Beautiful Lily

A spoonful of sugar

Belle opened the door to the library and was surprised to see Killian Jones waiting for her inside. He stood by the reception desk and looked up as she entered the building, plopping the book he was perusing through down upon her desk.

"No one is allowed in here after hours. How did you get in here?"

"Uh... pirate?" he said as if she was insulting his intelligence. "Besides, these locks aren't very secure. In fact, I think these were the same exact ones I was able to pick into last time."

"I'll keep that in mind when I change them," she said out loud making a mental note to herself. "Where's Emma? Because I'm sure you're not here to eagerly check out a book."

"She doesn't know I'm here-"

"-then get out!" she said cutting him off and pointing sternly at the door. When she saw that he wasn't moving she immediately reached into her purse and grabbed her cell phone.

"No, wait," he said raising both of his empty hands to show that he wasn't a threat.

"Get out, or the next person I call will be my husband and not Emma."

"Would you just hear me out for a moment?" pleaded Killian, "If you hear what I have to say, I'll leave your library peacefully. I didn't come here to cause you any harm. I just wanted to talk to you discreetly."

With one hand she covered her belly protectively and with the other her thumb hovered hesitantly over the send button to call her husband. She still had the faux dagger in her purse and although it wouldn't summon him to her she could still use it to defend herself. Then she remembered her wedding ring and knew to use it for emergencies only. Was this an emergency? Would it even work? There was no way to test it and know for sure. If he harmed her, Emma would surely find out about it and if not her, then definitely her husband. If Rumplestiltskin ever found out about this peculiar and suspicious interaction, Killian would surely be a dead man, magic or not. She knew that Killian wouldn't risk his life unless what he had to say was worth that kind of trouble.

"You've got five minutes. And keep your distance! Believe it or not, I am actually carrying a weapon."

Killian stepped back a few feet as he explained his presence, "I know that Rumplestiltskin is without magic and that he believes magic will make everything better. It won't. Trust me, I've been hunting after him for quite some time and I got to know his son during his stay at Neverland. Magic was what severed his relationship with his father and I'd hate to see history repeat itself."

"And so now you're suddenly a humanitarian? What did you want to tell me Killian?"

"What if I were to tell you that it is possible to live happily and peacefully without magic?"

"In Storybrooke?"

"No, outside of Storybrooke. Beyond the town line."

"Anyone who crosses the border loses their memories. Everyone knows that. Besides, even when it was possible to retain your memories and cross the line only Rumple was able to do it... and that was when there was magic in Storybrooke."

"Not everyone lost their magic," countered Killian. Belle was taken by surprise over the insight and her face twisted in both confusion and curiosity. He continued, "Elsa and Hercules are currently living in Storybrooke and they still have their powers. Their abilities were never tethered to Storybrooke's magic because of their familial ties to gods."

"What are you implying?"

"If you and Rumplestiltskin move out of Storybrooke, you both can live out the rest of your days in bliss. Out in that world nobody will know who you are or require his magic. And now that you have such a good report with Elsa, perhaps she could somehow find a spell to help both of you retain your memories when you cross the border."