Heeeeeey guys, will you hate me if I tell you that I legitimately forgot about this story? Sorry. This weird thing called real life got in the way, it was very strange. But yeah, my profuse apologies, and just so y'all know, this final installment of this little ficlet occurs in a headcannon that "true love's kiss" only works if both parties involved have admitted to themselves that they are truly in love. In this case, neither Rumple nor Belle have until maybe a little bit right at the very end . . . you'll understand hopefully by the end of the chapter.

Please review with your thoughts, hope you liked it :)

"Milady . . . if I may be so humble as to ask for this first dance?"

And because she had no idea what to do, she gave a breathless laugh, and Rumpelstiltskin snapped out of his stance looking hurt and frightened and confused all at the same time, and she realised almost too slowly what he'd assumed, that she thought he was being stupid, that she could never possibly want to dance with him. But, for the first time in her life, she fixed the problem before it started; she was standing in front of him in an instant, her hands holding his and pressing his right one to her waist before resting her left on his shoulder, looking him directly in the eyes and apologising frantically. "I-I am so sorry, Rumpel, I wasn't laughing at you, it's just . . . it's all this, I never could have dreamed for anything more, and I never expected to dance again, it's all just come as such a surprise and I'm so excited and if I could have any handsome prince in the world to dance with right now, I would still choose you." The words tumbled out of her mouth and into the small space of air that separated them, and the look of relief and shock that flooded his face was worth her clumsiness and heavy blush.

Almost simultaneously, they reached an unspoken agreement, and his grip tightened on her waist, and both pairs of eyes flicked down to their feet then back up to each other, and the beauty and the not-quite-beast danced.

It was careful and tentative at first, full of clumsy steps and breathy apologies. And then, they both seemed to remember, and they moved together across the hall without each looking anywhere but at the other, her dress swirling out behind her and his feet sure and swift as he guided her through each turn and step. And the instruments kept playing, piece after piece, until Belle and Rumpelstiltskin were left swaying in the middle of the room to a quiet, slow melody, standing much closer together than when they had started. Belle rested her chin on his shoulder, he leaned his cheek into her hair; her hands had moved to the base of his neck, while his arms were both wrapped around her waist, holding her to him with disbelieving tenderness. Belle's body felt like trembling, but Rumpelstiltskin's hold was so sure that she couldn't.

Finally, the instruments stopped, and so did they, but neither pulled away.

"Belle," he murmured into her hair.

"Mm?"

His grip on her waist tightened for a brief moment before his arms slid away and he took hold of her hips, gently prying her away from his body. She was free to tremble now, and from his shaky exertion of breath as he bowed again, so was he. "It was an honour, Belle French, to spend your birthday evening with you. I-I do hope you enjoyed it."

She smiled at him, and for some reason felt the need to cry. "Rumpel, I – "

And he disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.

She couldn't help the cry of outrage that sprung from her lips as she spun in a frantic circle. "Rumpelstiltskin!" she yelled. Tears threatened, but she held them back. She had to stay calm. "Rumpel, I know you can hear me. Please, please don't ruin this. I promise you, I-I'm just as scared as you are, only I don't have the ability to run away." She was speaking to the ground now, pacing towards the roaring fireplace, but this was his castle, his hall, his creation, he'd be able to hear her. "I have no idea what this is, but there is no one else that I would rather be with than you right now. And of all the nights to leave me on my own . . . Rumpelstiltskin, you have made this the happiest day of my life, and you're about to ruin it if you don't come back in the next few seconds."

She waited.

Three seconds passed.

And then six.

And then another ten.

And just as Belle crumpled to her knees in front of the blazing fire, two spidery hands caught her and awkwardly pulled her up by the elbows, and she threw composure to the wind and fell into his arms, clinging and swaying and loving how he was holding her just as tight.

"I'm never letting go of you again, if you're just going to keep disappearing," she murmured into his shoulder, and he squeezed her.

"I'm sorry."

She pulled back a little, so they were face to face, so he could see the tears and hopefully feel a little guilty for them. "Good."

And just like that, they were kissing, and neither one knew why, or how, or what it was, and neither let themselves admit to anything more than deep, passionate affection, but it was beautiful.

The next morning, Belle woke up in his bed, curled around him like a cat, and watched him sleep. His whole face changed when he slept – the creases smoothed, the brow pulled out of its deep frown. The lips slightly parted, not by his will but by natural instinct. She kissed them, and lay back down on his shoulder, and didn't see Rumpelstiltskin's eyes fly open or his skin changing a little before going back to the usual bumpy, lizard texture. She ignored the faster thumping of his heart beneath her ear, passed it off as him being surprised to waking up with her lying on his chest, curled in his arms.

Rumpelstiltskin came so close to flinging her body away from him. But he didn't. He held her tighter, and let her be for a bit longer, and didn't need the power right at that moment.

Belle stirred, and blinked sleepily up at him. "Good morning," she smiled.

He grunted a response.

She sighed. "What was the name of the final piece we danced to last night?" she wandered out loud, looking at him expectantly.

He shrugged. "Tale as Old as Time, or some likewise nonsense."

Shifting against him, Belle smiled again into his chest before touching the rose at her neck and watching as the book appeared in her hands. "Once upon a time," she began.

Hahaha DO YOU NEED SOME CRACKERS WITH THAT CHEESE? Ah well, it was necessary. Keen for Season 4. Laters skaters.

Beth xxx