Rated: Will Vary (K-M)

Genre: Romance/Drama

Summary: A series of Rumbelle AUs based on books, movies, and TV shows. Ratings for each prompt will vary so read at your discretion. Prompts are accepted by readers! First… The Scarlet Letter!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Once Upon a Time—just borrowing my two favorite characters for my own twisted pleasure. And I don't own anything pertaining to The Scarlet Letter, except for my own copy of the novel and the movie.

A/N: So… I have like a bazillion ideas to write with Rumbelle as the focus, and unfortunately, I don't have all the time to write each one separately in its own story. Then I decided to use prompts that I have given myself and ones that I (hopefully) will get from you! All of them are based on various books, movies, and TV shows that I love plus some random universes/scenarios that'll involve Rumple and Belle. To get the ball rolling… I'm going to write 4 prompts/chapters for each verse before moving to the next one. I will go back and write more for that verse based on your ideas and any other ones that I'm inspired to do. I will post all 4 at once before I move to the next one. To give you an idea of what to expect, this is what I have planned:

Edward Scissorhands

X-Files

Otherworld series (by Kelley Armstrong- were!Gold and half-demon!Belle)

Let Me In

Lost

Cowboys and Aliens

Indecent Proposal

Rebecca

A Long Fatal Love Chase

Scarlet Pimpernel

Those are just a sampling. There's even more but I figured that would be a good enough teaser.

I do work 2 jobs so I may not always be quick with the updating, but I will pick the ones that inspire me and I will try to be good with the posting.

My first set is based on The Scarlet Letter. You will see bits and pieces from the novel as well as the movie starring Demi Moore and Gary Oldman. Now, if you've seen that version… the only good thing it has going for it is the developing relationship between Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Everything else about the movie is crap and quite laughable. So the only thing coming from that movie is how they fall in love with my own additions.

Again, ratings will vary depending on the prompt and I will make sure to include what that particular prompt is rated within the chapter title to avoid any unpleasantness. I hope you all like what I have in store and thank you for reading this! Don't forget to review!

The Scarlet Letter

Prompt: Reverend Gold anxiously awaits for Belle to leave her prison cell to face her punishment. (Rated K)

The good Reverend Rumford Gold was ill.

Not physically, at least not to the naked eye. He was ill emotionally, mentally. He was ill in the heart and for what he had done to the only person that truly mattered in his congregation. The one person he tried with all his might and his faith to keep a pure mind and chaste intentions towards…

My Lord when will this end? He thought frantically while maintaining a calm façade and posture to the rest of the good people in Storybrooke. Why can't they leave her be?

Of course, he very well knew that her fate had been sealed. The people of Storybrooke demanded justice and cried for the wrath of God to quiver within His humble servant who had committed such a heinous crime. As far as he knew, she had not shown an ounce of remorse or regret for her actions. In fact, she had been defiant and resilient towards her persecutors—never once breaking down or showing her fear in front of them.

He knew her to be brave, yet he was afraid that her bravery would work against her and it had come to pass. Due to her insubordination and lack of humility to the Church and to the town's leaders, Mistress Annabelle French was a sinner and her punishment will be swift and humiliating.

Already he could see the frenzy anticipation within the eyes of the crowd gathering around the town square. All of them… they wanted this. They wanted to see her fall. And for many of them… they envied her. With all her good grace, natural beauty, and golden heart… half of Storybrooke broke the Commandment- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor.

It disgusted him. They should all be awaiting a trial of their own and face the judge for their earthly punishment before meeting the ultimate Judge.

More so… it should be him facing the town's devils.

Mayor Mills rose from his seat and took his place in front of the crowd. With his outstretched hands, the town fell into hushed silence as he began to recount the crimes the prisoner was found guilty of doing.

Each blow was a stab to Reverend Gold's heart that he gripped the edge of his seat to keep himself from trembling. However, in his mind… he heard that list being recited towards him.

"…and lastly, Mistress French has been found guilty of that foulest of all sins: adultery!"

From that final proclamation, Mayor Mills pointed to the jail's doors and on cue… the doors opened with a flourish to expose the fiend for the whole of Storybrooke to see and above all… to witness the physical proof of her crimes.

Annabelle French calmly stood for everyone to see, her head held high and her deep cobalt eyes gazing straight ahead and not at those who at once began to mock and scorn her. The guards behind her urged her to move and she began her ascension to the platform, her countenance never wavering. However, from the good Reverend's standpoint, he could see the tightness of the corner of her mouth as she pressed her lips firmly together, biting her tongue from responding to the slander.

She was certainly a vision to behold after those long nine months behind the closed doors. The imprisonment had yet to fade the glowing light surrounding her as his chest tightened painfully and his heart raced at finally seeing her face. He was a fool for being away for as long as he was, for believing that distance was a kinder gesture in preserving her honor and to keep him from betraying his calling. He thought he had done the right thing, for her and for him, but he can see now that was a grievous error on his part.

Halfway in her trek, he took notice for the first time the bundle that was clutched protectively in her arms, to her breast. His breath hitched in his throat as he recognized for what she held so carefully, so dearly to her heart and he ached to look upon the face of the child that she carried so resolutely, so fiercely. No one had whispered the gender of the babe and he was impatient to have that knowledge for himself.

His gaze shifted and he was now looking at her… staring into her eyes and she was looking back at him. Her expression hadn't changed but he saw the emotions in her eyes and it was the silence within her that he knew what she was telling him.

They told him on his arrival… they told him how she refused to give up the name.

Hours felt like they ticked away when it was minutes and she was standing on the platform, standing before Storybrooke.

The moment had come and Mayor Mills took great delight in reveling in this reveal, commanding her to show to the world who she was and how she will forever be known with this mark for years to come.

There was a shift in her embrace and the reverberating gasps of the people were instantaneously as she turned in a small circle to reveal her sins.

Standing out on her modest gown of black… the bright crimson letter 'A' blared on her chest.

Interested? Read on… parts 2-4 are also posted. Don't forget you can prompt me in a review or PM.