AN: Set during "Lily"
"I'll be back in a few hours," Belle said, giving Will a hug, "Thanks for watching the shop for me."
"Not a problem," he replied, "But are you sure you have to baby sit for the Charmings? I know how you feel about them."
"It's fine," Belle sighed, "I like Neal, he's a sweet baby."
"Well, see you later," Will gave a little wave as Belle left, calling "Bye!" over her shoulder.
He stuck his hands in his pockets, with the Charmings busy and Belle away, the shop was sure to be quiet. He spun around-
-stopping when he saw Rumpelstiltskin walk out from the shadows.
"What are you doing here?" Will demanded.
"Well, this is my shop and that was my wife, so I think the better question is, what are you doing here?" the dark one sneered.
"Belle asked me to watch the shop," he puffed up his chest a bit, "I guess this is the part where I say 'Gold's Pawn Shop, how can I help you?'"
Rumpelstiltskin stalked closer to Will, "I need you to steal Belle's heart."
"Too late for that, mate, it's already done."
Without realizing what happened Will found himself press against the wall, Gold's cane at his throat.
"I mean she doesn't have it!" Will gasped, "Some one stole it! It's not in her chest!"
Gold bared his teeth at the thief, easing away slightly, "Regina stole it," he confirmed.
"And you want me to steal it back?" Will asked.
"Exactly."
So they went, Rumpelstiltskin distracting Maleficent ("Trust me, you don't want to mess with her, she can turn into a dragon.") and Will braking into the office ("You can climb this drain pipe by using the foot holds-" "I know how to climb a drain pipe!") and stealing back Belle's heart.
"Careful! Be very careful with it!" Rumpelstiltskin nearly shouted as they walked back to the pawn shop, "Why don't you let me hold it?"
"Are you kidding? Belle's really cross with you," Will replied, "I don't think she'd like that."
Rumpelstiltskin growled at this and Will thought it would be best if he was quiet for the rest of the walk. But back at the shop, Belle's heart safely tucked in a box, the Dark One turned on Will.
"She may be happy to be in love with you, but if you hurt her in any way, there is no force that can stop me from destroying you," he snarled, "Even if it turns my heart black."
"In love with me? Belle? Are you touched in the head, mate?" Will asked, "Belle isn't in love with me. She's in love with you."
"What?"
"And Belle's a nice girl, but I've got a true love of my own back in Wonderland," Will continued.
"What? You- Belle- not love- Wonderland?" Rumpelstiltskin sputtered.
"You know they said the Dark One has a way with words, but I never thought he'd be speechless learning that his wife loved him."
Hours later Will stood with Belle's heart in a box as she entered the store.
"Will? What's going on?" she asked.
He opened the box.
"Is that-?"
"Your heart, yes, Regina stole it."
"But she- I though- I can't believe I was naive enough to believe she was becoming a hero," Belle sighed, "But why would she want my heart?"
"To use you as a pawn against me," Rumpelstiltskin said again stepping from the shadows.
Will got the feeling that he liked the air of sinister mystery. The thief watched as the Dark One explained to his wife that his heart was growing darker, that he wanted to be certain she was safe, and that his love for her was the only thing that kept him human. Even heartless, Will saw her lips tremble with emotion.
"I'm going to return this to you Belle," the Dark One said, gently lifting her heart from the box.
Carefully, he pressed it back into her chest, Belle becoming human again verses the shell of a person she'd felt the past few days. Will watched as they looked at each other, Belle's eyes full of emotions he'd seen in Ana when she looked at him.
"Good bye, Belle," Rumpelstiltskin whispered before leaving the shop.
Belle moved too, like to was drawn with him, turning to follow several steps before watching him leave into the darkness.
