A/N: Hey guys, I'm glad people seemed to like the first chapter! :-). I'll not go into much detail of what happens in Storybrooke before Emma comes to town. But, I will pick up here the day after Emma's arrival, when the clock starts ticking again and time moves forward. In a nutshell, the past 28 years in Storybrooke time had stood still. Every day was the same, every week was the same, nobody changed, including Belle. She's still quite pregnant upon Emma's arrival.

And, I'm not 100% sure how far I'll take the JeffersonxBelle relationship. I wanted to put in there a sort of love triangle, at least until they all get their memories back. I very well may change the events of the story to match my story.

Long bits of italicized text is usually a memory/flashback, pretty much how they have flashbacks in the show.

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Chapter 2: 28 Years Later

Storybrooke, Maine

The past twenty eight years have gone by in a blur, everything has remained the same except for a little boy that was brought here eleven years ago, the now son of the Mayor Mills. And, the boy seemed to be the only thing that grew and changed. The other inhabitants of Storybrooke remained the same, doing their same daily routines over and over. Each day was the same as the next as they blended together and could almost be mistaken for small-town charm.

That is, until she came. When Emma arrived in Storybrooke to stay, things changed. The clock started moving forward, things started to move forward.

Lacey had been pregnant for twenty eight years, never even giving it a thought as she woke up day after day, did her same daily routine with her husband, went shopping along the same route. Nothing changed in Storybrooke, nothing. That is until Emma Swan showed up.

The day started out like any other, the same morning routine, the same breakfast, same news story, everything. But there was change in the air.

When Jefferson dropped her off like usual, he got out of the car to open her door and smiled as he took her hand, bringing her up to his chest. She giggled a little, shaking her head. "Don't be pulling me around. The baby might not like it."

Most people would question being pregnant for so long, but she didn't seem to. You didn't question things in Storybrooke, it just remained the same. But, finally it felt different.

"Oohh love, but our child will be fine. You have a doctors appointment today, yes?" he asked. That was different, she'd never had a doctors appointment before.

But she nodded all the same, remembering making the appointment just the day before with Doctor Whale. "I do." she said, leaning up and kissing him gently. "And I shall see you at home."

He shook his head with a small smile playing on his lips. "No. No, I think today I'm coming with you."

"Coming with me? But don't you have a meeting or something to attend?" she asked.

Again, he shook his head. "Nope. Today, darling, I've cleared my schedule. Just for you." he said. That'd never happened before, but it made her smile happily up to him.

"Well then, I hope you've got your shopping feet on." she said, giggling a bit as she started to walk down the street with him.

Walking with him was different, new and good. She walked passed Mr. Golds shop like usual and looked over at the man who stood in the door. "Good morning, Mr. Gold. Lovely day, isn't it?" she asked.

But the man who stood in the shop door looked different. He stared at them with wide eyes as if he'd never seen her before, as if he were really seeing her for the first time. His look on her made her blush as she leaned into her husbands side, her arms twining around his waist as she hugged him.

Ahh yes, the arrival of Emma Swan did change a lot in Storybrooke, especially Mr. Gold. He'd created the curse as Rumpelstiltskin, and therefore put in a safety net for himself. Once Emma returned to Storybrooke, he would remember who he was, what he was there for.

So it was Rumpelstiltskin who stood in the shop door that day, still looking like his cursed self of course, staring at the love of his life with Jefferson, the hatter. It made him grip his cane tightly and grit his teeth. Oh if he only had magic, Jefferson would be on his ass in a second flat.

"Jefferson. Care to explain the meaning of this?" Gold asked without completely realizing that he was still in their cursed lives, that Jefferson and Belle did not remember him at all.

So, Jefferson smiled at the pawnbroker and nodding. "Ah yes, I'm taking a day off to be with my lovely wife."

Gold looked at them through narrowed eyes, slowly shifting his eyes down to his Belle. How dare Jefferson have his arm around the woman that belonged to only him? Belle was his everything. But, taking a look at her, his eyes traveled down to her rounded stomach and widened. She was with child? How had he not realized that until just now? It had to have been twenty eight years of everything being the same in the town where time stood still. He saw her every day, that he knew. But, as Mr. Gold he didn't pay much attention to the sight of Lacey as she walked down the street.

"B-B-Belle.." he muttered. Was this child his? It had to be, didn't it? His eyes narrowed as he shot a look towards Jefferson.

"Who is Belle?" Lacey asked, tilting her head to one side as she sighed. "Oh Mr. Gold, you must not be feeling well." she said, pouting a little.

It was Belle, Rumpelstiltskin knew it as he looked upon Lacey. It was his Belle, he'd know her anywhere. She'd never been afraid of him, not even her cursed self, which made him smile a little. Shaking his head as he stepped up to them, using his cane to lean on as he took Belle's face in. "No no, that isn't the case, dearie. I'm just...confused is all. You say you are married to Jefferson here?" he asked.

Lacey blinked and nodded. "Yes of course, I've always been married to Jefferson. Well, maybe not always always, but for a long time. You know this." she said, tilting her head to one side. "Are you sure you're well?"

Jefferson nodded as he watched the two, looking at Mr. Gold. "Yes, Mr. Gold...if you're not well, perhaps you should lay down." he suggested.

When Mr. Gold didn't answer, Lacey shook her head. "Come come dearest, shopping can wait." she said, stepping away from Jefferson and moving to take Mr. Gold's hand, smiling. "We must get you well." she told him. Everyone in town knew that Mr. Gold was on his own, had no family to speak of, and she felt bad. She wanted to take care of him, and she wasn't completely sure what compelled her to do so.

Slowly walking towards the shop, gently bringing Mr. Gold in with her. Jefferson held the door for the two and closed it soon after she walked in with a shocked Mr. Gold.

Looking up at him, Lacey smiled. "Now, do you have a cot or something you can rest on?"

Gold nodded, swallowing hard as he treasured the feel of his loves guiding hands. She'd always taken care of him, even when he didn't deserve it. And now, the idea that she was with child made his mind spin. A million different ideas went though his head. Had she been with child before he left? Or was Jefferson to blame for being with her?

"I-in...in the back..." he muttered as he looked at Belles face. Or, well, Lacey's face.

She nodded a little and walked with him to the back of the shop. Getting him set down on the cot that was there before finding a blanket, pulling it over him with a smile as she looked at his face. "There. You should rest now, Mr. Gold. It'll make you feel better." she told him.

Shaking his head slowly, he reached up to take her wrist in his hand when she laid the blanket over him, looking up at her. "I don't...I don't want to rest." he said. Slowly his eyes traveled to her stomach. Could that really be his child there? Family was everything to him. He'd spent centuries looking for Baelfire, and now Belle carried his child. Time had stood still here in Storybrooke, so he knew she had to have been pregnant before the curse had set.

"How...how far along are you, dearie?" he asked curiously, his mouth feeling oh so dry.

She smiled to him, bringing her wrist back like he'd done nothing and shrugging. "Seven months. Jefferson thinks its a girl, but I do rather hope for a boy." she said, smiling brightly as she spoke about her child. Gently she rested her hand over her stomach and rubbed it lovingly before looking up at him. "Why do you ask?"

The explanation she gave had him thinking. How many months had he been locked away in that prison Cinderella helped put him in? Thinking back, he remembered he'd been there probably six months. So, the child she carried had to be his. "Belle..." he whispered as he looked up at her face.

"Who is this Belle? Daughter? Girlfriend? I'd never known you to have family before Mr. Gold. But perhaps I was wrong. Maybe if you know this Belle persons number I can call her for you, get her down here."

She's already here...Rumpelstiltskin thought as he looked up at her. Swallowing, he shook his head. "No no. Belle is...was...my wife. You um...you look alarmingly like her."

Lacey nodded, her smile still firmly planted on her face. "Oohh I see! I never knew you to be married Mr. Gold. Where is her? I bet she's a lovely woman."

"Ah, she is. The loveliest woman alive, my sweet Belle. After all, she saw the good in me and not many do." he answered, locking his eyes with hers.

She blinked as she looked into his eyes, tilting her head to one side. "What happened to her?"

At that he was a loss for words. He never wished to lie to his Belle, but how could he destroy her entire world around her like he was? But, it was his child she carried. "She um...she's lost."

"Oh no. Did you report her missing to the sheriff? Graham is a very nice man, surely he'd help you look."

Shaking his head slowly, leaning it back against the wood of the wall the cot was against as he looked up at her. "No. Alas, that would do no good. My Belle um...well, she's confused I'm afraid. Lost her memory, lost whom she is."

Slowly Lacey moved to sit next to Gold, resting one hand on his and rubbing it as she looked up at him. "Oh, you must be awful lonely without your wife."

"Indeed I am, dearie." he said, watching her carefully. It definitely was his Belle, she cared so much when she didn't have to. He looked down at her hand on his knee, and on her left hand ring finger was the very ring he'd given to Belle when he'd made her his wife in their real life. She now wore it as the ring that Jefferson had given her, and it made him grip his cane handle a bit tightly, gritting his teeth. It drove him inside. That was his ring on his Belle, and yet the Mad Hatter claimed her as his. He knew that Jefferson was under a spell, knew that he'd never claim his wife. But...what exactly had happened between his wife and friend in his absence? The idea just made him angrier than he already was.

Smiling to him and nodding. "I'm sure she'll remember you one day. You musn't give up hope. True love always finds its way back together."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "What stories have you been reading?"

"But I believe it!" she said with a small pout, looking up at his face. "I truly believe it." she said, nodding a little and patting his knee gently. "How about this. Until your wife remembers you, I'll come by and have lunch with you every day. Right here. Sound good?" she asked with a small smile. "That way, you won't be lonely."

Looking up at her with a surprised expression at her offer, blinking and smiling slowly. That was his Belle, always thinking of other people, especially him. It took him a minute to nod, reaching to rest his hand on her left shoulder, the palm of his hand pressing against the back of her left shoulder where he knew his tattoo was permanent against her skin underneath her shirt. She belonged to him, and he'd see that she remember that.

"That sounds...lovely, dearie." he said. She would come to lunch with him every day until his wife remembered alright, because she was his wife. She was the only real person that mattered to him outside of his son, Baelfire. But he still didn't know where Bae was, still didn't think they could leave Storybrooke. After all, the curse was not broken yet, just nudged. Surely he would have to encourage Miss Swan to hurry along in breaking it.

She smiled back to him and nodded. "Alright. I'll start with lunch tomorrow." she said as she moved to stand up, feeling his hand slide off her shoulder as she moved. Standing up was quite difficult with how pregnant she'd become. One hand braced her stomach a little as she stood, turning to look at him. "Please take it easy today, Mr. Gold."

"Aye, I will." he said, looking up at her. His mind was still reeling with the idea that he was going to be a father again. A father to a child who would be born and not know he was his father. It stung deep inside him to think that Jefferson would try to raise the child. He so wanted to loose his temper, but that would get him no where in this situation. He had to remember that she didn't remember who he was, who they were.

Watching as she walked out of the back and to Jefferson. She smiled as she hugged him, leaning and kissing him gently.

"Come, Jefferson. We've got shopping to do." she said happily as she started to walk out of the shop and out of Golds view. It pained him, to watch her look so happy with someone that wasn't him. Rumpelstiltskin was possessive over the things he considered belonging to him.

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The image of his Belle kissing Jefferson haunted Gold the rest of the afternoon. Rage filled him completely from the sight, and from the idea that somewhere Jefferson was holding her hand, kissing her, hugging her. And tonight there was a distinct possibility that he would be sharing the same bed with her. That in itself almost flew him into a rage so fierce, it was good that he didn't have magic in this world. Well, he would like to have magic in this world, but it was good for Jefferson. Because if he did have his magic than regardless on if Jefferson knew what he was doing or not, he would show his once-friend why he was The Dark One. Everyone in their world knew that you did not mess with The Dark One's girl and live to tell the tale.

Damn, if he only had magic. Magic would solve everything here. He was almost losing sight of why he wanted Regina to enact this curse, losing sight of the fact that he needed to find his son once it was fully broken. Belle had become the most important person in his life so quickly. She was the one person who didn't ever use him for his magic and didn't outwardly expect him to change. She saw who he was beyond the facade of The Dark One.

Rumpelstiltskin sighed as he tried to relax that evening in his home there in Storybrooke. He knew this was his home, it'd been that way for twenty eight years. But, he didn't feel at home here. He didn't feel at home anywhere that wasn't with his Belle.

Sitting on his couch, he could just imagine her fluttering around the house cooking and cleaning. He almost wondered how she'd look in his kitchen making them dinner. His Belle was always an amazing cook, she definitely kept him happily fed, and she'd taken care of the Dark Castle even after he'd taken her as his wife instead of his caretaker.

Shaking his head, realizing it was useless to try to sit around and relax. He had to get up early the next morning to open up the shop, so he decided to go to bed. And, for once as he slid into his silk sheets of the bed he owned as Mr. Gold it felt oddly lonely without his princess cuddled up to his side. Sighing as he closed his eyes to fall asleep to dreams of his memories that he'd just regained very early in the morning.

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The Dark Castle: Two Years Before The Curse

He'd been gone for a week on his latest deal and he was impatient to get back to his castle and to his Belle. No matter what his deal was he would always come home to Belle's smile and love that didn't judge him for those very deals he made. She never judged him, he had a real home with her. Just that filled him with the best warmth he'd ever felt.

Walking up into the castle, the doors opened automatically for him as he walked up towards the Great Hall, not sure if Belle would be there or not.

But, she was. She sat ready to tell whomever came to make a deal with Rumpelstiltskin that he wasn't home. She sat on her couch he'd put in the hall for her, reading her book. Looking up at whomever entered, a smile quickly tugged at her lips as she saw his face.

"Rumpelstiltskin! You're home!" she said happily. Sliding her book to rest on the couch beside her before she stood, running up to him, one hand holding her blue skirt so she didn't trip. Running up, she lunged herself into his arms, her arms moving around his neck to hug him tightly, giggling happily.

And he caught her, his arms moving around her waist as she bound into his arms like that, chuckling and shaking his head. "Miss me, dearest?" he asked, looking down at her as she settled back down on her feet.

She nodded and leaned to kiss him slowly, her fingers slipping down his arms slowly as she let her eyes close. "Mm, very much." she whispered against his lips once she broke the kiss. But she didn't let it stay broken for long, she leaned up to claim his lips again as soon as the words left her own mouth.

He tasted her lips, leaning forward into her kiss to deepen it, his tongue softly seeking entrance to her mouth which she granted. And her own tongue moved out to dance with his own as their kiss deepened. Gently his hand moved to her lower back to bring her up close to him, feeling as she took in a breath against him.

But, he leaned back from the kiss with a smile. "Aye, you did miss me...quite a bit in fact." he said, rubbing her back slowly as he leaned to kiss the tip of her nose.

She pouted cutely to him when he broke the kiss, leaning up to seek his lips out again but he chuckled. "Come now, dearest, there'll be time for that tonight."

A sigh came from her lips but she returned to smiling, nodding. "I'm just glad you're home love. I've missed you quite a lot. Our bed gets lonely by myself." she told him, rubbing his arms.

Grinning, he nodded. "Aye, that it does. I've gotten used to sleeping next to you." he whispered. He was becoming quite domesticated it seemed. He'd forgotten how good it felt to be with a woman, to have a woman care for him and love him. Well, he truly never knew completely how much a woman's love felt. His first wife, Mila, well she'd never truly loved him, especially not the way Belle did.

Gently he leaned back, taking both her hands in his. "Come, just sit with me my Belle." he said. Slowly leading her towards the grand fireplace. Moving his hand and a love seat appeared there by the fireplace, facing it, making Belle smile.

"I've missed your magic around here."

"Oh is that so? I thought my magic was evil."

She shook her head, moving to hug his arm slowly. "Not really. Not towards me." she said as she walked with them.

Once they reached the couch, Rumpelstiltskin moved to take a seat, bringing Belle to sit down next to him. She smiled and cuddled into his side, curling up and resting her cheek on his shoulder, looking up at his face. "I take it your deal went well?" she asked.

"Aye, that it did. But, no business, not tonight." he said. He was quite nervous, and he couldn't help it. He had a very important thing to do tonight, and even though he was sure of the outcome it still scared him.

Looking towards her, seeing her eyes up on his as he smiled a little. "Belle...might I...ask you something?"

She smiled and shrugged, leaning to kiss his cheek. "Well, you might ask me two somethings now, since you just asked me something." she said, giggling a bit. Seeing the slightly confused look in his eyes, she sighed and nodded. "Of course, Rumpel, you might ask anything of me you know."

Nodding a little, he looked down and gently moved to take her hand. "Belle...you know I love you..."

"Rumpel...this doesn't sound like a good question." she interrupted.

But he grinned and shook his head. "It isn't polite to interrupt, dearie." he reminded her. The blush that spread over her cheeks was adorable, too.

He held her hand, rubbing her fingers slowly. Gods, was The Dark One nervous? Yes, yes he was. His heart was thudding in his throat, a fear of rejection still lingering in him, even though he knew she'd never reject him. Taking in a breath to steady himself and looking up to her, giving her a soft smile.

"As I was saying. You know I love you, and I know I am not an easy man to love..." he started, rubbing her hands slowly. "I know many fear me, I even fear myself, the monster that I am." he continued, looking at her face knowing she was about to protest. "But..." he started so she wouldn't speak. "But you do not see a monster when you look at me. It astounds me. And that, my dear Belle, is why I wish to ask you if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked.

As the question left his mouth, he took a small box from his pocket and opened it to show her a ring tucked away inside it. The ring was two colors, a white gold and a black gold intertwining together up to the diamonds that stood there. It was a few simple diamonds, three of them. In the middle it was a black diamond, with two beautiful shining diamonds next to it.

Belle's eyes widened at his question and she gasped at the ring. A smile spread across her lips as she nodded quickly. "Oh yes! Of course I'll be your wife, Rumpelstiltskin!" she said. Moving to quickly hug him around his neck, leaning and kissing him slowly. Her fingers moved up to rest on the sides of his neck as she deepened the kiss, her head tilting to one side as she leaned close to him.

He hadn't even put the ring on her finger yet, and she was kissing him like he'd given her the best thing in the world. Of course he kissed her back, but he smiled against her lips as he leaned back. "Come come, my Belle." he said. Gently taking her left hand in his, slipping the ring onto her finger.

Taking in a breath, she looked down at the ring, grinning happily and looking up at him. Once the ring was securely on her finger she shifted up to sit on his lap, moving her arms around his neck as she leaned to kiss his bottom lip, brushing her nose against his and closing her eyes just halfway. "Oh Rumpel, I love you."

"As I love you, dearest." he said, bringing his arms around her waist as she sat on his lap, holding her close and looking up at her. "The whole realm will know you belong to only me now. Are you sure that doesn't bother you?" he asked, a bit of his insecurities coming up.

She smiled and shrugged. "I couldn't give a damn what other people think. All I care about is what you think, it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks, or says."

"Being my wife will put you in danger..." he said as an afterthought. He surely had enemies that would use her to get to him. "Perhaps asking was a bad idea..."

"Don't!" she said, gripping him. "Don't spoil this, my love. We'll face the dangers, the world, together. Its us against the world, bien-aimee, and I'm fine with that." she said, kissing his cheek gently.

"Bien-aimee? Thats a new one." he said with a smile.

Nodding, she returned his smile and rubbed the back of his neck slowly. "It means beloved in French." she told him. "Now, do we agree? Its us against the world. Are you the one thats fine with it?"

"As long as I have you by my side, I will face any foe, including the world." he told her, leaning up and capturing her lips in his.

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Storybrooke: Present Day

Lacey and Jefferson had gotten home hours ago from shopping. Jefferson swore that she'd brought out the entire town, to which she retorted that was quite impossible. She'd made dinner and they did their normal routine and now they sat to get ready for bed. But she felt uneasy, strange, she wasn't sure what it was about.

Sitting at her vanity, her long brown hair fallen over one shoulder in curls as she sat in her night dress. Gently she ran her brush along her curls, brushing through her hair as she gently brought it over her shoulder. Looking at herself in the mirror, she swallowed a little as she stared at herself, tilting her head to her right. The back of her shoulder burned, the very area that her tattoo resided. That was strange.

She didn't even notice Jefferson come in from the bathroom after taking his shower. He looked over at her, seeing how intent she seemed and he smiled. Walking over to her, he moved his hands to slip onto her shoulders, rubbing them slowly. As soon as his hands touched her skin she jumped a little, startled, which made him chuckle.

"Sorry, honey, I didn't mean to startle you."

"No no, its okay." she said, letting out a breath and shaking her head. "I'm fine. Ready for bed?"

"You most certainly are not fine." he said. Rubbing her shoulders slowly, working out the knots and kinks he felt in her muscles. "Something is bothering you. Tell me what it is?"

She furrowed her brow as she looked at him in her vanity mirror, shaking her head. "My shoulder burns. Its strange..."

"Which one?"

"Left..."

Gently he moved his hand to rub her shoulder, his thumb moving over her muscle, over the tattoo. "Your skin does feel hot right here. Strange. Do you want some ice or something?"

"No..." she said with a sigh, closing her eyes.

Leaning down, he kissed her shoulder over the name and he jumped back a little, a small static shock hitting his lips. Looking down at the tattoo, studying it a little as he moved to kneel down behind her. Rubbing his thumb over the letters letters etched onto his wife's skin. He'd never paid much attention to the small tattoo on the back of her shoulder, but now he studied it. "Why..did you get this done again?"

She shrugged, looking back at him. "No reason." she said with a smile. "Don't worry about it. I'm probably just being weird." she said. Leaning to place a small kiss on his lips before she moved to stand up with a hand on her back, letting out a breath.

Jefferson reached out to help her stand and shrugged. "I suppose it isn't important." he said. Walking her to the bed and helping her take a seat with a smile.

She shifted to lay back in bed, pulling the sheets over and reaching to take her book, deciding she wanted to read a little before bed. Turning to her page and looking down at the page, picking up where she left off.

But Jefferson wasn't so easily distracted. The shock on her skin and the burning of it made him wonder. Walking around to his side of the bed, the left side and crawling up in it, only wearing a pair of black pajama pants as he did. Looking at her, watching as she read her book, trying not to be obvious.

Though he wasn't too successful, or he wouldn't be. Gently he moved up to rest his hand on her left shoulder, running his fingers along her skin and leaning to kiss her shoulder at first. Slowly kissing towards the back of her shoulder, shifting her so he could kiss towards the little tattoo, wondering if he'd get a shock again.

And, he did. He gasped as the shock hit his lips causing him to jump, hitting his head against the headboard.

Lacey looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Just what are you doing? Have you gone mad, love?" she asked, tilting her head to one side. Closing her book again and resting it on the bedside table, reaching to rub the back of his head.

"Just...just trying to...to kiss my wife." he whined. Oh he'd have a bump alright.

She smiled and rubbed his head, giggling. "Kiss me without the bumping your head part then."

He pouted a little, looking up at her face. "Okay, sit up then." he asked. When she did what he requested, he leaned to kiss the mark again, giving him the same result. Looking at the mark with a glare. "This cursed mark won't let me kiss it."

"Oh Jefferson you're being crazy. Come, stop this nonsense." she said. Gritting her teeth as the fire burned underneath her skin at the mark. Her fingers gripped the sheets as the heat rose.

Watching, his eyes widened as the mark seemed to glow a soft purple. The purple was the same color of smoke that Rumpelstiltskin would appear in back in their world. But, no Rumpelstiltskin appeared.

"Lacey..." he whispered, moving his fingers up to touch the mark. But, a small shock repelled his hand. The small bit of magic that remained within the mark Rumpelstiltskin left on his bride wouldn't allow it, and seemed quite fed up with Jefferson attempting to touch her like that.

"Just...just stop, Jeff..." she muttered, taking in a breath and looking at him. "Please just stop. Can't we just go to bed?" she asked.

Slowly he nodded and sighed as he laid back on the bed, reaching to turn off the light and folding his hands underneath his head. "Guess I'm not getting any tonight." he said with a playful pout, not completely serious.

She giggled, shaking her head. "The only thing you'll get tonight is sleep." she said, patting his arm. "Besides, it'll do you some good." she said, shifting to lay on her back and try to find a comfortable position to sleep in.

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The Dark Castle: A Month After Rumpelstiltskin's Proposal

It'd started out as an innocent conversation. Of course Rumpelstiltskin was annoyed at Jefferson being there at the castle, he wanted nothing more than to be alone with his fiance. But Jefferson insisted on visiting, showing his face around the castle, hang out with Belle.

That part annoyed him quite a bit, Jefferson spending so much time with his Belle. Didn't the man know that she belonged only to him? Perhaps he was going a bit overboard though at his desire to keep the best thing to happen to him close. So, he sat at his spinning wheel as Jefferson and Belle had a conversation at the grand table in the hall.

She was giggling, he laughed and spoke of his stories of Wonderland, his recent adventure.

"Ahh, sweet Belle, your laughter lights up a room." Jefferson said, looking at her with a grin.

She blushed to his comment, shaking her head. "Jefferson, you're too much of a flirt, stop." she said with a smile, leaning against the table. "Now, tell me more of this Wonderland. It sounds quite interesting."

"Oh but it is, sweet Belle." Jefferson started.

The things he called her irked Rumpelstiltskin. Between himself and Jefferson he would be the first to admit that perhaps Jefferson was the better catch. Jefferson was younger, better looking, and not completely evil, Jefferson had a bigger light within him than he did. Would Belle find the charm of the hatter better? Would she want him to show her this Wonderland? Rumpelstiltskin's eyes narrowed as he glanced over, listening to the conversation, listening to Jefferson continue his shameless flirting.

"Ahh and the food, Belle, is so sweet. Not quite as sweet as you are, and most assuredly not as delicious." he said wit ha grin.

At that, Rumpelstiltskin lost his patience for the man in his home. How dare the hatter come into his castle and flirt with his bride-to-be. In an instant the Dark One was up and crossed the room. Grabbing Jefferson by the throat and yanking him to his feet. And within another blink of an eye he was pressing the hatter against the wall, a murderous glare in his eyes.

"How DARE you speak to MY bride like that! In front of my own face also, hatter. I will not allow you to continue your shameless flirting." he said, tightening his grip on the hatters throat.

Belle gasped and stood up, running up to them. "Rumpelstiltskin! You let him go this instant! It was harmless, come on love." she said, reaching to take ahold of his arm that was choking the breath out of Jefferson. She was obviously worried for his well being. Her husband to be was not known for his patience or mercy that was for sure.

"No Belle. This man comes into MY castle and disrespects me to MY FACE. I will not allow this to continue. Not one minute. He'll die for his words."

Jefferson choked as the fingers closed around his neck, squirming as he attempted to gain breath, failing at it. Looking down, he opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't due to his windpipe being slowly crushed by Rumpelstiltskin's power. For once Rumpelstiltskin didn't go for the heart, he wanted to feel the breath choke out of his victims throat.

"Rumpel please, love, stop this. He didn't mean anything by it, and he'll stop, right?" she asked, looking up at Jefferson with pleading eyes.

Quickly Jefferson nodded his head, looking to Rumpelstiltskin's face. He'd always considered The Dark One to be his friend in a way, even more so now that he had Belle. But he'd never seen such a look of hate in the mans eyes before.

"See that? He promises. So help me Rumpel if you kill him I'll be so upset with you! He's our friend! You would forget about sharing our bed with me for a while. Please, it was just harmless, he was telling me about Wonderland."

"And...is Wonderland a place you wish to escape to?" Rumpelstiltskin asked, gritting his teeth as he asked it and glanced towards Belle's face. "Will that be where you run from me to?"

She blinked and shook her head. "No, I would never run from you love. But please, you're scaring me. Let him go..." she whispered, reaching to rub his arm and leaning up to kiss his cheek. "This isn't you..."

"Aye, but it is me, dearest. I kill what appears to be a threat to me."

Smiling and looking into his eyes. "Love, you have nothing to fear in any man when it comes to me. No man will make me sway from you. None at all. I promise. Do you think me so untrue?"

Jefferson squirmed, desperate to gather breath as they discussed this. Resting his hands on Rumpelstiltskin's wrist, gripping him a little as he started to get weak from oxygen loss.

And quickly Rumpelstiltskin let him go, and as soon as he did Jefferson fell to his knees, gasping for breath and coughing hard.

"No..." Rumpelstiltskin said, looking at Belle. "It is not you I worry about, it is him."

"But it is me! You said it! You said I'd run off with him. I'm not like that. Please...please, we'll work on your self esteem problems. But, in the mean time, can you at least trust me enough to know I won't be going anywhere? No other man will be with me the way you are, I promise." Belle said with a small smile. Reaching to take Rumpelstiltskin's hand and bringing him with her, glancing to make sure Jefferson was okay. She knew Jefferson would live, but for now she had to calm the beast that flared out of her lover to attack Jefferson.

Rumpelstiltskin sighed as he looked at her, nodding as he tried to bottle up the rage he felt. "I'll be back." he said. He knew he couldn't just contain his rage, and he didn't want to take it out on Belle. So, within an instant he disappeared from their view.

Belle pouted, shaking her head and quickly moving to Jefferson, looking at him. "Oh Jefferson I'm so sorry! He over reacted, he'll be fine. Are you okay?"

He coughed and swallowed hard, nodding. "I...I will be. Gods, remind me not to play with you again." he said, reaching up to caress his neck.

"Just...don't flirt, okay? I didn't realize it bothered him as much as it does, but he does have a self esteem problem..." she said with a sigh. Rubbing Jeffersons back and helping him to stand up. "Come, lets get you some water to drink for your throat. Rumpel will calm down and come back and we'll discuss this like adults."

Nodding, he looked up at her slowly. "Really...I...I meant no harm, Belle.."

She smiled to him, returning his nod. "I know that, of course I do. It'll be fine." she told him as she lead him to the table.

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A/N: Wa-la! Fin. Well, not with the story in a whole, but with this chapter. I hope you guys liked it! :-).

I definitely ship Rumbelle, don't worry, and I hope you guys loved this little Rumbelle fluff.