Summary: Mr. Gold is freed like he knew he would be and he as drawn to the hospital, down to the basement where he found her.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the show or the characters.

Rating: Chapter rated M

Pairing: Belle/Rumpelstiltskin

FINDING BELLE:

On the porch Belle stood with Rumpelstiltskin as he pushed open the door to his home, their home now. Inside candles were lit, rose petals were every where, and a light lamenting melody danced on the air. She took the first step inside feeling her heart race faster, her blood run hot. And then his hands were on her hips, his lips at her ear, "Go upstairs," He whispered. Belle licked her lips, they were suddenly dry. She did as he asked.

Gold followed Belle noticing the lack of a limp. It was her magic, the power of her love that was healing him. She floated up the stairs, a gentle swaying. Belle was so graceful. Then she stopped and looked at him with a delicate, teasing smile. "Go to the bedroom and change, then meet me on the third floor." Gold instructed. Fire lit in her eyes, fueled his desire for her.

Leaving her in their bedroom Gold walked up the second flight of stairs to a small circular veranda where he had everything set up. Taking a few minutes he changed from the suit he had been wearing to a pair of light weight navy blue cotton pants. He moved around the veranda making sure everything was set up. Along the railing were alternating red, gold, blue candles. Set up on the floor was an over stuffed pallet covered in gold and blue silk sheets with large opulent red pillows. Red roses, as well as petals, were scattered about. Resting on a silver tray were skin charcoal and four well chosen runes that would bind them together. During the hours they had been parted Gold had thought and thought of a symbol on which they could use and he had come up with nothing, until that moment. She agreed to bind herself to him with her blood mixing it with his. For that they would need a common mark and the ruins to conduct the magic. Rumpelstiltskin had never been more nervous about this in his whole life.

"This is gorgeous."

He turned her and felt his heart stop. Belle stood with her hair tumbling around her shoulders and her body clothed in a baby blue spaghetti strap night gown with a deep V in front and in the back. It made her seem to glow with an inner light. "Oh my…" Gold was speechless. The gossamer fabric whispered around her like a cloud of smoke playing around her ankles. He held out his hand to her wanting to feel her close to him.

Belle could feel a blush creeping up to her cheeks. He was staring at her like a wolf would a sheep, like he wanted to devour her. Soon enough, she hoped he would. His eyes ran over her body eating up every inch of her. Taking his hand, she allowed her body to remain loose as he pulled her to him, fit his lips to hers. She brought her arms over, over his shoulder, her fingers tangling in his hair. The fire inside of her leapt from her skin, into his, and back to hers.

Gold had to stop, had to pull back. He had to stop kissing her. The taste of her was so intoxicating. "Belle..." Gold rested his forehead to hers. "Wait, not yet…. We need to drag it out, to make it last." Putting his hands on her hips he stepped back enough to breathe, enough to steady himself. "Go sit down."

Belle settled on the pallet, falling into the comfort of the pillows, the sheets, feeling the silk caress her skin. Gold sat in front of her with a piece of paper in his hand as well as a piece of charcoal. "What's that?" She asked.

"This will bind us together; heart and soul." Showing her the paper Gold recited the runes he knew by heart, "Forever. Heart break. Love. Eternity. For this binding to work we will have to put these runes on each other as well as a blood mark." Gold explained seeing no fear or revulsion in her eyes; only determination. "Turn around." He kissed her quickly before she could. Gathering her hair up, Rumpelstiltskin put the auburn mass over her right shoulder bearing the soft skin of her back. Slowly, carefully, he drew the first rune on Belle. As if it was yesterday, Rumpelstiltskin could still see her as she stood in the gold gown before him agreeing to his bargain. She had been brave. She had been fearless as she was being now. He drew the second rune feeling the regret well up inside of him for the way he had acted. This was his chance to make it right. The third rune was painted and the fourth.

Belle tried to suck in each breath of air evenly. He was putting the magic runes on her, runes that told the story of their journey. Their life had been a rough road that was finally smoothing out. She felt him take the charcoal away from her skin before his lips touched her. Belle sucked in a sharp breath leaning her head back. His lips blazed a trail over the back of her neck. "Your turn," Gold growled sensually. Drawing away from her, Gold turned exposing his perfect back to her. Belle's hand shook for a second. She was really about to do this. Taking the paper Belle carefully and precisely copied the runes on him in the center of his back, right along the spine, right where he had drawn them on her. She finished them before she knew it and as he had done, Belle leaned in kissing his back all the way up to the back of his neck. He chuckled when she started to nibble.

Gold turned, going to his knees in front of her to her taking her lips in a passionate kiss. His hands slid over her thighs, bringing the fabric of her night gown up enough to free her legs so he could bring her in against him. He would have kissed her down into the pillows, would have given her as much pleasure as he could, but if he had done that then the runes would have smudged. Right now, in this moment, he kissed her, drank her down knowing that she tasted better than any wine. There was more to do, but he couldn't stop taking her mouth in a fierce kiss. They had the whole night together, the light of the full moon to charge the magic building inside of him. In the distance a wolf howl filled the night.

Belle broke the kiss, angling her head. He never stopped. Gold trailed his lips along her jaw and down to her pulse. She felt alive, charged with some building magic. It was all Rumpelstiltskin. He leaned back from her letting his dark brown eyes lock on hers. One more kisses, long and deep. They broke apart again, their breathing shaky, hard to manage. Belle made no move away from him. Rumpelstiltskin reached to the tray beside them for the silver dagger resting, waiting to be used. That blade made her shiver when she saw his name inscribed on it.

"I will try to make this painless." Gold said taking her left hand. "Blood is to be used for this." Belle only nodded. He couldn't bear to look into her eyes as he intentionally cut into her palm, just below her thumb. She never flinched or winced in pain as the dagger, infused with magic, carved a backwards R joined with a B in her delicate skin. This was them; it was how they would be bound together. Instantly the wound started to glow in a subtle amber hue. He almost took the blade to his own hand when she stopped him. No words were needed. Belle wanted to do this, needed to do it. The blade stung his skin with the magic pouring into him again. There, on his palm, was the same mark. She had done it and he was proud of her. Rumpelstiltskin took the blade from Belle's hand, setting it aside. "Now…"

"We join hands," Belle guessed. She held up her bloody hand wriggling her fingers. Gold joined his hand to hers where she felt more energy pour into her. "Now… what?" She asked her voice nothing more than a ragged gasp, though she shouldn't have. His free hand slid under the hem of her night gown. A moan escaped her lips. Two of his long nimble fingers slid inside of her; a wave of pleasure washed through her bringing about a louder moan. On instinct her hips moved with him. Heat broke out alone her skin, along her spine, and in the palm of her hand. Magic was powerful.

Gold wanted this to be as easy on her as it could be. In and out he moved his fingers getting her as slick as possible so she wouldn't be in more pain. The hand that gripped his tightened while her free hand traveled down the length of his chest, slipping beneath the band of his pants. "Temptress." He gasped and moaned. Her hand worked him up and down, gripping him. The first signs the spell was working was the tingling along his spine; the runes were becoming apart of him, apart of her.

Belle would need him soon, wanted him to complete the joining. She took her hand from him, draping it around her neck, "Now, I want you… now." He brought his hand out from between her legs bring her up and over him. Anticipation was the greatest of all, and Belle was tired of waiting. She wanted all he had to offer, everything that was him. There were so many sensations vying for her attention, but all she wanted to feel was him in side of her.

Rumpelstiltskin never thought he would ever know the touch of a woman again. Then Belle had come into his life and he started to feel things long dead. Now, his whole body fried out for her, to possess her. Angling his head, Gold kissed her bringing Belle up and over him. Slowly she sank down on him gasping into his mouth. More sensations started, a sensual fire was spreading out along the nerves. The runes on his back heated up. The mark on his hand seared him with magical heat. Belle took him into her body.

Her heart thundered in her chest with the feel of him entering her. Belle never thought she would be this close to him; he made her heart beat with love. Easing down more, Belle locked her gaze with his as his free arm wrapped around her waist. She had to stay still, to become accustomed to him. So many feelings to process, Belle was amazed her mind hadn't shut down. All she could feel was him; all she could love was him.

Everything was falling into place. Belle was joined to him heart and soul. The magic was building around them, inside of them, binding them. A gentle light started between their joined hands. The spell was working. "Belle…" He kissed her thundering pulse, "You can move." Gently her back straightened moving him inside of her. A deep moan rumbled in his chest. Again, she moved as slowly as before trying to find the right rhythm.

Belle rose up and down on him losing her mind to the pleasure, the humming magic around them. His arm never moved from her waist as she moved. This was her. It was her time to complete this joining, the binding. Belle found her rhythm; up and down. Over and over she rose and fell over him taking him into her just a little deeper every time. Her gaze never wavered from his. In his dark chocolate gaze a glow started turning his eyes to the amber they used to be. Her hand tightened on his with a knot loosening inside of her. Everything was building to a fever pitch. A blinding explosion of feeling was coming. Belle moved over him again with him rising to meet her.

All around him magic tingled along every nerve in his body. She was breaking this curse of a real world around him. His magic was coming back and so was his heart; Belle. He could feel her entwining around his soul. His breath was hers. His heart beat was hers. She was merging with him. Every day he lived and loved it would be for her. Gold had to hold on for a few more minutes. Belle was moving faster and faster making him lose his mind all the more. Tightening his arm on her waist, Gold took her down into the mound of pillows. He rocked into her taking control, giving her all he could. Gold took her other hand and pinned both of them above her head thrusting into her bringing them both over the edge. Her knees tightened on his hips while she gripped him with her inner muscles. Once more in thrust into her had him falling over into release with her. The magic that had built up around them dispersed to all of Storybrooke. It left them spent, breathing hard in each others arms.

Morning came upon the town of Storybrooke as gentle as the spring. Rays of delicate golden sun fell across Rumpelstiltskin's eyes pulling him from the exhausted sleep he had fallen into. Opening his eyes to the light of a new day had him smiling with memories of the night before. He took a deep breath feeling new power spread out from his heart, from his soul into his body. Every thing was as it should have been. Rumpelstiltskin was once more, only still wearing the mask of Mr. Gold. Beside him Belle still slumbered perfectly content and unaware of the new day. He watched her with all the love he could feel; true love was the greatest of all. Emblazoned on her back were the black runes which were now apart of her as they would be apart of him. If he wished he would stay here all day just admiring her.

Gently taking his arm from around her Gold leaned in setting his lips against the first rune that read Forever. He had no way of knowing what would happen to him when he made that deal with her. At the time Rumpelstiltskin hadn't been looking for love, hadn't wanted it, or needed it. The moment he brought her home something in him had changed. It all started with the chipped cup. "It's only a cup." He had said and he had been wrong. After everything had happened, that cup was all he had of her other than the pain of a shattered heart. Now all of that was on the mend. She was with him, heart and soul. Belle shifted against him, her hair falling away from her face. The cut, the bruise, they were all gone. Even the gash on her shoulder and her hand were healed. Magic could do wonders but it came with a price. Gold wondered what price he would have to pay just having the love of his life back. Whatever it was he would pay it.

Belle wanted to resist waking up for as long as possible; she wanted to hold on to the dream. Last night had been the most magical night of her life; Rumpelstiltskin had made love to her and bound her to him. There were so many different feeling inside of her. One thing was for sure, she was more than she was before. No long able to resist, Belle opened her eyes. This morning she was seeing the world in a new way, with new eyes, and a new lease on life. He was with her, holding her, teasing her with his lips on her skin. "Mmmm, now that is the best way to wake up." Belle murmured.

"It is?" He asked lightly raking his teeth over the rune drawing a shudder from her. Rumpelstiltskin brought her under him again so he could look down into her face; see her eyes. They were a light amber which suited her. It was as if he was seeing her for the first time and falling in love all over again. He was so drawn in by her that she was able to catch him off guard. She hooked her foot over his thigh rolling them so she was no on top. Instantly his hands went to her hips and a smile played over his lips. "Enjoying yourself dearie?" Gold teased.

Belle straddled his waist smirking at him. "Yes, I am." She answered but her eyes were not on him, they were staring at the mark on her palm. "Lapis and Gold." The R and the B were of a mixed glittering gold and a light blue lapis. She ran her finger over it expecting to feel the slight rise of a brand, but it wasn't. It was her skin.

Gold took her hand to kiss the mark. "Does this… all of this… make you happy?" He knew his heart had never truly beat before having her back in his life. Gold had been dead inside, a pale shadow of a person hiding behind a mask. He may have gotten out of bed, he may have been eating food, working; but inside he felt nothing but anger and that was taking its toll on him. All of that just went away once Belle was in his arms again. She was now apart of his life, his heart.

"Yes," Belle answered without faltering. This was the life she wanted, the life that was meant to be hers. Gold sat up wrapping his arms around her, resting his temple over her heart. Belle tangled her hands in his hair holding him close. She could see, painted on his spine, were the runes; their life. Lightly Belle traced the one that meant Forever. The black kohl didn't even smudge. Belle rubbed at it again. It wasn't coming off.

"What are you doing?" Gold moved back stopping Belle from rubbing at runes.

"They aren't coming off." Belle said, "Why aren't they coming off?"

"The magic we created last night through our binding caused the marks to transfer permanently to our skin." He ran his hands up and down her sides. "It's our story." For just a second he was afraid she would want to undue all they had done. That alone would kill him.

"Was it supposed to happen?" She was trying to make all of this fit in her mind.

"Yes," Gold closed his eyes.

"I'm proud to wear it." Belle tipped his chin up so she could look him in the eyes. "It's the story of us." Running the tip of her index finger along his jaw, Belle angled her head and kissed him. His hands slipped over the bare skin of her back and up to cup the back of her head tangling his fingers in her hair.

"Wait, wait…" He stopped kissing her. It took great effort to stop, "We have all the time in the world now." With a flourish he tapped into his power creating a necklace; a small ornate jeweled rose on a gold chain. Rumpelstiltskin secured the thin chain around Belle's neck. "Now that felt good." He laughed and it turned in a satisfied sigh. The flow of magic through his veins was a very welcomed feeling. It had been too long.

"Will you teach me?" Belle marvel at the necklace he had given her. She had all the time in the world to learn everything he knew.

"I'll teach you everything you need to know." Rumpelstiltskin answered threading his fingers in her hair to pull her back down for a kiss.

In town at the apartment, Emma rolled over in her bed to see Henry still asleep on the couch. Last night she had gone to the Mayors home to get him after trying to explain that he had to put her in a jail cell and leave her in there all night. Emma thought Henry would be upset but he hadn't been. He had actually said the cell was a good place for the Evil Queen. She had let it go as deep down she was satisfied leaving Regina where she was. It was time the mayor got a taste of what she had done to others.

She sat up and stretched when Mary-Margaret brought her over a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Emma took that first sip savoring the sharp jolt of the beloved caffeine to her system helping to kick start her brain so she could at least function. Before lunch hit she would have had two more cups.

"What did you tell Henry?" Mary-Margaret asked sitting on the edge of Emma's bed watching her friend take the first sip of coffee.

"He took it surprisingly well that I put his mother in jail." Emma took another slow sip of coffee.

"Really?"

"Oh yeah. He even went on to say that he figured out who Mr. Gold is in Fairy Tale Land. Apparently he's Rumpelstiltskin." Emma answered looking over at Henry. He still slept on with the blankets drawn up over his shoulder, his face half buried in the pillow. The sight made her smile.

"I could actually see Mr. Gold being Rumpelstiltskin. Though, where does Annabelle fit in, in all of this?" Mary-Margaret felt that there was something gnawing at her memory; something trying to come foreword but still restrained.

"Henry thinks she's Belle, straight out of Beauty and the Beast." Emma cradled her cup of coffee and yawned. It was so tempting for her to just lie down and go back to sleep, but there was so much for her to do today. One of them was letting the Mayor out of jail. Emma groaned lying back down against her pillows.

"What's the matter?" Mary-Margaret asked her, though she had a feeling she already knew. Currently, locked in the only jail cell was Regina and she was problem hopping mad at having been left in there all night.

"I get to let the monster out of the cage today." Emma groaned again. She looked over at the clock where the blazing red numbers gave the time. "But, I don't have to let her out for a few more hours. She can stay in the full 24hrs."

"Emma, that's mean." It didn't stop Mary-Margaret from chuckling though.

"So…" Emma smirked.

Sunday afternoon in the small town of Storybrooke was full of activity and most of it was at Grandma's Diner. Emma and Henry sat at the counter top eating breakfast while Ruby and Mary-Margaret talked. Granny was ringing up the bills as more of thee towns people wondered in for hot coffee and good food. No one paid attention to the jingle of the bell as the door opened. But all conversation ceased when two people walked in; Mr. Gold and Belle.

Like everyone else, Emma's eyes were drawn to the pair who had just walked in. Belle had her hair down around her shoulders wearing an open white button up shirt with a sun gold camisole underneath it, a pair of jeans and simple silver shoes. The attire accented her features casting her as opposite to Mr. Gold. Beside her, he was dressed in his habitual black suit only he was wearing a copper colored shirt bring out the amber in his eyes. She also noticed that he was minus his cane this morning.

Gold noticed everyone staring at them. He wasn't fazed by it, but it was starting to bother Belle. There was one table open at the back. Putting his hand on her lower back they walked past all the stares and whispers. The people only had the false memories to go on from the queen's curse. He and Belle were different. They knew who they were. "You look absolutely breathtaking." Gold whispered as Belle sat next to him linking her arm with his.

"Just as you are absolutely handsome," Belle replied pillowing her head on his shoulder. "But, I would prefer you as you used to be." It was the truth. Those fierce eyes, the discoloration of his skin we all him, even the crimp to his hair. More than that, she missed the way his voice used to be. She missed the flourish of his movements. Hopefully, when this curse was over, it would all go back to normal.

"Oh, do you now dearie? Pray tell?" Gold rested his cheek against the top of her head while watching everyone in the diner as the patrons tried not to watch them. Sheriff Swan was with her son at the counter trying not to watch as he sat with Belle. Henry on the other hand wasn't so discrete. He watched them out right with a smile on his face.

"Those months we were together, those moments seemed like the real you." Belle answered tracking her gaze to the small boy sitting next to Emma. Mother and son, it was obvious. The boy had a knowing smile on his face as he watched her and Rumpelstiltskin sitting together.

"Well, now we can have more real moments together; forever." Rumpelstiltskin promised. He could not say forever enough to her. It was all he wanted. Now they could have that together. His heart didn't feel so hollow anymore. Oblivious to everyone around them Gold kissed the top of her head gently, infusing her with all the love he could.