Enchanted Adventure

XXXIII. The Outsider

"Well..." he revealed a hidden safe behind a painting. He unlocked the safe and pulled out a well-worn shawl. "This shawl... is all I have left of my Baelfire."

"I don't suppose I could come with you?"

"No, I... I... I truly wish you could, but... I only have enough of this potion for one object." He put the shawl back into the safe. "This is my journey, Belle. This is my journey. I'm afraid it's something I have to do alone."

The two hugged before Belle said, "I know."

Belle made her way to the library and entered. She grabbed a handful of books to put away. She ran into Hook, who was reading a book in one of the aisles.

"Uh, sorry," Belle apologized. "The... The library's not open yet."

"Oh. I'm not here for the books, love," Hook told her."

"You. You're the one who broke into my cell at the Queen's palace."' She ran into the main part of the library and Hook followed her. "You wanted to kill Rumpelstiltskin."

"Oh, I still do. But, right now, I'll settle for you."

She pushed a cart of books on top of Hook and ran into the elevator. Hook freed himself from the pule and dashed towards the elevator, but the door shut in his face. He banged on the door.

Belle called Mr. Gold from inside. "Hey, Belle."

"Rumpel, I'm... I'm in the elevator," Belle said. "There's a man here. He broke in. He wants to kill me."

"Belle? You're... You're breaking up. Who's in the library?"

"... Pirate-"

"Belle?"

"... A hand. Missing a hand-"

"Belle?"

"Hello?" The line cut out and Belle hung up the phone.

"Belle?"

LATER

Belle was still trapped in the elevator. There was someone banging on the door, trying to get in. When the door opened, it turned out to be Mr. Gold, not Hook. She ran into his arms.

"Belle," Mr. Gold said. "It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Here." He placed his jacket over her shoulders.

"Where... Where is he?" Belle asked.

"I don't know. But you've got nothing to fear. I'm here now."

---

At Mary Margaret's apartment, Henry and Aubree were brooding on their beds.

Emma entered the room with a Pop Tart on two plates. "Hey, kids. You two hungry? I managed to wrangle up a couple Pop Tarts."

"No, thanks," the twins replied.

Emma headed back to the living room, where Mary Margaret and the rest of the funeral attendees were gathered.

"Well, that went well," Emma muttered.

"Emma, you're doing all you can do," Mary Margaret told her.

"That's what makes me feel awful."

"Ladies?" Leroy called. "The dwarves have been thinking. We have to ask - when do we go back?"

"Back?" Emma repeated. "Where?"

"The Enchanted Forest. Our home."

Mary Margaret frowned. "You want to go back?"