Author's Notes: Only one chapter left after this one, and, as it's halfway finished, it should be out soon. Please point out any mistakes I may have made so I may correct them.
Rumplestiltskin is still confused. Moments ago, he was falling toward certain death and now, Belle is sitting beside him, hand in his, calmly listening as the Blue Fairy explains her plan to Charming and the others.
"In this situation, death is not the only solution," she says. "I propose lifetime imprisonment. The other fairies and I can cast a spell in a chosen location and keep him there permanently."
"But where?" Snow asks. "Many people throughout the land would jump at the chance to kill him; we'd need a secluded place for his own safety."
"Is his safety really any of our concern?" Charming mutters; Snow elbows him.
"Rumplestiltskin's safety is the wish of Belle," the Blue Fairy corrects him. "She defeated the Dark One, so we fairies are bound to do her bidding. We will not let harm come to Rumplestiltskin."
"I have a suggestion," Belle pipes up. "What about his castle? It's rather secluded, and few know how to get there…"
Emma and Snow nod in agreement then look to Charming.
"That will suffice," he concludes, eager to be done with the matter. "How soon can we be rid of him?"
The Blue Fairy smiles. "It will take two days for us to prepare the castle," she requests. "Bring Rumplestiltskin to his castle on the third day, and we'll cast the final spell."
"We'll have him there," Snow confirms. "Rumplestiltskin, I'm sorry, but we'll have to keep you in the cell until then. It's for your own protection."
Rumplestiltskin is still in shock; he's just been delivered from the noose into a new chance at life, all at the hands of people who considered him a villain.
"You mean, you're willing to let me live?" he asks.
"It's not like I have much a choice about it," Charming says, but he looks as though he's holding back a smile. "Besides, letting you live may help me out in the future."
Emma gives her father a strange look, but realization dawns on Rumplestiltskin and he grins, saying, "I knew you'd come around, dearie."
"Right." Charming waves to the guards. "Take him away."
Belle accompanies Rumplestiltskin back to the dungeons; when they're again alone together, he can't help but marvel.
"How did you ever get the Blue Fairy to help me?"
"She didn't want to at first," Belle replies honestly, "but she hated the Dark One, not you. I just had to remind her that if it weren't for me, the Dark One would still be here."
"I'm somehow not surprised," he mumbles. "I still don't regret swatting at her with my dagger."
Her mouth drops open in shock. "You hit her with a knife?"
He smiles roguishly at her. "I was cursed."
Belle shakes her head disapprovingly, but she fails to hide her laughter. "Well, now we know who won't be visiting you during your confinement."
"Right…" He frowns. "Belle, when I'm gone, you'll visit me, won't you?"
"Absolutely not," a voice from behind her says, as Sir Maurice steps out into the light.
"Papa, what are you—"
"Belle, I need to speak with you alone," Maurice says urgently.
"Whatever you have to say, you can say before him."
Maurice frowns. "Very well then. Belle, I have no idea what's gotten into you. Commanding fairies and disrupting executions…" He rubs his temple. "All I know is you have to come back with me, love. I don't want you here another moment with this monster."
"He's not a monster, Papa," Belle cries. "He was under a curse. And besides, I…I love him."
Maurice's gaze turns stony. "Is that so?" He gives Rumplestiltskin a piercing look. "Did you tell her what you did to me?"
Rumplestiltskin bows his head. "No."
"What did he do?"
"He beat me. With his cane. Spent several weeks in hospital because of it. Broke my neck, both arms, and three ribs."
Belle presses her lips together. "Why?"
"Ask him," Maurice says. "I'm not entirely in the right, but he took my van and practically put me out of business."
"Rumplestiltskin?" Belle's eyes are pleading with him; he has to shut his eyes to finally utter the truth.
"I thought…I was incorrectly told that after you left my service, he refused to readmit you back into his household. That he'd had you tortured."
Belle sighs. "And you thought I was dead…because of him."
"Yes."
Maurice scoffs. "You expect me to believe that? That I would turn my own daughter out on the street?"
"Papa," she says, touching his arm, "not all fathers are as kind as you are."
"Belle…if this is true, please, please…leave this man and come home with me."
She shakes her head. "I can't. I promised forever."
Rumplestiltskin looks up abruptly. "What?"
"I promised forever. Rumplstiltskin, I'm going with you."
"Belle!" Maurice is horrified. "Why would you—"
"Papa, please, I have to—"
"No." Rumplestiltskin shakily gets to his feet. "Belle, I release you from our deal. You made that with the Dark One, not with me. You're free."
Father and daughter freeze and look at him.
"Are you serious?" Maurice is dumbfounded. "You're letting her go?"
Belle blinks. "You…you don't want me?"
"It's not that," Rumplestiltskin reassures her. "I don't want any parent forcefully separated from his child."
Maurice frowns as if mentally solving a difficult puzzle; Belle's face crinkles as her eyes well with tears.
"But I want to go with you," she says, her voice hitching on the last words.
"Belle?" Maurice touches her shoulder. "I'll be in my room, packing. I'm leaving at sunrise tomorrow; I hope I'll see you then." Belle is about to protest when he adds, "Even if it's only to say goodbye." He turns and walks away before the others can say anything.
After a moment, Rumplestiltskin says slyly, "I think that's the closest you're going to get to his permission."
"I don't need his permission; it's my life."
He smiles. "I know…Belle, do you really want to spend the rest of your life banished to a castle with me?"
"Who said anything about being banished?" she says, laughing. "You, not I, are the one unable to leave the castle."
"But you're really coming with me?"
"The Dark Castle's a rather large estate…you're going to need a full-time housekeeper, someone to cook your meals, launder your clothes, dust, beat the carpets…"
"Skin the children?"
"Not funny. But yes, all of that. Besides," she says, taking his hand, "I think I'd be a little bit miserable without the person I love."
He kisses her, this time with all the intensity he'd wanted before, and when she finally pulls back and leans against him through the bars, he's too happy to think anything other than that he could not care less where he spent the remainder of his years as long as they were with her.
The next morning, Belle bids her father a tearful farewell. He promises to visit a few times a year, just to make sure that she isn't turned into a statue or a toad or anything horrible like that. Belle just smiles to herself and considers herself fortunate that she is able to keep both father and lover.
When at last the fairies are ready, a small party travels by coach to the Dark Castle. All the fairies flying above the estate were truly a sight to behold; Rumplestiltskin couldn't help flinching and worrying that all the dust they were dropping would erode the shingles.
Everything happened very quickly; the prisoner was sat down securely in his prison, the fairies waved their wands in unison, and Charming bade Rumplestiltskin to try to leave only for him to be unable to step outside the front gate of the estate.
"It worked," Emma said, almost as in disbelief.
"Good," her father exclaims. "That means we can get going."
"Don't let the door hit you on the way out, dearie," Rumplestiltskin cackles, and everyone jumps, almost expecting him to be flamboyant and sparkling again.
"Just kidding," he retracts quickly, causing Snow to break out in nervous laughter. After taking leave of Belle, they depart, and the two are left alone.
"Well," she says, looking around. "I guess you should show me to a room."
"What, the dungeon isn't good enough for you anymore?"
"Fine living quarters for a servant, but not so fine for a…" She hesitates over the word.
"In Storybrooke, the word would have been 'girlfriend,'" he offers, "but 'true love' works just as well."
"Indeed it does."
He shows her to the room that would best suit her then walks to his own that he kept before. He lies awake in bed, wondering if she's comfortable, if she regrets coming back with him, and all the little "what-ifs" that plague him.
At last, he grabs his cane and slowly walks to her shut door. He raises his hand to knock, then, seeing no light from a candle shining from under the door, pulls it back and merely waits outside. Just knowing she's there is enough.
He limps slowly back and climbs into bed; he can hardly believe she'll still be there tomorrow and the next day and the next. He closes his eyes, believing that finally, he's found his happy ending; what more could he want but Belle in his home once more?
He's fast asleep in moments, so he's completely unaware of Belle slowly pushing his door open and looking at him for several moments before blushing and swiftly padding back to her own room.