I hadn't planned on adding a new story until I saw Skin Deep and feel in love with the Belle/Rumpelstiltskin pairing. I am still working on my other stories as well, and hope to get back on a regular updating schedule soon (I'm still a little sick but things are looking up).

I want to thank xxXSnowQueenXxx for being my beta on my OUAT stories; she is amazing in my book.

I don't own OUAT, but I am a huge fan of the show.

Picking up the Pieces

Summary: The evil queen crossed Rumpelstiltskin to many times so he ended the curse. Now he's considered a hero, but he believes he'll be miserable for the rest of his life, until Belle is found alive in the evil queen's dungeons.

Prologue

Rumpelstiltskin POV

It amazes me that the evil queen can still be so idiotic after all these years. I have proven to her countless times that I am more powerful than she will ever be, yet in both world's she believes that she will be the one to defeat me.

I am surprised that she hasn't realized that I have the power to bring her happily ever after to an end, and give her precious step-daughter back the happiness that she stole. Has she not learned that I am Rumpelstiltskin, and I am not someone you want as an enemy.

The evil queen has tried to defeat me many times before. In both world's she has tried to break the 'curse' that gives me my powers so that she can take my place as the most feared in the land, and then there's the hand she played in the destruction of my Belle.

I didn't realize how much Belle meant to me until that wench told me that she was gone forever, and then the evil queen had the nerve to openly take pleasure out of my pain. I didn't expect anything less out of her.

Belle's suicide was the evil queen's doing in my opinion. I shoulder some of the blame because I foolishly believed that Belle was a spy who wanted to take away my powers. I believed this at first because I never thought that someone as beautiful as Belle could love a beast like me. I should have listened to her, and given myself time to think before I threw her out so hastily. My penance for my mistake is living without the woman I love.

Belle's father and his people had a hand in her death as well, they shunned her, and he sent in the priests that tortured her because she was associated with me. They were the main reason for her jumping to her death, and they now suffer for the pain they caused Belle, I make sure of it.

There are many who played a role in Belle's death, but the evil queen was the one who played the biggest role in my beloved's death in my opinion. If she would have kept out of my business Belle would still be by my side where she belongs.

I am realizing that the evil queen has become my enemy, and I am letting her live a happy life. Emma may have been the one who were supposed to break the curse, but I made sure that I could put an end to the curse in case I need an escape. The evil queen won't know what hit her when she is forced to face the wrath of everyone the curse wronged.

I do realize that I am not liked by most people, and I may have done more bad that I have done good, but by breaking the curse I may be able to keep my freedom, and if that doesn't work out princess Emma still owes me a favor.

I despise the life I have here, and I know that without my Belle I will never be happy in our world, but I won't be as miserable as I am here. I know what must be done, and I am looking forward to watching the evil queen's world crumble.

I hope you enjoy. Please review and no flames please.

Amanda