I think that I can definitely say that I have the most colorful reviewers, Thank you all so much for reading my work.

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Rumplestiltskin stalked off toward the dungeons, trying to calm the white hot rage boiling through his veins like molten lava.

Stupid girl...why had he reigned himself in earlier? Surely not because of some incident in a tavern that reminded him of his gross offences with his own property. Perhaps it was cowardness rearing it's ugly head once more.

Rumple had gone to great lengths to prove to himself that he was no longer that shivering, frightned of his own shadow spinner. He didn't have to be that empty, dull man any more , dark magic changed that for him, thankfully it was for the better. If the magic hadn't changed him into what he was now, then he would have sunk that dagger into his OWN chest, he couldn't take one more day as some pitiful boot kissing cripple. He decended down to the dungeon expecting to see evidence that it had in fact been Belle that had helped free his prisoner. His mouth narrowed into a hard line as he surveyed the open door to the now empty cell.

The toe of his black boots slide the door open fully as he took a few steps inside. He noticed a blanket and a pillow...a PILLOW? He let an exasperated sigh escape through tight lips and suppressed the urge to roll his eyes , instead opting for just shaking his head at the whole dam mess as he looked around the room in disgust . His eyes spotted something lying on the mat where Geppetto's plate was. A matt? what was she doing while he was gone, running an inn? Frankly he was surprised he didn't return to find out she had rented out his room for fuck's sake. He glanced around, taking note of every offense she had committed,blanket, definately the pillow, matt...the list continued when he spotted the cake pans. she would be getting a lash across that round, little arse for each and everyone of these. He bent down to read the note... "a note" he grumbled to himself. He would add that to her list as well.

Rumple's eyebrows raised as he read the letter addressed to him...Dearest Rumples:

Sorry about this, I really am. I can only geuss that this is all terribly inconvient for you.I'm aphored for being involved with the bug, truely, But in his defense he does pay rather well! Hope this dosen't mean we're not the best of friends any longer, it would just break my heart. But, a deal is a deal and everyone comes like you say with a price, but alas, his price was better. Sorry for the inconvience and I do hope your little maid is alright, I do suppose we gave her a nasty scare...But don't blame her, or do...whichever makes you happiest. Perhaps next time I stop by we can have a spot of tea. Long trips leave me thirsty.

Untill next time,

JEFFERSON

Rumplestitskin eyes widened as he read the letter, dam that Hatter... smug little shit. He smirked at the little icon Jefferson had drawn in the corner of the note... a little top hat. The last thing Rumple would be having with the insane haberdasher was a spot of tea, it was too dangerous. The last time that had happened...well, he didn't even want to go there, Memories of Wonderland were best left repressed. Rumple crumpled up the note in his fist as he left the cell for the main hall.

His shoulders felt like they bared the weight of the world as he entered the hall to view the mess. He had pitched a hell of a fit in here. Why did his anger get the best of him? Even though it was early in the day, he felt weary in his bones. He hadn't wanted his return to go this way. He had visions of this turning out alot smoother, perhaps ...well, it dosent matter now does it. Rumple plopped down in the only chair not overturned in the room, a sturdy one over by the couch that sat close to the fireplace. With a flick of his wrist the fire soared to life with licking flames, his throat felt dry as he closed his eyes and ran his hands down his face in exasperation. Right now he felt too tired to even think about revenge ..or forgivness or redemption...maybe later.

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Belle lay with the sheet wrapped around her for warmth, she had left her blankets down in the main hall and now she was cold. It seemed the world had crumbled down around her. Her eyes felt puffy from crying and the inside of her mouth felt sore as her tongue worried the cut inside her mouth. She used the corner of the sheet to wipe at her nose as she tried to calm down. This had not gone as planned. she had expected to present Rumplestiltskin with her masterpiece cake when he had returned. She had even gone so far as to imagine him actually smiling as he bit into the frosted cake, she wondered if he could smile she thought with a frown, She hadn't glimpsed any since her time at the dark castle, she felt him smile, once... in the dark...in this very bed in fact, she shook her head to clear it of any unnecassary thoughts, she had bigger things to think about, like What was she to do now, he had accused her of letting Geppetto go. How was she ever to prove her innocence?

Hot tears threatned eyes that were already sore and swollen causing Belle to rub at them . They seemed to get heavier as she yawned, curling up in her bed. Perhaps going to sleep for awhile would make her think with a touch more clarity. Her stomach rumbled in protest of having no breakfast but she was kind of trapped...No way was she running around the castle in nothing but her bed sheets trying to stear clear of Rumplestiltskin in the process, it was just too much right now..oh but she was in a pickle that was for sure... she would have to do something about it... maybe later.

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Something startled Rumple awake. He sat up straight, rubbing the sleep from his heavy eyes. Looking around at the state of the room sent recollections of the mornings events fresh in his mind, he briefly looked around for a possibly tea tray,when the blanket caught his eye. It layed scattered across the couch. She must have been sleeping down here while he was away. A pang of regret briefly fluttered through his tangled mind as he stood up, stretching out his bunched up muscles.

No.. no tea sat on the table, she had not been down. Then his thoughts trailed back to thier last encounter... of course not you idiot, in your blind rage you destroyed her dress like an animal and she dosen't even have a blanket to cover herself with. remorse flittered across his face as he retrieved her blanket, perhaps he could make amends with it alittle. Not that he owed her any he told himself, her feelings didn't matter. She must learn her place here. Yet as he tried to convience to himself yet again that Belle mattered not, he found himself climbing the stairs with her blanket in tow finding himself standing in frount of her bedroom door as if he were her servant instead of the other way around. "Well, this is was just brillant," Rumple muttered, he was now the slave and worst of all he looked the part with her covers in his hand.

He found himself swallowing hard as he gently pushed her door open. Silently he glided up to her sleeping form laying in the bed wrapped up once again in his sheets. Her hair lay out around her head like a halo, shimmering against her pillow. He could see the bruise forming across her temple and cheek, evidence that she had been hurt. Rumple chewed on his bottom lip as he stared down at the sleeping girl, his eyes watched her hands clutch at the sheets in her restless slumber. For a moment he thought of just leaving her there and sulking back down stairs like the coward he was but he just stood there... watching her sleeping form... He then realised he still held her warm blanket, he held it to his face for a moment inhaling her fragrance from it. Memories of thier one stolen night came back fresh in his mind, when she had allowed him to... his eyes shut tight, trying to will those thoughts out of his mind.. He had come back hoping there could be more of those shared moments only to ruin everything. He had acted like some sort of a monster, he hadn't even been willing to listen to her story.

Rumple draped the blanket across her body taking a few moments to tuck it in around her. The warmth made Belle open her eyes only to find him standing over her. She gasped out of fear as she recoiled down into her covers before realizing that he had brought it up to her, why had he done that she wondered. His face spoke volumes of the uncertainty lurking behind his eyes. Belle was lost in his expression, she sat up in her bed as he just stood there unmoving, looking alittle lost. Belle spoke first, "I..um." there was so much they both wanted to say, about this morning, about the other night but nothing seemed appropriate at this moment to start with. Belle cleared her throat before she thought of the best way to get over the awkardness,"You need your tea." But as she moved to get up, Rumple raised his hand to stop her.

"No Belle, I didn't come here for tea." Belle tilted her head as he spoke, it was the closest she had ever come to hearing something like regret in his voice. Rumple let out a heavy sigh, this was going to be harder than he thought, "I may have been too rash this morning... I found a note in the cell." Belle began shaking her head, "I swear master, I didn't do it, I would never" Belle could feel something like a lump rise in her throat but he stoped her."I don't blame you dearie, I know who was behind this and you would have never stood a chance against him." Belle was taken back alittle when Rumple sat down on the edge of the bed beside her. She almost felt sorry for him, he looked so forlorn, it was probably the first time he had ever tried to take back his abrupt actions.

Belle couldn't help but feel alittle self conscious as she clutched her sheet tighter around her chest, she bit her lip watching him struggle with himself, untill he looked her in the eye. She felt embarrased as she dropped her eyes to stare at the blanket tucked around her body. "Thank you...for the blanket I mean." Her hair had fallen down to hide her bruised cheek and temple and she shivered as she felt his warm hand reach over raising her chin up so that her hair fell back exposing her injury to his eyes. Rumple looked grim as he took in the colorful bruise on her face. "Hurting you was not my intention this morning, I was angry...I shouldn't have struck you so." Belle looked up surprised, was he apologizing to her? A smile lightly formed on her face as he watched her, looking for a sign of forgivness. "Come, lets get you fixed up and maybe some tea" Rumple told her, Belle's smile broadend.

A sharp intake of breath from Belle greeted Rumple's ears as he pulled back her blanket abruptly and picked her up bridal style, sheet and all. Belle had no choice but to put her hands around his neck as he carried her out of the room and down to the hall without a word. Rumple noted that she was as light as a feather as he clutched her warm little body to his. He was pleasantly surprised when Belle sighed and leaned against him while he decended the staircase. His hold on her tightned instinctively as he felt her relax against him, perhaps they could get passed all the unpleasantness of this morning and just move forward...maybe...

Belle let her head rest against his chest as he carried her. She could feel his heart beat against her ear as they walked through the halls . His hair tickled her hands as she held on to him tightly. His hands felt warm and gentle around her back and under her legs as he carried her down the stairs. For the first time since her arrival here she felt cared for and somewhat safe from harm. With her head leaned against him she could place her free hand on his chest. It was warm like the rest of him, his unusual skin color was a sparkling contrast to her own pale skin but not unpleasant. She felt his grip on her tighten as she examined his skin with her hand. she heard his breath hitch in his chest as she touched him there. She wondered if he had always been this way or if it was the magic that lived in him that made him look so different, she had always heard in the stories she had been told of him as a child that he was not a man but something else. Well, he may have something else that made him different from other men and she had to admit he was a strange one but definitely a man nontheless, a spoiled, selfish, demanding one.

Rumple gently sit Belle down on top of the dining table. She still felt alittle self conscious pulling her sheet close to her as he stood so close, watching her. Rumple's lips formed into a hard line as he noticed for the first time that her cheek was slightly swollen, no doubt from the blow she had endured from his hand in his rage. Well, it may take time to still her fear of him but at least he could remedy her injury caused by his own hand. "Is your cheek cut inside dearie?" Belle's eyes shot up from her lap at his words. She nodded her head, at a loss for at the moment. "lean your head back and open your mouth for me, let's take a look shall we?"

Belle blinked a few times at him considering his odd request, what did he plan to do, "why?" a smile twitched at the corner of his mouth at her reply. He raised a finger at her question,"No questions my pet, do as your told." Belle bit her lip tenderly as she watched him raise his eyebrows at her confusion but she did as asked. Her eyes never left his as he stood for a few seconds watching her slowly open for him. Rumple tried to repress a carnal desire that ran like a currant of electricity through him as she obeyed. Ever so slowly so as not to scare her, Rumple leant over carefully and inspected her mouth. Just as he thought, a cut across the inside of her cheek was responsible for the swelling on the side of her face. He stood up as Belle closed her mouth, her face flushed pink from his steady gaze. "Well my pet you have a nasty cut in there, but luckilly I can remedy it, that is if you are willing."

"I am ...willing" Belle replied, "what do you want me to do?" Oh... That was a loaded question but first things first, her mouth Rumple reminded his wondering thoughts as he considered her question. "Open your mouth for me once more , but this time I'm going to touch the injury. That will allow it too heal..alright?" Belle tried to swallow the butterflies that tumbled around in her stomach as she nodded. thier eyes never strayed from each other as Rumple gently inserted his index finger into her awaiting orifice. "Close your lips for me." His voice was low and strange sounding as he made his request. He clenched his jaw to keep from groaning aloud as her warm lips closed over his appendage. Belle closed her eyes as a warm tingling began in her mouth causing a sensation like none other she had ever felt before. Her tongue touched him and she heard him lightly give a hiss as if he had been burned. For a moment she wondered if it hurt him to heal someone. Slowly he began to pull himself from her lips as they seemed to tightned around his finger, Belle had the oddest impulse to give it alittle suck as he pulled it free from her mouth. He let it linger on Belle's bottom lip for a brief moment as he savored the velvety sofness before pulling slowly away.

She opened her eyes to find His lips parted as he watched her with an odd expression on his face like he could see her thoughts. He seemed to be astonished that his finger didn't repulse her, but it didn't somhow. Even with his blackend fingernail and unseemly color, Belle didn't find it at all offensive as he freeded it from her mouth. For a moment the only sound heard was breathing as each one tried to get thier heat rates back into a normal rythum before the other realized what an erotic experience had passed silently between them.

Belle instinctively licked her bottom lip where the ghost of a tingle where his skin had been only seconds before. For the first time in his existence Rumplestiltskin couldn't think of a thing to say, his mind was a blank. He didn't want to tear the paper thin moment any more than she did, but he spoke first to break the silence. "How about we get you that tea now." Belle slowly nodded and moved to get down and fix it. "No, you don't have to do that dearie, I can whip us both up some in a heartbeat," and with a flouish of his hand a tray with pipping hot tea appeared on the table beside Belle.

A strong silence hung thick in the air as Rumple began fixing the tea just to make some semblence of sound. He handed her the cup, "be careful, it's quite hot."

"Thank you" Belle said as she accepted the offered cup. They both sipped the amber liquid quietly as Belle shifted on the table so that her legs dangled off. Rumple tried hard not to stare at her wrapped up in nothing but a sheet sitting on his table, her pale tender skin beckoning him to touch. If he didn't get her some clothes soon, he would not be responsible for his actions. Suddenly Belle slipped down off the table still clutching her covering while Rumple watched her. "I almost forgot, I made you something, I have to go and get it, I'll be right back." He stood there, watching as she gated out of the hall leaving him standing there in puzzlement, what could she have possibly made for him, no one ever made anything for him before, that he could recall.

In a few minutes Belle returned with something she held behind her back with one hand and a shy smile on her face as she clutched her sheet against her with the free hand. Rumple had to admit he was intrigued. "I've been working on my cooking skills since you were away" she said enthusiastically and with that said she brought out a small cake with frosting on top of it. Rumple had never tasted frosting before, they had always been too poor to ever indulge such luxsuries and there had been no thought of it since he had become the dark one. He stared at it before looking up at her and then it happened... Belle saw Rumplestiltskin smile at her. She held the cake out to him as he took it out of her hand like she had just handed him a diamond. she couldn't supress the blush to her cheeks as she watched him stare at the cake with something like awe on his face. When he stood unmoving Belle coaxed him on, "Well, taste it, or are you afraid?" she teased him. "I'm only trying to decide if your going to poison me dearie" he chuckled, Belle giggled, "No, it's good I promise."

Slowly Rumple brought the cake to his lips and took his first taste of frosting, he closed his eyes savoring the sweet icing, it tasted like Belle. Belle watched with a knowing smile on her face. On a sudden impulse she reached out and wiped a dollop of frosting off the corner of Rumple's mouth before putting it in her own, A sharp intake of breath from the sorcerer made Belle swallow hard as she realized what she had just done, she glanced at her finger then up at him, for a moment they just stared at one another...the world had stoped.

Belle watched Rumplestiltskin's eyes darken and diliate a second before he was upon her. Belle could taste the sweetness in his mouth from the cake as his lips crushed hers in a overpowering kiss. It was all want and hunger as he swept Belle up and sat her on the table. He began pulling her body close as he placed his own between her legs. When he let go of Belle it was only to allow her time to catch her breath, before capturing her again , exploring her mouth with his tongue as she opened herself up to him with a sigh. Want unfuled in Belle's belly hot and throbbing as she squirmed closer to him...she wanted this... alot.

Rumple tugged down her sheet to revel her breasts as he squeezed one before taking it in his mouth, sucking on it hard. Belle leaned her head back with her mouth open letting out a strangled moan. Rumple slowly lowered her down on the table so that she lay on her back looking up at him. He had enough of the confining sheet as he pulled it back to revel her tantilizing body to his hungry eyes. His manhood begged to be set free as he gently drug his hand down the valley between her breasts trailing a hot line down to her belly making Belle shiver.

Rumple slowly licked his lips, thinking of how she tasted like the now discarded cupcake, he had to taste her once more he thought to himself as his thumb gently made small circles on her sex before opening her up gently and pushing past her folds. His fingers slid up under her to cup her bottom, sinking between to rub against her other tight little opening, perhaps not today but he would claim her there as well...maybe later. Belle cried out when he entered her before pushing her hips up, hoping he would go deeper, enough to satisfy the deep throbbing that took over her body.

There would be no satisfaction for either till he had his fill of her taste. His tongue replaced his thumb and Belle almost came undone right then as she whimpered a desperate cry, clutching at the sheets and the table, anything to keep the room from it's spinning as he nipped and suckled her most tender area. Rumple felt a surge of warmth in his mouth as she let go with an anguished cry of release, he laped it up as he inserted his middle finger, pumping her hard so that her pleasure would last as long as possible.

Belle opened her eyes as she came down off her high and whimpered at the lost of contact as Rumple withdrew his finger, the aching wasn't as intense as it had been before but it was no where gone as she watched him unfasten his leather pants, freeing his hardened shaft. He looked at her with a questioning look as Belle smiled at him before opening her legs wider, beckoning him to enter her.

In one swift motion that had them both crying out, Rumplestiltskin buried himself in Belle as deep as he could get. He had to fight to hold himself together when she wrapped her legs around him, digging into his back with her heels spurring him forward. Her tongue matched his as he claimed her mouth once more, exploring deeply. She matched him thrust for thrust as he slammed into her repeadly untill Belle felt he might rip her in two. He let out one last cry as he released her mouth before spilling hot seed deep in her awaiting belly. The warm gush sent Belle over the edge into her own paradise as they rode out thier orgasms to the fullest. After a moment Rumplestiltskin eased out of her gently placing a chaste kiss on the curls just above her soaken lips.

"You are beautiful my Belle" He whispered to her as he lifted his hand toward her in order to help her up. Belle sat up with his help but didn't dare get off the table, her legs were shaking too bad to attempt to stand. "You are not the only one with a gift to give dearie, something awaits in your room for you" Rumple said with a grin. He had been owed a favor from a seamstress in one of the villages he had visited in his travels that week and had bardered for some dresses for Belle, at the rate he destroyed her clothing he needed to build up a surplus other wise she would spend most of her time wrapped up in sheets...which wasn't a bad idea he thought as he watched her promise to return soon to fix a proper tea for them both.