Once Upon A Wondrous Love (A Once Upon A Time Fanfiction)

Chapter Twenty: If You Want It Done Right, Do It Yourself

"I don't know what it was, but something was....off," Ruby explained, wringing her hands nervously. Jefferson stood at her side, hanging onto her every word, hoping something she recounted would lead to his Alice.

Across from them in the main office of the jail stood Emma, Mary-Margaret, and David. They were dressed for the last snow of the season--at least they hoped it was. 

"The woman wants to wear dead puppies, of course, she's off," Emma said, widening her eyes and talking with her hands like she always did.

"That's not what I meant, I could smell her." Ruby persisted. Jefferson gazed at her with hope in his blue irises.

"That must mean she's there, right?" Jefferson asked, looking to Emma.

"You guys, it's not that simple. I checked that place from top to bottom and I didn't find anything." Emma shook her head and sighed.

"Did you check the basement?" Ruby asked quickly, looking to Emma.

"No, but there wasn't any way in." Emma defended, dropping her eyes. For a moment they all stood in silence.

"Look, I think it is time we start facing facts here guys. Maybe, I dunno, she does want to be found. Not to mention I've got three notorious villains and Rumplestiltskin just waiting to ruin this town." Jefferson furrowed his brow.

"We're going to keep looking," David said, his eyes switching between Emma and Jefferson who were having an internal standoff.

"Come on Jeff, I'll take ya home," Ruby said dejectedly after David gave her a pleading look. Out in the car, Jefferson was a quiet mess.

"I'm not gonna give up on her," he said defensively.

"Neither am I." Ruby said darkly, starting the car. The red Camaro roared to life all around them. 

"We have to do something," Jefferson said as Ruby pulled away from the curb.

"M--the house is that way."

"I know, we're not going there yet," Ruby said, shifting gears.

"Where, then?"

"Let's go pay a visit to our good old friend, the Dark One."

****

The bell in Mr. Gold's pawn shop tittered as Ruby pushed open the door. The voices that first reached her ears quieted as Jefferson shut the door.

"We're closed." a strained and stressed voice called from further in the shop. Ruby fingered an object before coming up to the counter. She grabbed the stem of a brass bell and rang again. Belle appeared, her eyes wet and red.

"Hey," Ruby said, straightening her back. Rumple appeared behind her, looking worn.

"I said 'We're closed.'" he said again.

"No, we're not Rumple!" Belle snapped, looking to Ruby.

"What can I do for you?" Belle asked, sighing and tossing her hair over her shoulder. 

"Actually, I'm in need of your man," Ruby said, eyeing Rumple who stood in the doorway that lead to the back of the shop. 

"If you couldn't tell from my current reputation in Storybrooke and the fact that it never changes, I'm not interested." Rumple grunted, glaring at Ruby.

"You arrived here with Cruella and the others, right?" Jefferson asked quickly, causing everyone to jump and look at him. Jefferson was usually very soft spoken, this was one of those unusual times.

"Yes, I did." Rumple said coming forward as Belle gave him a look.

"Then you know about about Alice and what she has done to her." Ruby countered, narrowing her eyes.

"Look, what Cruella does to her child is none of my concern." Rumple defended, sighing.

"But she's not her child!" Ruby excalimed, pounding her fist on the counter. In it was Alice's necklace--the necklace she had left in her room the night of the party and what Ruby had planned to aid her in finding Alice.

"Rumple, can't we do something. A locator spell?" Belle pleaded, looking to him. He shook his head.

"Sorry, I can't help you." Ruby huffed, her face growing red as the necklace slipped out of her hand an onto the the glass counter.

"Come on Jefferson, we'll find another way." Ruby glared, turning and starting away.

"Don't forget this." Rumple took the necklace in his hand and froze. His eyes were locked on the golden pendant, yet they seemed distant.

"Rumple, what's wrong?" Belle asked, grabbing his arm as he began to teeter. Ruby and Jefferson watched with befuddled expressions as Rumple came back to the present.

"Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice labored as if he had just run a mile.

"It's Alice's. I was hoping you'd use it for the locator spell." Ruby said softly, eyeing the necklace protectively, she wasn't about to loose her only link to Alice.

"Why? What did you see?" Jefferson asked, leaning in acorss the counter.

"This belonged to my wife Vanessa." he said slowly as belle's brow furrowed in confussion.

"Your wife!?" Belle spat, releasing his arm in disbelief. 

"It was before. Before Milah, before the curse, before I met you. Vanessa was my wife, we had three children together." Ruby's mind was fighting to make connections.

"So this is like our chipped cup, a way to help you remember...but why would anyone make you forget your family?" Belle asked, confusion in her voice.

"She wanted me to forget." Rumple said, more to himself than to everyone else in the room.

"Forget what?" Jefferson asked, his heart racing.

"Alice, she's my daughter."