Chapter 10

*Warning! Super emotional Rumbelle feels in this chapter!*

Sorry this one is a bit short, and a bit late! My family has been super sick for over a week now, and I had a birthday gift story request that led to another story because I got carried away. :P Anyway... I did, however, work very hard to get this one right -reworking a chunk of it several times- and I really am pleased with it. I wanted to just slow down and capture Belle's emotional response to Scar's threats. Let me know how you like it! Feel free to point out something in particular that you like; it helps me know what ya'll like and I get excited when I'm writing stuff I think will be appreciated. :)

Belle was vaguely aware of several voices calling her name. She was a good deal more aware of a painful sensation in her right leg. She groaned and felt herself being pulled to an upright position. The fog in her head began to dissipate only to be replaced with a dull ache, and she started recognizing the voices speaking to her. A familiar hand brushed hair from her face and she smiled. "Rumple..."

"Hey, Sweetheart," he responded, kneeling in front of her and gently squeezing her arms in a reassuring gesture.

"What happened?" she asked, allowing him to pull her up off the damp cave floor.

A dark look crossed his face and Belle felt a chill as bits and pieces of recent memory started to form in her mind. "You fainted," Gold answered. There was a pause, then he asked, "What's the last thing you recall?"

"I- uh- it's a bit muddled but I remember Scar..." She stopped, her voice catching as the memories became clearer, and more terrifying. "Scar..." She felt nauseated and her head spun. She clutched at her husband's vest to steady herself. "Rumple..."

Gold gathered her in his arms. "Shh, shh, my Darling, it's alright. I've got you." He gently stroked her hair as she clung to him.

"We should get her home," Snow said. "We all need a bit of rest before we prepare for this." She patted Belle gently on the back. "Nobody's taking anyone anywhere! You'll be okay."

Belle smiled weakly at Snow, trying to believe her, but failing. "I know you must all think I'm just pathetic fainting like that." Belle felt disappointed in herself and somewhat embarrassed.

"No!" Snow exclaimed. "We don't think that at all!"

"You don't have to explain yourself to us," Ruby chimed in. "If some creepy lion guy wanted to make me his bride, I would faint too. Or turn into a wolf. One way or the other."

She thanked Snow and Ruby for the encouragement but inwardly she didn't feel capable of taking their words to heart. Everyone seemed to have some skill or talent she didn't have. "Take me home, Rumple," she pleaded.

They trekked to the main road, and her leg, bruised when she collapsed, ached from trudging uphill. She sighed gratefully when they reached the Cadillac. Rumple held the door for her and leaned in to kiss the top of her head before closing it. His affection usually sent a thrill of happiness through her, yet now she hardly registered it. She felt numb, and out-of-sorts.

Rumple climbed into the driver's seat and revved up the car. He seemed to sense her uneasiness, and did not push conversation. For every mile home Belle's anxiety increased. Her mind kept playing over the events of the evening and toying with scenarios of what events might yet occur. Her throat felt constricted and her stomach churned.

When they arrived home, he helped her out of the car and pressed a gentle hand to her back as they walked to their front door. She could tell her husband was was keenly aware of her discomfort, and after he locked the door behind them, he turned to her. "Belle-"

All the emotions she had been struggling with came flooding out in a torrent of tears and racking sobs that brought her to her knees, right there on the hardwood foyer of their home. She was literally wailing and shaking and gasping for breath, and therefore never saw the look of pain on her husband's face as he rushed to her side. She felt his arms go around her and she tried to calm herself, but it was no use. She cried until she could hardly breathe and she vaguely sensed herself being lifted and carried up the stairs. She felt the subtle springing of the mattress as he placed her on the bed; felt his warmth as he joined her and held her.

After some time, her breathing slowed and the sobs only came in small bursts that caught in her throat and made her tremble. Eventually she felt capable of making words again. "Rumple..."

Her husband cupped her face with his hand and wiped tears from her cheek. "It's alright, Sweetheart."

She nearly burst into tears again at his loving words, but managed to control herself. "I am so scared."

He sighed and twirled a strand of her hair. "Oh Sweetheart, I know; but we will defeat him."

"But if we don't..."

"We will."

"I'm trying to have faith but I just can't shake this horrible feeling of dread." Belle took a deep breath and fought back tears. "The things he said-"

Rumple cut her off. "He will never get to you. I will always protect you, my love."

She could no longer stop the tears. "That's what terrifies me... if you go against him! If you are -sob- killed and I could have -sob- stopped it... If I... accepted his offer..." She grew more frantic with every word, her breath ragged.

Rumple pulled her against him, rubbing her back and smoothing her hair. "Darling, shh, shh, hush now. I could never let you do such a thing. I have made many a deal but I will not trade my new bride for the false promises of a madman."

"I know, I just -sob- I just- but if we lose... he swore he'd make me his queen either way!"

Rumple wiped a tear from her face. "You are MY queen, Belle; my beautiful, perfect princess, and no one steals from Rumplestiltskin."

Belle smiled at that, and the words melted her heart. She reached for his hand and simply held it in silence for a few moments, her eyes closed in thought. Suddenly, in a shy whisper, she confessed, "I want to... be... with you. If this was to be our last night on earth, I would spend it in the arms of my husband..." A blush had crept up her cheeks and she bit her lip when she turned to look at him, feeling strangely bashful after all his romantic words and attention.

Rumple gave her a sly grin as he leaned towards her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "...and I would make love to my princess."

Belle's blushed deepened, her heart aflutter, and when their lips met she could feel an edge of fiery protectiveness that convinced her everything would, truly, be alright.