Starting Over

By RosexKnight

The curse is broken, and Belle has to get used to Storybrooke and being the girl that she used to be instead of Lacey.

Chapter One ~ Broken

Storybrooke. A small town in Maine, USA. It was a place much different than The Enchanted Forest that they were normally used to. Now, however, Storybrooke was home, and its inhabitants were oblivious to their previous lives. Well, most of them anyway. But then Emma Swan came, and things began to change.

The curse was Broken.

Belle suddenly found herself in a bar, leaned over a pool table in a tight tank top and shorts that felt too short. Luckily, no one noticed the pool cue clatter to the floor. There was a sharp ache in her head, as if it felt too full for a moment before it subsided, and new memories wove with the old, and she scoured to make connections.

Lacey. The Rabbit Hole. Curse. Henry. Emma Swan. Savior. Leroy. Grumpy. Dwarf Bar. Moe. Father. Dark Castle. Enchanted Forest. Storybrooke. Abduction. Evil Queen. Regina. Dark One. Rumpelstiltskin. Gold.

Her chest gave a squeeze, and she felt like her lings were struggling for air. She needed to get out of here. Already she didn't like the looks she was getting from the people around. The brunette made her way outside, blinking in the sunlight that was a stark contrast to the dim lights of the bar. Belle suddenly felt very lost, the buildings and technology around her unfamiliar and foreign, but Lacey's memories peeked through, telling her of the flower shop she lived above and her father that was no doubt waiting for her.

For a moment, she hesitated, another location coming to the front of her mind. A large pink house that sat on a hill. But she pushed it away and started towards the flower shop. Where else was she supposed to go?

"Father?" She called as she entered the flower shop, immediately assaulted by the scents of roses, chrysanthemums, daisies, and every other flower she'd known.

"Belle? Belle!" Moe came into view for only a moment before he swept her up into his arms, holding her so tightly she thought she would break in half. "I thought I'd never see you again. After you went with that…monster. Oh it's so good to see you."

"He's not…" She'd said it too quickly, and her voice trailed off awkwardly, "It's good to see you too."

The door was open, and another voice rang out "Belle!"

The man at the door was tall, well built with dark locks. "Gaston?" Her voice sounded more surprised than she'd meant for it too, and she found herself in another set of arms that she felt she didn't fit in.

"Oh my darling, you're alive."

"Y-yes. Of course." She said, hugging him as well. A memory kicked in. Something about a date. Shivers ran through her spine, and nothing felt right.

"How did you escape?" Moe asked.

"We tried to get a group of soldiers up to rescue you." Gaston added, "I was to lead them but-"

"I didn't escape." The brunette cut him off. "He…he let me go." It wasn't a lie. He had let her go. It was just…not as smooth as they thought. "In any case, it doesn't matter. I'm here now. And safe."

"You're home." Her father corrected. "Come, I know you know the room, but let's get you settled in."

The word lingered in the air as her father and Gaston led her up to the familiar yet unfamiliar room. It felt odd. It wasn't a room she'd have, yet was. Fluffy bed, warm comforter, many pillows, and even a few choice books next to a reading light. Perhaps there was some of her in Lacey after all. Still, she much preferred blue and gold to the red and black of the room, and the first thing she did when her father left was open the curtains, resisting the urge to pull them down entirely. The window had a good view of the town, and she could imagine herself sitting on the sill and reading her days away.

"I'll let you settled in. I'll go fix dinner." Moe said.

"Oh no we…"Gaston paused, glancing to Belle and Moe then smiling, "Nevermind. Can I join you?"

"Of course. After all, as far as I'm concerned, you're family."

One set of footsteps disappeared down the stairwell, and Belle busied herself with following people around town, trying to sort out in her head exactly who was who. A hand fell on her shoulder, firm and solid.

"So…" The raven-haired man started, "We were to be married."

His words were hopeful, and something in Belle sank. Whatever remnant of feelings she had that were there before she went to The Dark Castle were gone. "We were." She said flatly, with a bit more of a chill than she meant.

Gaston's hand disappeared, and Belle felt more relieved. "I was thinking…we could start over. Have a proper courtship. New land and all…"

"I…I need some time." Before Belle could continue, or not, a rolling cloud of purple smoke began to engulf the town.

Gaston Leaned forward, purposefully leaning protectively over her, "By the gods what is that?"

"Magic." Belle whispered. "He brought magic here."

"Of course he did. Well, not to worry, my darling. He won't touch you again, I promise." He patted her on the shoulder. "I'll go help your father set up dinner."

The moment the door was shut her breath hitched, feeling shaky and uneven. No. No breakdowns. Not until tonight. Not until she was as alone as she felt. Start over he'd said, new land and all. She repeated the words over and over again, relaxing herself. New land. Start over. Recover. Forget. Her father called her down for dinner, and she went. Her father was at the table, set for three. Her favorite meal of beef ragu and some sort of grey stuff which she knew was delicious set on the good china. No doubt he'd been saving this for a special occasion. This occasion, and she sat first, the two men following sit as they began eating. Home. This was home now.

Soon, she hoped, things would be okay.

"I um…I don't think I'll be staying at The Rabbit Hole." She said, breaking the silence that ensued after Gaston and her father finished making small talk, trying to ignore the past and skirt around certain subjects. She pretended not to see the disappointment in Gaston's eye. "There's a library. I think I'd be much more suited for that. I was thinking of talking to someone about getting it up and running-"

Silverware slammed onto the table, "No!" He snapped, then composed himself. "You can work here. At the shop with me."

"But father I…"

"Belle. There will be no discussion about this matter."

Belle blinked. Of course there wouldn't be. There might have been in a new land, but now there was magic. Brought by him. She took another bite of her food, glancing at Gaston and her father. It seemed not much had changed for it being a new land…