Ever since Belle was a little girl, she liked her chocolate a specific way. Very, very sweet. Avonlea was known to be a 'splendor filled' village. Although her father was only a Lord and her family was not royalty like Snow and David, Avonlea was known throughout the Forest has having the best shops, silks and fabrics, beautiful landscapes, and the finest chocolates. They had many types of chocolates ranging from raw, dark, to milk chocolate. And no matter how many times she tried, Belle could never stand the taste of the bittersweet desserts her family would have out for festivals. She never understood how something could taste so wonderful and awful at the same time. But now she found something that was just that. Bittersweet.

And that was True Love.

She thought perhaps Rumple was right years ago when he told her that all the books she read filled her head with nonsense. Illusions of grandeur and certain standards of what love was meant to be. During a therapy session with Archie a few weeks after she exiled Rumple from Storybrooke, Belle came to the horrid realization that she was pushing those standards onto Rumple in their relationship. And after realizing her own faults, she wasn't sure whose fault it was anymore. Who was it that destroyed their marriage first? Rumple with his lies and deceit? Or her and her impossible beliefs of what love and marriage was suppose to be? So that every time Rumple messed up, she lost a little hope in him?

The grandfather clock in the Sorcerer's mansion let out three chimes, telling her and Rumple what time it was. They were sitting across from each other in the living room and were both inwardly hating Archie for this ridiculous idea.

"I want you two to go somewhere where you can't be disturbed for a few days. Perhaps your cabin Gold. Or the house you found for your honeymoon. Some place where it is just the two of you. I want you to let all the truth out. No matter how harsh it is."

The cricket turned therapist had also set up some rules for the two.

"You are allowed to yell, but no hitting." Belle wasn't sure if he meant both of them or just Rumple. Though she knew no matter how angry he was, Rumple would never harm a lady. He might have shaken her up a bit after their first kiss but that was the extent of it, and he had mentioned how guilty he felt about that after the curse broke.

"No throwing things. You are allowed to walk away if you feel like you are reaching your limit at the time or about to say something you know shouldn't be said." Archie didn't explain what exactly he had meant by that but they knew he meant for them to set up the boundaries. "However, you are not allowed to leave.

"I know this won't be easy but it's not suppose to be. There are clearly a lot of unspoken thoughts between you two, but most marriages have that. You two just have more. Also, try to remember why and how you fell in love in the first place. That will help as well."

So after much insisting from Archie, Belle and Rumple found themselves spending a week in the mansion by the lake to 'talk things out'. They weren't sure why they chose that house when they knew the cabin would be better, but perhaps it was because it had more rooms to walk away to. Or since that was where their marriage started, in a sense, it was where it should be fixed. Or worked on at least. And it wasn't easy. The memories of their honeymoon were sucking the air from their lungs making it hard for them to breath with the pain. But both desperately wanted to fix what they broke, or else they wouldn't be here.

Belle cleared her throat. Neither of them really knew where to start. "Um...thank you. For..for coming back."

"Which time?"

Belle knew which times he meant. Back to Storybrooke after his exile, or back to the land of the living after the heroes defeated the Dark Ones in the Underworld?

"For...staying alive."

"Of course."

If Rumple still had magic at the time, he would have blown up the clock for its constant ticking, but the ticking silence felt better than the harsh truth.

"I'm glad everything worked out well." Belle quietly said. It would have been hard for Rumple to hear her if there was more noise in the background. Unfortunately there wasn't and he could hear every word, and he didn't want to. He didn't want to be here and he didn't want to hear Belle's voice. He didn't want to see her.

"For everyone but Miss Swan."

Belle knew that although he was glad that the pirate was finally dead, something he would never deny, he understood Emma's pain. Belle did too...just differently. She understood watching the man you love die before you, but Rumple understood how Emma's choices pushed Hook away. He understood how the Dark One's curse destroys what you love and finds a way to use it against you. But it was gone now. Emma, the heroes, and Rumple managed to destroy the Darkness once and for all and perhaps for a long time now, the town would know peace. But that peace wasn't why Belle and Rumple were currently sitting in awkward silence in a place that held hauntingly beautiful memories.

"So..um, where do you want to start?" Belle asked.

Rumple let out a heavy sigh. "I don't know. Doctor Hopper didn't really give us clear and exact instructions. Makes it a little more difficult, don't you agree?"

"Yeah."

"Where do you want to start?"

"Me?"

"Well I'm sure you have more issues than I do. After all, I am the one that lied and deceived you."

Rumple knew Belle hated to remember that but after breaking his heart, something she swore countless times she would never do, he felt like he had the right to be angry.

"I'm sorry." He could see tears begin to form in her eyes and he hated it. He hated himself for actually caring.

"I think you have it backwards dearie."

Dearie. He never used it on her. It was always 'dear', 'sweetie', or 'darling'. Never that word he would use on countless souls he teased, tormented, played with, tricked, deceived, the list was endless. Hearing him call her 'dearie' made her feel sick.

"Rumple-"

"What should we say to each other exactly? Should we go ahead and yell it all out. Yell how much you hate me?"

"I don't hate you."

"You're not a liar Belle."

He stared at her and she could feel his hate. She knew he had the right after she broke his heart but she wouldn't back down. She had every right to hate as well.

"No. Not like you."

There was no visible shock of her words on Rumple's face but he felt it. Even though she was right. They both sighed and the clock kept ticking.

Rumple chuckled. "Archie did say it could be harsh, but I understand."

"Can I ask you something?"

"That's what we're here for."

Belle looked up. Deciding exactly what she wanted to ask. "Why did you lie about the dagger? I mean, why did you give me a fake one? Was it to protect me? I would understand that."

"Yes." Rumple sighed. "And no."

"What do you mean?"

"I did want to protect you. I always do. I always will." He took a moment to breath from the suffocation of the truth before continuing. He was never good at telling the truth. His father only taught him one thing. Lying. Which is why he knew the week would be harder on him than Belle. But somehow, now that he didn't have the Darkness weighing on him and now had a pure heart...he could breath more. Just a little.

"I wanted to be free."

"You were free Rumple. I gave you-"

He held up his hand. "No. That's not what I meant." Belle watched him wipe his hands on the arm chairs. He noticed his palms getting sweaty. "I wanted...to be free of the control. After Zelena..."

He didn't need to continue. She understood. He had been under the Wicked Witch's control for over a year. He never told her how strong that control was but she could imagine.

"I understand that Rumple. What I don't understand is why you didn't just talk to me. Or Archie. We would have helped. I was your wife." He flinched at the word 'was'. "I could have helped you but instead you went off on this...quest to kill Hook."

"It wasn't to kill Hook."

"Than what was it?!" Belle didn't mean for her voice to rise but Rumple wasn't really giving her answers.

"It was to free myself from the dagger." He retorted sharply.

"By killing Hook?"

"He was an ingredient!"

Belle looked at him confused. "What?"

Rumple sighed. "I...I didn't give you a false dagger to free myself of the control."

"I don't understand." She was starting to get frustrated. Could he ever tell her anything without riddles or beating around the bush?

"The next morning after we got married," He noticed Belle didn't smile. "We went to Bae's grave. I made him a promise. That I would do right by you in our marriage. Even after I started it on a lie. When we got here, I-"

Rumple stopped. He realized what he was about to say and knew she would be upset. Maybe not angry, but upset for using magic on her. However, this week wasn't suppose to be easy.

"I froze you for a few seconds." He quickly said.

"What?!"

"I did it so I could switch them back! The daggers. I switched them back. I gave you the real one back when we got here. In this room in fact, after you told me about the lake."

Now Belle was really confused. "If I had the real dagger, then...why did the gantlet-"

"Because you only had it for a day."

Belle leaned back in her chair. "Seconds after I switched them...and unfroze you, you were leading me to the ballroom."

He sighed. "Do you remember asking me if everything was alright?"

He wasn't sure why he had to ask that question but perhaps a small part of him wanted her to figure it out, knowing she wouldn't, so he wouldn't have to tell.

"Sort of."

"And do you remember when you had me take you to the Snow Queen's castle?"

That was a sore question for Belle because she hated remembering how she used the dagger on Rumple after he was controlled by it for a year and swore she would never use it and betray him like Milah and Cora. But she answered back.

"Yes."

"You were looking for a hat, and I told you it probably didn't exist."

Belle squinted her eyes trying to follow what he was saying. "Okay?"

"I found it. Here."

"What?"

"Seconds after I switched the real dagger back, I saw the hat sitting on that table." He pointed across the room.

"But how did you know what it was?"

"Because I had it once. Before Anna took it from me."

Now Belle remembered. She remembered seeing a strange circular box with stars fall out of Anna's backpack when she tried to climb the hill back in Arendelle. She remembered Anna telling her she had stole it from a powerful sorcerer. Why didn't she put it together that it was Rumple Anna was talking about?

"You were the sorcerer she took it from."

"Yes." He rubbed his hands together nervously. "I never saw it again, until we got here. Suddenly, in a flash, I saw it unfold. The chance that I could finally free myself of the dagger. But still have my powers."

Belle let out a breath. She understood. A little. "But why kill Hook?"

Rumple didn't notice his nervousness trickle away as he explained to Belle what happened the few days after their wedding.

"The hat takes a lot of power to fill up. To accomplish what I wanted, I needed a heart."

"So you took Hook's."

"Only because it was the only one I could."

"What do you mean?" She would have preferred him not take any hearts but why was Hook's so important that it was the only one he could use?

"I needed the heart of someone who knew me 'before' I was the Dark One. He was the only one alive that fit that description."

"So it wasn't all about revenge?"

"Not entirely. I admit, it was a great perk, but I wouldn't have touched him if-"

Belle eyed him as he looked down at his hands. "If what?"

"We made a sort of truce in Neverland, me and Hook. I was ready to honor that truce, until he figured out that the dagger I gave you was a fake."

"How did he figure it out?" Belle sat back in her chair with her legs and arms crossed, like a teacher listening to a student's excuse for his bad behavior.

The student chuckled. "He knows me too well. He threatened telling you if I didn't do what he wanted."

Belle started to feel rage, but his time it was towards Rumple. It was towards Hook. She knew a bit about their history and knew of their feud, but she thought Hook was a little more considerate than Rumple. To blackmail Rumple to do his own bidding after what he went through with Zelena. She had half a mind to give Hook a piece of her mind, but she couldn't anymore.

"I couldn't lose you. Than the Snow Queen told me what I needed for the hat and I...I saw it as an opportunity. To stop Hook's blackmail and finally end him once and for all. He destroyed my first marriage, I wasn't going to let him do it again."

She could hear the venom in his words. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you that I was lying?"

Belle let out a breath. Why did he have to make it sound like a joke?

"Belle, I understand that you want what is best for me, but my rival with Hook started years before you were even born. You should have never been a part of it. But he had tired to kill you three times and threatened our marriage! You really think he should live?"

"Yes! Rumple! No matter what someone does you have no right to kill them! No matter the reasons!"

They took a pause. Belle glanced at the clock. It has only been fifteen minutes. Many more to go. Hook never told her what Rumple was doing with his heart or the hat, or even about the blackmail, and now she realized that he only told her what he wanted her to know. Just like Rumple. But there was one major difference. Rumple never made himself out to be the victim. He always knew what he was and even when she lived with him in the Dark Castle, he always told her what he was. Even if it was more self-loathing than she could handle, but at least he wasn't a hypocrite. She believed Hook was trying to change for the better, but whenever she was with him and the conversation of Rumple came up, she couldn't help but feel his redemption was empty. She remembered Hook apologizing to her when he said he would stay with her to protect her from Zelena. It was hollow and fake. His desire to change wasn't, but only when he was around Emma. Any other time, it felt like he would go back to his old ways if it felt good. She hated to think too badly of that but it wasn't easy when it felt so right. He even said that helping 'protect her' would be his way of making it up. How exactly would that make up for shooting her in the back? And targeting her for his revenge against one man? Rumple was right, Hook had no right to involve her but she was always involved. Just for loving the Dark One.

The clock kept ticking and they didn't know where to begin next. Was it time for a break yet or was it still too early?

"What's next?" She asked.

"Well, we started with the hat. Shall we go forwards or backwards in our story?"

"I don't know."

"What other...issues do you have with me?"

She huffed. "Rumple. You're not the only one who made mistakes."

"What do you mean? I thought this week was about you yelling at me for all the lying?" She lost control of her patience.

"Will you stop it!" She yelled. "Please! Just stop with the joking and the teasing. I know that's how you handle stress or being honest but I hate it! I just, for once, want you to be sincere with me. You are acting like the Dark One again and that's not you."

"I'm sorry but that's how I've been for the last few hundred years. It's how I was when you met me. When we-"

"When we fell in love. I know. But...right now, I just can't handle it. Please. For one week, no riddles, jokes, or beating around the bush. I know it's painful, but please." She begged.

"Fine." Rumple sat up more in his chair. "Since you asked first last time, how about I go first this time?"

"Sounds good."

"Why did you lie?"

Suddenly, Belle felt the air stiffen and the time stop. What? WHAT?!

"What?"

"It's as if you don't know what you want." He gave out a light chuckle.

"Rumple. I didn't lie." She sat up straighter, almost ready to stand up.

"Really dearie?"

"Don't call me that." He ignored her.

"Because I seem to remember down in Miss Swan's secret cave you saying something about 'It's never too late'." His impish side was coming through.

"Stop it."

"Or how about when came barging into the shop ready to yell at me and than the next second you are down on the floor telling me who won't let me die alone?" He got louder.

"Rumple, please." Her voice cracked.

"It seems that every time you walk away from me, you coming running back. Do you want me or not? You can't have it both ways!"

"Please."

"Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to meet your expectations of me?!"

She broke. There it was. Her own faults yelling back at her. Her shoulders shook as she started to cry, pulling her legs up in the chair to try and cradle her. Rumple watched her body since he couldn't see her face. It was covered by her hands. He thought he heard her say 'I'm sorry' through her sobs.

"Belle," He whispered. No matter how much he wanted to hate her for her constant back and forth with their love, he would always hate seeing her cry more. Before he knew it he was walking to her chair and knelt down. He rubbed her back trying to soothe her down and suddenly she swung her arms around his neck and he found themselves sitting awkwardly on the floor. Belle crying heavy in his arms.

Even now. One second she yells at you and the next she wants to be in your arms.

With a slight jolt that Belle didn't notice, Rumple felt a slight fear down his spine. He knew that voice. He had heard it for three hundred years. It was the imp. The Dark One. He guessed he shouldn't have been surprised. After three hundred years of darkness clenching your soul, just a few weeks of a pure heart wasn't enough to rid the voices and insecurities. To an even bigger shock, he found himself carefully pulling Belle away. For a part of him, it stung. For the other part, it felt...refreshing.

"Belle."

She kept crying. She understood why Rumple wouldn't want to hold her right now, but it still hurt.

"I'm sorry. I can't. We...can't."

They both understood. They were both very tactile people. Why? They didn't know. But falling into each others arms right now was not the best solution. Every time they did, they ignored the issue that caused them to separate in the beginning. Rumple was right. She always came back to him. Whenever she asked for space from him, like down in the mines, he always gave it her. Always. It was her. She always seemed to come back, even for a moment. She wasn't sure why when she asked for the time apart but she loved his touch. It felt warm and safe, even when he was the Dark One. She raised her head to look at him and saw both of their hearts reflected in their eyes. There was sorrow, utter pain, guilt, and...was that love? Was there still love between them? If they both knew one certain thing when it came to True Love, it was that even the smallest seed of hope could grow.

She lowered her eyes from his and found his lips, and he did the same thing. When they realized what was happening, they were already kissing. It wasn't deep and passionate, but rather soft and chaste. Again it was Rumple who softly pulled her face away from his.

"Belle."

"I know. We..we shouldn't be doing this." She licked her lips and felt his breath on her face. She missed it.

"I think it kinda defeats the purpose."

For the first time that day, and in a long time, Belle smiled. It wasn't a quick and simple smile. It was the kind that showed joy. The kind she gave whenever he gave a quip.

"You're right."

The clocked chimed five. Has it really been that long?

"How...how about we get some food?"

"Sure."

Rumple helped Belle up and they made their way to the kitchen. They were both starving and were thankful that before they started their homework, as Archie liked to call it, they did some shopping. They even informed Emma, who resumed her role as sheriff hoping to forget about Hook for awhile, to make sure no one would disturb them. So they had plenty of food and solitude for a week. And it was definitely time for a break. They worked together to cook some chicken and potatoes and ate in peace. They talked a little about what the town would do now that the Darkness was gone and most villains were already dead in Underworld. The dwarves talked about a movie theater or really anything that included the outside world. Grumpy hated more than anyone being trapped in the town and his constant complaining got Emma, Regina, and the fairies working on a way to leave town with one's memories in tact. There was a lot of hope for leaving town and exploring the world outside, and since Emma knew more about it than anyone, she was already setting rules for once it happened.

But Belle and Rumple didn't care. Despite their hurt and pain, this week of solitude was escape enough.

This popped in my head after reading Bitter Truths by detectivejisaw. I had planned for it to be one long one-shot but realized as I was writing that there was too much. So I plan to had a few more chapters to try to fill the week. The rating will go up to M later on. Please review :)