'dis Claimer: Upon A Time, Once. Own it, I do not.

So... my beta asked me why Ru didn't just heal Belle's broken arm. And I ignored her. I said, "You're just a fish. What do you know about love and having control of other people's souls?". In retrospect, that was a tad shortsighted of me. So, I went back and added a few sentences to chapter 7 about why Ru didn't heal her. "I can't" and "It's complicated." sums it up. Don't worry about it.

I wanna thank some of my reviewers.

Artemis Samhain: I really love your reviews. They are very encouraging. I feel like I've been lax with some of the tension I was building up, but I'm hoping the ending makes up for it.

megumisakura: Thanks for sticking with me.

FutureDisneyImagineer: Thank you for the reviews, and I really hope you get that job with Disney.

moodymel: Thank you for reading!

wiccagirl-2005: Yeah, I guess Belle is a bit of a pushover here. I don't really have a defense. Well, maybe a little. She's in shock over her situation, told her life is in danger, and has been around Ru long enough to know when to push him and when not? I nunno. Take it or leave it.

becca: I've already said things to you!

This chapter is short, but the next will be longer, and the final chapter has turned out to be really long. Then that's it. Story told. Done.

Slowly, Belle drifted back to consciousness, aware of arms wrapped around her; cocooning her in warmth. Eyes fluttering open, she looked up at the man who's embrace she was in. His eyes were closed, and his breathing even. Then, as if sensing her change in state, he inhaled deeply, his own eyes opening.

Deep brown orbs stared down into hers. Neither of them spoke. Ru's thumb brushed lightly over her cheek, and she reached her hand to his, her fingertips running over his chin. She wasn't sure how long she spent just studying his face. Five minutes? Fifty? Words were unnecessary.

Finally the physicality of their position intruded on them. Belle was suddenly aware that they were half naked on the cold hardwood floor, and that her leg was asleep. She shifted, breaking the spell, and sat up. Ru leaned back, folding his arms back behind his head as he studied her.

Her fingers drifted idly over his stomach, and she leaned forward to kiss him lightly on the lips. She still wasn't quite sure how to begin conversation, so decided to stick with the practicalities.

"I'm going to take a shower."

He nodded and she stood, staring down at him for a moment before she walked toward the door. She looked back at him with a slight smile before going up the stairs.

A shower. Ah yes. The type of thing people always did after indulging in the kind of activities she just had. It felt significant.

She was using Ru's bathroom, he one she considered hers only having a claw foot bathtub. She turned the water on, allowing it to warm as she removed her dress. But not her underwear... right... those were still downstairs. She blushed to think of having forgotten to pick them up.

Belle studied her reflection in the mirror. She didn't look any different, but she felt very much so. Turning away, she stepped into the stream of water.

Taking a shower with a fractured arm turned out to be a bit more troublesome than she'd planned for. Flipping the shampoo open with a single hand, she poured it directly onto her head, instead of lathering it between her palms first as she'd normally do. Slowly she worked it into her scalp with one hand, the bubbles beginning to drip down her shoulders.

Without warning, the shower curtain opened, and Belle screamed.

"Christ, Ru!" He stood there naked, staring at her intently. Belle blushed furiously, glad for the warm water and the steam to hide it. "Haven't you ever seen 'Psycho'? You can't just sneak up on a girl like that." She glanced away, her gaze on the shower wall.

"Sorry," he murmured, stepping inside and pulling the curtain closed behind him. Belle's breath quickened as Ru's face drew close to hers. "Let me help you."

He pulled her hand away from her hair, rubbing her fingers soothingly as the water washed the soap away. Placing one hand lightly on her hip he turned her so she was facing away from him, and she felt his hands reaching up into her hair, massaging gently. She sighed, letting his capable hands lather the soap and press against her scalp. It felt amazing, and she whimpered, hearing him groan softly in response. He guided her into the fall of water, wrapping an arm around her and spooning against her for a few moments as he let the water wash the soap from her hair.

He pressed a few light kisses to her shoulder before repeating the process with the conditioner. When that was finished he began washing his own hair. Belle turned and watched as his own hands worked the soap through, wishing they were hers.

Ru then reached for the washcloth and soap. Belle's eyes widened as she realized his intention, and he responded with a wicked grin. After working the soap into the washcloth, Ru slowly ran the cloth over her abdomen, and around the side to her back, moving in a circular motion. He moved upward to her shoulders, her arms. He was breathing heavily, but seemed in no hurry. She squeezed his shoulder and pulled slightly, wanting him to move faster or do... something. He nipped her neck in admonishment and she whimpered. His hand then shifted down, pressed the cloth between her legs, and slowly moved it back and forth. She moaned slightly, and wrapped her arm around his, biting into his shoulder.

"God, Belle," he groaned, dropping the cloth. Pushing her back against the ceramic of the shower wall, he moved both hands to her arms. His gaze was piercing, and she couldn't look away.

"Belle." His voice had lowered to a purr, and this time it was filled with significance. With Command.

"I want you to come for me, Belle."

Her body, which was just beginning to throb with need, was suddenly on fire. She cried out, the wave of pleasure completely taking her off guard. Her arms were still pressed to her sides, held trapped by his own, as her body writhed against the wall and his eyes drank it all in.

"Again."

This time her legs kicked slightly but he still wouldn't let her go as she bucked against the restraint.

"Ru..."

"Again, lover."

Belle cried out, the orgasm pouring through her like lava. Ru growled as he lifted one of her legs to rest around his hip, and finally buried himself inside her.

"Ru... yes!" She clenched her eyes shut, feeling him pound into her and the water pour over her against the shower wall.

Several minutes later, shaking in his arms, Belled opened her eyes to look at the man she loved. His eyes were closed, his brow resting against her cheek. He looked sated and more at peace than she could remember him being for a long time. She turned to kiss his temple and he looked up, smiling.

In that moment there was no curse, no evil, just the two of them in their small ceramic world.

"It's strange, you know, in this world you're cursed... yet you're not cursed. It's like you traded one for the other." Belle was reclining on the bed, Ru next to her as she ran her hand up and down his arm, which was decidedly free of the scaly appearance it had had in their home world.

"It might not be as apparent, but I can still feel The Dark One... in here." He reached for her hand and pressed it against his chest.

"But you don't make deals. Your magic is more... mundane," she finished. He growled softly, smiling.

"Mundane, is it?" She could hear the beginning of inflection in his voice and the affect it had on her body. She swatted at him playfully.

"You know what I mean."

"Yes. Even though I can feel the curse inside me, its pull is... less."

"Which is worse? Being trapped here in Storybrooke, or going back and taking on your role as The Dark One again?" She looked at him questioningly.

He studied her for a moment. "Being the Dark One pulls on my soul like a current. As though I'm constantly treading water. And being here has been torturous," he kissed her fingers. "And wonderful. But it doesn't matter. We can't stay here."

"We could for awhile, though... right? We would have, if we hadn't found the mirror." She looked at him pleadingly.

He smiled. "Yes. Maybe we could."

Belle found herself lingering over lunch, letting the sunlight through the window wash over her. Since they'd finished creating the spell, Ru did not confine himself to his study, and she'd been able to convince him to spend a day just relaxing with her. It was wonderful, like a honeymoon almost; the secret glances, the stray touch of a hand, the sudden lovemaking on the kitchen table.

She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, letting the warmth suffuse her limbs. Ru had stepped outside, claiming he had to fetch something from the garden for her. Something that was a surprise. She arched her brow, reminding him lightly of his promise to do no work today. He'd laughingly replied that she was far too suspicious for her own good, and should just wait for him like a good girl. She'd thrown something at his head, but still here she was, waiting for him to return.

She heard a knock at the front door. It must be Ru with her "surprise". Perhaps unable to navigate opening the door and carrying... whatever it might be at the same time.

Smiling, Belle stood and made her way to the front of the house. She reached out, pulling the door open, to see standing there...

Regina. With a gun in her hand. Pointed at Belle's heart.

Surprise.