(Untitled)

[loves_abeast]

I love you, Belle. You made me stronger.

Having those as his last words should have made it hurt less. Knowing that he had done the right thing--the brave thing--in great part because of her love should have made it easier to accept his sacrifice

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[parisprincetroy]

Paris was on his way back from lunch when he noticed Belle. His eyes widened in disbelief and a smile crossed his face as he approached her, "Belle? You're back." He greeted her warmly. "I've really missed you. Are you alright?" Paris asked with concern when he noticed her dismay.

[loves_abeast]

Belle turned from trying to figure out her surroundings at the sound of her name. Her brow furrowed, the pain almost completely fading in favor of confusion. She didn't recognize the face at all, not even as one of Lacey's many 'companions'. Of course, given how much of her memory was clouded in a magical fog, she supposed she shouldn't be surprised by not recognizing someone who apparently knew her.

"I...I'm sorry, do I know you?" the words were out before she could stop them, before she remembered saying them to him before the curse broke.

[parisprincetroy]

Paris felt disappointed that the beauty did not remember him. "You did...we ah...we dated for a bit, but more importantly we were friends." He replied softly. "I heard that when you leave the village that your take your memories of time spent here with you...perhaps that is not true or perhaps when one returns they forget the friendships forged and the people they once knew." It truly saddened Paris to discover this fact.

"I'm Paris of Troy." Paris said by way of introduction.

[loves_abeast]

Belle's brows shot up when he said they'd dated. Of course that...title held some significance, she supposed you didn't have to be that well read to know it. Which made it all the stranger to hear that she might have been...close to him.

"Ah," she managed a short laugh, shaking her head. "Well, I ah...don't remember ever being here at all, much less...being familiar with you, I'm sorry." She did mean that, because at least if they'd been friends...she knew what it was like to lose the memory of anyone you cared for, had seen on her loved ones faces how they felt when she'd lost herself back home. She'd never wish that on anyone.

"I...do hope the circumstances of our meeting the first time were at least a bit more pleasant. I'm afraid I...was dealing with some rather unpleasant things back home." Unpleasant was an understatement, but...if he had cared of her in any capacity, he'd probably be able to see under that; she could never really lie about the things that mattered.

[parisprincetroy]

Paris held onto his smile, "Yes, it does seem you have forgotten your time here." There was sadness in his dark eyes, but he did not blame Belle. It was just the way of things.

"Oh, Belle, I am sorry to hear of your troubles back home...Storybrook was it? Or did you return to the Enchanted Forest? I hope nothing terrible happened to Rumple...I know how you cared for him..." Paris paused a moment. "Would you care to join me for some tea or coffee? I would like to hear about your woes if you wish to share them with me." Just because Belle did not remember him did not mean Paris cared any less for her.

[loves_abeast]

The fact he knew Rumple's name made Belle's breath catch for a second. She must have trusted him if she'd shared that part of her life. She swallowed, forcing her heart to move down from where it felt lodged in her throat.

"Yes, I was...in Storybrooke, although I was supposed to be heading back to the Forest. And...Rumple..." her throat seized up again, and she took a sharp, shuddering breath to try to keep from completely breaking down. "...it's a long story. One that...I believe would best be told over tea." She tried to smile, then. Even if she couldn't understand how they'd been anything more, she could believe this man had been her friend, and she could use one of those right now.

[parisprincetroy]

"Oh, Belle...how very sad it makes me to see you like this." Paris' heart went out to her. He wished he had a magic wand to make her smile and happy again. Something terrible must of happened back home. "Come, there's a cafe not far from here." He offered his arm but was unsure if she would take it. "Considering the era I was raised in, I am very old school. You will find that people here are from different times and even places."

[loves_abeast]

"Thank you," Belle managed, softly. She sniffed hard, worrying at her lip for a moment before she took his arm with a small, hiccuping chuckle.

"Well, I suppose that might make me feel a bit less awkward than I did being the only one back in Storybrooke without knowledge of what a toaster was when I woke." It was easy to see this almost like waking from the Dark Curse, after all. Only this time she was without...no, she wasn't quite alone. She might not have had her love, but she seemed to have a friend, and that was something.

[parisprincetroy]

Paris was glad that he could be a friend for her. "When you were here before, I vowed no matter what happened, I would always be here for you and I mean to keep my promise." He lead her to the cafe. "Take a seat my lady, just tell me what refreshment you prefer and I'll go retrieve it." He motioned to the menu.

[loves_abeast]

Belle couldn't help flushing a bit more at that, ducking her head. "Ah..that's...very kind of you, Paris. Thank you," She wished she could remember what she'd done to earn such loyalty. It was always unnerving, being cared for by people her heart didn't recall.

"Ah...I'm...not hungry, just black tea will be fine." Her stomach was so twisted into knots she wasn't sure if she'd even manage that, but she was sure she'd cried out nearly all the water in her body.

[parisprincetroy]

Paris gave a nod and left Belle to select somewhere to sit. It did not take him long to place the order. He returned to the table and set the black tea in front of Belle along with some sugar and honey packets.

Paris took the seat opposite of her and opened one of the honey packets to stir into his lemon tea. "What happened Belle? Why are you so distraught?" He asked with kindness and concern.

[loves_abeast]

Belle took the tea gratefully, the warmth of the mug in her hands at least a different sensation from the heavy weight in her chest. She took a sip, trying to focus on the slight bitterness and different notes of flavor instead of...what had happened.

But she heard Paris question, still. She swallowed slowly and carefully set her cup on the table, worried her hands would shake as she spoke and she'd spill the hot liquid all over otherwise. "Rumple's father...it turns out he was an even darker soul than Rumple was back home. He...came to Storybrooke, he tried to destroy our family. He was...going to kill me and Baelfire. But..." she let out a shuddering breath, seeing his face again as he said his goodbyes.

"Rumple sacrificed himself to save us."

[parisprincetroy]

"Oh, Belle...I...I'm so very sorry." Paris reached out to gently squeeze her hand, to somehow offer comfort. Paris searched for words. "I know how much Rumple meant to you. I once told you that you were the light in our darkness...you saved him as you did me...made us see we were not the monsters everyone saw us as."

"Is there no hope..." He knew little of magic but knew that Belle came from a magical land. Paris eyes held out from some kind of miracle but the sorrow on Belle's face faded any kind of hope. He shook his head in lament. "I can sympathize with you and I understand why you are so distraught. Rumple was a good man deep down inside, you always told me you believed in him."

[loves_abeast]

Belle tried very hard to smile; hearing someone else, even someone who may not have known him, say Rumple was good made her heart ache in a bittersweet sort of way. He'd only just begun to see it himself when he made his sacrifice.

"Thank you," she said weakly. "I...haven't completely lost hope he may somehow be...back in our land, considering there was magic involved and there was no....body." But seeing him vanish so suddenly had still been crushing, and he had clearly expected to die. But he'd expected that in Neverland as well. She couldn't stop believing there was a way to get him back.

"We were all supposed to return, to avoid a curse that was coming. I...perhaps, if I do, I can find a way to save him...again." She bit her lip, not sure how to take Paris' admission. "I'm glad I could do that for you as well. I've been beginning to feel that...all my attempts to be heroic are simply going to end in ruin. I'm still not sure what to make of...how things have turned out with him." Because her belief in him, making him stronger,

[parisprincetroy]

"You have a way to inspire us to become better. Your kindness somehow absolves us of our sins. I am very grateful for you friendship and Rumple was very fortunate to have your heart." Paris placed his hands around his own warm mug. "I wish I knew how to explain it, Belle. You are a remarkable being. If the Fates are kind, I believe and I will pray to the gods, that you and Rumple are reunited." Perhaps he could speak to Aphrodite, she was the goddess of love after all.

[loves_abeast]

Belle had to lift her cup to her lips again to hide a bit of her flush. "I...thank you. He...said something similar, before he left."

She had to see it that way, that he'd simply left her, that she just had to find him. "I'm not sure how much stock I put in Fate, but I do believe in our love. It's survived so much, I...can't accept that it won't survive this, somehow." But she couldn't live in grief until then, especially not here where she could do nothing for his loss.

"I...thank you, I'd appreciate that. And...I appreciate you company. I'm not sure if there's anyone from my homeland here, so...having someone who at least knows me is a comfort, truly."