Retelling
S1 ep.12 Skin Deep
Winter had come to the Enchanted Forest and a thick layer of snow covered the Dark One's estate. The holidays were nearing, and he wanted to make sure his maid would create a different view of him; it didn't matter how hard he tried to deny he didn't like her and she was just a trinket among his many others, he felt something for her. Every time she talked to him her soft voice sounded like the most beautiful music, and when she was telling a story he listened mezmerised.
It was only early in the morning that he had got up make sure everything would be perfect. Belle and Rumpelstiltskin had grown from employee and employer to some kind of friends; they cared about each other.
Rumpelstiltskin had made a plan to check if she felt the same way about him as he felt about her. He would send her to the village and the future, well the future would depend on her choice to return.
It was the 25th of december or also known as Christmas day. Before Belle would wake up and enter the room he wanted to make sure everything was perfect. This was his last chance to show her how he really was. He wouldn't force her to stay anymore. He wouldn't continue to torture her with his presence, or that's how he felt about it. If she would choose to leave he wouldn't go after her. ''Who could ever love me,'' he muttered. He didn't entirely believe it though. Hope sparkled in his soul. Hoping, so desperately hoping she would choose to return.
He had decorated the room with red and gold, an enormous christmas tree filled with lights and decorations stood in the middle of the room, several plates with different foods filled the table.
At the end of the table lay a book. Rumpelstiltskin walked toward it and wrapped it up by hand. ''No magic,'' he muttered. When he had finished tying up the gold ribbon he laid it down under the tree. He beamed as he looked into the room. ''Perfect,'' he said.
This was their first Christmas and a nice opportunity to show her what he felt for her. If she chooses to return I'll tell her what I feel for her, he thought. He sighed and watched the pearly white snowflakes whirl down through a gap of the closed curtains.
He flicked his hand and the nailed down curtains disappeared and allowed the pearl white snowflakes to cast small round falling shadows across the floor. ''Now it's perfect,'' he said smiling.
He wasn't sure if he wanted to break the moment, though he wanted to see his Belle so desperately. He tore away from his nervousness and walked into the enormous hallway. He started climbing the stairs that led to her library. He waited in front of the door and heaved a sigh. Then smiled and knocked against the door. No reply. He knocked again. Again no reply.
His heartbeat sped up fearing she might've ran away. He slowly opened the door.
His thoughts were stilled when he saw the beautiful woman laying under the blankets. A book lay on top of her.
He slowly approached her. He took the book from the blankets and closed it. He gently shook her. ''Belle,'' he whispered. ''Belle, wake up,'' he said softly. She shifted and opened an eye. She watched him in shock. ''Have I overslept?'' she asked panicky shooting upright.
''Calm down,'' he said gently. He stood up and offered her his hand. ''I have a surprise for you,'' he said trying to hide his excitement. She looked him in the eye; in the time she was there she had noticed his eyes couldn't hide what he felt inside. They twinkled softly.
She took his hand and got out of bed. Together they walked down the stairs. Rumpel stopped in front of the doors. ''Are you ready?'' he asked. Belle nodded with a smile. He flicked his hand and the doors slowly opened.
Belle's jaw dropped a little as the decorated room smiled at her. She slowly entered it. Rumpel watched her uncertain. After several moments she turned around. ''Did you do this all for me?'' she asked tears in her eyes. He sighed in relief and entered the room.
He walked to the tree and picked up the present. He handed it to Belle. ''Merry Christmas,'' he said softly. She smiled at him. He looked into her eyes and smiled back.
He wanted to drown in those beautiful, deep blue eyes, and completely forget about everything else. He wanted her to be his, and he wanted to be hers.
She ripped off the wrapping paper and gasped. ''Her Handsome Hero,'' she sighed. ''How did you know?'' she asked looking up. ''You forgot it when you promised to come with me forever, right?''
She nodded and hugged him. ''Thank you,'' she whispered. He was startled by her sudden action but put his arms around her anyways. He almost said what he felt for her, but had managed to keep it in.
He slowly retreated. ''I've made you breakfast,'' he said pointing at the table. ''Usually it's the other way around,'' she said grinning. ''Well I decided you deserved it more than I did,'' he said reasonably.
She walked to the table and searched for a chair, but Rumpel offered her his throne like chair. She watched him suspiciously. ''Are you feeling alright?'' she asked as she sat down. He nodded with a smile.
He walked to his spinning wheel and sat down. He waited patiently for her to finish her food. When she was finished she stood up and walked toward him. She took the thread from his hand and put it away. She looked into his eyes. ''Why did you do this?'' she asked. He watched her not sure what to do. He was afraid that if he might tell her now she would say he's mad or maybe even laugh at him.
''Rumpel?'' she waved a hand in front of his eyes. He focused on her. ''Why did you do this for me?'' she asked again. She laid her hand on his upper leg. Her touch sent shivers down his spine but he loved it.
He felt trapped like a mouse in a cage. ''I'll tell you what, I'll make you a deal,'' he said. ''Go to town and fetch me some straw, when you return I'll share my tale.'' This was it. The point where she would go never to return. ''Town?'' she asked. ''You- You trust me to come back?'' she asked. Rumpel shook his head. ''Oh, no. I expect I'll never see you again.'' He didn't realize he had said it out loud and smiled painfully.
Belle stood up, fetched her cloak and her basket and left the estate. Rumpelstiltskin still sat behind his spinning wheel as pain erupted in his heart. ''I will never see her again,'' he muttered miserably.
When the darkness came once again, this time to announce nightfall, Rumpelstiltskin was standing in front of the window from the library. ''You've done everything you could,'' he whispered to himself. He closed his eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek.
When he opened them again he was surprised to see Belle's figure approaching in the distance. He ran downstairs and entered the decorated room. He quickly wiped away the trace the tear had left on his cheek and sat down behind his spinning wheel.
The doors behind him opened. He turned around and acted like he was surprised. ''You're back already?'' he asked raising an eyebrow. ''Good.'' He turned back to the spinning wheel. ''Good thing, I'm nearly out of straw,'' he said softly. She put the basket down on the table. ''Come on,'' she said approaching him. ''You're happy I'm back.'' Rumpel looked at her and smiled. ''I'm not unhappy,'' he said trying to hide his excitement and joy.
She took the thread again and put it away. ''And you,'' she said sitting down on a stool beside him. ''Had promised me an explanation,'' she said. He shifted uncomfortably as he felt her hand touch his leg again. ''Why did you do all this?'' she asked.
He watched her unsure. ''You can tell me,'' she said. He sighed and gathered his courage. ''Belle,'' he said softly. ''I-I...Feel something for you,'' he said struggling to find the right words. ''I-I don't know what it is, or what is means. But every time I'm close to you I feel warm inside and a jolt of excitement rushes through my veins. I don't understand it,'' he said.
Belle smiled at him warmly. ''How long ago is it that you felt love?'' she asked. ''Since my son,'' he said. ''And since then, you've loved no one, and no one loved you?'' she asked. Rumpelstiltskin leaned toward her. ''Why did you come back?'' he asked softly. Belle shifted. ''I wasn't going to. But then...something changed my mind.''
She slowly leaned toward him. He didn't believe this was really happening. She kissed him. He felt her soft lips meeting his and he slowly closed his eyes. As they parted he felt a strange sensation. ''What's happening?'' he asked closing his eyes.
Belle cupped his face with her hands. ''Kiss me again, it's working,'' she said excitedly. ''What is?'' Rumpel asked. His voice changed, it became more humane. ''Any curse can be broken,'' she said smiling. He stood up abruptly his face furious. ''Who told you that?! Who knows that?!'' he shouted.
''I-I-I don't know. She, uh...she-she-'' she stuttered. She was startled by his reaction. ''She,'' Rumpel said his voice flooded with hatred. ''You… evil… soul.'' He pulled a blanket from a mirror. ''This was you! You turned her against me!'' he shouted at the mirror. ''You think you can make me weak? You think you can defeat me?!''
Belle watched him startled. ''Who are you talking to?'' she asked carefully. ''The Queen!'' Rumpelstiltskin said turning around. ''Your friend, the Queen! How did she get to you?'' he asked venom in his voice. ''The-the Queen? I don't-'' she stuttered.
''I knew this was all a trick!'' He approached her. ''I knew you could never care for me. You're working for her,'' he said angrily. ''Or was this all you? Is this you being the hero by killing the beast?''
Belle stood up ready to argue. ''It was working-''
''Shut up!''
Belle didn't back away and held her ground. ''This means it's true love!'' she said.
''Shut the hell up!'' he shouted.
Belle felt tears burning in her eyes. ''Why won't you believe me?!'' she asked desperately. Rumpelstiltskin grabbed her arms and started shaking her. ''Because no one-'' he shouted. ''No one could ever, ever love me!'' he shouted furiously. He pulled her to the dungeons and pushed her in a cell and slammed the door shut.
Rumpelstiltskin was watching his reflection in the mirror in the corner of the room angrily. Could she truly love me? he thought.
The figure of the previous dark one appeared at his shoulder. ''Long time no see,'' Zoso said grinning. ''What do you want?'' Rumpelstiltskin asked annoyed. ''I'm here to help you of course, I'm your guide,'' he said. ''Go away,'' Rumpelstiltskin said angrily.
An unexplainable anger rose up as he watched his reflection. He twitched and with a yell he broke the mirror.
He sat down in his chair and watched the chipped cup on the table. ''I'm crazy,'' he whispered.
He stood up and walked down to the dungeons. He opened the door to the cell where Belle was, and entered the cold room. Belle looked up, her eyes were red and puffy. ''What are you going to do to me?'' she asked her voice trembling. His eyes watered. ''Go,'' he said as a tear rolled down his cheek. He gestured toward the door.
''Go?'' Belle asked astounded. ''I don't want you anymore, dearie.'' Belle hesitantly stood up straightened her dress and walked toward the door. She stopped at the exit and turned around to face him. ''You know,'' she said. ''You were freeing yourself. You could have had happiness if you just believed that someone could want you.'' Rumpelstiltskin slowly narrowed his eyes a little. ''But you couldn't take the chance.''
''That's a lie,'' Rumpelstiltskin said slowly another tear rolling down his cheek. ''You're a coward Rumpelstiltskin. And no matter how thick you make your skin, that doesn't change,'' she said. ''I'm not a coward, dearie. It's quite simple, really. My power… means more to me than you,'' he said. He wished the tears would stop falling. ''No,'' Belle said. ''No, it doesn't. You just don't think I can love you. Now, you've made your choice. And you're going to regret it,'' she said with a trembling voice. ''Forever. And all you'll have... is an empty heart…'' Her voice cracked. ''And a chipped cup.'' Tears rolled down her eyes and she stalked out of the dungeon.
A few weeks later Rumpelstiltskin sat spinning behind his wheel, thinking about how unbearably stupid he was to let Belle go. ''I really am crazy,'' he whispered. The doors opened and the Evil Queen entered the room. ''Flimsy locks,'' she chuckled. ''I have a deal to discuss,'' she said.
''I'm not dealing today,'' Rumpelstiltskin said softly. ''Are you angry with me? What is it this time?'' she asked sniggering. ''Is this about that girl I met on the road?'' she asked raising an eyebrow. ''What was her name? Margie? Verna?''
''Belle,'' Rumpelstiltskin said watching the spinning wheel. ''Right,'' she said. ''You can rest assured I had nothing to do with that tragedy,'' she said. Rumpelstiltskin stopped spinning and walked toward the Queen. ''What tragedy,'' he asked dangerously. ''You don't know?'' she asked chuckling. ''She threw herself of a tower,'' she said grinning. ''She's dead.'' She raised an eyebrow waiting for his reaction.
''You're lying,'' he said slowly. The Queen laughed. ''Am I?'' she asked challenging. ''We're done here,'' Rumpelstiltskin said. ''Fine,'' she said. She walked to the doors where Rumpelstiltskin stood waiting for her to leave.
When she was gone he vanished in a whirl of red smoke. He reappeared in front of the castle where Belle used to live. He banged against the doors demanding to be let in. When the doors finally opened he stormed inside. ''King Maurice!'' he bellowed. ''I'd like a word!''
The king wobbled into the hall and faced the Dark One. ''What is it you need?'' he asked raising an eyebrow. ''Where is Belle?'' Rumpelstiltskin asked. ''I don't know, she ran away after she had returned home,'' he said. ''Why would she run away?'' Rumpelstiltskin asked. ''I don't know,'' he replied. ''You're a terrible liar, you know that, right?'' Rumpelstiltskin said rolling his eyes. ''Though I have to go somewhere.'' He vanished again in a whirl of red smoke.
He appeared in the Evil Queen's castle. ''Where are you, you evil soul!'' he thundered. He teleported to the dungeons. He tried to walk to the cells but was hold back by two guards. He flicked his hand and they both fell to the ground. ''Belle!'' he roared into the corridor.
He walked past the doors searching for the cell where Belle was held captive. ''Rumpel!'' a voice sounded. ''Rumpel, I'm here!'' Belle's hand emerged from a cell near the back of the corridor. He hurried toward it and unlocked the door with a flick of his hand. She ran toward him and hugged him tightly.
''What happened?'' he asked when she retreated. ''Can we first get away from here?'' she asked looking around. Rumpelstiltskin quickly teleported, tightly holding Belle at his side. The still decorated room came in sight. When they arrived, Belle fell down onto her knees. ''Belle,'' Rumpelstiltskin said concerned. He kneeled next to her. ''Are you alright?'' he asked helping her back up. ''Wait.'' They sat down on the big throne like chair. Belle sat in his lap and crawled against him.
''So what happened?'' he asked placing his head on hers. ''She abducted me,'' Belle said softly. ''I had broken a spell from someone who was turned into the fierce Yaoguai. Then I realized I was going to return to you. But then that Queen appeared and abducted me. She held me captive for at least a few weeks,'' she said.
''I'm so sorry,'' he said softly. ''I want to apologize for my behaviour that night,'' he said uncertain. ''The reason why I did all this for you, is because I care about you. More than I have cared in centuries about anyone,'' he said softly. ''I love you, Belle. I was afraid what you might think of me if I told you it, but living without you is the heaviest burden I can think of,'' he said. She looked him in the eye. ''I already knew you cared about me,'' she said smiling. Rumpel watched her surprised. ''You-You did?'' he asked. ''Why else would you build an entire library for me?'' she asked grinning. He watched her. ''Too obvious?'' he asked uncertain. She chuckled.
She leaned toward him and gave him a quick kiss against his cheek. Then she let her head rest against his chest and listened to the soft beating of his heart. He embraced her and leaned back against the back of his chair and enjoyed her presence. Before they knew it they fell asleep.
Author's note: Hi. First I want to apologize if my recites from the Once Upon a Time storylines aren't completely correct, but I'm not able to watch Once Upon a Time anymore, but I know enough to write a fanfiction or two. I hope you enjoyed this retelling, oh, and by the way if you have any particular Rumbelle episode which you would like me to retell you can send me a PM.
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time.