Under the Town

Chapter 9: A Troubling Sight

~Present day Storybrooke~

Belle walks alone in the silence of the morning. A peaceful day in Storybrooke, one of few. Belle takes care of both Neal and Baby Hood, so her days are filled with a lot of crying. Just for fun, Belle likes to think of baby names for the little girl. If it were her girl, she probably would have named her either Ana or Colette. Ana after her dear friend whom she wronged long ago, and Colette after her mother, who risked her life to save her's.

Belle leaves Granny's alone for her break. She is walking through the town, heading to the library when she notices a familiar figure moving closer to her.

Is that, Rumple?  She thinks to herself. She walks closer to get a better look. Realizing it's Rumple, she breaks out into a light run towards him.

"Rumple!" She says as she gives him a full embrace. 

"How're you back so soon?" She asks joyfully. She looks around for other familiar faces but can't find any. "Where's Emma? And Henry?"Her smile slowly turns into a confused look. Rumple looks down at his shoes, unsure how to answer without angering her. Unfortunately, Belle knew him too well.

"You left them down there???" Belle questions, completely shocked. "How could you? They needed your help!" Belle shouted. Rumple chuckled to himself, looking down at his shoes.

"They're probably better off without my help," Rumple said with a hint of humor. Belle gave him a serious look, instantly changing his tone.

"Belle, there's something I've been keeping from you," Rumple says. Belle gives him a confused and angered look.

~~~

"Emma?" 

Emma was frozen in place, so many emotions coming to the surface all at once. She was sad and happy at the same time. Confused, yet it made so much sense. Of course he would be down here. She wanted to run and hug him, but she held herself back. She took a small step forward, tears forming in her eyes. She let one get away as it flew down half her cheek before flying off her face. She allowed herself to stand completely still in shock until reality came crashing on her. She remembered what had just happened to Mary Margaret.

It's a trap, he's not real, she let herself believe. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as her son left Regina's grasp and ran to his father. Neal's attention was turned towards Henry.

"Henry," Neal said, breathless. 

"Dad," Henry said, a smile spreading across his face. Neal looked back at Emma, still not budging to move.

In an instant, Emma's eyes had changed from pure shock to mistrust. 

He's just a part of your past, a faint voice in her head whispered.

"Emma?" She heard Mary Margaret's voice behind her. She took her step back and stood confidently. 

"What do you want?" Emma said to Neal, harsher than she expected. Neal let go of Henry and slowly took a step towards Emma, arms just barely out, trying to calm her.

Mary Margaret immediately knew what her daughter thought and went up to her.

"Emma, he's real. He's really here. Henry just hugged him, he's here." Mary Margaret explained. Emma wanted to believe her, but tied her hopes down.

"What's going on?" Neal asked. Mary Margaret gave him an apologetic look, knowing it was too much to explain right now. Emma didn't take her eyes off Neal. Neal slowly took more steps closer to Emma until they were only a couple feet apart. She hesitated for a second, but suddenly wrapped her arms around him, letting all her tears fall down her face. Neal wrapped his arms around her and returned the hug. As they separated, his confusion came back to him.