Belle nervously bit her bottom lip as she peered through the curtain into the front of the pawnshop listening to the heated conversation. Behind her in the back office were the Styrofoam containers from Granny's diner that contained the burgers she had brought for lunch for her and Rum that day. They had tried to make a habit of sharing at least two meals together during the week. They had just sat down to partake in this meal, when the shop bell rung followed by a bullish command of "Gold get your sorry ass out here."

"It seems our Savior has found her way back," Rum said with a sly grin as he walked towards the front of the shop.

Belle decided to stay back behind the curtain. She knew how important it was for Rum to talk to Emma Swan. Over the last week, Rum had confided in her his plan to find his son Bae. Although he could not cross the border without losing his memories, he knew that Emma Swan could cross, and planned on enlisting her to the task of finding his long lost son. Belle found herself holding her breath as she heard the two exchange insults, and threats at one another.

"You owe me this favor dearie."

"Screw you and your favor….dearie." Belle had to hand it to Ms. Swan. She was able to hold her own with Rumpelstiltskin. The shop bell rung again, and Belle heard another's woman's voice.

"Emma. What are you doing here? What are you trying to bargain for this time with my daughter Rumpelstiltskin?"

Belle could not help but to pull the curtain back slightly to get a better look. She saw a pretty short brown hair woman standing between Rum and Emma. "Snow," Belle whispered to herself.

"He's trying to get me to leave Storybrooke. He wants me to hunt down someone that he is looking for."

"Who is it that you want my daughter to find?" Snow asked still standing between the two.

"That's my business," Rum hissed back.

Belle shook her head in disbelief. Rum had never been one for tact, but even Belle knew that he would never get Emma to help him with his sharp tones and deathly stares. Belle knew that they didn't trust him, and Rum's feelings were mutual. He needed her help. She had to make Emma and Snow understand that behind the dark one was a lonely soul searching for his long lost son. But she knew she could not utter a word about his son. It had taken all the courage he could muster to let her in, confide to her about the curse and his son. She could not betray his trust or his secrets. The voices and insults grew louder as Belle took a deep breath, and walked out into the shop.

All three pair of eyes locked on her as Belle made her way to Rum's side. She glanced at Rum giving him a small smile. Belle extended her hand out towards Emma.

"Hello Ms. Swan, I'm Belle." Emma's mouth hung slightly open as she glanced over at Rumpelstiltskin and then back at Belle. After a few seconds she placed her hand into Belle's.

"Emma. Emma Swan." Emma turned to her mother who appeared to have the same look of confusion on her face. "This is my mother..."

"Snow," Belle completed the introduction before Emma could finish it. Belle then turned her full attention to the princess before her.

"Um...I'm sorry have we met before?" Snow asked curious.

"No." Belle shook her head as a genuine smile formed on her lips. "But I have heard all about you."

"Really? Well don't believe whatever this man has told you." Snow retorted casting a look of daggers towards Rumpelstiltskin.

"No. The stories I heard were from a friend that we had in common. He was a huntsman."

Emma immediately shifted her weight crossing her arms in front of her. Thoughts of Graham and their last kiss flashing through her mind. She looked over at her mother who stared at Belle with a look of awe.

"You see the Queen had locked me away in her dungeon until the curse was casted. I spent my days and nights locked in a cell." Belle glanced over at Rum who had closed his eyes. She did not speak of her time in the Queen's dungeon in fear of pushing him over the edge causing him to seek revenge yet again. But she knew that she must continue in order to gain the trust that was needed for him.

"On occasion the Queen would leave her castle. She could be gone for a day, or even weeks at a time. And it was when she was gone, that he would visit." Belle felt her vision get blurry as she could feel the water filling in her eyes. She had to be brave. She had to tell them her tale.

"It started out with him bringing me a blanket. Then he soon started bringing me extra food. He would talk to me." Belle tried to choke back the sob that found its way into her throat. "He gave me the only kindness that I knew." Belle felt Rum take a hold of her hand and squeeze tightly. Belle looked back up to see both Emma and Snow staring and their adjoined hands.

"He would tell me stories of the outside world. He told me about you." Belle watched as Snow lifted her sleeve dabbing her eyes with it. "How the Queen had sent him to cut your heart out. He told me of how he found you in the woods. That he was about to kill you, but then he took one look at you. He had never seen such kindness in another's eyes and he knew he could not rid the world of you."

Snow brought both hands up to her mouth as she sobbed. Belle watched as Emma looked at the floor trying to fight the tears that had welled up into her own eyes.

"He was a good man," Snow managed to spit out in between her sobs.

"Yes, yes he was." Emma stated as she glanced back up at Belle.

"He was my friend. The Queen may have taken his heart, but she could not touch his soul. Even in darkness there is always a flicker of light." Belle squeezed Rum's hand. His eyes still tightly shut and Belle could only imagine what tortured thoughts were on his mind.

Belle let go of Rum's hand and walked up to Snow, placing her hands on her shoulders looking her in the eyes. "He was right you know. You do have kind eyes." Snow smiled through her tears, and the two women embraced each other. After a few moments Belle let go and moved back to Rum's side once again taking his hand.

Emma wiped away the few remaining tears in her eyes, as she looked at Belle standing by Rumpelstiltskin's side.

"This person that you want me to find, do you want to find him to hurt him?"

Rumpelstiltskin looked down, and then with sincerity glanced at Emma shaking his head, "no."

Emma glanced at Belle and then back at Rumpelstiltskin. "Just this one favor and then that's it. Are we clear Gold?"

"It's clear," Belle spoke on behalf of Rum, who could not seem to find words at the moment.

"I'll come by tomorrow to sort out the details of where and when you need me to go." Emma glanced over at her mother who seemed to give a nod of approval. Belle smiled at Snow, and watched as both woman walked out of the pawnshop. Belle turned to face Rum, who still had his eyes casted on the floor. She lifted his chin, seeing his eyes glistening with water. He slowly moved his right hand towards her check caressing her jawline.

"We'll find him Rum." Belle said quietly as she felt his lips press against her own.