A/N: Rumple snaps out of his depression when Belle summons him to the well, but Regina has stolen her heart. Will Rumple be able to win back Belle's heart?

Belle had called for him.

At once terrified and hopeful, he had magicked himself out of his grimy t-shirt and tattered bathrobe. With a wave of his hand, he was clean-shaven, impeccably attired in an all-black bespoke suit, and spritzed with Belle's favorite cologne.

Excited by the prospect of spurring the mopey Rumple into action, Cruella and Ursula had rushed into the cabin just in time to witness his radical transformation in appearance and attitude. Gone were the greasy hair, sour odor, and disheveled shadow of a man who had gone too long without a shower—Rumplestiltskin looked dark, dangerous, and devastatingly handsome.

"Pick your jaw up off the floor, Cru," Ursula elbowed her companion. "He's not all dolled up for you."

Cruella threw the Sea Witch a harangued look. There was no harm in admiring the view. "Darling," she said to Rumple, "you look positively scrumptious. And what excellent timing—we were just coming to give you some happy news. Your wife is on her way."

"I know," Rumple snapped, more out of nervousness than irritation. "Belle summoned me." The spunk that had been missing for weeks brightened his chocolate eyes. "Wish me luck, dearies." And in a puff of crimson smoke, he was gone.

But nothing had transpired in the way he'd expected, and if there was one thing Rumplestiltskin loathed, it was being caught unaware. In over 300 years of life, very little surprised him. But the confounded Mills women always served up bitter pills for him to swallow.

First Zelena, blackmailing him in the hospital and forcing his return to Storybrooke.

Now Regina had manipulated Belle into tricking him—again. Using Belle against him was one of her favorite games, and she'd lured him to the old well in the forest and Belle was the bait. Falling for the scheme, he had shown Belle his blackened heart, confessed his intent to find the Author to reverse his condition, and launched himself into her arms like a lovesick fool. She had opened herself to him so sweetly, so passionately that for a brief moment his dark heart exploded in a burst of hope.

But then Belle had pulled away, her sapphire eyes going glassy and cold.

He had never considered himself much of a lover, though Belle's cries of pleasure in his arms seemed to belie his doubts about his abilities. Maybe she had just been pretending to enjoy his caresses.

She had called him pathetic, likened him to a dog begging for scraps, and she had said...she had said...he could barely bear to remember those unthinkable words...she had said she preferred Will's kisses. And with that, the last shreds of his ego crumbled into dust. She was better off without him, and he? He was better off dead.

But cruelty and nastiness? Even if she were telling the truth, that wasn't Belle. His Belle was understanding, kindhearted, and loving, even to those who were undeserving. She always spoke with thoughtful care.

"This isn't like you, Belle," he had said, even though his wounded soul believed her comments to be true.

Then Regina had crept out from behind a large tree, his love's bright red heart clutched in her cold black glove. Laughing at him, Regina ordered Belle's heart to forget all she had seen, heard, and said. Obediently, Belle abruptly turned and walked away without a backward glance.

"Was it you the whole time?" he demanded of Regina.

"As if I would have told her to kiss you!" Regina mocked. "Please, Gold, I just ate lunch."

Disgust at Regina's puppeting mingled with relief at the possibility that Belle didn't hate him. Perhaps she hadn't meant those terrible things she'd said? Maybe Regina had forced her.

To hell with Zelena, the Author, and his own charred heart. He had one mission: to get Belle's heart back.

Allowing Regina to walk off with Belle's heart, he followed his wife home.

xoxoxo

It felt strange, ringing the doorbell at his own house. But this wasn't his home anymore, and he wouldn't just barge in. This conversation would be difficult enough.

Without looking to see who was calling, Belle threw open the door with a cheerful smile. A smile that quickly faded as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth and her lovely eyes clouded with confusion.

He grimaced; she'd obviously been expecting someone else. Someone she was actually looking forward to seeing.

"Rumple," she faltered, bewildered. "What are you doing here? I was just on my way to our—I mean— your cabin...but for some reason I needed to come home. I can't remember why."

Her mood shifting like the direction of the wind, she put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Wait! I heard you weren't feeling well. That you were in the midst of some sort of breakdown. I was supposed to come to talk to you, not the other way around." She narrowed her eyes. "Is this a trick?"

Rumple was astonished. How had Belle learned of his disgraceful depression? Suddenly the answer was all too clear. Meddlesome witches. He was going to incinerate them. "How did you know about that?"

"Cruella and Ursula paid me a visit." Belle's lips began to tremble and her eyes overflowed with tears. "Rumple, please," she begged, "Tell me what's going on. I can bear anything as long as it's true."

"Oh, Belle," he sighed, shaking his head sadly. "I'm here because Regina has your heart."

"What? How? Why?" Belle sputtered, her hand fluttering over her chest.

"It's nothing to do with you, sweetheart, and everything to do with me," he apologized. "This is my fault, Belle. I should have placed a protection spell on your heart."

"But you did," Belle protested. "It must have broken when…when I banished you." The last words were said in a despairing whisper. "Oh, Rumple."

His laughter was a harsh bark in the cold afternoon air. "I failed you once when Regina told me you were dead." Rumplestiltskin hung his head. " I've failed you over and over. But not this time. We're going to get your heart back—together."

"Together?" Belle asked, trying to suppress a smile. She loved him so much, but was she ready to trust him again? Was he ready to trust her again?

"Unless you would, ah, rather ask your Thief for help?" he offered sheepishly.

The bereft desperation reflected in his eyes was all the answer she needed. If she refused to step out in faith, they would never rebuild what was broken.

Tentatively, she placed her tiny hand in his large, warm palm.

He looked at her in surprise, tears glistening on his lashes. The gesture was so trusting, so innocent, that Rumplestiltskin nearly came undone. Forcing back the tears and stilling his trembling limbs, he laced his fingers with hers and focused on the task at hand.

"Come now," he urged, leading her off the front porch and down the steps. "Someone has stolen the most lovely, precious heart in all the realms. We need to return it to its rightful owner."

She giggled a little at the shy compliment, and they walked arm and arm to the Cadillac.

xoxoxo

"Our illustrious mayor is holding your heart somewhere in her office," Rumple explained, parking in front of City Hall. "Maleficent has been appointed watchdog while Regina sojourns to New York with Emma."

"Because Robin's in danger," Belle reiterated. "And Zelena—she's been posing as Marian this entire time? Poor Robin. Poor Roland. Dear God, I almost feel sorry for Regina."

"You're entirely too compassionate, Belle," Rumple frowned. "I'm living proof of that."

"Stop talking that way," she scolded. "We'll discuss our troubles later. Right now I want my heart back and I'm awfully tired of being manipulated by that harpy."

He couldn't contain his smile at her bravado. "No doubt Regina has placed wards on her office door to keep me out," he warned. "You'll have to go first. Use this to break the protection spell surrounding the office. It contains a lock of Regina's hair and one of her tears." He handed her a small vial.

Belle stared at the swirling magenta liquid inside the glass. "But how did you get these?"

He merely quirked an eyebrow at her in response.

"Right," she said, opening the office door and swiftly tossing the contents of the vial into the open doorway—straight into the shocked face of none other than Regina Mills.

As Regina swiped at the bright pink rivulets of potion running down her cheeks and dripping onto her expensive pantsuit, Belle hastened through the door, pulling Rumple behind her.

"Well, if it isn't the happy couple," Regina smirked. "But you'll have to excuse me. I'm on my way out."

"Not so fast," Belle challenged, blocking her exit. "You have something that belongs to me. And I want it back. Now."

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Regina lied easily.

"I'm quite sure you do," Belle replied, her voice sharp as steel.

Regina fixed her cold stare on Rumple. "Gold would never be stupid enough to betray me. Not when his own life hangs in the balance."

Stiffening, Belle paled and looked between the two mages. "What are you talking about? Rumple?"

"You mean you don't know?" Regina wrinkled her alabaster brow in mock confusion. "Oh, that's right. You forgot." She laughed delightedly at her own joke. "Show her, Gold."

"This isn't about me, Regina," he snarled through gritted teeth, not wanting to bare his soul in front of Regina twice in one day. "Return Belle's heart, please."

"Your 'pleases' don't work on me, anymore, Gold," Regina rejoined. "And what do you mean, it's not about you? It's always about you."

"What do you know?" Belle interrupted angrily, squaring her shoulders toward Regina. "What do you know of anything but your own selfishness and suffering? So you've lost someone you loved. He's lost everyone he ever loved. He's been holding that terrible darkness inside of him for centuries. At least he has an excuse. What's yours?"

"Show her," Regina ordered Rumple, ignoring Belle. "Let her see how black and vile your heart is. Show her how you're rotting from the inside out."

Regina walked around to the back of her desk and retrieved a gilded box. She opened it, exposing a black velvet lining, the glowing red heart pulsing in stark contrast against the dark background. "Show her, or we can all watch what happens when I take this heart and squeeze."

"You don't scare me, Madame Mayor," Belle taunted. "Go ahead. Kill me."

"No!" Rumple cried, wrenching his heart from his chest. "Belle, look," he begged, holding the charred vessel out for inspection. "This sliver of red is all that's left. Soon I won't be able to love, and the Dark One will have everything."

Horrified and worried for Rumple, Belle swayed on her feet, collapsing gratefully in a nearby chair.

"Belle!" he shouted, throwing himself on his knees at her feet. "Are you all right?"

She extended her hand. "May I?" she requested, asking for the blackened remains.

Flinching slightly, he acquiesced. If there was anyone he could trust to hold what was left of his heart, it was Belle.

"I think you're amazing," she said, smiling at him.

"What?" he responded, dumbfounded.

"I've always known there was love in your heart for so much more than power." She caressed his cheek. "This shows me just how right I was. The love you feel is so deep, so profound, that even in 300 years, the darkness couldn't extinguish it entirely. You're amazing." As tears spilled down her face, he covered the hand that was stroking his face and pressed it to his lips in a reverent kiss.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Regina snorted in disgust. "Here. Take it," she said, shoving the heart-laden box at Belle.

"Thank you, Regina," Belle said sweetly, masking her relief. "You're doing the right thing."

"Whatever," Regina rolled her eyes. "You're both insane and you've wasted enough of my time. I need to go take care of Robin. Just promise me one thing?"

"What's that?" Rumple asked dryly.

"Don't have sex in my office."

"No guarantees," Belle teased, eyes dancing as she opened the box.

"Ugh!" Regina gripped, movingly swiftly past them.

As Rumple watched the door slam behind Regina's retreating form, Belle took advantage of his momentary distraction—grasping his shoulder, she used all her might to thrust her own heart into Rumple's empty chest.

"Belle! What have you done?" Frantically, he dug his nails into his sternum, moving to rip the heart back out and put it where it belonged.

She stilled his grasping, desperate hand with a tight squeeze. "Don't," she said, strong and firm. "Let it be. You hold my heart. You won't bruise it and you'll never let it break apart."

"But Belle—" he protested, shaking his head. "You can't."

"I just did," she said simply. "Now, give me yours."

"Absolutely not! Never!" Shooting to his feet, he raked his hand through his hair, yanking at the roots, and paced up and down the tile floor.

"Yes," she insisted, a perfect picture of calm. Rising, she stopped his agitated motions, forcing him to meet her eyes.

"I don't know what will happen," he objected.

Belle pointed at the glowing red spot in the center of his heart. "Doesn't this love belong to me?" she asked.

"You know it does," he gestured helplessly.

"Then there's no problem. With my heart in your care, our love will only grow stronger. Can you trust me to hold your heart? Keep it safe?" She placed his heart in his hand and pressed it to her breast.

"Yes," he agreed softly, and he closing his eyes tightly, he thrust the shriveled, dark organ into her body.

Embracing fiercely, their kiss was an encompassing, desperate, circle of need. They clung to each other so tightly, neither could tell where one began and the other ended.

"We're going to fix this Rumple," Belle whispered against his lips. "And we're going to heal you. You're going to be all right. We both are."

"I know," he smiled. "Because you hold my heart. You won't bruise it and you'll never let it break apart."

The End