Chapter Text
Belle’s wrist stung as she made her way to Rumple’s shop. In the distance she could hear Ruby’s joyful howling as her wolf-self ran free through the trees for the first time in twenty eight years. Belle was happy for her friend, truly she was. It didn’t matter to her that she was part wolf. But it still hurt that her friend would chain her up like that.
She and Charming had managed to bring Ruby back to herself, telling her that King George set her up and thanks to her wolf tracking skill had managed to track him down and was now under arrest. But it had cost them Jefferson’s hat as King George threw it on the fire. And poor Billy – poor Gus – was still dead. Murdered to prove a point. And Belle had discovered she wasn’t as brave and strong as she thought she was.
Her fate had been decided for her again. Rather than accept her help to see the good that Belle and David saw inside her Ruby had locked her up. Belle had told her about being Regina’s prisoner, both in her castle and the asylum, and she had done it anyway. And Belle had very nearly come apart through fear of being trapped again.
If she hadn’t had a bottle of hand soap in her bag she would have had a full on panic attack. Her chest had constricted from fear and anxiety at being chained to the wall again. She felt as though the room was shrinking to the size of her old cell, and getting smaller. So desperate was she to be free, she had panicked, emptied the entire bottle over her wrist and the shackles, pulling it out and taking half her skin off in the process.
Belle had braced herself on the desk for several minutes trying to calm herself; telling herself over and over that she was free, the chains were gone, she was in her library, before the sounds of an angry mob outside brought her back and she hurried to find Ruby.
Was this always going to be her life? Always the victim? Constantly needing to be rescued? Always needing to be protected? Resorting to calling Rumple for help when things got tough? And how was he going to react when he found out what happened?
The shop bell jingled merrily as she entered the shop. Belle closed the door gently so that Rumple, who was working in the backroom, would know it was her and not someone storming in demanding his help. She caught the familiar smell of brewing potions wafting out into the main shop and hoped her visit hadn’t interrupted Rumple’s concentration. That was all she needed to end the day; botching Rumple’s potion.
She parted the curtains carefully and peered inside. As she had expected Rumple was bent over a phial of purple potion, his chin virtually touching the table top as he held a pipette suspended over it. Belle didn’t dare breathe as she and Rumple watched the carefully measured drop of clear liquid drop into the potion, which hissed for a moment before turning bright blue.
Rumple straightened with a heavy sigh and rubbed his eyes in dismay. This was clearly not the result he wanted. He braced his hands on the workbench, his head bowed.
‘I’m sorry, Bae,’ Rumple whispered. ‘I don’t know what to do. I need help.’
Feeling awkward watching him in his grief, Belle cleared her throat softly. Rumple looked up.
‘Oh Belle,’ said Rumple straightening up. ‘I was –’
Belle came over and wrapped her arms around his neck. After a brief hesitation Rumple returned the embrace.
‘What was that for?’
‘You needed a hug,’ said Belle softly. ‘And so did I.’
Rumple held her closer, burying his face in her hair. ‘I want him back, Belle. I’m so close and yet he’s never been further out of reach.’
‘You will find him, Rumple,’ Belle promised. ‘You found me, didn’t you?’
‘Actually, it was you who found me. Speaking of which,’ Rumple gently pulled out of the hug, ‘what brings you here at this hour? Not that I’m not happy you’re here,’ he added hastily.
He was so adorable.
‘It’s Wolf’s Time,’ Belle explained.
‘Ah,’ said Rumple in understanding. ‘How is Miss Lucas?’
‘It was touch and go. But she’s got it under control.’
‘She tamed the beast.’
‘Mm-hm.’
‘What’s wrong? Belle?’
‘Nothing,’ said Belle. But she gave herself away by unconsciously tucking her hair behind her ear with her injured hand.
‘What happened, Belle?’ Rumple asked, delicately taking her hand to inspect her raw wrist.
‘Please don’t get mad.’
‘Because that always means good news,’ Rumple muttered darkly.
Belle looked at him pleadingly.
‘I promise,’ he relented.
‘Ruby… chained me up.’
‘I see,’ said Rumple calmly, masking an inferno no doubt raging inside him. ‘Did she know about your time as Regina’s prisoner?’
‘Yes. She thought she had killed Billy, she was worried the wolf might hurt me too.’
‘I can understand that. But was it necessary for you to be shackled? Like an animal?’
‘She apologised, Rumple. She felt terrible.’
Rumple stared at her for a moment, before he said, ‘Very well. It will, of course, not happen again?’
Belle nodded.
‘Then I shan’t take this matter any further. You have my word.’
‘Thank you.’
Rumple lifted his hand but stopped abruptly and seemed to force it down to his side, his hand balled into a fist. Belle knew what he had been about to do and was both touched by the gesture and grateful at his restraint.
‘You were going to heal my wrist,’ she said gently, so that he knew that she wasn’t castrating him for it. His heart had been in the right place.
Rumple nodded sadly, like a small boy confessing to stealing cookies from the cookie jar. ‘I know you don’t like it when I use magic,’ he mumbled.
‘Magic has its uses. It just doesn’t have to be used for every tiny little thing. We’ve lasted twenty eight years without magic. And the people of this world have lived the entire span of human history without magic.’
Belle held out her wrist.
‘But thank you for respecting my choices.’
Rumple smiled. His hand glowed white-gold and ran it over her wrist. Belle noticed that he only healed her most recent injury. Her scars from her imprisonment with the Evil Queen remained, for which she was grateful.
‘All better,’ said Rumple, kissing her wrist.
‘Thank you,’ said Belle, inspecting the white scars on her wrist. ‘I supposed I’ll have to get used to it: being a victim.’
‘What’re you talking about?’ said Rumple confused. ‘You’re not a victim, Belle. Why on earth would you think that?’
‘Because I’m always need rescuing.’
‘From what I’ve seen you’ve managed to rescue yourself.’
‘I couldn’t escape the Queen’s castle or the asylum. Jefferson had to rescue me.’
‘Well, I’m glad he did. Though I am annoyed he didn’t tell me you were there, I would have liberated you myself. But apart from that, Belle, you managed to free yourself in the mines and tonight.’
‘By luck. You would’ve pulled the cart back with me inside it if I hadn’t broken the cuffs. And if I hadn’t got free tonight I would’ve had to summon you. Unless David and Ruby would’ve come and found me in a blubbering mess on the floor.’
‘Belle?’
‘I...’ Belle felt embarrassed admitting it. ‘I had an episode. Or almost. I was so freaked out being chained up again, I couldn’t breathe. I keep boasting about how brave I am, but the truth is I’m not. I would’ve bailed and called for you.’
‘And I would’ve been at your side in an instant. You’ve been through so much because of how much you mean to me. Nobody could come out of all that undamaged. In fact, I would be surprised if you had.’
Rumple took her by her upper arms and rubbed them soothingly.
‘You’re still healing, Belle. Maybe you should talk to Dr Hopper, or at the very least someone who’s gone through what you have. And, Belle, you never, ever have to feel ashamed about calling me. I couldn’t bare it if anything happened to you and I wasn’t there. There’s no shame in asking for help.’
Belle smiled, raising her eyebrows at him.
‘All right, all right, don’t look at me like that with those beautiful blues,’ said Rumple, tapping her playfully on the nose. ‘I do see the irony.’
Belle giggled and hugged him. ‘How do you do that?’
‘Do what?’ asked Rumple, resting his cheek on top of her head.
‘Make me feel completely safe and completely independent at the same time.’
Rumple sighed sadly, gazing into the distance. ‘Because the alternative cost me my son.’
‘Rumple…’
‘I’m the most powerful man in existence, I hold the power of the heavens in my hand, and yet I cannot make a stupid protection spell.’
‘Hey… You created the curse that brought us here. You’ve come this far.’
‘Belle, I don’t have three hundred years. Baelfire doesn’t have that long.’
‘You’re Rumplestiltskin. You’ll find a loophole. With your resources you’ll find something.’
‘Belle, what resources do I have? I’ve read every piece of magic that’s ever existed. I can’t break through this new curse.’
‘Rumple, you’re the most resourceful person I know!’ Belle argued. ‘If you can bottle true love, you can do anything.’
Belle didn’t know what it was she had said, but it seemed to convince him. It was the same with Robin Hood. Rumple had lowered his bow when he saw that his wife Marian (the reason he stole the wand) was pregnant, but it was Belle insisting that he was not the kind of man to leave a child fatherless that did it. Without knowing it she had touched on Bae and reached the real Rumplestiltskin, the father who saved all the children in his village, not just his own.
Apparently she had done the same again now, and all she could think of was reminding him of how he successfully managed to bottle true love. Crossing a barrier spell was a walk in the park by comparison.
Rumple smiled and kissed her tenderly.
‘Maybe I can help. You made the true love potion with hairs. What if you used a hair from someone who wasn’t cursed? Like Regina.’
Rumple snorted. ‘Trying to pluck a hair from the head of the Evil Queen is about as safe as poking a sleeping dragon in the eye. Unless you’re me, of course.’
Belle smiled.
‘But I’m afraid it wouldn’t work. Regina was the curse caster. If I had to use a hair it would have to be from someone affected by the curse. And, unfortunately, everyone was cursed to forget. I’m sorry.’
Belle sighed, disappointed. She picked off a strand of hair that was tickling her arm and froze. She held it up, staring at it. She fought to keep her voice calm. It couldn’t be that simple. ‘What about someone who was cursed… but their curse was to remember?’
Rumple raised his head to look at her, saw the piece of hair she was holding and his eyes widened. They both stared transfixed at the miraculous strand suspended between them, and then at each other. Oh my gods, has she just solved it?
Rumple slowly took Belle’s hair from her and holding it as if it were made of glass brought it over to the potion. Belle joined him. Rumple lowered the hair into the phial. The blue potion hissed as it reacted with her hair. Was the curse fighting back? After what felt like an age the potion stabilized.
It had turned from blue to colourless. What did that mean?
‘Did it work?’ Belle asked faintly. ‘Does clear mean good or bad? Rumple?’
She glanced at him. Rumple was staring dumbfounded at the potion. Then he put a hand to his mouth with a choked gasp.
‘Oh gods, it is bad,’ said Belle in dismay.
Rumple’s shoulders shook as he seemed to be crying.
‘Rumple, I’m so sorry! Please forgive me! I’ll help you make it right –’
Rumple lowered his hand and Belle saw that he wasn’t crying, but smiling. And not just smiling, but laughing. Oh gods, she had broken him. He turned to Belle, tears in his eyes and surveying her with watery gratitude. ‘Thank you…’ Rumple whispered.
Then, laughing like a madman – albeit a deliriously happy madman – he picked up Belle, lifted her high into the air and twirled her round and round the room.
‘Rumple!’ Belle cried in alarm.
‘Thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!’
Rumple spun Belle a full five times and probably would’ve kept going if he hadn’t stepped awkwardly on his broken ankle and staggered against his workbench, throwing out his hand to steady them.
‘So this is good?’ asked Belle, breathless and giddy, Rumple’s happiness infectious.
‘Oh it’s good! Belle, you’re a genius! You’re – you –’ Rumple kissed the top of her head, and those beautiful hairs that had made his potion work.
He gently pulled her over to the potion.
‘So this is it?’ said Belle excitedly, looking at the little bottle. ‘You can find Bae?’
‘Oh, it’s too soon to tell. And I still need to test it. But I’m a lot further on than I was. Thanks to you.’
‘Oh I didn’t do anything. It’s easy to come in at the end. It is your potion.’
‘But you were the magic ingredient.’
Belle looked flattered.
‘Belle… may I take you for a hamburger at Granny’s tomorrow?’
‘I would love to.’ She hesitated, eying the potion. ‘Do you think… we can do one more experiment?’
‘What did you have in mind?’
‘A true love potion of our own?’
‘Why?’
‘It’ll be good to have a stock. And I was curious. We don’t have to.’
But Rumple obligingly picked one of his hairs and Belle picked one of hers. He pulled an empty phial from his potion kit towards them and they dropped them inside, sealing it with a cork. At once the hairs coiled around each other, Rumple’s glowed gold and Belle’s glowed blue as they started to make a cornflower blue potion.
‘Oooh!’ Belle was fascinated. ‘It looks different to the other one.’
‘Well, no two loves are exactly alike. Just as no two true loves are exactly alike. Each has its own signature colour, the same as a person’s magic.’
‘Wow,’ Belle breathed. ‘Our true love. It’s beautiful.’
‘Yes it is. Here.’
Rumple held out the phial to Belle.
Belle’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’
‘It’s yours too.’
Belle took it in her hands. ‘Thank you. I’ll keep it safe.’
‘I know you will.’
*
‘This is an unusual place to me.’
The Storybrooke Cemetery was indeed a strange place to meet for a date at Granny’s.
‘I know.’ Belle laid some flowers on the gravestone: Graham Humbert. ‘The Huntsman was always kind to me. He was as much a prisoner as I was. He actually tried to help me escape once. We both paid dearly for that. How did he die?’
‘All the evidence suggests it was a heart attack. Natural causes.’
‘Meaning Regina?’
‘Yes.’
‘What was he like?’
‘Sheriff Humbert? He was a good man. It’s unfair what happened to him. Miss Swan was devastated.’
‘Were she and him…?’
‘Perhaps more if her kiss woke him up.’
Belle sighed. Always the innocent who suffer. Rumple put his arm around her.
‘Shall we go or do you need a moment?’
Belle shook her head. ‘Let’s go.’
When they entered Granny’s, Rumple holding the door for Belle, the diner fell silent at the site of Mr Gold – the Dark One – on a date with the beautiful librarian. Belle tried to ignore them. They sat opposite each other in one of the booths and Rumple ordered two ice teas and two hamburgers, with pickles on his.
They passed the time talking and playing silly games. She had never seen Rumple this happy, smiling so widely it made his eyes crinkled, his deep throated rumbling chuckle was the most beautiful sound she’d ever heard. She hoped there would be more days like this. She never wanted to see that smile disappear. Rumple was always so sad and world-weary, he deserved some happiness.
‘Did I win?’ Belle asked.
‘You did,’ said Rumple.
‘Oh okay.’
‘Again.’
‘That’s the third time in a row?’
‘Third time in a row.’
At that moment Granny came over and set two plates of hot off the grill hamburgers in front of them. If they tasted as good as they smelled, Belle knew she had found her favourite food from this realm.
‘They smell delicious, Granny,’ Belle said.
‘They are delicious. Didn’t take any dark magic, either,’ Granny added coldly to Rumple.
Rumple looked annoyed and seemed to be biting back some choice phrases he would have liked to say if Belle wasn’t present.
‘Oh and I charge extra for the pickles.’
‘Mm-hm,’ Rumple replied with a forced smile.
Granny bustled back to the kitchen.
Attempting to gloss over the hostile reception Rumple tried to joke it off. ‘I have a complicated relationship with her. As I do with most people.’
Belle smiled. ‘Well, it did take me a little time to get to know you,’ she reminded him.
Rumple nodded in agreement, smiling fondly at the memory of their time in the Dark Castle.
‘They will,’ Belle assured him.
‘…it’s disgraceful. Does she have no shame?’ said a disgusted voice from the counter.
Belle looked round at two burly men giving them dirty looks.
‘Maybe she owes him a favour,’ said his mate.
‘Maybe he’s paying her. No one in their right mind would go out with the town monster.’
‘It’s disgusting.’
Belle glowed red with embarrassment. The whole diner could hear them. The salt and pepper shakers rattled slightly as Rumple fought to contain his anger at their words.
‘Hey!’ Leroy called loudly from his table in between them. The shakers stopped shaking. ‘You know, if their conversation included you, they’d be looking more at you!’
The two men jumped.
‘Who Belle and Mr Gold go out with is none of your concern. And if your lives are so damn perfect, why are you bed-hopping with each other’s wives?’
The diner gasped. The two men looked at each other in shock.
‘Yeah! So maybe you should take a good look at yourselves before you start judging these two! Now get outta here!’
The two men scuttled away. As the door closed behind them they heard one of the men ask, ‘You slept with Julie?!’
‘Thank you, Leroy,’ said Belle. ‘You didn’t have to.’
‘What’re friends for, sister?’
‘Thank you for being gallant,’ said Rumple. He glanced at the door where the two men had vanished. ‘Are they really having an affair with each other’s wives?’
‘Nope,’ said Leroy. ‘But it’ll give them something to bitch about for a while.’
Rumple chuckled. ‘Much appreciated… You have your pickaxe on you, of course.’
Leroy raised said pickaxe with his name on the handle, grinning widely. ‘At all times.’
Ruby came over and placed their drinks on the table. ‘Two iced teas. You guys doing okay?’
‘Fine. Thanks, Ruby,’ said Belle. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘Hey. They’re the ones who should be sorry. They’re the ones who made a nuisance of themselves.’
‘All the same. I’m willing to compensate you for any loss trade,’ Rumple offered.
Three tables had cleared while they’d been sitting here. One couple fled the second they walked in the door. Two people got up as soon as they sat down. And Ashley with her husband Thomas and baby Alexandra came in and seeing Rumple turned and walked straight back out again.
‘Listen, they’re the ones with the problem, they’re the ones who should go. Besides,’ Ruby winked at Belle, ‘I think they’re just jealous you have the only delicious thing that isn’t on the menu.’
The two women turned to Rumple. Rumple looked blankly from one to the other before picking up his menu to check. Belle giggled.
Rumple looked back sat Ruby and then his brain seemed to process the obvious flirtation. ‘Oh, I’m delicious!’
‘Yes!’ Ruby exclaimed. ‘Oh, wow, that came out quick.’
Rumple looked to Belle. ‘Delicious?’
Belle nodded. ‘Absolutely.’
‘Anyway, I better get back to work. Oh!’ Ruby lowered her voice to Rumple. ‘And don’t worry about the extra pickles. I’ve taken care of it. Just don’t let on to Granny.’
‘I can’t ask you to –’
‘See you guys later. Enjoy.’
Ruby hurried away before Rumple could protest. Belle smiled, but it faltered as she saw that Rumple looked troubled and so unsure; how he nervously rubbed his hands, eying Ruby’s retreating back, then glancing at Granny behind the counter and then at Leroy eating a boiled egg.
‘Hey… what’re wrong?’ Belle asked softly. ‘Ruby wasn’t making fun of you, it was a compliment.’
‘No, I-I know,’ Rumple mumbled. ‘I’m just… I’m not used to that.’
‘What? Having beautiful women flirting with you?’ Belle teased.
‘People treating me like a man… not a beast. And not because they want something from me. Or because they’re your friends so that have to.’
Belle’s heart broke as she realised. ‘You’ve never had friends?’
Rumple shook his head. ‘Does Bae count?’
‘Well, maybe this is a good thing. You’ve got friends now. If anyone can understand controlling their inner beast, Ruby can. And Leroy…’
They looked over at Leroy, who was gazing longingly at Sister Astrid who was getting a coffee. She saw Leroy and promptly knocked over the stand of muffins and scrabbled to pick them up, blushing furiously.
‘No one knows forbidden love or prejudice like them.’
‘Alone is all I’ve ever known. Alone protects me.’
‘Friends protect people. Friends help each other. Friends help with protection spells,’ she added
Rumple smiled. ‘That’s true.’
Pleased to see that smile restored Belle turned her attention to her hamburger.
‘You know,’ Rumple reached across the table for a red bottle, ‘you should try it with ketchup.’ He grinned like an eager schoolboy. ‘Condiments are this world’s most powerful magic.’
Belle lifted the bun and Rumple squeezed the ketchup bottle, drawing a heart on her burger.
‘Careful, Mr Gold. You’re in danger of damaging your fearsome reputation.’
‘Oh Belle. I fear you damaged that a long time ago.’
Rumple and Belle shared a kiss over their burgers.
‘Now. I’m anxious to see if I have competition for your “delicious” top spot.’
Belle laughed and reached for her hamburger.
And then Regina entered the diner and marched straight up to their table, not caring that they were in the middle of a date.
‘Gold. We need to talk,’ said Regina bluntly.
‘Do we?’ said Rumple irritably, leaning heavily back in his seat, resigned to the fact that they would not get a moments peace today.
Granny, seeing the iceberg, intervened swiftly. ‘Folks, I think I may need to close early. Everybody out.’
‘No, it’s okay,’ said Regina. ‘We’re civil.’
‘Yeah, for now,’ said Rumple. ‘Belle, you remember the woman who locked you up for twenty eight years?’ he asked conversationally.
Belle really didn’t feel comfortable being this close to Regina. Even though Rumple was here so she was safe from her retaliation, it still didn’t erase those times Regina would observe her through the cell hatch, relishing in her misery. Besides, this looked like one of those conversations where she wasn’t part of it, which gave her the excuse to leave.
‘Well, I should probably…’ Belle made to stand up.
‘No, no, please stay where you are,’ Rumple interrupted, quietly pleading with her to stay. ‘Whatever she has to say won’t be a secret from you. And whatever she wants, she won’t get.’
Belle sat back down. Rumple was including her in the conversation, quietly assuring her she was safe from Regina, that he wouldn’t keep secrets from her and if, knowing Regina, it was something nefarious, he would refuse to help.
‘I’m actually coming about the one thing that might unite us,’ said Regina.
‘And what on earth can that be?’
Regina leaned down, deadly serious. ‘Cora.’
Now Rumple was listening.
‘She’s coming from our land. I need your help to stop her.’
‘She was dead. You told me you saw the body.’
‘Apparently you taught her well. She’s not, and she’s on her way and I don’t think I need to remind you how most unpleasant that would be for both of us.’
‘For you. I can handle Cora.’
‘That’s not how she tells the story.’
‘I won in the end.’
‘Maybe. But there’s a big difference this time. This time,’ Regina looked directly at Belle, ‘you have someone you care about. This time you have a weakness.’
Rumple looked at Belle too; some of the worry Regina was feeling flickering in his eyes. If the Evil Queen and the Dark One were scared, then this Cora must be bad.
‘I’m sorry, who is this woman?’ Belle asked.
‘Someone you’ll never meet,’ Rumple assured her. ‘So you say she’s coming,’ he said to Regina. ‘Where is she now?’
‘With them.’
They all convened in the pawnshop. The plan was for Henry to talk with Aurora in the Netherworld so she can tell Emma and Snow how to stop Cora. Charming wasn’t happy about sending his grandson back into the burning room, but this was the only way they had of communicating with them. Rumple sat down next to Henry and gently placed him under a sleeping spell, whilst telling him the story of how his grandparents had (supposedly) captured him with squid ink and that a supply of it was hidden in his old jail cell. Rumple had a good storytelling voice. Belle could listen to him reading the phonebook.
She noticed how differently he treated Henry compared to everyone else in town. Rumple had always had a soft spot for children. He doted on Jefferson’s daughter Grace like a second father and whenever a deal had involved children, he had always taken on the price himself or requested something small, like a slice of cake, or a cup of tea. With Henry it was more than fondness; it was almost as if he were also his grandpa. He had even given him the amulet for free. Perhaps Henry reminded him so much of his son Baelfire. Never having seen a picture of him Belle didn’t know if there was a physical resemblance, but she liked seeing this side of Rumple.
But Henry wasn’t asleep for more than a few minutes before he woke up. Something had ripped Aurora out of the red room before Henry could give them the message and the violence of that action had caused Henry to sustain a severe burn to his arm. Rumple healed it but advised against sending Henry back in there until he had time to recover. This prompted the rare site of Prince Charming and the Evil Queen uniting against Rumple at him even considering sending Henry back in there. Rumple defused the situation by stressing that he understood perfectly well the dangers of sending Henry into a room filled with flames but if they didn’t Emma and Snow would surely be dead.
But with no Aurora, what was the point of sending in Henry when there would be no one to receive their message?
‘Because there will be someone there,’ said Belle.
Everyone looked at her.
‘Who?’ Regina demanded.
Belle turned to Charming. ‘Your wife.’
Charming’s eyes widened as he remembered that Snow White had been placed under a sleeping curse before.
‘That is a very big assumption,’ said Regina dangerously to Belle.
Thankfully Charming intervened before Rumple could tell Regina to step away. ‘No. No, it’s not. Belle’s right. Snow was there once before. She can go back. She can find a way. She will, I know it. And I’ll be waiting.’
‘You’re going to this Netherworld?’
‘I faced you. How bad could it be?’
‘It’s not as simple as that,’ said Rumple. ‘You can’t get there. You haven’t been under a sleeping curse.’
‘Well then put me under one,’ said Charming impatiently.
‘If we do that, there’s a chance you might never waken up,’ said Rumple, his Scottish brogue becoming more prominent in his frustration to get Charming to understand that the plan, whilst sound, had risks.
‘Sure I will. When I see her she’ll kiss me and I’ll be fine. Now put me under. I’ve spent far too much time looking for my wife. It’s time to bring her home!’
There was no talking him out of it. So now they set about brewing a sleeping curse. Luckily they had all the ingredients they needed in the shop.
‘Belle, please can you fetch some belladonna out of my case,’ said Rumple as he measured valerian root.
Belle opened his potion kit and searched through the phials until she found a little bottle marked Belladonna. But another bottle caught her eye. Unable to curb her curiosity Belle pulled it out. It was a black bottle; with a picture of a skeleton resting on a stone alter with its arms folded across its chest.
‘Sweet Dreams?’ Belle read, unstoppering it, releasing a faint haze of sweet smelling blue smoke.
Before she could inhale Rumple’s hand slammed on top of it. ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa!’ He wrenched it from her. ‘How have you not had an accident in my workroom is beyond me?’
‘You never used to let me into your workroom.’
‘Exactly,’ said Rumple, putting the stopper back on.
‘What is that?’ Belle asked.
‘It’s a sleeping curse.’
‘Wait. Why are we brewing a sleeping curse when we have this?’
‘Because we want our charming prince to waken up. Belle, this is one of the deadliest poisons in the world. The ultimate sleeping curse. Not even true love kiss can bring you back. It traps you in your own mind with good dreams that makes the victim not want to waken up. It gives you everything you ever wanted, so that you’ll follow it into oblivion, whilst in the waking world your life-force is being drained, until the body dies and your soul is trapped in the dream world forever with no way back.’
‘So that skeleton isn’t just for decoration?’
‘No. That’s what happens to you.’
‘That’s horrible. I wonder why Regina didn’t use this on Snow White.’
‘Snow White ruined my life,’ said Regina, who had come over to see what was taking so long with the belladonna. ‘I wanted revenge. Did you really expect it to be a pleasant experience? I wanted her to suffer as I suffered. And trapping her in an eternal sleep with nothing but dreams full of her own regrets was the prefect way for me to enact revenge. At the time,’ she added to Henry. ‘So. Belladonna?’
Belle held up the bottle and Regina snatched it without a word of thanks. ‘You’re welcome.’ She turned back to Rumple. ‘Why do you have this?’
‘For a rainy day,’ said Rumple quietly.
‘What kind of rainy day would have you reaching for such poison?’
A cloud seemed to pass over Rumple’s eyes as he stared at the bottle. ‘When there are no more sunny ones.’
Belle suddenly had the horrible mental image of a skeleton with gold teeth, wearing Rumple’s suit and moonstone ring lying on the cot. If ever Rumple’s life became too unbearable, if his suffering was so great, so without hope, then this would become the final option.
‘Well,’ said Belle taking Sweet Dreams out of his hand and replacing it back in the case, ‘it’s a good thing your days are sunny now.’ In its place she put the protection spell she had helped him complete in his hand. ‘And very soon will be even brighter.’
Holding the potion that would reunite him with his son Belle saw in Rumple’s eyes the light of the sun appear from behind the clouds. Then he smiled and turned a grateful face to Belle. ‘Yeah.’
Belle pressed a lingering kiss on his cheek.
‘Well. We best prepare the prince.’
While Regina finished the sleeping curse with Henry, Rumple explained to Charming what to expect when he went under. They would be doing this the old-fashioned way; through blood, by pricking one’s finger on the needle of a spinning wheel. Rumple’s spinning wheel no less.
They really had stepped through the looking glass: the Dark One, the Evil Queen and Prince Charming working together for good, Rumplestiltskin as Maleficent and Regina preparing to curse Prince Charming but to reunite him with his true love rather than separating them.
Henry hugged his grandpa, wished him luck and gave him the amulet to keep him safe.
‘Good luck, David,’ said Belle.
‘Thank you, Belle,’ said Charming smiling.
‘It’s time,’ said Rumple, seated at his wheel.
‘When I awake, I’ll be in that fiery room?’ Charming asked.
‘Not exactly. That room is where those who’ve already awoken from the curse return. You, however, are being put under for the first time.’
‘Then how will I know where to go? How the hell am I supposed to find a room with no doors?’
‘And that, dearie, is the conundrum we’re all depending on you solving. Now I say this with the utmost sincerity: good luck.’
Rumple spun the wheel and Charming, his expression determined, pricked his finger on the needle. The effect was instantaneous; Charming’s eyes slammed shut and he slumped over on the cot. Belle and Henry rolled him on to his back and tried to make him as comfortable as possible.
They waited. The minutes lengthened and Charming’s chest continued to rise and fall.
‘Come on. Come back,’ Henry whispered to his grandpa. ‘Should he be in there so long?’
‘I’m sure it’s fine,’ said Regina reassuringly. ‘I imagine they’re just catching up.’
Belle glanced over at them. Regina exchanged a look with Rumple, who shook his head.
Something had gone wrong. Charming was trapped under the sleeping curse. And it was she who got him all excited about seeing Snow again if he did. The only good it did was keep Henry from further harm.
While Rumple and Regina disappeared into the front of the shop to discuss Charming’s fate, Belle suggested Henry read to him, if only to distract him. Ever on hand with his storybook Henry recited his grandparent’s story to his grandpa.
‘“With one kiss, true love’s power made everything right again. But this was not the end of their story. It was just the beginning”.’
‘I think this time, it’ll happen the other way around,’ said Regina, walking back in.
Henry looked up from the book. ‘You think so?’
‘I do. Which is why I need you to stay here with Belle and watch David for a while.’
‘Where are you going?’
‘Mr Gold and I need to prepare for Emma and May Margaret’s return. Coming through the portal won’t be easy. We need to make sure everything’s in place.’
‘Really? You’re really going to help them?’
‘I promised you I was going to do better, to be better. So yes, I’m going to do everything in my power to see to it they come home safely.’
‘Wow. You really have changed.’
‘I’ll be back as soon as I can,’ Regina promised.
But Belle hadn’t forgotten the worried look she and Rumple had shared. One conversation wouldn’t turn that around. Belle followed Regina into the front of the shop.
‘Rumple,’ said Belle.
Rumple looked round at her.
‘David’s been asleep for over an hour. And I saw the look on your face.’
Rumple’s gaze dropped to the floor.
‘No secrets, you said,’ Belle reminded him quietly.
He nodded and returned his gaze unflinchingly. He joined her at the counter and covered her hand with his, squeezing it.
‘Cora cannot be allowed to enter Storybrooke, Belle. If you thought the Evil Queen was bad? Imagine an Evil Queen with no heart in her chest – a heart she herself ripped out because she believes love is weakness. No heart means no emotion. No inhibitions. No mercy. I know Cora, I taught Cora, I’ve been betrayed by Cora. We both have,’ Rumple glanced at Regina who was standing by the door, ‘and she won’t stop until she gets what she wants. And with the prince in no condition to tell us otherwise, we have to be prepared for the worst.’
‘What if David did get the message through?’
‘What if Cora gets through? It won’t matter if Charming got the message through or not.’
‘Gold,’ Regina called from the door.
They were running out of time.
‘Do you trust me, Belle?’
Belle swallowed. ‘I trust you’ll do what’s right. Good luck.’
‘We’ll need it,’ said Rumple.
Belle waited in the backroom with Henry and the still Sleeping Charming, trying not to second guess her decision to let Rumple and Regina go. She understood Henry’s unwavering faith in Emma and Snow White and a child’s optimism. In stories Good always defeats Evil, but real life told a different story. And she was slightly worried that Henry was so desperate to be a hero like everyone on his birth-mother’s side that he would run headfirst into a burning room. Sometimes being a hero is knowing when NOT to run into the fire. But then it wouldn’t be faith if they had evidence that they were alive and well.
The shop bell jingled and Ruby hurried in, followed by the dwarves.
‘Where are they?’ Ruby panted urgently. ‘Regina and Gold.’
‘What’s going on?’ asked Henry.
‘All the magic has been drained from the mines.’
‘They stole it?’
‘They snuck in after our shift and took everything,’ said Leroy angrily. ‘Nobody steals from a dwarf!’
‘Except the Queen,’ said Doc.
‘And Rumplestiltskin,’ said Happy.
Belle didn’t know which was worse; that she had allowed Rumple and Regina to take the magic or Henry’s crestfallen face.
‘If they’re not helping Emma and Mary Margaret, that… that means my mom lied to me.’
‘I’m sorry, Henry,’ said Ruby.
Henry jumped up. ‘We need to find her. We need to stop them. We need to help Emma and Mary Margaret.’
Henry and Ruby hurried out of the shop, leaving Belle with Charming and the six dwarves.
‘Belle,’ said Leroy, ‘I know you love Gold, but what if he kills Emma and Snow White? If he hasn’t stolen our magic for his own purposes. You trust this man?’
‘I absolutely trust him,’ said Belle.
‘He’s not some power hungry monster who doesn’t care who gets hurt, then?’
Given the evidence Ruby and the dwarves were presented Belle could understand their mistrust. But Belle remembered the man who just wanted to be reunited with his son, who gave her two libraries, her freedom, who saved her people, who gave Henry the dream-amulet for nothing, and whose only motivation for stealing their magic was stopping someone more dangerous coming to Storybrooke.
When you believe in someone you don’t need proof.
‘I absolutely trust him,’ said Belle stubbornly.
‘All right,’ said Leroy reluctantly. ‘But if Snow and Emma die…’
Leroy left the threat hanging.
The shop bell rang out front and Mary Margaret burst through the curtain. ‘David!’
The dwarves rose as one to make room as Snow White threw herself on her sleeping husband. Emma and Henry came in a second later, followed by Regina. Snow leaned down and kissed Charming. A pulse of rainbow light shuddered out and swept over them all like a warm breeze. With a gasp Charming awoke. He saw Snow leaning over him and smiled.
‘You did it,’ he said, slightly groggily.
‘Did you ever doubt I would?’ said Snow.
‘No.’
Charming sat up and kissed his wife. Everyone was smiling at them, except Regina, who was staring fixedly at the wall, no doubt thinking of her lost love.
‘Though the burning red room did give me a pause,’ Charming added cheekily.
Rumple, who had been watching the reunion on the other side of the curtain, smiled and moved away. Belle joined him in the front where he was replacing a fairy wand on its stand.
‘They did it,’ said Belle happily.
‘So it would seem,’ Rumple agreed. ‘It appears you and young Henry were right.’
‘I’m proud of you. You and Regina did something amazing today.’
‘Not accidentally killing the Saviour and the People’s Princess? Quite an achievement indeed.’
‘That labels don’t define you. You two may have been the Evil Queen and the Dark One back in our land, enemies – even to each other. But here? You worked together with David to bring his family home. And together you protected us from a worse threat.’
‘I don’t think one good deed suddenly makes me and Regina members of the Heroes Club.’
‘As I said, the heroes and villains labels don’t mean anything. It’s the choices we make that matter. And this is not your first ever good deed, Rumple.’
At that moment Emma appeared. ‘We need to talk.’
She was looking directly at Rumple, so Belle made herself scarce.
‘Yes. I believe apologies are in order,’ said Rumple.
‘No. No apology necessary. I can understand why you wanted to keep Cora out of here.’
‘Just remind me never to bet against you in the future, Miss Swan.’
Belle smiled to herself.
In the backroom Snow White, Charming and Henry were wrapped in a group hug, Regina watching forlornly from the other side of them room. Like they’d forgotten she was there. Especially as, from the sounds of it, she had almost died to prove herself to her son.
Belle came over to her. Regina jumped a little at her approach, as if expecting retribution.
‘I’m glad you’re okay,’ said Belle.
‘What?’ Regina clearly hadn’t expected her to be concerned for her well-being.
‘I’m glad you’re okay.’
‘You don’t have to be nice to me.’
‘No, I mean it. Henry would have been devastated to lose a mother.’
Regina was taken aback by Belle’s sincerity. ‘Listen, Belle… I’m… I’m sorry for what I did to you. For locking you up – twice. For torturing you. For causing you and Rumplestiltskin unhappiness.’
Belle hesitated. ‘I accept your apology.’
‘But you don’t forgive me.’
‘Let’s just see how things go.’
As Rumple said, one good deed didn’t erase all the evil they’d done. But it was a start.
Henry came over to his mother. ‘I was right. You really have changed,’ he said proudly. He hugged Regina. ‘Thank you.’
Regina smiled and hugged her son tightly.
Belle smiled at them. She felt Rumple appear beside her and turned to hug him, Rumple wrapping his arm around her.
‘How about dinner at Granny’s? On me,’ Ruby declared happily.
‘As long as it’s not chimera, I’m in,’ said Emma. ‘Hey, kid, you hungry?’ she called to Henry.
‘Yeah,’ said Henry.
He pulled out of Regina’s embrace, his hand slipping out of hers and joined Emma.
‘Come on, Belle,’ said Ruby.
She took Belle’s hand, tugging her out of Rumple’s arms. Everyone filed out of the room leaving Rumple and Regina standing there alone. Regina looked crushed, tears in her eyes, and Rumple seemed to be trying hard not to look upset.
‘Congratulations,’ said Rumple softly. ‘You just reunited mother and son. Maybe one day they’ll even invite you for dinner.’
He wasn’t even snarky about it. They may have been left out, but if things kept going well; Regina was more likely to be invited to a social event with the Charming’s than Rumple, who had helped them out so much.
Nothing ever changes.
Suddenly Belle came running back into the room. ‘You two, come on! Everyone’s waiting.’
Rumple and Regina looked up surprised.
Then Henry came in. ‘Mom? Aren’t you and Mr Gold coming to Granny’s?’
They were invited? Regina was too overwhelmed to speak, and Rumple seemed to be trying to work out if he had stumbled into the X Files.
‘I… I don’t believe your mother invited us, Henry,’ said Rumple.
‘Don’t be silly, of course you’re invited,’ said Emma, sticking her head in. ‘You two got us home. You’re the reason we’re even having this party. Now come on, let’s go! I’m starving!’
Belle, Emma and Henry filed out again, this time leaving Rumple and Regina stunned and affected by the invitation. And that they were actually wanted.
Emma, Henry, Snow and Charming walked down the street, Belle and Ruby arm in arm just behind, the six dwarves following like a guard of honour. Rumple and Regina walked way behind the happy group, still a little uncertain. The two old frenemies, teacher and student, looked at each other and smiled. Perhaps things were looking up for them?
They hurried to catch up with the others. Hearing their approach the dwarves parted. Belle and Ruby held out their arms, inviting Rumple to walk between them and Henry held out his free hand to Regina, who took it.
There they were: Henry with his mothers, Snow White and her Prince Charming alongside their daughter, Rumplestiltskin with a beautiful woman on each arm (though he only had eyes for Belle) and the six dwarves bringing up the rear. United.
None of them saw the pirate ship emerge out of the fog…