Chapter 31: Scorned Woman
She was being ridiculous.
That was what Belle told herself when she arrived back at the little apartment above the library that she and Rumple had been calling home.
Okay, it wasn't exactly little. It was the entire top two floors of the building. It was like a big house. Maybe not exactly like the dark castle, but it was lovely. And Rumple had been more than generous to her since she had been released from the hospital. He made sure she had the care she needed and he always made sure she had a book, and was willing to talk to her.
But he had been so distant. He hadn't even looked at her like he did before, and he was always gone.
And now she knew why.
He was having a baby with Emma. Emma who had been her friend, who was her friend.
Again, logically, Belle knew it shouldn't bother her. It had been so many years, according to Rumple. And, well, they were never together. But even though their marriage was an allusion by Regina, and that there had never really been anything between them, Belle felt almost betrayed.
It was odd.
There were moments where she felt like what Regina had created was her life, even though she knew it wasn't. It wasn't like Rumple had tried to initiate anything between them since he had found her either. He had taken care of her, but what she told Emma had been true. He hadn't even made an attempt at touching her.
And now she knew why.
He and Emma.
It flummoxed her, from what she could recall of their past, Rumple had never wanted to be with anyone. Not even her. Getting him to just look at her in a way that wasn't filled with disinterest or disgust was difficult. Not that they had their moments, but it was a far cry from just kissing him to having his child.
But that was what Emma was. Pregnant with his baby. His hands had been all over her and then some. She had admitted it in court after all, which caused Belle to run from the courtroom and empty the contents of her stomach.
Again, she knew she was being ridiculous. But it still hurt.
Even if whatever she had with him was mostly fiction at best. She shook her head as the fake memories started to come in her head. There weren't that many of them shades of them really that Regina had haphazardly constructed before abandoning them, but they were hard to overlook especially with what she still felt for him.
Yes, still felt. She still had feelings, even though the past twenty some odd years she had been drugged out of her mind to make her into some hapless idiot for Regina to use as a tool for manipulation.
God, the fact that she had trusted the Evil Queen even for those quick few minutes.
Belle's head went into the toilet again.
She had been throwing up a lot lately. Archie said it was because of anxiety. Yes, apparently she had anxiety now and was given little pills to help with that. Just like she was given little pills to help all the other health problems that Regina had induced. She still couldn't go outside in the sun without wearing heavy garments otherwise she might burn. It was ridiculous since it was the heat of the summer. Much like how she couldn't even eat one of the rich delicious meals that Rumple made for her. Again, it was because of years of bland, at times inedible food that was given to her sporadically made her stomach non-existent. And then there was her heart.
There had been some severe damage done to it, Whale suspected she might've had a mini-heart attack when she was locked up of all things, which was ridiculous. Although, Belle did remember having a sharp pain in her chest when she was talking to Regina.
"I'm not surprise," Whale told her. "Given how you were treated, Mrs. Gold and your condition—"
He didn't need to say anymore. Rumple kept offering to heal her, but Belle did not want magic touching her. At least not till she knew she could defend herself. She wanted to learn magic; she didn't want to be caught in its crossfire again. Though bringing up the subject to Rumple had been easier said than done due to his coddling and schedule.
Or screw schedule with Emma Potter!
The flash of anger she felt at that moment had been so intense, Belle almost felt like she had no control of herself. She felt so much hatred towards Emma at that particular moment in time, it was a little hard to rationalize.
She shouldn't feel this way.
Emma was her friend. She visited her more than anyone else did. She was her only visitor really if you didn't count Rumple and that private nurse he hired for her.
Betsey.
Betsey really didn't even talk to her that much. She was nice enough, but like Rumple she thought Belle was broken. Emma was the only one who treated her like a real person. The only one who talked to her, and didn't act like she was going to break, who actually wanted to be her friend.
Or was it just guilt.
Those intense feelings of hatred boiled over again and Belle felt herself getting dizzy for a second.
"Are you okay?"
It was Betsey. She appeared to have popped out of nowhere. Inwardly, Belle sighed. While the woman had attended to her every need and saw her at some of her most embarrassing moments, she didn't exactly want to share her feelings with her. Despite what Emma had said, Betsey wasn't much of a friend to her. And neither was Emma for that matter. Or Rumple.
Though, Belle should've known better than to think that there was something between her and Rumple. He had turned her away any advances she made towards him sayng they had plenty of time, and that she needed to focus on getting better.
Focusing on getting better, that was Rumple's excuse for not telling her the truth.
He had months. Months to tell her that there was no chance that they would be together, but he didn't.
Again, Belle felt her head spin. She wanted to do something, something to get vengence. She had never felt this way before and hated it.
"Lacey?"
"I'm fine, Betsey." She said, "Just a bit of a headache. I probably shouldn't have exerted myself today."
Or gone to court.
She was glad the nurse was late this morning, it saved her from the lecture of how she needed to stay in a germ safe environment. She doubted the courtroom was that.
It was so odd watching King George of all people acting like a prosecutor. She didn't recognize Snow White's lawyer though. The fact that Snow had helped Regina made Belle's blood boil.
"Shouldn't we tell them?" She remembered asking Rumple.
He shrugged. "They wouldn't believe us, sweetheart. In fact, they'd probably lock you up in the institution again. And we don't like that."
She frowned, "It's wrong, Rumple. Seeing Snow like that. Charming thinking he married Regina."
Rumple sighed, "It's upsetting, but you're not going to change the status quo of things. Besides, Charming and Snow never talked to you."
She gave him a weird look. Though, he had a point. In the Enchanted Forest, she had never really talked to the fairest of them all. She doubt Snow White would want to talk to her. Sure, Belle was from nobility but a low level of nobility where the villagers thought she was too uptight and the real royalty like Snow White thought she was mud beneath their feet. Still though, she had watched the princess's adventures from a distance and felt bad about her current situation.
She told Rumple as much.
"Surely, there has to be something we can do." She said.
He shook his head, "Short of breaking the curse, there's nothing we can do. And we don't have the power to break it, sweetheart."
"Well, who does?"
"Someone special." Was all he said before he changed the subject.
She remembered the look on his face, there was something about the way he said that, that bothered him. As if he knew whom this special person was. As if that person would be special to him.
Emma.
Was it possible? Was she the curse breaker Rumple had been referring to? It made sense, why he would hang out with her. But the schematics about it.
"Are you sure you're alright, Lacey?" Betsey said coming into her room. "You look awfully pale, dear."
"I'm fine—" She said as she felt a sudden pain in her chest.
She frowned and found herself gasping for a air for a minute there as she felt Nurse Betsey walking closer to where she was.
"Oh, I don't think you're fine, dear. In fact, I know you're not."
Belle looked at the nurse. There was something off. Belle wanted her out of the room. "I think I need to rest," She said. "I'll be fine, just a headache."
"Really, a headache?"
"Yes," Belle growled.
The nurse laughed and it was as she laughed that Belle knew something was wrong. "Betsey?"
"So, you're smarter than you look." She said crossing her arms as her features slowly shifted into Regina's.
Belle gasped.
Regina wasn't supposed to have her powers. Rumple had told her that much. But here she was in the form of her healer.
"What did you do to her?" She thought thinking of Betsey.
"Oh, the nurse." Regina said with a laugh. "She might've been turned into a mouse probably eaten by an owl by now. It's the circle of life, you know? Prey taken out by predator."
Belle shuddered. "He's alive. I'll call his name. You'll see. You can't do anything"
"I believe I'm the only one with power here," Regina said, "World without magic and all."
"Yet, clearly you have power, Regina. So, maybe you were wrong." Belle stated.
"Oh, you won't be screaming Rumple's name. Remember this?" Regina said waving her hand and something appeared—Belle's heart.
Belle blanched as the memory of Regina taking the organ remerged. It now made sense, all those pains. How it appeared she had a heart attack because Regina had been squeezing her heat.
"Oh, don't worry, I won't destroy your heart. Not if you're a good girl."
"Go to hell, Regina." Belle spat.
Regina laughed as if what Belle said was funny as her fingers tightened around her heart Belle found herself gasping for a second. But suddenly it lifted Regina had an odd look on her face. In fact, she seemed a bit paler than Belle realized.
"Are you alright?" Belle—always the do-gooder asked when she finally managed to get words out.
She instantly regretted saying that. She should've ran away. Done something Grabbed the heart from Regina's hand. She was just too damn weak, and Regina seemed to regain control over herself before Belle could do anything.
"I'm fine," Regina laughed as she looked at Belle.
"I want my heart back Regina," Belle said.
"Oh, I'm sure you do." Regina snapped as she looked at her, "God, you look even more pathetic than you did in that cell."
"Because you squeezed my heart," Belle growled.
God she wished she could grab Regina's heart. She had never felt such hatred for someone before, but if anyone deserved to have his or her heart pulled it was Regina.
The woman did not look like she had been on the run for the past few months. Her dark hair was perfectly styled, and as usual Regina was in a power suit accessorized with a nice emerald pendant.
Belle frowned as she looked at the pendant it looked familiar, like she had come across something about it in her reading.
She wanted to touch it and reached out to grab the necklace only to find herself being flung onto the floor.
Regina laughed. "Yeah, hate to say you can't remove this baby unless you know what you're doing. And you Bookworm, have never known what you're doing. Look at your unfortunate relationship with the imp."
"Shut up." Belle said.
"Shut up?" Regina said. "I'll give you a pass on that one. For once."
Belle had a sneaking suspicion that wasn't the reason why Regina wasn't squeezing her heart into smithereens but she didn't say anything. "What do you want, Regina?"
She smiled, "A little birdie told me you had a bad day in court, I thought I'd offer you a way to get vengeance. It's sort of my thing."
Belle rolled her eyes.
"But, dear, I heard you were just distraught at that hearing where it was revealed your imp was having an affair with that horrible Emma Potter."
Belle inwardly gritted her teeth as she finally found her voice, "That was you."
"I'm sorry, but that's not how babies are made." Regina said, "You just have to blame Rumple and Emma for that, and don't you want your revenge, Belle?"
She did want revenge. Like before, she knew it was stupid and irrational, which was why she shook her head. "Get out of my house, Regina."
Regina laughed. "A brave little mouse, aren't you?"
Belle ignored her. "I am not going to be some sort of pawn in your game with Rumple. As you can see, it really didn't work well for you last round."
"I have your heart," Regina hissed. "You'll do what I want."
"But you were willing to make a deal with me."
"Common courtesy." Regina snapped. "Besides, I thought I'd make it worth your while. I do feel bad with the ordeal I put you through, especially since Rumple turned out to be such a dog."
"He's not a—"
Regina shook her head. "He cheated on you, don't defend him."
"He didn't cheat on me." Belle said stopping herself mid sentence.
"Oh, honey, you know he did. There is no reason not to be angry."
"He thought I was dead." Belle argued.
"You don't need to defend him," Regina said. "You are a strong independent woman."
To any other woman in Belle's position this would've been a pep talk. However, this so called "pep talk" came from Regina and Belle just ended up rolling her eyes and asking Regina if she got the line from a Lifetime movie.
"Lifetime?" Regina said though with the way her lip slightly twitched Belle knew she hit a nerve. "Don't be ridiculous. I don't watch those drool movies. I thought you might want to give Rumple and Emma Potter the punishment that they deserve."
"I want my heart back." Belle snapped.
"Don't be ridiculous," Regina said. "Then I'll have no leverage. We'll talk later. And remember, not a word to Rumple about your heartless state. Hell, I'd rather you forget this meeting. What I do want you to think about is the state of your marriage. Is it really okay for you to be with someone who cheated on you? And when you come to a discussion, have a nice talk with Emma. Maybe over some of that tea, though I recommend you skip having a glass if you know what's good for you."
She then disappeared into a cloud of purple smoke.
Belle frowned as she shuddered, as she tried to recall the past few minutes. She still felt like crap. She looked at the clock, frowning wondering where Betsey was. It was much later than she thought it was.
Shrugging she thought maybe it was a good thing the nurse wasn't here, maybe a nice long nap was what she needed. Hell, what she really needed and wanted was a drink. It was too bad her various medications prevented her from doing that.
Rumple didn't come home that night. Or the next night, Belle was alone. Betsey never showed up.
It didn't really matter much since she was perfectly capable of caring for herself and she sort of enjoyed the alone time; though she did want to talk to Rumple. And the longer he was gone…
Finally, he did show up. Looking haggard beyond belief. She shook her head when she saw him.
He sighed heavily, "I'm sorry."
Like that made a difference.
She inwardly shook her head for being nasty. Instead, she said. "It's been three days, Rumple. You could've called."
"They don't allow you to do that at the hospital." He said.
"Is the baby okay?" She asked.
She did care about the baby, despite the fact that Rumple's bastard was sort of ruining her life.
She inwardly cringed as she thought of the baby as the bastard.
"She's going to be fine." Rumple said, "Emma is just going to have to take it easy. How are you?"
"I'm okay," She said.
"No, you're not." He said, "Emma told me what you heard. I'm sorry."
She laughed. "We were never together, Rumple. Though, I do wish you would've been a little more open with me."
"A lot was going on," He tried to rationalize.
She sighed heavily knowing exactly what he was implying. "I'm not that delicate, Rumple."
"Are you?".
She felt her cheeks turning red and anger rushing through her. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He sighed heavily, "Never mind."
"No, Rumple, I want to know what you're referring to. I am a strong woman, I survived over twenty years of being locked up and prodded on all because of you."
He paled a little bit. He never paled back in their world. He looked so different in his human form. It wasn't that he was bad looking by any means, as an older man he actually was quite handsome, it was just that Belle had been used to the sparkly skin, leather, and crazy nails.
She had, after all, called him Mr. Sparkles for so many years.
"What?" She said, "Is it that hard to believe that I am strong."
"No, not at all." He said, "I just—I—"
"What?" She asked.
"Sweetheart, I tried to tell you earlier that I moved on."
Moved on?
She gave him a weird look. "I thought whatever you had with Emma was a fling?"
"No," He said. "It's not. I'm in love with her Belle."
She felt her head spinning. "That's impossible—you can't love, your son."
And then Rumple started laughing. Laughing so hard, it caused Belle to raise her eyebrows.
"Rumple?" She asked, "You always said the reason we couldn't be together was because of Baelfire. Surely, you haven't changed your mind because you knocked up a married woman of all people."
He winced. "It wasn't just a fling, Belle."
"Really? She's a married woman." Belle said, "I'm sure it was just a fling for her. Or is that why she's been coming over to see if you—excuse, me, Ford—was going to ditch me to the curb. You haven't even told her the truth about who you, who we are, Rumple."
He sighed heavily, "She wouldn't believe me."
Belle shook her head. "All you'd have to do is wave your hand and do some magic. I don't think it would be a leap of logic for her to believe you're a fairytale character after performing magic."
He gave her a look, "It's complicated. She's been through a lot."
"And I haven't?" Belle asked, "I spent over twenty years of my life locked up because of you. My father hates me because of you. My health has deteriorated because of you. I love you, Rumple. And don't deny that you don't love me."
He sighed heavily, "It's not that I don't love you, Belle. But I thought you were dead and Emma—"
"She's married, Rumple."
"I know," He said. "She's married to me."
It was a couple of days later and Belle still didn't know to make out what Rumple had told her. On one hand, she couldn't blame him. He had been pretty much reborn as a new person. Had new experiences, and of course it would be easy for him to fall in love with someone else. But at the same time, she was angry.
Angry that her chance with Rumple had never worked out, that he didn't even want to make an effort with her.
"So, what you're saying is that there is no chance between you and me?"
He sighed heavily. "I'm not going to lie to you, I don't think it's possible."
"Even if she doesn't take you back?"
Rumple gave her a weird look, like he couldn't believe she asked that. "Oh, Belle. You don't want that."
"I want to be with you," She said. "Is that too hard to realize?"
"You don't want to be someone's second choice." Rumple said shaking his head. "You deserve so much more."
"I wasn't your second choice," Belle said feeling herself tear up. "We could've been happy together if—"
"I know," He said in a gentle tone. "And I'll always care about you, but I don't think things will ever be that way between us."
"You don't see me that way?"
"Oh, Belle." He said as he proceeded to go on and on about how he was all about Emma.
She inwardly shook her head; this was not how it was supposed to be. She knew she should accept the situation for what it was and that's one of the reasons she invited Emma to tea later that week. But God, did she hate the whole thing. And she had a headache, a God-awful headache.
After telling her that things were pretty much over between them. Rumple had started going out of the house more and more frequently. He had only checked on her a few times really, it was all about Emma.
Belle frowned trying to keep those thoughts of hatred from coming up. She tried to think about what a good person she was in the past.
Thinking about that she remembered her last conversation with her father.
"He'll change you." Sir Maurice had told his daughter. "You won't be the same, Belle. Don't let that monster in."
"I love him, Papa." She said, "He has good in him."
Maybe too much good, she thought as she brushed a piece of her hair away from her eyes. She just didn't understand his relationship with Emma Potter.
His wife.
Rumple or Harry Potter as he was called in this world in another form had married the woman. Just getting him to kiss her—
Belle sighed heavily as there was a knock on her door.
And there was Emma.
Emma looked pale and was wearing a pair of loose yoga pants and a top that Belle didn't think was a hers since it was quite long on her and still fit fairly loose around her bloated belly. In fact, her eyes narrowed when she saw the name Potter on the back.
Was she wearing Rumple's shirt?
"Lacey." Emma said, "I am glad you called."
She was sure she was, Belle thought. She saw the look on Emma's face in the courtroom. A part of her felt bad for the woman, another part of her was glad that there was some sort of guilt.
God, what was wrong with her.
"I thought we should talk, clear the air." Belle said trying to figure out why exactly she called Emma again.
At the time, she really did think it would be a good idea, but now—now, she was clueless about why she decided to invite Emma to tea.
"I'm glad you called," Emma said. "I felt horrible about what happened."
Belle nodded, "It was not the way I'd want to find out, that's for sure."
"If it's worth anything it won't happen again." Emma said, "Now that you're alive?"
Belle wanted to roll her eyes, to tell Emma fat chance. That she was married to Rumple, but the woman would have no clue. That's what Rumple told her at least.
"You should at least tell her the truth." Belle told him after Rumple had told her the whole sordid tale. "This isn't a way to live, Rumple."
"I know," He said. "But the circumstances aren't ideal. I never intended for this to happen."
"What have her fall in love with your alter ego or knock her up?" Belle said, "Or for me to turn up alive and put a wrench in your machinations."
"Belle!" He said.
She sighed heavily. "I'm just relaying the situation, Rumple."
"I know," He said. "But it sounds so bad."
"You need to tell her the truth."
Emma deserved to know, maybe that's why she asked her to come here. Telling the truth would be the right thing to do.
At least that's what she told herself to try to justify things as she poured Emma as a glass of tea. For some reason, Belle didn't want one. Emma however took it in gusto.
"This stuff is heavenly," She said. "Really, it's the only thing that my stomach tolerates these days."
Belle frowned, "I thought you were in your second trimester."
"I am," Emma said taking a big gulp of tea. "Almost six months along, and I'm still puking a bit. Oh, God, I shouldn't be talking about the baby, should I? I'm upsetting you more."
Belle shook her head. "No, no, I'm not upset. I shouldn't be."
"Shouldn't be?" Emma said, "I'm having your husband's baby."
Belle laughed, "Oh, Emma, he's not my husband."
"What?" Emma asked confused.
Belle sighed heavily. "I tried to have Rumple tell you, but you deserve to know the truth. Ford Gold and Harry Potter are one in the same. They're Rumpelstiltskin ."
"Rumpelstiltskin?" Emma said, "Now I know you're talking crazy. And Ford and Harry as the same person. Um, have you looked at them?"
She had seen both of them. Rumple had morphed into Harry to prove to her his claims. And there was resemblance there. Resemblance because Belle found out that Bae was his new form's biological father.
The agony Rumple felt about the situation was beyond her. He should be confiding in it with someone, not just trying to pacify someone like Emma because she couldn't handle it.
Belle took a deep breath; she really needed to get a check on her emotions.
"I know you know magic is real, Emma." Belle said, "It's not that big of a stretch to see how someone like Harry could morph into Rumple—err, Ford. And they're alike, are they not?"
Emma frowned, "I…no."
"Oh, I'm right." She said, "Both of them have similar quirks. They both are excellent cooks for one thing."
"Lots of people are excellent cooks."
"There's other things too," Belle said, "Their mannerisms."
Emma frowned as she looked at Belle. "That's—"
"I'm sure you noticed that they have the same little quirks," Belle said. "And they do look alike in some regards."
Emma frowned and murmured something under her breath.
"What?" Belle asked.
"It's nothing." Emma said frowning.
"If you don't believe me," Belle said, "Get a paternity test on your baby. It will match Harry's DNA because he and Rumple are the same person."
Emma nodded, as Belle noticed how pale she became. "Are you okay? I know this is a lot, Emma but—"
Emma shook her head, "I—I feel funny. I, excuse me, Lacey."
She then got out, but the gripped the chair no sooner than she stood up and started vomiting. But rather than food or anything else distinguishable, the vomit was dark. The color of tar. The color of dark magic.