of transportation that can either fly us back or we become mermaids and swim through the realms. So we gotta sprout wings or gills. Ideas?”

“Well I can’t swim worth a damn so I guess we’ll need to find a way to fly.”

“No point staying here.” I got up, “We were fine camping in the woods but that’s not going to serve us well much longer. Winter is rolling in and neither of us have ever lived somewhere that wasn’t tropical and humid all the time so I don’t think we’ll survive long on our own out in the wilderness. We need to start looking into different housing options.”

“You sound like an adult.” Felix groaned.

“I hate it too but there’s not much else we can do unless we want to freeze to death. Come on,” I held a hand out to him, “The sooner we find someplace the sooner we can start dedicating our time to finding a way out of here.”

“I’m coming,” Felix stood up, ignoring my hand. We walked all around Storybrooke looking for someplace to hole up in. My main concern was having a place with heat which left a lot of the vacant houses out since their utilities were shut off. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem if it wasn’t for the fact that there were no fireplaces so starting a fire to keep warm was also out of the question.

It was getting late and our search had yielded nothing. I had a bad feeling that if we couldn’t find somewhere suitable through our own means we would have to resort to actually paying for housing somewhere. Which meant we would need money which also meant we would need to have jobs. Paying bills, having jobs, this was a nightmare!

We shuffled back to our camp and checked the traps we had laid for any game but only caught a small rabbit. Barely big enough for one person. Better than nothing at least.

As Felix roasted the rabbit over our fire I sighed, rubbing my arms to keep off the chill of the late autumn.

“You know what I’ve noticed these past couple days?” I said.

“Hm?” Felix hummed not bothering to look up.

“This is the first time in all the years we’ve known each other that we’ve ever really hung out.”

“Guess so.” Felix shrugged.

“Is that not strange to you? We’ve known each other for decades on Neverland. We hunted together, played together, fought together with the boys but this is the first time us two have ever been alone together. How do you not find that strange?”

“It’s not like I was close to everybody on the island.” He took the rabbit off the spit and cut it in two, “Besides, you were always off galavanting with Artie and Frank. What’s it matter if we ever hung out?”

“I guess it’s just making me wonder.”

“Wonder what?”

“Why you followed me here?” I answered as he handed me my half of our dinner. “You didn’t know that Pan had switched consciousness with that Henry kid until after we left Neverland. You could have stayed on Neverland with the other boys. You didn’t need to come with me when I asked you to. So why did you?”

“Let me ask you something,” Felix dodged around the question, “Why is it that you asked me to come with you in the first place? You had your friends on that ship already. Why take me along? Why is it that you’re roughing it in the woods with me when you have friends that are snug and cozy in that fairy monastery? Answer me that.”

“I--I--” The words were caught in my throat. Why had I asked Felix to come with me? I knew the answer lay deep in my gut but I couldn’t for the life of me bear to bring it to the surface. I bit into my rabbit with a small scowl.

Felix gave a small exhale before diving into his dinner as well. The conversation thoroughly ended. I curled up to go to sleep near the fire. Our only source of heat. I really did miss Neverland. I would deal with a million humid heat waves if it meant that I could be warm again.

Sometime during the night a gust of cold wind snapped me awake. I huddled in closer to myself trying to retain some warmth when I felt something being draped over me. I peeked an eye open and saw Felix lay down again and curled more into himself. I looked to see what he had done and realized he had draped his cloak over me. His only form of heat, thin as it was. I decided at that moment as I watched him violently shivering on the cold ground that I would gladly grow up a little and get a job if it meant we  would have somewhere warm to sleep tomorrow night.

The morning came and as casually as I could gave Feilx back his cloak. I made no mention of his generosity. I knew he wouldn’t appreciate you pointing out his selflessness for whatever reason. Too proud to accept my thanks.

We went back into town and I sent Felix off to find some cheap accommodations for us while I walked along main street and hopped into every store that I could looking for work. Unfortunately it looked like no one was hiring. Dejected and pissed after the tenth shop owner denied to even let me fill out one of their ridiculous applications I stole a handful of dollars from their tip jar. At the very least I could buy us a decent meal tonight.

We met up again outside of the diner. Felix had no luck finding a place to stay either. Everyone just shrugged him off. To my delight though he had the same idea as me and produced a wallet he had pickpocketed off the landlord he had spoken to. A couple of twenties tucked safely into the worn leather. We may not have anywhere warm to sleep tonight but at least we could get a hot meal.

We entered into the diner and immediately were met with stares. It was the same stare I got from everyone I asked a job from. I tried to shrug it off and sat down with Felix at the counter. We ordered two plates of the lasagna. The waitress was kind enough but everyone else at the counter moved away from us when it was evident that we were staying.

“Felix,” I whispered, “Is it just me or is everyone--”

“They don’t want us here,” he whispered back, “They’re not saying anything but they’re making it obvious enough. The reason no one will give us a job or let us live anywhere is all for the same reason. We were here for Pan and even though he’s gone they still don’t trust us. Just eat your food and we’ll go back to camp.”

“Do you think we have enough money to maybe spend just one night at the bed and breakfast?” I asked, hopeful.

Felix shook his head. “Even if we did I think we should be saving this for food since game is proving difficult to come by.”

“You’re right,” I stabbed into my lasagna. “It just gets so cold…”

We finished our meals quickly and left just as fast. At least I was more full than yesterday. We started on our way back to camp when I noticed a trail I hadn’t seen before.

“Where are you going? Camp is that way?”

“I know but I need to see something.” I told him as I started running down the other trail.

“Wait!” Felix ran after me. I kept huffing and puffing down the trail until it opened into a large field. In the distance was a huge house. A mansion by the looks of it.

“Whoa,” Felix said as he took in the sight of the mansion. “How did we miss this?”

“I don’t know. Let’s get a closer look.” We ran across the neatly trimmed lawn and hopped over the fence onto the mansion grounds. The lights were off inside. Whoever lived here was either gone or asleep. We checked the garage and found no car. Peeking in as many windows as we could it didn’t look like anyone was home.

“Should we?” I asked Felix. The temptation was too great. “Even if someone does live here it’s so big I doubt that they would even notice us staying here as well.”

“Let’s take a look.” Felix grinned. Strangely enough the front door was left unlocked. I tried the lights and was delighted when I realized that the electricity was working, there was running water too. Even better was that there was heat! Heat and dozens of bedrooms.

The place was so clean and orderly but yet there were no signs of it being lived in. No pictures on the walls. No food in the fridge. All the doors and windows were unlocked. There was a large kitchen, dining room, multiple rooms just for sitting in, a dozen bedrooms, and even a ballroom with a beautiful crystal chandelier. All the windows had the most spectacular views of the ocean or the mansion’s garden.

“This place is amazing!” I picked up a strange cylindrical paperweight with stars painted on top of it and tossed it in the air. “Felix, I don’t want to get our hopes up but I think we found a place for us to stay.”

“And you’re sure no one lives here?” Felix gazed around the room we were standing in.

“We searched all the rooms we came across and found no one. The place has been cleaned out of food or toiletries. Either whoever lives here desperately needs to go shopping or they just don’t exist.”

“You think we’re really that lucky?”

“I think we’re owed a bit of luck. Even if someone still does live here do you really want to spend the night shivering outside or spend a night wrapped up warm in a bed and run the risk of someone chasing us out in the morning?”

“You make a compelling argument.” Felix grinned, “Race you for the master bedroom!”

“Felix!” I chased after him as he went flying up the stairs. He got to the room first and flopped down on the large king-sized bed.

“I win! Go take one of the lesser bedrooms.”

“You only won cause you have those long lanky legs.” I flopped down beside him and sighed as I sunk into the soft mattress. “I don’t think I can move from here. It’s way too comfortable.”

“Too bad. My room.” He pushed me off.

“Hey!” I laughed as I stood back up. “Fine, you can have the master bedroom but only on the condition that you find us more money to buy food and toiletries. Got it?”

“Sounds good to me,” Felix stood too, eyeing the bathroom attached to the bedroom. “Soap or not I think I am going to indulge in a hot bath.”

“That does sound heavenly.” I haven’t had a hot bath in decades. “Have a goodnight, Felix. We go grocery shopping tomorrow.”

“Night,” Felix gave a wave as he closed the bathroom door behind him.

I left the room and wandered around the hall looking for a space of my own. I found a nice bedroom that felt just as grand as the master bedroom. I went into the bathroom and drew myself a piping hot bath. I nearly moaned when I sunk down into the water. Even if this lasts for only a night I’ll be happy. One night of warmth.

After my bath I wrapped myself in a large fluffy towel and went back into the bedroom. I really didn’t want to put my old dirty clothes on my clean body. I opened the dresser drawers hoping maybe the resident left behind some old clothes but they were all empty. I crept out of my room and checked the other guest rooms surrounding me but all their drawers were empty too. There was one place I hadn’t checked. If the owner did leave something behind it would probably be in the master bedroom. I glanced down at my towel with a grimace. It covers everything at least. I tentatively knocked on the door but was met with no answer. I cracked it open and sighed with relief when I saw no Felix in sight. He must still be in the bath.

I went to the dressers and, “Nothing? Really?!” I slammed the dresser shut again. How is it that there isn’t so much as a single shirt in this house?

“Why are you making so much noise?” Felix stepped out of the bathroom in a billow of steam. My throat went dry when I caught sight of him. Completely naked except for the towel hanging from his  hips and still dripping went. His blonde hair that usually hung in his face was brushed back opening his face up more. His torso had an array of scars I never knew he had before. That wet chest that was impressively chiseled…

I shot to my feet clutching to the towel covering me. “Sorry! I was just looking for some clean clothes.”

Felix gaze swept me up and down. He took a deep breath and grabbed something from inside the bathroom and tossed it to me. It was a fluffy white robe with a monogrammed M on the breast. “There.”

“Thanks.” I slid the robe on over my towel. “Anything else in there?”

“Nope. Just that one.” Felix turned away from me. His face looked red and I could only guess he was angry at me for barging in. “Now scurry back to your own room.”

“Right. Thanks.” I rushed back to my room, my heart hammering in my chest. That was certainly new. I never thought I would see that much of Felix. I mean why would I ever want to see his wet, practically naked, and not so shockingly buff body? No! Bad! Impure thoughts I should not be having about my...my…

Huh. What was Felix to me? On Neverland we were Lost Ones but that didn’t really fit here. I don’t know if I could exactly call us friends either. Roommates? Was that what we were now? We have been living together at our crappy camp all this time and now we’re staying in this mansion together. I guess that’s what we would call one another. Roommates.

I dropped my towel and pulled the clean robe tighter around me. My thumb traced over the M stitched on the breast. This house has no food, no toiletries, no clothes, not a single photo on any wall but yet there was a single monogrammed robe. Who was M? Who had lived here?

Those were questions for the morning. I sunk into bed and this time I did moan as I cuddled under the many thick blankets. Finally warm at last.

---

(Next)

[swanqueeneverafter]

What Dreams May Come, Pt.14

Pleasure Island. Past. Docks. (Robert and James are running toward the ferry when they cross paths with King George.) King George: "Is that... You found him. You found my son. Please, let me reward you." Robert: "No." King George: "Pardon me?" Robert: (With his arms around the boy:) "Please, James... H-He doesn't want to be with you. Let him live where he'll be happy, where he started out before Rumplestiltskin took him. With me." King George: "You're the miserable wretch who sold his own flesh and blood. You look older than you should, shepherd. A conscience must be a terrible thing." Robert: "I made a mistake, but I'm making it right. I have him, and I'm not giving him back." King George: (When his guards start forward:) "No need for that. The right price fixed it last time." James: (To Robert:) "Don't let him take me.” Robert: “No. I didn't protect this boy the first time, but I'm gonna do it now.” King George: (To his guards:) “Take him down.” Robert: “No. (As the guards seize him:) No.” King George: “Guards, the reward for finding the Prince is yours - if you kill this man.” Robert: “No!” King George: “And try to make it look like an accident.” Robert: (As the guards drag him away:) “No. Get your hands off me! Let me go! James! James!” Storybrooke. Granny's Diner. Present. (Greg Mendell stands examining the coin in his hand.) Greg Mendell: "And you're saying I had this on me?" David: "It was among your personal effects at the hospital, yes." Greg Mendell: (Studies it closer:) "Just looks like a subway token to me. (Flips the coin in the air nonchalantly before David catches it:) Sorry I couldn't be more help. (To Granny:) I heard this is also a bed and breakfast?" Granny: "It is." Greg Mendell: "Could I get a room?" Granny: "Right this way." (Granny leads Greg into the back as David looks down at the coin, despondent.) Hook: "You all right, mate?" David: "Yeah. (Shakes his head:) I think I can fill in the blanks from here anyway. King George had my father killed, made it look like an accident and reclaimed by brother as his son." Henry: "I'm sorry, Grandpa." David: (Nods:) "Thank you, Henry. I'm er... Just gonna get some air." (David pockets the coin, turns and leaves the diner.)

Hook: (To Henry:) "There's something I don't quite understand. You go to see this Xanax fellow and he puts you to sleep?" Henry: "Right." Hook: "You then enter what you call a dreamscape and have adventures while you're asleep?" Henry: "Yeah." Hook: "Nope. I'm still not getting it, mate. You live every day of your life in the united realms of story. Adventure is only a stone's throw away from you at any moment." Henry: "Yeah, but in each realm I'm known as Henry Swan-Mills. The son of Emma and Regina. The grandson of Snow White and Prince Charming. It's like everywhere I go, I bring my family's legacy with me." Hook: "Well surely that's a good thing?" Henry: "It is and it isn't. Look, I love my family, more than anything. But until I stake my own claim in this world, I will always be measured against their stories, their victories." Hook: "Aye, I see your point." Henry: "Besides, last time I tried to strike out on my own, I almost sent everyone to live out their lives inside their own worst nightmares. This way I can be the hero and know my friends and family are safe." Hook: "Yeah, and that's all well and good for now, but Henry, your dreams aren't real. Until you go out there and find your own adventure in the real world, you're never gonna know what life is all about." Henry: (Smiles:) "All I know is, I've never felt this alive in a very long time. You should try it for yourself sometime." Hook: (Chuckles:) "All right, Henry. We'll see." Elsewhere In The Diner. (Snow, Emma and Regina are seated together in a booth.) Snow White: "So, Robin Hood has gone?" Emma: "Yep, Zelena took him to the town line and as soon as he crossed over - poof." Snow White: (Sighs:) "Well that's a relief. So was he...?" Regina: "From our dreamscape? We're still not a hundred percent sure on that." Emma: "But, because real human beings don't tend to vanish into thin air when crossing the town barrier, we're pretty sure that Robin Hood was a magical being." Snow White: "So like a dream or ghost or-" Regina: "More like an echo. Don't worry, Emma and I have agreed not to use the dreamscapes anymore." Snow White: "Oh. Well, surely it's better to be safe than sorry. (Glances over at Henry, whispering:) What about Henry, surely he can’t continue journeying into the dream world after this?" Emma: "Actually, we've spoken with him and we all agreed that since he's been using the dreamscape for months without incident, that he should continue to do so." Regina: "It seems that Zelena's theory was right, that because of who Emma and I are... with our combined powers... we may have caused the whole dream Robin Hood problem." Snow White: "But even so, what if something like this were to happen again?" Regina: "Then we'll know how to deal with it." Snow White: "I think that's an awfully big risk to take... (While Snow continues to ramble on, Regina watches Emma closely as the blonde woman rubs her neck distractedly. When she notices her wife staring at her, Emma quickly drops her hand from her neck and gives Regina a reassuring smile:) I mean, what do you think, Emma?" Emma: (Takes a deep breath:) "Well, as Sheriff, I can't say I relish the thought of something like this happening again." Snow White: (To Regina:) "See?" Emma: (Continuing:) "But, as a wife and mother, I have faith that we'll be able to face whatever challenges come our way." Regina: (Smiles:) "Well said."

The Dragon's Lair. (Robin stands behind the bar drying a glass when she sees Alice enter.) Alice: (Walks over carrying a dish containing candy and fruit:) "Turns out you were right. You really can put candy on anything.” Robin: (Glancing at the dish:) “I see that.” Alice: “Okay. So, here's the thing. I’m sorry I lied to you earlier. We thought it’d be too painful for you to see Robin Hood knowing it might not be a permanent thing. And I never want to see you in pain, not if I can help it.” Robin: (Putting down the glass:) "I get that. But you're forgetting something. I already have a Mom. Let it be her job to worry about me. You and I? We're a team. And teams can't keep secrets from each other." Alice: (Nods:) "Okay." Robin: "You don't have to worry, because as long as you're with me, nothing will be too much, no matter what it is. So, to make sure we both remember that, I made you this. (Holds up a bracelet:) Can I?" Alice: "Mm." (Extends her arm.) Robin: (Secures it to Alice's wrist:) "There." Alice: "It's beautiful." (They share a smile.) Robin: "Now, then, (Holds up two glasses:) how ‘bout a drink?" Alice: (Taking a seat:) "Absolutely." Storybrooke General Hospital. Rumplestiltskin's Room. (Laid back in his hospital bed, Rumplestiltskin's eyes flicker behind their closed lids as images flash before him.)

Rumplestiltskin's Dream. Enchanted Forest. (Rumplestiltskin stands admiring his wife from the end of a long table while she sits reading.) Belle: "You know, you could just take a photograph." Rumplestiltskin: (Smiles at his wife's teasing:) "No need. I could remember how you look right now forever." (At the sound of footsteps approaching, Rumplestiltskin turns to see his son carrying several books.) Gideon: "Mother, Father." Rumplestiltskin: "Gideon. I appreciate your fondness for them, but maybe just one book at a time. Do you really need so many?" Gideon: (Smiling:) "I've been accepted into Elphame Academy. I'm to start in two weeks." Belle: "Oh, Gideon. I'm so proud." Gideon: "And you, father?" (A stricken look upon Rumplestiltskin's face is quickly replaced with a smile.) Rumplestiltskin: (Pulling his son in for a hug:) "Congratulations. (They part:) Look at you. You're a scholar just like your mother." Gideon: "And like Mother, I could always use more books." (Gideon turns and leaves to fetch more books.) Rumplestiltskin: (Watching him go:) "I didn't think he'd be leaving us this soon. It's all going so fast." Belle: "Oh Rumple, We've had Gideon for 18 amazing years. Years filled with with life and adventure, and now, it's... it's time for him to go and find his own. He's ready." Rumplestiltskin: "Yeah, but what if I'm not ready?" (Turning to face his wife, Rumplestiltskin is flooded with images of he and Belle as they age throughout the years.) Belle: (Echoing across the visions:) "I want to build our home right here, with our own hands." (Dream Rumple chops wood while Belle fetches the water. After much sawing, digging, painting and assembling, the house is built and Dream Rumple carries Belle over the threshold. Quickly, the house fills with various personal touches such as the spinning wheel, photographs and the chipped cup. Rumplestiltskin smiles while his dream counterpart sits, talks, dances and laughs with Belle. The occasional visits from their son warming his heart as the visions and time marches on before his very eyes.)

(Then, one morning, as Belle climbs up to open the curtains, she glances back at Dream Rumple and they share a warm smile. Belle then turns and opens the curtains, but something is very wrong. Sensing this immediately, the real Rumplestiltskin runs forward, merging with the aging Dream Rumple when he stands and catches Belle as she falls backwards. Placing her gently on the sofa, Rumplestiltskin sighs with relief.) Rumplestiltskin: "Oh, Belle. I thought I'd lost you." Belle: "You'll never lose me, not really. But for now, it... it's time to let me go." Rumplestiltskin: "What? No, we need more time. (Pleading:) Belle, I can't. I'm afraid." Belle: "Let me tell you a story, then. Once upon a time, there was a beast who took a girl prisoner. But he fell in love with her. And then he let her go. And that is when the girl realized that she loved him, too. (Rumplestiltskin cries as Belle continues:) He thought he would never see her again. But in the end she came back to him. More than a few times." Rumplestiltskin: "I remember that story." Belle: "See? You let me go once before, and we found our way back to each other. You're a good man, Rumple. Your heart is pure. You will find your way back to me again. I promise." (Belle then closes her eyes and peacefully passes away.) Rumplestiltskin: (Sniffles:) "Belle. Belle. (Crying:) No. Don't leave me. Please don't leave me. Oh, Belle. Oh, please don't." Storybrooke General Hospital. Present. (Rumplestiltskin suddenly awakens, causing Belle to jump as she sits at his bedside.) Belle: "Rumple, you're awake!" Rumplestiltskin: "Belle, you're alive." Belle: (Laughs:) "Yes, and so are you. (Leaning up to kiss his forehead. Smiling down at him for a moment, she comes back to herself, slapping his arm:) What were you thinking?" Rumplestiltskin: (When Belle holds something up:) "What's that?" Belle: "This is a lucky bullet for a lucky bastard. You should be dead by all accounts." (Relieved that it was all just a dream, Rumplestiltskin slowly remembers the previous events.) Rumplestiltskin: "Where's Alice?" Belle: "I.. er, she was here earlier but she left awhile ago. As soon as I heard you were going to be fine, I told Alice not to blame herself. That it was your own damn fault you had a gun in the first place." Rumplestiltskin: (Smiles, despite the situation:) "I know, I know. I'm just so glad you're here with me." Belle: (Takes his hand and sits back down at his bedside:) "Hm, well if you ever scare me like that again, I'll kill you myself." Rumplestiltskin: (Squeezing her hand:) "Yes, dear."

Storybrooke. Swan-Mills House. (Emma stands with her arms folded leaning against the doorway while Regina is seated at the dining room table trying to get her to open up.) Emma: "There's nothing to talk about. I'm fine, really." Regina: "No, you're not." Emma: "Regina-" Regina: "Clearly something is bothering you and has been since before we entered that last dreamscape together. Why else would you take us back to one of the darkest points in our lives?" Emma: "I already told you I wanted to lose control for a little while. You don't usually find me wanting to be submissive to you a problem." Regina: "No, but this wasn't that. You specifically took us back to a point in time where you could've been controlled completely by that dagger. There has to be a reason." Emma: (Throwing up her arms:) "It's not like it would've really controlled me. It was a dream." Regina: "Stop deflecting, Emma. Something is wrong and we need to talk about it." Emma: "Nothing is wrong. (Her resolve crumbles as Regina stares at her earnestly:) O-other than the fact that the man once fated to be my wife's soulmate just reappeared out nowhere. Or the fact that he just tried to murder you and our child." Regina: "Emma..." Emma: "I mean, then there's this stranger in town, who could potentially destroy all our lives by bringing more people here. (Scoffs:) 'Cause, you know it's only a matter of time before someone slips and uses magic in front of him and then we all get rounded up and put in some secret research lab and studied and probed like aliens. And that's not even mentioning what they could possibly do to our baby-" Regina: "Stop it! (Getting to her feet, she slowly approaches Emma, treating her like some sort of skittish horse:) Now you know there is nothing in this world or the next that would stop us from protecting our baby. When we put our minds to it, there isn't anything we can't do together." Emma: (Takes a shuddering breath:) "But what if we aren't together? (Shaking her head:) It all comes back to this feeling that I have never been able to shake. No matter how happy, secure and at peace I may feel, there is always that nagging little thought in the back of my mind. That someday it could all be taken away, could all crumble into dust." Regina: "That isn't going to happen." Emma: "You don't know that. Nobody knows what the future holds in store." Regina: (Taking Emma's hands in her own:) "I realise that what happened with Robin Hood got a little out of hand. (Emma scoffs:) But at no point was there a time where I felt I couldn't handle it. I mean, after all, it was only Robin Hood." Emma: (Smirks, shaking her head:) "I guess there's just been a lot to process, these last few days." Regina: (Nods:) "Things have been quiet here for awhile now. Maybe we're a little out of practice." Emma: (Softly:) "Yeah." Regina: "No more shutting me out, okay? (Placing Emma's hands on her pregnant belly:) I can't do this without you." Emma: (Smiles:) "We both know that's not true." Regina: (Reaching up to wipe a tear from Emma's cheek:) "Hey, I'm serious. Now that the dreamscapes are off the table, things may get a little harder again." Emma: (Shaking her head:) "We'll get through it together. But as far as not being able to have fun like we did in the dreamscape? I may have a few ideas we can still try." Regina: (Intrigued:) "Is that so?" Emma: (Smiles:) "Oh yeah, you ain't seen nothing yet."

Storybrooke. Docks. (David stands turning the coin in his hand with the ghost of his father stood beside him. With tears in his eyes, David tosses the coin into the water. When it sinks below the surface, Robert's ghost turns to smoke and disappears.) Snow White: (Walking towards him:) "David! I've been looking everywhere for you. (When David turns to face her:) You okay?" David: "I think so. I owe you an apology. Ever since I found that coin, I haven't exactly acted in the most noblest of ways. I yelled at Lily and I asked Hook to do things he wasn't comfortable with. In short, I've been a royal pain." Snow White: "You were hurting and you desperately wanted answers. It's totally understandable. Although yes, you do owe a lot of people an apology.” David: (Smiles:) "I'm sorry, Snow." Snow White: "Perfect start. Apology accepted. (Hooking her arm in his and leading him away from the rail:) Now, speaking of wanting answers, I think we should try one of these dreamscapes ourselves." David: "Oh, you do?" Snow White: "Mmhmm. David, our grandson is spending most of his time in his own little dream world. What with the whole Robin Hood situation today, I think it’s important that I see first hand what these dreamscapes are really like." David: "As a concerned Grandmother, you mean." Snow White: "Well of course. And, as Mayor of Storybrooke, I think it's my duty to..." (Snow's words are lost as they walk further along the docks, back towards town.) Granny's Diner. Exterior. (Exiting the diner, Hook is about to turn down onto Main Street when August rides up to him on his motorcycle.) August: "Hey, there. Glad I found you." Hook: "Are you? (As August reaches into his jacket:) What are those?" August: (Pulling out the pages:) "I found the part of my story I took out of the book. There's nothing in here I didn't already tell you, but I figured David might like to have it for himself." Hook: (Taking the pages:) "Great. I'll pass them along." (August restarts his motorcycle and drives away. Continuing to walk but curious to see the pages himself, Hook stops short when he sees the illustration of Robert staring back at him.) Storybrooke General Hospital. Rumplestiltskin's Room. (It is after visiting hours and Rumplestiltskin sits alone in his room when Greg Mendell enters.) Rumplestiltskin: "Ah, Mr. Mendell you found your way back to the hospital. (Dryly:) And we were so worried." Greg Mendell: "Well, I thought it best to come back and check to see if any of my injuries had been exacerbated by my kidnapping." Rumplestiltskin: "And?" Greg Mendell: "Yeah, no, I'm okay. In fact they said I'm good to go. But, um. (Takes a seat at the end of Rumple's bed:) You know, I think I'm gonna stay here for a little while." Rumplestiltskin: "And why would you want to do something like that?" Greg Mendell: "Why? (Laughs:) Because I have something to do here before I can leave. And, er... (Stands, suddenly serious:) If you want your dreams to remain 'dreams', you'll stay out of my way, Dearie." (Rumplestiltskin's eyes widen at this, before Greg slowly turns and leaves the room.)

[therumbellehappyendingaward-blog]

Chapter 4 writer: @kaylasecura

PROMPT: BEACH

AO3: HERE

Belle sat at her desk at the library looking at a blank computer screen. She didn’t seem to be able to concentrate today, at all. These last six months have been more stressful than ever. After Rumple’s party, things seemed to fast-forward way too much. She had missed Rosalyn’s first steps. She missed her next few words. She could now say ‘baby’ and ‘bye, bye.’ The birthday party seemed like a million years ago, but looking back now, she misses the family time and happiness she felt.

Apart from her work at the library, Belle had begun correspondence with a publishing house to have her first novel published. About four months ago, she had sent in a sample chapter. They fell in love with it, and wanted to have it published before August, so that it could go in their fall advertisement. For four long months she has been working overtime to get the novel written.

Finishing up the last chapter, Belle quickly reviews her work.

“Perfect”, she says to herself out loud.

Hitting ‘print’, she e-mails the other copy to her editor. Quickly grapping her coat, she runs out the door in hopes of being able to make it home in time for supper.

…

Pulling in to the drive way, Belle turns of her car and stares up at the house. All the lights are off, save her and Rumple’s bedroom.

“Well, so much for supper,” she mumbles, “but at least I’ll be able to talk to Rumple before bed.”

Belle walks in the door and takes of her shoes, trying to be as quiet as possible. The last thing she wanted right now is for Rose to be startled from her sleep. Tiptoeing up the stairs, she pauses at Rose’s door to make sure she was still sound asleep. Hearing nothing, she continues to her room.

She opens the door softly and walks in, immediately swept off her feet by the lovely scene before her. Her husband lies curled up on the bed, Belle’s pillow pressed to his face, as if breathing in her scent.

Slowly walking up to the bed, Belle leans down and presses a kiss to his cheek, making him murmur in his sleep. Getting in the bed beside him, she softly whispers his name.

Slowly, he opens his eyes.

“Belle?”

“Yes, my love,” she says, “it’s me.”

Suddenly, he pulls her into a huge so tight that it takes her breath away.

“I’ve missed you,” he exclaims quietly, as he swiftly kisses her face.

Having missed the feel of his mouth on hers, she deepens the kiss. Belle marvels at how quickly and easily their mood goes from calm to passionate. Even after being married for a few years, and having a beautiful daughter together, their love and passion has not dwindled. As they begin to shift out of their clothes, Belle can’t help but be impatient to, once again, taste the love that bound them together all those years ago.

…

Afterwards, they lie in bed together, staring deeply into each other’s eyes. Belle smiles and looks down, remembering she needs to tell him the good news about the book.

“Guess what…”

“What?” Rumple says, smiling.

“I finished the book.”

He stares at her, amazement shown clearly on his face.

“Really? That’s great!”

Belle laughs, quietly. She knew he would be pleased. Now she would finally have time to spend at home. Oh, of course, she knew he was happy for her. After all, being in author has been one of her greatest dreams since she began her love of literature. But, he missed his wife, and their daughter missed her mother. Now, they would finally have some much-needed time as a family.

“We should celebrate,” he suggests with a mischievous grin that reminds her of the first day they met.

“How so?”

“We should do something…go somewhere,” he offers.

That did sound like a good idea. Getting away for a few days, so she didn’t have to focus on work, sounded like heaven. Belle thought of places they could go. Somewhere that didn’t remind them of home or work. Somewhere Rosalyn hadn’t been…

“The beach!” Belle almost shouts.

Rumple silences her with another kiss.

“The beach,” he agrees.

…

Belle wakes up to the sound of car horns blaring at each other. Belle sits up and looks out the window, rubbing sleep out of her eyes. Having fallen asleep a couple hours before, she’s curious to know where they are. Her eyes finish becoming adjusted to the light, and she sees it…Miami Beach. This is a dream come true for her. Finally, she is seeing the world.

“Hey, how’d you sleep?” Rumple asks, smiling down at her.

“Like a rock,” she responds as she stretches out her back in the limited car space.

He laughs at her choice of words.

“Well, you woke up just in time,” he says, pointing, “that’s our hotel”

Belle looks up at a grand hotel that rises of the ground by eight stories. One side covered in an expanse of wrought iron balconies, the hotel looked more like a castle.

“Oh, Rumple,” Belle shrieks with delight, waking Rosalyn up where she lay sleeping in the back, “It’s amazing!”

During the preparation for the trip, Rumple had let Belle decide which tasks she wanted to take on. She chose packing, which allowed Rumple to choose the hotel and beach. So, after making all the necessary accommodations with work, they began there long journey to the beach.

“I knew you’d like it,” Rumple says, growing even more confident after her reaction.

After finding a parking space, Rumple gets out and grabs Rose from her car seat. Handing her to Belle, he puts it on himself to grab all the heavy luggage they had brought. At this, Belle swooned. Sometimes, she was surprised with how it seemed she fell more and more in love with him each day. He did so much for her. She was so thankful for him.

Getting all the luggage up to the room, the three all but ran to get their swimsuits on, especially little Rose. She was so excited to see the ocean. She kept smiling and giggling. Belle grabbed up some towels, and the book she was currently reading. They finished getting ready and took her down to the ocean.

Taking a hold of both of her parents’ hands, she was led down to the water. She hesitated for a fraction of a second, before screaming and hobbling to the water.

“Mama! Papa!” Rose yells back to them.

Both Belle and Rumple burst into laughter, as they watch their child begin to discover the world. Rumple looks over at Belle and smiles.

“I love you,” he says, raising his voice so he can be heard over the wind.

“I love you, too.”

[imgilmoregirl]

Vowed For Eternity (Chapter 18)

AO3 Link

Mending And Searching

As the days went by, the whole hallway that led to Belle's chambers was closed by the king’s order, after his declaration that his daughter was very ill, and should be isolated with just her maid and a healer, which nobody had seen, because simply didn't exist, but at least this way, nobody would hear when Colette cried nor see when Rumplestiltskin appeared in there. He came every single night to help with the baby, and spent every single day lost between books and informants that could give him any clue about how to defeat the Blue Fairy or just fool his own fate, but even after a long week, he didn't find anything useful.

The Dark One was now watching his wife in silence as she gently rocked their little daughter, mumbling a lullaby in her sweet voice. She had regained her brightness again, as she had recovered herself from the early birth and wasn't feeling bothered by pain anymore. Belle just looked gorgeous now, from her beautiful auburn hair to the smoothness of her skin and the roundness of her belly, swollen with his second child. That woman never failed to take his breath away and as she bent to lay Colette on the crib with a giant smile on her face, he felt more in love than he had ever done before.

"Rum?" Belle called, taking him out of his hypnotical state.

"Yes, my love?"

"Come here, please," she asked, stilling herself in place, with a hand pressed to one side of her belly.

Standing up, Rumplestiltskin slowly walked towards her with curiosity shinning in his eyes as he analysed the apparent surprise in his wife's expression. He saw when it became a soft frown, which got him preoccupied as he slid a hand down Belle's back.

"Is something wrong with Colette?"

"No," she smiled, taking his hand in hers and placing it right where hers was before. "Just feel it."

The firm skin under his palm suddenly pressed hard against it, before going back to normal, causing him to gasp at the sensation.

"It's kicking," Rumplestiltskin marvelled.

Belle nodded cheerfully as her husband's hands traced the length of her belly, palming around to see if he could get another movement and the baby gifted them with a second kick, taking happy laughs from both its parents. She glanced at her daughter, laying quiet in the crib and sighed.

"Yeah, we never had the chance of feeling Colette so, well, it is wonderful for me."

"It's the most amazing thing I've ever felt," Rumple agreed.

He had been a good, attentive father ever since their daughter's arrival, always offering himself to soothe her and spending hours just cradling the babe in his arms for entertainment, but she always got herself surprised at how tender the Dark One seemed when it came to children. Belle thought that after their fights she didn't truly expect him to love any of the babies and yet he did and with all of his heart.

"Mm, yeah?" She asked in a teasing tone. "And what about me in your arms?"

Smirking widely, Rumplestiltskin pulled her closer, holding his wife against his chest, her bump the only thing between them.

"This too," he said, peppering a kiss to her nose, "after all, it is what created those beautiful babies."

His nose caressed hers in the sweetest of the touches before they locked lips, allowing their mouths to open almost in synchrony as they tasted each other. Rumple had been drinking wine, she could tell, relishing in feeling his tongue stroke the insides of her mouth, making her release a low moan.

"Don't you dare leaving me again," Belle told him between kisses.

His lips lowered to her neck, urging at the sensible skin knowing he could drive her crazy, just by nibbling at it and felt her trembling in his arms, her breath starting to get sharp as she clung to him.

"Never," he groaned, sucking at the pulsing point that made her gasp.

Belle knew there was no way they could go own with this, but she wished so, because it had been longs months since she last touched her husband and in some nights the memory of him worshipping her body, would invade her mind and make an ache that only him could smooth, appear between her thighs, asking for something she couldn't have just now. That, however didn't prevent her from getting every bit of him she could manage to.

Rumple helped her turning around and gathered all of her hair, laying it on one of her shoulders as he pressed his body firmly against hers, moulding himself to her curves and letting her feel his own desire. Belle was about to ask if there was a way they could help each other reaching some blissfulness, even with her huge belly in the way, when they heard Colette starting to cry again.

The princess immediately departed from him, scooping the squealing baby up and walking towards the bed, so Belle couldn't actually sit and calm herself as she did the same with her daughter.

"She has pretty strong lungs for someone this little," Belle chuckled, a little breathless. "Your mother said..."

"Oh, no. Nothing good starts with Fiona saying something,"

"Seriously, Rumple?" His wife rolled her eyes. "She is a good woman, all she had done ever since I met her was to help me and be gentle... Oh well, maybe not that one time I first appeared in her tower, but ever since, she is being."

Walking to her side, Rumple kneeled in front of Belle, dropping kisses to their baby's minuscule hand, while she kept screaming loudly. He couldn't understand how the princess could ever see any goodness in his mother, but he certainly wasn't going to trust Fiona, mainly now when he had so much to lose.

"Belle, she is the very reason I am this monster and we are fighting against a wicked fairy."

"People make mistakes," she answered softly, her gaze fixed in the child in her arms, "but I don't think Fiona made one. She fought for you the hardest she could."

One of the things he most appreciated in Belle was this power she had of never getting attached to one’s dark side, but instead try to bring up the best someone still had to offer, but he didn’t want her innocence to be her ruin. People could be very bad and only bad.

"Let's change subject," he said with a sigh, "what did she say?"

Colette was finally soothed, breathing lighter and making sucking movements with her little mouth, which produced tiny funny sounds as she slowly went back to sleep.

"Well, that most babies born before the right time do not survive, but our Colette seems to be strong enough to make it through."

"Aye," Rumplestiltskin agreed, knowing that such a small baby probably wouldn't have survived much time, if it wasn't for the magic running strong in her veins. "She already is a warrior."

Waving her head positively, Belle cradled the baby closer, brushing a finger against her soft skin, thinking that it was still hard to believe it was really her baby. It seemed so surreal that this tiny being had been made of her love for Rumplestiltskin, and this little life she so adored didn't even existed some months ago, because she didn't know what she would do without devoting her life to that child and the other that was yet to come.

That's a good start for an adventure, Belle thought, a good first book to be followed by many more, filled with different places and struggles. She was just going to need to make it out alive to the end of this one first, of course. Looking at Rumple, Belle brushed his hair away from his face.

"Do you think the people are buying the story about me having childbirth fever?"

"You looked very ill when you arrived," the imp mumbled.

He only knew how Belle looked by Fiona's description and his last seeing of her before she left the Dark Castle, but he knew that have just been through a birth and still feeling weak and sore, his wife wasn't much the image of healthy.

"Good," she smiled, although she wasn't feeling much more confident about that.

Standing up, Rumplestiltskin gesticulated in the direction of their child. "Care to let me put her on the crib?"

"Be my guest."

He took Colette from her arms, walking to the crib in the other end of the room and placing her inside, adjusting the blanked around her, before going back to bed, where Belle had already settled herself under the covers. Rumple magicked his boots away, changing his leather clothes for a long nightshirt and slid to his wife's side, spooning himself against her, his nose nuzzling at her neck.

"Everything is going to be fine, Belle," the Dark One murmured. "You will see."

She woke up to an empty cold bed, but that wasn't any surprise for Belle, as Rumple had been travelling between her father's castle and many other places during the last weeks, what really would surprise her was to have her husband there by the morning, so maybe they could discuss all the things that had been left unsaid after so many bad arguments and actions. But of course, it would still take a long time for it to happen.

Trying to sit up, Belle groaned when she felt that her baby had turned around during the night and apparently now, all of its weight was pressed against the side of her belly that had been facing the mattress. She poked her huge stomach, trying to wake the child, but it seemed to be sleeping peacefully and not giving a damn about its mother's discomfort, which made her whimper in frustration, causing a laugh to come from near Colette's crib. When Belle looked up, she saw her mother-in-law standing there, cradling her daughter.

"Fiona?"

"How are you feeling today, my dear?"

Belle was about to answer when the child finally turned around and she sat in the bed as quick as possible before it could think about changing positions again.

"The baby doesn't allow me to sleep," she respired, stroking her bump. "It was so quiet before."

"It didn't have much freedom to move before, because of the way it was positioned," Fiona shrugged.

She came closer, bringing Colette to Belle with that same look full of love she always wore when her granddaughter was around. Belle thought that even if Rumple never changed his mind about her, she would never just disappear, because they were the only family she had and she cared for them.

"How..." Belle started, hesitantly. "How do you know so much about babies?"

"After I escaped the Dark Realm, I worked as a midwife for some years," Fiona told her in a nostalgic tone. "Then I found my son, but the other fairy plotted to have him cursed and he hates me ever since."

Colette fussed in her arms and Belle opened the front ribbons of her nightgown, letting one of the sleeves slid down her shoulder so she could feed the baby.

"He will forgive you, eventually."

"I can only hope so," the fairy murmured, glancing at her granddaughter that took her meal eagerly. "This little one seems hungry."

"She is getting stronger, isn't she?"

"Yeah," Fiona nodded. "At least my bloodline is continuing and growing larger. Malcolm would have liked that... Seeing his grandchildren grow."

There was sadness in her voice and when Belle looked up at her, she saw there were tears shinning in Fiona's eyes. She knew by herself how it felt to lose the man you loved, to have your heart broken and all your hopes shattered, so she could feel a greater compassion for the fairy's situation.

"You still miss him."

"Every single day. He was the love of my life."

Remembering about the day Rumplestiltskin had told her that life was unfair with everyone, Belle started to think that even with all she had been through until now, she hadn't yet faced the worst that could have happened to her. After all, Rumple was back by her side, they still had a lot to work on, but he was there, willing to fight for their family, her daughter was nestled against her chest and the other baby was still safe inside her womb.

She had hope. Fiona had nothing and for a long time, she had even less than that.

"You lost everything," Belle murmured.

"I did. But I don't want to think about it."

Reaching for her hand, the princess gave her a tiny smile. "If I have another girl, I shall name her after you."

"Please, don't," Fiona chuckled, allowing some tears to fall from her eyes. "The poor creature shouldn't bear such a cursed name. Call her something else."

Her lips formed a thin line, because she didn't really have another name she'd rather give to her child other than that, so both girls could have their grandmothers' names, but she still had to consider that maybe she should be thinking about another kind of names. She swallowed as she stroked the top of her belly, watching Colette in silence for a moment.

"The chance of it being a boy kind of scares me," Belle confessed.

"I know," Fiona mumbled, "I fear for my son's life too, but there are things that make me believe that maybe the danger is not so big."

"What?"

The dark-haired woman opened her mouth twice, but nothing came until she whispered weakly: "Spell."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot."

Fiona breathed in, nervously, but assured her: "Rumple will find out for himself, I have faith in that."

As the weeks went by, the rumours about the princess' illness run through all of Avonlea, leaving the people to believe she wasn't going to make it through and probably would die soon, which was certainly a good thing, because it meant that nobody distrusted their lie. However, even if the commoners were fooled, the Dark One still needed to find a way to neutralize Blue’s threats or they were never going to be able to live their lives in peace.

He tried to talk with every magic being in those lands, gathering the most of information about the fairy’s hiding place, but he always received the same answers, he would never find it, because he had a dark heart. Rumplestiltskin considered taking a pure hostage and forcing this people to guide him there so he could rip Blue’s heart out and make sure she would never harm them again, but it would take him long to find someone that could do the work and time was something he didn’t have now, because at each passing day, he watched Belle’s bump getting bigger, alarming him that the child would soon arrive.

So, as a last research, he found himself in Regina’s castle, pacing nervously around the great hall which was a maddening thing for the Queen, that only hadn’t yet expelled him from there, because she knew that someday she could need his help and if she did so, he was never, ever going to attend her summons again.

"I've told you a thousand times that I have no other resource," Regina insisted tapping her fingers around a silver cup.

"It has to be one."

She didn’t understand why he was so distressed over this. Of course that after so many years working together, she already knew why he hated fairies so much which obviously led to why he hated Blue so much, but he was becoming paranoiac now.

"Why are you so interested in that?"

"My business, not yours," Rumplestiltskin bounced, harshly.

"Then, why did you come here?"

"I thought you were useful," the imp said with a grimace. "Big mistake."

He vanished from her castle, leaving Regina stunned to face the empty hall where he had been storming just some seconds earlier.

The voices of the previous Dark Ones constantly interrupted Rumplestiltskin's sleep and he woke up with screams or laughs echoing in his mind many, many times, but the imp had never been disturbed by slaps before. He grumbled, turning around to hid his face in the pillows, still feeling a pair of hands shaking his shoulder desperately, before they slapped him again.

"Wake up," he heard Belle's shaken voice yelled. "Rumplestiltskin, please, wake up!"

Her anxious tone, made something click in his head and the imp quickly sat on the bed, looking around in the darkness of her chambers, lightning some candles with magic, so he could properly see. Rumplestiltskin found his wife sat by his side with a hand pressed to her belly as she worried at lip with such strength, that he swore she was going to open a cut on it, if she continued biting for any other second.

"What is it?"

"I'm in pain and the sheets are wet," Belle cried. "I think my water just broke."

Heart beating faster, Rumplestiltskin slid off the bed, waving a hand to make a full outfit appear in replacement of his nightclothes

"Hold on, alright?" He said, kissing the top of Belle's head, before heading to the door, ready to call someone to help. "It will be alright."

[smartgirlsaremean]

I really, really love your fics, your writing is mesmerizing! I want to write a Rumbelle AU of a novel I love but I am feeling very anxious about it, because I am afraid of ruining it. Do you have any advice on how to write that kind of fic?

That’s very sweet of you, thank you so much!

It can be intimidating writing AUs of a beloved story because we already know the original story so well, but that’s also actually one of the things I like about this type of writing. If, like me, you sometimes struggle with plot structure and figuring out where you want the story to end up, using a favorite story as a sort of plot blueprint relieves some of that pressure. You don’t really have to worry about “where the story is going” because you have that laid out for you already.

I do have some advice though.

First and foremost: don’t worry about ruining anything. Fanfiction is transformative. By its very nature, fanfiction is experimental and innovative. Yoda’s “Do or do not. There is no try.” philosophy has no place here. Trying is all that matters. If you get halfway through, or even just a couple of chapters in, and you decide you don’t like the direction it’s taking, or it’s not working out the way you wanted, or you’re just bored with the whole thing and don’t want to do it anymore, walk away. No harm, no foul. You don’t owe anyone anything. No one is here to judge you (or at least, they shouldn’t be, and if they are point ‘em my way, I’ll give ‘em what for.)

If you want some advice specific to writing AUs mixing Rumbelle with familiar stories:

--Avoid “fill-in-the-blank” AUs. The least memorable AUs I’ve read were more or less the exact same story with the character names switched out. Remember that Rumple and Belle are their own characters with their own unique voices, motivations, and characteristics. They’re not going to respond to every situation the same way the original characters would, which means your story won’t develop exactly the same way as the original story. Treat the original as an outline, a guideline of how the story should progress.

--Allow your own voice to come through. The story won’t ring true if you’re trying to write the way the original author would write the story. Write the story your way, even if you’re not 100% sure what that way is yet.

--Be flexible. Halfway through Avonlea Books I realized that there was no way Belle would a) NOT figure out that Gold was her penpal and b) forgive him right away like Kathleen did in You’ve Got Mail. Belle would be so furious that he tricked her, and I just could not make her do the teary “I wanted it to be you so badly” moment. The same thing happened again with The Question Falls, and now it’s happening with The Wedding Planner. If your story starts to go another way, embrace the change and see where it takes you.

Also, if you’re still worried, it never hurts to find a beta reader. A good beta can do amazing things for a story, whether they’re pointing out errors you missed because you were in the zone, or they’re helping you figure out a snarl in the plot that you just can’t unravel. Betas save lives.

Hope that helps, and let me know if you write that AU! I’m a total nerd for watching these two idiots fall in love in every universe imaginable.

[j-philly-b]

OUaT 6x16 – Random Thoughts & Observations

It’s been awhile since I’ve done one of these, and I am a little rusty. These are just the first thoughts I had this morning and some musings and speculation that come up as I think about the episode.

I think working on a project I set for myself over the weekend helped get me excited about posting again. I think Jaime Murray might have something to do with it as well, I loved her on Warehouse 13 and I cannot wait to see her and Bobby playing off of each other. 

Random Thoughts:

A heart rip! I just assumed Gideon was a little shit and a heart rip never even crossed my mind. It’s interesting that for as long as Gideon was in the Dark Realm, and the fact that he seemed to at least acquiesce to the Black Fairy’s way of doing things and not actively trying to stop her, that his heart was so pure, not a smidge of darkness that I saw. Loved the parallels with the male line of the family: Malcolm, Rumple, Bae, and Gideon – all talk a good game, but when push comes to shove they will make the easy choice rather than the hard one.

With the story parallel between Jasmine and Gideon (i.e., it is up to the hero to defeat the villain, not the savior), it remains to be seen whether Gideon will be the one to break the family cycle.

Oh the irony – in wanting to stop their son from going dark, Gold and Belle actually have been helping the Black Fairy all along.

Loved the visual of Gideon using the charged sword to create a portal that looked like a star for the Black Fairy to escape the Dark Realm to SB. But the method used the charge the sword is interesting – in 6x13 Gold was able to drain Blue’s magic to restore the sword but, as far as we know, that did not kill Blue. But to be of use to the Black Fairy, the sword needed to absorb the savior’s magic and to do that the savior had to be dead, or, at least, mostly dead.

I’m wondering if Emma’s magic was needed to create the portal because light magic was used to banish the Black Fairy. Although, if that was the case, shouldn’t Blue’s magic have been enough, presuming Tink was right and Blue is the one who banished the Black Fairy in the first place?

And what does this mean for the final battle? The sword is clearly still at play and will be coming up again. Now that it’s been used to successfully create the portal for the Black Fairy to escape, will it need to be recharged again? Is that where the prophesized savior’s death comes in – Emma must “die” again to charge the sword and use it to create another portal to send the Black Fairy back to the Dark Realm?

Interesting that Killian was the Black Fairy’s first target and that she hasn’t made a play to get Henry out of the way too. Certainly the Black Fairy wants the savior in a weakened state, and banishing her TL, who we’ve seen time and again be the one to give Emma confidence in herself and her magical ability, to another realm would be one way to do that.

Of course, Emma wasn’t showing signs of any tremors, so maybe that’s not an issue anymore.

Although, if it is, perhaps the Black Fairy’s need of Henry’s author powers outweigh the potential danger of him helping Emma gain control over her magic.

Which begs the question, what does the Black Fairy need with the author, especially when the book is on its last chapter?

I’m waiting for Belle or Gold to get a look at Henry’s notebook and ask him where he learned fairy language.

As far as the Black Fairy seeking to perfect the dark curse, I’m wondering if that means she is looking for a way to cast the curse without having to sacrifice the thing the caster loves most. In other words, a way to cast the dark curse without consequence to the caster. Right now, to me, the question remains as to whether the Black Fairy is capable of loving anything, so would she even be capable of casting the dark curse in its current incarnation.

She did tell Rumple that she chose power over love. But that seems too simple. Perhaps it’s more of a like mother like son thing than we suspect?

She certainly targeted Gideon for a reason, and seemingly tried to form a bond with him, but a bond formed by fear and intimidation will not form the proper foundation for her to use Gideon to cast the dark curse.

Random Observations:

The Black Fairy calling Gideon “dearie,” has to be purposeful, and I love the connection to Rumple.

Most terrifying scene – watching Colin run down the embankment to the beach knowing the man can’t navigate a set of stairs to save a life. If I didn’t already know he broke his foot filming 6x20, I would have assumed the embankment did him in.

I said it last night, and I’ll say it again, blooper reel of the one-handed shuffling attempts please.

That being said, the dynamic between Killian and Blackbeard was pure gold and I hope we get to see them snark at each other again some day.

Loved Emma’s singular focus on keeping Killian back, although I wish she had paid a little more attention to the items Gideon insisted were necessary for the spell.

Has Gold ever called Emma by her first name before? I found that and his tone when doing so striking.

Hamilton was work-shopped for about a year and played off-Broadway for about six months before it became a hit and started spreading by word-of-mouth. If Isaac was a theater nerd he would have known about it from the start. This is not the continuity battle I choose to fight.

Ok, the storybook is on its last chapter, they also have the Apprentice’s library full of blank books for Henry to fill. And really, how many fairy tale books have unhappy endings? What happened to hope and happy endings?

Random Speculation:

I am expecting to see the Sands of Morpheus make a reappearance next week to play a role in breaking Snowing’s sleeping curse. But I’m not quite sure how, once the curse is broken, Snowing would be able to stop Emma from becoming the savior without traveling back in time to the EF and changing Rumple’s course completely, or what it would have to do with young Emma in the group home.

Right now, I’m guessing that part of Snowing’s journey to breaking the curse is to relive their history and the choices they’ve made together – a longer version of the flashbacks they each had when they touched the TL sapling – so they reaffirm their lives and choices and their commitment to each other and that has some effect on their shared heart that allows the curse to be broken.

Killian’s run down the beach brings him straight to Tiger Lily, she calls off the Lost Boys, we find out what happened between her and Killian in the past, they need to help each other to get out of Neverland so they decide to let bygones be bygones and work together.

[lilacmoon83]

A Darker Curse

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 13: Late Night Musings

Mr. Gold left the station in a fury and became frustrated by his cane. He normally didn't mind his disability all that much. He had grown used to it, but it was times like these that he missed his magic most. If he could, he would have marched over to Cora's mansion and obliterated her. Of course, if there was magic, then she'd put up a fight. But his fury was so great that she wouldn't get the best of him like she had in the past. Whatever love or affection he had once had for her was so beyond destroyed that it was laughable. It was all frighteningly clear now. The fire at his house was just theatrics to obtain a drop of blood from him. She had located his son and sent her pirate lapdog to retrieve him. He could only imagine what she had planned to do with him if she had been able to keep him in her captivity. He knew she would have used him to get her way with him and he shuddered at that, because she would have succeeded.

Fortunately, Bae had managed to get away from Hook, but unfortunately, three hundred years seemingly had done nothing to ease his son's anger at him. He supposed he really couldn't blame him. It was an action that still haunted him and was the reason for any of this.

Letting someone like Cora rise to this kind of power was not a decision he had made lightly. She was never his first choice to cast the curse. Despite needing the curse, he didn't wish misery on most of the people that ended up as collateral damage. First and foremost, getting back to Bae was most important to him, but he had never sought to harm most of the people that lived in this town under Cora's terrifying rule. He had considered her evil husband at one time, but determined that his rule would have been even more devastating, especially for Snow. Cora wasn't much better and not even he could have anticipated the situation she bestowed upon David in revenge for getting Snow to safety with their child. But at the end of the day, Cora had been the only one with magic and evil enough to cast his curse. But the misery she had enacted was about to come back to her ten fold. No one would forgive her for the things she had done. Even before she was evil, Cora had never been particularly good either.

Her bitterness at being born a Miller's daughter had darkened her heart long before he had met her. There were things in her past that one might have had a note of sympathy for at one time, but he knew many others that had suffered far greater than her and still managed to be good people. Certain circumstances may have made Cora into a villain, but the woman had been born for darkness. And that was why she would receive little to no pity when she was finally ousted from her Throne. And with the election for Mayor being less than twenty-four hours away, he suspected that ousting would soon begin.

As he wandered the streets of Storybrooke, he hardly felt like going home and decided that a drink might calm him. He wasn't one to venture to the Rabbit Hole often. In fact, he usually only stopped there to collect the rent, but he was much too restless to go home right now.

As he stepped inside, a few of the patrons stopped briefly and watched him carefully, as he approached the bar.

"The boss isn't here," the bartender stated nervously.

"Relax...I'm not here to see Mr. Locke," he eased.

"Brandy…" he requested. The bartender looked at him and then poured the drink. He took a sip and turned to observe the few patrons in the bar and that's when he froze in disbelief. He blinked and shook his head, but she didn't disappear. If he had drank more than a sip, he would have definitely thought he was hallucinating, for the brunette in the racy blue dress was supposed to be dead.

"Belle…" he uttered, as he hobbled toward the table.

"Belle…" he said again, as her eyes met his with no recognition.

"I'm sorry?" she asked and he was at a loss for words. She was alive and had no memories.

"I'm...I'm sorry. You look like someone I know. Her name was Belle," he stated.

"Oh...well, sorry. I'm not Belle. The name is Lacey," she responded.

"Lacey…" he said, as the anger inside him threatened to boil over, as new and creative tortures for Cora cropped up in his mind.

"Hey babe...whaddya say we blow this joint and go back to my place?" a drunken Keith Notting said, as he stumbled up to her and slung an arm around her waist. Of course, Rumple knew this man to really be the Sheriff of Nottingham and he was now plotting his slow demise. Lacey smirked.

"You're drunk, which means you'll be spending your night in the bathroom. And that's not something I want any part of," she refuted, as she returned to the game.

"Oh come on...I'm not that drunk," he said, as he put his hand on her arm. The rage was blinding and Rumple raised his cane...

~*~

Emma huffed, as she stormed back into the station late that night. A walk had done nothing to calm her down and she decided that if she wasn't going to sleep that she could at least find something to do at the station. And that something meant finding a way to stop Cora.

"Hey…" Neal said from the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. He shrugged.

"Can't sleep…" he replied. She snorted.

"Yeah...that seems to be a theme tonight," she retorted.

"Then maybe we should talk," he said, as he pulled up a chair and sat down.

"You wanna talk?" she asked contentiously.

"Emma…" he started to say.

"No...let's talk," she said, as she sat down facing him.

"Okay...I was a coward and when August told me who you really were and that you were coming here as soon as you were able to find the place where the curse sent everyone...I panicked," he confessed.

"This curse...the Queen did it, but my father orchestrated it. Because of me," he added.

"I know that...August has been studying the curse since he was a kid! I mean, I didn't know that Baelfire was you, but you know what I mean. He's been transcribing all the stories from our land like some kind of fairy tale historian for years," she added. He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face.

"Then you know what he did to me!" Neal responded.

"Yeah...he chose magic over you and that sucks," she replied. He looked at her indignantly, but wisely closed his mouth, because she was clearly not finished.

"But you know what also sucks? Every single thing my mother has endured because of this. Every single thing my father has endured because of this," she said.

"Then you get it! He's the reason for all of this!" he replied.

"I get that to a degree, but you're his kid and he'd do anything for you. And my Mom gets that. Cora is the real evil here," she added.

"I get that…" he started to say.

"No...I don't think you do," she retorted.

"Look...I get why you're pissed at him and what he did was really crappy. But he instantly regretted it," she told him. His eyes narrowed.

"How do you know that? Is that what he claims?" Neal questioned.

"Actually no...I know that, because of my brother," Emma revealed.

"I don't understand...I don't understand how August even knows any of that," he refuted.

"Maybe because not all magic is as bad as you think. I don't know how or why he was chosen, but August did all this," Emma revealed, as she pulled the brown leather book out of her bag.

"It just appeared to him blank one day. It was a rough time for him as a teen and he was still blaming himself for taking my dad's place in the wardrobe, even though it's never even entered Mom's mind to blame him," she explained, as Neal looked through it.

"How...how did he do all this? My story happened three-hundred years before either of you were born," Neal replied. She shrugged.

"I don't know, but it came with a pen that helps him out," Emma replied, as she recalled her mother telling her about the day August came to her with the book since she was only around six at the time.

~*~

Flashback

August hurried into the diner that afternoon and climbed into the usual empty booth he occupied in the afternoons while he waited for his Mom to get done with work. He saw her serving coffee to some of the regulars in the diner and he hated the way this particular, boisterous crowd treated her. They always tipped well, but his mother earned it. They always leered at her, said crude things, and even went as far as propositioning her for dates back at their place. There was another stab of guilt that ate at him for this. If David had come through the wardrobe with her, things might be very different.

"Hey sweetie…" Snow greeted, as she removed her apron and sat down beside him.

"Hi Mom…" he muttered, as he glowered at the men's eyes that were still wandering to his mother.

"Don't pay them any mind…" she said, as he sighed and then remembered why he had been so excited in the first place.

"Mom...I have something to show you and I think it might change everything," he replied, as he pulled the brown leather book out of his bag and set it in front of them.

"Once Upon a Time…" she read from the cover.

"Did you check this out from the library?" she asked.

"No...that's the thing, Mom. It just appeared in my locker today and it came with this," he whispered, as he looked around, before opening the book.

Snow gasped, as she saw the scene at the Troll Bridge and tears filled her eyes, as she gently touched the illustration of her husband.

"August...how is this possible?" she whispered.

"I don't know...but the book was blank and it came with this pen," he said, as he showed her.

"Then during study hall...I feel like I blacked out or something, cause when I came back, study hall was over and I think I did this. With the pen," he explained.

"Oh August...this is incredible. You got all the facts exactly right…" she told him, as she looked over the text.

"I didn't think magic was possible here...but maybe it's a sign, Mom. It's a sign that we're going to find David and everyone else!" he exclaimed.

"And this book is the answer," he added. She beamed at him and hugged him tightly.

"Oh honey...thank you. Thank you…" she said, as she sniffed and kissed his hair, as she continued to stare at the image of her and Charming at the Troll bridge as they were about to part ways.

"We're going to find you, my love," she promised.

~*~

"The Author…" Neal uttered.

"What?" Emma questioned.

"Uh...it sounds like August is the Author. I read a bit about this in my research," he revealed. Her brow furrowed.

"What research?" she asked. He sighed.

"The research I started doing after August told me about the curse. As it turns out, one of the largest libraries in New York has books that look just like these and they're all blank," he replied. She stared at him in disbelief and then shook her head.

"I...how is that possible?" she asked. He shrugged.

"Not many know about them. They're in a room that keeps a collection that's not open to the public," he replied.

"Then how did you get in?" she asked and then realized what she had just asked.

"Never mind...you were researching the curse?" she questioned. He nodded.

"I wanted to get ahead of it since I knew it meant my dad would be looking for me," he answered and she let that sink in.

"Emma...all that would have changed if I'd known about the baby," he added. She snorted.

"Sure…" she said, unbelieving of him.

"I'm serious," he insisted.

"Do you really think I'd willingly abandon my son the way my father abandoned me?" he questioned and she shifted uncomfortably.

"I guess not…" she admitted.

"Look...I know you don't believe me, but I love you...still. And even if you decide there is no chance for us in the future...I'm not leaving my son. I'm here for the duration," he promised. She sighed.

"So...are you going to fight me for custody?" she asked. His eyes widened.

"What? No!" he responded.

"It's all up to you. I would never try to take him away from you and I'm here to help undo all the damage my father did with this curse," he promised.

"Cora's the real evil and your father wants her to down as much as we do. He's even helping my parents," she replied. Neal snorted.

"He never helps anyone without getting something out of it," he warned.

"Yeah...he gets Cora's demise out of it like the rest of us. He and my Mom made a deal to work together against her," Emma revealed. His eyes widened in horror.

"Your mother made a deal with him?!" he exclaimed.

"You don't know what Cora did to my father! She trapped him an abusive marriage! Your father is his lawyer, because the only other lawyer in this town is Albert Spencer, who would never help him. But your father is helping him with his divorce, for free," she informed him. Neal sighed.

"Emma...I'm sorry. I had no idea that your Dad was in that kind of situation. But my father caused it and from what August told me, he had a lot to gain by making sure your parents are together," he replied.

"My parents are together, because they belong together. Not even Cora can stop them, though she's trying," Emma refuted.

"And like it or not, we're all family now, thanks to our son. So...either deal with your father or stay out the way," she added. Neal sighed and relented.

"You always did drive a hard bargain," he commented, with a chuckle.

"And I guess it's time that I deal with my past. I've been running for three-hundred years and I guess I finally have something to stop running for," he continued, as he looked at her.

"Okay...I'm in," he decided. She smirked.

"Good...cause we're going to destroy this bitch and break the curse," she stated, as the station phone rang and she answered it.

"Sheriff's station," she answered and listened to the irate person on the other end.

"Okay...I'll be right there," Emma said, as she stood up.

"Get your coat...there's trouble at the Rabbit Hole," she said.

"What kind of trouble?" Neal asked, as he put his coat on.

"Just your Dad beating the crap out of some guy," she revealed.

"Oh hell..." Neal cursed, as he followed her out in a hurry.

~*~

Snow gently put little David back down. He was mostly sleeping through the night by now, but there were times he still woke up in the middle of the night and this happened to be one of those nights. She didn't mind though. Emma wasn't home yet and neither was August, which left her restless and unable to sleep anyway. She had some comfort though since David was safe and asleep downstairs on the couch.

"Hey Mom…" August whispered, as he peered into the nursery.

"Auggie…" she said, as she went to him and hugged him gently.

"I finished that story. Cora's going to be livid, but I did it. If she wins tomorrow night, it will only be because she cheats," he said. She shook her head.

"She's not going to win...Regina is. I have a good feeling about that," she replied, as he looked down.

"Mom...about Neal…" he started to say.

"I know you were just trying to protect Emma," she replied.

"I should have told you...I should have told you that Neal was really Baelfire and the Dark One's son. But...when I couldn't find him, I thought maybe it was for the best. I honestly didn't think we'd ever see him again. He was pretty adamant that he was never going to let his father find him," August confessed. She nodded.

"I get it...but yes, you should have told us. I forgive you though...none of this is really your fault," she admonished.

"Do you think Emma will forgive me?" he asked.

"Give her some time...but yes, I know she will," Snow replied, as she kissed his cheek.

"Get some sleep," she told him.

"That goes double for you, Mom," he called.

"I'll try," she promised.

As she padded down the stairs, she smiled gently at David and had to resist the urge to caress his handsome face. She tiptoed back toward her bed and then heard his voice.

"Mary…" he called in a sleepy tone.

"I'm sorry if I woke you. Little David was fussing a bit, but then I'm not really able to sleep," she mentioned. He sat up and motioned to her, so she eagerly sat down beside him and let him cuddle her close. She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent. Gods how she had missed just being held by him and breathing him in. She used to wake up from dreams about him and swore she could smell him; that unique mix of leather and musk that was just uniquely Charming.

"You didn't wake me...but somehow, I guess I just sensed that you needed me. Is that weird?" he asked. She smiled and looked up at him.

"No...it's amazing. Having someone I love and trust to hold me again. I think my heart has been trying to find you for years and there were times that I wondered if it ever would," she confessed.

"I feel mine has to and it shouldn't make any sense...but it does. We just...I don't know if it's soul mates, or true love, or all of the above. But this is right...we're so right," he confessed in return. She finally let the tears flow at his words and felt like the weight of the last twenty-years on her shoulders being lifted away by his love. And not surprisingly, she was fast asleep in his embrace within mere moments...

[swanqueeneverafter]

44. Operation Mongoose, Pt.5

Storybrooke. (Regina awakens lying in the street of Storybrooke. Henry is standing over her.) Regina: “Henry? (Realising where she is, gets to her feet:) You did it!” (Regina hugs her son.) Henry: “No, Mom. We did. (Henry runs over to Emma:) Mom!” Emma: “Henry. (She hugs him. Looks over to Regina who joins them:) Regina. Are you okay?” Regina: (Beams:) “Better than okay.” (Henry clears his throat and goes to help the Apprentice to his feet as Regina and Emma embrace, sharing an intense yet tender kiss.) Mr. Gold's Shop. (Mr. Gold lays slumped on the shop floor as Isaac comes to his senses and grabs Mr. Gold’s car keys.) Mr. Gold: “No. W-w... Wait a minute. (Pulling himself to his feet:) Where are you going?” Isaac: “Sorry... Can't risk that bum ticker of yours slowing me down. (Isaac runs away and Belle enters in the shop:) He's all yours, lady.” Mr. Gold: “Belle. You came back for me.” Belle: (Stalks toward him:) “I came back to make sure you weren't going to try to hurt anyone else.” Mr. Gold: “No, Belle. Y-you don't understand. I only did what I... I thought was...” (Mr. Gold collapses to the floor.) Belle: “Rumple? Rumple?!”

Near The Town Line. (Isaac speeds away but is soon stopped by Mary Margaret and David. They arrest him. David takes Isaac’s satchel from the passenger seat.) Isaac: (Opens it:) “Wait. I need to see...” (Isaac stares at the New York Times’ bestseller list and his name is nowhere to be found.) David: “Not on that list? No best-seller, no fans, no awards.” Isaac: (Defeated:) “It's all gone. My life.” Mary Margaret: “I need to know something. Years ago, you set us on a path to hurt Maleficent and her daughter.” David: “Why'd you want to hurt us so badly?” Isaac: “The truth, ‘Charming’? It's not you, but who you represent. You remind me of a boss that I once had.” David: “One bad boss started all this?” Isaac: “A lifetime of bad bosses... Of people like you, who fancy themselves heroes, pushing around people like me. It was my turn to win. To be the hero.” Mary Margaret: “But you became a villain. 'Cause that's what villains do... They make themselves happy at the expense of others. But it just makes them more unhappy. I know what it is to feel your heart go dark. And that... That isn't something to idolize. It's something to pity.” Isaac: “Gloat if you want to, it doesn’t change a thing. You had a choice back in the Enchanted Forest. I may have manipulated you, but I never forced you to do what you did to that child. You chose to make your own lives easier rather than to simply raise Emma the right way. That’s something you can’t erase.” David: “We’re not looking to erase what we did. We’ll live with our choices, just like you have to live with yours.” Regina’s Office. (Henry sits staring at both storybooks as the Apprentice enters.) Apprentice: “It is tempting, is it not? The power of the quill? (Henry nods:) I hope that you can resist that temptation. (Takes a seat beside him:) What you all just experienced was a fiction created by Isaac. And now, thanks to you, that fiction has been erased. (Opens Isaac’s book to reveal the blank pages:) You see? All gone. But, (Opens Henry’s storybook:) this book, these stories... Can never be erased or altered once written, because... They are more than stories. They are the truth. And the truth is what you must write. The power to change reality is only outweighed by the cost.” (Henry snaps the quill in half.) Henry: “No one should have that much power.” Apprentice: “It would seem that, this time, we have found the right person for the job.” 

Mr. Gold's Shop. (Belle sits on the shop floor beside Mr. Gold.) Belle: “Hey. What's happening?” Mr. Gold: “It's my heart. The last human fleck of red... Is disappearing.” Belle: “Your ability to love.” Mr. Gold: “At least, in the end... I got one last taste. We were happy in there. We were in love.” Belle: “I was already in love. Everything we had in the book, you... You could have had here. You could have been a good man with a good marriage for real. Why wasn't it good enough?” Mr. Gold: “Because I didn't believe it. Who could ever love me?” Belle: “I knew what I was getting, Rumple. I-I wasn't going to pull back.” Mr. Gold: “But I made you do just that. There's a whole world out there, Belle, for you. Go with Will.” Belle: “I don't love Will. And I'm not letting you die alone.” Mr. Gold: “Go far away. When the man is gone... Only the Dark One remains. And that is more... That's more dangerous than... You can ever imagi... Aah!” Belle: “Rumple! Rumple!” Granny’s Diner. (There is a party in progress. Regina and Henry sit flicking through the storybook as Robin joins them.) Robin: “Hello. (Taking a seat opposite them:) So, not to puncture the party, but did you check on Zelena?” Regina: “Still locked up, still pregnant. But that's something we'll be able to deal with.” Robin: “Yes. That’s what I wanted to talk about.” Regina: “We have months to come up with a plan for Zelena, post baby.” Robin: “Actually, my plans are a bit more... immediate. Will is looking after Roland. Perhaps we could take a walk and discuss them?” Regina: (Delicately:) “Robin... you realise what we shared in that world wasn’t real? I’m not looking for love. I’m with Emma, we’re in love.” Robin: (Smiles:) “I’m well aware of your relationship status, Regina. I was referring to Zelena. I believe there’s a way for all of us to find what we’re looking for.” (Intrigued, Regina looks to Henry who nods and she and Robin leave the diner.) Elsewhere In The Diner. (Emma stands with her parents and Hook as she catches Regina’s eye when she reaches the door. Giving her best reassuring smile, Regina turns and leaves with Robin.) David: (In the middle of apologising:) “Anyway, we hope that one day, you’re able to forgive us.” Mary Margaret: “We are sorry, Killian.” Hook: “Hm, you know, seeing you both incinerated by my daughter seems to have cured me of all ill-will towards you two. (Smirks:) Funny how that works. Although I do intend to hold it over your heads for a very long time.” Emma: “I think we both know what happened in that world was not real. Luckily for you.” Hook: “Aye, I cursed my time in Neverland but it did manage to keep me roguishly handsome.” Emma: (Rolling her eyes. To her parents:) “Seeing you guys as real villains made me sorry for holding a grudge against you for so long.”

(Spotting Lily and Maleficent by the bar, Emma goes over to speak with them.) Emma: “Hey, what’s up?” Lily: “I think it’s time we left Storybrooke.” Emma: “You guys are leaving?” Maleficent: “Do you know what I was doing while you running around in Isaac’s book? (As Emma shakes her head:) I returned to dust. I’m not prepared to have that happen again, especially after finding my daughter.” Lily: “We’re going back to the Enchanted Forest. The place is surrounded by magic that isn’t reliant on the Dark One’s presence. I think we can be happy there.” Emma: “Really? It’s quite the culture shock. Are you sure you’re ready for that?” Lily: “There’s nothing keeping me in this world and I can’t live beside the people who ruined my life. (Emma winces as Lily gives the Charmings a dirty look:) Anyway, I think it’ll be awesome to see how my life was supposed to be.” Emma: (Smiles:) “I’m happy for you, both of you. But, how’re you gonna get there?” Hook: (Joining the conversation:) “Aboard the Jolly Roger of course.” Emma: “Don’t you need a magic bean for that?” Hook: “Not anymore, Swan. Poseidon enchanted the ship so that she’s not only the fastest vessel but she can also travel between realms at the mere point of a compass.” Emma: “So, what, you guys are going to be a family together?” Hook: (Looks to Maleficent:) “We’re going to try.” Maleficent: “Let’s just see if your ship can do what you promise first.” Emma: (To Hook:) “Headstrong blondes must be your type.” Hook: “Aye, I think they might. Swan, I-” (Belle enters the diner.) Emma: “Belle, what is it?” Belle: “Rumple... his heart. He said it's almost gone. And, uh... He said we're in danger.” Hook: “I guess our journey will have to wait.” Emma: “No. Killian, this is your chance to be happy. To have a family. We can handle this without you.” Hook: “But-” Emma: “It’s time for you to go and find your happy ending. (Squeezing Lily’s hand, to Maleficent:) Go now or you never will.” Hook: (Smiles at her:) “Swan, you truly are... the Savior.” (With that, Maleficent waves her hand and she, Lily and Hook disappear from the diner in a cloud of smoke.)

Mr. Gold's Shop. (Belle, Henry, the Charmings and Emma are gathered in the shop as the Apprentice places the hat box beside the unconscious Mr. Gold.) Apprentice: “For generations, every Dark One has tried to use the hat to free himself from the dagger. This will be similar to that. We're pulling the Darkness from him and containing it.” Belle: “Does that mean that his heart will be healed?” Apprentice: “Perhaps... If the strength is there. This is more dark power than the hat has ever been asked to contain.” Emma: “Do what you need to do.” Apprentice: (Kneeling over Mr. Gold:) “Purest evil, blackest bloom, darkness, too, can find its doom. (The Apprentice removes Mr. Gold’s blackened heart from his chest and frees the Sorcerer’s hat from its box:) Never dying, but contained, bound inside the falcon's chamber, shorn of anger, thornless danger, there forever to remain.” (The darkness from Mr. Gold's heart is being sucked into the hat. The name of Rumplestiltskin is erased from the dagger. Rumplestiltskin's heart turns white and the Apprentice places his heart back inside his chest.) Belle: “He's barely breathing.” Apprentice: “Rumplestiltskin was the Dark One for centuries. His return to the man he used to be will not be easy. (Waves his hand over Mr. Gold’s body:) This will preserve him until we discern if we can help him.” Belle: “If?” (The Darkness begins to escape from the hat.)

Emma: “Everybody step back. (The Darkness attacks the Apprentice, burrowing itself inside of him and turning his eyes black. Emma uses her light magic to draw the Darkness out of the Apprentice, who slumps to the floor as the Darkness escapes:) Mom, Dad! Go after it! Go! I'll be right there. (To Henry:) Help me make him comfortable. (Emma and Henry lay the Apprentice on a bed:) What was that?” Apprentice: (Weakly:) “Long before... Your stories began... The Sorcerer battled the Darkness. He was able to keep it from consuming the realms. He tethered it to a human soul that could be controlled with a dagger.” Emma: (Looks down at the dagger in her hand:) “The Dark One.” Apprentice: “The Sorcerer is the only one with the power to destroy the Darkness once and for all, before it destroys everything.” Emma: “Where is he? Who is he?” Apprentice: “He's far, far from here. Find him. His name is... Merlin. You must... Stop... The Darkness. Find... Merlin.” In The Street. (Emma runs to join her parents.) Emma: “Where is it?!” David: “We don't know.” Mary Margaret: “It just disappeared into the night.” Regina: (Joining the group with Robin, oblivious to what’s happened:) “Here you all are. You’ll never believe what Robin’s plan is.” Robin: (Defensively:) “I’m just saying it’s not out of the realm of possibility.” Regina: “He believes my sister can be redeemed. (Finally noticing the look of panic on the Charmings faces:) What's happened?” David: “The Darkness... It's no longer tethered to Rumplestiltskin.” Regina: “What?! (Begins searching for it:) Well where the hell is it?” Emma: “It hasn't gone anywhere. The Darkness... It's surrounding us.” (Suddenly, the Darkness swoops down and begins to attack Regina.) Robin: “Regina! (To Emma:) What's it doing?!” Emma: “What darkness does... Snuffing out the light.” Robin: “We can’t let it!” (Robin charges and is repelled by the Darkness.) Emma: “That's not gonna work on this thing! The Apprentice told me we have to do what the Sorcerer did! We have to tether it to a person to contain it!” (Emma steps forward with the dagger in hand.) Mary Margaret: “Emma!”

Regina: “No! There has to be another way!” Emma: “There isn't. You've worked too hard to have your happiness destroyed.” David: “No!” Emma: (To her parents:) “You figured out how to take the darkness out of me once. You need to do it again... As heroes.” Regina: “Emma! Emma, please! No. Don't do this.” Emma: “I love you.” Regina: “No!” (Emma thrusts the dagger into the Darkness and it begins to merge with her, leaving Regina helpless to stop it. Within moments, the Darkness consumes Emma, leaving only the Dark One’s dagger behind. The name now etched on the dagger reads: ‘Emma Swan’.)

The End.

[swanqueeneverafter]

36. There's No Place Like Home, Pt.2

The Enchanted Forest. Past. (As Prince Charming’s carriage continues on its way, Hook and Emma step out on the road again.) Emma: “You know that thing about small changes having consequences? (Hook grunts affirmative. Quizzically, he turns around to face Emma:) What about big changes?” Hook: “Why? What did we do?” Emma: “That bandit was Snow White. This was the moment my parents first met.” Hook: “And because of us, now they didn’t.” The Enchanted Forest. Past. (In the distance looms King Midas' castle.) Knight 1: (Bringing the horses a halt:) “Whoa.” Abigail: (To Prince Charming:) “There it is. Our new home.” Prince Charming: “It’s so... gold.” Abigail: “After a time you’ll stop noticing.” A Harbor Tavern. (Snow White quietly talks to Black Beard.) Black Beard: “Well?” Snow White: “I need to get far away from here. As soon as possible. And I need my destination secret.” (Hands him a pouch.) Black Beard: (Weighing the pouch in one hand:) “Then you’re talking to the right captain. However, turning a blind eye will cost double.” The Enchanted Forest. (Hook and Emma stand on a hill overlooking a valley. In the distance ahead of them the Dark Castle looms.) Hook: “Look ahead, Swan. The Dark One’s castle.” Emma: “A little more imposing than the pawnshop. So, what do we do now? Knock on the door and introduce ourselves? ‘Hey. We’re from the future.’” Hook: “Might be best if I stay back. The Dark One and I have a rather complicated past. I’d wager he want to kill me on sight.” Rumplestiltskin: “Oh, I’ll take that bet. (Turning around startled, Emma and Hook face Rumplestiltskin. He giggles. Emma gasps:) I can’t tell you how long I’ve been looking forward to this. Oops. I suppose I just did.” (Twisting his hand, he magically he strangles Hook.)

Hook: (Strained voice:) “Swan.” Emma: “Stop!” (Using the other hand, Rumplestiltskin flings Emma aside.) Rumplestiltskin: “I don’t know who you are, dearie, but why don’t you run off and let me enjoy my killing in peace.” Emma: “He’s not gonna hurt you. You have to listen to me.” Rumplestiltskin: “And why would I listen to you?” Emma: “Because if you don’t you’ll never see your son again. (Rumplestiltskin lets go off Hook. Groaning, Hook falls to the ground. To Emma:) What do you know of my son?” Emma: “His name is Baelfire. You’re planning to enact a curse in hopes of reuniting with him.” Rumplestiltskin: “Who told you that? What are you? Some kind of witch?” (Hook stands up.) Emma: “No, I’m not a witch. I’m the one who breaks the curse so that you can find him. I’m the product of true love.” Rumplestiltskin: “That’s speculation. Part of my plans. But I haven’t done it.” Emma: “You will and you will succeed.” Rumplestiltskin: “If that’s true, then that means-” Hook: “We’re from the future, mate.” Rumplestiltskin: “But time travel hasn’t been done, mate.” Emma: “Yeah, well. Someone’s cracked that code. We need your help.” Rumplestiltskin: “Help? (Giggles:) You need my help? Then answer me one question: Do I find my son? (Emma hesitates:) Answer me!” Emma: “Yes.” Rumplestiltskin: (Softly:) “Bae. I find Bae. How? (Reconsiders:) Don’t tell me. If I succeeded, I don't want anything in my head that might throw it off.” Emma: “It might already kind of be thrown off.” Rumplestiltskin: “You’ve changed things. What have you done?” Emma: “We interrupted my parents meeting.”

The Enchanted Forest. Past. Dark Castle. (Rumplestiltskin, Emma and Hook enter.) Emma: “Thank you, Mr. Gol-, (Stops herself mid-sentence:) Rumplestiltskin, for believing us. I know that time travel is hard to swallow.” Rumplestiltskin: “Not as hard as the other mystery you’ve presented me. (Pointing at Hook:) Why haven’t I killed him?” Hook: “If it makes you feel any better, it wasn’t for lack of effort. Let’s just say we bury the hatchet.” Rumplestiltskin: “Yes, but why not in your skull?” (Belle enters.) Belle: “Oh, Rumplestiltskin. You’re back. Do you, uh, do you need anything?” Emma: (Turns around:) “Belle.” Belle: “Sorry, do we know each other?” Emma: “Sorry, no. Mr. um- Rumple, the Dark One told me about you.” Belle: “Did he?” Rumplestiltskin: “No. (Making a dismissive gesture:) Go away and read a book or whatever it is you like to do. Come back and clean later.” (Turns away.) Belle: “You could ask nicely.” Rumplestiltskin: “I could also turn you into a toad.” (Belle exits, rolling her eyes.) Emma: (Muttering quietly:) “It’s a miracle you two fell for each other.” Rumplestiltskin: (Laughing:) “What? I mean, first you tell me I let the pirate live. Now you’re telling me I fall for the help.” Hook: (Interrupting:) “Yes. She has a strange sense of humor. But let’s get back to her parents.” Rumplestiltskin: “Yes. Who are they?” Emma: “Snow White and Prince Charming.” Rumplestiltskin: “Prince Charming?” Emma: “His real name is Prince James.”

Rumplestiltskin: (Takes a seat at the long table:) “King George’s son, whose wedding I’ve just arranged?” Emma: “See, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. This marriage isn’t supposed to happen because the ring he was going to give her gets stolen by Snow.” Rumplestiltskin: “It’s quite a tale you’re spinning.” Emma: “Here, let me show you. It’s in the book. (Emma shows Rumple Henry’s storybook. Turning the pages she notices they’re blank:) Wait. What?” Hook: “It’s all gone. Anything that was supposed to happen after they met has disappeared.” Rumplestiltskin: “The ripple effect. Once you change something in the past, anything from that point forward becomes uncertain. The future, as you can see, is a blank page.” Emma: “We need to get Snow to steal that ring, so we can put their story back on track.” Rumplestiltskin: “You’re in luck. There’s a ball tonight at King Midas’ castle. Prince James will be there and so will his ring.” Emma: “So, we just need to get Snow there.” Hook: “How? We don’t even know where she is.” Rumplestiltskin: “Allow me.” (He walks over to a crystal ball. Rumplestiltskin waves his hand and the crystal ball shows Snow White sitting opposite of Black Beard.) Emma: “There she is.” Hook: “She’s with Black Beard. She’s trying to secure passage on his ship.” (As Snow White considers his claims, Black Beard exits.) Rumplestiltskin: “And, it appears failing.” Emma: “She can’t escape the Queen without the money she’s supposed to get for the ring. (To Rumplestiltskin:) Can you help us?” Rumplestiltskin: “Help you? I can work on getting your portal to the future open again. But getting your parents together? You made that mess, dearie. Only you know what you did. Now go, undo it.” Hook: “If she’s looking for passage out of town I might know a ship’s captain who might help us.” Emma: “Who?” Hook: (Smiles:) “Me.” A Harbor Tavern. (Hook watches Past Hook and his crew play dice.) Hook: (Drawing Emma’s attention to his past self:) “There I am. Rather dashing, don’t you think?” Emma: “Is this even a good idea? What about preserving the future?” Hook: (Watching:) “It’ll be fine. Given what I’m drinking, if I remember anything, I’ll simply blame the rum. Just make sure that I - he - remains occupied. That he doesn’t return to my ship. I’ll take care of the rest.” Emma: (Sighs:) “Okay.” (Pulling back her hood; she unlaces her corset.)

Hook: “Wait. What are you doing?” Emma: “Making sure he stays occupied. Shouldn’t be difficult. You and I both know I’m his type.” (Standing up, Emma is about to approach Hook’s past self when Hook speaks up again.) Hook: “Swan, that man sitting there, (Pauses:) you don’t know him. Just be careful.” Emma: “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous. (Hook exits. Emma approaches Past Hook:) What are you boys playing?” The Jolly Roger. (William Smee chases rats. As he strikes out to kill one rat, Hook blocks his stroke.) Smee: “Captain. I wasn’t expecting you back from the tavern so early. (The rat runs off:) Vermin. I’ll get the bugger, sir.” (Hook grabs Smee’s arm holding him back.) Hook: “Let it be. (Smee gives Hook an aghast look:) You’ll understand someday, Smee.” Smee: “Is that a new vest?” Hook: “Of course not.” Smee: “Are you feeling alright, sir? You seem different.” Hook: “Maybe, that’s because I’m used to my first mate asking me what his captain needs when he’s on deck.” Smee: (Ready to obey:) “Of course. Sorry. Is there anything I can do for you, sir?” Hook: (Waves Smee closer and points out Snow White to him:) “I need to speak to that woman. Bring her on board. Do it quietly.” (Hook enters the captain’s cabin.) The Harbor Tavern. (Past Hook shares a drink with Emma.) Emma: “I have a confession to make.” Past Hook: “Most women do.” Emma: “I want to know how you got the hook. You hear so many stories.” Past Hook: “Mhm. (Leans a bit closer:) You know who I am and here you haven’t even told me your name.” Emma: “What fun would that be?” Past Hook: “Just two ships passing in the night, then?” Emma: “Passing closely, I hope.” Past Hook: “Speaking of ships: What do you say we leave this place and I’ll show you mine.” (Standing up.) Emma: (Pulls him down:) “Wait. How about we have a few drinks first?” (Emma hands him his cup.)

Aboard The Jolly Roger. (Snow White enters the captain’s cabin. Hook awaits her.) Snow White: “Who are you?” Hook: “It doesn’t matter. I’m a captain and I can help you.” Snow White: (Sits down:) “So, what do you want?” Hook: “It’s not what I want. It’s what I can offer. I hear that you seek passage out of the Enchanted Forest.” Snow White: “That’s true. But I haven’t enough money.” Hook: “I don’t give a damn about money. It’s treasure I want. I think you can get it for me, (Hook shows Snow White a wanted poster illustrating herself:) Snow White. You are a thief, aren’t you?” The Harbor Tavern. (Past Hook shares another drink with Emma.) Past Hook: “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re trying to get me drunk, which is usually my tactic.” Emma: “What’s wrong, captain? Can’t hold your rum?” Past Hook: “No, not only can I hold it... (Picks up the bottle:) but I can carry it right out the door. What do you say we set sail? Come back with me for a nightcap. (Emma briefly hesitates:) Or shall I find someone else?” Aboard The Jolly Roger. The Captain’s Cabin. Snow White: “So, if I procure this item for you, you’ll grant me safe passage on your ship?” Hook: “To any realm you wish.” Snow White: “Then, tell me what I have to steal.” Hook: “A wedding ring.” Aboard The Jolly Roger. (Emma accompanies Hook's past self. Emma tries to stall by pretending to stumble drunkenly against Past Hook.) Emma: “Oh! I think I should rest for a moment.” Past Hook: “Oh, no need. No need. I’ve carried rum barrels heavier than you.” (Past Hook lifts Emma up and walks to the captain’s cabin. They laugh. Snow White walks past them.) Emma: “Actually, I feel much better.” Past Hook: “Behold! The Rolly Joger!” Smee: “Captain. (Emma hops out of Past Hook's arms:) H... How did you (Stops himself mid-sentence:) I thought you were still below deck. (Bewildered:) And why does your vest keep changing?” Emma: (To Past Hook:) “I seem to remember a nightcap was promised. Find one and I’ll be waiting.” (Walks down the staircase to the captain’s cabin.) Smee: (To Past Hook:) “Captain, something’s not right here.” Past Hook: “You’re right. You’re still here. I think you know what nightcap means. It means that we want our privacy.” Smee: “Of course.” (Exits.) Past Hook: (Whispering:) “Oh, yes.” (Climbs the staircase to the quarterdeck.) Emma: (Enters the captain's cabin below deck:) “What are you doing here?” Hook: “I could ask the same of you. I thought I told you to keep him occupied.” Emma: “I am.” Hook: “By taking him back to my ship?” Emma: “His ship.” Hook: “You know what I mean.” Emma: “I stalled as long as I could. I thought you’d be gone by now. I’ll try to keep him above deck so you can get out of here.” (Door opens. Hook ducks into the shadows.) Emma: (Turns around and smiles:) “Hey.” Past Hook: “Where may you be going? I do hope you’re not having second thoughts.” Emma: “No. I just got tired of waiting.”

(They kiss. Hook sneaks past, keeping an eye on both of them.) Past Hook: “Apologies. A woman as beautiful as you deserves my full and prompt attention.” (Prepares to lay her down on the table. Hook grabs his past self by the shoulder. As Past Hook turns around, Hook quickly punches him in the face knocking him out.) Emma: (To Hook:) “Are you kidding me? How’s that not gonna have consequences?” Hook: “He was asking for it. And like I said, he’ll blame the rum. Let’s get out of here.” Midas’ Castle. (Using his telescope, Hook watches Snow White climbing the walls.) Hook: “A predictable excess of pomp and grandeur. Snow should have no trouble sneaking inside.” Emma: “What about us? We’re supposed to just sit here and hope that she pulls it off? I don’t like leaving things to chance.” Rumplestiltskin: (Appearing right beside them:) “You know, I feel exactly the same way, which is why I never do. (Magically he produces a piece of paper:) See? An invitation to the ball.” Emma: “So, you’ll be inside to watch out for her?” Rumplestiltskin: “No. No. I’ll be far too busy sorting out how to get you home.” Hook: “Well, who’s the invitation for?” Rumplestiltskin: “Well, isn’t it obvious? The two of you.” Hook: “So, when we’re done inside, you can open our portal?” Rumplestiltskin: “There’s a powerful wand which, uh, I came to possess. Anyway, legend says, it can recreate any magic that’s ever been wielded. Now, with a little work, I can use it to recreate whatever portal brought you here.” (He hands Hook the invitation.) Emma: “Please do it quickly. We’ll be in and out before you know it. I want to get the hell out of here.” Rumplestiltskin: “Ooh, confidence. I like it.”

[imgilmoregirl]

Vowed For Eternity (Chapter 15)

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Fairy Incantation

Notes: Alright, you guys can stop hating me now. Yay.

Belle kept looking back at the castle at each step. Once before, she had also walked away from the with the certainty that she was not coming back, but she did, because what she felt for Rumple was impossible to ignore and she wanted him more than the princess ever wanted anything else. But now he had not just broken her heart, but their vow too and sending her back to her father was the final move he needed to do to in fact end their marriage.

He couldn’t have done it in a worst moment. Belle’s grieve was very fresh and she had no idea how she was still breathing after everything she had been through, but couldn’t do anything to fix what was broken now, all she knew was that in this castle she had loved and lost too much things. Unfortunately, all she had left to do was move on, so she kept walking to the carriage that was waiting for her, seeing the knights’ expression of surprise when they realised that she was crying and still looking pregnant.

One of them offered her a hand to help Belle enter the carriage and she accepted it, settling herself inside, right in front of someone she wasn’t expecting to see there.

"Fiona?"

"Believe me,” the woman said, toying with the sleeves of her brown gown. “I'm as surprised as you are, but Rumplestiltskin offered me a great deal to accompany you, so I'm not complaining."

A deal, of course, because the Dark One couldn’t free anyone out of the goodness in his heart, which Belle was starting to question herself if he truly had hidden in a small spot of his soul. Her gaze fixed in her stupid swollen belly, empty but yet making her look fat, before her eyes closed and she leaned her head against the window’s frame.

"Yeah, good for you," Belle murmured bitterly.

Fiona reached to touch her knee, causing the girl to jump, startled. Belle wasn’t waiting for any contact from the ex-prisoner and in that moment, it was the last thing she wanted. Even though a part of her wished she had a shoulder to cry on, Belle was pretty sure that Fiona was one of the last persons she would look for when she needed to weep.

"I've already heard about what happened,” the dark-haired woman murmured emphatically, as the carriage slowly started to move, leaving the Dark Castle behind, “and I'm truly sorry."

"I just - " she started unsure of what to say, before opting for ending the conversation. "I don't want to talk about this right now."

Nodding, Fiona leaned back against her seat. "It's alright, I understand."

Closing her eyes again, Belle felt a new pain on her back as if someone was stabbing her spine and she curled herself the best she could in the small space of the carriage, wishing nothing more than to fall asleep, because in her dreams she could have what she was never going to get in real life. The family she lost, living adventures through the most different and amazing realms.

The trip to Avonlea took five days. Belle had never realised how distant it was from the Dark Castle as when she moved there, Rumple had used his magic to transport them to the tower that had been hers for so long. Now, however as she saw home again, she actually felt the impact of the distance, because the man she loved was anywhere near there and it made her feel bad. But how Belle could still love him after everything, was a mystery even for herself.

She allowed Fiona to help her getting out of the carriage and followed the retinue to the throne's room, where she found her father waiting impatiently for her arrival. When he saw her, King Maurice immediately threw his arms around his daughter's petite form, hugging her tight.

"Belle!"

"Oh papa, I've missed you," she cried against his chest. "I've missed you so much!"

Maurice departed from her, cupping his daughter's shoulders to get a better look at her, see if the time apart had changed something in Belle and when his eyes dropped to her middle section a gasp left his mouth.

"Darling, you're with child," the king said, horrified.

"No, at least not anymore," Belle answered. "I gave birth to a stillborn some days ago."

Those words still caused her pain. She couldn't actually believe it all happened for real, everything seemed like a distant nightmare now, but if she concentrated enough, Belle could still feel the soft weight of her daughter's body in her arms. Colette. So sweet and so little. Belle would have loved her very much and she would have been spoiled, Belle would braid her hair, read her stories, taught her to write, sing lullabies for her to sleep, everything she had been planning for the last months and it hurt too much to know none of this was ever going to happen.

"My poor girl," Maurice whined. "I should have never promised your hand in marriage to that beast."

"It's alright, papa, I'm here now and everything will be fine," Belle guaranteed him, even though she didn't believe it herself. "From this marriage came my beautiful daughter and I don't regret it, I just wish she was here with us, alive and well."

Giving her a look of pity, the king appeared to be wordless. Belle knew that he was regretting his own decisions, pondering what he could have done to save his kingdom, instead of making a deal with the Dark One, but both of them were pretty aware that if wasn't for Rumplestiltskin's magic, Avonlea would have fallen long ago and their people would be dead. However, Belle was really telling him the truth, she didn't regret the time she spent with the imp, although she was pretty sure that the wounds he left in her heart were never truly going to heal.

She watched as her father's eyes wandered around the room, focusing in anything but her own until her found someone that made his eyebrows narrow in confusion.

"Who is this woman?"

"This is my new maid, Fiona," Belle explained. "She will serve me from now on."

Fiona bowed to him, giving Maurice a sweet smile, but not even this could make his frown disappear.

"Very well," the king bounced, before stroking his daughter's cheek with the lines of his face softening. "Why don't you take a nap before joining me for dinner?"

That not just sounded tempting, but also was exactly what Belle needed. Her legs still felt weak, the pain on her back persisted and the relief of the unconsciousness was something she was taking with arms wide open.

"Yeah, I would like that," Belle grinned weakly.

Her father deposited a kiss to the top of her head, then allowing Fiona to accompany the princess to her old chambers, the same where she slept for a great part of her life. But there, in her childhood room, Belle wasn't able to sleep and all she did for hours was to cry.

Watching the retinue leaving the castle was something wrecking for Rumplestiltskin and he remained in Belle's chambers for a long time after she left, walking around there, looking at the things she left behind. A book opened on the desk, a feather and a blank parchment on the table at the library, some ink dropped in the wooden surface, the magic necklace he gave her place beside it.

From now on she would only be a memory, a ghost haunting his days and remembering him of what they almost had. Not that he wasn't already used to regret and loneliness, but something told Rumple that this time it was going to be way worst. Which made him remember that he already had things to do, after all he had promised Belle he would fill their child's grave with roses.

He walked out of the tower, heading to his laboratory where he had left his daughter in the night prior, unable to convince himself to bury her immediately. Of course, the imp didn't want to do it now too, but he had to, so he pushed the door open holding a breath and feeling his hands get shaken as he walked towards the table near the windows. A small glassy coffin was placed there, and just the view if it made Rumplestiltskin's stomach clench painfully with despair.

"Hello, baby girl," he murmured to Colette, taking another shaken step in the direction of the table, gasping when he noticed something he wasn't expecting to see there. The glass was diminished. "What the - "

His words died as his heart started beating faster and he opened the lid of the coffin, daring to touch his daughter's little forehead. Another gasp left him. It wasn't cold, like it was supposed to, but warm as his own skin. He moved Colette's arms and they were flaccid and soft instead of rigid, but his magic still didn't find any trace of life in her.

Picking the babe up, Rumplestiltskin brought his ear to her chest and it was very low and slow, but he heard the beats of her tiny heart. She was frozen, he understood, frozen in time, not growing and not doing anything by herself, but alive.

"You're breathing," he concluded feeling his eyes fill with tears. "Oh, sweet baby, you're not lost."

His powers couldn't feel it, because whatever was freezing the child, seemed to be shielded against his magic and made every little thing that worked on Colette's body very difficult to be noticed, but it was still there. His daughter wasn't dead.

"My love, papa will find out what is happening to you, then he will save you and bring your mama back," Rumplestiltskin whispered. "I promise."

It was already very late when Belle finally feel asleep after a nice dinner with her father. Fiona watched out for her, just like she told her son that she would do, but she eventually needed some time alone, all by herself. She went to the garden, admiring how beautiful it was and trying remember when was the last time she saw something as gorgeous as this.

Back when she was a fairy, Fiona had travelled around the realm, being to wonderful castles, protected many people and spread kindness wherever she went and a part of her always missed this part of her life. She remembered the night she met Malcolm in tiny village she had gone to so she could help a sad little girl. He was handsome, gentle and for the first time she was selfish and thought about herself instead of the others.

In that night Fiona didn’t wish to go back to the fairies’ place, all she wanted to do was to have a normal mortal life in which she could grown old like the humans, fall in love without any guilty, but she had to go back, just promising the most interesting man she had ever met that she would soon come back. And that she did for many, many months until she found herself with child with running away as the only option to not just escape the terrible fate that waited for her with the fairies but to also chase down her dreams.

However now she was there in this tiny kingdom of Avonlea taking care of her son’s only True Love and knowing that very far away from there, he was suffering. Fiona sighed, closing her night-vest more tightly around her body as she wandered around the garden, breathing in the cold air of the night, thinking about how terrible Rumple should be feeling all alone in his enormous home, remembering about the sound of Belle’s sniffles as she cried herself to sleep and wondering how her granddaughter would look like if she had had the chance of living, when a very well-known voice called from behind her.

"I never thought I would see you out of that cage again."

"Blue," she said behind clenched teeth, turning around to face the fairy that had destroyed her life.

The last time they saw each other, Blue was taking her new-born son from her arms and throwing her through a portal to the Dark Realm. Now Blue stood there in her ridiculous dress which’s skirt had a strange oval form, the locks of her short hair being adorned by colourful ribbons.

"How is life treating you, Fiona?" The fairy asked with a wicked grin of satisfaction, approaching her like a snake about to attack. "The rumours of your recent loss have already reached me and I thought I could come to say how much I'm sorry."

Fiona's heart skipped a beat. She was experienced in reading people's expressions and the one in Blue's now was anything but sorrowful.

"No, you're not. I can't see it in your eyes. You are enjoying," she spitted, at the fairy. "How can you possibly be happy with something like this?"

"That was my plotting," Blue shrugged.

Her words were swallowed dryly by Fiona. That was the last thing she was expecting to hear on that night, she was so sad for her son and daughter-in-law, but she could have never imagined that a fairy could declare herself guilty of what happened.

"What?"

"You know how much I hate when people get to my things, right?" The fairy asked. "But well, Pink accidentally picked the prophecy's parchment and read it. She made a new interpretation and I realised that I had wronged myself this whole time, so I couldn't allow the prophecy to complete itself."

The prophecy, of course. But what else could be taken from it apart from the obvious? Fiona always knew that part of Blue's punishment for her trying to search her happiness was to use the Dark One's curse and its prophecy to kill her son, so she didn't understand why the fairy would change her plans now.

"Why? I thought that was what you wanted!"

"Because, Fiona that would ruin everything," Blue complained. "So, I entered Belle's chambers while she was in the library and poisoned her tea."

Oh, Belle, poor, innocent, sweet Belle. She didn’t deserve any of this and nor did the baby girl she had been carrying. Fiona realised that everything was her fault, that her actions in the past not only caused pain to her son, but also to the people he loved the most and it made her want to cry and destroy things all at the same time.

"You killed my grandchild?" Fiona gasped, taking a step into the fairy's direction and slapping her right in the face. "It was only a baby! And it wasn't even a boy."

Blue touched her now pinkish cheek with a look of annoyance. The rage ran through her veins and if her magic wasn't blocked, Fiona could have dived into the darkness a little bit more and killed the bitch.

"Oh, you were a fairy once and you know that I can't kill anyone without automatically losing my powers."

"But - " Fiona tried to start.

"A sleeping curse, that will never be broken," Blue explained. "Now Rumplestiltskin and Belle are apart and the prophecy will never be complete too."

Sure, that selfish witch only though about her own interests, but Fiona could not have her magic in the moment, but she was going to make sure that Blue payed for what she did. She knew how to break a sleeping curse and she would tell it to Belle so they could rush back to the Dark Castle and wake the little Colette up.

"I'll won't sit here and watch you ruin my son's life!"

"You will," the fairy smiled, waving her hand and making a wave of magic hit Fiona. "You are now forbidden to tell anyone about this conversation. We are done now."

Glowing with a bright blue light, the fairy became small again and flied away from the castle, leaving Fiona alone in the garden, unable to do anything to help her beloved son, not even sharing the information she had, because the incantation Blue had casted on her could already be felt and she knew that if she tried to say anything about what she found out to any person, she would simply lose her voice, the words wouldn’t come.

Once again, she had been defeated and for some reason in that night it hurt a lot more than it ever did.