People often underestimate the damage that little things can do.

The fine point of a deal, a lock of hair, a name...even a simple kiss can change the fate's design. And yet they go about their lives believing only large miracles, powerful armies, and unborn children can save them. How foolish.

While his customers walk away with the larger object, they always assume their end of the deal was the better one. But Rumplestiltskin was perfectly happy with his little objects.

With two strands of hair he could bottle up love. With one favour he could kill an army. With nothing but a knife and a name he could become the Dark One.

So yes, Rumplestiltskin much preferred the small things to the great deeds or the large trade.

For a reason he could not quite name, these people felt bad for him. These people -his customers- who hated every fiber of his evil, dark being, felt bad that they had gotten 'the better part of the deal'. He'd seen it in Snow White's eyes, and the suspicion, as he traded one of his most powerful potions for a strand of her hair. She didn't need it, and it was ridiculously tiny, so she'd heartily assumed it was useless. But only after he'd assured her of that, of course.

And for Charming's cloak, he'd gained the next piece.

The Prince who's lavish life he'd bought, had the same sort if sympathy as his 'true love'. Rumplestiltskin only had to persuade them that was what he wanted for it to leave though.

If you can bottle up love you can do anything. He wondered what they thought of that. If they'd known that only two strands of hair could capture love. The small things were what brought along great power. Rumplestiltskin heartily doubted love could be bottled up using something large.

This caging of love had brought back the power he'd lost, and then some.

It had only been one kiss. Only one small kiss rendered unimportant to others, that had sucked away his
power. A few convincing words, a few kisses, and all his power would evaporate.

And yet, that was part of what troubled him the most.

Aside from his skill with the slight of hand; the loophole; and his keen observation of behaviour, Rumplestiltskin was articulate at finding what mattered most to people.

So sometimes, rather than gain from the deal, he just took what the person loved most. It was more to upset them than anything.

That had been why he took Belle, really.

There was nothing Rumplestiltskin needed at the time, and Lord Maurice had no intriguing trinkets. But he wouldn't have minded a caretaker, and honestly he was becoming a little bored.

I think you were lonely.

That too.

So rather than take some small, useful thing as he usually did, Rumplestiltskin took the big thing: the thing that mattered most to Maurice.

And he regretted it.

Because, foolishly, he had fallen in love. Rather than be invincible, all the things he loved already torn away from him, Rumplestiltskin had become vulnerable.

And then she'd taken his power and broke his heart.

And died.

Although, Rumplestiltskin supposed, the heart-breaking had been his fault. But it had been set in motion by the Queen, and her talent with words. In fact she shared his ability of finding important things and somehow knew Belle was his, and turned her against him.

Love too, was a small thing. But it had moved thousands and thousands to death and thousands more to heartbreak. It may have felt wonderful, but those in love were truly sick, cursed worse than anything he could conjure.

With a single potion he could set someone free. With a spare second he could save a life. With nothing but a spindle and some straw he could make gold.

There was only one thing no amount of small objects could achieve, one thing magic and Rumplestiltskin could not do.

He could not bring back the dead.