A/N: Well… this was overdue. Hee hee. This chapter should make a lot of people happy and that's all I'm gonna say. Thank you to everyone for reading and reviewing!
Part 4
They made plans later for a nice dinner, which Belle offered to see if Granny would babysit, but Gold insisted that Lilianna should be there. He wanted a dinner with his family on Valentine's Day and then once the little one was asleep… then they could have some grown up time. Rumple was hoping that today would be the day that his Belle would awaken, but to his surprise, it seemed that Lily-Rose was fully aware. And the only possible explanation that could explain her memory of his old appearance was that Belle told her about him.
The fact that she did had to mean that she loved him still and there was the possibility of having her forgiveness. As much as he wanted to speak to Lily-Rose alone and to find out what else she might know, Isabelle told him that she had a couple of errands she wanted to run before going to his house.
"See you later," she murmured, giving him a quick peck on the lips before scooping up Lily-Rose. "Say goodbye Lilianna!"
"Bye!" she chirped and when her mother wasn't looking, she mouthed, "Papa."
His heart gave a little lurch and it seemed the Curse breaking couldn't come soon enough. His daughter knew him, remembered him, and she loved him.
A smile couldn't stop breaking across his face when he saw that the little imp left her drawing in the backroom for him. Picking the paper up, Rumple couldn't help the misty gaze as he tenderly touched the portraits of himself and Belle. The only thing missing was his son, but he couldn't help but see this picture as a symbol of hope. One day he will find Bae and all of them—he, Belle, Lily-Rose—will become the family he longed to have.
If only the blasted Savior wasn't so pig-headed.
Rumple growled softly to himself. He didn't know how many times it had to be spelled out for her, but apparently, he had to add some more pieces to the puzzle in order for her to see the completed vision.
But today he was giving himself a break. He wanted to focus on Isabelle, pleased that the repair between Gold and her was working. And if everything goes according to plan for tonight… he might be able to convince her to tell him that she loved him and perhaps True Love's kiss will work.
He carefully took his daughter's drawing and folded it in half so he could stick it in his jacket pocket. This deserved to be placed alongside his chipped cup at home.
As Rumple began to climb the stairs to his front porch, he was taken aback to find the front door already opened. A thick, sickening feeling coiled in the pit of his stomach as he tentatively pushed the door open further with his cane. After a quick glance, he stepped in and grabbed his gun, which he kept in a secret panel on the side of an antique chest drawer.
With quiet footsteps, he went into the parlor room, the gun aimed and ready to strike if the intruder was still there. As he moved further into the room, he surveyed his property to assess any damage done and if anything was missing. There were some baubles and trinkets—all meaningless—that were gone, yet it was his curio cabinet that caused the lump in his throat to swell.
The glass door was broken and ripped apart from its hinges as if someone tore at it in a rage. The floor was covered with various broken objects that had fallen from the force of the door being removed. But it was the one thing that he cherished most of all that was not in its place:
The cup.
Belle's cup.
It was missing.
A creak from behind had him startled as he whipped around with his gun pointed at the person he last expected to find.
"Sheriff Swann," he said, a bit befuddled. He clicked his safety back on as he lowered his weapon.
"Your neighbor saw the door opened and called it in," she informed him, her pistol also drawn but didn't lower it when he did.
"Yeah, well, it seems I've been robbed," Gold rejoined, indicating the mess around him.
"Funny how that keeps happening to you," she pointed out flippantly as she finally dropped the gun to her side and clipped it back in her holster. Crossing her arms, the Sheriff waited for his explanation for this matter.
"It's nothing like what happened with Miss Boyd," he told her archly.
"Uh-huh. One thing I've learned about you Gold is that you know how to piss people off. So what was it this time?"
"I assure you, Sheriff Swann, I haven't the faintest."
Her eyes narrowed and then relaxed when it was clear he didn't know. At least she knew there wouldn't be any other pregnant girls to be chasing after. "All right. Well, what's missing?"
He gave her the rundown of what he noticed was gone, yet he fidgeted at whether or not he should mention the chipped cup. That was important to him and if the other items could not be recovered… well, he wouldn't be mourning their loss as much as the cup. It had to be returned immediately and knowing that Emma was good in finding lost objects… it stood a good chance at having the priceless cup returned in one piece.
"The last item is extremely important to me," Gold started to say, wanting to make sure that Ms. Swann understood the pertinence of this object. "It's a white teacup with a blue floral design and a chip along the rim."
She wrote it down in her pad and quirked an eyebrow at his description. "A chipped cup is that important?"
"Don't make light of it Sheriff," he said with his eyes cold. "That 'chipped cup' means more to me than you could possibly imagine."
"Got it. Don't have to tell me twice," she said with her hands raised in mock surrender. "Okay. You know of any suspects? And don't say the whole town. I'm gonna need something a little more specific."
Rumplestiltskin had never been stumped before and he didn't like the feeling. At all. Even as Gold, he should immediately know who might be capable of pulling this crime and his or her motive. Whoever it was knew exactly what to take and what it must mean to him otherwise there would be no reason to take a tarnished teacup. Yet, his mind was drawing a blank, despite Regina being the only possibility, but why would she take it now? What was her purpose in doing so?
However, Emma's phone buzzed before he could answer. Frowning, she took a look at it and her eyes widened.
"What's wrong?" Gold asked.
"Domestic disturbance in broad daylight. Sorry Gold but I have to take this. Come down to the station and we can talk, okay?"
She was out before he could reply, but that didn't sound good at all. And for whatever reason, Rumple had another ill feeling.
"Belle," he breathed as he moved as fast as he could to his car.
xxXXxx
He got there the same time as the Sheriff did and ignoring her questioning look… he limped towards the crowd that had gathered outside the diner.
As he drew close, he could hear the shouting voices.
Hunter, he internally growled as his fingers tightened on his cane and pushed his way through. He was blindly aware that Emma was making her way through the crowd, but his family was in trouble. He had to see them.
Yet the spectators kept him back and all he could see was Greg standing in front of Isabelle, his fist shaking in front of her face while his brave girl shielded their daughter, holding her tightly so she couldn't see his angry face.
"Go on now!" he shouted. "Tell me! You've been fucking him all along haven't you?"
"Greg, it's not—"
"Don't lie to me!" he bellowed. "I saw you kissing Gold! And that was not a first time kiss either. Be honest with me Izzy. How long have you been cheating on me?"
She faltered, not sure what to say or how to respond with everyone watching. This wasn't supposed to happen… at least not now. Lilianna's nails dug into the back of her neck as she trembled violently at her father's outbursts. That pressure caused Isabelle to glance at her for a second and it was in that second that time slowed down…
Rumple lost the ability to breathe as he watched as Greg's open hand came slashing through the air colliding with Isabelle's defensive cheek. The resounding crack of flesh against flesh echoed all around as the blow caused her to lose her balance and fall to her knees on the sidewalk. At the last moment, she twisted her body so she would land on her back so her baby wouldn't hit the pavement. But the sudden force of it shook Lily-Rose as she began to scream and wail.
"Papa!" his little one sobbed uncontrollably, her arm reaching out for Gold, not Greg.
The dots were starting to connect on Greg's face, but before he could turn around and confront the other man… Rumple was there, tackling him to the concrete, his cane pressing against his windpipe.
He was a wild man—his hair disheveled, his eyes turning almost black with his rage, and his lips pulled into a frightful snarl. He just witnessed the love of his life and his child being threatened and harmed for the world to see. He didn't care if the truth of his relationship to Isabelle and Lilianna was exposed. All he cared about was the spilling of blood of the man who dared to raise his hand to his family.
His knee throbbed painfully as he placed more pressure against Greg's throat, the sadistic glee erupting from within as the younger man flailed and choked to no avail. Just as Greg's face was turning chalk white, Rumple felt himself being lifted off Hunter.
"No!" he yelled, fighting the intruders, but it was the voice of his beloved that grabbed his attention as he turned and saw Isabelle holding Lily-Rose, whispering into her ear to soothe her tears while gazing at him imploringly.
The fight in him fled at once as he clambered over to his lover to check for any other injuries. Mother and child were shaken up and Isabelle would be sporting a bruise for a while, but other than that, the two were all right.
The beauty almost wept as she rested her head against his shoulder, her body shaking, which Rumple responded by wrapping his arms around her waist and held them. He did throw one more look as Sheriff Swann arrested Greg Hunter.
The beast in him roared angrily that Greg was being taken away from him. This buffoon thought he could hurt what's his and get away with it?! The arrest meant nothing to him. This wasn't the appropriate punishment for what that bastard did and if the boy thought he was safe behind bars… well, he had one thing coming.
"Gold?" Isabelle murmured, breaking his thoughts as he looked down at her. "C-can we leave?"
He nodded, helping her to her unsteady legs. There was a rip in her pantyhose and her knee was scraped, but Isabelle swallowed hard as Gold helped her to his car. She ignored the looks of her friends and those she knew, knowing that the cat was out of the bag. Her affair with Gold was now news and the fact she didn't deny it was all the confirmation the residents needed. Furthermore, they would know that Lilianna wasn't Greg's all along.
It wasn't until she was seated safely inside in Gold's Cadillac that she allowed the tears clinging to her lashes to fall. This was not how she wanted the truth to be told and now Greg's heart was broken over the fact that his daughter was not his.
"Mommy?" her daughter's voice said. "Mommy, I wanna go home with Papa."
Isabelle coughed. "Papa's not coming home, sweetie."
She shook her head. "No… not that Papa. Papa," she said, stressing his name. "Him." Lilianna pointed to Gold as he walked over to the driver's side.
He paused as the Sheriff came charging at him once she put Greg in the back of her car. "What the Hell do you think you're doing?" she barked.
"I thought it was obvious Sheriff," he replied stiffly. "I'm taking Mrs. Hunter and her daughter to a safe place. Their concern is not your problem."
"As a matter of fact, yes, they are," Emma glowered. "Gold, you assaulted her husband."
"Are you going to arrest me Sheriff?" he demanded. "Because I think my handcuffs are already on someone else."
"You can't do that," she said, her excuse sounding as lame as she knew it sounded.
"Well, Sheriff, he assaulted my loved ones. Surely you can't deny that if our roles were reversed and your Henry was in their place that you would do what I just did," Gold argued, using the one card up his sleeve to make her stop and think about his reaction.
Emma sighed, knowing he made a point. She would have done the same thing or worse to the son of a bitch who dared to lay a hand on Henry. But she was the Sheriff and Gold broke the law, justified or not, and she should take him in. However, her hesitance was the answer he needed and if she really wanted to push this arrest… he knew she would have. Exhaling loudly, Emma shook her head and stared at him with her cold, hazel eyes.
"Get them out of here," she brusquely ordered and spun on her heels as she headed back to her car.
Rumple muttered, "Glad too," and got inside the vehicle. He needed to get his family away from the stares and whispers… and in the meantime, he was making plans for Greg Hunter. The idiot crossed the line and he was going to pay for that mistake terribly.
The Dark One was ready to come out and play.
xxXXxx
Isabelle was still shaken up about the ordeal and didn't speak much about it on the way back to Gold's house. Even when they were out of sight, Isabelle wouldn't talk to him and went into one of the guest rooms upstairs to take the ruined pantyhose off and to see to her daughter.
He waited patiently as she came down the stairs sans Lily-Rose. "She's taking a nap," Isabelle told him, her first words to him since the car ride. "She practically passed out."
"And you?" he asked timidly.
Crossing her arms, she ran her hands up and down. "Stunned for the most part. This wasn't how I wanted our Valentine's to go." Lifting her chin so she could look at him, she added, "Well, that's it in. Everyone knows now so there's no need to go on hiding."
"Isabelle…"
"No, it's okay. It was bound to happen. We slipped up and Greg caught us. I guess our luck ran out on us."
She was being oddly calm about the whole thing and Rumple didn't want to push her in case this was the calm before the storm. All of a sudden she smiled brightly as she asked him, "How about a cup of tea? I'll go make some."
Just as she walked to the kitchen Rumple realized she would see the damage done on her way and he moved to catch up to her, but it was too late. Isabelle stood staring dumbly at the broken glass and pieces of some of his antiques. "My God…" she breathed. "He did this, didn't he?"
It didn't occur to him that Greg could have been behind the vandalism, but after what transpired… it made sense now, except for the missing teacup. For his sake, Rumple thought, he better confess to Swann where it was. However, his dark thoughts faded as Isabelle began to sway and he moved to catch her.
"What's wrong with me?" she questioned to no one in particular.
"It's all right. Sheriff Swann is on the case. I'm sure that good for nothing husband will confess to her that he did this too."
Isabelle turned around in his grasp, her blue eyes bright and wide. "I'm so sorry. This is my fault. All of it. If only I—"
"Don't think that," he told her fiercely and ardently. "This is not your fault Isabelle. I don't regret a single moment of our time together and you shouldn't either."
"But—" she sniffed and Rumple shook his head adamantly. "Don't go there. I love you so much. I have from the moment I laid eyes on you. If you had never told me about your feelings, then I would have found a way in seducing you. I'm completely serious. Married or not… you and I, we share a connection, a bond that's incredibly powerful. Can't you feel it?"
She let out a soft hiccup as she nodded. "I can't explain it but I do. I don't regret our time together either, but I do regret how we did it. And Greg's in jail now. Believe it or not, but this is my fault and he's paying the price only because I wasn't brave enough to tell him I never wanted to be married to him in the first place."
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly, except for when the phone rang. It was the Sheriff and she called to inform Gold that she found most of his belongings. "Greg was the one that ripped you off," she said. "He confessed to it right away and I have everything right here."
"Everything?" Rumple asked hopefully, his thoughts turning to the chipped cup.
There was a pause and what she said confirmed his fears. "The cup you told me about wasn't among your belongings. But I am still looking for it."
"So you recovered nothing," he replied harshly.
"Hey, I have most of your things. That's a step in the right direction."
"Not enough Sheriff. Not enough." He hung up, his hand quivering. The rest of the other things he couldn't care less about, but that cup was his link to Belle. He had to find it. He needed it.
Dinner was a quiet affair despite Lilianna's attempts to get her parents to talk, but both adults had a lot on their minds. Isabelle couldn't stop thinking about the fallout while Rumple was plotting how to retrieve his property. When the meal was done, Isabelle and Rumple did the dishes together and watched a movie with their daughter until she fell asleep.
"I think I will turn in too," Isabelle said. "I know this wasn't what we had in mind…"
"No matter," he assured her. "I'll be up later."
Isabelle nodded. "Good night Gold."
"Good night," Rumple said. He waited until he was certain his ladies were asleep before he grabbed his keys and drove to town. His first stop was at Mr. Clark's Pharmacy where he picked up a couple of items. He couldn't believe his good fortune that none other David Nolan aka Prince Charming stood in line behind him. Eyeing the two cards in the man's hands, he couldn't help himself as he commented on it.
What followed next was a strained, awkward conversation about how they were for his wife that Rumple had to suppress all that was in him to keep from snorting in derision. If Nolan thought he could convince him that, then he was sorely mistaken. Yet, his focus was not on the Charmings so he let it go.
At his next stop, Rumple pulled the car behind the Sheriff's station. It was surreptitious that the lights were off. It only made this a lot easier as he quickly jimmied the lock and smoothly strode through the corridor to the holding cell. He couldn't help the smirk that grew as he saw Greg's backside as he lay on the cot.
The keys were in the Sheriff's office, which was plainly in sight. Rumple took them and quietly unlocked the cell and went inside. The time for lessons to be learned was about to begin.
xxXXxx
Much to his dismay, Greg didn't regain consciousness until they arrived at the cabin. Rumple had been hoping for a little chitchat on the way, but he supposed that he must be disappointed in that respect. At least they could start their fun and there was so much that Rumple had been waiting to do to the former knight since he stolen his dagger and had him under the thrall.
He parked the car and opened the back passenger door. Greg was bound and gagged and the stench of urine had Rumple grimacing in disgust at this worthless piece of scum. Cocking his pistol at the frightened young man, he showed Greg in unspoken terms what he was capable of doing if he didn't cooperate. Wisely, he chose to obey when he bent down to grab his tied feet and dragged him out. Unceremoniously, Rumple dropped Greg on the gravel driveway as his cries of pain were muffled behind the duct tape.
With his gun still aimed, Rumple loosened the bonds around his ankles so he could walk inside the cabin.
"Let's go," he snarled, pushing Greg forward with the barrel pressing to his back. "No funny business Mr. Hunter," he warned him. "You made a grave error today and we will have to rectify that. Now… in you go!"
He forcibly shoved the younger man through the door and slammed it shut behind him. "Into the bedroom. Now."
Greg didn't have to be told twice as he did as he was told. Rumple's eyes never left him as he instructed him to sit with his back against the wall. As Greg did so, Rumple grabbed a chair from the table and brought it into the room. He placed the gun on the dresser and placed the chair in front of the quivering form and straddled it so his knee was partially comfortable. He brought his cane forward and purposefully let it swing in front of him as he watched Greg squirm.
Good.
Tipping the chair forward, Rumple reached for the tape and ripped it off the other man's mouth. His exclamation only made his smile wider as Rumple pressed the end of his cane to his throat to make him cease his noises.
As Greg choked, Rumple muttered, "That's better. Now listen to me closely or else this will get really messy, are we clear?"
Greg nodded and Rumple removed the cane as he inhaled deeply. "Excellent. Now, Mr. Hunter… let's go over your list of crimes, shall we? First, I left her and my child in your care, thinking you would be the honorable man that she had always told me you were; only to discover that you didn't live up to that expectation. It would have been one thing to come after me like a man, but to punish the woman that we love? Well… that's a new low don't you agree?"
"What are you talking about Gold?" Greg sputtered and yelped as Rumple delivered a blow to his shoulder with his cane.
"I'm not finished," he growled. "You locked her up and sent people in to force her to repent her love for me. You couldn't accept that she fallen in love with the monster and bore his child, your slave. How it must have burned you to know that she longed for my touch and shunned yours. Never the mind that I tried to do honorable thing to keep her safe from my enemies, but you had to let your wounded pride get the best of you. You wouldn't go after me but you would hurt a woman. I fail to see the honor in that, but then again, you were always ambitious and having her as your wife wasn't enough."
He struck with his cane again. "Even in this world you make her miserable. You took advantage of her so you could prowl the bar while she provided for her family!" Another swing. "You lout! You poor excuse of a man!" Whack, whack. "Today you attack my family! You couldn't let it go that she wanted to divorce you! You don't deserve her! You never deserved her goodness! Her love!" The cane came crashing down over and over with each punctuated sentence. "Then you had the audacity to come into my home and take what's rightfully mine! Tell where it is!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Greg sobbed, blood trickling from his temple and hands from where he tried to lessen the blows by covering himself. "You're the sick fuck!"
"Ah, ah," Rumple clicked his tongue. "You know what I'm talking about. Tell me who told you where to find it and I will stop."
He spat at him. "Go to Hell Gold."
"After you," he replied darkly as he lowered his cane once more. As Greg screamed, he continued his questioning, "Where is it?! Where is it!?"
Just before he could deliver another blow, Rumple felt a hand grabbed his wrist, halting the attack for good.
"Stop!" Emma whispered in horror. "My God."
Breathing through clenched teeth, Rumple was upset that it was over and while he was no step closer to finding his cup, at least he felt vindicated for what Greg did to his Belle.
The Sheriff removed his cane from his hand and set it on the bed and took his pistol and emptied the chamber. Rumple sat there quietly as the Savior checked on Greg and then called for a medic. She ordered him to leave the room but with his knee… he needed his cane. With a hard glint in her eyes, she handed it to him but he wasn't going anywhere. He did what he had to do and now his family would be safe. Greg wasn't going to be laying a finger on his Belle or his daughter.
It didn't take long for the ambulance to arrive and assess Greg's injuries. He didn't care to listen and chose to wait outside by his car as Greg was carried off to the hospital. He was anxious to get back home to see Belle and hoped that the Sheriff wouldn't keep him for long. At last the blonde Sheriff approached him, her expression unreadable but it was clear she wasn't happy.
"You sure don't get it do you?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I don't know what you mean Sheriff Swann."
"Of course you don't," Emma replied with an arched brow. "Well, Gold, you really did it. He was locked up nice and tight. No potential threat yet you had to take matters in your hands. And over what? Trinkets?"
"It was more than 'trinkets,'" Gold deadpanned. "You wouldn't understand."
"Make me understand. I get that you and his wife had a thing, but that doesn't excuse you to take it out on him."
"Pardon me, Sheriff, but did we not witness the same thing earlier today? He hurt her."
"Yeah and I was handling it before you decided to become judge and executioner. You really did it this time Gold."
"Thank you for your concern Ms. Swann, but I'm going to go," he told her.
"No you're not," she said, pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "Looks like they're yours after all." Slapping them on his wrist, Emma added, "You're under arrest Gold for breaking a criminal out of jail, kidnapping, and assault and battery."
xxXXxx
The next morning Rumple was sitting in the same cell as Greg did. His cane was housed in Emma's office and he couldn't find it in himself to feel remorse for his actions. Greg Hunter would think twice now about looking at Isabelle and if it hastened the divorce proceedings… then all the better.
It was around eight when Isabelle came running into the police station. Right away, her countenance was in distress and as soon as she saw him… her anguish worsened.
"Oh God! I was afraid I was wrong!" She went up to his cell as he used the bars to help lift himself to his feet. "I didn't know what to do. You weren't home," Isabelle babbled but Rumple couldn't be upset. As soon as the Sheriff found him in the cabin, he knew that it had to have been Isabelle to have called her. He wasn't angry with his love knowing full well that she did him a service. If Emma hadn't intervened, then Greg would have had life-threatening injuries than what he already sustained. The other man was fortunate he was alive considering what he had done to Isabelle.
"Why did you do this?" she whispered brokenly. "Why did you go after Greg? He wouldn't have done anything, not behind bars he couldn't."
"I'm sorry, love, really I am," he told her. "You don't understand now, but one day you will. Or at least understand my motives."
She opened her mouth to say more, but the Sheriff cleared her throat and got their attention.
"You didn't have to come down Mrs. Hunter," Emma said.
"I had to. I couldn't leave him here," Isabelle admitted and the Sheriff sighed.
"Well, Gold has to stay until I get your husband's statement. I'm positive he would want to press charges."
"What about bail?" Isabelle demanded. "Look, I know what Mr. Gold did was unforgivable, but he can't stay in here. I'll pay whatever it is. I just want him to come home with me."
"Mrs. Hunter…" Emma started but the running footsteps of a child stopped her as Henry rounded the corner with a large smile on his face. Behind him was Regina, her cool eyes settling on him as a smirk played across her bright red lipstick.
"Sheriff Swann, I'm going to give you thirty minutes to spend with Henry. Why don't you get an ice cream? I would like to speak to Mr. Gold."
"Regina, I don't think that's a good idea," Emma said but she was interrupted when the mayor said, "Twenty-nine minutes."
"Let me pay his bail first," Isabelle insisted.
"Love." The beauty glanced at her lover and he offered her a comforting grin. "It's all right. Let the Sheriff spend time with her son. I'll be out soon enough. I promise."
"But—" she started and he shook his head. "I'll call you when you can come back. I promise."
Biting her lower lip, Isabelle was torn for wanting to stay but conceded to his request. "Call me right away," she said, reaching through the bars and running her fingers through his hair as she cupped his cheek. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you," he whispered back as she reluctantly followed the Sheriff and Henry out. Turning towards Regina, his lips were drawn back in a hiss, "I guess you really wanted that chat after all."
"How do you figure?" she sweetly asked as she sashayed to the couch next to the cell.
"Really, dearie," Gold scolded. "You got my attention so say what you want."
"It's just one question."
"One?" he snorted. "It all depends Mayor Mills. I know you prompted Mr. Hunter to break into my house."
"Yes, well, it was merely a suggestion. After all, I did hint that his wife might have been unfaithful. It's not my fault that he happened to catch you two in the act. I thought you had better sense than cavorting with your lover in your shop where anyone can see."
He drew a deep breath knowing that Regina was in fact responsible for the break-in. And that meant… "A deal can be made when both parties have something that the other wants. So, do you have what I want?"
With a wide grin, Regina's eyes gleamed. "Yes."
"Well?" Gold waited for her to prove it and she did by reaching into her purse and pulling out the chipped cup.
"Satisfied?" she taunted as she waved the cup right before him. "I never would have pictured you getting all sentiment over something so worthless."
"Hand it to me!" he ordered. The word "please" was about to be next, but Regina spoke before him. "I will once you answer my question."
"Very well. What is it?" he replied wearily and anxiously.
"What is your name?"
The question threw him for a loop. Out of all the things Regina could ask, she picked that one. However, she would ask that only if she suspected if he was more than what he was and Rumple wasn't sure if he was ready for her to know.
"Mr. Gold," he answered without a beat and earned himself an indignant scowl. "That's not what I meant," the mayor said. "Tell me your real name."
"For as long as I have lived that has been my name."
"Don't give me that. You know what I'm talking about. Quit the games Gold and tell me your real name."
He was playing with fire by testing her patience. Yet he wasn't willing to give up his control or his advantage to her ignorance. He would reveal himself on his terms, not hers. He was the one with the real power in this world and he wasn't going to give her this satisfaction in thinking she defeated him. And if she wanted some confirmation then it was too bad. She will pay for what she did to his beloved, but today wasn't that day. He licked his lips as he looked her squarely in the eye.
"Mr. Gold is my real name Regina. Now, hand me my cup over please."
The compulsion hit and Rumple was soon cradling his precious chipped cup. He won this round, but he wasn't going to start gloating. Regina stood and looked down on him.
"This isn't over," she warned him.
"Not by a long shot," he retorted. "Good day Madam Mayor."
She was dismissed and while it seethed her that she didn't get what she wanted (not that she knew), she left the station in a huff. Rumple closed his eyes and exhaled in relief that he had his cup back. His secret was still a secret and the Queen was nowhere close to winning. It was a small victory, but it was one that he would gladly take considering his situation.
The Sheriff returned right on time without Henry. He had a feeling that the good mayor waited outside to collect her son so she wouldn't see him again. And true to her word, Emma called Isabelle, but her attempts to persuade her were for naught. Isabelle came with cash and slammed it on the deputy's desk before commanding Emma to release him.
Now, he was a free man for the time being. Though free was arbitrary with the way Isabelle was fuming beside him. She didn't speak to him as they went into her car and she drove back to his home. He noticed that Lily-Rose wasn't there and he opened his mouth to mention it, but quickly pressed his lips together as she testily glared at him. It was perhaps the most intense silent ride he ever had. Rumple knew she would be upset with his actions, but he did it for her even if she didn't understand the whole reason behind it. He shouldn't feel guilty, but there it was… that pesky little emotion gnawing away and for the first time in the Dark One's life… he was truly frightened by this petite woman.
She parked the car violently and yanked the car door opened, slamming it behind her. She didn't bother to help him as she began to ascend the steps to the front door. Rumple followed behind without another word until the door was safely closed and they were away from prying eyes.
The silence in the house indicated that their daughter wasn't there, and this time, Isabelle did answer his unspoken question. "She's staying with Ruby. Luckily, my friends are standing by my side and are willing to help me if needed."
"Isabelle," he started and her curls shook violently as she fixated him with a murderous stare.
"Don't speak. Not now. Not after what you done to me, to our daughter," she told him plainly. "I had a good deal of time to think about this last night and the only thing I could come up with was how you're an idiot."
He lowered his face in shame, his cheeks reddening. She was right. He was an idiot and he acted impulsively, but what else could he do when Greg harmed his family? The Dark One would not that injustice slide, and there was no point in explaining that to the raging woman.
"Did you think I wasn't strong enough? That I wasn't aware of the dangers that would lie ahead of us when I chose you? What possessed you to take the coward's way out?"
It was her line of questioning that snapped Rumple's head in attention. He could only gaze at her as she continued her ranting.
"I spent Gods knows how long wondering what it was that made you think you could sacrificed yourself and our love. Did you know I actually thought what you wrote was true and that you no longer loved me? Did you know how much that killed me to think it was in my mind? Thankfully, I had Lily-Rose to attend to and I realized that it wasn't true… you do love me and you had to go and play the martyr."
"What—what did you say?" Rumple gasped as Belle stood before him in all of her glory.
"You heard me Rumplestiltskin," she said, crossing her arms across her chest. "You have a lot to account for, but now…"
To his growing baffled astonishment, Belle reached for him and smashed her lips against his.
TBC…
