𝑶𝑪𝑬𝑨𝑵 𝑬𝒀𝑬𝑺 - Rumplestiltskin [1]

SIXTY EIGHT

68|NORMAL DAY

"Good morning!" Bella stretched her arms above her head as she entered the main room, finding everyone around the kitchen. "Ooo, what's for breakfast?"

"Cereal." Henry answered very unenthusiastically.

"My favourite." She joked with a grin, pouring herself a bowl before sitting at the dining table. She sipped her orange juice and jumped when a knock at the door echoed throughout the apartment.

"Gold." Emma said with surprise as the man waltzed into the apartment, spotting Bella casually eating her breakfast and ignoring them all. "We've all had a long night."

"You remember that favour you owe me, Ms. Swan?" Mr. Gold reminded the woman, suddenly interesting the doctor.

"Yeah."

"I'm cashing it in." He informed her, David wandering over to the Sheriff in fear that Gold might attack. "You do honour your agreements, don't you? I need to find someone, so we're leaving today. Pack a bag."

"Leaving? Where?" Mary Margaret questioned from the kitchen, pausing making her coffee.

"Wait, find someone? Who?" Emma asked him, wanting to know what she was in for.

"My son." Bella chocked on her juice, not expecting that answer. "And it has to be today because every minute I'm here is a minute closer to me killing Hook. So it's really best for all concerned if I leave. And you're going to come with me. Oh, and we have a long history, so know this and know it to be true. If any harm comes to Celeste while I'm gone, I'm killing all of you. I'll see you at noon."

"Wait." Bella stopped the man as he started to leave, closing the front door behind her so they could talk in private. "Who is Celeste?"

"You are, dearie." He cupped her cheek, the action shocking her. "Stay safe."

"Of course." She said slowly, watching wide eyed as he left. Bella wandered back into the apartment, all eyes on her. "I am so broken."

"What? No." Mary Margaret tried to correct her, offering her a mug of coffee.

"I'm called Celeste? I am dating the town monster? Why can't my brain work and remember this?" Bella sighed, accepting the mug with a smile and sitting back down to finish her breakfast. "Life sucks."

~•~

Bella sat bored in her office, waiting for the big hand to hit the top so she could go home. Something was wrong, something about her memories was off. So here she sat, in her office in the hospital, a bottle of whiskey in her handbag for when she got home, even though it was seven in the morning. She missed saying good bye to Emma and Henry but knew her lack of memory of the pair was enough for them to understand.

"Come in." She sighed as she heard a knock on her door, knowing it meant she might have to stay longer. Instead she found Ruby opening the door with a small smile on her lips.

"Hey." Ruby greeted the doctor, a basket on her arm as she sat in the chair across from Bella. "I have your favourite vanilla coffee and some breakfast."

"You're the best." Bella sighed with relief and happily accepted the coffee, sipping it like it was her life line. "I have a question."

"Shoot." She offered, biting into a Danish pastry.

"I was shot, in the shoulder." The doctor mumbled, scratching at the area. "And Mr. Gold just waved his hand over the wound and it healed. Like magic."

"I don't understand." It was clear Ruby was lying but Bella did not want to argue with her friend.

"Just forget it." Bella waved it off, continuing eating her breakfast as they talked about random things like customers at Granny's and patients in the hospital.

"And then I dropped the mug of coffee right down the poor lady's lap." Ruby cried, hiding her face in her hands with embarrassment while Bella almost fell off her chair from laughing too hard.

"Bella?" Dr. Whale poked his head into her office, stopping when he spotted the waitress. "Ah, I was wondering why you hadn't left yet."

"Want to join us? There is one pastry left." Bella offered, gesturing to the basket. "I know you love foods that go to your thighs."

"Well, I prefer thighs but food will always come on top." He chuckled as he walked further into her office, leaning against the wall as he ate the pastry.

"I have whiskey as well if you've finished your shift." She pulled the unopened bottle out of her bag and wiggled her brows.