8

~ Deceiving Appearances ~

Charming was growing impatient. What was taking that damned man so long? He got his answer when he overheard people gossiping in the kitchen.

"He kissed her! The master kissed Belle!"

"No he didn't you liar!"

"Yeah he did Lumiere said so!"

Charming's eyes widened. That beast! Taking advantage of an innocent maiden! Then he heard what sounded like children laughing. "Oooohhh! He KISSED her!" And more giggling.

"Wonder what it's like?" asked one.

"Maybe we oughta ask him?" replied the other.

"Don't you dare, lads!" scolded a woman's voice firmly. "Tis none of your business!"

Charming was incensed. Had he raped her as well?

"Aww! Okay, Adelaide!" sighed one child.

Suddenly a red velvet hassock with gold braid and tassels raced into the foyer. "Hello! Hello!" it barked. "Master says he'll be down shortly, Your Highness!"

Wishing it did harm the beast, Charming was ready to run him through with his sword. He jumped back when he saw and heard the talking piece of furniture. What kind of place was this?

Probably finishing up his debauchery, Charming thought.

Bae came back into the foyer from the kitchen. "Gabby!" he snapped his fingers at the hassock puppy. "Sorry, is he bothering you? He's harmless . . . an enchanted hassock that was here when we came to the castle. Zoso, the previous Dark One, did that to him."

Gabby frolicked up to Bae and Bae knelt and petted him.

"He's fine...you must be the Dark One's son."

"Yes. I'm Baelfire," the boy answered. Then he rose and did a creditable bow and held out a hand. "Welcome to my home, Your Highness."

"James will do," Charming said and shook the boy's hand.

He didn't want this prince thinking he had no manners, and Rumple had taught him how to greet nobility.

Charming preferred to be called David as it was his name but he had to continue the charade of being his brother for now. And the Dark One's son was something of a mystery. Rumor had it he did venture out of the castle and had friends but if anyone harmed him, his father's wrath fell upon them. There were also rumors of the woman living with them. He doubted she was his mistress of her own free will for who could love a beast?

Bae was wondering just what was keeping Rumple. He looked nervously towards the stairs then glanced back at the royalty waiting in the foyer. "Uh . . . would you like something to drink . . . err . . . James? We have fresh lemonade and apple cider and umm . . .heather ale."

"Lemonade is fine."

"Be right back," Bae went into the kitchen to get some.

Tobias and Wesley were jumping up and down on the table excitedly when Bae walked into the kitchen.

"You get into the sugar or something?" he asked them.

"Bae! Bae!" Wesley giggled. "Your papa kissed Belle!"

"On the LIPS!" Tobias made a smooching noise.

"'WHAT?" Bae exclaimed. "Tell me this is not a joke!"

He'd only seen his father kiss her once and it was as he said a four on a scale of ten...was this one a ten or higher?

"Guys, seriously, no joking. Did they kiss or not?"

"Yes they did. Cosette saw it...twice!" Wesley answered.

Bae wanted to shout down the castle walls with joy. His father was in love, truly in love for the first time and he finally had a chance to have the mother he wanted. He would have suggested they have a party only he he had a drink to deliver to the prince. He returned to the prince and handed him his lemonade.

"Does your father always keep people waiting?" Charming asked him.

"Ummm...errr...sometimes," Bae said, not wanting to tell him the REAL reason why his father was preoccupied. He would find out everything from Rumple later anyway.

His father appeared in the hall in a puff of smoke. "Well, what brings you here now, Charming? Lose something?" Rumple quipped.

"I'm gonna...go check on Belle," Bae said.

"She still needs to rest son, so don't be making her do anything she shouldn't."

And just what did you do to her that she needs rest, beast? Charming thought angrily.

Bae raced upstairs. He could hear crying in the young woman's room. Dear gods….they lied to him and his father hadn't kissed Belle at all, he only upset her again. He was ready to go back downstairs to give his father a piece of his mind when he heard Belle speak.

"Oh Cosette, I've dreamed of kissing him so many times but I never thought it could be so wonderful. On a scale of one to ten…I would give it a hundred!"

"Whoa!" he gasped. So they were all telling the truth and his father HAD kissed Belle!

"I told you, honey, he would be yours soon. I saw it in the way he looked at you and spoke to you. He loves you with all his heart."

"And I love him."

Bae knocked on the door.

"Come in!" he heard Belle called out and when he walked into the room, Belle was sitting up in bed holding the rose his father had given her and smiling. "Bae…do you know? Has your father talked to you?"

"It's ummm…all over the castle, Mama." Bae chuckled.

"How did they find out so quickly?" Belle blushed. Something would have to be done about them having more privacy in their intimate moments.

"You know how the furniture gossips, Mama. They know everything that goes on here before the fall of dark," Bae said.

"Well...ahhh...I do want us to have more privacy from now on."

"I can't fault you for that honey. The master will make certain of it I'm sure," Cosette said.

"Yeah he will," Bae assured her. "I mean . . .nobody's allowed in his bedroom unless the castle's on fire or I'm sick or hurt or dying. And he can just add you to that list and whatever room you both happen to be in."

She returned the rose to the vase. "This is a huge step for your papa to take, Bae, and I just want everything to go well."

"So do I. He . . .need somebody to love . . .a woman, I mean, not just me," Bae said rather awkwardly. "He's . . .not good when he's alone, Mama. He broods and he mopes and he gets depressed. It wasn't his fault that my mama was a tramp and ran off or that miserable ho Cora wanted to learn magic and didn't love him cause he was once a spinner and couldn't give her a throne and a title . . . but he thinks it was."

"He won't be alone like that again," she vowed.

"Not that you're here now," Bae agreed. He smiled shyly.

Downstairs Charming informed Rumple of the threats Regina and Cora were making against him and Snow White. "Apparently Cora got hold of a spell that has the power to take all of us out of this world and into a land without magic." He glared at the sorcerer. "And that this spell came from YOUR house. Don't you keep things like that locked up?"

"Of course I do! All of my spellbooks are warded!" Rumple snapped. "Zelena was here up until a few days before as my apprentice. She must have stolen the book with help from Cora. I didn't know or else I would have gotten it back from her before I threw her out on her backside for poisoning Belle, my chatelaine."

"You mean the woman you're raping, you beast!"

Rumple gaped at him. "The woman I'm WHAT?!" he bellowed. "How dare you accuse me of . . . of violating her! I have done no such thing!"

"Don't even try to deny it. I've heard all the stories of your debauchery and I will inform her father of this!" The prince drew his sword. "If I knew this world work, I'd run you through!"

"My debauchery!" Rumple was furious. "You buffoon! Whatever stories you've heard are lies! I have never, either when I was a spinner or now, EVER forced a woman in my life!"

"Then why is she still abed? Trying to hide her injuries and don't give me a poisoning story. Zelena is in Oz."

"She's in bed because she nearly died when Zelena poisoned her tea last night. And Zelena is probably in Oz because Cora sent her there," Rumple cried. "You have no proof to accuse me of hurting my own chatelaine in my own house, boy!"

"I am a prince of this realm and unless I see proof the girl is unharmed, I'll have you tossed in a cell and powerless!"

"RRRR! GRRR!" Suddenly Gabby ran into the foyer, baring his new set of teeth. "You don't threaten my Master! I'll bite your butt off! Like I did to the green hussy who was here when she tried to hurt Bae! She was evil and she hurt Belle and the Master saved her!"

Their shouting echoed throughout the castle.

"Did you hear what he called the master? Crazy prince!" yelled Ormand.

"He wants to lock up the Master in a cell!" shrieked Tobias.

"Master needs to throw him out!" added Wesley.

"The Master would never hurt Belle!" Lumiere gasped. "Zey are in love!"

Misty the love seat hissed and arched her back.

"We gotta tell Belle!"

"We should send this inconsiderate prince on his way double quick!" snapped Cogsworth.

"Gabby, stand down!" Rumple ordered the irate hassock puppy. "He can't hurt me. Not if he wants my help in defeating Cora and Regina."

Gabby growled again, then backed off. "Say the word and his butt's mine!"

"If you've violated your maid I'll go to someone else!" Charming shouted.

"Zat is zat! I am going to find the mistress!" Lumiere hopped off the table and up the stairs to Belle's room.

Bae heard the commotion and came to the top of the stairs just as that comment came out of Charming's mouth. His eyes bulged. Then he came down the stairs two at a time. "Hey, you twit! My papa's no rapist and I'll punch your teeth out if you say that again!"

"I'm not going anywhere until I see proof!"

Bae held a charcoal pencil in one hand like a sword. His eyes blazed. "Insult my father again and we're gonna see that the pen's mightier than the sword!"

"How is THIS for proof you jackass!" Belle yelled from the doorway with her broom in her hands. She swung it like a club and delivered a vicious blow to the prince's backside. "You narrow minded, blind stupid sheepherder!" she ranted as she kept swinging.

"Madam...if he's put some kind of spell on you ..."

"Keep it up and you'll need a spell to put your limbs back together!"

"You tell him, Mama!" Bae hooted. "Now you're in for it!"

"Mama? He calls you his MOTHER? Please, madam, let me take you to the Blue Fairy and she can help you."

"Dammit, will you listen to me, you idiot? I don't NEED any help because there isn't anything wrong with me! And Rumple LOVES me! He would NEVER hurt me!"

"And the realms will freeze over before I let that bitch near my family!" Rumple snarled.

Lumiere came back downstairs with Cogsworth in tow. When they saw Belle beating the prince with her broom they burst into laughter knowing she'd taken it to their master's backside once…by accident of course but it still stunned the sorcerer to point out that it made quite a weapon.

Rumple summoned the broom to his hand. "I think you've walloped him enough. I don't want you tiring yourself again."

"Thinking you RAPED me? Of all the vile disgusting..."

"Now that is uncalled for!" Cogsworth cried angrily.

Belle wanted her broom back so that she could keep hitting him until he had some sense in that brain of his.

Lumiere scowled. "Tis not sporting to start rumors! Have at thee, villain!" He charged across the floor, burning brightly.

Belle felt dizzy and started swaying back and forth. "Rumple..."

Rumple caught her in his arms before she could pass out. "Belle! See, dearie, I told you not to get excited. Now you've exhausted yourself."

"Couldn't...let...him...think...such awful things about you…"

"It wouldn't be the first time," the sorcerer grumbled. "Let's get you back to bed." He transported them back upstairs where he put the exhausted Belle to bed as if she were Bae's age.

"Love you..." she murmured and fell back to sleep.

He had learned long ago that people tended to think the worst of him simply because he was the Dark One, and ascribe all kinds of atrocities to him even when he hadn't done anything to warrant it . . . or it had been something his predecessors had done instead.

He stroked her hair and tucked the covers about her. "Good night . . . sweetheart." He could only bring himself to say that endearment when she was sleeping . . . at least for now.

Now Bae was furious. "You...you idiot! Look what you did to my mama!"

"It wasn't me . . ." Charming protested, trying to dodge Lumiere. "This is a damn madhouse! And you're just as crazy as everyone else here!"

"You wanna see crazy? I'll show ya crazy!" Bae swung his fist and punched the much stronger prince in the face.

"Oww!" he yelped. "You just gave me a black eye!" He hadn't been expecting that at all. He staggered backwards, caught off guard. All of his training at arms had never prepared him to face an enraged woman who wielded a broom like an Amazon, enchanted furniture and a kid who had right hook like a damn prize fighter.

"You deserved it you asshole...thinking papa would rape my mama when he loves her...lucky I didn't punch your face right off!"

He was going to get the soap later on for his mouth but it was worth it.

"How was I supposed to know . . . he's the Dark One!" stammered the prince.

"Don'cha know appearances are deceiving, you stupid shithead!"

"Bae! Language!" Rumple snapped, for he had just come down the stairs in time to hear what his son had said.

"Well, he IS one!" Bae protested.

"Let me handle this, Bae. Go and wait for me in the kitchen," Rumple ordered.

"Awww...c'mon, Papa!"

"That kid of yours just gave me a black eye!" Charming protested.

"You're lucky I didn't kick your balls into your throat!"

"Yeah and I'm gonna bite his butt off!" Gabby growled.

"Bae!" Rumple sighed. "Calm down!" To Charming he said, "Evil isn't born, it's made, dearie. Especially in my case. But I'm afraid you can't fix stupidity that's bred in you. Now . . . in case you're wondering what you should do, here's my advice. Go home, marry your bandit princess and pray you can stay one step ahead of Regina. Because only a child of True Love can defeat this curse she plans on casting."

"Where would we find one?"

"Oh my gods! Are you really THAT dumb?" Bae cried.

Rumple smacked himself in the forehead. "I would have thought, dearie, that would be obvious . . .you need to create one . . ."

"You're saying...our child will break this curse?"

"Yes. From what I've Seen . . . but only if you get busy and bring he or she into the world," Rumple coughed. "Now I don't need to spell it out any more do I, dearie? Oh, and one more thing . . .before the child is born . . . tell me the name of it."

"Why do YOU need our child's name?"

"I'm the spinner of names . . .and I need to know so I can create a way to break the Dark Curse. Names are power . . . and I need to know . . .unless you wish us to be cursed forever . . ."

"No. All right. When we find out what we're going to name it, we'll tell you. Regina and her mother claim there is no way to break this curse."

"True Love breaks all curses," Rumple recited. "Even that one."

Charming hoped the Dark One was right otherwise they'd all be trapped in their own private hells forever.

"Now, if that concludes our business . . ." Rumple said. "Here's my price. A strand of your hair."

"What for?"

"Not telling," he giggled infuriatingly. "You don't need to know. Do we have a deal?"

The prince plucked a strand of his hair from his scalp and handed it to Rumple.

"Thank you. Now run along back to Snow White . . .and have fun on your honeymoon. Oh, and watch out for gorgons!"

"What?!"

"Like Medusa," Rumple elaborated. "Watch out for them."

"Crazy imp," Charming muttered.

"Least he's not dumber than dirt!" Bae muttered, then subsided at a Look from Rumple.

Charming spun on his heel and headed for the front door. If Snow and their allies plan to capture the Miller women was a success they wouldn't need to worry about the Dark Curse. And he wanted to get the hell out of that crazy castle as quickly as possible. Before he went home, he was making a stop in Avonlea to inform Maurice that he might want to consider removing Belle from the Dark One's home. He still believed the monster seduced the innocent Belle. His backside ached from Belle's broom, his face hurt from Bae's right hook, and his head was spinning. He needed a drink badly. Luckily he knew just where to find one.

The prince knew, thanks to Grumpy, that there was a dwarf tavern nearby where he could get some ale and soothe his wounded pride. So he made his way there and sat down at the bar. He was still smarting from what had happened back at the Dark Castle, and after a few drinks, wasn't shy about telling everyone there about his suspicions about the Dark One and the maid he had locked up in the dungeon servicing him.

Gaston, who was sitting at a table nearby trying to coax one of the bar maids into going upstairs with him overheard the prince and snorted. Just what he'd expected...Belle spreading her legs for a monster! Well he would have none of that! He stood up, the bar maid falling to the floor and rode like he had a wraith on his back to Maurice's castle.

Meanwhile, back at the Dark Castle, Rumple fixed his son with one of his disappointed glares. He could understand how Charming's unfounded accusations had made Bae angry, but at the same time he knew he couldn't let the boy's mouth go unpunished, even if he happened to agree with what Bae had said.

"Papa...you're not gonna give me the soap this time, are you?"

He wished just this ONE time his father would at least make an exception. After all, he was only defending his mother and he knew his father would have said some of the same things in his own rage.

"Bae . . . I know he deserved all of the things you called him, but you also know how I feel about you swearing." Rumple sighed.

"Okay...let's just...get it over with," Bae groaned.

An unhappy Rumple conjured a familiar bar of soap. "Twenty seconds." he said. "And try not to make me do this again. Open up."

Knowing his father would add more time on if he refused, Bae opened his mouth and Rumple placed the bar in it, the saliva in his mouth wetting the soap and filling it with the awful taste. Meanwhile his father kept time.

Rumple hated punishing his son, but like any good parent, knew that sometimes it was necessary, and that consistency was the key to breaking misbehavior. He counted off the seconds in his head until it was over. "Okay, rinse out your mouth," he said, and took the soap out.

Bae was gagging while he made a mad dash for the kitchen. He grabbed a glass, filled it with water and rinsed the awful taste out though a bit of it would still be there the rest of the day.

Rumple patted his shoulder. "Please do yourself a favor and me a favor and watch your mouth next time."

"I'll try but Papa, I really hate it when people say that kind of stuff about you and Mama when they have no right to. They don't live here and see what really goes on!"

"I know . . .but swearing at them for their stupidity solves nothing and makes you look worse than they do. I know you probably think I'm being too hard on you for it, but you'll thank me someday when you're older and don't swear every other word like your grandfather."

Malcolm had had one of the foulest mouths imaginable and Rumple still cringed every time he thought about it. He had picked up swear words by the time he could talk and it had taken many bars of soap by the spinsters to break him of the habit.

"Glad I never met him," Bae muttered.

"You should be," Rumple said fervently. "Want to help me make a salad?"

"Yeah...is Mama okay?"

"She will be with another dose of my tea and some rest and my chicken soup. If it weren't for the fact that I needed that lout to save us all, I'd have turned him into a toad!"

"So there really is something bad coming and there's nothing you can do?" He slapped his thighs. "This is why sometimes I really hate magic, Papa! If the queen's mad at someone, why not just hurt them? Why does she have to take it out on the rest of us?"

"Yes . . .Zelena stole a book of powerful dark magic from my study . . . and in it is the means to cast the darkest of curses, it requires a terrible price, but it can be done . . . if you are ruthless and driven by a vengeance that eclipses all else. I've Seen it in several possible futures . . .and the only way I can prevent it is by trying to make a way to break the curse. As for why Cora has to hurt people . . .Bae, she's selfish and petty, and thinks the world owes her for being born a poor miller's daughter and not having the advantages of the upper class. And it makes her feel good to hurt those she feels have wronged her."

"Yeah but that idiot's kid breaking the curse, c'mon Papa? You and Mama have true love, why can't YOU make a baby to break the curse?"

"Because I'm still under a curse myself Bae and this curse takes something far more powerful than true love's kiss to break otherwise it would have broken when I kissed Belle."

His son smirked. "Yeah….about that….just when were you gonna tell me you kissed her? I had to find out from the kitchen!"

"I was going to!" Rumple protested. "But I was a bit…errr…distracted."

"Uh-huh."

"Oh, wipe that smirk off your face young man and get your mind out of the cesspit! We kissed, nothing more or have you forgotten our talk? I will not bed a woman unless she has my ring on her finger."

Yet the passion he felt holding Belle in his arms and kissing her was unlike any he'd ever felt before and he'd come damned close to going against what he taught his son and made love to her. Had he done it, he would've felt incredibility guilty afterwards even if she was willing.

"Well at least this time you gave her a kiss that ranked a hundred out of ten not a four!"

"Oh….she said that…?"

Bae chuckled. His father was blushing….blushing!

"Yeah she said it. She really loves you Papa and I swear if you mess this up, you'll be getting your butt smacked!"

"Bae, I don't want to mess it up either! I've just been disappointed so many times…"

"Mama is not like the others," Bae insisted. "Haven't you figured that out by now or should I grab Mama's broom and smack the sense into you?"

"No, you don't need to do that." Rumple summoned the vegetables they would need for their salad and two knives. Father and son stood side by side at the table, chopping the vegetables with the same precision and skill as Rumple started teaching his son some of his cooking skills when he was young, saving the most difficult ones for when he was older.

As his hands were busy with the vegetables, Rumple's mind was fretting over what Bae had said. He didn't want to mess this up, but at the same time the caution of a lifetime of rejection and hurt was screaming through him to be careful, to wait, even though he had heard Belle say she loved him, still a part of him did not yet believe. For who could ever love a beast?

Bae slammed his knife down on the table. "Not gonna mess this up...right! You're getting moody again!" He knew too well when his father got quiet, his mind was filled with morbid thoughts and Bae couldn't stand it when he got that way. "I love you Papa but you drive me crazy when you're like this! Happy one minute, moody the next. Why can't you just accept that you can be happy for once?"

"Hey! Watch the tone! D'ye think it's easy for me, Bae? I've been spit at and sneered at for my whole life. And the two women I trusted with my heart ripped it apart and stomped it into the ground. What if I'm wrong? What if she changes her mind? I'm a difficult man to love. Why else would everyone leave me except you?"

"Because they're IDIOTS, that's why! Mama's got more sense in her fingernail than they had in their whole bodies! I know it's hard, Papa...I've been through it all with you but I also know this time is different. "You may not trust yourself to believe this is real but can't you trust me to?"

Rumple stared at his son. He loved Baelfire fiercely, but never so much as now. His son had all the resilience of youth and the faith he lacked and couldn't seem to find again. "Okay. I'll trust you. You've always had good instincts. And you're braver than I am."

"I've seen you do some pretty brave stuff, Papa...like face the ogres even though they wanted to stomp you. Or...how about the time I almost burned the shack down when I left my cloak hanging over the fireplace." His backside hurt for a day afterwards from the spanking he'd gotten for being careless but his father, as soon as he saw the fire was racing around putting it out without panicking.

"I had no choice then. We would've died if I hadn't done what was needed," Rumple said.

"Oh, well then what about the time in the marketplace when that idiot Grimmy was picking on old Missus Stoker, telling her her shawls looking like a cat made them and you got right in his face and told him his looked like a bull peed on them?"

"He was an ass, picking on an old lady that way! And it was nothing but the truth I said . . .and everyone knew it!" Rumple declared. "I can't stand men bullying women, you know that."

"Yeah and he said he was gonna make you pee yourself scared and picked you up so you kicked him right in the balls!"

Rumple smirked. "It was the only thing I could think of to do . . .and the rotten lout deserved to not be able to sire anymore children like him! And I didn't notice his wife complaining afterwards."

"Yeah but it was still brave," his son pointed out.

"I . . .I never thought about it like that before," his father admitted. "I guess it was."

"So don't tell me you're not brave because I've got plenty of examples to prove you are...years worth of them because of how you slowed my aging down. And about that...doing it took a lot out of you. You were in bed for days!"

Rumple shrugged. "You're worth every bit of trouble, Bae. And there's nothing I wouldn't do for you. My family is my life."

"And Mama's part of it now. Don't forget that."

"As if I could!" his father grinned. He waved a hand and the china bowls of chicken soup and fresh oat bread and butter were placed on the table, along with the simple dressing he'd made. "Put the salad on the table and get out the silverware. I'll go and wake your mother."

"Better kiss her!" his son teased.

"Scamp!" Rumple chuckled, and gave Bae a playful whack on the behind. Then he vanished in a puff of smoke to wake his sleeping beauty.

There was nothing sweeter to Belle than opening her eyes to find her beloved standing over her, his lips on hers.

"Good evening, dearie. Sleep well?" he asked, his accent unconsciously coming out again when he spoke to her.

"Very well..." she murmured. "That accent you have, is it how you spoke before?"

"Umm . . . yes . . . the people in my village . . .all have it. I learned how to speak differently when I became the Dark One, because the nobles often made fun of my bumpkin speech patterns, saying they were rustic and uncouth."

She smiled dreamily. "If I spent the rest of my life being wakened to you kissing me and speaking with that accent I will be a very happy woman."

His eyes twinkled roguishly. "Then I believe, my bonnie lass, that I can make ya verra happy indeed," he drawled, allowing it to broaden as he hadn't done since he was a child.

"And you can start by kissing me again..."

"As ye wish," he murmured, and then he kissed her hungrily, letting his lips say what his tongue dared not.

"Never be afraid to be yourself with me Rumplestiltskin. I won't scorn or sneer at you."

"You are . . .the only woman who wouldna, my bonnie Belle. Now, let us go down to supper before the soup grows cold. I made a nice chicken and vegetable soup, ye ken, to give ye strength, and oat bread with fresh butter. Plus a salad with fresh greens and radishes from the garden."

"Sounds delicious." She held out her hand for him.

He took it, and together they went downstairs to join their son at the table.

"What took you so long?" Bae asked with a smirk.

"Never you mind, you sassy imp!" Rumple scolded, laughing. He handed Belle into her chair.

"Probably kissing again."

"And if we were it would be none of your business Baelfire," Belle scolded.

"Oooh, the Master kissed Belle!" Wesley hooted.

"And that goes for the rest of you!" Belle called out. "The master and I will have some privacy...understand?"

"Yes, ma'am!" the two small shakers chorused, chagrined.

Until the irrepressible Tobias burst out with, "So when's the wedding?"

Bae almost spit out his cider, he was laughing so hard.

"Well...ahh..." Belle stammered.

"When we say it is," Rumple interjected smoothly. "Now no more of your silliness, lads. Or asking personal questions. Or shall I count to three?"

"No counting!"

He hasn't ruled out the possibility that you will marry, Belle assured herself. He just isn't ready yet and neither are you. Get to know him better. You've just uncovered the first layer.

Their dinner was a relaxing one for all of them and occasionally Rumple and Belle's eyes would meet, them too engrossed in each other that Bae had to tap his fork on the table to get either one's attention, not that he minded it. His father was taking his advice to heart and allowing himself to see what Bae saw. His mother loved everything about his father and nothing was going to make her leave him...or them.

They should have expected that Charming, noble fool that he was, wasn't going to back down from his belief that Belle was Rumple's unwilling mistress. And his loose tongue now caused a cauldronful of trouble when Gaston rode back and told Maurice the next morning about how his beloved daughter had become the Dark One's leman.

Now the outraged father with Gaston in tow stormed up the path to the Dark Castle ready to fight the Dark One to the death for his daughter's lost honor.

Bae was up on the west turret of the castle, practicing his archery, a skill which he was very good at, and the round tower room provided excellent lighting and space for him to practice shooting the target and avoiding becoming frozen because of the intermittent wind howling down from the north.

"Open up, open up immediately!" yelled Maurice.

Belle was in the drawing room, dusting the objects in the curio cabinet when she heard her father's familiar voice and several hard knocks at the door. Rumple was in his lab, trying to enchant the bracelet he'd promised Belle yesterday. "That sounds like Papa!" she exclaimed.

Gabby ran towards the foyer, yipping. "A guest! A guest!"

Bae peered down from a window and saw Maurice and Gaston below. "Huh. Who's that?" he asked Lumiere. "Not another desperate soul wanting to make a deal!"

Lumiere hopped up on the casement. "I do not know, mon ami. But he looks very agitated. An ze man with him looks very . . .vicious, like ze mad bull."

Belle opened the door. "Papa!" she cried, throwing herself into his arms. "I'm so glad you're here."

"I've come to take you home, darling."

"What...why?"

Rumple heard the noise downstairs and put the bracelet under a stasis charm and called, "Who's at the door, dearie?" He started to descend the stairs.

"It will be all right Belle. You don't have to be afraid of him anymore."

"Afraid? Of Rumple? I am nothing of the sort. Now Papa, what is going on?"

That's Maurice! Rumple thought recognizing the older man's voice. Now what brings him here? He was surprised the older man had decided to come unnanounced this way.

Had he known Maurice was coming, he would have had time to prepare for the visit. Unless this were some kind of emergency?

"We know everything Belle, the horrible things he's done to you and I swear, we will have justice!" Maurice vowed.

"And just what horrible things have I done now?" Rumple demanded tartly as he walked into the foyer.

"Papa, explain yourself!"

"You know what you baby raping beast!" Gaston shouted.

Rumple put a hand to his heart, and looked shocked. "Me? A beast that molests children?" His eyes hardened. "My name's not Gaston, last I checked!"

"Gaston, you disgusting pig! Where did you hear those lies?" Belle yelled.

"Are you denying you've taken my daughter against her will?"

Gabby growled and bared his teeth at Gaston. "Grrrr! I don't like you, you big dumb lunk! Master can I bite him? Please?"

"Gabby, hold it!" Rumple said to the overzealous puppy. Then he turned to Maurice. "Yes, I will deny it, because as I told you when I made that deal . . .she is here to take care of my castle and my son, not warm my bed."

"But if I do go to his bed it will be MY choice Papa because I LOVE him!" Belle added.

"You...have feelings for this...monster?" Gaston laughed. "Do you honestly think beast she'd want YOU when she can have someone like ME?"

"He's not a monster Gaston, YOU are!"

"That's the pot calling the kettle black, dearie, considering what YOU'VE done!" growled the Dark One. "At least I'VE never taken a woman against her will . . . or gotten her pregnant with my bastard!"

"A child you refuse to support!" Maurice reminded his companion, glaring at him.

"I'm not even sure it's mine!" returned the knight. "She probably slept with every man who crooked his finger at her."

Belle ran up to him and slapped him across the face. "You know it is, you pig! And Papa, why did you listen to him? You know he lies!"

"He said that Prince James..."

"He told everyone in town that Rumple...violated me?!"

"That miserable boy gossips worse than the village washerwoman!" Rumple put in. "Yesterday he came to make a deal with me and jumped to a totally wrong and asinine conclusion about me and your daughter . . .and now he's spreading his pack of lies all over the place?"

He clenched his fists. "I knew I should have tied his damn tongue in a knot!"

"That or his livelihood," Belle grumbled. Her father's eyes widened.

"Unfortunately, he needs that for what he must do . . .otherwise I could have done so," the sorcerer grunted.

He looked at Maurice. "I understand you coming here all bent out of shape, but be reasonable about this. You saw what I did to HIM for treating your daughter like a prize pig at a fair . . . and you know my reputation for keeping deals . . .I don't break them, dearie. Ever! So who are you going to believe? Some idiot royal spouting off rumors, or the evidence of your own two eyes? Does she LOOK like she's been violated in any way?"

"Rumplestiltskin, I am asking you as one father to another: is my daughter truly happy here and do you have the same feelings for her as she says she does for you?"

Belle held her breath...would he say it at last...?

"I have tried my best to make my castle a home for her," he replied. "And I . . .do . . .love your daughter, sir. More than I ever thought possible." He could not believe those words had escaped his lips. But they had, and he could not call them back, nor wish them unsaid.

"And you don't know...how hard it was for him to say that," Belle said tears in her eyes.

"Because he lies!" Gaston blustered. "He is a monster . . .and he has put you under his spell!"

"The only spell she's under, you piece of horse dung, is True Love!" Bae yelled from the top of the stairs, his bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. "Now shut your fat mouth, you ignorant butthole!"

"It doesn't surprise me you'd take his side since you're from his shriveled up loins." He smirked at Belle. "How do you get him to do the deed?"

"Up yours, you pathetic loser!" Bae spat. "If I had a penny every time some stupid comment came out of your mouth I'd be richer than Midas!"

"Or can't he at all?" Gaston taunted.

"You've said enough!" Maurice shouted, shoving Gaston back.

"More than enough!" Rumple snarled, his amber eyes glinting. "I'm losing my patience with jackasses like you. Get out of my home before I make you crawl out!"

Gaston grabbed Belle's arm.

"Let go of me!"

"Let's see if she's worth the trouble," he sneered.

Three things happened then. Belle turned and kneed the ape in the groin. Gabby chomped down on his ankle. And while Gaston was doubled over clutching his family jewels and screaming, Bae drew his bow and shot the knight in the ass.

"Take that, you varlet!" Lumiere yelled, jumping up and down. "Bullseye!"

Rumple raised his hand to curse the knight, his eyes glittering.

"Go ahead...do your worst, beast! Show her what you really are!" Gaston challenged.

Rumple was very tempted to change him into a snail and step on him. Or cut off the part of him he valued most. But one thing stayed his hand. The fact that Gaston wanted him to hurt him. Wanted him to become the beast everyone said he was. His cursed persona snarled and raged within him, urging him to visit all kinds of mayhem upon this wretch upon the floor. He felt the dark magic surging through him, singing its familiar siren call.

"Just...get him out of here," Belle pleaded.

And he pushed it back with every scrap of will he possessed. "No. I won't," he gritted out. "because, I may be cursed . . . but I am NOT like you!"

He held onto his control by the slimmest of margins. "Get . . . OUT!" he rasped. "Before . . . I tear you apart! NOW!"

The young knight decided to be wise...for the first time and actually obey. He ran off down the road.

With the arrow still sticking out of his ass...and a trail of urine behind him.

"Bye bye, Sir Pee-on!" Bae catcalled. "Don't forget to change your pants . . .coward!"

Maurice laughed in spite of himself then turned to his daughter, who was standing beside the Dark One, holding his hand.

"So...am I to assume now that my daughter is your lady of choice for the festival?"

Rumple coughed. "Well . . . you kind of let the cat out of the bag, sir . . .I was planning to surprise her . . . but, yes, she is. She is the only one I would consider bringing."

"You've given me the best surprise today..." she said softly.

"Then I will see you both there. I should have trusted my instincts Rumplestiltskin. I didn't want to believe Gaston and the prince's lies but I am a father only concerned for the well-being of my child as you well know."

"I know. I would have been the same," Rumple agreed.

"And I am SO glad I wasn't born a girl!" Bae remarked. "Cause I'd be an old maid in a tower before you let me date!"

Both fathers laughed. "I tried that...she escaped," Maurice admitted.

"I had to. I told you before...I decide my own fate, Papa and how was I supposed to find the man I love from a tower?"

"You could have been like Rapunzel . .. and let down your hair," Bae joked.

"Not when it was your papa who would come for me," she murmured.

"Yeah, you'd have ended up with brainless idiot that just left, cause Papa can't climb worth spit," Bae smirked.

"No...he would've just knocked the castle down and carried me away..."

"Or transformed myself into a dragon and had you fly away on my back," Rumple offered another solution.

"For when you find something worth fighting for . . . you never give up," he quoted.

Belle hugged her father again. "Thank you...for understanding, Papa."

"As long as you're happy together. It's all I want."

"He makes her happy," Bae assured Maurice. "And she makes him remember who he really is . . .a man who's braver than any knight or prince. Because he didn't sacrifice himself for honor, he did it for family . . .and that's worth more than gold," Bae finished.

"Yes it is," Maurice agreed. He shook Rumple's hand and mounted his horse.

"We'll see you in a month," Rumple waved. "Safe journey!"

Once her father was out of sight, Belle turned to Rumple. "Say it again?" she asked softly.

He gazed into her eyes. "I love you." The words came easier now than before.

"Again..." she whispered.

"I love you, sweetheart. Until the stars fall from the heavens and the mountains turn to dust, and we are but words written upon a page in a tale."

She threw her arms around him and kissed him breathless.

"Yes! Yes! YES!" cheered the furniture.

Belle opened her eyes and glared at them. "Do you mind...?"

"Finally!" Bae laughed. "Thought I was gonna have to draw you a picture."

Rumple rolled his eyes. "All magic comes with a price, dearie."

She rested her forehead against his. "Promise me there'll be one time where we can kiss without an audience."

"I promise," he vowed.

"I'm going to hold you to that Rumplestiltskin."

"I've never broken a deal in my life, Belle. And I don't intend to start now."

She kissed him again.

This time no one said anything, though they all watched avidly. Lumiere stole Cogsworth's glove and wiped his eyes.

Rumpelstiltskin found his heart at last.