Reprise

And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned.

-"Belle" (Reprise)

Gregory marched in.

"Oh, it's only you." Rumple let out a breath of relief and shut the doors behind Gregory. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to collect Belle."

"You've come to collect her?" Rumple asked slowly in disbelief.

Gregory did not move at all and stared straight at Rumple. "Yes."

"To take her back to the Evil Queen?" Rumple feared.

"Of course not. I intend to take her as my wife." His eyes were hard, but Rumple could see a shadow of fear behind them, fear that he was trying to fight off.

From this slight hint of panic, Rumple knew he had the advantage and played his own confidence even stronger. "Do you now?" He said, circling Gregory and looking him up and down. "And does Belle know of your plans?"

"No..." he faltered. "But she'll need a new life now that the Enchanted Forest isn't safe for her. She assured me that you aren't the horrible beast that you're known to be. You were kind enough to free her from the Evil Queen's prison and I ask you to release her out of captivity to you as well."

Rumple studied Gregory carefully. He seemed kind, honorable, and daring- just the type of man Belle deserved to marry. Rumple ignored all thoughts of how much he would miss her and how his life would seem empty and dull without her. He tried to think only of her safety. If this Gregory had the means to protect her from Regina, she would be free from danger and from the darkness in Rumple's life that had bled into hers. "Let's see what the girl thinks of this match." He called to her, "Belle!"

She entered in a hurry and saw the two men. "Gregory!" She paced to stand by Rumple. "What are you doing here?"

Gregory dropped to his knees before her. He reached for her, "I've come to take your hand in marriage."

"Excuse me?" She yanked her hand away from his in shock.

Gregory stood and touched her face. "You've captured my heart and I wish to set you free from the debt you owe to Rumplestiltskin, and from fear of the Evil Queen. I will make a safe home for us in another land."

"In another land?" Belle attempted to inch towards Rumple.

"Yes, where are you going? And just how are you planning to get there?" Rumple asked. The boy was impressive with his language, certainly brighter than the oaf, Gaston, and his intentions were noble. Getting to other lands was nearly impossible though, especially for a commoner who couldn't practice magic.

"I'll take you to Oz, my lovely, and I've got a magic bean that will take us there."

Gregory leaned toward her, and Belle leaned away, terrified.

"How in the devil did you get possession of a magic bean?" Rumple asked condescendingly, and a bit out of jealousy. He had half a mind to steal it and whisk Belle away himself. "Let me see it," He demanded.

"No!" Gregory put his hand over the satchel that he was carrying.

"I won't let you have her until I see it," Rumple growled.

Belle clenched her fists at her sides, frustrated. "Do I have any say in what transpires today?"

Gregory cautiously took the bean out and held it in his hands as if he could break it by moving it too much. "See?"

Rumple saw that it was indeed a magic bean. That this ordinary guard would come across a magic bean was highly suspicious and letting Belle go with him was against Rumple's intuition. Nevertheless, rationally, it seemed like the best idea. He said, "You've proven yourself," and stepped back, conceding to Gregory.

"Splendid." Gregory slipped the bean back into the satchel and offered his arm to Belle. "Let's go, Belle."

"Absolutely not!" She pushed him away, distancing herself from him. "Have you been listening to a word that I've said?"

Gregory let his arm drop. "I see." He seemed defeated for a moment and then pressed on, "I will do everything I can...I know I can earn your love if you will come with me." He offered her his hand once more.

This time, she took it. "Gregory, you're very simple...and sweet. I'm sorry, but I've already given my heart to another."

Belle did not look at Rumplestiltskin, but Gregory did. "Someone less simple, less foolish?" He sneered. "You know, Belle, the dark and mysterious man may be exciting in your books, but in real life, he's only going to destroy you."

Rumple was again surprised with the boy and his wisdom, but then realized that Gregory had implied that he was going to destroy Belle. This conclusion wasn't entirely unreasonable, but Belle had already started prattling off in his defense. He interrupted her, "Belle, darling, you should go with him."

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "No, I won't go."

Rumple approached her and she placed her hands on his chest, clinging to his jacket. He let his hands cup her elbows. "It's the best plan we've got."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "You told me that you would protect me from Regina if she came."

"I will, but it would be much safer for you in a different land. You wouldn't have to run and hide for the rest of your life. You don't have to marry him. Just go with him. Use the bean and find adventure in Oz." He tried to smile at her to give her hope.

Belle let her head drop to his chest by her hands.

Rumple could feel every breath she took. He let his hands wander to her waist and he felt her lungs expanding and contracting even more. The breaths were fast and deep- she was distressed. "It's your choice, Belle. You decide your fate."

She looked up at him. "You really want me to leave?" She let her hands trail up to his face, touching his temples and his cheeks. "I know I make you uncomfortable sometimes. It would be easier for you if I wasn't here and Regina couldn't use me as a bargaining chip." She thought for a moment. "I'd like to stay here, but if you want me to leave, I will go with him." She let go of him and stepped back.

Gregory cleared his throat and nodded. "Make the right choice, Rumplestiltskin."

He looked at her and willed himself to do right. He thought about everything he told her. She would be better off. Adventures. Safe. Away from him. It would be better for him. His power would be intact. No more anxiety over her touches. No more smiles. No more kisses.

"I can't," He realized and said out loud. He cupped her face in his hands and noticed how the skin on his fingers contrasted with her pale skin. "I am such a selfish man."

"What?" Belle asked.

"What?!" Gregory leaned in.

Rumple screwed his eyes shut and told her, "Stay."

"Stay?" She asked unsure.

"Stay," he nodded.

She clung to him urgently, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face into his shoulder. "Yes! Thank you!"

Rumple smiled until he saw Gregory seething. "You'll regret this, Rumplestiltskin!" He shouted.

Rumple braced himself to turn Gregory into a gardenia, but restrained himself for Belle's sake.

Gregory took a few moments to watch Belle. He paced the room, took a few deep breaths, and seemed to cool down. "I'm sorry, I don't want to leave a bad impression." He straightened himself up and touched Belle's shoulder. "Belle, I respect your decision. If you ever need me, I will come to your rescue." He bowed.

"Thank you, Gregory." She broke out of Rumple's embrace and curtsied for him.

"Before you go..." Rumple started. He found that he had a sense of admiration for Gregory now that he was keeping his hands off of Belle and wanted to reward him in any way possible. He went over to his spinning wheel and grabbed a handful of golden yarn sticks. "Uh, here!" He tossed them at Gregory, who caught them. "Enough for a new house, I'm sure."

Gregory pocketed the gold humbly. "Thank you, Rumplestiltskin. I wish you the best of luck in facing the Queen. She will surely come after you tomorrow."

Gregory left the castle and Rumple's stomach churned at the thought of Regina coming. He just wanted some peace. He was finally beginning to be able to enjoy Belle and he didn't want an epic battle interrupting them.

Belle took his mind off of things by lacing her hands together at the back of his neck. "Thank you again, Rumple."

Their faces were close together and he felt a familiar anticipation in the way his body tensed. "Are you going to kiss me?"

She thought for a moment, "No." She let go of him and winked. "I need to keep you guessing!"

They had dinner together and then curled up on the couch and Belle read to him. When it was time for bed, Rumplestiltskin walked her to her doorway again.

She beat him to his own question. "Are you going to kiss me?"

He stood rigid in shock. "I- I don't know." He recovered quickly this time. "I guess I'm more of an 'in the moment' type of guy."

"Well, is this the moment?" She rocked her body towards him flirtatiously.

He felt her lips drawing him, but it wasn't as urgent as before and he didn't know what to do with the feeling. He needed adrenaline...or magic to give him the courage to kiss her and he didn't have anything but a belly of butterflies. He looked down, "Belle, I don't-"

"Rumple." She interrupted, letting her hands graze his chest, stroke up his neck, and grab a hold of his chin. "This is the moment." She decided for him and kissed him, letting him suck on her bottom lip. He felt her flush and her warmth spread through him and it felt too good- better than he'd felt in three hundred years.

She broke the kiss and he wanted more. He allowed himself to forget that he was a monster, not a man, and pressed her into the door frame, begging her to open her mouth with his lips. She did and he tasted her and it was heaven to him. His tongue moved over hers, dipping and twisting. The grip of her hand on his arm varied with the kiss. She grasped and stroked down his arm until she could clutch his hand. Finally, he tugged at her lips again trying to pull every bit out of her that he could so he could have her curled around himself forever.

He didn't know what to do when their lips parted so he nodded, "Good night."

"Wait a minute, Rumple." She didn't let go of his hand. He watched her catch her breath and smiled to himself. "Look," she said, holding out their hands to him.

Two flesh-colored, human hands were laced together. He immediately felt very disjointed from his hand, like it belonged to someone else. The new color and texture of his skin continued up his forearm and stopped at his elbow. "What about my face?" He felt his face.

"Still handsome," she joked, touching it as well. "It seems like your hands are the only thing that have changed. You know what this means? It has to be true love's kiss. You love me, Rumple," she laughed.

"I suppose I do." He didn't want to give away too much to her, still afraid. "The magic knows better than I do."

He looked down at his hands again. They were not his. The fingernails were short and pinkish. He brushed his hands against each other. It felt like normal skin. Could he still do magic out of them? He attempted to conjure a rose. It fell into his hand. He felt a rush of relief and handed the rose to Belle.

"You can still do magic." She took his hands again. "But the curse is breaking." She paused as he continued to stare at their hands together. "Are you upset?"

"Yes, but..." he squeezed her hand, showing her, "I am becoming a man once again! For you!"

"Rumple, you should know by now that I don't care what you look like. Beauty is found within," she said to reassure him, "You're happy now. But tomorrow, in the morning," she sighed, "I know you're going to be mad again and worried that you might lose your power."

That did sound like him, but now he was running too high off of her kisses to care. "Let's save tomorrow's problems for tomorrow," He said. "We must go to bed and rest up for Regina."

"I don't want you to go."

He knew what she was implying. He didn't think she wanted to make love, but even sleeping in the same bed would provide too much temptation for him. "I wouldn't dream of tainting your virtue in that way."

"You slept in here last night."

He pointed a finger at her. "That was a special case. Now, off to bed." He shooed her away.

"Please, Rumple." She was giving him her best helpless eyes and he almost fell for it. He searched for any excuse to stay with her, but his newfound moral fortitude wouldn't let him.

"Belle, darling," he cupped her face in his hands. "Who knew you could be such a temptress?" He giggled so she would know that he was only kidding. "I must respect you and your bed," he said seriously. He left her quickly before she could pull him back.

He didn't escape without hearing her retort. "Who knew you were such a saint, Rumple?" The sound of her laugh put him to sleep.

A/N: They are SO fun to write! I hope they are fun to read too!

I tried to make Gregory a little less predictable, but still sort of a Charming-esque guy.

Probably two more chapters left! I need to do a little research about the first curse before I write it. There might be a sequel in the works, but I have to warn you, I am very good at not finishing sequels, haha.

Thank you SO much for all the reviews!