Disclaimer: I do not own any of the once upon a time characters. ABC does. But I definitely enjoy using them!
The Return
They finished making pumpkin cookies when Jefferson heard a familiar gust of wind. He was here.
"Belle, I need to leave for a little bit. I will be back to try the cookies but I need you to stay in
here for a couple of minutes."
"Okay. Hopefully its nothing to serious."
"Nope," he says, walking out of the room. He sees Rumpelstiltskin and motions for him to be quiet, leading him to the library. For some reason he listens.
"What do you want Jefferson? I am dying to surprise Belle."
"You need to get your act together Rumpelstiltskin." He shows him the broken cup. "This is what Belle found the day after you left when she went to clean the room you completely destroyed. I have never seen Belle as hurt as she was when she picked this up off the floor." Rumpelstiltskin stares, speechless. He had completely forgot to lock the door.
"I didn't mean for her to see that. Did she leave? Is she hurt?" he asks, panicking.
"No. I finally convinced her that you just were having a bad moment. But you have made a bunch of mistakes this time Rumple and I need to explain something to you. When you leave to go somewhere for two entire weeks, you leave somebody with her to keep her company. Got it?" he says.
"Fine," he grunts. He knew he had relationship problems but he hadn't realized they were this bad till just now.
"Thankfully, I was here to keep her sane and safe. And don't worry, we are still just friends."
"Keep it that way," he replies.
"Number two. Do not ever break the one thing that symbols your relationship. Bad, Bad, Bad, mistake. You have no idea how heartbroken she was. She was depressed for the next week Rumple, she tried to hide it but when you see a girl eat three chocolate bars in one day you know something is wrong. And finally, number three, do not leave her without making out with her first. That should come naturally but you left her dusting the shelves."
"I was going to but I couldn't handle...ok her eyes. Seeing them like that is the next painful thing then being stabbed by my knife. And then I couldn't handle it so I got really mad because I have a weakness."
"Rumpelstiltskin, she is not you weakness. If you think that then you might as well stay away till you get your head on straight."
"Don't tell me I don't have my head on straight Jefferson. And I get what you are saying but I have been quite lonely without her their by my side. So I need to see her. And you will get out of my way or you will find yourself under my foot ready to be crushed." Jefferson smiles.
"Your welcome Rumpelstiltskin. I shall be on my way. In fact, just stay here while I get her." He goes out to the kitchen and grabs Belle's shoulders.
"Everything good?" she asks.
"Better then you want to know. Why, in fact, someone very important is here." She turns around facing him.
"Its him.." she stutters. He leads her to the library and opens the door. He stands their, very handsomely dressed in a blue suit. For a moment, their wasn't even a library. Just him. He starts to walk towards her and she runs up to him, embracing him.
"I missed you Belle," he says. She looks at him.
"You have no idea how much I missed you Rumple, you just left. Early and I didn't know I was alone. Please tell me next time rumple."
"Yes Belle, I will tell you. I shouldn't have left like that." He holds out the chipped cup, fixed. She grins.
"How did you know? I thought you had gotten bored of me," she says, her voice wavering. He takes her face in his hands and looks her in the eye. How she never flinched or ran away with a touch of a monster he could never comprehend. She deserved someone human at least.
"I signed that paper for forever Belle. And that, is how it will be. This," he says, looking around the room, "Is our forever. And nobody else gets it."
"Promise me Rumpelstiltskin. Promise that you will never leave me." Her hands run through his hair.
"I promise Belle," he says. Their lips meet, desperate for the taste of their true love. The light from the windows shines on them like heaven. The room lights up and everything is forgotten. Belle breaks the kiss, breathing heavily.
"Sorry, I am only human. Give me second," she whispers.
"Its Ok Belle." Suddenly she is in his strong arms. "We are going on a little adventure," he says cheerily.
"What about Jefferson?"
"He left dearie. But even he said he had fun watching you," he says teasingly.
"He didn't watch me Rumple. We actually spent most of the time playing around with a book called, What To Do With Your Teenager," she says. "It actually had some great ideas. It was nice playing with someone who didn't cheat." He ignores the comment and carries her up to his room. "Aren't you at all tired from your trip? I can make you tea if you want," she offeres. He looks down at her. He definitely wasn't tired but she looked absolutely drained. Jefferson had probably kept her pretty busy. He never calmed down enough to do anything like spinning or reading.
"I am never tired dearie, but you," he says putting her down, "look like you could use a little extra rest." She goes to the bed and lays back on the pillows. He wasn't wrong. Jefferson could be very hyper at times.
"I could...but I won't," she sighs. He takes off his leather vest and sits beside her. He puts an arm around her shoulders and pulls her closer. Her hips touch his and looks down, nervous. "I am glad you came back," she whispers. "I was beginning to think it would be longer then I had expected."
"You know I am always on time dearie. Even more so when my maiden awaits."
"Yes, Rumpelstiltskin. But I still missed you. Sometimes Jefferson can be to deliriously happy. I longed for you to come back." He leans in closer.
"Deliriously happy hardly describes it dearie." She laughs.
"I suppose not. By the way, what were you doing on your long trip?" He looks at her.
"And remind me; why would you need to know?"
"Rumpelstiltskin, you know I am very curious," she says, poking him in the chest. "You don't just disappear for two weeks so you can go sunbathing," she says.
"Really? Sunbathing is the best you can do?"
"I would rather use that then murder, or thievery, or kidnapping-"
"Ok, I get it. I don't have the best reputation. All I did was give Maleficent some things and work out some issues between Regina and and her mother." He wasn't about to tell her about the curse . He was technically telling the truth. He had done all of those things.
"That sounds fun," she says, rolling her eyes. He wasn't one to give details. Suddenly she smells smoke. Looking over, she finds the woman she had met on the road.
"Belle," The queen says surprised.
"Get out!" Rumpelstiltskin seethes. He had forgotten to put up the protective barrier. He gets off the bed, leaving Belle confused.
"Rumpelstiltskin. This was the woman I met on the road. She isn't as bad as you think." He turns around and glares at her.
"Listen to the innocent one... Rumple," the queen says, mockingly. He opens the bedroom door and they walk out into the dining hall.
"You have five minutes to tell me what you want Regina. That's it," he growls. He hears Belle walking down the steps and grimaces. He couldn't keep running from her. She would have to leave.
"Belle!" he says harshly. "Leave me and the queen alone. Go find somewhere else to hang around until I am finished." She pauses, confused and then quickly walks to the kitchen. Why would he want to be with the queen instead of her? Maybe she was right. He wanted to be with that woman. Not his childhood girlfriend it seemed. Her eyesight blurs and she washes the pans she used for the pumpkin cookies. A few minutes later he comes back, the queen gone. In a flash all of the dishes are clean and in the cabinets. Magic again.
"Sorry about that dearie, she was having some difficulties with a potion I gave her." She keeps her head down, roughly drying her hands on her apron. "Want to go back to the room? I put the barriers up so she couldn't come back."
"No. I do not want to go back Rumpelstiltskin. I gave you my time and you ran off with Regina. That's the end of it." He stands their, shocked. Him and Regina weren't even friends. What was she thinking?
"Dearie, I promise there is absolutely nothing between us."
"Oh really Rumpelstiltskin? Then why did you leave me and then command me to leave right as I rounded the corner? What made you destroy our cup?" She pauses, trying to stay under control. "What made you leave early without even telling me? Was it that woman? Is she just to enticing?"
"Their is nothing enticing about Regina, Belle!" he practically yells. "I have never...ever even loved anybody like I love you Belle! Why can't you understand that? Regina hates me." She stands their, unsure about whether or not to believe him. It was only five minutes.
"I need some time alone Rumpelstiltskin. We will have to finish this conversation later," she says, rushing into the library.
&/&
Belle sat on the oversized couch up the stairs of the library, wishing their was a book with dating instructions. She had never done this before. Gaston was arranged and everything she did for him was by force. But dating? She was just plain awful at it. In her heart she knew that Rumpelstiltskin hadn't done anything in those five short minutes. It was the fact that he had interrupted their time together after not seeing him for two weeks that made her angry. Looking up at the beautifully painted ceiling, Belle realized how late it was. She let a yawn escape her throat as she leaned back on the cushions.
"Somebody's tired," she hears. Jerking out of her daze she sees him on the bottom floor. It had to be at least midnight.
"I thought you would be sleeping," she replies.
"With you thinking I love Regina? I would rather vomit," he says. She tries not to smile.
"I get it rumple. I get it," she says, exhausted. "I will forgive you under one condition."
"And what might that be?" he asks.
"I get all of tomorrow with you, alone." She looks down at him. Her eyes burn she is so tired. She sees a purple poof of smoke and he is in front of her.
"Well you know what the good thing is?" he says. She nods her head, smiling. He pretends to look at a watch.
"Its already tomorrow."
"You know what I meant Rumple," she says, slapping his arm. He looks down at her. The couch was small but it had enough room for a little fun. And he was all about that. She looks back up to him, contemplating when she would find the strength to stand. He looked so good standing their with the moon shining through the window behind him. He suddenly sits down beside her and wraps his arm around her, holding her very tightly against him. "Stop it Rumple," she giggles. "I am way to tired to play these games. And I am still mad at you."
"Well that gives me more of a reason to do this then," he says. Suddenly, she is pulled down on the couch with him. She feels him kissing her neck.
"Please Rumple," she laughs. "I need to sleep."
"Well," he says in between kisses. "Their will be plenty of time for that dearie." She grips his arm which is the only thing keeping them from falling off. He lets go for a second and she squeals, landing on some pillows on the floor.
"This isn't funny Rumple. Seriously, stop."
"Your eyes tell me otherwise dearie."
"You know your magical transportation cloud thing?"
"Yes dearie. It has a name you know."
"I don't care right now. Just use it so I don't have to will myself to get up all over again." He laughs and she is suddenly in the bedroom. "Thank you." He carries her over to the bed and they lay down. Despite her protests he continues to kiss her. After a few minutes he stops.
"Content now?" she asks, teasingly. He stares at her, basically on top of her.
"Certainly not Love." he says mesmerized. Love? Where did that come from? She laughs a very tired laugh. Her hands run through his hair and she kisses his forehead. Feeling his fingers behind her neck she laughs, curling into a ball underneath him.
"Stop it Rumple." she whines. "You have no idea how tired I am."
" I can see that in your eyes Belle. But, I am afraid I will not be content until every inch of you is covered in my love. We have to mark our possessions these days or other young men take them," he says grinning.
"Rumpelstiltskin, I am not going anywhere. You are my true love which automatically rules those other young men out."
"But," he says pausing. "People like Gaston just take what they want. If they know your with me they won't go anywhere near you." She giggles.
"I hear your logic. But I am still very tired."
"Of course dearie," he says. He kisses her ear and her forehead. Her hair was so sweet. With his arms wrapped around her body he starts kissing her shoulders. And he doesn't stop until she is sound asleep, limp in his arms. He tucks her body into the bed, laying a rose against her chest. She was so peaceful this way. But he couldn't bear tell her that this was their last night together for a very long time. Regina was cursing the town early in the morning and they would be separated. He watches each breath she takes and allows himself to cry. She was so beautiful and he was leaving her again. But the taste of her skin on his lips would be his forever until he found her. And he would find her.
