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fangirlbase · 3 years

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The Howl of the Moon - Remus Lupin

Summary:

After a terrible accident in the battle at the Ministry in 1995, Hermione Granger wins a one-way ticket to the past. Unable to go back to his time, his only chance for survival is to adapt to the late 70s and get on with his life, interfering as little as possible so that the future does not fall apart.

However, everything goes downhill when Remus John Lupine starts to notice too much the new girl who clearly wanted to go unnoticed by Hogwarts.

Warnings: mature

2.The one with the haircut

The December twenty-first had finally arrived, and as most of the castle boarded the carriages for the express, Hermione finished packing her bag with what few belongings she had. Minerva had informed the previous day that they would not spend the holiday at the castle that year.

- Finally I have someone to take to my sister-in-law's party, I won't miss this chance for anything!

It had been the excuse the teacher had given when Hermione said she didn't want to bother, but she suspected that all that teacher's insistence had more to do with her getting used to her now tutor's house and mainly to get out of the environment a little bit. of familiar was not that of her memories, her friends wouldn't be there to celebrate the holidays with her… They hadn't even been born yet.

Although the express left at 11am from Hogsmeade, they didn't go home until around 5pm. As a householder, Minerva had to extend her hours, accommodating the few Gryffindor students who had stayed that holiday, finishing correcting some jobs before summoning Hermione to her office to leave.

Though they hadn't left the castle, the older Witch had noticed the sad way the student had watched her housemates leaving through the school gates - the same sad way she'd been looking at the common room at that moment. She knew she couldn't ask questions about the future, but the intensity in the teenager's gaze told her that she had left much-loved companions in the future.

- Let's go dear? - Minerva spoke calmly, wanting to dispel the sadness that had taken over the girl.

Hermione just confirmed, taking her small suitcase as she would leave her trunk and most of her materials and belongings in the dormitory, so she followed the tutor to her office, entering the fireplace and feeling the heat take over her body while the teacher holding her a strong hand threw the flu powder and the emerald green flames surrounded them. Holding a sneeze, the teenager cleaned herself and left the dark environment, gasping when she noticed the room they were in: there were no walls, just bookcases and more bookcases! A coffee table was surrounded by two sofas and an armchair that, despite being slightly dusty, could be cleaned in a matter of seconds with the correct spell.

- I knew you'd like it. - Minerva decreed with a little smile on her face. - Your room is upstairs, third door on the left. Then I'll introduce you to the rest of the house, it's modest but comfortable. I hope you are happy here.

The young woman nodded, still a little embarrassed to be in the house of the teacher she most admired at school, and thus holding her curiosity to explore the titles that Minerva had in her personal collection, she went in the direction that the tutor indicated. The room really wasn't very big, but it wasn't small either, in the girl's opinion it was the ideal size for her to feel good. As she had brought few things, not even bothering to empty her suitcase, but she knew that the reluctance was more in the fact that she didn't want to be there, even with all the hospitality of the teacher, the idea of spending Christmas away from her family and friend was disheartening.

Hermione overcame the anguish of never knowing how the battle in the ministry ended after the first few months she woke up at that time, but at times like this she couldn't help wondering: How were Harry and Ron? If they Neville, Luna and Gina were safe celebrating Christmas at the Burrow… "Stop!" He scolded himself, after all, it's no use getting caught up in questions that she would never have answers to. She was a practical witch and knew she had no talent for guessing the future.

Minerva gave a little tour of the house showing Hermione where were all the things she would need and said she was free to read whatever she wanted in the library, so the teacher left the youngest alone to explore the new environment until the time of dinner, when he revealed that the next day the two would go shopping - that even after the teenager's several refusals, she did not listen. As her tutor, she needed to provide the best for her, meaning clothes and a proper life. And besides that, the teacher needed to finish her Christmas shopping, after all she still needed some presents for her nephews.

Even uncomfortable, Hermione couldn't have been more grateful for the witch's zeal. Even though she had to carry countless bags the next afternoon, she couldn't hold back her tears as she confessed that Minerva had always been her favorite teacher - getting a pinch and a comforting hug in return.

However, it was during Christmas dinner that Hermione revealed to her tutor her true intentions for the year. The two were sitting at a long table in the rectory in the Caithness suburb that had been the late Reverend Presbyterian Robert McGonagall and his wife Isobel, Minerva's country and his two younger brothers Malcom and Robert Junior. With the death of their father, Malcon and his wife Brenda - a Hufflepuff witch - who was pregnant with their second child and the couple's little eldest Isla came to live with Isobel who, finally being surrounded by magic, found herself completely happy.

- But your hair, dear? - Questioned Minerva.

- Women usually cut their hair after important decisions in their life, right? It wasn't just a milestone that I came back here, but if I need to camouflage myself, I need to change my look. I've always been known for the size of my teeth and voluminous hair, I can't let them recognize me until the moment of disappearance.

- But your teeth aren't big! My friend Timothy's they are, but Mom said I can't say they look like a rabbit because that will make him sad and then he won't want to play Quidditch with me anymore. - Commented the little Max, nickname of Maxwell son of Robert Junior and of the wife Aileen who tried uselessly to wipe the son's chubby cheeks that were smeared with the turkey sauce with a napkin.

- I've fixed this before. Hermione smiled. - But my hair is a problem. There are people in that dangerous school, who unfortunately knew me….

- You don't need to say anything else, I understand.

- Oh dear, it will be a shame to cut, your hair is beautiful! - Brenda stated that she had complimented the teen's curls as soon as they were introduced.

- Honey, the girl is right. - Defended Malcon while finishing cutting the vegetables for the daughter who was sitting between her parents. - These are dangerous times, dark wizards have grown a lot, going unnoticed is always better than attracting unwanted attention.

- And how do you want to do it? - Asked the teacher.

- I need to look as different as possible, but I don't want to mess with the color.

- The solution then would be a pixie cut! - Aileen suggested excited, both for having managed to clean her son with a spell and mainly because she loved fashion. - I saw in "The American Charmer" that the cut is the latest trend among American witches!

- Do you help me?

And so Christmas Eve had ended at the McGonagalls' house: with Minerva, the two sisters-in-law, and Hermione having fun with the arduous task of a haircut, while Isobel dozed in the armchair near the fireplace and the lighted Christmas tree, she I should keep an eye on the children Isla and Max who play with the gifts they had won since the men had decided it was worth it to face the winter cold to smoke a cigar on the porch.

***

It was amazing how even after a long and tiring seven-hour journey Sirius didn't stop still. After trying to flirt with six girls on the way between the carriages and the Great Hall, he still had the strength to try one more time in the Gryffindor Hall! With all five friends nicely settled on the rug in front of the fireplace - forgetting for the time being the position of monitors - they saw from a box when a girl of medium height, head high and nose upturned, walked past the Fat Lady painting. With her hair short to her ears, tight pants and a sweater that outlined her body beautifully, she carried a book to her breasts, in a body language that maybe hiding was a good idea where she tried to be brave.

As she passed them, Sirius couldn't help himself.

- Pretty girl…. Well done girl! Beautiful girl…. - He exclaimed his compliments out loud, in an attempt to get her attention.

Instead of flushed cheeks, he only received a questioning look, along with contempt. I mean, at least hers, since her pickup line had hit another girl who came through the frame right behind.

- Sirius! Marlene McKinnon threw herself into her lap, believing it was for her.

Engrossed in his friends' jokes with Marlene and Sirius who had a true love-hate relationship since one hour they were flirting and the next they were cursing, Remus was more shocked by what he saw in front of him. That was the newbie! What would have happened to that change? What had she done? What she….

- What did she do with her hair? Remus asked indignantly, still watching the girl climb the dorm stairs.

- Who she? - James found his friend's focus strange, turning his body to look in the direction his friend indicated.

- The new one!

- That was Granger?! - James turned even more, losing sight of her.

- Did you do something, Lilly? Remus asked, trying to figure out the reason for the sudden change.

- Absolutely nothing! I haven't talked to her yet.

- Excellent! Even the newcomer rejected me! Is it not possible to be with anyone else in this school?! Sirius complained indignantly.

- McKinnon doesn't seem to agree with that, Padfoot…. - Peter laughed at his friend, who had just managed to get rid of the brunette.

Did I mention that they had a strange love-hate relationship? Well they did! She had already made her feelings for him more than clear, but he didn't reciprocate in the same way - resulting in awkward moments like this.

- What did she do with her hair…? Remus asked quietly, drawing Sirius' attention.

- Dude, it's just a haircut!

- But it had to be so radical?! I didn't even recognize her!

- Why? Have you been watching the newcomer?

- Of course not!

"But that's true, Sirius had never tried anything with her."

- Her luck ran out, unfortunately…. Lilly teased the brunette, receiving an ugly finger.

"Did you have to start seeing her, Potter?" Sirius implied.

- My luck was that you didn't try anything with her either.

- Hey! I respect my friends' girls!

If Sirius had sung the fledgling once without even knowing it was her, would he do it again on purpose? Remus didn't like to think about that possibility for some time, a fact that was proven two days later, when Padfoot did just that.

- Want help loading your books? - Sirius asked in a wooden face, intercepting her on the way to the second greenhouse where the sixth year students would have a herbology class and the seventh year students would leave.

He didn't even have the pleasure of an answer, only receiving a freezing look as he passed him and turned his eyes to the notepaper in his hand.

"Hard woman…" Sirius snorted, laughing at the situation.

- Do you really want to insist on that, Padfoot? She seems to have made it very clear that she doesn't want to be disturbed. James hugged his friend by the shoulder as they walked back to the castle for their next class.

- I don't know, I think it would be an excellent pastime for the end of the school year, and maybe I can get a kiss?

- I think a kick in your balls is more likely! - Peter exclaimed with a laugh.

- And you, Remus? What do you think? Sirius asked his friend who was frowning, following the girl with his eyes.

- Why did she cut her hair….?

- What is this fixation for hair that you developed, huh?!

That would go on for the rest of the day, to the point where Sirius lost his temper right after dinner.

- Still thinking about her hair? James nudged his friend, who was looking at the girl curled up in the same chair as before, reading a book of advanced potions.

- Couldn't she have decreased just a little bit? Did I need all this change?

- ENOUGH! Sirius got annoyed. - Let's end this now! THIS IS THE TENTH TIME YOU HAVE GROUNDED ABOUT THAT IDIOT HAIR!

- THERE WASN'T IDIOT!

Sirius didn't give a damn about his friend, marching over to the fledgling.

- This is going to be a good one. James barked, settling himself better to watch the show.

Hermione so far hadn't noticed the altered voices in the hall, only taking her attention from her book when she saw a pair of legs stop right in front of her. When he realized it was Sirius, he rolled his eyes internally because he thought it was another line from the boy. She made a mental note of one day making a point of complaining to Harry about how his godfather was a pain in the ass.

- Can I help you with anything? - She tried to be polite at least once.

- He can. A friend asked me to ask you….

- Is it serious? I would like to be alone if you don't impose….

- REALLY! James asked me to ask you why Remus just STOP TALKING ABOUT it, but….

- Can't you summarize?

- Why did you cut your hair?

Hermione was silent, shock consuming her existence. Was this serious? In the midst of all that fuss (which she had already done in fourth year when Harry and Ron were fighting), was the subject of her hair? And why on earth would that be Professor Lupin's concern?

With a frown of confusion she simply stated:

- This only concerns me.

- No, no, no…. You may have no appreciation for anyone else at this school, but I care a lot about my sanity and my ears! One reason is all I need!

Hermione glanced sideways at the fireplace, raising her eyebrow as she noticed Lupin, Potter and Pettigrew staring at them expectantly.

- Well, if your friend wants to know so much, he should come and ask himself, and not send a homing pigeon.

And ignoring Sirius, Hermione turned her attention back to her book, hoping to find out if that crazy hair was true. Sirius huffed in annoyance, returning to the couch and dropping to the floor, rubbing his temples.

- And then?! Remus asked boldly, forgetting to show disinterest.

- If you want to know, you will have to go there and ask yourself!

- Hey, did you stop asking? - James was surprised.

- No, that was her answer. But she didn't seem very able to answer you, to be honest. What animal bit her?

- Probably a dog. - Peter joked, receiving a pillow in the face.

_***_

It was the next morning that Minerva McGonagall had intercepted Remus on his way out of the transfiguration class, asking for a moment to talk alone. Already preparing to hear some lecture about his friends who had been caught last night for trying to smuggle sweet pies from the kitchen to the dorm, Remus thought of the best possible excuse for what they had done, but he had no idea, they actually they weren't even supposed to be caught since they were wearing the Marauder's Map and James' Invisibility Cloak, but it was true that the cloak was already getting small for three so Remus had stayed behind.

- Sorry, Professor, but I'm sure it wasn't James and Sirius' intention!

Minerva shook her head first, then laughed at her student's lost expression.

- It's nothing related to them, Mr. Lupin, but it's good to know that something is coming, the last event with the theft of sweet pies was a bit comical. I asked you to stay a little longer because I need to talk to you about a very important subject, regarding the transfiguration classes.

- Did something happen?

- Yes and no. I've noticed that several fifth and sixth graders have had various difficulties with crucial elements of the transfiguration, and I don't know why they're afraid to come and ask me for help. I thought about it and talked to Headmaster Dumbledore and we decided to open tutoring hours for students to ask questions with other students selected by me. There will be three groups: from the first to the third, fourth and fifth, and sixth and seventh. As I know of your tribulations with NEWTs, I would like you to help me with the sixth and seventh grades.

- I… Wow. I would love! But… I'm afraid of not being efficient or being able to help during that period….

- You will not be alone, you will have another person monitoring with you. Can we schedule twice a week then? Twice in an hour or once in two hours?

- I prefer twice, if it's not bothersome for the other monitor. By the way, who will it be?

- Jean Granger.

Remus blinked a few times in confusion. Who the hell was Jean? He only knew one Granger, but that wasn't her name.

- Jean, teacher? - He took a chance.

Minerva glanced at the door, to make sure they were alone before asking him to secrecy.

- I believe you remember what you heard that day in my office, before Christmas. I cannot give too many details, that concerns her, but it was necessary to change her name.

Remus blinked his eyes hastily. Was she in that much danger?

"Just ask, idiot" - Moony showed his point, being ignored.

- I see… Have you talked to her about monitoring?

- We talked about it over Christmas and she is more than willing to help with tutoring. You will be amazed at the potential of that young woman. - Minerva hid a smile, suspecting that an approach between the two would be beneficial for both.

***

As agreed, every Tuesday and Thursday, from 5 pm to 6 pm, Remus and Jean were to appear in the transfiguration room to offer tutoring to their sixth and seventh year classmates. It would certainly take some time for a living soul to appear, so it was more than crucial that they did not remain in an awkward silence in the meantime. Not wanting to be late on the first day, Remus dropped out of arithmancy class as soon as it ended, not paying much attention to what Lilly had come to ask him. Even after trying not to be late, as soon as he opened the living room door he found Jean sitting on top of her desk, her legs bent like a lotus flower, reading a book.

He walked over and cleared his throat, but the girl was immersed in her own bubble. Risking a good afternoon, he at least managed to get her to respond to the greeting more automatically than consciously. Ashamed of his existence in a place where he clearly wasn't welcome, Remus sat at his usual table - which surprisingly was right next to the one she was at - pulling out his Arithmancy notebook and doing some calculations to pass the time. It must have been at least half an hour before he noticed a male voice in the room.

Your own voice.

- I also like Hogwarts, a story.

Hermione stopped her reading and straightened up, wondering if Lupine had really spoken to her. She risked turning to him and when she saw that he was looking at her, she deduced that she was.

- Not everyone agrees with you.

- I thought you were homeschooled...

- And I was, but knowledge is never too much.

- Is this your first time reading the book?

"Idiot, isn't it kind of obvious that she's read it before?" Moony rolled his eyes at Remus' lack of social skills.

- Actually, seventy-third.

Remus widened his eyes at that.

- You're kidding, aren't you?

- No. Reading it has always been kind of soothing to me since I was eleven. Whenever I needed to be alone or for company, he was the one I turned to. Hermione didn't see any harm in telling him that, she loved talking about books.

Besides, he seemed to be more baffled than she was.

- This gives an average reading of 10,428 times a year. What happened for you to spend more time reading it than…

- Did you manage to do that in your head?! Hermione deviated from the main topic.

- You do not?

- 10.42857142857143 would be the exact average. ” She replied with a smug smile.

"Is she a human counting machine?"

- Do you also do arithmancy?

- I tried to advance the advanced class, but the teacher did not trust my skills even with my NOMS grades, she said that it would be better for me to follow the normal flow and only do it when I was in seventh grade. Is this today's duty? - She asked craning her neck, not holding back with curiosity.

Remus just held out his notebook, being shocked at how sharp the gears in the witch's brain were at work. It was obvious he didn't complain when she pulled out a quill and fixed some numbers, verifying that she had found the errors. If she was so happy doing seventh grade exercises, he wouldn't be the one to complain and stop her from doing so.

I mean, he had already done a lot of that for his friends, someone could once do their duty for him, right?

He couldn't say exactly when, but at some point he approached her table, starting to resolve issues together for hours explaining why her resolution would not be possible with reality, but she insisted on hypothetical arguments for them to be used that he did not understand. The more he explained she replied, going so far as to create calculations and scribbles in her notebook explaining her point. She had been distracted by tracing the trajectory of an alternate spell, allowing him to just watch her.

"The long hair was more beautiful" - Moony complained, making Remus agree.

- Can I ask you something? - He asked embarrassed.

- You just asked.

Remus rolled his eyes, not believing that she really had made that old joke.

- Why did you cut your hair?

He didn't like the disbelieving laugh he got, along with a shocked look.

- I thought Black was making fun of me when he asked me that and blamed you, but…. You are really asking me this!

- I admit that I went a little overboard with my reflections on your motives, but it's only because I don't like extreme, sudden or sudden changes!

He hated being a man one second and being a wolf the next.

"HEY!"

Hermione was silent for a while just staring at him, to the point that Remus wished he were an ostrich to stick his head into the ground in shame. Why did he have to worry so much about a damn hair?!

- Do you know the witness protection program?

- I think I've heard about it somewhere ... - Remus remembered the several times he was forced to move so that the neighbors wouldn't realize that he was always sick near the full moon because of his transformations.

- I decided since the ministry forced me to change so many things, changing my hair would be the least and well, it would help with everything to go unnoticed. Until the last half semester they were trying to solve my… case, but with no result they decided that it was best to give me a new identity and since I don't think I was noticed here, the name won't make much difference. Professor McGonagall already warned you that my name is now Jean, and well… I think you already know that I live with the professor because she is my nice Tutor and now that I've cut my hair. End.

- I preferred it long… - He blurted out, blushing then.

"Long hair is good to play with"

- Me either. Hermione agreed with him, returning to her wistful bubble.

Nervous that he had done something stupid, Remus despaired, but was saved by the bell. In the next minute the alarm that sounded at 6 pm rang out, summoning everyone to dinner.

- Since no one showed up…. Want company to the Salon? - He let go, trying to redeem himself.

Hermione thought for a while, packing her bag and accepting the offer. They walked in silence to the Gryffindor table, nodding their heads off. Remus had barely sat down on the bench when he was bombarded by questions from his home's redheaded monitor.

- Did she just greet you, Remus?

- Yea…?

- Why? They were talking?

- Remus said he had someone else on prefect with him. Was her? - James interjected.

- Yes.

- And did you talk anything or just coexist in silence because she still refuses to interact with anyone?

- We talked a few things.

- Did you by any chance ask about her hair? James took it off with his face, while Sirius and Peter sat at the table.

- That hair thing again? Sirius whimpered.

- I asked, but I won't tell.

Everyone else opened their mouths in shock. Had he really asked something so personal to someone who didn't even know of his existence?!

- You didn't disturb us for three days to just be quiet!

Remus just shrugged, indicating that no more words would come out of his mouth as he smirked and went back to drinking his pumpkin juice.

#remione #sirius x remus #remus lupin #sirius x remus x hermione #sirius black #Hermione Granger #marauders #travel time #back in time #time turner #werewolf

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smartgirlsaremean · 7 years

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The Question Falls - Chapter 11

Fandom: OUAT

Pairing: Rumbelle (sides of Swanfire, Red Cricket, Sleeping Warrior, and Ariel/Eric)

Rating: T for this chapter, E overall

Summary: Divorce attorney Gold knows better than to fall in love with a client. Really he does.

AO3

Chapter 11 - Gold and Belle run into someone at her art gallery.

Two Weeks Ago

He hated leaving Belle’s apartment so early in the evening, but they both had early starts the next day and one thing they’d proven to each other over the last few weeks was that they could only spend the night together if they had no plans in the morning. Neither of them had quite mastered the art of keeping their hands to themselves.

Gold took a deep breath as he stepped out onto the sidewalk and glanced back up at the high-rise. Belle had been reluctant to let him go, coaxing one “last kiss” after another out of him until she’d finally been distracted by a call from her friend Ariel. She’d glared at him as he ducked out the door, and he knew she would be dreaming up all kinds of devious punishments for him.

Lost as he was in his thoughts, he didn’t see the other person on the sidewalk until she was nearly on top of him, and he jumped back a mile when he realized who it was.

“Darling! How did you know I was back in town?”

“Zelena.” Gold sighed as she wrapped herself around his arm. “I didn’t.”

“Oh, of course you didn’t,” she said slyly. “So you definitely weren’t coming to Gina’s apartment to see me, hm?”

“As a matter of fact, no, I wasn’t.”

Zelena laughed and leaned closer, running one hand up his chest. “You’re right, Gina’s place is far too crowded. We should go…”

“Rum! You forgot your…”

Belle had dashed out of the front door of her building and now stood frozen on the sidewalk, her eyes widening as she took in Zelena Mills clinging to his arm. In her hand she was clutching his mobile, and for a terrifying moment Gold thought she’d arrived at exactly the wrong conclusion.

He should have known better. Only the most idiotic of cheaters would leave one girlfriend’s place in order to meet up with the other just outside the door, and he wasn’t exactly making an effort to hide how uncomfortable he was, what with snarling at the other woman and gripping his cane so hard he feared he’d break it.

“Hello,” Belle said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

“Zelena Mills, dear.”

“Oh!” Belle’s grin suddenly widened and her eyes gleamed. “ You’re Zelena.” She held out one hand. “I’m Belle. Rum’s told me a lot about you.”

Reluctantly Zelena let go of him and shook Belle’s hand briefly. “I wish I could say the same, dear. He’s never even mentioned your name to me.”

“Oh, well, that doesn’t surprise me.” Belle stepped forward and took the hand Zelena had been too slow to reclaim and laced their fingers together. “He’s such a private person, likes to keep intimate details to himself.” She smiled beatifically at him and brought his hand to her lips, pressing a kiss to the back of his hand. “I’m very lucky, I know. He doesn’t bare his…soul to just anyone.”

“You alone, sweetheart,” Gold acknowledged, returning the gesture and pulling her closer.

Zelena looked like she might be sick. “And you two are…involved?”

“At least once a day,” Belle said cheerfully. “Three times on Sundays. I haven’t had my birthday yet but something tells me I should get lots of rest the day before.”

“I…My sister will be worried about me,” Zelena said hastily, her face a sickly shade of green. “I really should go.”

“Well, it was lovely meeting you,” Belle enthused. “Maybe we’ll see you again sometime.”

Without answering Zelena hurried away and Gold turned to his girlfriend with a smirk. “Three times on Sundays? You overestimate me, sweetheart.”

“We’ll see about that,” Belle murmured, sliding her hands around his neck. “My powers are beyond your comprehension.”

“Indeed. You’ve frightened off a woman I’ve been avoiding for years, and you did it without insulting her. You’re incredible.” He bent to kiss her, and when he pulled back she looked determined.

“I think you should come back upstairs,” she said firmly. “Consider it practice for my birthday.”

“What about my birthday?”

“Oh, alright,” she sighed, pulling him along. “We’ll practice twice.”

Now

“Mother, what the hell are you doing here?” Gold sighed.

Relief flooded Belle and left her weak at the knees. The moment the handsome older woman had introduced herself with Rum’s name any number of horrible possibilities had raced through her mind, including a long-lost second wife. With a clearer head Belle could see that while she was still beautiful, Fiona - Mrs. Gold - was about twenty years his senior (not that that precluded a romantic entanglement, of course) and had his dark eyes and high, sharp cheekbones.

“I had the most alarming call from Zelena Mills. She claimed that you had thrown her over and taken up with a woman young enough to be your daughter.” His mother’s eyes swept over her and she sneered. “I can see she was not exaggerating.”

“Considering that I once had an affair with Zelena’s mother, she has a lot of room to talk,” Gold said dryly. “Putting that aside, it was impossible for me to throw her over because I was never involved with her in the first place.”

“Wait...this is about Zelena?” Belle crossed her arms. “She saw Rum with another woman and called his mother?”

“I would appreciate the opportunity to speak to my son in private,” Fiona said coldly. “Do run along, little one.”

Belle bristled and looked at Rum, who rolled his eyes and squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart, you did promise Jefferson you would talk to him later. I’ll be along in a minute. This won’t take long.”

Narrowing her eyes, she leaned up and kissed him slowly and thoroughly, reveling in his little sigh against her mouth. She pulled away and met Fiona’s frosty gaze again with a wide smile. “Pleasure to meet you, Fiona,” she said sweetly. “Enjoy the rest of the show.” She left mother and son alone together, but as soon as she’d re-entered the gallery she allowed her smile to slip away and covered her face with her hands, taking a deep breath.

God, this was the very last thing she needed.

“She certainly is a sweet young thing.”

Gold sighed and turned back to his mother, his shoulders tensing.

“All that dark hair and fair skin...pretty eyes...fire and spark. She reminds me of someone.” Fiona pressed one finger to her lips and appeared to think deeply. “Ah! Milah, of course. And Cora, certainly, though she is younger than that particular mistake.”

“Belle is nothing like either of them,” Gold said coldly. “She’s their superior in every respect.”

“Heavens, then, Roderick, what on earth is she doing with you?” Fiona laughed. “If those two harpies didn’t find you worth their time, what does Belle see in you?”

“What are you doing here?” Gold asked again, attempting to ignore the twinge in his chest.

“I am trying to keep you from making another mistake.” Fiona stepped forward and put her hand to his cheek. “I’ve looked into her, you know, she’s quite impressive. Intelligent, entrepreneurial, independent. She even convinced Gaston Lefleur to marry her, and that family is as proud as they come. Of course, that didn’t last very long, did it? Poor little Gaston couldn’t keep up with her. Strong women like Belle need strong men to keep up with them, and as much as I love you, Roddy darling, you could never be the man she needs.”

“Your concern for her is touching. And odd, considering that you only just met her.”

“I am concerned for you. You’ve been with women like Belle before, and they’ve only hurt you. Zelena...she’s just the sort of young woman who would never abandon you or break your heart.”

“No, she’d merely suck the lifeblood out of me and leave me a dry, useless husk,” Gold sighed. “Mother, did you really come all the way from Boston to try to make me break up with Belle for Zelena’s sake?”

“Of course not. I came for Neal’s wedding.”

“Neal’s…” His brain scrambled to process this new information. “Did...how…”

“The boy invited me, Rum. I am his grandmother, after all, and I should be there to help him celebrate such a happy occasion.” She sniffed. “Though how you could let him entangle himself with that uncouth little stray…”

“Oddly enough, I didn’t allow him to see Emma at all. Neal’s romantic life has always been his own business, and I respect his choices.”

“We all make our own mistakes.”

“We do, and certainly I’ve made my share. And yet, of the two of us, I’m the one whose child can stand to live in the same city with him, and I’m the one with an open invitation to my son’s home.” He smirked when her mouth opened and closed. “What? You weren’t hoping to stay with me, were you? That is most definitely not happening.”

“Why is that, exactly? Planning to have your little girlfriend for a sleepover?”

Gold grinned, sharp and gleaming. “We don’t do much sleeping, to be honest.”

Fiona shuddered and pressed one hand to her forehead. “Roddy, please.”

“Even if I weren’t, you’ve got money enough for the best hotel in the city. I’d never dream of allowing you to slum it in my apartment.” Gold stepped toward the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a beautiful woman to entertain who is, as you’ve pointed out, far too good for me. I’m unwilling to let her think I’m neglecting her. Enjoy the rest of the show. I’ll see you this weekend.”

He found Belle staring at a painting entitled The Evil Queen. Stepping up behind her, he slid one arm around her waist and smiled when she started and then melted into his embrace.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“Yes. I’m sorry about...well. That.”

Belle nodded. “It’s not all bad, you know, Heller’s stuff. Some of it is...evocative. Challenging.”

Her change of subject worried him a little, but he followed her lead. “Challenging?”

“We’re used to seeing evil in a certain light,” Belle said, “and we often think of the queen from Snow White when we hear of an evil queen.” She tilted her head and studied the painting. “That woman was vain and heartless and completely unsympathetic, but there’s a depth of sadness in this woman. See the hollow look in her eyes? As if there’s a void in her she can’t fill. And she’s wearing white, which doesn’t fit with conventional depictions of evil.”

“Perhaps she wasn’t always evil,” Gold suggested. “Perhaps circumstances changed her.”

“Perhaps.” Belle’s voice was soft and pensive, and Gold looked down at her to find that her eyes were shadowed and serious.

“Sweetheart?”

“Hm?”

“Are you alright?”

“I…” she looked up at him, her eyes searching his, and she smiled. “Yeah. I’m just tired. I’m ready to go if you are.”

“You don’t have to stay to the end?”

“No, Charlotte can take it from here.”

“Alright.” He helped her shrug into her coat and escorted her outside. “Are you hungry? We can…”

“Actually, I think...I think I’m just gonna go home.”

Disappointment rushed through him, followed by a pang of anxiety. “Oh. Alright.”

Belle squeezed his arm and smiled slightly. “Don’t look like that. I’ll see you tomorrow or Wednesday. I just...need a night to think, okay? And you...well, you’re very distracting.”

He nodded and helped her flag down a cab, kissing her tenderly before helping her into the cab and waving her off. As he made his own way home, he tried not to worry, but it was difficult. Whatever he’d done to upset her, he hoped she’d give him a chance to fix it before she gave up on him completely.

#rumbelle #rumbelle fic #the question falls

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