The pain in his heart was all too familiar. He gazed down at the cup and grinned. She was the weakness in his defense and the evil one had taken hold of her. He felt his face go into a familiar frown and gave a long sorrowful sigh. He had wished the pain would cease when he came to this realm, but it kept increasing.

He watched Miss Swan come in with an angry expression on her face. he grinned at the sight. At least he was not the only one suffering. Little did she know how deep her pain went, however, and the thought sobered him up completely. He was responsible for causing the grief that surrounds her heart, but she would not believe him if he told her the truth. She was a cynical child. Her emotional scars ran as deep as his did, and he admired her for battling Regina so early on in her quest.

He sighed again and looked down at the teacup. His senses began to warn him of an intrusion and he looked up. he saw a woman with long black hair and sapphire eyes smiling at him. she wore a long white gown and deep emerald necklace. Her earrings were also emerald studs, and she looked at him straightforwardly. he frowned back. "It has been a long time since you called for aid, my old friend."

"I did not call you," he hissed. The woman smiled and her long white gown disappeared. In its place, she wore jeans, leather boots and a long blue tunic. The necklace and studs were still on her, however. She glanced at the teacup and then grinned wider at him.

"I am here to help you, Rumpel," she said in a cajoling tone. He tensed and then watched her glance out at Emma. "You saved me once, Rumpel. Let me do the same."

"You mean to tell me… she is your reincarnation?" he asked in disbelief. She crooked her head slightly and narrowed her eyes at him. he looked at Emma in disbelief and then turned his gaze at her. "Of course it would be you. the only source that is more powerful than the council of mages combined… the one thing in this world that could go against a child of such internal darkness and survive."

"The queen must not realize this, Rumpel," the woman told him quietly. He raised an eyebrow and she put a hand up. "Before you contemplate making a deal with me, let me tell you something."

"Oh? Will you tell me how to decapitate that wretched bitch?" he asked with a little evil glee in his voice. She shook her head and pointed to the teacup.

"If you were the queen, what would you do with your adversary's weakness?" she asked gently. his eyes narrowed at the cup and flashed toward her. she gave a small nod and he collapsed against the wall. "She's here… but I cannot sense where."

"Give me my power," he pleaded. She shook her head and he jumped off the cot and pointed a finger toward her. "You were the one who said we would balance each other out until neither were needed! Let me save her! it is the only way!"

"There is always another way, Rum," the woman stated and looked at Emma. Gold did the same and he grinned. He flashed the woman a quick smile and she returned it with a smile. She got up from the cot and walked through the bars of the jail cell. She turned back at him and gave him a comforting grin. "Believe, Rum. Restore your faith and she will return to you. and I will keep my promise when the time comes, my old friend."

She disappeared into Emma when Emma came over to investigate what Gold was looking at. She crossed her arms and he silently wondered when he did not see her presence within the girl.

"Starting to lose your mind?" Emma asked sarcastically. He felt a faint grin on his lips and regarded her silently. Emma raised an eyebrow at him but didn't say anything. Finally he sat down on the cot and held up his teacup. Grinning, he looked again at Emma.

"She was an unexpected treasure, Miss Swan," he said softly. Emma sat on the couch, similarly to the queen, but her stance was one of openness and not coldness. He smiled sadly at the cup. "I only had her for a short while, Miss Swan, but she turned my world upside down. I started believing in the light again. I started believing in 'happy endings.' Worst of all, I began to love again."

"Love sucks," Emma stated harshly. She looked at a particular spot in the room and he had to hold back a laugh. "It makes you do stupid things. it's a bad emotion that needs to stop."

"And what if I told you that you hadn't met the man you were to fall in love with?" Gold asked softly. Emma looked at him like he was crazy and laughed her head off. He was grinning at her softly and then at the teacup again. "Love hits you, Miss Swan, when you least expect it. Trust me, I know all about it."

"I won't open my heart up again, Mr. Gold, so you can rest assured that I won't be falling in love any time soon," Emma stated firmly. Gold nodded and then his head dropped.

"Miss Swan, I need a favor from you," he said quietly. She looked at him with her eyebrows raised and he took many moments to catch his running thoughts. "I need you to find someone for me. She has long brown hair, eyes as dark as chocolate and a voice as sweet as a spring breeze. If you find her and bring her back, I will owe you so much that you will not even know what to do with."

"Is this the favor that I owe you?" Emma asked. He shook his head and looked out at her office. She sighed and ran her hands through her hair with frustration. Sighing, she nodded. "Fine. I'll find her for you, but only if you're telling me that she's not going to need to come to you by force."

"She won't need to be forced to come," he said softly. He looked at the teacup and smiled. "Give her this and she will know. Just trust me, Miss Swan. On this one matter, please trust me."

"Fine," Emma stated and took the cup from him. He relaxed and sighed against the wall. Emma looked at him warily. "Do you have any idea where I should start looking first?"

"She is probably locked up somewhere," Gold stated quietly. She nodded and grumbled under her breath. He watched her walk out of the station.

.

She sat on the bed in her cell staring at nothing. She had been in this state so long she couldn't even realize what was real and unreal anymore. The piece of chipped china in her fingertips was the only connection she had to any real memories. Every time she closed her eyes or dreamed, she saw him and remembered their time together. So many tears had been shed and her hope almost lost that she couldn't bring herself to believe in anything anymore.

The darkness of the cell and the inability to sense where she was deafened all of her conscious except her sight. She was even starting to lose that too. She felt her body start to shut down and her mind close itself off from the world.

Hearing ruckus in the hall, she turned her head slightly toward the door. She heard the nurse yelling at someone and the person yelled right back. She felt a tremor run down her spine as she felt her heart speed up. hearing the door turn, she crouched in the corner. A blinding light illuminated the form and she felt hands on her in an instant.

"This is patient cruelty, you heartless windbag," a strong female voice accused. She felt the woman pull her up and steady her. she caught a strand of blonde hair and the woman turned toward her. emerald green eyes flashed at her and she felt a rush of relief flow through her veins. "Don't worry. I won't let them hurt you."

the woman led her out of the dark dungeon and into a bright reception room. the glare of the lights almost blinded her. the woman set her down on a seat and then handed an object to her. she gently took it and gasped at the object in her hands. The teacup from so many eons ago sent a rush of memories into her mind. she gripped the woman's jacket and pulled the woman to her.

"Where is he?" she asked in a raspy voice. The woman smiled gently and was about to tell her when a cold voice came out of nowhere.

"Where do you think you are taking this patient, Miss Swan?" Regina asked coldly. She cringed back into her seat and the woman stiffened and turned around. The woman moved in front of her as if to shield her.

"I'm taking her out of that place you called a ward. I'm charging the nurse with patient cruelty and I'm opening an investigation to find out why there are no records in the hospital's database about that ward," the woman said briskly. "And, Madame Mayor, I expect to have your undying support in this matter. After all, the taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being used."

"You open a case and I will remove you from your position," Regina threatened. "And I won't let you see Henry."

"I'm willing to sacrifice that if I can save people from your corruption. I've had enough, Madame Mayor," the woman stated stiffly. a young doctor came and the woman signed some papers. She nodded to the doctor and turned to face the seat again. Her face changed and she wore a smile instead of a frown. "Come with me, please."

She gave a small nod and the woman pulled her from the seat. They walked slowly out of the hospital and into a police car. The woman buckled her up. "My name is Emma. Emma Swan."

"I owe you much Emma Swan," she replied. She hesitated and then smiled. "My name is Belle."

.

She stepped out of the police car and Emma led her to the station. Emma smiled warily and then stepped into her office. "I'll be one minute. I have to get something from my chest."

Belle gave a small nod and turned to see the cells. Seeing a dejected man in the right one, she ventured over. The man leapt from the bed and came toward the front. seeing how he walked, she felt silent tears run down her cheeks. She ran to him and took both of his hands. He pulled her to the bars and took her hands and held one to his heart and the other to his cheek.

"Belle," he whispered hoarsely. She smiled tearfully and then nodded. He gave a sigh of relief and she felt him begin to shake. "I thought I had lost you."

"I'm sorry I never came back," she murmured through her tears. He started shaking his head vehemently but she held firm. "I never got as far as the forest before she captured me, Rum. I wanted to go back to you but I could figure out how."

"It's okay, my love," he said softly. She gasped at his endearment and he nodded forcefully. "I couldn't bear the thought that you had died. I realized I would never be able to tell you that I love you."

"I always knew," she murmured. He gave a small shake of his head and a small laugh. She laughed along with them. They heard a person coughing in the background. They turned and saw Emma looking at them like a scolding parent.

"I got her this far, Gold. You have to get her the rest of the way," Emma stated. He nodded and looked at Belle for a long moment. Turning his gaze back to Emma, he gave a grin that was uniquely his. He was ready to play the power game and he knew he would have to teach the daughter of Prince Charming and Snow White a lot before the battle was over.

"Miss Swan, this is where the fun starts," he said gleefully. Belle tensed but he gave her a reassuring smile. "After all, it is not every day that the savior of the people comes home and helps the beast."

"What are you talking about, Gold?" Emma asked in an exasperated tone. Belle looked at her closely and when she realized who Emma was, she turned her stunned gaze toward Gold.

"I am talking, dearie, about freeing everyone from the clutches of the evil whore who stole your rightful life away," he stated softly. He moved a hand and the jail cell door opened. He let go of Belle's hands long enough to get out and then he waved another hand. The doors closed gently. Emma looked at him with shock and he threw his head back and laughed. He went to the mirror and spat at it. "Let the games begin, she-devil."

The End!

So, I thought this quickly thrown together one shot would be perfect for Valentine's Day. Especially after Sunday night's episode (so freaking awesome) and the fact that Rumpelstiltsken is again one of my favorite character. He might actually be the favorite after this episode. What's their not to like?

I normally focus on Charming and Snow, but I thought this was a nice change of pace. I hope you liked it, and if you did, leave a review.

Until Next Time,

DarkBelieverAnge