He respected her decision.

Even though it hurt, Rumpelstiltskin would not ignore Belle's wishes, not again. So during the few occasions that he was actually invited to meet with the heroes to discuss their strategy for dealing with the Dark Hook, he sat as far away from her as possible. He managed not to look at or speak to her (though he couldn't stop himself from hearing her voice, which made his newly refurbished heart ache). Even when walking down the street (not even needing to limp, because for some reason Hook hadn't undone the healing spell), he made sure to keep his distance from both her and the library. It was what she wanted, so he would give it to her. Belle might not even be living in the library anymore; she could have taken up with Mr. Scrappy the skinhead again, for all he knew. He hadn't been brave enough to ask.

Then she came to his shop, and any resistance he might have built up against her presence crumbled.

Rumple had been preparing for their trip to the Underworld (for some reason, the heroes group had allowed him to come along when he volunteered), putting away anything that people might try to get into and destroy, including a few genuinely powerful items. Except Excalibur, which he had somehow been able to keep away from both Dark Ones and in his care (as a sort of safety insurance). He would definitely be bringing that with him. It was on the counter, where he had been cleaning it. And now Belle was here, standing behind the counter and staring at him with those earnest blue eyes.

"Can I help you?" he managed to ask in a normal voice, looking down and running a cleaning cloth over the already spotless counter.

"Rumple, please don't."

He glanced at her sideways.

"Don't what?"

As if he didn't know what she meant.

"You don't have to avoid me, or act like we don't know each other."

This time the former Dark One managed to look straight at his wife (if he could technically call her that anymore) for a few seconds. Then he said, "Yes, I do," and picked up the sword, putting it in a sheath at his side. "You have made it clear that you do not want me, so I am giving you the space you desire, dearie." Goodness, he hadn't used that word in a long time.

"That's not what I mean and you know it-"

"What do you want me to do?"

He didn't want to snap at her. She deserved better than that. But suddenly Rumple was angry, and he spat out the words without trying to take them back. "Pretend that it doesn't hurt every time I see you, or that I don't remember the way things used to be? Act like you're not the woman I married, and that now I appear to have hurt you beyond forgiveness or acceptance? Because I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

Belle stared at him in shock for a moment, and then snapped back, "I told you my reasons-"

"I know that! I understand your reasons perfectly, and they're good ones!" He slammed his hand against the counter. Then, slowly lifting it, he whispered, "But I don't have to like it. And I'm done pretending."

It was hard to read Belle's expression. It seemed a cross between shock, hurt, and similar negative feelings. But he couldn't bring himself to apologize for telling her the complete truth. Wasn't that what she'd been wanting all along? So instead he went back to arranging things behind the counter, adding, "Unless there's anything else, I have work to do."

There was a long pause, and then the slow clops of her heels walking towards the door. As the bell chimed, signaling that the door was opening and closing, Rumple had to swallow the lump in his throat. He couldn't deal with this right now, had to concentrate on the big picture of carrying out his plan...

There was a clinking noise. Rumple spun around, but no one was there. But what he saw on the counter made that lump come back with a vengeance. It was a large white handkerchief...and lying on it were the shattered remains of their chipped cup.

Please don't hurt me; I support Rumple and Belle's relationship, come hell or high water. I'm just very annoyed with Belle right now, and the way she's been treating him. And I don't think Rumple should completely take it lying down; even if he's loused up a lot, he's actually struggling to change, and he shouldn't have to hide the fact that he's hurt, because bottling up your feelings is unhealthy. So this is kind of cathartic for me.