"I'm extremely sorry to say this, but there hasn't been enough improvement and the cancer looks to be spreading at a rapid rate. In order to secure Belle's life it is necessary that we do a full mastectomy and remove both of her breasts."

Ruby had just delivered the hardest news she'd ever had. So hard in fact that she even found herself starting to tear up as Belle broke into sobs. Belle had already gone through so much and she deserved none of it. Rumple held his wife tightly as she openly wept over the news she'd just been given. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think, she was petrified. She looked at Ruby with pleading eyes practically begging her for some other way.

Ruby got up from her chair, broke her doctor facade and held Belle tightly while Rumple held her on her other side. The three of sat in a long embrace as Belle racked with sobs. There was no calming Belle; she was beyond distraught and she needed some time to think. So she let go of her friend and her husband and told them she had to be alone for a minute. As soon as they walked out, Belle's mind became flooded with thoughts

"This is too much," "I already lost my hair why do I have to lose my breasts," "I can't do this, I just can't!"

For a moment she really felt like she was going to give up but then as she looked down at her wedding ring she remembered what she had told herself the first day she'd met Rumple:

"Do the brave thing and bravery will follow."

That had been her motto for life and she knew that even though she was beyond scared, she would be strong for Ruby and Henry, for Rumple, and most importantly, for herself. She spent a lifetime finding her husband and had been through so much in her life she knew she couldn't give up. No, she was going to fight for the happy ending she had worked far too long for. Belle was going to fight and she was going to fight hard.

She brushed away her tears and called Ruby and Rumple back into the room.

"Let's do it." Belle said, trying her best to be strong.

Ruby and Rumple simply nodded, overtaken by her bravery.

Once everyone was back in their seats Ruby explained to the couple that Belle would need a simple double mastectomy, which meant both of Belle's of breasts would need to be fully removed. Ruby continued to explain how the surgery would work, the risks that would go along with the surgery and the kind of side effects Belle might expect to see. Belle was petrified, to say the least, but she still listened intently to all Ruby had to say. When Ruby had finished, Belle had but one question.

"When will we be doing the surgery?"

"To make sure no more damage is done I'd like to do the surgery in two days. I understand if you need more time… it's just the longer we wait the higher the risk becomes."

"Two days it is than," Belle said anxiously as she grabbed her husband's hand, who in turn grabbed her stuff and got ready to leave.

"Belle, before you go-!" Ruby called, "Remember, if you need support were all with you."

Belle thanked her friend then with Rumple in tow walked out the door and headed home.

Two days had gone by fast.

Rumple tried to keep Belle's mind off the surgery as best he could. Henry even came over for a little bit to offer his grandmother some support. The whole town sent Belle gifts: Granny knitted her a quilt, Emma and Ruby bought her some lovely scarves to wear over her head, Snow had taken over Belle's duties at the library and even little Roland had made Belle a card. It seemed the whole town now knew of Belle's illness and she was grateful they were so willing to help, though she hated taking advantage of her friends. She dreamed of the day when she'd be able to care for herself again without having to worry about burdening others.

The morning of the surgery, Rumple woke Belle gently with a kiss to her head. She slowly opened her eyes and gave her husband a light smile as she carefully started to get up, giving Rumple a knowing look; he went ahead and started the routine he'd been doing daily. He went to the closet and picked out Belle's clothing for her. It was only sweatpants and a t-shirt; there was no reason for her to dress up anymore, and even if there was, Belle didn't have the strength to do so.

Rumple walked over to his wife and helped her dress. He lifted her arms up for her and delicately slipped on her shirt before carefully doing the same with her pants. After he had finished, Rumple took Belle to the bathroom and helped her wash up a bit. The mirrors were still covered and Rumple felt a tinge of guilt every time he saw them. Once Belle was dressed, she grabbed her things and with Rumple by her side, drove off the hospital.

When they arrived, Ruby was waiting outside for them, along with a couple of nurses. They ushered Belle into the pre-treatment room where they immediately had her change into a hospital gown. They had her lie down on the bed and then began to hook her up to an I.V. that would provided Belle with the anesthesia needed to put her to sleep; after which they left the room to allow Rumple to sit next to his wife and hold her hand until she fell asleep. Belle gave Rumple a brave smile as she looked at him and gently touched his face.

With tears in her eyes she whispered, "Will you still love me, Rumple?"

His own tears getting the better of him, Rumpelstiltskin nodded, "Yes, my beautiful Belle, of course. You are the most important person in my life, you mean more to than anything in the whole world and I will love you for the rest of my existence."

He kissed Belle's lips with as much love as he could muster and she kissed back, barely clinging to consciousness. When they pulled apart, Belle was on the brink of sleep. Rumple stroked Belle's head cooing soft words to hear until she slowly drifted off.

Not too long later, Ruby came back to retrieve Belle. She softly put her hand on Mr. Gold's shoulder, letting him know it was time. Rumple stood up with tears streaming down his face. He turned to Ruby looked at her and with the most desperate pleading eyes she'd ever seen and begged her to take care of his Belle. At that moment Ruby did something she'd never done before: she looked at the broken man in front of her and pulled him into a hug.

"I promise I will do everything I can to protect her," Ruby said honestly before pulling apart from the older man.

Rumple simply nodded, grabbed his cane and walked out knowing that from here on out he would have to trust that everything would be fine. He would have to have faith, something he's heard of so many times and always thought foolish. But here he was sitting in the waiting room with nothing to keep him going except that blasted faith he always tried to push away and the lock of Belle's hair he had saved to keep with him for when he felt alone.

The surgery was a short but grueling process. Dr. Lucas worked tirelessly to ensure the surgery went smoothly. In all, it took about two hours to be completed. As soon as the surgery finished, Ruby washed her hands and then went directly to the waiting room to update Mr. Gold. Rumple stood up the moment he saw Ruby appear.

"What happened? Is everything alright?" Rumple questioned, on the brink of hysteria.

"Everything's fine," Ruby assured him "But there's one thing. You see, Mr. Gold, when Belle wakes up she's likely to feel scared or depressed. She's just had a drastic change to her body and it's going to take some time for her to go back to normal. You need to be strong for her because she's going to need it."

Rumple nodded again, internally preparing himself for what he needed to do.

"Of course. But, Dr. Lucas, if you'd be so kind, may I please see my wife?" Rumple questioned with a hint of exasperation. He didn't mean to be rude but at this point he was so desperate to see his wife he couldn't help it.

"Of course," Ruby answered as she quickly led Mr, Gold to Belle's room.

Rumple walked into Belle's room to find her still asleep. He walked over to the side of her bed and took a seat. He gazed down at his wife and held in his pain. Seeing her so weak was impossibly hard to take. Her head was bare, her nails stained and cracked, her flat chest covered up with a thick bandage hiding the scars that lay below it. His poor Belle didn't deserve to go through this. Oh, how he only wished he could heal her.

Belle began to stir, interrupting Rumple's thoughts. She opened her eyes and, just how it had been this morning, her husband was right above her ready to give her a kiss.

"Hello, sweetheart," Rumple cooed.

Belle let out a soft "hey" as she looked up at her husband and gave him a groggy smile.

The immediate reaction that Ruby predicted did not happen. Belle stayed calm as Ruby came in and checked all her vitals before clearing her to go home. The surgery had gone well and just as planned, Belle was able to go back home that very same day.

The rest of the week had been pretty calm as well - Rumple had managed, with Ruby's approval, to use magic to help Belle's breasts heal faster, they were now healed to about six weeks progress in just under a week. Belle spent most of the week sleeping while Rumple often stayed up and read as he tried to calm his worries just a bit. The peacefulness of the week, however, did not last long. That day, Rumple was interrupted when he heard a soft whimper coming from his bedroom; he walked in and came upon one of the saddest sights he had had ever beheld: Belle was sitting in front of her vanity with her shirt off, tears streaming down her face as she finally got a look at her reflection.

"Rumple!" she cried, "I'm hideous look at me…I've lost my hair, my nails are broken, and just look at my chest, Rumple! LOOK AT IT!" she screamed drawing attention to her flat scarred nipple absent chest, "I'm a monster…"

Rumple's felt his heart shatter as Belle finally spoke the words she had been holding in for so long. He walked over to her, moved her from the vanity and laid her down on the bed.

"Belle," he said his voice cracking as he laid down next to her.

"You are the most gorgeous woman in all the realms. Everything about you is beautiful. Your wonderful glorious head," Rumple said as he reached down and placed a kiss on Belle's completely smooth scalp, "where so many brilliant ideas have come, from your head is absolutely stunning; your nails that are cracked and chipped," Rumple said as he grabbed on to Belle's hand, "are a testament to how strong and resilient you are and they are lovely; and your chest, my dear," Rumple said moving up closer to Belle with his face directly in front of her chest "Is scarred and broken just like I was before I found you and it, my love is absolutely breathtaking."

Without warning, he planted a kiss directly on one of her scars.

"I love you," Belle said as she grabbed her husband and held him tight pulling him into a long passionate kiss.

"And I love you," Rumple said as the passion increased. Belle was tired and Rumple could see it, but Belle wanted him, she wanted to feel beautiful if only once more. So that night being as delicate as he could, Rumple made love to his wife and they were happy for what he feared would be the very last time.