BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN SKIN DEEP!
The door swung open by magic and he stepped inside. She looked at him, not with fear, but with an expression that could almost be described as a mixture of anger and worry. She was angry at him for throwing her in the dungeon, and was worried about what he might do to her. He was capable of many many things, and inflicting pain was at the top of the list. She had witnessed it when robin hood had broken into the castle...
"So... what are you going to to do me?" she asked. He looked at her for a long time, his face unreadable. She swallowed, waiting for his answer. Then slowly, slowly, he fell to his knees and looked into her eyes.
"Beg your forgiveness," he said quietly. That wasn't the answer she was expecting. She sat up and faced him. He was serious.
"W-What?" she asked.
"Please forgive me," he said. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have doubted you. Regina she can be... manipulative. But your feelings for me... they're true?"
She nodded and a trace of a smile lifted the corners of her mouth. "Yes. They are. It's true love Rumplestiltskin, I know it is. I promise."
"If the kiss was working, then it is," he said. "and it wouldn't have started working if I didn't... feel the same for you."
She smiled softly. "I know you do. You let me go."
"Did she tell you that?" he asked.
"...Yes. But it's true." she nodded again. He sighed and stood up.
"Belle I am asking you for forgiveness. I never should have thrown you in here again. I never should have yelled at you, I'm sorry. So very sorry," he said.
"Why the sudden change of heart?" she asked. He sighed.
"I don't know... Maybe it's because I love you."
I love you. He had said it. He had said that he loved her. Her heart soared and glowed at the words. He loved her. And she loved him.
"Please forgive me Belle, I beg you." he said. "Stay here with me and I'll make it up to you. Just please accept the humblest apologies from the Dark One."
She looked at him with tears forming in her eyes. He really did love her. She stood up and stepped to him, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"I'll accept the apology of the man I love," she said, and she hugged him. He seemed almost shocked that she had forgiven him, like he had been expecting her to say no. After a moments pause, he wrapped his arms around her. When he was certain this was real they went tighter around her and hugged her close, burying his face in her hair and shoulder.
"My Belle..." he whispered, thinking that she hadn't heard. But she heard him loud and clear and she smiled.
"My Rumplestiltskin," she said. "I love you."
"...And I love you too." He was smiling. Really smiling.