InsaneJournal

It had been a trying time and even Belle's famed optimism was being tested. Oh it was still there, she'd sat in the living room for over an hour just holding the chipped cup that was so precious to her and wishing to whatever would listen that it would bring her love back to her. Christmas would be hard, she knew that too, the mistletoe she was so fond of, a stark reminder of what she was missing in this world that had become another home to her. She supposed she was nothing if not adaptable now. But gods she missed him, And of course Rumple  would know what to do, he'd know how to help Emma, how to rescue Graham. And she'd be able to keep him level. Keep the Dark Magic from taking him over completely. She knew how Emma was reacting because she'd seen it so many times. Magic fed on darker things, hate, revenge, anger. But she was not going to fall. Belle wouldn't let her.

She ran up to her room replacing the cup in its pride of place in her room. "I will see you again." she said softly. A momentary pause in her cheery exterior. And how better to regain that than with a new book to read  She'd be safe, she had her amulet, she had magical protections. And the library  was only a few blocks away. 

Slipping out the front door, long coat wrapped around her against the chill in the air. Belle made her way to her favourite place in the city. The librarian knew her by now, had actually compared her to....well...herself. Or her Disney self anyway, for her love of books and ability to read the same one time and time again without getting bored. She probably lost at least an hour in there, browsing, reading a few pages of this and that, trying to find something that took her fancy. As ever it was an adventure book, high seas, this time and involving pirates. Perhaps it was unfair of her, she tried not to judge, but she really did find she distrusted them. Understandably given her experiances with them. 

Still, it wasn't the fault of the author that she instinctively thought of that man, and his hook and his lies.

She'd give the book a try.

Belle did what she needed to do to borrow said book and began the walk home. Slower than her walk there, She did look up when she came to roads but she'd walked into someone already. And confused a cat. And veered altogether too close to a postbox.

She finally gave up and slipped into a cafe ordering tea. She'd just finish this chapter...