Rumplestiltskin wasn't sure how many years It had been since he had been at the winter palace, Regina traveled far and wide these days, exapanding her kingdom in all directions. She was the most feared sorceress anywhere but everyone knew her true power was because of the dark magic she was in posession of.

As they traveled in carriages Rumplestiltskin kept his eyes on the dark forest. It was a vast woods that began right outside the palace walls. His castle that lay in ruins lay far beyond it. Mysterious things lurked in this forest. You didn't go in there under any circumstances and at night the villagers knew that even getting near could be quite dangerous, more than one had disapeared, never to be heard from again. It was rumored that a resistance group lived there, stealing villagers to recruit them to thier cause, the cause being overthrowing the Queen and restoring the land, They must have reasoned a young Queen was far better than an evil one. Rumplestiltskin noted even Regina stayed away from the dark forest.

As they entered He couldn't help but sneak a peek at the tower. His heart gave alittle twinge of happiness when he spied those eyes taking in the scene below. he would no doubt see her again, he had fondly thought of the child over the years, he knew of her story. Poor little princess kept prisioner in the tower by her evil stepmother. He felt certain the Queen would have her killed one day, why wait? Why not kill her as a girl, was it only to keep her prisioner, to do what torture her with life? Perhaps in her mind she did believe in the rebellion, perhaps she had something a bit more special in mind, like her eighteenth birthday.

His face turned grim as he thought that one day it might be Rumple himself that would be called upon to snuff out her life. He looked back at the tower to see her looking at him, so she did remember him he thought.

xoxoxoxoxox

The door slammed shut behind Rumple as he steped into his room in the tower. The guard turned his back and approached hers. He hollered into her cell while he gave the bars a rough shake, "Come out girl, I wana take a look at ya, you don't want me to come in there now do ya?"He gave the bars another hearty shake, then made a pleased laugh as Belle stuck her head out from the wall with the blanket pulled to one side, covering a hiding place that kept her hidden from unwanted company. Rumple barely glimpsed a face as she dove back down next to the wall. The guard leered at her but fortunatly for her, he didn't have the keys to her cell so he left.

When he exited the tower and no one was left except Belle, Rumplestiltskin and looming silence. "You can come out now crickett, it's just us."

A head popped out to look at him. Rumple grinned at her as she crawled out of her sanctuary behind her bed. Those sad eyes hadn't changed one bit he thought as he looked at her, but as she rose to her feet he was surprised to find out everything else had, he must have been gone longer than he thought.

Belle dusted herself off and walked over to the bars where they could see each other clearly. "I didn't think I would ever see you again Rumplestiltskin" she smiled at him happily. "Well here I am dearie" Rumple gave a twirl of his hand, gesturing to himself with a mischievous grin.

For the longest time neither spoke, they just stood there taking each other in. Belle was as tall as a woman with hair that hung well past her shoulders, it would have been wavy he rememberd if it weren't hanging in limp strands from not being washed. Rumple could make out an outline of breasts and curving hips through her raggedy dress, perhaps she was 16 or 17, he would have to question her later, his eyes roamed up her body to study her face. "What are you staring at?" Belle looked mad, shooting him an angry glare. "Look, I get enough of that from the guards, could you not look at me like I'm something to eat?"

"It's only that your so changed crickett, Don't worry I don't want to eat you little one." Rumple couldn't help but grin at her boldness as he took a seat on the floor in his favorite corner, the poor lighting hiding him in shadow. "Oh" Belle blushed, "I'm sorry" She shrugged her shoulders as she walked back to her bed to watch him.

Soon a young servant girl came with food. they both recieved a megar bowl of some kind of stew and water. "Where's my bread?" Belle called after her but she recieved no answer.

Over dinner Belle seemed to warm up a bit and as they ate, sitting by thier bars which was the closest they could come to each other , Rumple was soon to discover that she was full of questions that apparently no one had answered.

Rumple wondered where the woman who had took care of Belle in secret had gone. He tried to answer what questions he could and managed to slip a few of his own in there as well. Rumple soon discovered that the woman had been killed as punishment for bringing Belle books about a year ago. she was interested in the reason for his captivity so he regaled her about how Regina had posession of the knife that held the secret to his power that kept him prisioner at her side.

"If I had control of your knife, I would give it back to you."

"That's very noble of you dearie, but alas you do not." She would likely be executed before she could escape he thought, but none the less he wished it were true, he was always devising some sort of escape plan but no one had ever promised him freedom before, only servitude.

Rumplestiltskin cocked his head to the side as Belle got up and went over to the rock wall seemingly digging at a loose spot, she removed a piece and retrived her most valued posession, a small knife. "where ever did you aquire that?" he asked as she held it out for him to see. It was small but able to do damage if one were up close to thier victim. The wheels in his mind began to turn, if she escaped perhaps she could find his knife. No, no she needs to get as far away from here as possible he told himself, besides she wouldn't risk her life for you Rumple. Belle watched his unreadable expression as she wondered what he could be thinking of, but she had plans of her own.

"I'm going to get us more food, tonight" Rumple wondered for a brief second what she had in mind exactly before the girl knelt down before her door and he watched her as she proceeded to work the lock with the point of the blade. "what will you do when you have aquired food, will you make your dash for freedom?"

"No, I'm going to kill her and take back what is rightfully mine, but not tonight, tonight is for food." Very brave for such a girl, he was vaguely interested in how long it would take her to figure out the lock. He had a suspicion she had tried this many a time before.

It was way up into the night as Rumple found a comfortable place where he could recline with his eyes shut, she never ceased with her activity as he listened. His eyes slowly opened when he heard the "click" of Belle's apparent sucess.

Her door slowly swung open as Rum sat up from his spot in the corner, his florescant eyes attracting Belle over to his cell, she put her little hands on the bars of his cell. "I'll be back as fast as I can" and in a flash she was down the stairs and out of the tower. The night swallowed her up from his sight as Rumple sat there with mixed emotions over the whole scene, perhaps she had done this before he reasoned, He certainly didn't want her to get caught. he couldn't communicate with her mind like he had done before untill he was free of his cage, it was the spell placed there by Regina, to keep him impudent. But if he could he reasoned, the things they could accomplish together. If she could get out whenever she wanted and she had no intentions of leaving perhaps she would want his help, she certainly needed it if she wanted to kill the Queen, it would be tricky but not impossible, but if he was to be any help they would first have to secure his dagger.

It seemed like she was gone forever as Rumple paced in his cell. She should have returned by now, he hadn't heard any alarms sounded or heard any soldiers running out in the courtyard, in fact it was as quiet as a tomb, maybe she did make a run for it, dove into the dark forest to never be heard from again. He knew the Queen wouldn't go in after her, she would send him no doubt, what if she did?

Soon he heard the click of the tower door opening and someone climbing the stairs, they held a candle and the glow bounced like a fairy as it climbed up to meet him at the top. "Rumplestiltskin" Belle whispered as she pressed her face up to the bars.

Belle startled alittle when suddenly his face was just inches from hers, his eyes reflecting the light from her candle. she never thought she'd be this close to him and on an impulse she reached through the bars of his cage and touched his cheek. Her touch felt like butterfly wings. soft and fleeting as she gently guided her fingers down his cheek. "I thought you would be cold, but your quite warm." " indeed I am." he couldn't help but lean into her touch, letting her cool fingers glide over his skin. He was surprised when she ran her thumb across his bottom lip before reaching into her pouch and pulling out a half a loaf of bread holding it out to him. Rumple looked down at the offering then back at her. She pushed her hand through the bars, putting the offering into his hand. Rumple couldn't take his eyes off of her face, as she touched him his fingers closed around her wrist. He expected her to draw her back her arm, but she held it there for him as he rubbed the smooth skin on her arm with his finger, a light caress before he let go accepting her offering, Belle shivered in the dark.

Rumple was surprised when she sat down right outside his cage with her candle and procedded to eat her bread. "Did anyone see you?"

"No, but I heard the guards whispering of the Queen leaving soon, possibly in a few weeks. Do you think you will be going with her?"

"I'm sure I will, I am her weapon and while I'm under her rule I must do as she commands " Rumplestiltskin spoke to her matter of factly. She raised up to leave and go back to her own cell, "I'm sorry Rumplestiltskin, I do not want you to go." she stared at her feet not meeting her eyes, Rum could swear he heard sniffling, was she crying? Rumple put his hand through the bars and raised her chin up to look at him. "I don't want to go" he whispered to her. A tear slid down her cheek and before he could stop himself he caught it with his finger and brought it to his lips, tasting the saltiness.

Belle nodded her head as she stepped back and went to her cell, closing the door. After she replaced her knife she climbed on her cot, she continued to watch him untill her eyes closed in sleep.

the next morning Rumple woke up and looking over at her cell was surprised to see her standing at the frount of her cage, her eyes watching him intently. He opened his mouth to say some sort of greeting but closed it with her next statement.

"They say your not a man, not anymore. But you were once, just an ordinary man?"

"Perhaps once, but now I am a monster."

"Your not a monster." "You don't think me ugly then?"

"Not at all, I quite like the way you look" she said appraising him up and down.

" you are kind young one but do not be decieved, I am indeed the monster that they say."

"I'm not that young sir, and it is the Queen that is the true monster."

"And it is you Belle who is the true Queen." Belle shivered at her name, he always called her some endearment but he rarely used her true name. "Perhaps."

she looked at him a few more moments then spoke again, " I will get your dagger Rumplestiltskin, I give you my word."

"If that day ever comes princess, I will help you take back what is yours and you have my word on that as well." Belle nodded but didn't speak, satisfied with thier conversation.

xoxoxoxox

The next few weeks passed quickly as they found that they enjoyed one another's company. Rumple looked pleased to hear Belle's many stories although she no longer possessed any of her books she had memorized most of them and would tell them to him in the long nights. they would talk of things Rumple had seen and heard while he had been away, till the morning they came to take him away. Belle clung to her bars as he dissapeared down the tower stairs leaving her wondering if she would ever see him again.