"I WANT A HEART!" The evil Queen roared in Rumplestiltskin's face, holding the dagger with his name etched upon it over her head. He kneeled calmly before her, his expression unreadable. Her long, slender finger pointed toward the door. "King Maurice's daughter stands in my way, a very dangerous place to be" she spoke at him through gritted teeth. "She is in the dark forest, Thinking she will outlast me, If she can remain alive till her 18th birthday, she will be Queen, it can't happen, I won't let it, Fetch it for me dark knight."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo xo

Regina had married King Maurice when his daughter Belle was but 5 years old. After she quietly rid the kingdom of the King, she assumed the role of head monarch till King Maurice's daughter became of age to do so.

Once she had disposed of the girl's father, she found that the girl was easy enough to hide away, locked in the tower with her beauty growing daily, hidden from the eyes of her people. Belle would peep out her small prison window overlooking the courtyard. Rumplestiltskin remembered the day of his capture, looking up and seeing her little angelic face with those piercing eyes, watching the spectacle down below.

The Queen had paraded her catch down the street infrount of the people, a great victory, she carried his dagger in her hand. She had his power, he was her toy, nothing more.

But most of the time till she needed him, he remained in a gilded cage in the tower, a prison just special for him. across from his cell was the child's.

Rumple watched her with facination as she observed his every movement, which wasn't much. Rumple would sit huddled in the dark. Seemingly melted into the rock wall at his back, completely hidden in the darkness around him in the towers failing light. waiting...

Rumple noticed she was no more than 6 or perhaps 7 years, if that. She had an abundance of brown wavy tresses with these soulful eyes that took in everything around her. Most of the time she would lounge on her cot, and play with a rag she had fashioned into a doll. Every so often a servant woman sneaks up to see the girl, bringing books and treats for her. The woman seems to be wary of Rumple, always making a wide berth when she walks past his cage on her way to the little girls. Sometimes the girl would watch him while the woman spoke to her, it was obvious they spoke of him. She might have been warning her of the dangers of talking to him. The girl would look at the woman when she would finish speaking, then, her eyes would search out Rumple's face almost like she was working something out in her head, a puzzle of sorts.

The first time they spoke to each other was a few days later. Two young servants carried a wash tub and a few pails of water up to the child, They left her to tend to herself which was fine with her, she happily filled the small tub and proceeded to shed her clothes, not giving a thought of anything else except the water, diving in squealling happily. When the realization dawned on her that he was in the cell across from her, she froze, turning in his direction, diving into the water trying to hide herself as far down as she could manage glaring At Rumple who was watching her, grinning to himself at her silly child like actions. She could be quite funny he thought, but judging from the look he was presently getting he was invading her privacy by watching her play and she knew it. He knodded his head to her as he turned his back, facing the wall while she bathed.

"Thank you" she sang out at him, then jumping out to retrieve her rag doll, she let out a whoop and dove in the tub. "You are most welcome little cricket." Rumple spoke to her while he faced the wall.

Soon the servants returned to take her tub away as she got dressed and climbed back on her bed clutching her book. "I'm done" she voiced from her cell to his. Rumple graciously turned around to her and gave her a low, flourishing bow. She giggled at him and climbing off her cot she walked boldly up to the bars which were the closest, "I'm Belle" she simply stated to him then shyly gave him a curtsy and turned around and ran to her little bed.

Soon she was back, "Would you like me to read to you?" It sounded more like a plea than a question as she held the book out to him. "If you like" Rumplestiltskin responded, giving her a grin, he didn't flash any teeth for fear of scaring her with his fiersome appearance, although for some reason she seemed immune to his looks, thankfully. He certainly didn't want to think about it if she shrieked everytime she saw him. Unaware of the man's thoughts Belle plopped down on the cold floor and began to read her book aloud to him, Suddenly she haulted mid sentence and looked at him, "What's your name?"

"I'm Rumplestiltskin" he replied. "Rumplestiltskin, Rumplestiltskin" she repeated a few times then continued on with her story while he listened.

"Thank you little cricket, I was most amused" Rumple told her when the book was finished. Belle giggled at him while she moved over to her cot to watch him till she feel asleep.

Rumple would have to admit, looking back on those days, sharing the tower with the child could have been much worse, They found company with each other to stave off the fierce loneliness that would soon come to rule both thier lives.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

The door to Rumple's cell swung open one morning as Rumple sat up to see her highness enter the tower. Bodly, she walked into his cell, dressed in a tight black ensamble, showing off her curves."Come my dark knight. We have a journey ahead, a certain dragon sorceress commands my attention and I have need of your services, then we are off to my summer palace, you might like it there," She looked over at the child's cell, " it's blistfully free of brats."

Obediently Rumple followed the Queen out glancing at the child as she hid under her cot, trying not to be noticed, other than the reference to brats The Queen payed her no mind as she passed her cell on the way out but Rumplestiltskin with his mind connected to little Belle's and for a second, she heard him inside her head, "Untill next time, little cricket."