Chpt 1: Don't Leave

With a firm set jaw and stone cold gaze he answered her resolutely, praying he did not waver at her tears:

"It's quite simple dearie. I want my power more than I want you."

"Now she'll leave. Run crying and screaming because poor little Beauty couldn't tame the Beast." he thought, scathingly.

To his utter amazement, she did not even falter. Belle could see straight through his facade. Instead, she edged up even closer, nose to nose with him. "No. No you don't." she said.

Her eyes raked over every inch of his face, reading into him no matter how badly he wanted to stop her.

He really, truly wanted to believe her words of yesterday; that someone could love the monster that was Rumplestiltskin. But at the mere mention of the Queen's involvement, he couldn't chance it. It had nearly ruined any and all feelings he had for Belle. Now, standing toe to toe with her, he realized there was still something alive and beating inside his chest.

"But how can there be!" his mind screamed at him. "What about all the terrible things you've done, both as a man and a monster, to gain power and destroy others? You cannot love!" it raged. In the desperation of his thoughts he physically shook his head, his countenance falling like a stone.

Belle had been watching him the entire time, waging war within herself about what to do next. She didn't know if he would let her touch or kiss him again: if he still thought she was a vile pawn of the queen. Seeing his head droop low in defeat, she had no better oportunity than this momentary weakness.

"I love you Rumplestiltskin. Believe it or not. I don't care. Your unbelief cannot change my own heart." she whispered, taking his head in her hands, lifting his lips to meet hers.

As their lips met, he felt the tingling again. A wave of magic washing over him as it had the last time, only different... His mind screamed in agony at the thought that his magic was waning, telling him to push her off and crush her against the stone wall. But he could not.

"If this was all a ruse, then I wouldn't feel magic at all. Only True Love's kiss can break my curse. She'd have to truly love me, and I her, for this to be happening." he argued within.

And even if it were just a sham, it was a good one.

How very precious did her sweet mouth feel against his own. Tender, soft, and tasting of sunshine... Purity held in his arms that he had lost long ago...

As soon as his lips began to move against hers, a slight moan escaped her.

"He thinks he is nothing..." she thought, winding her arms around his neck. " He thinks I want to change him..."

Her eyes opened slightly, looking at his face, making sure of what she desired. Where the grey-gold skin had been dissipating, it returned, only more of a silken-gold tone.

"More pure..." she thought.

Rumple noticed her as she stilled, opening is eyes to find her staring right at him. "What is it dearie?" he asked, breaking the kiss. And as he watched her eyes roam his face, he couldn't help but ask her; "Can't kiss a monster?"

At the question, where her eyes had been kind a moment before, they suddenly darkened in anger. His coming laugh halted instantly.

"Neither in this world, nor the next, will I find you to be a monster!" she cried. Belle grabbed him the shoulders, whirled him around, and marched him out of the dungeon room to across the hall. As they walked, Rumple noted that she was walking him to the grand mirror in the main hall.

"No need to show me dearie." he simpered, "One of two things has happened. I'm either still a monster, or an ordinary man who cannot protect you, as I thought you had wished for." And just as they stepped before the mirror, Belle's smile was triumphant. "How about neither?" she asked, and turned him to face his reflection.

Not many people could say they had ever stunned the great magician, Rumplestiltskin, into silence. Alright, none could. If they had ever come close, he had killed or changed them. Yet here ("In my own home!") this tiny, herioc young woman had caused his tongue to wither in his mouth.

It wasn't the kind of fairy-transformation you hear happen to the 'good guys", where clothes, hair, skin, and all changes to something heart-stoppingly beautiful. Nay, the dark leathers remained. His hair was still the same chestnut brown, curling across his shoulders as always. And the rest of him...

Well, it was changed. But he still retained his odd look.

Where his skin had been grey-gold, textured almost like scales, was smoothed out. And in place of the grey was a sheer silver hue, causing his skin to shine with life instead of dull with death. And his eyes... Where they had been blackened through, now shone with a gold gleam through the iris.

"What have you done to me m'love?" he whispered, touching his face and hands slowly; "I thought I would be powerless. An ordinary man..." Slowly he turned, clasping her forearms and bringing her close. "Isn't that what you wanted dearie? An ordinary man whom you wouldn't have to fear?" he asked.

Her smile went from triumphant to sweet.

"Yes, at first." she said; "But then I realized I hadn't been scared of you all along. I fell in love with the Rumplestiltskin that I know now, and I don't want you to change who you are."

She took his hands in hers and turned his palms up, kissing each one lightly. Rumple shivered at her touch. Then, looking up from his hands, she said; " The only thing I wanted to change was the darkness that clouded you. Whatever bound you to being called 'The Dark One' is what I wanted broken."

His heart beat fast at her words. His curse, broken, but his power would remain? She could change him into what she wanted? Then that meant that the dagger...

A sharp gasp hissed from his mouth and he tore from the room. Belle stood shocked, but for only a moment, before tearing after him.

"Rumplestiltskin! Where are you going? Slow down!" she cried.