Scene : Inside the library. People are quietly browsing, studying, and whispering. The whir of a small space heater behind the check-out desk can be heard faintly and the smell of a cedar wood candle wafts through the first level.

    Situated behind the large, wooden check-out counter, Belle contently and quietly devoured the pages of her favorite book for the millionth time. The cover of the book was tattered and worn, small clumps of pages already separated from the binding and threatening to fall to the floor. Bell loved this story, though she could not tell you why. It was not her typical choice in novels but she simply could not stop reading it. She knew each and every plot twist as well as each character as if she had known them since infancy. And yet, she continued to get lost in it's pages whenever she got the chance, each perusal as thrilling as the last.

    Her eyes now burning from hours of focusing on the small lettering on the pages, she placed her book mark between the pages and set the book down on the desk, revealing the weathered words of the title on the front cover : They Cage The Animals At Night. She leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head and letting out a small yawn. It was busy today. Each section of the building had at least one person in it and most of the isles as well. People has situated themselves at each table, towers of books beside them as they researched whatever topic they sought. The building was quite drafty, despite her efforts to get clearance from the mayor to remodel, so the small electric heater at her feet kept her warm throughout the day. The candle behind her reminding her of home and memories of wandering through the forest with her father on warm, sunny days.

    Belle sighed, glancing at the wall beside her and the large grandfather clock situated there. One Twenty Four in the Afternoon. Her day was far from over.

David was driving through the country side, all around him trees coming into bloom as Spring took it's hold. The echo of the V8 engine of his '67 beauty hummed through the trees along side the road. A slight chill bit at his left ear as he drove, his window cracked just enough to allow passage of his cigarette and smoke he exhaled. Music at a low volume, his head moved along to the beat as his hand tapped at the steering wheel. He loved driving alone, particularly in the Spring and Autumn months. He could take his time, turn down roads not yet traveled, and listen to the same song twelve times in a row if he wanted to.

His phone, which was mounted to his dashboard, made a sound, a voice began emerging from the small device. 'In 100 feet...turn right.' He surveyed the area ahead of him on the road and saw an upcoming street sign marking where the voice was instructing him to turn. He had nearly forgotten that he had a destination or even that the GPS was on. He had been driving down this particular stretch of road so long, he had just gotten so engrossed in the beauty surrounding him. As the nose of the car approached the turn, he eased into the turn, his hands gliding against the hard leather wheel as the vehicle straightened out. A short way down the road a rather large sign on the side of the road caught his eye.

Welcome to Storybrooke

The feminine voice again....'In one thousand feet, you will arrive at your destination.'....just as the building of the small Maine town began to surround him. The fluorescent lights were ahead of him : Granny's Diner. He turned his wheel accordingly so he could park his car behind another that lined the sidewalk. 'You have arrived at your destination.' the voice said, as his car came to a gentle stop in front of the diner.

He gently removed his phone from it's cradle and shut off the car, his keys now in hand as well. He exited the car, shutting the door behind him and making sure the lock was in place. While this town was quaint and quiet, he knew some that inhabited it, and was not about to take any chances. Placing his phone in his back pocket, he began to cross the street, making his way over to the front entrance of the library.

Belle was busy inside checking in and organizing the returns. She placed the books she had completed on a small, rolling cart to her left so she could easily transport them through the aisles. The computer was something she still had not completely mastered so it took her a while to check in the books. It was made particularly difficult on occasion when she managed to accidentally change the language settings. She would usually just get someone to assist her in switching the language back, but she did still have days where her ego got the best of her. There was a span of about a week where she was unable to use the blasted thing because she was too proud to ask someone for help.

Honestly, she preferred it that way. At least she knew how to use a quill and paper. In order to keep accurate and consistent records, however, she would need more space. Mayor Mills was already giving her a hard time about giving her funds to fix the draft in the building. There was no way she would ever acquired enough money for that kind of expansion.

Now roaming the aisles with her little push cart, shelving books in their proper place, Belle was humming happily. She could hear the soft murmur of hushed conversations around her and the rustling sound of pages being turned. She did love it here. The scent from the books, the people burying themselves in literature, and the excitement of the small children that came in with their parents to devour the picture books. Libraries had always been her happy place.