The Girl with the Stolen Memories
Fandom : Once Upon A Time
Relationship : Rumplestiltskin x Belle
My AUpril 2026 contribution for the prompt : Canon Divergent.
I’m sorry for the mistakes, English is not my native language. I hope you like it.
Summary : And if Jefferson had helped Belle escape earlier in Season 1, what would have happened ?
Disclaimer : Once Upon A Time belongs to Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz and ABC.
She opened her eyes. She had just spent a restless night, strange dreams once again disturbing her sleep. It was always the same dream with that person. She did not know who he was, but she was sure it was a man. She could never see his face. Sometimes she wondered if this man was real, if she had already met him, or if she had invented him.
To be honest, she no longer managed to distinguish what was real from what was not. All she remembered was her first name, Lacey, and that she had been locked in this tiny room for years, with only the nurses visiting her to make her take different kinds of pills. And there was also that woman who had come to see her a few rare times. Lacey did not know who she was, but her visits frightened her, as if that woman meant her harm. But in those moments, she thought of the man from her dreams, and it reassured her. She managed to hope that someone was waiting for her somewhere and that he would come for her. Despite the days passing in that horrible place, she wanted to keep hope. She sat on her bed and pulled her knees to her chest. The door opened and a man entered, holding a meal tray. She guessed it must be morning; she had completely lost track of time. She looked at the nurse who set the tray in front of her. It was the first time she had seen him.
“I’ve never seen you before,” she dared to say.
“It’s my first day,” he simply replied.
He was about to leave when Lacey called out to him again.
“Wait! What’s your name ?”
Jefferson looked at her one last time before adding :
“It’s a beautiful day to go outside.”
Lacey did not understand. Why was he telling her that ? She had been locked up for years. She looked at her tray and was surprised to see that her pills were not there. It was the first time someone had forgotten them. She lifted her eyes toward where Jefferson had been standing, but he was gone, leaving the door slightly open. Lacey stared at the door for a few seconds, expecting the nurse to return. She stood up and listened. There was no sound. She moved forward, pushed the door, and stepped into the hallway. This was her chance to escape this prison.
She walked down the hallway and reached the nurse’s desk. The nurse seemed to be deeply asleep, a cup of still-warm tea sitting on her desk. Lacey looked toward the door and saw a man disappear; she recognized the nurse and followed him. She felt as though he was showing her the way. She reached the hospital’s main hall. The first thing that shocked her was all the people there. Nurses, doctors, patients. She was not used to seeing so many people. But despite the crowd, no one paid attention to her. They probably thought she was just another patient. She headed toward the exit, trying to go unnoticed. She was so close; she did not want to be caught and sent back to that hell. She finally stepped outside and took a deep breath. How long had it been since she had felt the sun on her skin, the wind in her hair ? She had stopped counting after several months. Her head was spinning, but she refused to stop. She kept walking straight ahead, toward the town.
Emma was at Granny’s diner with Mary Margaret. It was a routine the two of them had settled into since Emma had moved in. And she did not complain. She liked having found a true friend in Mary Margaret. At times, she even considered her family.
The diner door opened and Mr. Gold walked in. Silence fell as he went to sit at the counter. Granny came out of the kitchen and approached him, an envelope in hand, probably the rent he had come to collect. After a few seconds, he slipped the envelope into the inside pocket of his jacket, stood up, and headed for the exit. He passed by Emma and Mary Margaret’s table and gave them a crooked smile.
“Miss Blanchard, Sheriff Swan,” he greeted them.
Mary Margaret replied politely, and he left. Emma felt as though everyone in the diner had just started breathing again. That man truly unnerved her. Her only satisfaction had been putting him behind bars, even if only for a few hours. A smile tugged at her lips. If only she could do it again. The door opened once more; David walked in and sat at a table. Emma looked at Mary Margaret, who seemed increasingly uncomfortable.
“Do you want us to leave ?” Emma offered.
Since her release from jail, Mary Margaret had been trying to avoid David at all costs, even though he did everything he could to talk to her. The two women stood up and left the diner. Outside, they headed toward Emma’s car parked across the street.
“I can drive you to work if you want,” Emma offered.
“Thanks, but it’s fine. I still have time, I’ll walk a bit.”
Emma was about to answer when something caught her attention. A young brunette woman was heading toward a small alley. She looked completely lost, and the strangest part was that she was wearing hospital clothes.
She turned to her friend and nodded. Then she looked back toward the young woman, who seemed to have disappeared. Emma walked toward the alley, Mary Margaret following closely, worried about her friend’s behavior. When they reached it, Emma saw the young woman looking around in every direction. Yes, she was definitely lost.
The young woman jumped and turned around. She had long curly brown hair, unbrushed, pale skin, and blue eyes. She was very beautiful and looked to be in her twenties. Emma studied her but did not recognize her. It was the first time she had seen her in Storybrooke.
“Can we help you ?” Emma asked.
The young woman didn’t answer and seemed wary.
“Are you lost ?” The sheriff tried again. “Do you want us to take you back to the hospital ?”
The young woman’s eyes widened and she began to tremble. Panic rose in her, and she stepped back.
“No !” She exclaimed. “Don’t take me back there, please. Don’t take me back !”
“Alright, you won’t go to the hospital, don’t worry. But at least tell me your name.”
Emma nodded. Lacey slowly calmed down, reassured that she wouldn’t be sent back.
Emma and Mary Margaret exchanged a look. How could she not know her own last name ?
“It’s alright,” Emma said. “Come with me, we’ll try to figure out who you are.”
“Don’t worry, I promise we won’t go to the hospital. I just want to help you.”
Lacey looked at her for a few seconds, wondering if she could trust them. But she had no other choice. She was in an unknown town, not even knowing her own last name. She finally nodded and followed Emma, who led her to the sheriff’s station.
The next morning, Emma arrived at work, sat behind her desk, and let out a sigh. The Lacey mystery remained unsolved. Except for her first name, the young woman remembered nothing, aside from having been locked in a hospital room. While waiting to learn more, she was living with Emma and Mary Margaret. The latter had insisted she stay with them until they found out more. “She has nowhere to go,” Mary Margaret had said. “We can’t leave her alone.” And Emma had eventually agreed.
The office door opened and Regina walked in. Emma sighed. What could she possibly want now ? The mayor stopped in front of her desk and, without waiting, got straight to the point.
“Miss Swan, I urgently need you for a missing person case.”
“Good morning to you too, Regina.”
Regina rolled her eyes, annoyed.
“Spare me the jokes. This case is very serious.”
Emma straightened in her chair. After all, she was the town sheriff, and finding missing people was her specialty.
“Who am I looking for ?” She asked.
“A patient from the psychiatric ward disappeared yesterday.”
Lacey’s face flashed in Emma’s mind. Could it be her ?
“Can you give me her name, or any information that might help ?” Emma asked.
“Unfortunately, no one knows her name.”
Emma raised her eyebrows. How could the hospital staff not know a patient’s name ?
“What do you mean, you don’t know her name ?”
“This young woman was found in the forest three years ago. She remembered nothing and was rambling. The doctors thought it best to keep her in the psychiatric ward so she wouldn’t be a danger to herself or others.”
“And no one tried to find out who she was ?”
“Of course they did, but the investigation led nowhere.”
Regina gave her a physical description of the patient, and Emma was now convinced it was Lacey.
“I’m counting on you to find her as soon as possible,” Regina said. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her.”
Emma nodded, telling her she would begin the search. Regina left the sheriff’s office, satisfied with the answer.
One thing was certain, Regina’s visit had motivated Emma to discover who Lacey really was. She knew the mayor had spoken about the young woman for a reason, and if Regina was involved, it could not be good. Emma stood up and went to get the missing persons files. Storybrooke was a small town, it shouldn’t take long, she thought. She placed the files on her desk and began going through them.
After an hour, she came across the file of Lacey French. It had to be her, Emma thought. There was no photo. Emma read the file carefully. It could only be the girl she had met the day before. Lacey was Moe French’s daughter and had disappeared overnight three years earlier. Emma remembered Moe French well, the man Mr. Gold could have killed if she had not intervened. What could have happened to Lacey, she wondered. What was she doing in the hospital, and what did Regina have to do with it ? Emma stood up and left her office. She knew what she had to do: she had to tell Moe she had found his daughter.
Emma parked in front of Moe’s shop and stepped out of her car. She walked to the shop and entered. Dr. Whale passed by her, greeting her as he left, holding a large bouquet of flowers, probably for a new conquest he intended to charm. She approached the counter and was greeted by Moe, who smiled at her. He seemed to have fully recovered from the injuries Mr. Gold had inflicted on him.
“Sheriff Swan,” Moe said. “What can I do for you ?”
Emma took a deep breath. He needed to know the truth.
“Actually,” Emma replied, “I’m here to talk about your daughter. Is there somewhere we could speak privately ?”
Moe’s smile faded, sadness settling in his eyes. He asked her to follow him, and they went into the back room. Moe sat at the table in the middle of the room and invited Emma to do the same. Emma watched him silently. She knew this must be difficult for him. Moe waited a few seconds and let out a deep sigh.
“You know, Sheriff, my daughter disappeared three years ago. I’ve lost all hope of ever seeing her again.”
“Mr. French, there’s been a development in the investigation into her disappearance.”
A spark of hope lit Moe’s eyes.
“I believe I’ve found your daughter.”
“You found her, Sheriff?”
A wide smile spread across his face.
“Unfortunately,” Emma said, “the young woman I found has no memory left, except for her first name. But everything leads me to believe she’s your daughter. I’d like you to come with me to confirm it’s really Lacey.”
“Please, Sheriff. If it’s Lacey, I need to know.”
“We invited her to spend the night at the apartment. She’s still there now.”
Emma asked him to follow her, and Moe agreed. They both left the shop, which the florist closed for the rest of the day, and headed toward Emma’s car. As she got in, Emma saw Mr. Gold on the other side of the street. He was watching Moe intently. There was no way she would let him hurt him again. Emma would do everything she could to protect Moe and his daughter.
Moe and Emma arrived at the apartment a few minutes later. They went upstairs, Emma opened the door, and they entered. Lacey was sitting on the couch, reading the book Mary Margaret had lent her. She was completely absorbed in her reading and didn’t notice what was happening around her. Moe slowly approached her.
The young woman turned around. She looked at Moe for a moment but didn’t seem to recognize him. The man knelt beside her.
Lacey stared at him, trying to figure out who this man could be, when suddenly, a spark lit her face.
Moe took his daughter in his arms and began to cry. Emma stepped out of the apartment to give them privacy.
Emma parked in front of the sheriff’s station and saw Regina waiting for her. As soon as Emma stepped out of her car, the mayor rushed toward her.
“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” Emma said.
“Have you managed to find our patient?”
“Perfect, I’ll notify the hospital immediately.”
Regina pulled her phone from her bag and began to walk away, but Emma stopped her.
“Wait ! It turns out our mystery woman is Moe French’s daughter, Lacey French. I’ve informed her father.”
“What are you saying, Sheriff ?”
“Moe is with her, and I don’t think he’ll agree to have his daughter locked up again.”
Regina’s expression hardened, and she could not hide the anger rising in her.
“That young woman is ill. She’s a danger to herself and to others. I’m not sure you understand.”
“I understand perfectly. I’ve spent time with Lacey, and I can assure you she’s not sick. All she needs is to get her life back.”
Regina narrowed her eyes. Emma could clearly see she did not like this situation, but there was nothing she could do about it.
“Very well,” the mayor said. “I hope you’re not making a mistake.”
Regina left, furious. Why did the idea of Lacey staying with her father upset her so much ? There was no way Emma would let Lacey be locked up again. She would do everything to prevent it.
It had been a week since Lacey had escaped the hospital, and she was now trying to rebuild a normal life. She had moved back in with her father, and her memories were slowly returning. She remembered her childhood, her high school years, the days spent helping in her father’s shop. But there was still a dark veil over what had happened three years earlier. And yet, all of it felt wrong. As if she were remembering someone else’s life. She hadn’t told anyone. What would be the point ? Her father would only worry more than he already did.
Still, Lacey had managed to convince him that she could go out alone, and she had decided to explore the town. The streets she walked through felt both familiar and foreign. It was a strange sensation. She had spent the morning visiting various shops. Then she passed by a store that intrigued her. She stopped and looked through the window, but it was too dark inside. She opened the door, and the bell rang. No one was at the counter, so she took the opportunity to look at the objects on the shelves. On a table, she found several books spread out. She picked one up and began to read.
Mr. Gold set down his cane and sat at the table in his back room. He opened his ledger and began writing. All he needed right now was a distraction. Too bad he no longer had his spinning wheel, it would have helped him forget everything that had happened a few days earlier with August. He had been so convinced he had found his son. He had been ready to fix his mistakes, to stop being the Dark One. But now he felt as though he had lost Baelfire a second time.
He heard the bell of his shop ring and sighed. Who could it be ? He had already collected all the rents, and the only two people who dared set foot in his shop were Emma and Regina. He waited a few minutes, but the person did not seem to be leaving. It clearly was not the sheriff or the mayor, they would have announced themselves long ago. He grabbed his cane, stood up, and walked into the shop.
There he found a young woman with chestnut hair, her back turned to him, reading a book. Gold sighed. He truly hated this type of customer. The ones who treated his shop like a library and never bought anything. He stepped behind her and made his presence known.
The young woman jumped and set the book down.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I started reading the first page and couldn’t stop.”
She turned around, and Gold felt his heart stop. It had to be an illusion. But those blue eyes, that chestnut hair, that pale skin… It could only be her. Belle. He stepped toward her slowly and placed his hand on her arm. She was real. All these years, he had believed she was dead. He had believed Regina. He cursed himself. How could he have been so foolish as to trust her ?
The young woman looked at him, worried.
Gold withdrew his hand. Lacey, of course. She did not remember him. In this world, she was no longer the woman he loved.
“Are you alright ?” She asked.
Gold could not help but smile. She might be someone else in Storybrooke, but some things never changed.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I mistook you for someone else.”
Lacey studied him for a moment.
“No, we don’t know each other.”
Lacey nodded, disappointed.
“I think it’s time for me to go.”
She walked toward the door, opened it slightly, then turned back.
She smiled and left the shop. Mr. Gold remained standing for several minutes, staring at the door and gripping his cane tightly. She’s alive, he thought, almost afraid he had imagined the whole scene. She’s alive.
Lacey got up and got ready for the new day. Her father had left for work an hour earlier, and she was alone at home. She had spent most of the night thinking about her encounter with that man. She did not even know his name, yet she felt as though she had met him before. She had asked her father if he knew him. He had looked terrified and asked her why she was bringing him up. The only answer she had gotten was that he was a dangerous man and that she should never go near him. Yet that was not the feeling she had had when she met him.
Lacey picked up the book she had left on the coffee table and stepped outside. She had no desire to stay home alone. She walked through the streets of Storybrooke for a while and decided to stop at Granny’s. In the distance, she saw the man from the antique shop and waved at him. He simply nodded in response and continued on his way. She watched him for a few seconds before entering the diner. She sat at a table, opened her book, and began reading until Ruby came to take her order. When Ruby returned with her drink, Lacey decided to ask her about the man. If her father refused to answer, she would find the answers herself. She had spoken with the young waitress a few times and knew she would be the best person to ask.
“Can I ask you something ?” She said.
“Do you know the man from the pawnshop ?”
Ruby paled and widened her eyes.
“Mr. Gold ! Why do you want to know that ?”
Mr. Gold. That was his name.
“Just curiosity,” Lacey replied.
Lacey shook her head, and Ruby seemed slightly relieved.
“Whatever you do, don’t go near him. Nothing good will come of it.”
“He’s not a good person. Gold is a real monster.”
Ruby left when another customer called her. Lacey was lost in thought. This was the second time someone warned her about Mr. Gold. She was sure that if she asked anyone else, she would get the same answer. Maybe they were right and she should be careful. But calling him a monster ? She was not the type to listen to gossip, she preferred forming her own opinion. She could not explain why, but she felt that Mr. Gold was different from what he wanted people to believe.
Several days passed, and Lacey had settled into a routine. Every day she helped her father at the shop, and in the afternoon, when he did not need her, she went out, pretending she was exploring the town or visiting Ruby, when in reality she was going to Mr. Gold’s shop. He had been surprised the first time she returned, but in the days that followed, he seemed happy to see her again. He let her wander around the shop, reading the old books on the shelves. She had even offered to help him tidy up. She loved spending time there, and being with him felt familiar, as if it was not the first time they had been together like this.
As every afternoon, Lacey was in the shop, sitting behind the counter, reading the book Mr. Gold had lent her while he finished the inventory. From time to time, she caught him glancing at her, but it did not bother her. She liked the peaceful atmosphere she felt when she was with him. She closed the book and ran her fingers over the golden letters on the cover : Beauty and the Beast.
“You don’t like the book ?”
Lacey looked up at Mr. Gold as he approached her.
“I do, it’s a beautiful story. But I thought it would end differently.”
Mr. Gold was now beside her. He took the book in his hands and flipped through a few pages with a smile. Lacey’s heart began to beat faster. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her breathing. What was happening to her ? It was not the first time he stood close to her or that they talked about literature. She was pulled from her thoughts when the door opened. She looked up and saw a boy of about ten enter.
“Henry,” Mr. Gold said, walking toward him. “Can I help you ?”
Henry looked around before answering.
“It’s my mom’s birthday soon, and I want to buy her something.”
Mr. Gold showed him various items for sale, which Henry examined carefully. Lacey stood up.
“I should go,” she said. “Thank you for the book.”
Mr. Gold nodded, looking disappointed to see her leave so quickly. She waved goodbye, smiled at Henry, who smiled back, and left the shop.
Emma opened the door to Granny’s diner and stepped inside. She saw Henry sitting at a table, absorbed in his storybook, a steaming cup of hot chocolate in front of him. She joined him and sat across from him.
Henry looked up, smiled, and returned to his reading.
“So,” Emma said. “How’s Operation Cobra going ?”
The question made Henry smile. Even if she did not believe in the curse, at least she cared enough to ask. He looked back at his book, frowning.
“I’m trying to figure out who Miss French is, but the book doesn’t mention any prisoner.”
He flipped a few pages, then looked at Emma again.
“It’s like with Mr. Gold. I still don’t know who he is. If only there were clues, like Miss Blanchard’s ring. That’s how I figured out she was Snow White.”
Emma thought for a moment. She did not believe in fairy tales, but if Operation Cobra helped her bond with her son, she would play along.
“No, it has to be something more personal, something he cares about. I tried looking around his shop, but there was nothing interesting. Do you remember what Mr. French stole from him ?”
Emma recalled that the stolen items had been insignificant. Gold himself did not seem to care about them. And then she remembered. When he had been arrested, he had a cup with him. Regina must have given it to him when she was alone with him. He had held that cup so delicately, staring at it as if it were the most precious thing in the world. She had never seen him act like that. When she asked him what the cup was, he had snapped at her to mind her own business.
“A cup,” Emma said. “Could it be that ?”
“A cup ?” Henry asked. “A chipped white cup ?”
“It was more than chipped. Part of it was missing.”
Henry flipped through his book until he found the story he wanted, then smiled.
“I know who they are ! Mr. Gold is Rumplestiltskin, and Miss French is Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She’s Rumplestiltskin’s true love.”
“I thought Belle fell in love with the Beast.”
“In the other world, Rumplestiltskin is the Beast. Look.”
He turned the book toward Emma and showed her an illustration of Rumplestiltskin offering a rose to Belle. Emma saw no resemblance whatsoever between Mr. Gold and Lacey. Henry frowned.
“But at the end of the story, the queen tells Rumplestiltskin that Belle threw herself from a tower after returning home. If she died, she shouldn’t be in Storybrooke.”
“Then maybe Lacey isn’t Belle.”
Henry’s eyes widened as he understood the implication.
“The queen !” He exclaimed. “She lied to Rumplestiltskin. She told him Belle killed herself while she was actually keeping her prisoner. That would explain why Miss French was locked in the hospital.”
“Why would the queen do that ?”
“To keep Rumplestiltskin from having his happy ending.”
Henry looked proud of his theory. He was truly convinced Lacey was part of Beauty and the Beast. And honestly, Emma had a hard time imagining Mr. Gold turning into a prince. Henry absolutely could not tell Lacey any of this. The poor girl had only just begun rebuilding her life.
“Are you sure ?” Emma asked. “Maybe the queen didn’t lie.”
“She lied. That’s why I saw Mr. Gold and Miss French together.”
Emma straightened, interrupting him.
“When did you see them together ?”
“Yesterday, at Mr. Gold’s shop.”
“And what were they doing ?”
Henry looked confused by her sudden seriousness.
“Henry, this is important. What were they doing ?”
This isn’t good, Emma thought. What if Gold was using Lacey to get to her father ? He hated that man. He had almost killed him. Then something resurfaced in her memory. She remembered what Gold had said to Moe :
“She’s not coming back. And it’s your fault.”
Was he talking about Lacey ? Was that why he had attacked Moe so violently. Because he believed he had hurt his daughter ? Or was she wrong, and Gold was simply looking for another way to get revenge on Moe ? She needed to know for sure.
Emma stepped into the florist shop. She saw Lacey sitting behind the counter, reading a book. The young woman looked up at the sheriff, smiled, closed her book, and stood to greet her.
“I just came to see how you were doing.”
Emma stepped closer and listened. She heard nothing. Apparently, Moe was not there. Good, she thought. This way she could ask her questions calmly.
“Are you getting used to life in Storybrooke ?”
“And have you met anyone ?”
“I talk to Ruby a lot when I go to the diner.”
“And you haven’t spoken with Mr. Gold ?”
Lacey’s expression froze for barely a second before she recovered.
“Henry told me he saw you two.”
“Henry ? The little boy I met ?”
Emma nodded, waiting for Lacey to continue.
“I went to Mr. Gold’s shop to buy some old books he had.”
“And that’s all ? You just bought books ?”
Emma sighed. Lacey had just lied. She was sure of it.
“Lacey, I know when people lie, and you’re lying to me.”
Lacey stared at her hands for a few seconds before lifting her eyes.
“I didn’t just buy books. I like spending time in his shop. We talk about literature, he explains the history of the objects he sells. Sometimes I help him too.”
“Lacey, I’m starting to know Mr. Gold, and believe me, what people say about him isn’t entirely wrong.”
Lacey began to get angry. She did not need to hear what others thought. She knew who Mr. Gold really was, and that was enough for her.
“I know enough about him to form my own opinion. I like talking with him, he makes me laugh, and he’s one of the few people in this town who doesn’t look at me like I’m crazy. Now Emma, if you’re not buying anything, you can leave.”
Emma nodded and walked toward the door. She put her hand on the handle, then turned back one last time.
She opened the door and left the shop.
It had now been several days since Regina had noticed their little routine. She watched Lacey leave Mr. Gold’s shop and head toward Granny’s, and she smiled. Of course, she had been furious when Lacey escaped the hospital. This had not been part of her plan at all, and she hated when things did not go exactly as she intended. But one thing was certain, in this world or the other, she would do anything to keep Rumplestiltskin from getting his happy ending.
Regina continued on her way toward Moe’s shop. It was time for her to intervene. She saw the florist step out of his shop and load several bouquets into his van.
He gave her a timid smile and greeted her while continuing his work.
“Can I help you ?” He asked.
“I just wanted to check on you and your daughter. Once again, I’m sorry for what happened. If I had known Lacey was your daughter, I would have done everything differently.”
“What matters is that Lacey is home and we can go back to living like before.”
“That’s true… but I’m worried about her.”
Moe stopped working and stared at her.
“I’ve seen her going to Mr. Gold’s shop for several days now, and I’m afraid he might hurt her. After what he did to you…”
Moe ran a hand through his hair, growing more and more anxious.
“Yes… you did the right thing. I’ll talk to Lacey. Thank you, Regina.”
Regina said goodbye and walked toward City Hall, a wide smile on her lips.
Lacey opened the door to her home and stepped inside. She had just spent another afternoon helping Mr. Gold at his shop. Aside from Emma, no one seemed aware of what was going on. And honestly, she preferred it that way. She did not want to worry her father over something so insignificant, and she certainly didn’t want the townspeople meddling in her life.
She was about to go upstairs when her father called her.
She turned and saw him coming from the living room. Strange. He had told her he would be home late.
“Dad, I didn’t see you. What are you doing here ?”
“I was waiting for you. Come with me, please.”
He walked into the living room, and Lacey followed. He gestured for her to sit on the couch. She did, wondering why he looked so serious.
Moe remained silent for a few seconds, pacing. Then he stood in front of her and finally spoke.
“I heard you’ve been spending a lot of time at Gold’s shop. Is that true ?”
Lacey’s eyes widened. How could he know ? She decided to tell the truth. There was no point lying anymore, and she had never been good at it anyway.
Moe sighed and looked at her, worried.
“Is he forcing you to do anything ? You can tell me everything. We’ll go to the sheriff, don’t worry, he won’t be able to hurt you.”
“He’s not forcing me to do anything. I like spending time there.”
“Have you lost your mind ? He’s dangerous, Lacey. There’s no way you’re going back there.”
“How can you judge him like that ? You don’t even know him.”
“Believe me, I know enough to say you should stay away from him.”
Lacey jumped to her feet. Why did her father refuse to see the truth about Mr. Gold That he was not the monster everyone claimed he was ?
“What happened for you to hate him this much ?” She demanded.
Moe froze and stared at her.
“He attacked me. If Sheriff Swan hadn’t arrived in time, he would have killed me. Because of him, I spent weeks in the hospital.”
Lacey’s face crumbled. Her hands began to tremble. No… it wasn’t possible. He would never do that. Not the man she had come to know.
“Why ?” She whispered. “Why did he do that ?”
“Because he’s dangerous.”
Moe stepped closer and took her hands.
“Do you understand now ?”
But Lacey was not listening anymore. She pulled her hands away and headed for the door.
“I need to talk to him,” she said.
“Lacey, what are you doing ? Lacey !”
She opened the door and ran outside. Once outside, she sprinted as fast as she could toward Mr. Gold’s shop. She needed to know. To know whether her father was telling the truth. And if he was. Why ? Why had he done it ? He could not have committed such violence for no reason.
She did not stop running, even as her legs began to ache. She finally reached the shop and burst through the door. As usual, the shop was empty. Mr. Gold emerged from the back room, surprised to see her.
“Is it true ?” She asked, breathless.
Mr. Gold’s face closed off. He showed no emotion.
“What do you mean, dearie ?”
“You attacked my father.”
Mr. Gold’s eyes narrowed. His hands tightened around his cane.
“It seems you already know the answer.”
Lacey felt her heart stop. How could he have done that ? She had refused to believe the townspeople. She had even defended him to her father. She felt betrayed. Like he had been mocking her from the beginning. Anger surged through her.
“Why ? Why did you do that ?”
Mr. Gold grew more furious. He hadn’t moved, but his gaze darkened.
“Because he stole from me.”
“And for that, you sent him to the hospital ?”
“He stole what is most precious to me.”
Lacey closed her eyes and shook her head, refusing to listen.
“I never want to see you again !” She screamed.
She left the shop as quickly as she had entered. Mr. Gold was furious. He raised his cane and shattered every glass case in the shop. He struck again and again until the anger began to fade. Why wouldn’t she understand ? Belle would have listened. She wouldn’t have judged him the way Lacey just had.
He stopped, exhausted. Shards of glass lay scattered all around him.
A week had passed, and Lacey had spent the last few days avoiding Mr. Gold. She was in her father’s shop, preparing a bouquet Ruby had ordered for her grandmother’s birthday. But she could not forget what Mr. Gold had told her. “He stole what is most precious to me.” What could her father have possibly stolen to make Mr. Gold that furious ?
Moe came out of the back room, holding a huge bouquet he needed to deliver.
“Everything alright ?” Moe asked.
Lacey snapped out of her thoughts. She had not realized she had been staring at her father.
“Can I ask you something ?”
Moe nodded. Lacey hesitated for a few seconds before speaking.
“What did you steal from Mr. Gold ?”
Moe set the bouquet on the counter, his smile fading.
“I thought we were done with that. Why do you want to know ?”
Moe rubbed his hands over his face, growing more nervous by the second.
“It was Mayor Mills. She wanted me to break into his house and steal something from him.”
A chill ran down Lacey’s spine at the mention of the mayor.
“I was desperate. Gold had taken everything from me. I couldn’t work anymore. So I brought her several objects, but she only wanted one. It was a broken white cup.”
An image flashed in Lacey’s mind. She saw herself in a beautiful yellow gown, picking up a white cup from which a piece had just chipped off. She looked up at a man with golden-green skin, watching her from the end of a long table.
“I’m sorry. I chipped it,” she had said, hoping he wouldn’t get angry.
The vision lasted only a second, but it unsettled her deeply. What did it mean ?
“That’s all in the past now,” Moe said.
He grabbed the bouquet and left the shop to begin his deliveries. Lacey remained still for a moment, thinking about the image stuck in her mind. She did not understand it, but she knew one thing: the man in that memory was Mr. Gold. She was certain of it.
She stepped outside, locked the shop, and headed toward Mr. Gold’s. She needed to see him. Only he had the answers she needed. She reached his shop and went inside. He was behind the counter, repairing an old clock. He looked up at her.
“Lacey. I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
Lacey approached him and looked him straight in the eyes.
“I talked to my father about the break-in. He told me about the broken cup.”
Mr. Gold remained expressionless, which only made Lacey more nervous.
“I want to see that cup.”
“And why is that, dearie ?”
“When my father mentioned it, I… I had a sort of flash. Like a memory.”
Mr. Gold’s eyes widened. He probably thought she was crazy now, she told herself, just like everyone else in town. But he asked her to wait and went into the back room. He returned a few seconds later with a white cup missing a piece. He handed it to her, watching her as if hoping for something.
She took the cup gently and ran her thumb over the chipped edge. And then the strange sensation returned. But this time, several images rushed through her mind.
Lacey stood in a large hall, he kind you would find in a castle. With her were her father, another dark-haired man, and a creature with golden skin dressed in leather. The creature smiled at her.
And suddenly, everything came back. He was Rumplestiltskin, the Dark One, the most feared being in the world, and she had promised to follow him forever to save her village. In this world, she was no longer Lacey French, but Belle, daughter of Lord Maurice.
She saw herself again in the Dark Castle, kneeling, picking up the cup she had just dropped, afraid for the first time of what Rumplestiltskin might do.
“I’m sorry. I chipped it.”
He had looked surprised by her fear, as if she should not have been worried about something so insignificant. But from that day on, Rumplestiltskin insisted on drinking his tea from that chipped cup.
The images came faster and faster. She relived her entire life in seconds.
“Why do you spend so much ?”
“I like to watch the wheel. It helps me forget.”
“I think you were lonely. Any man would be lonely.”
“It’s true love ! Why won’t you believe me ?”
“Because no one can ever love me !”
“All you'll have is an empty heart,and a chipped cup.”
She looked at the man standing before her. It was him. A wide smile spread across her face.
“Rumplestiltskin. I remember.”
It took him several seconds to realize it was real. Belle was truly there, and she remembered him, remembered everything they had lived. She no longer looked at him like a stranger. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he could, afraid she might disappear again.
Rumplestiltskin pulled back slightly and caressed her cheek.
“I love you too. Belle, I’m sorry for what happened.”
He was so sorry. If only he had listened to her, if he had not let anger consume him, he could have protected her from Regina.
“I know, Rumplestiltskin. I know.”
He leaned in, and their lips met. Nothing could keep them apart now, not magic, not Regina. And soon, the curse would be broken, and he would finally find Baelfire, with Belle at his side. He finally had his happy ending.
