𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬𝑳𝒀 - Rumplestiltskin [2]

seventeen

17|memories

Celeste wandered aimlessly around Storybrooke, her brain hurting as she tried to remember her memories that had been stolen.

She had forgotten Neal, Mr. Gold and Rumpel after the curse was broken. All she remembered of Rumpel was before the original curse. She remembered the last time she saw him was before she left for the market.

They had informed her that she had been reunited with him in Storybrooke and the pair were happy. And then they told her how he sacrificed himself. She laughed at notion, knowing that the old him would not do something so reckless for someone.

"Cel?" Red greeted the woman as she wandered into the diner, not noticing that was where her feet had led her. "Are you okay?"

"Someone stole my memories." She teared up. "Can I just get a coffee? I'm going to go sit beside Snow."

"I'll get you a coffee, just pull up a chair." The waitress smiled at her, squeezing her shoulder before walking off to get her a coffee.

"Henry? Look how big you've gotten." Celeste grinned as she walked over to the table, dragging a chair over and sitting at the end. She noticed his confused stare and quickly made up a story in her head. "I'm Celeste, I knew your mother through Mary-Margaret. Last time I saw you, you were two."

"Did you also meet my mother in prison?" Henry asked curiously making the woman chuckle to herself.

"Oh, no." She waved off his question as Red placed the cup in front of her. "I met her a year after that."

"She's a doctor." Emma informed her son as she wandered back over to them. "A very good one."

"Dr. Celeste Gold." Celeste chuckled, saying her full title. Dr. Bella Richards was gone and although she had no memories, she chose to use Rumpelstiltskins apparent cursed name. "If you ever have any medical queries, don't be afraid to ask."

~•~

Celeste sat in the back of the town hall, away from the curious stares as the townspeople argued over the current curse. Vivid memories of sitting in this very hall with Rumpel flashed through her mind, a numbing pain following.

"Everyone! Everyone!" Emma tried to calm the room, gaining everyone's attention. "I know that you're frightened and confused, but I need you to listen."

"Is it true? Is there some kind of monster keeping us from leaving town?" Jiminy Cricket questioned loudly, trying to talk above the murmurs.

"Is that what happened to my brother's?" Grumpy added, folding his arms angrily.

"Yes, we believe that people are being abducted as they approach the town line." Emma informed the room.

"So we're trapped here? Again?"

"It's no different than last time." Emma sighed in defeat.

"Last time, we lost our memories." Grumpy grumbled to her. "This time we get dragged into the woods."

"Do you know who cursed us?" Celeste spoke up, wondering if she had missed anything. "And why they want us here?"

"I'm working on it." Emma confirmed. "But it's hard to figure out who cast a curse when no one remembers the last year."

"Who? Isn't it obvious?" Grumpy stood up to address the room.

"Do you remember something?"

"Who cast the last curse?" He said sarcastically. "Who knows how to use it? Who's the only one who ever did anything like this before? The Evil Queen!"

"For once, I am just as clueless as the rest of you." Regina stated as the room turned to look at her.

"You expect us to believe that?" Victor Frankenstein scoffed at her.

"It's the truth."

"This curse has your fingerprints all over it." Granny spat at her. "And you did take away our memories once before. You still have your big house."

"You think I care about my house?" Regina stated as she stepped forwards. "About my job? About any of these things?"

"Regina, please, just tell us the truth. We'll understand." Jiminy tried to reason with her.

"Speak for yourself."

"I am telling the truth." She growled at them. "If I had done this, there's one thing I'd have right now. My son!"

"Yeah, you're not getting anywhere near him until I get to the bottom of what's going on here." Emma informed the Evil Queen.

"So now you're siding with the rabble?" Regina sighed. "I thought we'd been through this. I'm innocent."

"Yes. That's what you said before. But now I'm wondering if I believe you." The saviour replied dryly as the crowd began to defensively crowd her.

"Don't come any closer." The Evil Queen warned them.

"Do you remember who you're dealing with?"

"If you all want me to be the Evil Queen, then fine, that's exactly who you'll get." Regina growled at them.

"Stop it!" Celeste yelled causing the room to shake. "Well that's new."

"What did you just do?" Emma questioned her as Regina disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"How the fuck would I know?" She snapped back, looking around confused and scared. "What the fuck is going on?"