Hero

Chapter 3: Loss

By: Br0kenW1ngs

Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT. This is however my own story and a mix of my own life and Belle.

While Belle slept, she dreamed of her Dark One. The way his hair sometimes curled if he didn't style it, or the way he would have wrinkles in the corners of his eyes when he smiled at her. It seemed like forever since she felt so happy to be with him. The redhead had to stop and wonder: why was she so sad now?

After what felt like an hour of just being with Rumpel in her dreams, everything started to morph. His skin turned crusty and his smile became sinister. Belle took a step backwards, and tripped over her own feet. She fell into what felt like a puddle. However, when she looked down to see where she had fallen, Belle screamed. The beautiful princess was sitting in a pool of blood. The deep crimson tainted her hands and clothes. All of a sudden, rain began to pour. The girl couldn't make any sense of what was happening. Gazing back up at Rumpel, Belle gasped as she saw that he was gone, and that it wasn't rain that fell from the blackened sky. Blood.

"Belle!" The long-haired girl leapt up from her position on the hospital bed. Leaning over her, Rumpel had his hands on her shoulders, attempting to awaken her. His eyes were filled with worry, and it took a moment for Belle to come to her senses. This wasn't the same man she had just dreamed of. Before her was the man she fell in love with. Yet, her heart still twisted with fear as she began to hyperventilate. Why am I so scared? Rumpelstiltskin was so lost, not familiar with how to comfort people who had nightmares. So he did the only thing her knew to do. Wrapping his arms around Belle's ridiculously petite form, he held her close, hoping to sooth the storm.

"What…?" The feeling felt so foreign-being held by Rumpel- and yet, it made the tremors stop and her breathing even.

"You had a nightmare. It was just a nightmare, sweetheart," Rumpel whispered delicately. He lifted his hand and petted her hair gently, attempting to assuage the girl of her fears. Belle nodded, but refused to move from her position. She felt safe, warm, with Rumpel holding her. The image in her mind faded and was replaced with the more tender, warmhearted man that was saving her now.

"It was raining blood…" was all that she could mumble before Dr. Frankenstein entered to room.

"What's going on?" He demanded, completely clueless to what had just transpired. Despite his flirting demeanor some days, the doctor was very protective of his patients, especially his friends.

"I just had a nightmare," Belle began, "Nothing to worry about." Rumpel gave the doctor a cold look, but Frankenstein could see that worry was swimming around the Dark One's brown eyes. Nodding, Frankenstein moved closer to the bed.

"Are you feeling well enough to stand?" Belle nodded, not feeling like speaking anymore. This made Rumpelstiltskin worry even more. It's not normal for Belle to not use her voice. It was a beautiful voice. His eyebrows furrowed, but he didn't say anything as well.

"Then we need to check your weight and take some blood," Frankenstein continued. Belle found it odd seeing him in doctor mode, but it just made her feel all the more safe.

"I'll help you," Rumpel grabbed her arms gently and guided her off the bed. It wasn't until her bare feet hit the cold floor that Belle realized she was in one of those bright yellow hospital gowns. Her underwear was still on, but it made her uncomfortable to walk around without pants. However, she didn't say anything. She didn't want to be a burden and cause a ruckus.

Leading his patient and Rumpel out of the hospital room, Dr. Frankenstein guided the two down the hall, towards another room that had a scale and a machine that could take blood pressure. Belle nervously let go of Rumpel, but managed to stand on her own.

Stepping on to the scale, the broken princess breathed deeply and watched the numbers go crazy before a determination was mad. "My god..." Frankenstein murmured, quickly writing something down. Belle's heart stopped, as well as Rumpel's. 97 pounds... Tears streamed down Belle's face as she lost her balance, falling to the floor. Rumpel leapt forward and caught her mid-fall.

"Belle, hun...when was the last time you ate?" Frankenstein had developed a serious, stern look as he looked at the two. She lost almost 40 pounds! Belle's breathing became irregular and she felt light headed. When was the last time I ate? I can't even remember. How could I lose so much weight? It feels like it's been forever since I last ate. Rumpelstiltskin rocked her gently to try to calm the girl down, but in his own mind, he was beating himself up, "How could I not notice? What kind of boyfriend am I? I'm horrible. Oh Belle...

"How could you let her become this underweight?!" Frankenstein yelled, staring accusingly at the older man. "I didn't let her!" Rumpel shot back; however, he blamed himself completely. Belle continued to cry as the two men glared at one another.

"Do you realize how much danger you could be in, Belle?" Frankenstein continued aggressively. If the Dark One hadn't been holding his love, he would punched the doctor in the face for using such a tone. Belle shook her head quickly, frightened that she would be yelled at more or rejected.

"Don't talk to her like that!" The older man bellowed, pulling the redhead tighter against himself. He didn't wait for the doctor to say anything else. Scooping up Belle, Rumpelstiltskin carried her out of the room, heading back towards Belle's hospital room. Once there, he entered and sat the princess on the white bed.

"Sweetheart, please," Rumpel began in a heartbroken mumble, "What's happening to you?" All the happiness, the bubbliness, the bravery, the heroism...it was all almost completely gone. Disappearing into the depression that plagued the young woman.

"I just don't know..." Belled wept softly, covering her beautiful face with her skinny hands. Sighing, Rumpel couldn't bring himself to question the girl further. Belle was so broken...he needed to fix her. He needed her, more than anything.

"I don't know what I would do if I lost you..." His own tears began to flow. Belle could hear them as the brown haired man spoke. Removing her hands from her face, Belle's lip trembled as she looked at her beast's face. It broke her heart even more, realizing how much pain she could've caused her beloved. Moving forward, the blue-eyed girl wrapped her arms around Rumpel's neck and the two just cried...Cried for each other, cried for what they hoped would never happen...and cried for the loss the both knew that Belle had endured. Could they ever get it back?

Will this ever be fixed?

Will Belle ever return to the once beautiful and brave young woman we all know and love? Thank you for reading ^_^ Please Review!