A/N: I promise, this will be the last half-flashback chapter, but I felt like I needed this setup. I hope you like it! R&R and please to enjoy!

Chapter 1

Snow White and Charming had been most intrigued when they received word of the engagement of Sir Maurice's daughter to none other than Rumplestiltskin. Two months before the proposed wedding, they set out for the Dark Castle, anticipating the need to rescue a helpless girl who had stumbled into a horrible deal.

What they found was something quite the opposite.

Snow had given Charming a stern warning: "Don't let your need to be a hero impair your judgment. Don't forget the trouble we've gotten into with Rum – with him before…"

Her husband shrugged off her advice, however, and his gallantry ended up being their downfall. Upon entering the Dark Castle, Charming immediately let heroics take over, attempting to force Rumplestiltskin to release Belle to him. Moments later, Snow and Charming found themselves pinned against a wall, a strong but invisible force holding them fast.

The Dark One slowly advanced toward the two helpless royals, his hand raised in a choking gesture, his magic pinning them down.

"Let her go!" He repeated Charming's words in a mocking tone. "I think, dearie, that perhaps you need to mind your own business –"

But then a new voice rang out from the top of the stairs.

"Rumplestiltskin!"

Something changed in Rumplestiltskin's expression, as if a switch had been flipped. Snow and Charming dropped to the floor as he turned toward the source of the voice. All three looked up to see a beautiful young brunette slowly descending the marble staircase. She wore a mask of confusion on her face and a lovely, pale blue dress that brought out her eyes.

"Who…who are these people? What have you done to them?"

Though Rumplestiltskin's face had softened, there was conflict – almost worry – in his eyes. "Go back to the spinning room, Belle. I'll be right in."

"No," Charming interrupted, leaping back to his feet. "Stay. Don't let him control you anymore." He paused, visibly forcing himself to remain calm. "We're here to bring you home."

Rumplestiltskin struggled to restrain the urge to throw Charming clear across the room, knowing it would only frighten Belle.

Belle reached the foot of the staircase, looking to the King. "Home? What are you talking about?"

Snow smiled, tentatively walking towards Belle. "We can bring you back. To your father, your family, your friends. Your home."

Belle's eyes widened with an emotion that Snow couldn't quite place. "No! No no no," she protested. "You've got it all wrong. My home is here now."

Charming pleaded with her. "Belle, we know what this man does to people. How he manipulates them. We're here to protect –"

Rumplestiltskin could keep quiet no longer. "She is in no need of your protection, I assure you." He spat the words at Charming.

"Well, she is certainly in no need of anything you could offer her!"

"Stop!" Belle cried. "Stop it, both of you!" She came and stood between the two men, her eyes blazing. "You, Rumplestiltskin, do not own me. You don't get to tell me what to do or decide where I stay. And you," she continued, turning to Snow and Charming, "I don't know who you are, but I promise you that I have not been forced into anything. I chose to stay here, to marry Rumplestiltskin. My home is here," she said again.

She locked eyes with Rumplestiltskin then, and the whole atmosphere in the room changed. Snow instantly recognized the look on Belle's face. The longing and trust in her pretty blue eyes, the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes darted to Rumplestiltskin's face, finding a matching expression there.

Snow pulled Charming to the opposite end of the room, speaking in hushed tones.

As they moved out of earshot, Belle broke the silence with a quiet reproach. "You had no right to treat them that way. They were only trying to help me."

Failing to mask his frustration, Rumplestiltskin fired back. "You don't need their help. Their idea of "help" is taking you away. They won't give up until you are separated from me forever."

"How can you be so sure?"

He sighed and closed his eyes, and Belle could tell he was remembering things past. "Because I've known them both for their entire lives. They're stubborn. When they want something… they don't stop until they get it." He paused. "Until they find it."

Belle mulled this over. Though she had come to trust Rumplestiltskin, she also considered herself a good judge of character – and Snow and Charming didn't strike her as the type to tear her away from someone she loved.

"They seem like reasonable people to me. The Queen, especially. They clearly love each other." She looked to where they stood. Out of the corner of her eye, Snow caught Belle staring; both women quickly dropped their eyes.

A thought occurred to Belle. Surely the King and Queen would recognize true love when they saw it…

"What if… what if we could prove it to them? That I'm here because I chose to be here, and that you haven't forced me into anything. That we do love each other." Her mouth turned up in a half-smile.

Rumplestiltskin, skeptical, raised an eyebrow in question. "And how do you expect to do that?"

"Not me. Us. We'll make them see." She grabbed both his hands and held them tightly. "True love is undeniable. The most powerful magic of all, hm?"

Now a melancholy smile crept onto the Dark One's face. "It would seem so."

"All we have to do is show them that we can love just as they do. But that won't happen if you make a habit of throwing them against walls!"

Rumplestiltskin looked at Belle with utter tenderness, the frustration and anger gone as quickly as they had come. "I only did that to protect you, love. I…" He faltered, lifting his hand to her cheek. "I couldn't let them take you away. I couldn't lose you again. I thought that perhaps…you might want to go with them."

Belle placed her hand over his. "I would love to see my family, but they can come here. We can visit them. There will be time for that. Right now, I want to focus on us. And if you really want to protect me, you'll help me show these two who you really are. That's the only way, Rumple."

He knew she was right. He knew he would have to open up to Snow and Charming, break down the emotional walls that he had only ever really lowered for two people in his life. If he wanted Belle to be able to stay, he had to prove himself. It was a new experience for him, and frankly, it made him uneasy. But he had to show the King and Queen the man he could be, and the love he could give. This was his chance to remind Belle that he trusted her judgment – had faith in her. Perhaps most importantly, it was a chance to prove to himself that he wasn't a monster to the core.

Meanwhile, across the room, Snow and Charming had been discussing their next move.

"She loves him."

Charming looked back to Belle, his brow furrowed. "I find it hard to believe that she –"

"Just look at them, Charming. Look at their eyes." He did so, and Snow saw his resolve waver. "It's not one-sided. He…he loves her. I'm just as shocked as you are, but… how can you deny it?"

The prince weighed his options carefully. "I still don't feel right just leaving her here."

Across the room, Rumplestiltskin chimed in, "Well, dearie, that's not exactly up to you, now is it?"

Snow and Charming whipped around, startled. "Forgive me," Charming shot back, "if I don't exactly find you all that trustworthy."

Trying to avoid an impending fight, Belle blurted out, "Give me a chance to prove my choice to you. Stay with us! Help me prepare for the wedding! We have plenty of room –"

"Belle, do you really think that's a good idea?" Rumplestiltskin was clearly not enthused. Having Snow and Charming stay as house guests was not what he had in mind when he had agreed to this.

"Why not? I could use the help." She shot him a knowing look.

Charming wasn't thrilled with the prospect of staying in the Dark Castle, either. "We have… matters to attend to, back in our own kingdom. We can't afford to take the time –"

"I can." Snow piped up. "You go back to the castle, Charming. I'll stay and keep an eye on Belle. I'll send word if you're needed." She paused, seeing the worried look on Charming's face. "Are you going to argue with me?"

"…would it do any good?"

"No." Snow smirked mischievously.

"I promise you, she'll be in good hands. I've wanted to have guests for a long time now," Belle offered.

Rumplestiltskin couldn't help feeling guilty at that.

Though it still didn't sit right with him, Charming had to give in. He turned to Snow with a final plea. "Then… be careful."

"I will." The couple embraced, Charming gently stroking Snow's hair as he breathed in her scent. "I love you."

"I love you, too." The King gently gently cupped his Queen's cheek, pulling her in for a farewell kiss. With that, he reluctantly departed for their home. Snow looked on as he rode away, trying to hide the sadness in her eyes.

Belle, wanting to make her guest feel at home, rushed over to Snow. "Come with me! I'll show you your room."

"Thank you." The two walked back toward the stairs. "I'm Snow, by the way. Snow White. I don't believe we've been properly introduced." She extended her hand toward Belle, which Belle shook firmly.

"Belle. It's very nice to meet you, Snow." The two chattered away, voices fading as they climbed the stairs arm in arm.

Rumplestiltskin gazed at them as they vanished from sight. He walked over to the table that was the centerpiece of his foyer, admiring the enormous vase of deep red roses that always adorned it. He picked a single stem out of the vase and closed his eyes, inhaling its subtle fragrance. And as he walked back to his spinning room, he found himself wondering what in the world he had gotten himself into.

It was a small ceremony, as castle weddings go.

The guests consisted only of Belle's father and a few of her close childhood friends. Snow had become like a sister to Belle over the last two months, and was the obvious choice for maid of honor. Charming, after much convincing on Snow's part, agreed to stand with Rumplestiltskin as his best man.

Thanks to Snow's assistance, the grounds of the Dark Castle were beautifully decorated with thousands of roses in every shade of every color imaginable. A white runner marked the aisle the bride was about to traverse. Rumplestiltskin and Charming stood waiting under a gazebo at the far end. The weather couldn't have been more perfect; the sun was shining, and beautiful white clouds were scattered across the bright blue sky.

The bride and maid of honor stood alone just inside the castle, waiting for Belle's father to finish dressing. Sir Maurice, though he did not approve of the wedding, had refused to miss the opportunity to walk his only daughter down the aisle.

Snow turned to Belle and found a terrified look on her face. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing... I'm just… jittery, I guess." Belle's hands were shaking, clutching to her bouquet of roses.

"Hey." Snow rushed to wrap her friend in a calming embrace. "I get it. You've been waiting your whole life for this moment. You want it to be everything you dreamed it would be." She pulled back to look her in the eye, her hands on her shoulders. "And it will be."

"It's not even that… I'm more scared of what comes after." Belle was struggling not to cry. "I don't know how to be a wife!"

"Shhh," Snow cooed. "You'll be just fine. I've seen you two together for two months now. He clearly loves you more than life itself. Do you know how many other people have had that effect on the Dark One? Zero, to my knowledge." She paused. "You're special, Belle. And I can see now that you truly love him, too. True love, it's… it's – "

Belle knew the rest. "…the most powerful magic in the world."

Snow smiled. "Right. Just remember, I'll be right up there next to you the whole time. Everyone is here because they love you. Remember that."

Belle's eyes welled with tears. "Thank you, Snow." She pulled her into one last hug. "Thank you for everything."

"Don't mention it."

Sir Maurice came into the room then, dressed in his finest robes.

"Why, Papa, don't you look dashing." Belle chuckled in delight.

Belle's father looked at her in absolute awe. "I look like a toad compared to you, my girl."

"Wait. There's something missing." Belle walked over to the door and pulled a white rose from a vase sitting near it. She brought it back to her father, fastening it to his robes as a makeshift boutonniere. "There. Now you look perfect."

Maurice looked at the flower, and then to his flower. "Belle…are you sure this is what you want? Is this where you want to be?"

"Papa, I've told you. This is exactly what I want. I love him."

Her father took a deep breath. "Then who am I to stop you?"

The tears in Belle's eyes threatened to spill over yet again. "Thank you, Papa. I love you, too. You know that."

"I know, sweet. I know." He hugged his daughter tightly, being careful not to ruin her beautiful hair that Snow had worked so hard on. Then the music started playing.

Snow hated to break up this father-daughter moment, but gently asked, "Are you ready, Belle?"

Belle nodded and moved to her father's right as he offered her his arm. He cupped her chin and turned her face so he could look her in the eye. He only barely managed to choke out in a whisper, "Your mother would be so proud." He kissed her cheek, and pulled her sheer veil over her face. She patted his arm in reassurance – whether for him or for her, she wasn't quite sure.

Snow gave Belle a final, comforting wink, and turned the door handle to step outside.