Author's Note: Again, I did say this would be a one-shot. But then it grew into a two-chapter short story. And now, due to the wonderful reviews I've gotten, I've decided to keep going with this. :D I'll choose different lyrics for each chapter this time, since there'll probably be at least two more chapters I add.
Thanks to GoldenDearie, Horse9824, nochance, and all the other wonderful dearies (XD) who reviewed! And now, for the third chapter...

-X-X-X-

I don't wanna live
To waste another day
Underneath the shadows of
mistakes I've made
Cuz I feel like I'm
breaking inside.

Shinedown - Breaking Inside

-X-X-X-

It was Tuesday. Nearly a week since Baelfire's passing.

Mr. Gold had purchased a coffin, gone to the cemetery, and had Baelfire's funeral. Several townsfolk had wanted to help him; they didn't know who Gold was burying, but they didn't think he should be doing the burial and funeral all by himself.

Then again, those townsfolk also sensed that Gold was in a precarious emotional state, and it would be best not to go anywhere near him.

After the funeral, Mr. Gold had disappeared into this shop, and had not come out since then.

He was sitting at his desk, a dagger clutched in his hand. The blade was slim but razor-sharp, with his old name engraved on it-Rumpelstiltskin.

Gold stabbed the dagger into the desk, over and over again, uncaring about how badly he gouged the wood. He was beyond caring about materialistic things any longer.

The only thing on his mind was vengeance. Vengeance, and how he could execute it.

Suddenly, he heard the door to the store open.

He cursed silently. He had seen no reason to lock the door; he had assumed people would avoid him.

"Gold? Mr. Gold, are you in here?"

Oh, brilliant. It was Emma Swan. One of the last people he wanted to see.

"I'm closed, dearie," Gold called back, speaking through gritted teeth. "Come back later."

"It's important, Mr. Gold."

"No, it's not," he shouted back, losing control of his emotions. "Nothing-nothing-is important anymore!"

"Look, Gold, I don't know who you buried at the cemetery last week, or what happened, and I'm sorry. But there's someone out here who I think knows you, and if you don't come out, then I'll come back there." Emma sounded irritated.

Mr. Gold was silent, debating on whether he should stay where he was and throw his knife at Emma as soon as she came in, or just comply. Finally, he got up and went into the store.

"What is it?" he growled, refusing to look at her.

"This lady was found wandering the streets, and she kept saying 'Rumpelstiltskin' over and over again. And according to Henry, that's who you used to be, back in the Fairy Tale world or whatever," Emma said. "Do you recognize her?"

Gold hesitated, and then looked up. When he saw the woman standing near Emma, he nearly fell to his knees in disbelief.

It-it can't be... she's dead, she... am I seeing ghosts, now?

"Rumpelstiltskin?" the woman asked, taking a timid step towards him.

"Belle," Mr. Gold breathed, unable to grasp what was happening. "But...but you're dead. Regina said-" Then he broke off. Of course.

Regina. That lying, ruthless, deceitful hag.

Belle took a few more steps forward until she was right in front of him. Breaking out of his thoughts, Gold stumbled back.

"No, Belle. I can't-you can't be seen with me. It's too dangerous, Belle, too dangerous." He knew how frantic and hysterical his voice sounded, but he didn't care. He needed her to understand.

"But...I thought you'd...I've missed you so..." Oh, the pain in her eyes cut straight into him.

"Belle, I'm sorry for everything. But you can't be seen with me now. Not yet. There's...someone who wants to punish me for something, and she's already killed my...my son. I don't want you gone too. Please, please get out until it's safe."

He glanced back and forth from Belle to Emma. Both of them had identical expressions of worried confusion on their faces.

"Gold, if you're in trouble, you should have let me-" Emma started.

"No!" Mr. Gold burst out. "You will only make things worse. It's best if you don't get involved; the less things you stick your nose into, the less danger you'll be in."

"And if you try to fix things on your own, you'll end up breaking the law, and you'll be the one to get arrested," Emma shot back. "You-"

Gold stabbed his dagger into the countertop, cutting her off short. "I will serve justice in the way that I see fit, and you had better keep out of my affairs," he spat.

"Fine. You-Belle, is it?-come on. You can stay at the sheriff's office for now; you'll be safe until all this blows over." Emma took Belle's arm, but she pulled away.

"I need to talk with Rum-Mr. Gold," Belle said, fixing her sky blue eyes on Gold. He tensed uncomfortably.

"Okay, fine, whatever." Emma's exasperation was obvious. "I'm going back to my office. You two stay here and resolve your problems." With that, she left, letting the door slam shut behind her.

There was silence in the store for several minutes before Belle spoke again. "What's wrong, Rumpelstiltskin? What's going on?"

Gold felt mildly surprised that her first words held concern for him, instead of anger at his rejecting her and throwing her out of her castle-only for her to get captured by Regina. "It's hard to explain. Someone is very angry with me, and she killed my son. She'll kill you too, if she knows you have come to see me."

"Regina? The Evil Queen?" Belle's voice was soft.

He hesitated. "Yes. And despite what happened, I..." Come on, Gold. Tell her what's on your mind. You might not ever get another chance.

"Despite everything I said and did, I love you. And I don't want to lose you again, by my doing or someone else's. I've made so many mistakes, Belle; and I regret them. Every single one of them."

A faint blush rose on Belle's cheeks. "But I want to help you. I don't want to go hide away from reality; I've been hidden away for too long."

"You don't even know what I want to do," Gold replied, his voice quiet. "And if you knew, Belle...you wouldn't think so highly of me then."

"Nothing could change my feelings about you," Belle protested.

Mr. Gold laughed quietly, a bitter sound. "Oh, if you knew what was going through my head, dearie, it would change."

"You want revenge on Regina."

"Correct." Mr. Gold yanked his dagger out of the countertop, and studied it, running a thumb along the edge of the blade. "And if you're still the same person you were before-"

"I'm going to tell you that you can settle this peacefully, without violence," Belle finished. She put a hand on his arm.

Gold pulled away from her. "Peacefully?" he repeated, every movement and every word bordering on hysteria. "Without violence? She killed Baelfire, Belle! I saw his life bleed out before my very eyes. She locked you up. She doesn't deserve peace! She never has; she never will! And by the gods, I will see her blood!"

"Calm down!" Belle demanded, unafraid. "Stop and think, Rumpelstiltskin."

"I have been thinking, and I've already made my decision." He turned a steely gaze onto her. "Regina...will...die."

Belle sighed, shaking her head. "I suppose I can't stop you. I never could. Just stay safe-I don't want to lose you again."

Before Gold could respond, Belle had left the store, leaving him alone with only his own misery and troubled thoughts.