The night was silent.
Still.

Rumplestiltskin sat quietly at the large table of his dining hall. Steepling his fingers at his lips, he let his elbows rest against the cool, lacquered wood before him.

His gold flecked eyes were heavy with thoughts. Gaze shifting to meet the windows of the hall, he watched the nighttime shadows dance against the floor and walls. The moonlight painting the darkened corners and floor.

A faint smile quivered at the corner of his mouth. The image of her struggling to free the curtains he once sealed shut caused his heart to flutter. Just for a moment. Her azure eyes pausing on his, just inches…/mere/ inches from his as he held her tightly, nearly instinctively, when she fell into his arms.

There was no fear.
No disdain.
He was simply, in that moment, a man.

Shaking his head of these thoughts, Rumple's fingers pinched the bridge of his nose with a heavy sigh. He was being foolish. He knew it.

Pushing himself from the table, his fingers fumbled with the ruffled cuff at his wrist as he made his way to her 'chambers'.

A ping of guilt flushed over him as he paused, reaching for the latch of the door. /It's better than 'dungeon'./ he recalled telling her at her distress of where she was to sleep upon her arrival.

A sullen creak of the old metal hinges sounded as the door opened. She didn't stir from her slumber, as she rested curled against the wall atop a scattered pile of straw.

She was beautiful.

He hadn't noticed until that moment by the window, and now, as she slept he was entranced by her.

His mind wandered.
Watching as she slept.

Belle's chest gently rose and fell with each soft breath. He quietly walked to her, kneeling beside her with his hand pausing a moment, hesitating, before his fingers gently stroked her cheek. A whimper escaped her lips, her body stirring at his touch. Belle's eyes fluttered open, startled to find him in her room. Rumple's hand embarrassingly pulled back, "I…I'm sorry..I just.." His eyes, lowered, searching for an excuse.

Belle watched his hand as he pulled away, a small sleepy smile at her lips at his awkwardness, "It's late..is something occupying your mind, keeping you awake at this hour?"

He swallowed heavily. No reasonable excuse came to his mind. His golden eyes met hers, almost saddened, "You." he replied, his voice breaking.

Her eyes brightened, smiling that smile that stole him every time, but he could never tell her. Belle's hand took his as she sat up, "Even the Dark One needs his rest." Her tone was playful, almost teasing. Both of her hands holding his, she brought his hand back to her cheek, nestling her warm skin to his frigid fingers.

Rumplestiltskin found himself trembling despite trying to hide it. His thumb stroked her soft flesh, her eyes not leaving his, pulling him in. Taking note of his vacillation, Belle drew up, letting a free hand cup his cheek with a smile, "I'm here to take care of your estate. That includes you, as well. That was the deal." Before he could find words to respond, her lips fell to his.

So warm.
Gentle…

His lips replied. Rumple's fingers at her cheek traced back, meshing with her golden brown locks as he pulled her deeper into the embrace.

Belle's free hand clutched at his chest, her slender fingers curling into the silken cloth of his shirt with a soft gasp as their kiss broke. The taste of her lingered at his lips. He found himself wanting more. A hiss passed his teeth, his voice a low growl, "Don't stop.." His fingers gripped her hair, pulling her head back gently allowing his lips to graze down her neck while his other hand swiftly broke free the lacings of her dress.

She bit her lip, the corners of her mouth shyly curling. Belle had never before experienced this sort of touch. This sensation of want and longing, meshed with love and admiration. Her eyes fell shut, letting him do as he'd wished. Letting the ambience of touch take over as his digits feverishly traced her now bare spine downward, slipping every inch of fabric from her body.

Rumple rested her back, her bare body laid out against the hay of the floor. She was beautiful. A goddess more intricately sculpted than any ever depicted in history and stories. Strips of moonlight highlighting every curve of her body trickling through the window above them..

And, she was his.

His heart pounding, he took her.
Belle.
The one who broke down his walls so delicately, he failed to notice.
Who saw him no differently than any other.
Cared for him, despite his sordid past, and deeds excluded.
Those azure eyes that smote him with enchantment the moment he caught her from the ladder…

The only one who returned to give him a second chance.

And, it was all gone, now…

Rumplestiltskin's eyes shuttered open.
The hall was silent.

Still…

The moonlight had faded behind the heavy clouds of night, and he found himself seated in the dark, fingers still steepled at his lips at the cold, lacquered table in his dining hall.

His gold flecked eyes lowered sadly beneath his curls.

Her voice echoed in his head. The last words she would ever say to him, the tears lacing her eyes burned into his mind: "You just don't think I can love you. Now you've made your choice and you're going to regret it forever. All you'll have is an empty heart… and a chipped cup."

And, she was right..
Regina's words during the aftermath cut him to the core.

[He was cruel to her. He locked her in a tower and sent in clerics to cleanse her soul with scourges and flaying. After a while, she threw herself off the tower. She died.]

He pushed himself from the table, his fingers fumbled with the ruffled cuff at his wrist as he made his way to a small table at the center of the hall, where a small blue and white ceramic teacup rested on display. Rumple lifted his finger to touch the glazed tumbler, stopping to stare at the small chip of its handcrafted design..

A choked moan cleared his throat, letting his hand fall to the wood of the display near the cup, eyes shadowed beneath his touseled hair.

He was shattered. Having nothing left of her, but memories and fragmented dreams. She was right..

All he truly had left, was an empty, broken heart..and, a chipped…dusty cup.