Author: Your Favorite Cryptid
A/N: warnings for mentions of past alcoholism, drug addiction, and implied child abuse/neglect
Prompts: chariot; snowy day; childhood friends become lovers
Group: L
It was as good a time to come home as any.
Tired. Bored. Enlightened. Fulfilled. Ready to settle down.
All fleeting justifications she’d tried on only to take off a month, a week, a day– hours later, in favor of slipping into the only thing that truly fit: She missed him.
A soft blanket of snow covered the small town of Storybrooke, and for the first time in a long time, it actually felt like home. The glowing streetlamps all donned their flags and garlands, wishing her a happy holiday as she drove up Main Street in her rental car. The Winter Festival would be in full swing tomorrow afternoon, and Belle started to question her timing again.
Years ago, she and Adam would spend each night of the festival holed up in the library– away from the noisy and drunken celebration happening in the streets outside. Away from his thoroughly imbibed father.
They’d talk about the future. Their hopes and dreams.
Her own had been lofty. Traveling the world. Studying at prestigious universities. Experiencing everything life had to offer. And she had done those things. Or most of them, at least. But Adam’s were never quite so simple. For his father to stop drinking. For his mother to get off the painkillers. For the comfort of knowing what to expect of both of them when he came home each night.
She’d offered to take him with her.
“I can’t.” he’d said, and she hadn’t pushed, and she regret it every day.
She held her breath as she drove by his father’s storefront, furrowing her brows when she noticed it had changed.
What if he was gone?
Moved to another town to get away?
Or worse?
A smile crept across her face however, once she got close enough to read the new signage. No longer Malcolm's Pawn and Loan, but rather Mr Gold - Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer.
Belle chuckled at the name. Mr Gold. It sounded so different, so unlike her Adam. The boy she left behind, now become a man. And as she continued toward the old Inn, Belle began to tremble with all the joy in her heart that it was surely far too quiet, far too late at night, to express out loud.
She was going to see him again.
Belle tugged her coat more tightly around herself, her eyes fixed on the door of the shop across the street. The falling snowflakes, being violently yet silently whipped through the air by the cold winds, gave her the strange feeling that she'd be blown away herself the moment she stepped off the curb and toward the pawnshop.
A horse-drawn carriage passed by, and her nose wrinkled at the smell. She’d ridden in one a few times as a girl with her father, and the sudden desire to ride in one again took her– but papa was gone. Taking a deep breath, she stepped off the curb and crossed the street.
She peered through the shop’s window hoping to get a glimpse of him, and as her eyes focused on the small man hunched over the counter, her heart began to race. His brows were creased with focus as he scribbled into a notebook. His hair still swept his shoulders, and Belle couldn’t help feeling a silly bit of relief for it. She’d always found him handsome in his way.
A smile bloomed across her face. The sort that had eluded her all those years no matter where she sought it– be it in Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Edinburgh, Tokyo. Before she could stop herself, Belle was trying for the door despite the CLOSED sign hanging in its window.
It opened.
Adam lifted his head out from his work and looked up at her, his features wrought with confusion. But then the corner of his mouth tugged upwards into one of his lopsided smiles, and Belle felt weightless.
“...Belle?” he asked. “Belle–” this time scoffed, in disbelief. “Is that–?”
She nodded and hurried toward the counter with outstretched arms, moving as quickly as her feet would carry her.
He rounded the counter to meet her halfway. “Belle,” he said it again, and he threw his arms around her.
She clutched onto him tightly and breathed in the scent of him. It was different– an unfamiliar cologne filling her senses– but it was him and may as well have been the same blend of a scared boy’s unwashed clothes, mother’s cigarettes, and father’s whiskey, that she remembered.
“You came back.” he said, his voice muffled against her shoulder.
A sniffle escaped her, and she squeezed him even tighter. “Adam.”
His hand rubbed her back, instantly soothing away the restlessness that had settled into her bones over the years. He pulled away slowly then, looking her over, and she could see him noticing all the ways she’d changed and all the ways she’d stayed the same.
“I… never thought I’d see you again.” he finally said, only now his voice rang more of hurt than it did surprise.
“I was always going to come back.” Belle mumbled in her defense, taking a step back and wrapping her arms around herself guiltily.
The shop fell silent, and she studied the shelves of trinkets, the framed paintings, the things that all belonged to this man in front of her. This Mr Gold.
“How…” she trailed off, not sure of whether or not she should ask.
But he'd always had a way of reading her mind.
“He died.” he said, and the emptiness in his voice made Belle’s heart ache for him. How alone he was. How alone he always had been. “Choked on his own vomit six years ago.”
It was tempting to say, “I’m sorry,” but it didn’t seem appropriate, given everything she knew of that relationship. “I… see.” she managed.
“And my mother– she ah…” he cut himself off and swallowed hard, bringing his hand up to rub the back of his neck. “Overdosed.” he finished quietly.
The ache in Belle’s heart grew worse, sharpening into a fine point at the realization that his hopes and dreams had never come true.
“Adam…” she said, because she couldn’t think of anything else. He made that face though– the one that told her he didn’t want her pity– and so she shook her head and took another step back.
He cleared his throat. “The… the festival’s on, you know. And I never did get to ride in one of those carriages.” he chuckled, gesturing out the window with a nod. "Perhaps we could–?”
Belle nodded and smiled. “I’d like that.”
Stories of all the places she'd been, things she'd seen, and people she'd met poured out of her as the carriage toted them down Main Street and through the town square. Each childhood landmark they passed cued another tale of “remember when,” and all the smiles, laughter, and warm feelings that came with it. There was Granny's diner, the ice cream parlor, the pharmacy, the mines beyond the town's outskirts.
Belle rest her head on his shoulder with a content sigh. She'd told Adam every story she had, and he'd listened eagerly to each and every one. Eventually his hand found hers, or perhaps it was hers that had found his– the details hardly seemed important because it felt so warm and so good and so right, as did the kiss that followed shortly thereafter.
The carriage dropped them off at the old house; His inheritance that he’d always been so loathe to call home, for it was haunted by so many ghosts. But the ghosts must have taken an evening carriage ride through the snow themselves– because Belle couldn't see nor hear any of them during the brief trip up the stairs, down the hall, and into the master bedroom.
Words became obsolete as everything fell into place then– replaced by caressing hands, brushing lips, and mounting, blissful gasps. Home wasn't Storybrooke, Belle decided as they finally nestled under the covers together. It was him.
Their bodies were dewy with sweat, and the moonlight coming through the window made their skin glow. Belle smiled inwardly; he used to joke that she'd grow tired of traveling the world one day and go to the Moon instead.
“Where will you go next?” Adam asked, breaking the silence. Reading her mind again.
“I don't know.” She swept the hair out of his face and smiled. “But you should come with me.”
“I can’t.” he said, and she couldn't help being hurt by the fact that he said it just as quickly and thoughtlessly as he had all those years ago.
Belle narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, then rest her head on his chest. “Why not? There’s nothing here for you, Adam.”
He wet his lips and sighed. “Yes, there is.
”She knit her brows together. “Like what? ...The shop?
”He hesitated. Closed his eyes, pressed his lips together, and let out another sigh. “I have a son, Belle.”
Pure footballing madness in Dallas! 🤠✨ England and Croatia just went to absolute war on the pitch. Croatia refused to die in the first half, answering every single English goal, but Jude Bellingham came out of halftime on an absolute mission. A 4-2 masterclass that lived up to every bit of the hype! 🦁⚽️💥
Perennial contenders England are anxious to have football “come home” after two consecutive second-place finishes at the Euros. Fans are hoping that Thomas Tuchel can deliver what Gareth Southgate could not. And while Croatia may not be as strong as in past years, ranked 11th in the world, they are always a threat. The Ghanaian glory days are long gone, but Panama has been on the rise steadily for the past 5 years.
🏴 England vs 🇭🇷 Croatia
Wed Jun 17, 15:00 UTC-5, Dallas
In one sense, it will be nice for England to get their toughest competitor out of the way first. This could prime them for the next two games and whip their players into shape more quickly.
I’m very concerned about Croatia’s aging core and whether they have the ability to cover England’s speed on the wings in the form of Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon.
But I’m also concerned about Tuchel’s side. I’m not convinced he’s put together the best squad, and some of the positions decisions are.. well, not suspect, but not immediately understandable. (Jude Bellingham not starting?)
Here’s the deal: England should actually win this game, and comfortably — maybe 2-1 or 3-1. But I don’t think they’re going to click quite yet. They didn’t look all that great in their recently friendly against New Zealand. With Harry Kane is such excellent form, I’d bet on them to score one, but I think the second goal might prove elusive. I’m gonna say 1-1. Hey, you gotta throw in some weird ones, right?
🇬🇭 Ghana vs 🇵🇦 Panama
Wed Jun 17, 19:00 UTC-4, Toronto
Ghana is the fourth-lowest ranked team at this World Cup, a long way off their world #15 ranking a decade and a half ago. With attacking talents like Semenyo, Iñaki Williams, Sulemana, and the veteran Jordan Ayew, they should pose a more significant threat. But their recently run of form has seen them score just 4 goals in 7 matches, winning just one of those.
Conversely, Panama has found their form recently. Dating back to March 2025, their only regulation losses have come at the hands of Mexico and Brazil. They even knocked out the United States in last year’s CONCACAF Nations League semifinals.
On the one hand, I think Ghana’s style of play, when at their best, can best Panama’s deep block. But I also think there’s not enough evidence to suggest that they’re entering this tournament playing their best. This is their easiest match of the group and probably one they want to win desperately. But I’m going to propose a 1-1 draw at the end of a cagey affair.
🏴 England vs 🇬🇭 Ghana
Tue Jun 23, 16:00 UTC-4, Boston
I don’t think another surprise result is out of the realm of possibility here, but I simply can’t go against England this time. The difference in the overall quality of the two sides is too stark, and England has too many players in fine form at the moment, like Kane and Rice.
The Three Lions notch their first win, 2-0.
🇵🇦 Panama vs 🇭🇷 Croatia
Tue June 23, 19:00 UTC-4,Toronto
Croatia will take control of this game through the midfield dominance, with Luka Modrić serving as talisman. As Panama is an even older team than Croatia, I doubt they’ll be able to match their pace for a full 90 minutes. Look for the Carrasquilla-Ismael Diaz connection, as I think it has the most chance of being successful.
Like England, Croatia bounces from their initial draw to earn three points by winning 1-0.
🇵🇦 Panama vs 🏴 England
Sat Jun 27, 17:00 UTC-4, New Jersey
England’s lone match against Panama came in the group stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. England won 6-1 and Harry Kane scored a hat-trick. With top place in the group not yet secured, I’d count on England going all out and notching another big win: 4-1 for the Three Lions.
🇭🇷 Croatia vs 🇬🇭 Ghana
Sat Jun 27, 17:00 UTC-4, Philadelphia
Ghana has easiest travel schedule of perhaps any team in the tournament while Croatia definitely has the most challenging in the group. I also think Ghana would have found its groove a bit at this point, while Croatia may be feeling a bit tired, but at least safe that they’ve land a spot in the next round. Ghana has more to play for and will give it their all. Against the odds, I’m saying this is a 1-1 draw.
