Author's Note: Takes place a few weeks after the finale. Magic is present in Storybrooke, but no one has made the first move towards war on Regina. She is holed up in an unknown location and life goes on as "normal" for the time being. Names are a tricky thing. I will probably give Gold a first name, but Belle will probably refer to him as Rumpelstiltskin and the others as Mr. Gold. I imagine they may not be married, but he would prefer everyone to believe they are (hence "Mrs. Gold") and Belle does not mind…one of those protection things, ya' know? I don't imagine everyone is friendly, but I would imagine that Belle wants to be a part of the town. I have a rough outline of where this is going. Enjoy.

Squeak

Belle raised her head from the circulation desk and tilted it toward the sound. She tested her chair, certain that when she heard the small sound this time it was not coming from the old stool she sat on.

Squeak

Standing from where she was transferring Storybrooke Library's ancient card catalogue into the new electronic computer database, the brunette beauty took a few steps around the counter to listen more closely. She almost expected to see Grace Hatter crouching beyond her vision, trying out a new practical joke. The girl was precocious, but thankfully (unlike her father) harmless. Belle smiled at the idea of being the target of Grace's imagination and popped around the circulation desk with an "Aha!"

No one.

Squeak

Belle straightened her skirt and furrowed her brow in concentration to locate where the tiny noise was coming from. She didn't remember seeing anyone enter the library, though she would not be surprised had she missed someone coming in. Every evening she happily told Rumpelstiltskin of the growing number of patrons to the newly reopened building. She smiled to herself as she passed the two community rooms, thinking of the variety of classes the library would soon be offering and how much more the once shuttered space could offer to the recently awakened residents of Storybrooke. Yes, as the self-appointed Executive Director of Storybrooke's library she most definitely would be a contributing member to their town. If nothing else, it made her feel better about her contribution (however superfluous) to the household funds of the salmon colored house on Dogwood Avenue.

Squeak

Brought back to her purpose, Belle began to track the sound back into the adult non-fiction section. The young woman was naturally apprehensive of heading to the back of the library alone, but her curiosity got the better of her and she found herself standing near the 630's. She was still learning the new cataloging system in this new world, but her mind brought up the word Agriculture.

Squeak

It was definitely louder this time as she turned the corner of the bookshelf and saw….young Henry Mills…or was it Swan now? She had never known him as The Queen's son, but he was still sometimes referred to as Mills, though he lived with Emma. Names in this world were so confusing. Putting her train of thought on nameology aside for the moment, Belle observed Henry quietly as he sat on the floor with his backpack circled by his crossed legs utterly engrossed in whatever he had pulled from the shelf. The sight warmed a fellow reader's heart. Belle definitely had become fond of the boy as he was in the library almost every day. It seemed since the spell had broken, his studious mind was yearning for more and more information to soak up. She also suspected he might have a small crush, and Rumpelstiltskin was almost gleeful to tease her about it.

Squeak

Belle was once again dragged from her thoughts by the mewl that was most definitely coming from Henry's direction. She tilted her head in curiosity.

"Henry?"

She spoke softly, but the boy practically leapt in the air, dropping his book and knocking over his backpack in the process.

"Mrs. Gold!" he stammered, the guilt practically radiating from his fingertips.

Squeak, Squeak, Squeak….

Belle looked at his bag pointedly and Henry sighed, knowing he was not going to get away with…whatever he was trying to get away with. Unzipping the backpack, Henry reached in and pulled out the smallest creature the surprised librarian had ever imagined had crossed the threshold into the building; a small grey and white kitten, no bigger than Henry's palm. The squeaking definitely registered as mewling, now. Looking at the book by Henry's feet, Belle read the cover: ASPCA Complete Cat Care Manual by Dr. Andrew Etney.