The $50 bill stared back at her all innocent and beckoning to be spent, but keeping it felt like accepting a gift from a stranger. Actually that's just what it was. Three times she talked to Mr. Gold, and never once had he ever shown any ounce of interest in her until the day before when she first took his order.

Isabel growled, wadding the bill up into her fist. Why was she so nice? Her noble demeanor was fighting tooth and claw with her desire to just keep the money and blow it on a new dress or maybe a bookcase for all her many books lining the wall of her modest bedroom.

Ruby's advice didn't help much in the way of doing the right thing. "If that snake is just handing over large amounts of money to you, I wouldn't give a second thought in giving it back. He owes you for all the times he's intimidated your father."

But that wasn't how Isabel looked at it at all. She didn't know what another visit to his pawn shop would accomplish, but that evening she set out on a mission to confront Mr. Gold yet again. He didn't seem too surprised – and maybe a smidge delighted – when he looked up from polishing a brass trinket as Belle walked in, chin held high in confidence.

"Miss French," he greeted, promptly placing the trinket on the counter and limping around to stand in front of it. "How can I help you?"

Isabel presented the $50 bill to him, crinkled but neatly folded down the middle, in the palm of her hand – all pleasantries abandon. "Mr. Gold, I really don't understand why out of all the people in this town, you decide to give me these outrageously generous tips. I've honestly never heard anything good about you." She blushed to her ears at those words, but Mr. Gold's leniency did not falter. "You're being nothing but kind to me."

"I told you already, Miss French" he stepped closer, to the point he could touch her if he wanted to. "I see you do so much for everyone else. You need to do something for yourself."

Isabel tilted her head, examining his face intently. Why did he seem so familiar? He stared straight into her bright blue eyes - could it be sorrow and longing – gleaming from his intense, brown ones. Isabel finally averted her gaze to the floor, feeling confused as ever.

"I'm sorry if I sound ungrateful" her tone softened, and she raised her head to look at him again. "Your kindness is a bit overwhelming for me."

"Just accept it, Miss French" he replied bluntly. He turned, gesturing for her to follow him. "Let me show you something."

Isabel looked curiously at him as she followed along to his office. Her mind told her going into an enclosed room with a man she didn't know wasn't the best idea, but her heart felt no fear. Mr. Gold stopped in front of a bookcase. A small smile played on his lips as Belle's eyes widened at the sight of so many books. Storybrooke's library had never been open as long as she could remember. New books were actually hard to come by in their small, secluded town. Belle had read her humble collection of books so many times she could recite them all.

"I noticed you enjoy reading" Mr. Gold said casually, but the delighted gleam in his eye was evident as Belle ran a finger over the spine of a red-covered book. "You can come by any time and borrow one or two of these to read."

"Mr. Gold" Isabel breathed, her brilliant smile flooded his heart. "Thank you" her voice filled with such joy, it took all her control not to throw her arms around his neck.

"You deserve it" he murmured, nearly inaudible. Isabel realized at that moment that maybe a knight in shining armor could come in the form of an old dragon.

Emma.

As soon as he heard that name, he remembered. Every wonderful, terrible, elated, and tragic memory flooded his mind at that very moment. And there she was sauntering down the sidewalk headed to the park, a thick book tucked to her chest protectively as if it were her child. She walked right passed him, and it took all his will to not grab her, pull her close to him, whisper how much of a fool he was to let her go.

Though letting her go was an understatement. He had let her go at first, but that same day –much to his surprise - she came back and for a very brief moment he was the happiest being in all the land. The happiness was thrown aside, switching into rage when she kissed him and told him of True Love's Kiss. He roared like a ferocious lion, abusing the poor bewildered girl and tossing her aside.

Then he sent her away. Told her he didn't want her, treated her like the dirt on his boot. And she left, head held high, never looking back.

As time went by, the loneliness and regret crept over him, a shadow from the evening sun consuming him. He wished he had the courage to find her, beg forgiveness for his foolishness, spirit her away to his castle to live happily ever after.

He never did.

Cowardliness was his forte, and he stuck to it like honey. Instead, he let his bitterness rule over him, but his love for her buried deep in his heart never faltered. One day he would make things right, reunite with Belle just as he planned to reunite with his lost son. He would make things right, he promised himself over and over again.

Now he heard Emma's name and remembered everything and there's Belle only minutes afterwards walking past him. He would make things right, but he couldn't just jump into confronting her. So, he observed her nearly every day. She worked two jobs, helped whenever a friend asked, volunteered at the elementary school tutoring students in reading. She seemed to do everything, but nothing for herself.

He decided to let her come to him. Belle working at Granny's was the perfect place for that to occur. Every morning he made an appearance, watching her under hooded eyes. But that blasted Ruby seemed to always serve him. He had to do something that would ruffle her fur enough to coax her into letting Belle wait on him. Of course, roiling her up about the rent would do the trick and a twisted sense of pride washed over him as he caught a glimpse of Belle approaching his table.

The always snarling, unrelenting Mr. Gold couldn't resist a smile from his face at the sight of his beauty standing there before him. He planned to give her anything she wanted, to win her love again. The only way he knew how at the moment was through money. He had all he ever needed, just as he did in the Fairy Tale Land where he could spin gold like it was air.

He underestimated his Belle's nobility, but wasn't complaining when she appeared in his shop that afternoon. If playing off her selflessness was what it took to spend time with her, he would play the game forever if he had to.

He assumed it would be hard for her to take such large amounts of cash for herself, so he had a back-up plan if that failed. The wonder that spread across her face at the sight of the bookcase filled to overflowing with books made the gamble worth it. They were his books from Dark Castle that she had claimed so long ago when their love budded. To see her caress one, run her finger down the spine, he could feel the ghost of her finger along his own spine. He told her she deserved it and he meant it more than anything. She deserved more than a stack of books and he could not wait for the day that she'd allow him to give her the world.