A few notes. Rumple kills the Black Fairy to save Gideon, Emma survives, Regina finally accepts the Evil Queen back inside her, and the Charming's curse is gone. So we have three months (maybe four?) until the show returns to try and fix all this. I had already started it but decided to wait until the winter finale and I'm glad I did. There's hope! It's very small but it's there! So it's easier to write this than when I first started. I am hoping to go over everything in their relationship so if you read something and feel I missed something, let me know. It's hard to keep track of everything.

Belle and Rumplestiltskin sat on the opposite sides of the couch. They did everything to avoid each other's gaze. Belle looked out the window to her left. Rumple was focused on the carpet as if it was the most interesting decor in the cricket's office. It might as well have been. Archie was sitting rather nervously in front of the two in his usual chair, a notepad rested on his crossed knees ready for notes, and Pongo gently snoring on his bed in the corner. The clock behind them was ticking away, filling the silence with a numbing lull.

Archie cleared his throat. "Since neither of you want to start, perhaps I will. How is Gideon doing?"

It was the best icebreaker he could find. The one thing they now had in common. And it was because of their newly reunited son that Belle and Rumplestiltskin were now here in his office for marriage counseling. This was their first session and already five minutes went by in complete silence. Archie supposed it was what he got for asking who wanted to go first but neither wanting to seem like they were the ones starting the blame game.

"Um, he's doing good." Belle said. "He's resting from his…adventure."

Rumple scoffed on the other side of the couch. Belle sent a quick glare his way but ignored him, turning her attention back to the window.

"That's good. Is Mother Superior healing well?"

Belle nodded. "Yes. Her and the fairies are keeping a better watch."

Rumple scowled again but didn't remark.

This time Belle spoke, in a firm tone, "What?"

"Nothing." Rumple shrugged his shoulders, his hands interlaced.

"No, it's okay." Archie intervened before Belle could argue. "What were you going to say, Gold?"

"She knows how I don't like the fairies and yet she insists they watch over him. Apparently she has forgotten how everything started. It's because she gave our son away to that pious insect that he was taken in the first place."

"You wouldn't let anyone else watch him."

"No, I said I didn't want anyone else watching him. Why couldn't we had just brought him here?" Rumple asked.

"Because I didn't want him here in case…"

"In case what? You yell?"

"Me?!" Belle snapped her head towards him.

"Belle, Gold, please." Archie said. "It seems there is a lot of…trust issues among you two."

"Blame him."

"We're not blaming anyone, Belle." Archie quickly stated.

"If we are, how about we blame the people that tried to kill you? Who all was that again?"

Belle scoffed, crossing her arms, but it didn't stop Rumple from listing names.

"Hook, Regina, Emma, Zelena, and I'm sure the Charmings would have tried if they had the chance. And I certainly wouldn't have put it past the insects if it was in the claim of 'greater good'."

"Fairies. They're fairies."

"Who happen to shrink to the size of annoying gnats. And they glow."

When the two took a moment to catch a breath and silence filled the room once more, Archie took the chance to get up. He walked over to his coffee maker asking the couple if they wanted a cup. Both declined but he poured himself one anyways. He had a feeling he would need it. Most sessions lasted for only an hour, which would go by fast or slow considering the patience at the time and what they were talking about. Leroy's often seemed the longest. But considering the amount of damage Belle and Rumple had done to each other, Archie suggested a two-hour session instead. They would still require weeks of therapy before he could hope for any real change, but this was a start.

He sat back down and set aside his mug, taking the notepad in his hands. "Before we start I wanted to ask a few more questions. Gold, how are you doing?"

Rumple looked questionably at the doctor. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you had to not only kill your father, but now your mother."

"I did what I had to." He said.

"To protect the people you love."

Rumple saw Belle take a deep breath in the corner of his eye, trying to hold back a shudder, "Yes."

"Do you have any regrets?"

"About killing my parents? No."

There was a pause. Archie asked, "Belle, are you okay?"

Rumple looked over to his wife. He could swore he saw a tear but they both knew she wouldn't admit it.

"I'm fine."

"It's okay to feel sad right now. The thought of having to kill your own parents is hard. Even if it's to protect those you love."

"I'm not the one that had to do it." She said matter of factly.

"But you can't imagine it."

Belle sniffed. Quickly wiping away her tear. "No," She whispered.

"I suppose it's easy for me." Gold said. "I don't care much for my parents…and they didn't care about me."

"That can't be true." Belle turned to look at him.

Rumple chuckled, playing with his ring. A nervous habit. "Yes, because a caring parent wouldn't refuse to wake up their pregnant daughter from a sleeping cure out of spite for the father."

He glanced at her and immediately regretted it. She was trying really hard to hold back the crying. All he wanted was to move over and take her in his arms, to tell her he didn't mean any harm from it, but he knew that would be the wrong move. So he stayed put.

"Belle-"

"No. It's okay." She told him, cutting him off from what she knew would be an apology. It was her fault for assuming her father would wake her. She knew how much he hated Rumplestiltskin. He only attended the wedding because he didn't want to upset her. But since she was in a sleeping curse and wasn't there for him to please, it was a free hand to do what he wished. She truly was naive if she didn't even know what her father was really like. Naive, or she simply didn't care to see it. She wasn't sure which was worse.

"Belle, how did you feel when Gold told you your father wouldn't wake you up?"

The men gave her a moment to compose herself as she wiped away the tears, trying to catch her breath again.

"Shocked. But after thinking about it I guess I shouldn't have been. Father always did hate Rumplestiltskin. I guess I had hoped that his love for me was enough to wake me. I hadn't thought about him not waking me up out of spite."

"Have you talked to your father about that?"

Belle shook her head. "I haven't seen him since the wedding."

"Why not?" Archie asked.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I was too busy."

Deciding to move on from the conversation Archie looked back to Gold. "Very well. After you two got married that was when things started…"

"To fall apart?" Belle looked up.

"Change. You two seemed to go in your own different directions."

"Yes. Belle was too busy helping the heroes."

Belle scoffed. "They needed my help."

"If they had any brains they could have done it themselves. I don't believe they need you to do research. Despite what their actions show, they are not incompetent."

"I wanted to help my friends." Belle retorted.

"They are not your friends!" Rumple yelled.

Belle jerked back in shock. She knew her husband had a temper, but he rarely showed it in front of her. In fact, she could count on one hand when she was actually present when Rumplestiltskin, well, lost it. The number was four. But it was only one of those four moments where he actually yelled at her. Belle was breathing in short strides, waiting until Rumple reigned his anger in. She just wished she understood why he was so angry.

"Why do you think that, Gold?"

Rumplestiltskin chuckled as if it was the funniest question he ever heard. To him, it was. "Out of all of those 'friends' she claims them to be," He said using air quotes to emphasize his point, "Four had tried to kill her. Only one of them was cursed at the time."

"Emma."

"Yes." He said. When he spoke it was like he was tasting venom. "Hook had tried to kill her four times already. Emma sent a bear after her. Zelena's first order when she got hold of the dagger was for me to kill Belle. Regina…Regina did worse. So I can't imagine how she can think any of those people are her friends. What's worse is that it wasn't me who was there holding her hand when she gave birth. No, it was the woman who sent a bear after her and that pirate she calls a boyfriend. I may be twisted, but even I think that's a little sick."

"They've changed." Belle said in defense. "I remember very well what they have done to me-"

"I don't think you do."

"But they have shown that they can be better people."

Rumple looked at her. "You know, I can forgive Miss Swan. I understand better than most what it's like when you're cursed. When you have voices in your head. And in her defense, she didn't try to directly kill you. In fact, that wasn't even her real intention. So I can forgive that. But I don't understand how you can forgive the others."

"Regina apologized, sincerely, and I knew she meant every word. And you can't deny that she really is trying."

"You're right. Even with the Evil Queen back inside her, she really is trying. Your next defense?"

Belle glared at him. She hated that question, as if she was on trial. "Fine. Hook, while his apology might have been fake, has helped."

"You mean saving you from Hyde."

"Not just that."

Rumple sighed. "Belle, you do understand that in most cases when he's helping you, he's doing so in spite of me. Because he knows that seeing my arch enemy and the man I have wanted dead for centuries helping my wife and being there for her when she won't let me…kills me."

Belle went silent for a moment, thinking back on all those moments Hook had helped and wondering if what some part of it was true. She crossed her arms in a defiant way. "When Hook suggested hiding me on the Jolly Roger-"

"It wasn't a very good hiding spot, dearie."

She sent him another glare but continued, "I told him you wouldn't be happy. He…might have said something like your wrath would be an added bonus."

"Gold," Archie interrupted. "Have you told Belle how it felt when she went to Hook and Zelena for help?"

He scoffed. "She knows how I would feel. She just didn't care."

"Belle?"

Belle didn't look at either men, taking her attention back to the window. She didn't want to tell the truth, but she had to. That's why they were here. To be honest. No matter how much it hurt.

"Belle, why did you go to Hook and Zelena for help?" The doctor asked.

"In my defense I didn't go to Hook for help. He offered it."

"And Zelena?"

She sighed, keeping her arms crossed. She tightened them a little hoping it would control the tears that were starting to come back.

"You knew this woman had killed his son and most likely tortured him for a year. But you went to her for advice. Why?" Archie asked. He knew Belle didn't like to be reminded, and he didn't miss the quick hitch of breath at the word torture, but he had to remind himself that he was there to help. This was definitely the hardest case he had but as long as Belle and Gold were willing to try, so was he.

"Like her father she did it to spite me."

"I was scared, Rumple!" She started crying again. "Okay, maybe a small part of me did. Maybe a small part of me wanted to hurt you and I knew going to Zelena would…sting, but I also hoped that being a new mother herself maybe she could offer some advice."

"Advice?" Rumple asked shockingly. "She raped a man to get pregnant to spite her sister out of jealously. And then she offers you a sleeping curse which you naively took. Forgive me if I don't think Zelena is the best mother."

Belle gave him a look, confused by what he said. The way he had ended his sentence, it was as if he wasn't done. "Or what?"

Rumple looked away, not answering.

"Or what, Rumple?" She asked again more firmly. "Or me? You don't think I'm a good mother?"

"Well you did put yourself and our child in danger by going under a sleeping curse."

"Because I was afraid we would lose time in case Hades decided to speed up my pregnancy like Emma did with Zelena."

"Well that didn't prevent anything, did it? Not to mention you also willing handed our son over, abandoning him."

"I gave him his best chance."

"How did that work out?"

Archie watched the two in shocking silence. He knew there would be arguing and yelling, there often was with broken marriages, but this was different. Belle had intentionally wanted to hurt Gold and while he understood where Gold was coming from on his points, he seemed to enjoy throwing Belle's mistakes in her way.

"Gold, do you think you were right all along?" He asked.

"I did manage to save our child from Hades contract without any more complications. Unlike…" He gestured to Belle.

"May I ask," Belle quietly said, "How did you do it?"

Rumple looked at her. He never did tell her how he managed to end the contract, but that was because after she woke up she had left him and was too busy walking away to listen. "I contacted my father."

"Peter Pan?" Archie asked. "Wasn't he…"

"We were in the Underworld so we got to see a lot of old faces. The Underworld is a place where souls go if they have unfinished business, which apparently my father qualified."

"What was his unfinished business?" Belle asked.

"That's besides the point." Rumple told her. "The point is I contacted my father for help. We kidnapped Zelena-"

"You what?!" Belle sat up straighter in shock.

Rumple sighed, giving himself a moment to compose his patience before looking at his wife and gently saying, "May I please continue?"

Belle's face softened. She glanced at Archie who nodded. She leaned back into the couch and let Rumple finish his story. "I'm sorry." She quickly added.

"Anyways, we kidnapped Zelena and sent a letter to Hades to meet us at Granny's. He was to bring the contract with him. Once he arrived I told him the deal. To get Zelena back he was to tear up the contract."

"I'm sorry, I don't understand. Why would Hades care about Zelena?" Archie questioned.

"They were in love." Rumple answered. He rather enjoyed the shocked expression on the cricket's face and wondered if there was some sort of sickening feeling behind it. He didn't blame the man. Though he did suppose the two made a good pair. Dangerous, but good. They were both vain and wicked. He continued.

"Apparently, he really did care for the witch…because he tore the contract up."

Belle looked over to him, her eyes wide. She couldn't believe his story, but Rumple didn't lie about things like that. Could it had really been that easy?

"He asked for Zelena back and I handed her over. You see doctor, Belle's plan was to put herself under a sleeping curse, only after I refused to things her way."

"What was her way?"

"To find a way to use only light magic. To try and turn the dark magic into light. I told her it wasn't possible."

"It is." She said.

"No, it's not." He sneered. "Because if you would listen for a moment, you would know that dark magic must exist. It's called a balance. Dark magic can't be turned into light. It can only be used for light purposes. There is a difference. You didn't like that because it wasn't what you wanted, so you walked away all upset. Telling me it was your way or the highway."

"I didn't say that." She furrowed her brows.

"Again, that's not the point. So once you were under the sleeping curse, I went the highway. In fact, I didn't even need to use magic. All it took was a little threat. In the end, the contract was torn up and everyone survived. Even the witch." He sneered with venom. "Far less trouble than what you went looking for. But you were so insisting on using light magic that you wouldn't listen to reason. Belle, we were dealing with the god of the Underworld. Did you honestly believe only light magic would work? Sometimes, you have to fight fire with fire. Sometimes, there is no other way. You can't have it the way you think it should be all the time."

"Belle, why were you so determined to use light magic?" Archie asked.

"Because I know that the more Rumple uses dark magic, the worst he gets. It's as if everytime he uses dark magic, he's not willing to try and be better."

"But it sounds like from what I'm hearing that you weren't willing to try either."

"What does that mean?"

"It sounded like to me that you weren't willing to try and compromise. And that's what marriage is. It's a lot of compromise, give and take. No one person has all the right answers. I know I don't know much about magic, but what Gold says has some logic. Not everything in the world can be good. The bad has to exist for us to learn, to get stronger."

"I understand that, but sometimes it's as if Rumple is using the curse as an excuse to hurt people."

"It doesn't sound like he hurt anybody. Like he said, it was just a little threat. And forgive me, but I can't seem to think of a perfect way to deal with the Lord of the Underworld without threats or somebody getting hurt. That's not saying someone should, but sometimes you do have to fight fire with fire."

Archie looked over to the clock and held back a sigh. It was only thirty minutes pass the time they started. Why did he suggest a two hour session again?

"Is there anything else one of you would like to talk about?"

Both Belle and Rumple were back to how they started. Staring at the window and carpet, trying to avoid each other's presence. The only sound for a few moments was the clock ticking and Pongo shifting in his bed for a better position. Then Archie did sigh.

"It's okay to speak up. Doing so isn't saying you're blaming the other. We're here to talk about what bothers us and hope to find a solution. We can even start off small. It doesn't have to be anything big. It doesn't have to be anything about family business or magic. How about something in your everyday life?"

The couple remained in silence. Archie cleared his throat. "Very well. You two are living together again, correct? Because of Gideon?"

Rumple let out a breath. "Yes."

"Separate rooms?"

Belle and Rumple glanced at each other nervously. Where was the doctor going with this?

"Yes." Belle answered. "Despite my...lack of full trust, Rumple has more experience with babies than I do. I'm not sure what to do all the time."

"Well that's okay. It's good to learn."

"Sure." She mumbled.

"How did you feel when you thought you would have to raise him on your own?"

"She didn't have to." Rumple interrupted. "She chose to. Or should I say she chose not to raise him at all."

"Gold." Archie said, though not in the scolding manner one would think.

"There's something I don't understand." Belle said, "You claim you would never harm our child, which I know I should believe, but why did you steal that child?"

Rumple looked at her. "Back in the Enchanted Forest?"

Belle nodded. "Yes."

"What does that have to do with our child?"

"It doesn't, just answer the question."

"Belle." Archie scolded her.

Rumple chuckled. "It was the only way to summon the Black Fairy."

"Are you sure?"

He stared at her, thoughts running through his mind. "If there was another way, I would have done it. You know me. I can't leave a child fatherless, or parentless, if I had another choice. You know that from our adventure with Robin Hood. I needed the child so I could get what I wanted."

"What would you have done with the child after you got whatever it was you wanted?"

"I would have handed him back to the parents."

Belle scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"This is something I have an issue with." Rumple looked at Archie. "Belle has this tendency to assume she's always right just because she reads a lot of books."

"That is not true!" She retorted shockingly.

"You think you know me really good, Belle, but you don't know as much as you like to think you do."

"You never tell me."

"You never listen!"

"How can I when you use the same lies and excuse!"

"See! Just now, you're assuming you know exactly what I'm going to say before I can even defend myself. On the docks, after Hyde tried to kill you, you stopped me before I could say anything. You said exactly this, 'I don't want to hear it'. Yet you ask for the truth."

Rumple paused. He didn't want to continue on with his next thought, but he knew it would help. At least he hoped it would. He played with his ring again, trying to banish the nervousness. "That night, at the town line," Belle glanced out the corner of her eye, "You had the dagger. The real dagger. You had it in your hand. I was yours to command. All you had to do was ask for the truth and I would have had no choice but to obey. I couldn't lie. But you never even bothered. You didn't care about what you did to me. You were finally being a hero, saving the town and a man who had not fully redeemed himself, banishing the beast."

"That's not true." Belle whispered. She cursed herself. Could she stop crying for just a moment? Even though her pregnancy was already done and the baby was out of her, she guessed her emotions were still running high. Though of course that was just an excuse for being weak at the moment. She didn't want to appear weak in front of Rumple, but she couldn't help but cry every time she thought about that night. It was only there first session and already they were discussing their lowest point in their relationship. She knew it would be foolish to think it would get better, but she had to wonder. Why was Rumple bringing it up? Wouldn't he want to forget about it like her? Maybe it meant he was actually willing to try.

"Is it?"

She looked at him. She gave a sad scoff. She should have known better. Emma liked to claim how her superpower was being a human lie detector, but Belle knew better. After his hundreds years of lying and deceiving, Rumplestiltskin took the prize. Nothing could get past him.

"Belle?" Archie asked, pulling her out of his thoughts.

"I felt broken, Rumple, When I found the dagger, I just shattered. Like all the whispers I would hear behind my back after we got married were real."

"What whispers?" He asked.

"That you only married me because I was easy to trick. Too gullible and naive to figure out what you were plotting. That you only married me because it worked with your plans. That you never did love me."

"Belle, that isn't true. I love you more than any power. I always have. I always will. I just hate that you didn't believe it."

She laughed as she continued to wipe away tears. Archie leaned over to his desk and grabbed the box of tissues, handing it to her. "Just like you never believed I could love you?"

Rumple leaned back, taking deep breaths. "I do believe there is a slight difference between our situations."

"How?" She asked once she caught her breath.

"I've never been loved. You had your mother and father. Everyone I've ever loved...left. Left or abandoned me. But left none the less."

Archie watched as Belle fell into a contemplating silence. He could see in her eyes that she was calculating the past and putting things together.

"Just like I did." She answered so softly. "There were so many times I've told everyone; Regina, Zelena, Neal, even you, that I would never give up. I told Neal that I loved all parts of you. Even the parts that belonged to the darkness."

"You even told me that you would never become like Milah, or Cora, or even Zelena."

"And I did."

Archie wasn't sure why the silence felt awkward. He guessed it was because Belle and Gold had probably forgotten he was there. He was glad to see they were actually talking and figuring things out themselves, but he knew they still had a long way to go. He cleared throat bringing back their attention.

"So it's already been one hour. Would you two like to continue, or shall we quit for today?

"I thought you wanted a two hour session?" Belle asked.

"Yes, well it seemed we covered more ground in one hour than I thought. And it seems you two had already learned something. I think it will be okay to stop for today but if you two want to continue, we can."

Belle and Rumple looked at each other, hoping the other would make the decision.

Belle shrugged her shoulders. "I'm okay continuing."

"Are you sure?" Rumple asked. She nodded.

"Wonderful." Archie smiled. "Now why don't we take a break from the heavy stuff and talk about what the plans are."

"Plans?" Belle asked.

"As we have already discussed, you two are living together, but in separate rooms. How is that going so far? Living together after everything you've been through?"

The two thought about it. It's only been a few days, but so far…

"Better than I thought." Belle said.

"Yes. We've learned that we can actually be...civil towards one another."

"That's great! I assume it helps having the baby there."

"Yes," Belle nodded. "Neither one of us wants to yell in front of him, so we kind of have no other choice but to be civil."

"Sometimes that might be best. What was it exactly, Belle, that made you agree to live with Gold? You seemed ready to raise the child on your own, but now you seem okay with having Gold there to help."

"Apparently I can't make good decisions as a mother."

"I didn't say that." Rumple said to the side.

"I know," Belle quickly stated. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just, you were right. I put us under a sleeping curse and then sent our child away. Causing him to be kidnapped."

"That wasn't your fault."

"No, but it was because of my choice that it happened. Rumple...I'm sorry."

He looked at her. He didn't show any expression, but he felt shocked. He honestly had not expected Belle to apologize so quickly.

"I should have known you wouldn't hurt our child. After everything you've been through because of Neal, it was foolish for me to think otherwise. I was...I was being stupid and as usual jumping to conclusions. I never took the time to think. I guess I'm not as smart as people say, or as I would like to think."

"You are smart, Belle. You just did what you thought was right."

"It doesn't meant it was right."

"How did you feel when Belle asked you to stay with her?" Archie looked at Gold.

"Relieved." He said after thinking for a moment.

"How so?"

"That...maybe she hadn't completely given up on me."

"So everything seems to be going well at the house?"

They both nodded.

"Where are you staying at? Your house, Gold?"

"No, we chose the mansion."

"By the lake." Belle added.

"Why that place?"

Belle gave a sideway smile. "I guess it felt right. It's where we spent our honeymoon and where Gideon was born. It seemed fitting to start everything over there."

"Also, no one stopped us."

They both laughed.

"We both really like the mansion so we're hoping to find a way to own it."

"It really shouldn't be that difficult. I am still the landlord. While Regina may still be the mayor, she doesn't have claim to where we can or can't live. I think it just bothers her that we're getting it."

"I don't think they like knowing Rumple gets...more." Belle said.

"They?" Archie asked.

"The Charmings, Regina, the pirate."

"Why do you say that?"

Rumple looked over at Belle. "Say what?

"You call Hook 'the pirate'. Why?"

"When he can stop calling me the Crocodile maybe I'll let up. Does it not bother you when Regina or Zelena call you names?"

Belle shrugged her shoulders. "That's just their nature."

"It's no one's nature to be mean and call people names. They do it because they choose to. You can't tell me it doesn't bother you when they call you 'bookworm'."

Belle thought for a moment. "Maybe it does a little. And maybe I don't like it when Hook calls me 'love,' but what else can I do?"

"Have you thought about telling them that?" Archie asked at the same time Rumple said, "I don't like it when he calls you that either."

"What difference will it make?"

"Maybe they will stop? Belle, everyone deserves respect. And sometimes, while it might not seem like much, calling someone by their name rather than an insult can be a good way to start." Archie said.

"I guess it doesn't bother me." She finally said.

"That's because…" Rumple stopped mid-sentence. She looked over to him.

"Because what?"

He sighed, playing with is ring. "You've never been bullied."

"Rumple, your childhood couldn't have been that bad."

He just stared at her with no expression, but Belle understood what he meant. "You've been bullied?"

"Belle," He sat up straighter. "I was a scrawny kid whose father abandoned him, living with two spinsters. An orphan. I was the prime target for bullying."

"Well don't think I've never been bullied either. I've had people whispering behind my back ever since I was a child. Even my own father thought it was strange that I loved books more than boys or trying to be proper. The only person who ever really appreciated my love for books was my mother."

"There's difference between being teased and being bullied. I doubt anyone has pummeled you to the ground."

"People actually beat you up?" Belle asked.

"You act like that's shocking."

"Um…"

"Often times, Belle," Archie said, "People become bullies because they've been bullied themselves. Not to say you're actually a bully." He quickly added, hoping not to offend Gold. He only shrugged and said it was okay. Belle tried to hide her smile.

"But it's because they refuse to let anyone else walk over them again that they become a bully themselves."

"I've watched Regina grow up and while no one actually bullied or teased her, her mother Cora was rather controlling. Of course Regina didn't like that. So once she learned her magic and banished her mother to Wonderland, she made sure no one could control her again." Rumple said.

"Magic you helped her learn."

"I may have helped her learn her magic, but trust me dearie when I say I didn't make her the Evil Queen."

"No, but you did show her the way."

"Yes, show. I never pushed anyone. I never forced someone to make their choice. It was all their own."

"But why?" Belle asked.

"Because despite some cases, I knew what it felt like to be controlled and forced to do something you didn't want to do. I wasn't going to put someone else through that."

"But this was before Zelena had your dagger."

He stared at her again. "And before I was the Dark One."

Belle didn't reply back but waited until he continued. When seconds passed and he didn't speak she knew he wasn't going to tell her. She opened her mouth to say something but she saw Archie in the corner of her eye signaling to let it go right now. That perhaps it was too painful for him to talk about right now. She leaned back in her seat, leaving Rumple in silence.

A timer on Archie's phone went off telling them their two hours were up. He was surprised how fast the second hour went by.

"I'm very happy with the progress you two made today. That was quite impressive." He smiled. "I would say that I would like to see you both again tomorrow, but I want to try something. After everything you learned today, I want you to take a day off."

"What do you mean?" Gold asked.

"Well, not come in tomorrow. I want to see how tomorrow goes. How you handle things after everything that's been talked about today. Then we can come back the day after and start from there."

The three stood up, startling Pongo up from his nap. Belle gave Archie a hug and he shook Gold's hand. They both thanked him for his help and promised to be back the day after tomorrow. They left his office and headed downstairs.

"Um, are you hungry?" Belle asked. "We can eat here at Granny's first before we go pick up Gideon."

"Is that okay with you?"

"Yes, but I'm asking you if you're okay with that." She smiled.

He chuckled. "I'll compromise..and say yes."

Belle giggled and they headed down the stairs for a burger, both filled with a new understanding of each other and room for hope and a new start.

A/N: In case you're wondering, Archie's office is located right above Granny's. Not sure how that works, but I guess she has more than one level in that inn. Lol Sorry if this first chapter was long. The next one is 1,000 words less. Let me know if it's too long or a good length. Thanks!