In this chapter, Hook gets owned by Pongo. Just saying :)

Oh, but if you've got time, I really would appreciate it if you guys could head to this link and vote my story, Danse Macabre for Best Belle. It would mean so much to me. :) I know I'm against Nym, but I have hope!

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A few mornings later, Belle woke to find that Rumple was gone from bed. She headed down the stairs, surprised to see Pongo laying out at the bottom of the steps, fast asleep. As soon as he heard her footsteps, the dog perked up, looking up at her with a modest sort of joy. Belle felt a sudden burst of love for the dog.

He was protecting her. Nobody would get up or down the stairs without waking Pongo. "My little hero." she softly cooed as she knelt down besides him, stroking his head.

Pongo's ears fell in a polite manner as his tail thumped against the floor as it wagged. He gave Belle a lick on the cheek. She beamed, rubbing his back before standing. "Now, let's find papa, shall we?" she stepped over the dog, heading into the kitchen to see a note on the counter her name scrawled on the front of it.

Belle felt like a lovelorn maiden for flushing, but the way her name looked in his handwriting made her heart do somersaults in her chest. She flipped the note open, silently reading Rumplestiltskin's writing.

You looked so peaceful this morning that I couldn't bear to wake you.

I am at the shop. If you need me for anything, call me as I showed you how.

Don't forget to take Pongo with you.

I love you.

-R

Belle beamed as she folded the note in two and headed back upstairs, tucking the folded note into the current book she was reading so she cold reread it later.

She took a quick shower and dressed for the day, smoothing out her skirt as she headed back downstairs. She had straightened her hair today, just as Ruby had shown her to do. Her friend had taken Belle under her wing, helping her understand these modern ways of hair styling and makeup application. Belle found that she enjoyed curling up in an armchair, painting her nails and listening to music from the device called an "Ipod" in this world that played music through two little ear pieces. Belle quite liked Mr. Gold's selection of music, a bit surprised by the softness of the songs.

Belle took the other device she had been recently taught how to use and tucked it into the pocket of her skirt. Rumplestiltskin had spent an evening with her, teaching her how to turn the cell phone on and dial his number. She had engraved the number into her brain, as he also helped her do. He'd occasionally quiz her on it at the most random of times to be sure.

Each time Belle would give a coy little smile and recite the number. She knew he wished she could just be with him the whole day. She almost could with the other opportunity the cell phone gave her. Texting. Belle had a difficult time with it because she needed to write each word out properly and have each sentence be grammatically correct. Ruby had gypped her from her number and often sent her texts with short little variations of words, which infuriated Belle beyond belief. She found herself using these shortened versions of the words when in a rush, but Rumpelstiltskin always wrote them out, no matter what. Sometimes Belle wondered if he used magic to cheat.

Nevertheless, she was thankful for this way to speak to him. She was also thankful that Rumplestiltskin had left a physical note instead of a text. It reminded her of home. Home at the Dark Castle where things were a bit simpler. No odd devices to send messages, but normal parchment.

She wore a wistful smile as she clipped Pongo's leash on and stepped outside with the dog, who was ecstatic to be out on the streets. Belle knew that Archie could always be found walking Pongo each day, carrying an umbrella with him, even on the sunniest days.

A sad pang tapped at her heart upon the thought. As if Pongo could feel it too, the dog paused at the end of the walkway to Rumplestiltskin's house and stared at Belle, a sympathetic look in his eyes.

"I'm fine, Pongo." she told the dog, smiling. "I just feel bad for you. I'm sure you miss him."

The dog padded over and nudged her leg, as if to say: "You guys are my masters now!"

Belle stroked Pongo's neck, nodding. "Right. You're our new child to care for."

The dog then proceeded to lead her to the library, happy to smell the ground as he went. Belle greeted each Storybrooke resident they passed with a kind nod, determined not to let the lingering gazes cause her any diffidence. She would make them see that Rumplestiltskin had changed, she would. She owed that much to him.

She wore a confident smile as they walked, though it wavered when Pongo decided to relieve himself on the bushes laying outside of Regina's house. Belle had to cover her mouth to hide her laughter as they resumed down the street, silently praising Pongo for his little act of defiance.

She unlocked the library and headed in with the dog, the smell of old books making her feel at ease. She shut the door behind her, leaving Pongo's leash looped around her wrist as she grabbed a few novels from the cart of books she had found stacked behind the old librarian's desk. She strode towards the right section of the library, about to let Pongo go off when the dog suddenly uttered a loud, booming bark.

She looked to the dog, shocked to see his hackles raised and teeth bared in a snarl as he slowly moved in front of her. Belle followed the dog's gaze, shocked to see a pirate of all things. Not just any pirate, but the hooked pirate that had tried to persuade information out of her in Regina's tower. The pirate that had slapped her across the face.

"We're closed." Belle coldly informed the man, a scowl on her face as she recalled the hopeful flicker of light she had felt when the pirate had claimed to be there to release her from that hell of a prison.

The pirate sneered at the dog, baring his own teeth as he shut the book he had been flipping through. "I'm not here for the books, love." he smirked, his gaze not leaving Pongo's. "Has a dog on his woman now?" he nodded to the dalmatian with a grin. "That won't stop me, I'm afraid."

"You're the one that wanted to kill Rumplestiltskin." she stated, her lips formed in the most disgusted of sneers.

"Aye, and I intend to do just that, love. First, I'll break his heart." he shot what he probably assumed was a charming smirk, but Belle found it quite repulsive.

She shot him a dirty look before she ran, followed behind by Pongo, who gave a set of loud barks as the two ran to the cart full of books. The man had taken the back room and soon was standing in front of her, divided off by the cart. "You won't kill him." Belle boldly informed the pirate. Pongo gave a loud growl after she said so, as if to agree with his mistress.

"I'll settle for you." the man snarled, before motioning to lunge around the cart. Belle was faster.

She shoved the cart full of books on him, quickly wheeling around and sprinting for the old elevator in the center of the library, yanking Pongo along with her before slamming her first on the button that opened the heavy set of doors. Belle knew learning the controls would come in handy one day.

She felt a short lived relief as she opened the doors, only to be replaced with panic as the disgruntled pirate neared in on her. She was about to cover herself to attempt to protect herself from his hook, but she found that he wouldn't even scrape her.

Pongo had lunged forward, biting the crude pirate right in the crotch. The man let out a very unmanly howl of pain as the dog tore into him, lashing his head side from side, jaws locked in on his prey.

Belle backed into the elevator, Pongo's leash forgotten as she fell back against the internal controls. "Pongo!" she cried, fearing that the dog would be left alone with the hooked fiend.

The dog released the pirate, almost pausing to watch the man double over and clutch himself with a pained groan before running into the elevator, barely making it in before the doors snapped shut. Belle slid down to a sitting position, breathing heavily. Panic was everywhere; in her chest, in her brain. She would've lost her breath completely had it not been for Pongo, who had busied himself licking her face and whining.

"I'm okay...we're okay." she informed the dog, wrapping her arms around her spotted friend.

Then the banging started. The hooked pirate was up and bashing on the door, trying to get in. Belle's eyes widened as she looked around for an escape. There was no way. She was boxed in. If that man got in somehow...Pongo may be able to protect her, but the pirate would have a better chance of harming both Belle and Pongo.

If you need me for anything, call me as I showed you how do to.

She yanked out the cell phone, fumbling to dial his number and press send.

She waited what felt like hours for him to finally pick up, her heart racing as the banging grew louder and more insistent.

"Hey Belle." his voice was relaxed, happy. Belle couldn't even put it into words how relieved she was in that moment.

"Rumple, I'm at the library. There's a pirate here with a hook...he's trying to kill me. I'm in the elevator!" she gushed out at once, clinging to Pongo as if he was the only thing keeping the pirate away from her.

"Belle? I can't-bzzzt-library-bzzzt-Belle?" his voice broke off into static.

"Hello? H-Hello?!" she cried. When she only resumed to hear the static, she snapped the phone shut, hugging onto Pongo with both arms as she gave a whimper. The dog rested his head upon her shoulder, tail still as he let Belle cling to him, fear radiating from her.

Even when the banging paused, she remained where she was for what felt like years. After a long while, she heard another clang and lifted her head, breathing heavily. Had he come back? Had he found a way?

The door opened to reveal Rumplestiltskin, looking extremely distressed. "Belle!" he sighed in relieve, extending his arms to her as she ran and threw herself into them, giving a sob.

"It's okay now, he's gone." Rumple soothed, rubbing her back.

"He almost caught me." she breathed, refusing to let go. "Pongo...stopped him."

Rumplestiltskin looked over her shoulder to shoot a grateful look to the dog who was at their side, tail hesitantly wagging. "Good boy." he murmured, parting from Belle to give the dog a pat on the head.

Belle gave a relieved laugh, looking to Rumplestiltskin. "He...bit him, well...I'm not sure if the man will be able to have children."

Rumpelstiltskin gave a bark of a laugh, wishing so desperately that he could've seen the scene himself. He looked to Pongo, knowing that the dog's eagerness to chew on the pirate toy had been a good sign.

Rumplestiltskin knew it wouldn't be the last of Hook, but the man wouldn't have the chance to even recover. Rumple wouldn't give him that time.

Perhaps he'd let Pongo at him again.

I can't express how much fun I had writing this chapter. I love adding in little back things that the writers never really told us, like Belle's straight hair or the cellphone.

But most of all, I enjoyed writing Hook getting bitten in the junk by our lovely spotted friend. ;D

Thanks for reading, dearie!

Review if you desire to do so!