Chapter Eleven: Love's Light Shining

Rumplestiltskin stiffened as his former student strode forward. "Regina."

The former queen arched an eyebrow, studying him. When she spoke, her voice was neutral. "Did you know that you spoke out loud while you were under that spell?"

Rumplestiltskin flinched as if she'd struck him, color draining from his face. Regina continued as if she hadn't noticed. "You said my name. Several times."

"I did." Rumplestiltskin drew himself up, facing her. "I..." the composure fled from his expression, leaving shame and grief in it's wake. "I am truly sorry for what I did to you. The way I twisted your life. I am so sorry, more than I can ever begin to say."

He paused, then reached up. "May I…?" Regina nodded, and he touched her face, his hand gentle on her cheek.

When he spoke, his voice was broken, painful to hear. "Your mother promised me a child, you know. I trained her. I loved her. She promised me a child, and then she broke our deal."

"I know. She told me." Regina's expression was pained.

"When I first met you, when you first called my name...do you know what I thought? I wished you had been mine. Truly mine. I was so angry...so angry with your mother, I took it out on you. I twisted you...but what I did to you, what I encouraged you to do...I would never have done to a child of mine. And I should never have done to you. And I am more sorry than I can ever say..." His voice cracked and broke.

"I know. We've both done terrible things. However..." Regina pulled his hand from her face, holding it in her own. "You gave me a chance to be my own woman, to free myself from mother's control. You gave me choices, for the first time in my life."

Rumplestiltskin stood quietly. Regina swallowed hard. "You also gave me Henry. And he's the best thing that ever happened to me. Because of him, I have a chance to redeem myself, to make up for all the horrible things I did when I was consumed with vengeance."

"You do." Rumplestiltskin said nothing more.

Regina's free hand held the scroll Henry had given her. She turned Rumplestiltskin's hand over and pressed the roll of parchment into his hand. "You have your own son now. And Belle. So, I suppose both of us have been given a second chance. And since that's the case, you should have this. Just don't waste it."

Rumplestiltskin unrolled the parchment, eyes widening as he read the words. "You're..."

"I might not be a queen any more, but I can still give you a pardon. As I said, don't waste it." She pursed her lips. "And, when you're feeling up to it, I believe you have some things to teach me. After all, I still can't heal the way you can. And I suspect that's not the only magic I need to learn more about."

Rumplestiltskin's chin trembled, but he nodded. "I do...I do know something of healing, and some of the other lighter magics. I can show you."

"I look forward to it." She leaned forward. "Thank you. For saving my son."

"Thank you. For forgiving me." The words were soft, but heartfelt. Regina's eyes were shining as she stepped back.

Neal swallowed hard. Then let go of his father's shoulder and moved to stand in front of him. "I guess that means it's my turn."

Rumplestiltskin blanched. "Bae..." He'd calmed while he was talking to Regina, but now he began to shake. "Bae..."

Neal shifted his weight and scrubbed a hand over his face. "I guess you know what I was originally angry about."

Rumplestiltskin flinched. "I know." His hand came up, reaching for Neal's face, the fingers shaking. "I know. Bae...I'm so sorry. I truly...I truly didn't mean to. I didn't mean any of it. I was just...there was so much anger and hurt inside me...and when I became the Dark One, it was always there. And I let it lead me astray. But I swear to you, I never meant...I didn't want to be a monster. I just...I lost my way. And I am so sorry Bae. I am more sorry than I can ever tell you. When you fell that night...I am so sorry. I never meant to let go, I just..." his voice broke, new tears streaking his face. "I am so sorry Bae. I...I'd spend a lifetime making it up to you, if you'd let me. Bae..."

"I know." Neal reached up and took his father's hand in his own, the way he had weeks ago when his father had been dying of dream-shade. "I know. Regina was right. You talked while you were cursed."

Rumplestiltskin's expression crumbled. "I'm sorry Bae. I became a monster. I didn't listen to you. And I..."

"I know." Neal shifted again. "You know...I had some time to think, while I was watching over you. I've been so mad about what happened with the portal, that I forgot some other important stuff. Really important stuff."

He clasped his hand tighter around his father's. "I forgot that you took care of me. When I was a kid, I always had plenty of food and warm clothing. I always had a sturdy bed, warm blankets. And that was because of you. You took care of me. You made sure I had everything I ever needed, even when it meant you had to go without."

He pulled his father's hand to his chest. "You refused to send me to die. When the soldiers came for me, you refused to let me die in battle. I didn't understand until I lost you just how much you were protecting me."

He met his father's gaze. "You let yourself be humiliated for me. And, no matter what else came of it, I know you took that curse to protect me. And even when you were cursed, you took care of me. You kept me safe and you provided for me. The fact that you went overboard doesn't change that fact, and it shouldn't have when I was a kid. I wish I'd understood that when we were back there. I wish I'd understood how hard you tried."

He paused to wet his lips with his tongue. "Like I said, I had time to think. And you know what?" He moved suddenly, wrapping his father in a bear hug. "I'm not mad anymore Papa."

"Bae..." Rumplestiltskin's arms wrapped around him with a strength that could crack ribs, astonishing for his father's slender frame. "Oh, Bae...my boy...thank you. Thank you."

Neal could feel tears pricking his eyes. He blinked hard and squeezed tighter. "I love you, Papa. And I forgive you."

"I love you too, son. I've waited a lifetime to tell you that. I love you so much Bae. I won't let go again." The words were hoarse, but there was so much love in them that Neal lost the battle and a lone tear escaped.

"I know." Neal squeezed once more, then stepped back, breaking the embrace. "But you still have one more person to hear from." He stepped back, giving his father room.

Belle had stepped back when he'd confronted his father. Now she came around to stand in front of him. "Hey."

Rumplestiltskin's eyes were sad. "Hey."

Belle shuffled. "You know… I don't remember much. Nothing before that night."

"The night you got shot." There was quiet resignation in his voice. "I know." he hesitated. "Belle...I'm sorry. For a lot of things you don't remember, but also...I didn't mean to pressure you. I didn't mean to frighten you. That night, and at the hospital. I'm sorry. I didn't mean...you deserved better...and I..."

"I know." Belle silenced him with a finger across his lips. "I mean...I know now. I...well, like Neal said, I had some time to think when I was taking care of you. And I had a chance to talk to some people. And Henry let me read the story in his Book. I can't remember, but I...well, I have a good idea of the things that happened between us. Some of it, at least."

She shifted her hand to his cheek. "The man in that book...I don't know how I felt about him. I don't know how I'd feel if I met him now. But I do know that he was...that you are, a very complicated man."

"I'm a difficult man." His voice was quiet. "And a monster."

"I don't think you're a monster. The man I watched over in that bed for days wasn't a monster." Belle ran her thumb across his cheek bone, and Rumplestiltskin shivered. "Regardless of the past, regardless of what we had before..." She stroked his face. "The man who took care of me in the hospital, even if he frightened me...he's a good man. The man who called me when he was dying, the man who took a curse to save his grandson, the man I watched over this past week...that's the Rumplestiltskin Gold that I know. And that man...he's a good man. Complicated, intense perhaps, but a good man. A man that I could fall in love with."

Rumplestiltskin stiffened, eyes going wide. "Belle..."

She touched his lips again, quieting him more effectively than any words could do. "I had some time to consider it, and...I think I have fallen in love with you, all over again. And, because of that..." She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I forgive you. For everything I remember, and for everything I don't. I forgive you."

"Belle..." His voice was a quiet, shocked whisper. "I..."

She didn't let him get any further. Instead, she drew him down and kissed him. Rumplestiltskin gasped, then his hands tightened on her waist, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss.

Magic flared around them. Both of them staggered, breaking the embrace as their hands flew to their foreheads.

Neal caught his father by the elbow. Emma caught Belle. "Hey. You okay?"

Belle looked up. "I...I remember...I remember everything now." Her eyes were wide. Then they flew back to her True Love, leaning heavily against his son and gasping as if he'd been struck. She moved forward. "Rumple?"

"Belle." His voice was hoarse, breathless. He met her eyes. "Belle..."

"I remember." She cupped his face with both hands. "I remember everything."

"And you still...you still..."

"Of course I still love you. More than ever. And I still forgive you." She stroked his face.

"And I...I love you, sweetheart." Neal let his father go as Rumplestiltskin moved, gathering Belle into his arms. "I love you Belle." Then he bent his head and kissed her again.

Magic flared once more. Rumplestiltskin shuddered under the flare of light, hands clenching tighter around his beloved. A soft groan echoed from his throat as he staggered. Belle and Neal both caught him. "Rumple?"

"I'm all right. Truly. I'm all right."

Neal frowned. "If you're all right, then what the hell just happened to you? Cause something did."

His father took a deep breath. "Just...something that needed to happen, I think." He looked up, looking at Regina. "In the shop, in my safe, there's a box. A long, thin box, about six inches deep by sixteen inches long and six inches wide. Plain wood. Oak and rowan wood, inlaid with gold across the top and a locked latch. Could you summon it for me please?"

Regina frowned, but raised a hand. There was a burst of purple smoke, and a box settled into her hands. "This box?"

"Yes. That one. Bring it to me please."

Regina brought it forward. Rumplestiltskin freed one hand, then fished in a pocket to produce a thin-bladed knife. He carefully nicked his thumb, touching the bloodied finger to the latch. Something clicked, and the whole box shimmered slightly as a set of wards dissipated. He set a hand on the box, then dropped it, shaking, to his side. "Bae...please..."

Neal freed a hand and flicked the lid up, breath hissing between his teeth as he saw what was inside.

His father's dagger lay in the box, swathed in purple silk. The blade glittered silver and black in the sunlight, making him shiver. "Pop..."

Rumplestiltskin touched the blade lightly, then took the hilt and turned the blade over. A gasp like a sob wrenched from his throat as the blade thumped back into the box. "Oh gods..."

For a second, Neal didn't understand. Then he took a closer look at the blade, reaching out to flip it over again. Realization hit him like a sucker punch to the gut. "It's blank. Your name isn't on the dagger any more."

Belle's eyes widened. "Rumple? Does this mean...?"

"I'm not the Dark One any more. I don't know if the curse has been destroyed, but it's hold over me is broken." Rumplestiltskin sounded ragged.

"Seriously?" Emma moved forward, craning her head over Regina's shoulder. Henry darted up on his adopted mother's other side, eyes wide. Even Snow and David edged closer. "How the hell did that happen?"

"True Love's Kiss." Henry was grinning. "The first time broke Belle's memory curse, because they really loved each other. Then the second time, after she remembered and forgave him again, it broke his curse. And you let it." He smiled at his grandfather. "See. I told you that you could be good."

"So you did." Rumplestiltskin reached out and ruffled his grandson's hair. "So you did."

Regina snapped the box shut. "What about magic?"

Rumplestiltskin shook his head. "I don't know. I may still have it. I may not. If I do, it's more likely to be light magic now."

"But you aren't cursed any more." Neal was smiling as well.

"No. I'm not cursed any more. And if I have magic, or if I don't..." Rumplestiltskin took a deep breath, then wrapped one arm around his son and one arm around his love. "It doesn't matter to me now. I have everything I ever wanted magic to accomplish."

Regina stared at him. "You actually mean that."

He nodded. "I do."

"Good." David smiled. "In that case, I suggest we go inside and celebrate. Dinner's getting cold, and it seems like the perfect occasion to open that wine we brought."

Rumplestiltskin smiled. A warm, real smile, not a smirk, or a shy, half-hidden smile. The smile stretched across his face and warmed his eyes, turning them bright with laughter and with joy in a way that none of them were sure they'd ever seen before. "I think I'd like that."

Author's Note: So...unexpected consequences...

One more chapter left...