Beautiful Lily

A Vision Reassessed

Belle's death was certain. When she delivers the child, Belle will die because it takes a life to transfer that dark magic her child inherited from its' father. Belle's mind completely shut down and didn't even remember saying 'goodbye' or 'thank you' to Mother Superior as she exited the building. She walked as if in a dream, numb to the world, back to the car. She couldn't even bring herself to tears she was so overwhelmed with shock. She was lost in thought. She felt alone and she was scared. All this information was too much. Belle didn't even remember turning on the car, or getting into the car for that matter, and somehow found herself back at their house.

She had intuitively parked their car in the driveway and stomped heavy-footed into the house. With each step she took, she was reminded of her own mortality. Nothing felt real. She was exhausted. Done. Belle walked through the front door of their house and dropped her purse to the floor. It was taking every effort for her to not collapse on the floor like her purse.

"Belle," Rumple said with a serious look on his face, "we need to talk."

"Rumple... I... can't. Not right now."

"No!" he said sticking his foot down and raising his voice, "You've been avoiding me. We need to talk about this now!"

"Talk about what?" she gave up fighting him, fatigued and on the precipice of tears. He strode over to her bag and took out his three books.

"Why are you learning magic? And why are you hiding this from me?" he said accusatively, raising his voice.

"Rumple..." Belle said breaking before him, her eyes were watering. He was furious and she could see that. Rumple was at a point in his fury where nothing she said mattered, because his frustration with her had consumed him entirely.

"And why were you at the convent today talking with Mother Superior?!" he said pointing an angry accusatory finger at her.

"...you... you were following me?" Belle said bewildered, "You still don't trust me?!"

"You have to give trust to get it dearie, and you studying magic from my books without my knowledge on the matter is not a great way to establish that trust with me."

"You should know by now that I don't want to learn magic!"

"Well all evidence is pointing to the contrary my dear. Anyone who learns dark magic never has good intentions!"

All of sudden it finally became clear to Belle as to why he was so upset. How it must have appeared from his perspective with her abrupt absences, leaving him to study the dark curse on her own using his books on dark magic. He was comparing her to Cora. Belle knew about her. When Regina came into the diner that one day, warning them about Cora, it prompted further questioning on who exactly this woman was. Rumple had mentioned briefly his relationship with her and their involvement with magic. How she had left him for power. And how in the end... it was Cora who had come back to threaten his life using magic. The mere comparison to Cora was repulsive, and Belle was at her wit's end.

"No! Anyone who learns dark magic is a threat to you... and I am not Cora!" she shouted back at him, leaving him silent. He was flummoxed, unsure as to what to say next. He didn't even know what to think.

"I can't handle this!" she exclaimed exhaustively, "I'm done arguing. I can't even be with you right now."

Belle was barely to the staircase when Rumplestiltskin had confronted her. She immediately turned back around, grabbed her purse, and left the house slamming the door on her way out.

... ...

Belle didn't return to the house all evening, so Rumple concluded that she must have taken temporary residence at the apartment above the library. He knew it was her little sanctuary and space so he went to bed that night alone. He felt odd sleeping without her. Rumple sorely felt the absence of his wife and he missed her. He couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned until finally he gave up and began staring at the ceiling, thinking.