Belle found her steps quickening as her mind thought of the endless scenarios that could be playing out at the pawnshop. Most of which involved either Charming or Emma with their hands around Rum's neck for some mindless quip that he made. She needed to be there, to make them understand that his intentions were sincere even if the delivery of his requests were not. The deafening silence hit Belle like a tidal wave and she crossed the threshold of the pawn shop.
"Rumple?"
Belle's eyes quickly scanned over the room of antiques. She made her way to the curtain in a few quick paces calling out his name again, "Rum?" With worry now swimming in her stomach Belle frantically searched the backroom finding it empty. Where are they Belle thought to herself as she bit her bottom lip. Did the meeting go that bad? How could it have ended so soon? Guilt now found its way into the mix of her worry. She should have never gone to the cemetery this morning. It could have waited. He needed her here with him. Belle brought her palm up to her face trying to stop the pounding thoughts in her head. Belle heard the bell clang, and ran to the front of the store. Her eyes locked on Rum's.
"Oh thank Gods, you're here," he cried out as he limped over to her wrapping his hands around her shoulders crushing her to his chest.
"What's going on? Where's Emma and Charming?" Belle words echoed off Rum's chest. She felt his arms tighten more around her. "Did something happen?" Belle tried to pull away to look at Rum's face, but he would not loosen his grip on her.
"I didn't know where you were. I thought that maybe… I can't lose you Belle. "Rum pulled Belle away from his chest his fingers now digging into the side of her shoulders. Tears welling in his eyes, he placed his forehead on hers. "No one is going to hurt you. Do you understand, I am going to protect you."
Confusion flashed upon Belle's face. She brought both hands up to his face wiping away the tears falling from his eyes. "Tell me what's going on."
Rum took Belle by the hand leading her into the backroom. He reached into his pant pocket removing a small gun, placing it on his desk. Belle's eyes widened with fear. Oh God, what had he done? Did he shoot Emma or Charming?
"Why do you have that?" Seeing the fear in her eyes, Rum immediately started his explanation.
"I thought you could be in danger. I needed to find you. I had to make sure you were safe. I went to the library and then over to Granny's. I couldn't find you. I thought, I thought that he…" Rumple stopped realizing his own words.
Belle shook her head quickly trying to understand. "He? Who Charming?" It was the only "he" she could think of off the top of her head.
"No," Rumple scoffed.
"Who?"
He took a deep breath casting his eyes onto the floor. "A very dangerous man," he whispered.
Belle walked up to Rum, his eyes still on the floor, as she lifted his chin to look at her. "Tell me."
"Emma and her father came over this morning. I was ready to discuss the research we have done on Bae, but I was taken by surprise by the news that she had for me. It appears that Emma and Snow were not the only ones to make it back to Storybrooke. Early this morning as she was walking through town, Emma swore for a split second that she someone that she had encountered back in our land."
"Who?"
"Killian Jones," Rum gritted between his teeth.
"I've never heard of him."
"Well I can assure you my dear that is a blessing."
Belle watched as Rumple walked across the room, removing a trunk from under a table. "Now that you are here, and I know you're safe I must prepare." He opened the trunk revealing old books, and other material which Belle recognized from his laboratory from the Dark Castle.
"Wait, I don't understand. What does this Killian Jones have to do with me? Why do you think I am in danger from a person I have never even met?" For a moment Rumple stopped extracting the items from his trunk and stopped to stare at Belle.
"He wants revenge Belle. We had a," Rumple paused shrugging his shoulders, "disagreement, if you will."
Belle raised her eyebrows tilting her head to the side. "A disagreement?"
"I may have cut off his hand."
Belle's mouth dropped as she took in his matter of fact words. Hundreds of years as the Dark One, Belle knew that Rum had a dark history, but she always still found herself surprised with every new story that was uncovered. "And so now this one arm man is in town looking for vengeance against you? And you think he will come after me?"
"I took something very near to his heart; I can only assume he will want to inflict the same upon me." Rumple turned his attention back on the trunk gathering more items for what Belle could only assume would be for some magical purpose. Belle felt a new emotion brewing in her blood. Anger. She was angry that this new bump in the road was forcing Rum to put the search for his son on hold. She was angry that she was now in some apparent danger and knew that Rumple would insist that she quit her job and move back in with him for her protection. She loved him and wanted a future with him, but she had just started carving her own place in this town, and wanted to share her new experiences with him, not be a prisoner to fear.
"So let me guess Rum. You want me to drop everything and stay here with you?"
"Oh no my dear. I want you to stay as far away from me as possible."
Belle's eyes fluttered as shock knocked her back a few steps. "What?" Belle was suddenly appalled by the mere suggestion of it. They had been working towards strengthening their relationship. Sure, she was angry at the moment and may have used a more snippy tone that she should have with him, but she was getting over the initial shock of everything. Seeing the hurt that immediately filled her eyes, Rumple rushed to Belle, digging his hands into her shoulders looking her in her eyes.
"It's not what you think love." He was trying to reassure her. "If this man really is back in town, I need to face him alone. I do not want you to play any part in this. If anything ever happened to you I would never forgive myself. I promised to protect you, Belle. A promise that I intend to keep until my last breath. You need to trust me on this love."
Rumple let go of her shoulders, and Belle caught his left hand with her own lacing their fingers together. "You are not alone in this Rumple. You promised to protect me, but I made a promise too. I promised to go with you forever. I'm not going to leave you here to deal with this on your own."
"Sweetheart," Rum leaned down brushing his lips against Belle's. After a few stolen kisses Rumple wrapped Belle in her arms. "I just need to find out if he really is here in town, love. I need to find out what and how much he knows. There could be a chance that he does not even know about you yet, and if that's the case then you need to keep as much distance as you can from me. I just need to find out more."
Hearing the genuine concern for her safety in Rum's voice, Belle appeased him at the moment, by allowing him to focus on the items from the trunk. She sat memorized as she watched him carefully inspect the small pouches pouring a little of each into a small copper bowl. He lifted his hand pulling off the light blue ring that he always wore, placing it in the bowl. A small purple cloud appeared around the ring spinning it until the purple hazed vanished, and the ring lay alone in the bowl. There was a smile in Rum's eyes as he carefully lifted the ring out of the bowl placing it in his open palm as he walked over to Belle. She quickly stood her gaze stuck on the ring.
"This ring is now guarded by the strongest protection spell that I am able to cast. It will keep the one who wears it guarded against most magic that is directed towards them. You must wear this Belle."
Belle found her pulse racing as she stared at the ring. A mix of emotions raced through her. Her first instinct was to refuse it. He needed the ring and all the protection it could provide. He was more concerned for her safety then his own. But then again she thought, he has the magic coursing through his veins, he may not need the token of magic as protection. Magic was all around him. Another part of Belle, also felt giddy that this was the first piece of jewelry that her boyfriend had given her. Sure it was for her protection, but it was also his ring, that he wanted her to wear. Belle slowly lifted her right hand, her fingers extended before her. "If you insist."
Glancing down Rum stared at her small delicate hand before him. His own hand trembling, he bypassed her extended right hand, reaching for her left down by her side. Belle took a small sharp breath as she lowered her right hand. His eyes locked on her own, Rum slipped the ring on her left hand as he whispered a few words which Belle concluded was activating the spell of protection. Belle closed her eyes feeling the tingling of magic that suddenly felt like a warm barrier around her. She felt a feeling of déjà vu remembering the same feeling of magic during her days at the Dark Castle. Belle opened her eyes as she felt Rumple lifting her hand pressing his lips against her knuckles. Without a word spoken Belle understood that this ring was a promise. A promise of her protection, of her safety. In that moment of silence Belle had never felt more of a rush of devotion to the man that was before her. One day, she hoped, he would give her another ring, with a promise of forever.
"So if this ring protects me against magic, then why do you need me to stay away from you?"
"Because my dear, it won't protect you against a kidnapping, or a knife, or" Rum paused gritting his teeth, "or any other sharp objects. I just need you to stay out of site for a while until I have everything more under control."
"Awhile?" Belle questioned raising her eyebrows.
"Give me a few weeks Belle." He continued even though Belle had opened her mouth to object. "I just need some time, just a few weeks, and you can go back to your regular life."
"Two days," Belle countered with a smile. Rum chuckled at her counter offer.
"Ten."
"Three days," Belle replied just as quick. Rum smiled at his strong willed Belle. She was a fighter. Her bravery and stubbornness was one of her most attractive qualities.
"Seven days, Belle. Just one week my love."
Belle let out an exaggerated breath.
"One week Rum. One week, and then we face whatever it is together. Deal?" Belle placed her hand out wanting to seal the deal with a handshake.
"A deal my dear," Rum retorted shaking Belle's hand and then pulling it up to his mouth for a kiss, causing Belle's cheeks to redden.
"I'll just tell Ruby and Granny that I'm sick and stay in this week."
Rum's eyebrows furred together at her statement. "Oh no my dear you cannot continue to stay at Granny's. I need you to be somewhere more remote, where you will not so exposed. Don't worry, I already made the arrangements."
Belle was taken aback. "What do you mean? You just said you didn't want me to be near you, so where exactly do you plan on me staying?"
As if on demand, Belle heard a rapping on the backdoor of the pawnshop. She bit her bottom lip, as Rum limped over opening the door allowing the visitor in. Belle's mouth dropped as she shot a look of confusion at Rumpelstiltskin.
"You have got to be kidding me, Rum. There is no way I'm staying with him."
"Well this is awkward," the visitor tapped his fingers over the lapels of his coat. Raising both eyebrows he casted a crooked grin. "Hello Beauty."
Belle shook her head in disbelief. "Hello Jefferson."
