Epilogue
Rumpelstiltskin drove slowly down the street. There was something of a gathering at Granny's.
Ruby must have lived to see another full moon.
Looked like all the fuss with King George was over. How very tiresome. All those people, so easily led into frenzy by a few pedantic pontifications. Soon they would unmagically follow the direction of another charismatic wind.
But he still drove by, gazing in. No sign of her. His head turned to the other direction as he steered toward the library. All lights on. She was still up. Just long enough to make certain she was well. That was all. He limped to the door. Open. Stepping in, at first did not see anybody as his eyes adjusted to the light. Then he heard her voice. Frightened. No, terrified.
"Ruby? David? Who's there? Please . . ."
"Belle!" He moved as though a panther striking. She was chained up. Like an animal. With a movement of the wrist, magic removed the cuffs.
"Rumple!" She gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"Who?" he snarled into her face, ignoring her question. "Who did this to you?"
Belle shook her head, eyes squinting, "What?"
"Dammit, who chained you up? Was it George?" He turned from her and stalked towards the door.
"No! Oh gods, Rumple, stop!"
He ignored her.
"It was Ruby!" she desperately called out.
That halted him. "Ruby?" Unbelievable. Her friend? The one who he trusted to look after her. "What kind of sick, sorry thing is she?" Rumpelstiltskin whispered.
"She did it to protect me," Belle explained.
"To protect you." He spat each word.
"She didn't want me to get hurt," Belle defended.
"So she chained you up?" Rumpelstiltskin's voice rose. "Does she know what happened to you? With Regina?" He took a step towards her. "Does she know?"
"Yes!"
"And she still. . ." He was growling now.
"Oh gods, Rumpelstiltskin," Belle pleaded, "don't hurt her. "
"Your friend?" He asked sarcastically.
Belle met his glare. "Let me deal with that. It's my conversation to have with her, not yours."
"Oh, I'm planning more than a conversation!" he retorted.
"No!"
He turned to leave. "Rumple!" Belle grabbed him by both arms, spinning him around. She was the only one who could do that and live. He looked down at her hands, she abruptly let go.
Belle began to speak; he waved a hand in front of him, dismissal, closing his eyes. Sighed. "I shouldn't have come," he muttered. Back to the car. Mistake. Always a mistake.
"Yes, you should have," her voice slowed and lowered. "You wanted to be sure I was safe. There's nothing wrong with that."
"No, I suppose not," Rumpelstiltskin slightly bowed his head. "Good night."
"Why haven't you been answering my calls?" She blurted out.
Rumpelstiltskin stopped again. "Oh Belle . . . ." He was so weary.
"I even texted," Belle continued. "Ruby taught me."
He attempted humor, trying to change the direction of the conversation. He could do this. "Glad she hasn't taught you this world's anorexia epidemic," he gestured to her healthy figure.
That made Belle smile. "She tried to warn me about gaining weight." She grinned, but her lips trembled. "I told her to shove off!"
"That's my . . ." He turned his eyes away, looked to the side.
Leave, leave now.
Belle took advantage of the opening, taking a step toward him. "We need to talk," she said gently. "Why haven't I been able to reach you?"
"I got a new phone. No roaming fees," Rumpelstiltskin snipped, his voice rising in pitch, mad at himself for allowing her to take control of the conversation.
She just looked at him.
"I've been busy, Belle," he looked down. "On a project with which you are well familiar."
She bit her lip. Dammit, she was trying not to cry. Her eyes started to shine.
"But surely, you could spare a half hour? I could show you my apartment." Belle gestured to the back. "We could cook a dinner, have some wine, just as we used . . ."
"Thank you," Rumpelstiltskin cut in, "busy. So much to do."
Go.
He moved to the door.
"We could talk, talk about this," Belle continued, pleading. "I'll listen, too. I see that I needed to do that, not just you." She started following him.
He kept walking. Screaming inside. Tempted, so tempted to turn around, fall on his knees even, beg for mercy, beg her to take him back, to start over, start everything over. . .
"Rumple . . ." She was right behind him.
He forced himself forward, begging the gods he didn't believe in to let him go back to the castle, back in time and never allow her to leave him.
She kept after him, out the door. "Please, wait!"
No one could ever love me. . .
Except she did.
"Dammit, Rumpelstiltskin!"
He was lying in her arms, head on her heart. Tears falling onto her breast, telling her he was happy.
He got into his car and pulled away, making a brief error by looking in the review mirror. She was standing still, tears flowing.
He kept driving.
No one could ever love me!
But she loved him.
Milah's heart was in his hands, squeezing the life out of her.
Belle's head was in her hands as she sobbed.
He was the Beast, the Monster of the Dark Castle and she loved him.
His foot hit the accelerator, speeding to his empty home.
No one should ever love me.
The End