A/N: Hello to you all! I am back once again, and hoping to do much better than the ficlet that I had uploaded before. It was small, it was fluffy, and it's gone now. This on the other hand, will be larger, still fluffy and a bit more adult on the rating. Don't think it will be smut, but we will see where Rumplestiltskin takes me. This is an AU, or at least will become an AU, taking place immediately after the events of "The Crocodile". Ye have been warned, there be spoilers in this here fiction for anything during or before that. And I hope you will enjoy this ride with me and I (hopefully) do it justice. Happy reading, dearies!

Summary: All stories have their beginnings. We know of Rumplestiltskin, but what of the history of his cursed blade? The original owner comes to collect that which is his, along with a possible new wielder. Rumbelle. Takes place after "The Crocodile"

Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I claim to own any of the characters from the show. I am not doing this for any profit; it is just for my fun and possible enjoyment for some readers out there. I do take credit for the plot line of this particular fiction (not including that plot borrowed from the show) and of a new character that will show his evil face. Labor of love, my friends… Labor of love.

Dedication: To Nikki, because no one fangirls like we fangirl. Thanks for the inspiration and the help! Without her, this would not have gotten off the ground.

I Love You Yet

Prologue:

"I believe that everything happens for a reason.

People change so that you can learn to let go.

Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right.

You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

~ Marilyn Monroe

The whole day had been quiet and deceptively so. Not even a light breeze to chase the leaves through the trees outside the newly opened windows of the Storybrooke Library. From earlier talks with new neighbors, this town was in trouble. Not to mention everyone in it. Things were bad, carefully balanced between better and much worse. Heroes fighting to find and save their loved ones and those thought evil trying to claim back their lives.

Belle had made the last changes to the front of the library and swiped a hand over her forehead after the last of the newspaper was down. The keeper's apartment was cozy and exactly what she needed. There was a small bed, more comfortable and newer than she thought it would be, as most of the small kitchen was updated as well. Most of the apartment was clean and had featured her favorite colors. She knew that Rumple had something to do with that. She smiled slightly with a heavy sigh.

"That man," she breathed out and took her hair down from the tie she had it in, "Will be the death of me."

Her new, light blue dress shifted around her legs as she brushed off the dust and looked up at the large clock near the information desk. She was so thankful that it wasn't… what did Ruby call it? Digital. The large, older time piece made her feel more comfortable. Now surrounded by all the unknown items and new advancements, she wondered vaguely if she would be able to do anything at all now, that for all intensive purposes, she was on her own. The minute hand shifted another notch to the right as time continued to pass by. She switched off the lights at the front of the library, locked the door and headed back to her apartment at the back of building. She picked up a copy of 'Jane Eyre' from the front desk before she headed back. She had begun to read the tale during her breaks in cleaning the library and had folded the edge of the latest page to keep her spot nearly halfway through.

When she got to her apartment, she locked the door that led to the library and focused on washing her hands of the day's collected dust. Her hair cascaded down her back, a slight kink to it from the band she had it tied up in for most of the day. She shrugged and thought that it would have to do. She was not going to risk another run in with the dreaded curling iron. Another short glance in the mirror to her side, she shrugged and put the book on the nightstand next to her bed.

A large, deep growl emanated from outside the front of her apartment and she smirked. Of course he brought the Cadillac. It was her favorite of the small collection that he had back at his home. She looked out the peep-hole and saw him slowly limp up to her door. He was still a bit hesitant. She didn't blame him. They were fragile now. Something starting over- something new and very, very breakable. At least he knew that now. He was starting to listen… and so was she.

Before he made it all the way up the walk, she opened the door and gave him a friendly smile as he reached her, "Right on time."

"I didn't want to set a bad impression on a first date," he smirked carefully, a little unsure if he should even use the term for their outing to eat hamburgers. He reached behind him and brought out a long-stemmed rose. He held it out to her and twirled it slightly in his hand, "For you… if you'll have it."

She smiled at the memory and at the action. He truly was starting from the beginning again. She took the rose with a smile and curtseyed, "Why, thank you."

He gave her a grand bow, at least as grand as he could manage with his cane. She quickly put the rose in a small vase that looked like the one from the Dark Castle and then grabbed a small jacket. She locked the door behind her and he held his arm out for her.

"Shall we?" he asked. It felt more weighted. This was the first step again for them. The first on a new page, led by truth and listening. No more secrets, no more half-truths.

She smiled again, tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and looped her arm through his.

The drive to Granny's wasn't awkward, though it was quiet. He helped her out of the car like a gentleman and opened the door to the diner for her as well. A few confused looks from other patrons fell on them and they chose a booth toward the back. Ruby came over to the table with a knowing smirk toward Belle and tried her best to smile warmly at Gold.

"So what's on the menu for you two today?"

"We will both have what I hear are the best hamburgers in town," Gold looked up at Ruby.

Ruby noticed the small change in him. She noticed the day that they went on the look for Belle. He was gentler, more of a normal man. She knew his cruelty, but she also knew that Belle soothed that. Whether or not she really agreed with Belle's choice, she was glad to know that he at least cared for something; for someone. At least he was now asking and not commanding.

"Glad to hear we come so highly recommended," Ruby smiled softly, and this time genuinely. She paused as he tried to look a bit harder in his eyes and the way he held his body, as if he caught himself being nice, "And drinks?"

"Water," Gold said for himself and looked to Belle.

"Iced Tea, please," she smiled brightly at Ruby who winked in return.

"Coming up," she turned and walked away.

"I see you and Miss Lucas are getting along," Gold flicked his eyes between the two of them.

"She's been a great help in figuring the world out," she explained.

He looked a little pained as if there was a 'like you didn't' supposed to be added to it.

She put a light hand over one of his which brought his eyes back up to hers, "Stop."

"What?" he asked confused.

"You're thinking about nothing again," she said and smiled when her Iced Tea was set in front of her. Her eyes flicked back to his, "I am not mad, but true forgiveness is a long road. Stop living in your own head and adding things that aren't true and live in the present with me. Listen to what I say, not what you think I am trying to say."

"Thank you," he sipped at his water, "I needed that. Been in my head too much today as it is."

She nodded, but didn't comment on what that sometimes did to his thought processes, "You just need to be reminded how brilliant you really are sometimes."

"Only when you are there to shine my way," he whispered and let go of her hand that he didn't realize he was still holding. She caught it and he saw the upturn of her mouth even around the straw. He then stared into his water and cursed himself for not ordering some Earl Gray.

"You're thinking again."

"More of a feeling than a thought," he flicked his fingers in the air with a wisp of purple mist following them.

"No magic at the table," Belle mumbled.

He smirked and nodded as he stopped, "I just feel a shift in the magic. It happened when the border changed, and I didn't pay as much attention to it until now. The curse was meant to be broken, not altered. I feel like there is something else behind the border change."

"Someone else's magic?" Belle asked with a tilt of her head, immediately thinking Regina.

"Maybe…" he thought out loud and then shifted in his seat. It was a motion she knew read that he was ready for a new topic of conversation, "What did you do all day to keep your interest?"

She smiled at him and knew that the discussion had changed tack, "I started on the cleaning of the library. The front information area is cleaned and devoid of all newspaper. The floors are swept and vacuumed- an adventure I must tell you another day-"

He only smiled fondly at that. She tried so hard to figure out all the new advancements this world offered.

"…I started reading a book from this side during my breaks."

"A title I would know?"

"Perhaps," she smiled, "'Jane Eyre'."

"Bronte. A classic," he nodded for her to continue.

"And I explored my apartment," she smiled knowingly and looked at him while she sipped again.

"Find anything interesting?" he fished.

"Just that you already had my wardrobe full of dresses and clothing for me. Not to mention the whole apartment colored to my liking," she smirked, "All blues, whites…and golds."

"You always looked ethereal in those shades," he flirted over his glass.

She blushed a little from the comment and quickly tried to cover it as a plate each was placed down in front of them.

Ruby smiled, "Enjoy."

He looked at the still warm patty and then looked at Belle. She tilted her head at the item and had a small crinkle of confusion above her eyebrows which he knew well. He cleared his throat and looked at his meal as she looked toward him. He put a hand on either side of the burger and lifted it from the plate. He looked at her to see that she had followed his actions. They both smiled at one another and tapped the burgers together as if two champagne flutes before their first bites.

He put it back down and looked toward her to see her face, "Well?"

"It certainly is an acquired taste, isn't it?" she chuckled a little after she swallowed. She took another bite quickly after that, giving him the impression she liked the food.

He chuckled warmly and they slipped back into easy conversation over the rest of their hamburgers. They talked about her books and how she was going to put the library back together and how he was still working on finding a path to Baelfire. As much as she didn't want to hear about spells, she did want to hear about the son that he had lost.

"If you want to take your time on telling me about him…" Belle started, but stopped when his hand overlapped hers.

"Do you remember what I told you after you asked if you knew me? When you came to my shop?" he asked her, but didn't lift his eyes to hers.

"You told me that I didn't, but that I would," she nodded, unsure about where he was taking the conversation.

"I am doing that now," he finally looked up at her, "I want you to know me, Belle. Everything. Who I am, who I was… who I want to be. Because like it or not, I am not the same man- or the same monster. And if I have to start from scratch, so be it. You are worth it."

She smiled at him with tears starting in her eyes. She touched a hand to his cheek, "You're a good man that makes bad choices. And though you have changed from before… you are still you. I can see that."

"You are not going to like some- or a lot of what you are going to hear," he acquiesced and leaned back from her touch.

"Then at least I will hear it from you," she still smiled and took the last bites out of her burger, "And I will listen- not judge. If you stop hiding things from me."

"Sounds like a deal, dearie," he smirked.

"A promise," she put a finger up towards his face in warning. He nodded, but still kept the smirk firmly in place.

When he eventually dropped her off at her apartment for the night, they stood under her porch light and fumbled with a few words. He definitely felt that first date feeling all over again. She eventually shook her head with a small snort of laughter and titled her head up just slightly to push a small kiss to his cheek.

He was a bit surprised, but welcomed the sign of affection.

"Have a good night," she wished him and began to step into her apartment, "I will see you again?"

"Only if you wish it," he nodded with a smile.

"More than Ruby thinks I should," she laughed lightly and leaned on her door frame, not yet ready to shut the door.

He pushed some of her curls behind her ear and nodded toward her apartment with a sigh, "Get some sleep, Belle. I will see you soon."

She nodded and slowly stepped back from his touch and closed the door. He turned from her porch and began his trek back to the car. His face stretched into a lucky smile. She was forgiving him piece by piece, even when he didn't earn it. She still loved him and he thanked the Gods for that every night. For no one else would.

His smile of happiness faded slightly when he got back into his car. He knew that dark shift of power. Felt it before back in the Enchanted Forest. Back when he was more man than monster. Before he had lost Bae.

He hoped the shadow was still locked where he left it… in the darkest corners of his mind.