Rumple stood alone in the dimly lit great hall of the dark castle; he leaned against the center table watching the massive double doors as if he were waiting for something or someone. He glanced down at his pocket watch, and BAM; the doors flew open, and in stormed the evil queen, Regina, or what was supposed to be Regina. Rumple had given her a disguise during their meeting earlier. She wanted so desperately to be seen as the good guy by her subjects and Snow White the bad. Of course, as long as she decided to slaughter thousands of people, that was probably never going to happen. She looked awfully mad, and Rumple knew why, but instead of apologizing (like that would ever happen) he decided to toy with her instead.

"Do I know you, dearie? Sorry, I already have a maid….. promising girl actually," said Rumple.

"You know who I am!" shouted the Queen, who was obviously in no mood to be played with.

"The question is….. why did you come when I called?!"

"I said you could call, didn't say I'd answer," said Rumple with an evil grin.

Regina threw her arms up in a huff, and then stormed over to the mirror. The smell of her clothing filled his nostrils, and he waved his hand in front of his face.

"Oh dear, have the peasants no soap then?" Rumple asked, teasing her again.

"Enough! You've had your fun, now change me back. I want to eat decent food, wear clean clothes, and sleep in my own bed, thank you very much," Regina commanded.

"I tried to warn you, dearie….. A queen walking amongst her people might not like what she hears."

"What do you want? You want me to say you were right?" asked Regina.

Rumple moved his ear closer to give her the hint that that's exactly what he wanted.

"Fine. You were right," she scoffed.

"Oooohh, I like that," said Rumple as he flashed her an evil grin in the mirror.

He waved his hand; she was engulfed by a cloud of purple smoke, and was now standing before the mirror as Regina once again. Regina flashed an evil grin at her reflection in the mirror, and Rumple just smiled proudly at her. In truth he did feel a sort of protectiveness about Regina, more so to his own end, and he had never forgotten his love for Cora, despite the multiple times she tried to kill him ,and Regina reminded him so much of her; after all, Regina was almost his daughter, but all that was a thing of the past. All he needed her for now was to cast the curse, so he could get to Bae.

"The Queen is dead…. Long live the Evil Queen," said Regina proudly.

"Suits you… I'm guessing you'll be taking your leave now," said Rumple, as he waved her to the door.

Regina waved her hand, and the doors flew open; lightning lit up the sky, and the rain came pouring down. Rumple watched Regina's carriage followed by a band of soldiers appear in front of the castle. She quickly hopped in, and the carriage pulled off.

The next morning, Belle sat in her library, the book Rumple bought for her at the market in hand, lounging across the day bed. The book was getting rather intriguing; it was the tale of a pirate looking for his lost treasure, while getting into trouble along the way. She loved books like this; reading them allowed her to experience an adventure a long with the characters.

"Belle!" called Rumple from downstairs.

Belle marked her place and set the book on the table before rushing down the stairs. Rumple sat at his wheel, spinning away. Belle approached him gingerly.

"Would you mind putting the kettle on? I would like some tea," he said.

"Yes. Of course," said Belle with a smile.

Belle went to the kitchen and put the kettle on the stove; while the water was heating up, she began to set up the tray. The cups, sugar, and cream were joined by the large kettle; she reached over and grabbed the tea bag and put it inside. She picked up the tray and carried it outside. She set the tray on the table before pouring a cup for herself and walking over to look out the window at the mountain side; it was beautiful in the spring. Rumple walked over to the tea tray and poured himself a cup; he blew at the steam erupting from the top, and took a sip. It was delicious; he closed his eyes and hummed at the warm liquid making its way to his stomach; Belle had magic of her own. He watched her intensely, studying the curves of her body under that blue dress, the way her hair fell on her shoulders, the way her went to the clouds whenever she was looking out at the mountains or reading a book. A knock from the door woke him from his trance; he wasn't expecting anyone today. Belle looked nervously at him, then in the direction of the front door. Rumple gently sat his cup on the table.

"Stay here," he said, as he strolled out of the room.

Out in the great hall, he waved his hand, and the doors swung open revealing Sir Gaston on the other side. He was pointing his huge sword at him; Rumple's walk turned to one of cockiness, as he took slow steps towards hid enemy. Rumple wasn't frightened; in fact, he was amused at how naïve the knight was; there was now chance he would defeat him.

"I am Sir Gaston, and you, BEAST have taken my true love….. The women whose heart was meant to be mine," said Gaston.

"She's not a piece of property," said Rumple through gritted teeth.

"Oh, you're one to talk, aren't you, Dark One? You bargained for her like she was a golden goose."

Gaston stepped into the great hall; most men never made it this far unless Rumplestiltskin allowed it, and Rumple certainly didn't even want the knight in his courtyard let alone in his home, but Gaston's words hit a nerve, as he backed away from him. Had he really done the same thing; treated Belle like she was an animal? Maybe he had; that certainly wasn't his intention.

"Gaston?"

Belle's voice caused the two men to whip their heads around to gaze at her. It was an odd sight for to see; Gaston with his blade raised, and the fearless Dark One backing away like a frightened child.

"What are you doing here? What's going on?" asked a frantic Belle.

"Belle…. I'm here to rescue you," said Gaston

"Rescue me?"

"Yes. I'm here now, Belle. We can go home. Raise that family we always talked about," said Gaston, as he outstretched his hand.

Rumple was seething; and yet, he had no idea why. Why should he care about what plans the knight had with Belle? Belle walked over to him, and gently lowered his hand.

"Gaston, I'm grateful for your assistance, but I can't go with you. I made a promise. If I go back now, he'll let the ogres come back….. Gaston… It's my duty to stay here. Now, please… leave," said Belle.

Rumple's eyes couldn't leave hers; was this really how she still felt? Like she was forced to stay here? After all they'd been through, all the opening up, she still felt like a prisoner? Rumple was undoubtedly hurt, and for the first time, he did care. Gaston lowered his sword, and Belle escorted him outside. Rumple could hear the clicks of the horse's hooves against the stone path, as the knight rode away. Belle returned a few short moments later looking, to Rumple's surprise, happy.

"Thank you," she said.

"For what?"

"For not killing him….. he's an ignorant oaf, but he means well, I promise you," she said.

Rumple nodded, and followed Belle back into the trophy room. There was another knock at the door, and rumple openly voice annoyance.

"Stay here this time," he said to Belle, as he made his way back to the front doors.

He waved the doors open again, but instead of the knight being on the other side, as Rumple expected, it was an old women, hidden by a black cloak, carrying a basket of roses.

"Hello, my dear, I was wondering if you could help out a kindly old woman…. One gold coin for a single rose," she said.

Rumple was curious about the old woman, she kept her face hidden, and it was unusual for people to approach the Dark Castle unless it was their last resort, and here this woman was knocking on his door to sell him something.

"Do you know who I am, old woman?" asked Rumple.

'Oh yes….. The Dark One, Rumplestiltskin, the most powerful and most feared man in all the realms," she said.

"Interesting that you know that, and yet you approached my door anyway."

"You may be the most powerful, Dark One, but you are not the only one greatly adverts in magic. I go wherever I am needed….. to help and to survive."

"What do you mean?" Rumple was getting even more curious now; he had never met her before, and yet, he could feel a powerful aurora around her.

"I sell a rose to whoever needs it….. I go wherever a rose is guaranteed to bloom," she said.

"Is that so? Very well….." Rumple waved his hand, and a single gold coin appeared between his fingertips.

"I'll take one." If anything, he figured it would be a lovely gift for Belle.

The woman reached into her basket and pulled out a single red rose, and handed it to him. Rumple placed the gold coin into her open purse; he examined the flower, blood red with thorns along the side. He turned to face the old woman again, but she was gone; there was no trace of her. Rumple closed the door, and went back to join Belle in the other room.

Belle watched him reenter the room with his hands behind his back, looking rather mischievous.

"Who was that, then?" she asked.

"Just an old woman selling flowers… Here," he said, presenting the rose to her.

Belle smiled at the gift.

"If you'll have it," said Rumple.

Belle took the rose and marveled at how beautiful it was.

"Why thank you," she said, before she curtsied, and Rumple returned her gesture of thanks with a bow of his own.

Belle giggled, and walked across the room to the small chest sitting on the floor; Rumple smiled and clasped his hands together with all the makings of a man madly in love. She reached down and pulled out a pair of clippers from the chest.

"You had a life Belle, before all this….. friends…. Family….. Why did you decide to come here with me?" Rumple didn't know exactly why he asked this or what answer he was going to get; he just so desperately wanted to know, after all this time together, she didn't fear him. Rumple watched her open the cabinet and retrieve a vase.

"Heroism… Sacrifice…. There aren't a lot of opportunities for women in our land to show what they can do, you know, to see the world, to be heroes, so when you arrived; I figured that was my chance. I always wanted to be brave; I figured do the brave thing and bravery would follow," said Belle as she clipped the bottom stem of the rose and placed it in the vase, before sitting it on the table.

"And was everything you ever hoped?" asked Rumple as he waved his hand, finding the notion of nobelism ridiculous and a fool's quest.

"Well, I did want to see the world…. That part didn't work out, but I did save my village, and that's the most important outcome of this whole ordeal- this path I've chosen," she said, as she pulled herself up to sit on the corner of the table next to him.

So, she did still see all of this as something she had to do, and not staying because she wanted…. Because she may love him; Rumple was thouroghly disappointed, but he thought he'd pry a little more.

"And what about your, uh….. betrothed?" asked Rumple, hoping that he would hear the answer he wanted.

"Ah, it was an arranged marriage. Honestly, I never really cared much for Gaston, but he isn't a terrible person, he's just a fool, and if I can help him live a minute longer…. I'll try my best."

"You've never been in love before?" asked Rumple.

"Not really, no. See to me, love is layered… love is a…. a mystery to be uncovered. No, I can never give my heart to someone as superficial as he."

Rumple sat in his chair, hands clasped together, mesmerized by the beauty before him; because she was beautiful in every way, and her words spewed out with all the wisdom and poetry she could muster. He was in love, that fact was for certain now, and he couldn't bear to keep her as a prisoner any longer. He didn't want her to feel that she had to stay because of her deal with him; he wanted her to stay because she loved him.

"Anyway….. I haven't forgotten. I told you about me, not you tell me something about you. You were going to tell me about your son."

"I'll tell you what…. I'll make you a new deal…."

Belle's interest just peeked even further; she moved closer.

"Go to town and fetch me some straw….. and when you return, I'll share my tale," said Rumple.

Belle looked confused; she didn't know if she had heard him correctly.

"Wait, town?" Belle asked.

Rumple nodded.

"You trust me to come back?"

"Oh no…. I trust I'll never see you again. I release you from our deal. If you want to return on your own free will….. you'll always be welcome….. I'll be waiting for that straw."

Belle hopped off the table, and entered the great hall where her cloak was hanging neatly on the hook; she grabbed it along with a basket for the straw. She took one more look back at Rumplestiltskin, who was still sitting in his chair with his fingers folded; she pulled her hood over her head and strolled out of the castle. As she made her way down the path, she was expecting him to appear in front of her and declare that the whole thing was a ruse, and that the whole thing was a test of her loyalty and commitment, which she horribly failed, but when she finally reached the end of the path and stood firmly at the edge of the forest, it was safe to say that he had in fact let her go. So, why was she so conflicted; this was her chance to see her family and friends again, and yet, she didn't want to leave him, but he would never change. He would remain evil for the rest of his days, but he had changed so much since she had first met him; he was kinder and gentler. Maybe that was all an act; could she really be with someone like that; someone so violent… She had never felt this way about anyone. Without thinking any further, she ran into the forest, and disappeared into the trees of the enchanted forest.

However; unbeknownst to Belle, up in the Queen's bedroom of the Queen's castle; Regina stood in front of the clouded mirror watching Belle run into the forest. She smiled that evil smile; this was her chance to dethrone Rumplestiltskin as the King of magic himself. She turned just as a soldier came running in and kneeled before her.

"You summoned me, my Queen?" he asked breathlessly.

"Yes. Fetch my carriage….. I think I would like to make friends today," she said.

The knight nodded and bowed before running back out into the hall. Regina turned to face the mirror again, where Belle was walking the dirt road, on her way to town.

Belle walked briskly along the path; so deep in her thoughts that nothing else existed around her. She didn't know what to do anymore; she was so confused about all of this. Was he really worth fighting for? She desperately wanted him to be, but by going back, it would mean she was sacrificing the chance to be with her family all over again. But, then, other than her father's love, what exactly was she going back to? Being treating unequally by surrounding men? A loveless marriage to Gaston? That wasn't the life she wanted; she had never been on anything like the quest to find Robin Hood with Rumple, and he might have chastised her, but he never treated her like she was inferior to him because she was a woman, and no one had ever done that before. The sounds of racing horses crept up behind her, and Belle quickly moved further towards the edge of the road; she patiently waited for the small black carriage and small group of soldiers to pass, but instead, the carriage stopped in front of her. The door swung open, and Regina popped out and smiled at her. Belle found her to be very pretty; and though she had never met her, Belle arrived to the conclusion that based on the company of soldiers, the elegant carriage, and the large tailored dress, she must be Queen Regina.

"Did my carriage splash you?" she asked.

"Oh no….. I'm fine," said Belle with a smile.

"You know, I'm tired of riding. Let me stretch my legs and walk with you for a spell," she said with a warm smile.

Belle just stood there; she was puzzled, but was intrigued as to why the Queen was interested in walking with her. A soldier helped Regina out of the carriage, then handed her an umbrella to shade her from the sun. They walked together, and the soldiers followed; Belle grew increasingly uncomfortable. She could sense Regina studying her; making her own silent judgments.

"You carry very little," she said.

"Oh, I don't want to be slowed down."

"Ah, running from someone… Question is: master of lover?"

Belle's gaze focused on the ground; she was somewhat annoyed that the Queen could read her so easily.

"Oh, master and lover."

Belle was suddenly not in the mood to talk, especially not about her heart, and with a complete stranger.

"I might take a rest. You go on ahead," said Belle, but this didn't stop Regina, who linked arms with her and dragged her along, determined to pry a little more.

"So, if I'm right….. you love your employer, but you're leaving him."

"I might lover him-I mean I could accept…. Something evil has taken root in him."

"Sounds like a curse to me….. and all curses can be broken….. A kiss born of true love will do it."

Belle couldn't hide her sudden spike in interest. Could this really be true? If she could break Rumple's curse then they could be together forever. She wouldn't have to worry about his violence anymore. Regina must have taken Belle's expression as something along the line of the absurd, because she came back with:

"Oh no, child. I would never suggest a young woman would kiss the man who held her captive. I mean, what kind of message is that?"

"Right. Of course."

"Besides, if he loves you, he would have let you go, and if he doesn't love you….. the kiss won't even work."

"Well, he did let me go," said Belle, stopping them in their tracks once again.

"Yes, but no kiss happened."

"And a kiss…. A kiss is enough… He'll be a man again?"

"Just an ordinary man… True Love's kiss will break any curse," said Regina.

Well this certainly gave Belle food for thought; and she cursed herself for not seeing it before. Rumple loved her; he wanted her to want to stay with him and not feel like she was bound to him because of some bloody deal. Now it didn't matter; if he could show her that much love, he was more than capable of changing; and Belle was set on saving him. She would break his curse, no matter what.

Rumple stood there gazing out of the window, waiting for Belle to return; she had been gone for hours now, and he had been standing there in the same spot since she left. He was starting to give up hope that she would ever return, for if she did in fact return home, at least she was happy, and that was all that mattered to him. Then suddenly, he spotted a figure on the ground exiting the forest and entering the courtyard. As she drew closer, he recognized the figure to be Belle; he backed up and ran down the stairs to greet her.

Belle entered the throne room with her basket filled with straw; she spotted Rumplestiltskin spinning at his wheel.

"Oh you're back already? Good…. Good thing… I'm nearly out of straw."

Belle placed the basket on the floor next to him; she laughed, for she could see right through his act; and she knew he had been waiting for her. She couldn't prove it of course, but deep down she just knew.

"Hmmmm…Come on….. you're happy that I'm back," said Belle

Rumple thought it pointless to hide the truth; the woman could see right through him.

"I'm not unhappy," he said with an awkward smile.

Belle made her way to his side of the wheel and placed her hands gently on his shoulders.

"You promised me a story," she said.

"Did I?"

"Hmm-hmm," said Belle as she sat next to him.

"Tell me about you son."

Rumple felt as though the walls were closing in. Could he trust himself to talk about his child with her; he would giving his heart to this woman. Last time he did that was with Cora, Regina's evil mother; and she chose a life of royalty over a life with him. It hurt him, and it still did, but could he honestly give himself to this woman? He desperately wanted to; he had to be brave, he just had to; trust that this woman loves him for him.

"I lost him….. nothing more to tell, really," Rumple couldn't believe it. "You coward," he thought to himself. He loved this Belle like he'd never loved any woman before, and yet, he couldn't tell her about his son; he couldn't take a chance and just believe in their love.

"And since then you've loved no one, and no one has loved you?" asked Belle.

Rumple leaned in closer:

"Why did you come back?"

"I wasn't going to, but something changed my mind."

Rumple couldn't stop looking at her; his breath was taken away, and he sighed. The way she was looking at him; so much love and desire in her eyes, a desire for him like no other woman in his life has had. He could see his future in those beautiful blue eyes. Belle could sense that there was something wrong.

"What is it?" she asked.

"No one, no one has ever looked at me like that. Not even my wife."

Belle wanted him, she wanted to kiss him. She moved a bit closer, then leaned in, closing her eyes and being extra careful not to startle him, she kissed him softly. It was the most wonderful feeling she had ever felt in her life; her first kiss. All the feelings she had for him; all the desire, the lust, the passion, had come full circle in this one amazing moment. She gently pulled away, and opened her eyes; his were still closed, as he was still reeling from the moment. Then, his skin began to change; the green became paler and paler as the seconds passed and he could feel it.

"Oh….. What's happening?"

Belle voiced her joy, and stroked the sides of his hair. The Queen was right; he did love her, and she knew it, and now that his curse was breaking, they could be together forever.

"Kiss me again….. It's working," she said happily.

"What is?" asked Rumple, obviously confused.

"Any curse can be broken."

Rumple looked down at his hands, as they slowly changed color; and it was then, that he registered the words that just came out of her mouth. She couldn't have possibly known that. Only the most advanced magic users know that, which means this was a trick.

"Who told you that?!" shouted Rumple, as he stood up abruptly, his stool flying backwards.

Belle became confused; she didn't know what had happened; Rumple just did a complete 180 in span of thirty seconds. Now he was standing in front of her, angrier than a rabid lion.

"Who knows that?!"

"She….. she…..um…." Belle was so terrified she couldn't speak.

Rumple turned and stormed over to the covered mirror in the corner.

"She? You….. evil…. bitch," he said as he tore the cover off, and began shouting at his own reflection.

"YOU DID THIS! YOU TURNED HER AGAINST ME! I'M GOING TO CHOP YOUR BLOODY HEAD OFF! You think you can make me weak? You think you can defeat me?!" he shouted.

Belle looked more confused now, than she did a minute ago. She stood there in fear, watching Rumplestiltskin yell at his own reflection.

"Um…. Who are you talking to?" she asked.

"The QUEEN! Your friend, the Queen. How did she get to you?"

"She was hardly my friend…. I met her on the road."

"Oh I see…. So, she enlisted you in effort to kill the beast…. Or is this all your idea? Is this you trying to be the hero? I knew this was a trick. I knew you could never love me." Rumple was past the point of reason now; Belle was just another Cora, she only valued herself. How could he have been so blind?

"It was working," said Belle, as she tried to grab his hand, but he snatched it away.

"SHUT UP!"

"This means it's true love," she yelled.

"SHUT THE HELL UP!"

"Why won't you believe me?!"

Rumple grabbed her on each arm, and shook her violently; screaming inches away from her face.

"BECAUSE NO ONE, NO ONE COULD EVER LOVE ME!"

Rumple squeezed her arm, his nails digging in to her skin, and dragged her down to the dungeons. He threw her inside, and slammed the door behind him. She ran towards the door just as it closed; she tugged on the handle, but it was no use.

"Wait! No! Please, you have to believe me! I do love you! With all my heart," said Belle, as she pounded on the door.

Nothing; and now she was back in the dark damp cell she had grown accustomed to during the few weeks of her time here. She sat on the bed, and began to sob in her hands. It obvious now that the Queen had tricked her, and had brought her into her ongoing feud with Rumple, and she couldn't be angrier with him. He didn't believe her after all they'd been through; he wouldn't even listen. She brushed her loose hair from her face, and stopped her cries, as she heard the sound objects tumbling and glass breaking upstairs accompanied by Rumple's angry screams.

Rumple had gone into a frenzy; his angry blinding him, he took his cane and began to smash the cupboard glass in anger. Dishes of all sorts spilled over the broken shelves and onto the floor, breaking some more. Rumple didn't care he just wanted to beat out his anger and pain; the pain of knowing that he could never be loved again, that no one could ever want him. Belle was supposed to be the one, but she was just like the others, and even though he now hated her, he knew there would no one else like her. He looked over at the tea set on the table; the very same one she used to serve him every day. He picked up a cup, and just began throwing them at the walls. SMASH… SMASH…. SMASH, each one coming to an abrupt end; pieces flying in all directions. He picked up the last cup, then noticed the chip on the side. The memories of their first night together came flooding back; he couldn't do it. He placed the cup back on the trey, and made his way back down to the dungeons.

Belle sat still on the bed with her head resting on the damp wall. The door swung open, and in walked Rumplestiltskin. Belle had an idea that her life might come to an end right now, and she just wanted to get it over with; her soul felt like it had been ripped in two, and she felt like she was already dead.

"What are you going to do to me?" she asked.

"Go," he whispered, as he pointed outside the door before turning his back to her.

"Go?" Belle didn't understand.

"I don't want you anymore, dearie. You're too much of a risk," he said calmly.

Belle stood up and made her way to the door. No; she wasn't going to let him off that easily. She had a few words for him too, and she wasn't leaving until he listened. She stopped at the door way, then made her way back to stand in front of him. She looked up into his cold dark green eyes, and spoke her mind:

"You know, you were freeing yourself. You could have had happiness if you just believed that someone could want you. You just couldn't take the chance," said Belle.

"That's a lie," he said through gritted teeth; she was right though. She was the only person that could read him just like the books she held so close to her heart.

She took one step closer, so that she was right in face. She wanted him to feel how much he was making her hurt; how her heart was breaking.

"You're a coward, Rumplestiltskin. And no matter how thick you make your skin or how powerful you become, that fact doesn't change."

"I'm not a coward, dearie. It's quite simple, really….. my power means more to me than you."

'No…. No…. That's a lie. You just don't think I can love you. I told you about my dream earlier today, and as I walked back, I decided…. that you, Rumplestilskin, were my new dream. And now you've made your choice, and you're going to regret it….. forever. All you'll have is an empty heart… and a chipped cup.

And with that, Belle left him alone, but she missed the single tear that ran down Rumple's cheek, as he already began to regret the decision he just made. Belle stormed into the great hall; she grabbed her satchel and her cloak, then ran down the path, through the courtyard and into the enchanted forest; the tears soaking her cheeks as she went. Her heart was broken, and much, much worse, she had no idea where she was going from here.