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ask-missparker · 3 months

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Nice to meet you, where’ve you been? / Once Upon A Time AU fic ⚔️

—> Inspired by the Pilot episode of the series to give a quick glimpse of our characters, well some of them.

Summary: In Fighter-Town, Maine everyone is cursed to believe they are normal people. However there are certain things that are left unclear and to be discussed. So Riley and Belladonna, are on the case suggesting if a change would start to stir things up?

Context: Riley is the daughter of Little Red Riding Hood (Rick Banner) and Belladonna is the biological daughter of Ethan & adopted daughter of Liane

Pairings: Snow!Amelia x Charming!Nikolai, Prince of Hearts!Ethan x Maleficent!Liane, Red!Rick x Huntress!Luna

Note: I changed some last names cause of the curse lol

~~~

It was the late afternoon in Boston, as the dimly lit apartment shined with beer bottles and the sound GTA video game playing in the background, as Ethan lay across the couch. He had a week off from work and wanted to enjoy it when suddenly there was a knock on his door, as he stood up to answer it.

Once he opened it, he was met with a short tan Latina with bangs and a black coat. She held a serious face, raising an eyebrow as she held her hands behind her back and asked, “Are you Ethan Long?

“Yes? Are you here for something?” He replies, holding the doorknob.

“You’re smarter than you look. I’m Belladonna, you’re daughter.”

“I..huh?”

She didn’t give him a moment to collect his thoughts as she walked inside the apartment hearing him saying a couple of things. She sighed and turned around to ask, “More than a few years ago you gave up a baby girl for adoption and that was me. And no, I’m not here for money. It’s not worth it.”

“So why are you here? Where are your parents?” He asked narrowing his eyes, picking up his cell phone.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I’ll tell them you kidnapped me if you call the cops.”

“And they’ll believe you cause I’m your birth father. Clever. What do you want?”

“I need you to take me downtown to an address, to pick someone, and then I want you to come home with me.”

“You’re good, real good. Look you’re not going anywhere expect the police station because I can tell your lying.”

“I ain’t. Don’t call the police, just come home with me and then you’ll never want to leave.”

“Why’s that?”

“My town has one of the best diners in Maine.”

“Alright let’s go.”

After a short ride downtown, Ethan stopped at a apartment building and watched his daughter get out of the car. Belladonna looked at her watch, as she knocked at the door of the apartment knowing time was ticking and Riley wouldn’t hold them occupied forever. She sighed and waited to notice a tall teenager around 2 years old than her opened the door.

He raised an eyebrow and looked around the hallway for a moment before facing her. He was confused not recognizing her from anywhere as a shiver of fear came into his spine, he’s been on the run for a few months now trying to lay low wondering if the agency sent her here.

“Hey eyes over here, dude.” Said Belleadonna with a short half smile, trying to be kind here.

“Look, I uh, don’t want to cause an trouble here..” He replied, as he tried to regain his composure quickly.

“Good to here. I just want to give you something and then ask you a few questions.”

“Are they drugs?”

“No. Do I look like a pothead to you?”

“No…?”

She opened her black bag and handed him a note. It said ‘Baby boy left the doorstep of a adoption house. I know who you are but you need to trust me.’, referring to Joshua Nolan’s small new article within the small note. He awkwardly stood there eyeing the young girl who seemed to know more than she lead on.

“What is going on?” He asked, leading her inside his small rental apartment that belonged to a friend of his.

She glanced over the place and responded, “Do you believe in fairytales Mr. Nolan?”

“I read my fair share of them. Why?”

“What if I told you there is more to the tales.”

“Okay I’ll bite. I spend my life watching tv and movies, anything to escape reality.”

“Then you’re coming with me.”

He raised an eyebrow, “I’m sorry?”

“You’re living on your own and you just said, you rather escape this time. So either you come with me or you’ll regret it.” She commented with a serious tone, “Names Belladonna, and your Joshua Nolan. We’re very different yet but somehow alike. There’s a place called Fighter-Town, in Maine, where I’m from and you’re welcome to come with me on the fact that you’re from there.”

“From there how?”

“Our parents used to be friends but then some stuff happened and well..here we are.”

“My parents are gone.”

“That’s what they want you to believe. Eh, well not all parents are the best..but do you believe in the case of hope in what I’m saying?”

“…yes? Don’t take this for granted, Belladonna, but, you’ll always want your parents around even if they aren’t the best..”

They were silent for a moment. Belladonna wasn’t one for sympathy but she could tell he was alone for a good part of his life, as she stayed nodding. Telling him to grab his coat as she explained along the way down to her birth father’s car a few of things as the young teen just hummed in response.

Ethan was a little more than surprised that he had 2 teenagers in his car, driving them to Maine but he just shrugged what else could he lose? To be honest, it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to him that week. Belladonna held onto a copy of her book, as Ethan asked what is it in her hand as she bluntly that they are fairytale. It may sound stupid but it’s true, the whole town where they are going to is unlike any other because of the secrets they hold. Joshua heard her the whole time and wondered a few things but stayed silent.

“You got problems kid.” Ethan said driving with a small chuckle.

She nods and adds, “Yeah, well, we all do. And you’re gonna fix ‘em.”

——

Meanwhile in Fighter-Town, Liane was pacing back and forth between the front yard of her home. Rick was watching her, sitting on the couch with his daughter who was pretending to mind her own business but he knew Riley was covering for Belladonna. The town sheriff, Erik, was trying to calm her down asking for answers but got nothing in return.

“How could she do that? Just run off and not say anything!” Liane said stopped in her tracks when the sheiff put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a mini glare, “..sorry. Where could she have gone?”

Erik rolled his eyes and scoffed, “She’s a teenager, Felton. They rebel more than most.”

Riley was playing with her nails and shrugged, “..maybe she’s at the library. We all know she loves to read.”

Rick scoffed with a half hearted comment, “Sweetie, your not helping. You kids are always up to something, for the 8th time where is Belladonna?”

“Well..”

“I’m right here..” They all turned around hearing the young brunette voice, being accompanied by Ethan standing on the sidewalk with Joshua who was playing with the pieces of paper in his pockets.

Liane ran up to them, almost breaking her kitten heel and pulled her daughter into a hug as the young brunette have her a pat on the back calling her mother dramatic. Liane asked, “What happened?! Where did you go? I was worried sick..”

“I found my birth father..and a uh, pen pal.” Belladonna repiled, glances over her shoulder to look at Joshua and then nods at Riley.

“Y-your Bella’s birth father?”

Ethan half smiled and shrugged sheepishly, “Hi.”

Rick was looking at the young boy who was mentioned to be a pen pal raising an eyebrow. Erik looked at Ethan and felt something striking familiar wash over him but couldn’t place it as he said, “Hey. Uh, how about I take Belladonna inside then go about my rounds? I’m Erik Lawson by the way.”

Ethan nodded, “Ethan Long sir, nice to meet ya. And this is uh, Joshua.”

Liane eyed the guy for a moment, something shifted in the way he presented himself as she smiled, “Well thank you for bringing her back, I guess. Would you like to come inside? Get a drink?”

The two eyes met as the man nodded following her and the sheriff inside the the house.

However. Joshua waved shyly with a grin, he bounced around foster home to foster home before meeting a lot of people but his confidence wasn’t ever this low, he was mainly trying to take it all in. He glanced at Rick who was eyeing him for a long moment, as if he was suspicious of the young boy.

The young brunette straighten up and gave a small smile, “Hey. She came all this way to meet me I guess..I thought it was best Belladonna went home..”

Rick could tell he was being somewhat honest and asked, “You agreed to come along to see her come home? What’s in it for you kid?”

“N-no, nothing sir..I have nowhere else to go and she uh kinda invited me..”

“I have a bit of a superpower, we can call it that, I can tell when a kid is lying. Why are you really here?”

“Like I said, I have nowhere else to go, living on my own with a old friend..and it’s been a weird night.”

Rick wasn’t just a father but a teacher, he has seen students of all kind walk in and out his doorstep to his classroom. By the look in the young brunette’s eyes and how odd his daughter has been acting, he could tell they wanted to be cautious yet kind to him. This kid was alone but yet he doesn’t seem to want to go back home anytime soon, maybe make a friend.

“Okay.” The blonde simply said, “I don’t trust anyone and I know for a fact you ain’t Belladonna’s boyfriend.”

“No sir i uhm. I ain’t that..” The brunettes said, fixing his backpack and then noticed the young blonde girl eyeing him as well.

The blonde had a tiny smirk on her face and asked, “He can stay at Grandpa’s diner, right? The bed and breakfast.”

Rick nodded and lightly pushed the young boy into the direction of the diner, telling him to stay out of trouble or else. Rick walked walked away with Riley, passing by the record store to notice his favorite short pink headed girl who shyly waved at him. And her son who was playing with the record in hand. Riley just grinned to herself.

As Ethan and Liane were chatting at her house that night, Joshua found himself wondering the town as he lead to the direction of the diner. There was something cozy but chilling about the town so late in the evening, he has been on the run for a few years now never staying for too long or just not finding anything that called him name.

And here is he is, wearing a coat and carrying his backpack being invited to visit a new place. Never done better. He had nothing going on for him back in Boston, he was never once to stay in school too often. It was new and freshly made but he didn’t want to get his hopes up just yet.

As he walked into the warm Diner also known as The Bed & Breakfast, he sat down pulling out the piece of paper left by Belladonna eariler and silently smiled softly seeing she left a phone number just in case. He quietly asked for a room and then went downstairs to get something to eat from the diner, hearing the plenty of people talk.

One of the workers there, Melissa smiled asking, “What can I get you kid?”

“Uh, um..a glass of water and um what do you got?” Joshua asked back with a kind smile.

“Hm it’s a school night and on Thursday’s our meals are half off for teen, how about some fries?”

“And a milkshake to dip it in?”

Melissa was entertained by his response with that being a classic move and chuckled, “My kind of kid! Coming right up, uh..?”

“Joe.” He answered, giving her his nickname growing up instead of his real one.

“Joe. Short, sweet and quick to say.”

“Yeah something like that..”

She returned with his milkshake and smile, returning back to the counter to toss some M&Ms into her mouth. She looked at the kid noticing that he might be new, she did see a dark navy brown car drive into the town earlier but didn’t suspect he drove it. She shrugged.

———

The next day at the sheriff station, in came a blonde followed by the blonde from last night, Liane, shouting that Belladonna left again as Erik tried to calm her down again.

“She left again! Cassie tell him! Oh god—” Liane yelled then stopped noticing Ethan standing there behind a cell door and she gasped, “Oh my what happened to you?”

“It was raining, I hit the side of the road..and saw a wolf. Yet, you’re Sheriff thinks I was drunk.” Ethan explained, leaning against the bar and sighed, “..where did the kid go?”

“I was gonna ask you the same thing. I swear it’s hard raising a teenager. I thought she was in school! Did you have something to do with it?”

“Me?! Honey, I have not seen or heard of her since I dropped her off at your place. Not even her little friend. But I can help you find her.”

Erik looked back at Ethan and furrow his brows, “You’re gonna help find her?”

“Uh yeah, I was an officer for a while. I track people down for a living and used to bring them back to the building.”

“She was probably with her little friends or her favorite place. You can look there if she’s not at school.”

Cassie was watching Ethan for a few short second then spoke up, “You can try the library..if students aren’t volunteering or hanging out at the mall, some at the library or the park.”

After a few moment of strong brickering between Erik and Ethan, he let the man go find the kid as Cassie went to bring Liane over to her flower shop for some tea to calm the nerves. Ethan went to the park first and didn’t find anything then decided to take a look at the library which was hugely interesting to him. He was always a bit of a bookworm and guessed Belladonna was the same way.

He looked over to notice a young man sitting at the front set of tables reading, who looked annoyed to be distracted from his book. Ethan noticed the man just pointed to the 5th row of books in the corner as that’s where he found his daughter.

Belladonna was reading a text and looked up to notice her birth father and groaned, “Can’t I have 5 minutes of silence please?”

“And here I thought you were happy to see me.” Ethan responded, taking a seat behind her, “Why aren’t you in school?”

“Because it’s boring, the teachers are decently nice but it’s not as interesting..you stayed?”

“Yeah, well, I was knocked out cold last night and woke up in a cell. Go figure. Why do you keep running away? You’re mother, despite her dramatic flares of action, seems pretty nice.”

“…she tries. She’s busy with work at the jewelry store and uh, she’s not who she says she is.”

“Who is she then?”

“…uh, Maleficent. She’s alright. Kinda strict and drama, uh she can be happy at time but always on edge other.”

“Because you can away.”

“No one gets it.”

Ethan paused taking a moment to think and looked directly at her, “I do, believe it or not. When your young, you feel like you alone and no one completely understands it, but yourself so you tend to stay in your own lane instead, parents can be tough at times may not always make the right decisions..so, as bad as you think she may be, she’s trying her best here, she wants you. That’s all anyone could ever ask for. You get where I’m getting?”

She thought she could ease him into the fairytale thing as she nodded, “..yeah. I do, i see what your saying. In the book, she’s a hardass but sorta nice when you get to know her. You know her.”

“I just met her.”

“Yeah, you just met her..but sometimes you meet someone you feel like you know ‘em.”

“Whatever, kiddo. I just met her and yes she’s seems like a piece of work but give her a break her.”

They decided to back to Liane’s place to smooth things over. Belladonna picked out a couple of books aside the women she already carried with her, going to the front desk with Ethan. The same guy from earlier, was at the checkout process, who they found out was named Cole stood there. Ethan decided to buy a couple of books for her.

As he was ringing him up, the guy Cole, asked, “Name?”

“Uh, Ethan Long and Belladonna.” He repiled with a nod handing his card as he looked around the room.

Cole blinked and paused for a slight moment, taking a peek of a breather as he smiled, “Ethan and Belladonna. I heard of her..but you, are you new?”

“Yeah, uh I’m new. Just here for her.”

“Alright good. Enjoy your stay.”

The father and daughter walked out of the library as Cole waited to stumbled into his chair, almost letting out a cough at the wave of realization hit him. That was his brother. A couple of memories came flowing back as he did as he took another breath. He remembered his father pushing his brother into a wardrobe, well hearing about it, as he was confused and slightly worried. Which is rare cause he was never worried for his brother.

Then it clicked for him what Erik did back then and the fact that he had a daughter.

He remembered that he casted a memory tickling curse on him to snap him out of it if and when he heard one of the children’s name. But, what he didn’t expect was it to be his own freaking niece?! Oh god—he’s related to Maleficent legally! Cole thanked the fact that he owned half of the town’s library because then he was able to slip out of there and go to his shop to pour himself a long ass couple of drinks.

He was gonna need all that information to sit in for a while.

~~~

Joshua was on his own at the park, watching a couple of kids after school play as he snacked on bag of blueberries when he felt a pair of eyes spot him. He looked up from his phone and almost jumped out of his pants as the same pair of eyes from the night before was staring at him.

This time she was alone, a part of him thanked god because he was kinda scared of her father but won’t admit it. She sat down on the park bench beside her, wearing her school uniform as her feet dangled above the ground. She must’ve been 8 years old, maybe even 10 because she looked kinda older. But he could be wrong. He noticed she was holding a stuff rabbit in one hand and a book in the other.

“Uh..hi?” Joshua asked, giving her a tiny smile as he eyed her movements.

“Hi! You are welcome.” She replied with a soft little grin, “..for recommending Grandpa’s diner, i mean.”

“Oh right, thanks for that. I would’ve just slept anywhere but thank you..whatcha got there?”

“Oh! My storybook! D-did Bella tell you?”

Riley held it up with a smile that made her look younger than most that moment, almost full of sweet memories and spirt, holding up the front page with such determination. She explained how theses stories are real, well they feel very real to her, especially the ones about her parents. She said her daddy was little red riding hood.

He stopped her for a moment, “You’re father is little red..riding hood? Like with the red cape, the grandparents and big bad wolf?”

“Yup!” She replies like it was the most obvious thing in the world, “..well um..Bella is better at this than i am..”

“Try to explain it to me then..in your own way, of course.”

“Well she says that the stories here are very different from the movies. Not very simple or tr-trad-traditional..they have twists to them..like Red Riding Hood is a guy and he has a grandpa who is very sweet!”

“Uh honey, how do you know Red is your father?”

“I just do. I believe it.”

“Hmm..”

“Red Riding Hood is very kind, strong, cool and protective of everyone. Like he knows a lot. But a little silly and goofy! Just like my daddy.”

What Riley said all was true, she just believes it to be true. One of the sweetest and most beautiful gifts children of all ages have is this sense of hope, of belief in something, a strong feeling in their heart. You can’t always take it away from that but it will come back no matter what.

Joshua kinda wanted to believe what she did and he didn’t have the heart to break her spirt, seeing how much her eyes sparkled with pride. So he simply nodded, “Hm, alright I’ll humor you sweetie, anything else about your book?”

“Well I’m in it. Cause he is my father..” She said with a smile, confidence laced in her movements and continued, “A lot of people are in it..like you! You’re in this book.”

“Yeah right. I don’t think I’m in a fairytale sweetie, i think i would know that.”

“Well duh! You don’t remember cause you were a baby.”

“Huh?”

“I think time in this town is frozen for some people here. It’s why everyone looks so young, they all age slower.”

“Hmm..let’s say i am in this book, who am i?”

“You’re parents are Snow White and Prince Charming.”

Joshua snorted and his body softly shake with laughter but noticed Riley was serious, a look similar to her father but her eyes were of someone else. Possibly her mother, who he doesn’t know about yet.

“O-oh you’re serious?” He asked, as he stopped laughing as he started to grow curious.

“Mhm!” She replies with a loud hum.

“But I’m not as white as snow or have jet back hair..?”

“Duh! Different types of story, it does look like the normal thing.”

“I’ll see it when I believe it, sweetie. But I’ll keep an open mind.”

“Good! I gotta go we are have chicken fingers tonight.”

Before he could ask anything else, she was off the bench and running away to say goodbye to her friends, being a set of redhead twins, as she went on her merry way. He chuckled seeing her and the other kids, he then realized he hasn’t had anything to properly eat yet then rushed off to Grandpa’s diner for lunch.

As he made his way to the center of the town, passing the streets and stories buzzing with children, teens and adults, he realized he stepped on something. He picked it up, realizing it was an earbud. A set of blackberry colored earbuds, as if the someone was rushing off and it fell out of their pocket. He looked up to see someone a few feet away from him jogging, as if he was late for something.

He called out to them, jogging up to the guys at a similar pace calling out him again, until he turned around to face realizing he was talking to him. The moment he turned around he was met a brunette with short styled curls, a jean jacket, black jeans and a white sweater underneath. His brown eyes were dark yet rich with color, as he pulled down his hoodie a hint of a tattoo could be seen. He was holding a stake of paperwork underneath his armpit and a coffee in the other, as a backpack swinging over one side.

“Yeah?” He asked breathless from his running, a soft smile on his cheeks.

Joshua could help but return the soft smile, “You dropped this? Your headphones.”

“Oh shit. I didn’t even realize it, thanks man.”

“No problem. You should be lucky I didn’t break them with my boot.”

“Yeah, well it’s not the first time i lost theses headphones and won’t be the last.”

“That I can relate to. When you headed off to in such a hurry..? Don’t mind to ask.”

The young man huffed and gave a slight crooked smile, “Errands to run. I have to drop stuff off at town hall, then pick up some food and uh, buy some more gasoline.”

“Yikes, tough break. Sorry about that.” Joshua replied offering him a kind smile, understanding he must be busy.

“Yeah well, gotta make a living somehow. Shouldn’t you be in school or something?”

“Uhh yeah, not a student—here. Not a student here, kinda out of town.”

“Out of town, that’s odd…ohh, you’re the one kid i heard Melissa was telling me about.”

“Come again?”

“Don’t worry, she’s a waitress who is very observant, she likes to gossip a tiny bit.”

He felt a little at least with that part, not wanting to draw too much attention to himself. The guy smiled, something about this kid made him not feel uncomfortable or anything, like a familiar feeling. But then the thought quickly rushed away, as he noticed something in his eyes.

He spoke up, “Oh hey, like i said don’t worry about her. She’s all good! If your not at school, are you here with your parents or something?”

“Nope. I’ve been on my own, it’s cool.” He repiled with a shrug feeling at ease with him for a moment, “Just staying for a while.”

“Well if you do, then you will love our record store and bakery.”

“Duly noted.”

The man was about to say something else when he got a text message on his phone that he ignored for a second and looked back at him with a apologetic smile. The teen seemed to get the sign and nodded with understanding. He apologized betting they might cross paths again, just as he was about to walk away he realized something. It was silly but still.

The older brunette softly shouted, “Hey?”

“Hm?” Hummed the younger brunette in response.

“What’s your name?”

“Um, Joshua Nolan.”

“Nikolai. Nikolai Hawkins.”

Joshua smiled, “Nice to meet you, Nikolai.”

“Nice to meet you too, Joshua.” He replied before running off to answer the message he got a couple of minutes ago.

———

—> Sooo I may or may not gotta a little carried away with the fic (sorry if it’s a little all over the place oops 😅 ). What did you think?

=> I really wanna do some inspired by moments from episodes like ‘Snow Falls’ and ‘Red-Handed’, idk just trying to remember my favorite episodes. Idk yet let’s see how fics I will roll out 🤷‍♀️

—> Tags: @missstrawbs2001 @purpleprincessonfyre @meiramel @gcthvile @rickb-chaos @gaminggirlsstuff @wizzzardofoz @mallowbee4 @thechoooooosenone @luna-d-marsh @rooster-84 @thecavalrywife and etc

#ouat au #ask missparker #ask my ocs #danielle campbell #thomas doherty #marvel oc #shadow and bone #red riding hood #maleficent #snowing #the dark one #king of hearts #ouat rewatch #ouat fic #ouat fanfiction

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