A/N: Sorry this chapter took me forever to put up! I'd had it half written, and then my internet went down for several days, and combined with work and craziness, I couldn't get it finished.
Good news? Its a pretty long chapter again. I'm apparently into writing long chapters lol. Enjoy!
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Chapter 11:
Storybrooke: Two Months After Grahams Death
Divorce papers had been filed, and proceedings were going on. Lacey was soon to be Jefferson's official ex-wife. Well, as soon as they got everything situated. People in town saw Lacey's sudden relationship with Mr. Gold as strange. Their story was that they'd been having an affair for a year now, and finally she'd decided to leave her husband when she found out that Elsa was Mr. Golds and not Jeffersons.
Well, that was their story. Their Storybrooke Story. They still kept up their facade as Lacey Stan and Nicholas Gold. It was no secret that she was now engaged to the pawnbroker, and it surprised everyone. There was talk in the town. Oh sure, she was called a harlot for cheating on her husband. But nobody dared to do so to her face, and surely nobody was as bold towards her as they were towards Mary Margaret after her affair with David Nolan was ousted. Everyone in town was too afraid of Mr. Gold to do such things to Lacey. She was still treated with respect.
Though, certain people did shun her or look at her strangely. She'd hear the whispers behind her back, see the stares, and it really didn't bother her. People in the Enchanted Forest had thought her odd for marrying the Dark One. She'd heard a number of people call her names, all sorts of names. Most people liked "demons whore" or "demons concubine" the best. At first it'd bothered the sweet Belle, but after a while she developed a thick skin. In the Enchanted Forest surely nobody would call her such things around her husband for fear of retribution. And the same went for Storybrooke.
At least this world didn't have the clerics of the Enchanted Forest. Just the idea of those men gave Belle the creeps. Remembering the one time they'd gotten their hands on her just made her shudder. They'd wanted to fix her, save her soul from the man they considered the devil...they'd only ended up giving her nightmares and scars. And she was glad they weren't in this world.
Belle was out and about running errands while Rumplestiltskin was at work at the pawn shop. And today was the first of the month, rent day. She knew he wouldn't be in the shop for a few hours while he went around town keeping up appearances and collecting the rent from the citizens of Storybrooke. So, she decided to do a little shopping instead of being cooped up in the house all day. And, it being two months since she'd given birth, she was cleared to be more active, resume a more normal life.
Though, her and Rumple still hadn't...been together-together since before she'd given birth. She didn't know why she felt suddenly so nervous to be intimate with her husband, but she did. She was self conscious, worried about how she looked, how he'd find her now. Though she had returned to her slim frame after having Elsa, she'd still gained a few extra pounds of baby fat. And she could see it, so she wasn't sure if Rumplestiltskin could too. It wasn't much, really, but it was still too much to her.
Really, she didn't have much to worry about, it was just fifteen pounds. But that was still fifteen pounds she wasn't supposed to have. She stared a little extra at her figure in the mirror before and after getting in and out of the shower or bath. Maybe she was being a bit too critical of herself, she knew Rumple still loved her more than ever, she could see it in his eyes the way he looked at her. But, her mind told her strange things as she doubted herself. So, she'd taken up exercising regularly, and walking around town was the perfect exercise to try and loose some of that stubborn baby-weight.
Walking down the street briskly, carrying Elsa's baby carrier in one hand and her purse over one shoulder. It was a bit chilly out, but not too cold, so she'd made sure to bundle Elsa up quite warmly within her carrier. And Bele was dressed smartly, as a lady should be in this town. She had on a pair of black heels with a black trumpet skirt going down and ending just a bit above her knee. On her top she wore a light swoopneck long-sleeved top that went down to her hips ending just a few inches overtop of the skirt with a black belt around her waist. Her chestnut curls was tied back with a bow at the back of her neck, curls spilling over just one shoulder. She would never get used to how the skirt didn't go all the way down, it was a pretty modest outfit, but not nearly as modest as the gowns in the Enchanted Forest that she'd grown to wear.
Humming to herself slowly as she walked. Glancing over, she saw Rumplestiltskin standing across the street with one of his guys and she smiled a little. She could sneak up on him, try and make his day by surprising him. She hadn't expected to run into him while she was out, but that was an added bonus. But she didn't move across the street, not yet. She saw he had his one employee with him standing next to him and a big truck was blocking who he was talking to. Looking over the truck, it was a Game of Thorns truck, the one florist in town.
Moving to walk across the street, she knew Rumplestiltskin couldn't see her because his back was to her as he spoke to someone. Once she reached the same side of the street, she looked up and froze in her place. In front of Rumplestiltskin was Moe French, or better known to her as Maurice; her father.
Her breath caught in her throat as she looked on, her eyes staring at her father. She hadn't seen him in years, even before the curse struck. Gripping Elsa's baby carrier tightly, she chewed on her bottom lip, contemplating on if she should go through with her 'surprise Rumple' plan or not.
"I'll have your money for you next week..." Moe tried to say.
"Terms of the loan were fairly specific..." Rumplestiltskin said as he stared at Moe French. He'd never liked Belle's father too much, so he wasn't too compassionate about the mans plight. Looking over at his man, he nodded a bit. "Take the van."
"Wait...no...tomorrow's Valentines day! Its the biggest day of the year. You've got to let me sell them!" Moe exclaimed.
Hearing her father stressed made Belle grit her teeth and shake her head a little. He was still her father after all. Sighing, slowly she walked up to the group, putting on a smile as she moved up behind Rumplestiltskin. Moving her free arm around his waist and leaning to kiss the back of his ear softly. "'Ello love." she said with a smile, glancing towards her father a little. "Whats going on here?" she asked.
Belle almost startled Rumplestiltskin, and he paused, glancing back at her. Shifting so she was at his side, he gave her a small smile. "Oh Lacey, I'll be finished in a moment. No need to worry yourself over this." he said. Taking her in, his eyes narrowed a bit. "Are you crazy? You'll catch your death out here!" he said, eyeing the fact that she didn't wear a jacket.
She gave him a soft smile. "I'll be fine."
"No. The mother of my child will not be catching cold." he said. Reaching up to shrug off his jacket carefully, moving his cane from one hand to the other. Taking the garment and reaching up to bring it around her shoulders. He would be a little cold, that was fine, but he would not let Belle be cold.
Belle shot him a look but could only chuckle a bit. "Nicholas, I said I was fine. Its not that cold out anyway." she said. Glancing towards Moe French a little. "What is going on here, though?" she asked a bit more sternly.
"Its just business, dearest. Why don't you go wait in my car?" he asked, taking his keys from his pocket and offering them to her.
Moe looked up at Belle, eyeing her almost pleadingly. No one in town had seen Mr. Gold be kind to anyone besides his mistress. Well, they called her his mistress around the town rather than just her fiance. And it was said that Lacey Stan was a lot kinder than the old pawnbroker. Really, people talked a lot about the couple. An older man with quite a young girl turned some heads, some called Lacey a gold-digger, and others called her simply crazy. Some said she had daddy issues, and some weren't sure what she was after. But, she seemed a lot kinder, so Moe was hoping that Lacey would feel for him.
And she did, for more reasons than Moe would know at the moment.
Looking towards Gold, Belle smiled slowly. "No, I don't feel like waiting in the car. Whats the harm in letting him keep his truck? I mean, tomorrow is Valentines day...and I was quite hoping to get some flowers from a certain man I know. Now, wouldn't it be bad to upset the only florist in town before the mother of your child gets her valentines day flowers?" she asked sweetly, stepping up close to him and reaching her free hand up. Gently running her fingers along the lapel of his suit, rubbing the fabric with her thumb as she looked up at his face with a soft smile.
He looked down at her, down at that face she gave him that he could never say no to. A sigh came from his lips and he put his keys back into his pocket, reaching up to take her wrist and still her hand. "Its business, love. There is nothing I can do.." he said. Why would Belle want to help her father? Her father had been nothing but cruel to her and her brother, even more cruel after he'd found out she shared the bed of the Dark One.
Leaning up, Belle leaned to kiss the rim of his ear. "Let him be, Rumple. Please?" she asked sweetly in a soft whisper so nobody else could hear. Leaning up close, her chest was against his as her one hand still held the baby carrier softly beside them. Gently she ran her tongue to lick the rim of his ear in a specific way, a way she knew he liked, and she got the desired response.
He shuddered and closed his eyes halfway at the feel of her tongue on his skin. "Belle..." he nearly growled out against her.
And she leaned back just as quickly as she'd leaned in. Smiling, she slowly kissed his lips before she stepped back, looking up at him. Oh, she knew what she did to him alright.
He sighed as he looked at her, glancing towards the man sitting in the van and shaking his head. "Leave it." he said, shooting a lot towards Moe. "You've got one week, Mr. French. And in that time, if I have to come to you for my payment, then your van will belong to me." Rumplestiltskin reluctantly said, moving to rest a hand on the small of Belle's back, rubbing it slowly.
Moe smiled and nodded. "Y-Yes yes! Of course Mr. Gold! I'll have your money to you within a week, I swear it!" he said. Mr. Gold was not known for giving second chances, but he was glad Lacey had showed up when she did. Looking towards the woman, Moe gave her a small smile. Stepping up to her, he reached to take her hand and kiss the back of it, looking up at her face. "Thanks Mrs. Stan...thank you so much."
Watching her father, Belle gave a small nod and a weak smile as she looked at her fathers face. It'd been years since she looked upon his face, and she still held mixed feelings about him. "You're welcome, Mr. French. I um...expect my fiance to get my flowers tomorrow, and I expect them to be the best." she said slowly.
Moe nodded. "Of course, Mrs. Stan, the best I've got." he said, squeezing her hand a little.
Rumplestiltskin didn't like when other men dared to touch his Belle, he got possessive sometimes over what he considered his. And even Moe French holding onto her hand like that made him uneasy. Moe was her father, yes, but Moe didn't know that in this world. Slowly reaching his cane up and tapping Moe's hand. "Thats quite enough, Mr. French."
When the florist dropped Belle's hand immediately, he nodded, his cane resting back down on the ground and looking towards Belle. "Well, my dear, shall we go? I'm quite starved and I would love to treat you to lunch."
Belle couldn't help but giggle at the obvious jealousy she saw in Rumplestiltskin when Moe held her hand and kissed it like that. The man would never change, and she never wanted him to. Nodding a little as she looked at him. "Lunch sounds perfect. Granny's?" she asked.
He nodded a little and started to walk away from the florist with her, his hand still resting on the small of her back. Sliding it up to ensure the jacket stayed on her shoulders well enough.
As they crossed the street, they came face to face with Regina and Belle's insides churned. She wanted to rip the woman's hair out, something she never really wanted to do to another human being before in her life. But, she put on a warm smile and nodded to her. "Afternoon Madame Mayor."
"Mrs. Stan." she said, nodding and then looking towards Gold. "Mr. Gold. That was quite the show back there." she said holding her hands in front of her.
"Ah well, its Mr. French's lucky day, I suppose." Rumple said.
Regina nodded. "I suppose so. Well...I've been meaning to...talk to you about something..." she said. She'd begun suspecting that Rumplestiltskin and Belle were remembering who they were, that they did remember and she needed to find out.
"Well, it'll just have to wait. I have a date." he said with a small smile.
Belle had stayed relatively quiet, but she smiled and nodded, starting to move to walk around Regina. But, Regina moved to stop them. "Its quite urgent..." Regina insisted.
Rumplestiltskin just smiled at the former queen and shrugged. "Got something on your mind, dearie?" he asked with a small grin at the look on her face. "Well, it'll just have to wait until you've got something I want to talk about as well. Please." he said.
At the sound of the word please, Regina stiffened and let Rumplestiltskin and Belle walk around her.
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The Dark Castle: A few weeks after Belle and Rumple first got together
They'd been together for a few weeks, and things were going amazingly. Belle loved him and she willingly stayed in his castle. Though now, instead of the dreary dungeon she used to sleep in, it was his bed she shared. And she wouldn't have it any way.
She hadn't left the castle too often, at least not passed the castle walls. She'd go outside on walks around the grounds, but not usually in town. That afternoon a messenger came to the castle doors pretty hesitantly with a letter, a letter for her. Of course she'd accepted it and paid the man. Looking at the folded piece of parchment in her hands, the royal wax seal of the King of Avonlea holding it closed. Great, her father.
Walking into the great hall and towards the long table. Rumplestiltskin sat by her spinning straw into gold slowly. While he spun quite a lot less now that he had his Belle, he did still spin, and once she'd asked if he'd teach her how. And he would, of course he would.
When she entered, he glanced up towards her. "Who was at the door, dearest?" he asked, stopping the spinning wheel.
"Just a messenger.." she said softly. Walking up to the table, she reached to grab an apple from the basket sitting atop of it, continuing to walk to the chair at the head of the table, Rumplestiltskin's usual chair. Taking a seat in the chair and crossing her legs as she looked down at the letter in her one hand, taking a bite of the apple in her other hand.
Rumplestiltskin looked over at her curiously as he rose from his chair, walking over and looking over her shoulder. "Whats that, love?" he asked.
"A letter from my father..." she said slowly, twirling the apple in her hand a little before taking another bite and chewing it slowly. She was wondering if she should open it, or if she should just throw it into the fire. Maurice was still her father, she still loved him as a daughter should love their father. But he'd done so much wrong to them, to her, to her brother...she wasn't sure if she could forgive him.
Slowly Rumple moved to sit on the table just beside her, looking down at her. "Going to open it?"
Belle shrugged, not taking her eyes off the letter as she swallowed her bite of apple. "I'm thinking about it..." she muttered before taking another bite. Should she read it? What could her father possibly want from her? Sighing a little, she sat forward and rested her apple down on the table. Taking the letter, she broke the seal and opened it, looking at her fathers handwriting inside -
Dear Belle,
Avonlea did return to prosper after you left with the Dark One. The wars are over, the land is being rebuilt. But dear, the people miss their princess, I miss my daughter, and Gaston misses his fiance. We do hope you are well as can be in the Dark One's clutches, that he is at least feeding you and treating you well as a princess should.
I worry for you all the time, my dear daughter. Though we had our differences, you are my child, my only daughter, and I do love you with all my heart. I wish I was better at expressing that. After the loss of your mother I forgot how to express such things. But, rest assured, I do love you and Graham both.
Which brings me to one other thing. I have fallen ill, Belle. The doctor says I may not have long for this world. You will be without a father, and Avonlea will be without a king. As my sole named heir, Belle, it is your duty to return to Avonlea, to rule over our people as their Queen. You are a Queen, my Belle, and you will be the Queen I raised you to be.
I do hope you can return to our lands...for fear of what will happen when I am long gone. What will happen to our lands without you here to rule? Please, discuss it with the Dark One, come home to us.
With love,
Maurice
Belle read over the letter a few times and sighed, resting it down on the table and leaning back a little, narrowing her eyes as she stared at the piece of parchment laying before her.
"So...what did your father want?" Rumplestiltskin asked, sitting still on the table. He'd taken the apple she'd put to the side and begun finishing it for her as she read.
Looking up at him, biting her bottom lip. "My father...is dying. I am to become Queen of Avonlea upon his death..." she said, turning her eyes back to the letter. "He needs me to return...to settle affairs and become Queen..." she muttered. She'd always known she would one day be Queen, but after taking the deal with Rumplestiltskin, she saw her life as so much more than being Queen. She saw her life happy, with Rumplestiltskin.
The sorcerer paused at her words, looking at her and gripping what was left of the apple in his hands. He would loose her. Avonlea would not accept the Dark One as their King, as being with their Queen. Looking away, he tried not to show emotion on his face, for it would give him away. "You must go then. I'll have a carriage take you and your things." he said, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. Belle was the one light in his life.
Her eyes returned to him as she heard his words. Moving to stand up, she took the apple from his hands and stepped in front of him. Resting her hands on his thighs and parting them so she could stand up close to him, her chest against his as she looked into his eyes, shaking her head. "I don't want to leave you, my Rumple..." she whispered. Leaning up and brushing her nose against his, closing her eyes halfway.
He sighed, resting his hands on her shoulders and shook his head, turning his face away. "You must. It is your duty..."
"My duty is to you." she said. Resting her hands on his sides and leaning up closer to him, running her fingers up and down his sides. "I love you, Rumplestiltskin. I gave myself to you, completely. I cannot just leave. I cannot just forget." she said with a small smile. "You're my everything..."
Looking at her almost skeptically, Rumplestiltskin sighed and moved to wrap his arms around her shoulders, pulling her up close to his chest. Gripping her close, his cheek against her temple, his nose in her chestnut curls. Rubbing her shoulders a little as he held her, letting his eyes close. "Whatever I did right in my life to get you...I'm glad I did it..." he whispered softly to her.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, smiling as she hugged him back. "I'm glad you did too. Now, stop trying to get rid of me." she insisted.
Nodding a little, he kissed the side of her head and sat up straight, looking at her. "Alright, I won't try to get rid of you. But, Belle, if your father is sick shouldn't you go see him?" he asked. He still held her close to him, but his arms moved from encircling her, letting his hands rub up and down her arms and leaning to rest his forehead against hers.
Sighing a little, looking at him. "I've nothing to say to him, Rumple, you know that.."
"Yes, but he might have things to say to you." he started, shaking his head when Belle opened her mouth to reply. "No, let me finish. I was a father once too, Belle. And I let my son down, you know that. He probably hates me for it, hates me for the mistakes I've made in his life. I regret them, and I would give the world to take them back, to be with Bae. And when I find him...I hope beyond hope that Bae will listen to me."
Gently Belle rubbed his back, sighing as she looked up at him and shrugged. "I suppose I should go see him...if he's really dying and all." she said, glancing towards the letter again.
"You should. You'll regret it if you don't, and I will not let you regret not going to see him. I will get a carriage to take you to Avonlea, and I will await your return." he said with a small smile. "And if you don't return...I'll understand."
Shaking her head, she sighed. "Rumple, I'll come back. I'll always find my way back to you, no matter what happens." she said, looking up at him and leaning to kiss him slowly. "Mm, do I need to show you how I feel about you again? Do you need a reminder?" she asked.
Lightly she ran her fingers around his back and up his chest, her fingers running along the dragon scale vest, starting to undo the ties as she leaned to press her lips gently against the side of his neck. Rumplestiltskin let out a sigh at the feel of her lips gliding up his skin, making him shudder slowly.
"B-Belle.." he moaned out in a soft voice, closing his eyes and rubbing her shoulders, letting her undo his vest. Once she got his vest undone, she pushed it open but not off, running her hands along the fabric of his under shirt.
Smiling a little, he moved his hands to take ahold of hers, gripping them. "Mmm, are you sure you want to do this, love?"
"Why wouldn't I? I mean...I surely haven't had a change of heart since last night." she said. Kissing up to his ear and taking the lobe into her mouth, running her tongue along it just slowly, making him shudder.
"I...I don't know. M-maybe...maybe you've come to your senses?" he asked, rubbing her hands slowly and letting out a small sigh. "I just sometimes think one morning you'll wake up in my bed and realize the mistake you've made...that you share a bed with a monster. Going off to be Queen of Avonlea is definitely a better life you know..." he muttered softly, tilting his head a little to lean into her lips.
But she let his ear go and stood up straight, looking at him. "Stop that. Stop it right now, Rumplestiltskin. You're not a monster, and I'm not going to change my mind about you. I cannot change how I feel about you. I love you, more than anything. And I'd rather share your bed then wear any crown. As long as I'm with you, I'm happy. I thought you'd have realized that by now.."
Rumplestiltskin shrugged a little, moving his hands to cup her face lightly. "Its just hard to believe that you're all mine, that you're willingly all mine. You want to be here. No other person has stuck by my side since my son. It's a lot of loneliness...many years. Bae's mother didn't even want me, not really, not even before I became known as the village coward."
"You were not a coward, Rumplestiltskin. You wanted to take care of your son, you went back to your family. And as Lady of this house I will have no talk of such things." she said with a smile.
He couldn't help but chuckle. "Lady of the house now, are you?" he asked playfully.
"You see any other ladies around? No? Well then, that answers my question." she asked, shaking her head and leaning up to kiss him lightly. "And, this lady wants the man of the house to play." she teased.
Rubbing her arms, he leaned to kiss her forehead. "Ah Belle, I love you. And...I will miss you while you visit your father."
"Just as I'll miss you, my love. But, it'll only be a short time, I ensure you. If I'm not back in three weeks time, you'll come after me. Besides, what would you do without me, hm?" she asked playfully, her fingers moving up to play with his under shirt, looking up at his face.
"Without you I would die, love." he assured her.
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Storybrooke: Lunch
The couple didn't let Regina bother them, and they now had a lunch date they hadn't planned, which was always welcome. They'd gone to Granny's as usual and selected one of the booths. Belle slowly slid Elsa's baby carrier into the booth seat, making sure it sat so Elsa faced her before she sat down, Rumple sitting across from her.
Slowly she shifted off his jacket that he'd insisted she wear and looked over at Elsa, smiling a little as the baby cooed and made small noises. "Yeah, are you ready to get out of those blankets, huh? It is kinda warm in here." she said sweetly to her daughter.
Reaching in, she unbuckled Elsa and picked her up, slowly bringing the blankets off her and starting to slide the red quilted jersey jacket she'd had Elsa dressed in. Underneath the jacket she had Elsa dressed in a pair of black leggings, a red skirt with a white long sleeved shirt and then a pair of red booties that matched the color of her skirt.
Shifting Elsa to lay against her chest, laying the jacket into the baby seat as she smiled, kissing the top of Elsa's head. "Theres mommys baby girl." she said.
Elsa looked around a little and cooed. She was getting bigger and bigger every day. She was still small because she was only two months old, but she was bigger than she'd been two months ago. And she had the most brilliant blue eyes, almost like Belle's, but they were even lighter it seemed. And then her hair was growing, she had a full head of hair, but it wasn't long yet, not at all, and it was a soft blonde color.
Holding the two month old in one arm, Belle reached to take the menu, looking at it and humming softly, feeling as Elsa's hands took ahold of her brown hair, shaking her head. "Honeyyy, don't pull mommy's hair." she said, shifting to try and remove the infants hand from her hair.
Rumplestiltskin seemed to watch the two in sheer amazement, he always did. They were his, that was his wife, his daughter, his flesh and blood. And she was just too perfect, they both were. He smiled a bit. "Here, let me have her, dearest. You deserve a meal without a baby in your arm." he offered, sitting his menu down and reaching across the table.
Looking up at him, Belle nodded and shifted Elsa in her arms. "Shh shh honey hey, why don't you go see daddy for a bit, hm?" she asked. Carefully sitting up, she moved Elsa into Rumplestiltskin's arms before sitting back, looking up at them.
He certainly did know how to hold a baby, he'd taken care of Baelfire after all. Gently taking Elsa into his arms, he smiled. "Hi there baby girl." he said. Bringing her to his chest and cradling her carefully, making sure to support her well.
And she seemed to suddenly notice it was him. Elsa looked up at him and her eyes went a little wide and she cooed and smiled up at him, recognizing him. It was always interesting watching Rumplestiltskin with Elsa. They seemed to connect on a different wavelength than Elsa did with other people. And other people didn't really see it, he didn't often hold Elsa in public, mostly because a lot of the time she was asleep in her carrier or someone else was holding her. So, a few people did glance over at them to watch.
Ruby approached them with a small smile for Belle. "Well hello Lacey, Mr. Gold. What can I get for you today?" she asked.
Glancing at Ruby, Belle gave her a small smile. "An iced tea, please."
"I'll have the same." Rumple said, shifting Elsa in his arms so she laid forward against his chest. Looking up at her father, Elsa kept her eyes up on his face, her small fingers wrapped around a part of his tie as she held onto it, laying her head a bit more on his shoulder as her blue eyes stayed up on his face, staring up at him adoringly.
After taking their drink order, Ruby went back to gather the drinks for them and Belle smiled at Rumple. "Aww, she so loves her daddy, look." she said, leaning against the table slowly.
Looking down at Elsa, he chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "I wouldn't know why." he said with a small chuckle, glancing down at the menu.
When Ruby returned with their drinks, she set them down before standing up. "Need a few more minutes?" she asked. She wasn't as relaxed while serving this table, everyone was tense around Mr. Gold, even when he was out with his new found family. Like the rest of town, she found it quite odd. Lacey had been her friend once, too. Truthfully, Lacey still was her friend, but when Lacey was out with Gold she rarely spoke to her that much.
"Umm...I'll have a chicken salad wrap." Belle answered, moving to hand back her menu and leaning against the table, smiling as she returned to watching Elsa with her father.
"Lasagna." Rumple answered simply, handing back the menu, still holding his daughter. Once Ruby was back behind the counter, he looked down at Elsa, smiling. "Hey there. Do I have something on my face, hm? It cannot be that interesting." he said.
Elsa continued to watch up at him, blinking a little up at his face. Slowly she reached one hand up to rest on his chin, her fingers searching his skin, feeling the stubble on his face. Her fingers moved up and hooked into his mouth, pulling a little to make him open his mouth.
Belle laughed, shaking her head. "Elsa honey don't pull on daddy's mouth." she said.
Gently Rumple took Elsa's fingers, bringing it out of his mouth and kissing them before giving her a smile. "Oohh she's alright. Aren't you?" he asked. Looking up at Belle with a small smile. "You worry too much, love."
Shrugging, she nodded a little. "Maybe. But, I'm a new mother, you can't blame me." she said, taking a sip of her tea. "Speaking of...I might have to stop by your office in your shop to feed her in a little bit. She needs to eat every few hours, and I really don't think you want me to do that here." she teased.
He had to fight the urge not to blush, remembering whenever he'd see her feed their daughter. It still affected him more than he'd like to admit. Belle knew it did, too, and he thought she surely would feed Elsa in front of him on purpose.
Shaking his head, rubbing Elsa's back slowly. "Oh no, you are not feeding her here. My office will be fine."
"Good." she said, leaning against the table and chewing on her bottom lip. She wanted to forget about their encounter with both her father and Regina. She'd wanted to talk to him about something...and now seemed the perfect opportunity. "Nicholas...can I talk to you about something?" she asked, looking up at him slowly.
His eyes rose to meet hers and nodded. "Of course, talk to me about anything you'd like dearest." he said, wondering what it was she wanted to talk about. Most time when women said they wanted to talk it was a bad thing.
And she could tell he was worried, he looked it. Even though most people probably couldn't tell, she could. He sat more stiffly and became a lot more intent on exactly what she was saying, almost as if he were starting to build up those walls it took her so long to break down.
"Its nothing bad, I promise. I was just wondering...about the library in town. I walked past it with Elsa earlier...and it looks closed..."
"The library?" he asked, thinking about it and shrugging. "Thing hasn't been open in such a long time...I don't ever remember it being open, so most likely it never was." he said, his voice just above a whisper.
Pouting at his answer, she nodded and sighed. "Thats what I was thinking too. I couldn't remember it being open either. I was just hoping I was wrong." she said, shaking her head and looking up at his face. "Who owns it?"
"Regina does I believe. Or me, I'm not sure. I own a lot of properties, love."
She sighed a bit and looked up at him, slowly putting on a smile. "Could you see if you do? I...I'd like to run it, to open it again. Wouldn't it be great to have a library in town again? Or, well, for the first time?" she asked, beaming at the idea.
But Rumplestiltskin shook his head. "No. You don't need more to do, love. We have a newborn, Elsa needs you. You're needed at home...perhaps when Elsa is a bit older we'll revisit it."
And of course she wasn't happy with the answer. Pouting a bit, she shook her head. "Why not? Come on, I can be a mother and open the library! I could bring Elsa with me. Or...or you could watch her for a few hours. You are her father after all." she argued.
"You know you don't have to work love. I'll always take care of you. Always have, always will. You'll want for nothing, that I promised you years ago." he said, looking up at her.
Nodding a bit, she sighed. "I know I don't have to, I want to. I don't need to be taken care of, I'm not helpless. And its something I want to do, its not like I have to go out and work. The paycheck isn't what I'd do it for. Really, I doubt I'd even give myself a paycheck.."
He could never tell her no. He hadn't been able to yet, and he still couldn't tell her no right now. Yes, he could watch Elsa, but he just thought that Belle would regret it in the end.
Reaching over, he took her hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb slowly. "Love...please, listen to me. Wait until Elsa is older. She's only little for so long. It goes by really fast, believe me..." he said. He couldn't believe how fast Baelfire had grown. It felt like he was an infant one moment and then a teenager the next. "I'm not trying to tell you what to do...but I'll make a suggestion. Take it or leave it. If you tell me you want this library, I'll help you get it. But please...just wait until Elsa is older."
Looking down at his hand, Belle sighed and nodded a little. "Fine...I suppose."
"Is that a...I'm-mad-at-you fine, or is that a I'm-okay fine?" he asked.
Turning her eyes up to him, giving him a light smile. "Its a I'll be okay fine. I see that you're right, its just that I wanted this. I miss my library.." she said with a sigh.
"Well, I'll tell you what..." he said, sitting up and smiling to her. "I'll have one of our spare rooms turned into a library. We have plenty of room.." he said.
Just as he spoke, Ruby came over, sitting their plates down for them before heading back to the counter.
Belle looked up at him and blinked a bit. "Did you say you'd give me a library? Oh no, you don't have to do that."
"But I want to. I want you happy." he said. Shifting Elsa in his arms so he could pick up his fork, leaning to take a bite of his food carefully since he held Elsa so close.
In his arms, Elsa shifted and made small noises. And, she suddenly spit up right on Rumplestiltskin's suit jacket.
Belle couldn't help but choke back a laugh at the look on his face, shaking her head. "Oohh poor baby." she said with a laugh. Reaching to grab a few napkins and moving to stand up. Stepping over to his side, she sat down next to him and moved to take Elsa from him.
When she did move Elsa, the baby cried slowly, tears suddenly starting to pour down her cheeks as she cried out loudly, looking up to her father, both arms reaching to try and get him. She always cried whenever Rumple put her down and she wasn't asleep, or whenever someone took her from her father.
Looking at her, Rumple shook his head. "Hey hey baby girl, daddy's right here, okay?" he asked. Reaching and letting her small hand curl around one of his fingers as she cried slowly. Glancing up at Belle worried. "Should I take her back?"
Belle shifted Elsa in her arms so she sat close to Rumple, rubbing her back, the spit up on his suit momentarily forgotten as she tried to calm her daughter down.
"Here, take off your jacket and I'll fix that and you can hold Elsa so she'll stop crying." she suggested.
And it was a good idea, a good compromise. Reaching to unbutton the button of his suit jacket and slowly pulling it off revealing his black button up dress shirt he wore underneath and red tie. Shrugging the material off, he handed it to Belle and in turn took Elsa from her arms. Picking Elsa up carefully, he sat her against his chest and hugged her.
"Hey hey there baby girl, no more crying dearest. Daddy is right here." he whispered softly to her, his voice soft so only Belle and Elsa could hear it. Kissing the side of her head slowly and humming a soft tune to her to calm her down. "You'll be a daddys girl, that you will. I'm quite fine with that." he said with a soft chuckle. People feared him in this town and couldn't wait to get away from him, and it seemed like his little girl hated being without him. She was so small and so perfect to him, and it amazed him how she clung to him whenever they were near each other.
Belle took his suit jacket with a smile, getting up and moving to sit on her side of the booth again, looking down at the suit and taking the napkins to start brushing the mess up. Sighing a bit with a pout. "Goodness...I'm not sure I can save this." she said with a small pout.
But he shrugged, looking up at her with a smile. "Its no matter. Things can be replaced, love. It's just a jacket." he said. Yeah, it was a very expensive suit jacket like all of his were, but he wasn't going to get upset over it. It wasn't worth it.
"I suppose you're right..." she said with a sigh, looking up at him. "I'm sorry."
Shaking his head, he rubbed Elsa's back slowly and looking up at Belle. "No need to apologize. I'm not upset. Like I said, its just a suit." he assured her with a small smile.
Returning his smile with one of her own, nodding a bit. "That it is. Still, I'll try and save it once we get home. The cleaning agents of this world are remarkable." she said with a small laugh. Things amazed her here now that she remembered her past. Things like washing machines, vacuums, dishwashers, cellphones, any general sort of electronic. It would have made her life so much easier back in the Dark Castle to have such things.
Rumplestiltskin chuckled and nodded. "Aye, they are. A lot of things are." he said with a small smile, looking down at Elsa again, noticing she'd calmed down.
"She is such a daddy's girl at just two months old. She only needs me when she's hungry." Belle said with a small pout.
Looking at her, he shook his head. "Love, she needs both of us. She just doesn't get to see me as often is all I assure you." he said.
Belle nodded and smiled a bit. "Of course she doesn't. Its not a bad thing, you know, to be a daddy's girl. Its a good thing. You're a great dad, even if you don't necessarily believe it."
He gave her a smile and looked back down to Elsa. The never ending faith Belle had in him was amazing, even though he was truthfully scared to death about being a father again, about failing the one person who needed him to succeed. And, he'd never raised a girl before. Baelfire was a boy, he understood boys. But girls...he hadn't the slightest clue. Heaven help the boy who decided to be interested in his daughter.
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Castle at Avonlea
After much reluctance Belle left the Dark Castle and headed back to her home of Avonlea. It felt strange coming back to that place. This was once her home, but now it wasn't. Now, she was just a stranger to the towns in the province.
The trip had taken a few days, and already she missed her lover, she missed his touch, his lips on her skin, his arms around her and his warmth. Would she even tell her father that she had given herself wholly to the Dark One? She knew her father feared the beast within him, but she didn't, and she knew he wouldn't understand. They weren't married, either, they were just sharing the same bed in an unholy union. Well, even if they were wed she believed the clerics would still see it as an unholy union.
She sought comfort in remembering her last day with Rumplestiltskin at the castle, making a smile spread over her face whenever she thought of it during the trip. They'd made love more than once that day, spent most of the day together deals be damned. It was perfect, he was perfect.
And now as she approached the castle of Avonlea, her throat constricted and her heart clenched. What would her father say of her? She'd dressed as a proper princess should for the day in a dark purple dress that fell to her knees with a corset tied around her waist, the long sleeves extending down her arms, the sleeves a little longer than her arms. The material was pretty plain, just a deep purple. And her long chestnut hair was brushed and curled, fallen over her shoulders. She hadn't worn such a dress since she left Avonlea, and truthfully she missed her blue dress of the Dark Castle. Rumplestiltskin let her wear whatever she wanted, she didn't always have to be the perfect princess for him. And already, only a few minutes in Avonlea, and she was already tired of the facade she put up.
Once the carriage stopped, the door opened and she moved to take the hand of the soldier standing outside. Stepping out and onto the ground, she looked up at the castle and then to one of the servants that told her about her father waiting for her.
Asking to be taken to him, they entered the castle and she looked up, seeing her father standing there looking perfectly well. Confusion struck her as she approached her father, looking up at him. "Papa, I don't understand...you're looking well. I mean, I'm glad you're well, but I was worried when your letter said how sick you were..." she asked.
He gave her a smile and rested his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them slowly. "Oh my sweet Belle, I am so glad you're back. Finally you're home." he said, leaning to kiss the side of her head and bringing her into his chest for a hug.
Sighing, she slowly hugged him back, only slightly annoyed at the fact that she could be in Rumples arms right now instead. "No Papa, I'm not home. The Dark Castle is my home now, I am here for a visit. I thought you weren't well, you worried me."
"Ah yes, I'm sorry I worried you over such a thing. But how else would I get the monster to let you come home? And he has! He has let you come home to resume your duties." he said with a smile.
She leaned back from his embrace, looking up at him and shaking her head. "Papa, I am not home. What is the meaning of this? Why am I here?"
"Because your land and your people miss you, my dear. We've rescued you from the monsters clutches."
Her eyes narrowed as she yanked back from her fathers hold, shaking her head. "Rumplestiltskin isn't a monster! I'm going home." she said, turning around.
Catching her arm, he yanked her back to him, making her look up at his face. "You ARE home, Belle. And this is where you'll stay. What has that monster done to you?"
"He's done nothing to me. Now let me go so I might return to him." she said, yanking at her arm but his grip held tight.
Her fathers eyes narrowed as Maurice looked down at her. "Return to him? What sort of spell does he have you under?"
Belle rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Its no spell, Papa. Its love. I love him. More than anything in the world. I see a side of him that...that he doesn't show to others. Under all of that scare, he is a man, just a man surrounded by such darkness that he cannot escape. He does not do bad things...not truthfully."
"Love?" he asked, laughing a bit and shaking his head. "You think he's just a man? Belle, he STOLE you from us, he took you from this castle, your home, your fiance. That is not a man to love, Belle. You'll love Gaston." he decided.
Shaking her head a little. "I'll never love Gaston. My heart belongs to Rumplestiltskin." she said, gritting her teeth and leaning up close to him, staring her father in his eyes. "My body also belongs to him, Papa. You cannot force me to marry Gaston if I am not pure. And I assure you, I'm not."
Maurice's eyes widened at the realization as he gripped his daughters arm so tightly, making her whine a little. "He raped you!?"
She grit her teeth and shook her head, yanking on her arm. "N-N-No Papa! I went to him! I practically begged him to let me in, to be with me..."
"So it is true...my own daughter has become the demons whore..." he spat almost carelessly as he looked down at her, shaking his head. "I didn't want to believe it. My sweet Belle and that...monster." he said. Quickly he shoved her into one of the soldiers, looking at him. "Take her to the tower, to the clerics. They'll save her soul."
Belle's eyes widened as she stumbled into the soldier, feeling them grab her arms and shaking her head, looking up at him. "Papa no! No! Stop. He'll come for me, you know!"
"Then let him come. I just wish to save your soul, my sweet daughter."
Shaking her head quickly, she pulled at the guards hold as they yanked her along, nearly dragging her. "Papa please! Papa!" she yelled, looking after him. Tears rimmed her eyes as she was pulled towards the steps, stumbling a little only to be yanked up. The fabric of her dress tore a little as she tripped over it.
Turning her head to look up the stairs, shaking her head. "Rumple! Rumplestiltskin! Rumplestiltskin!" she yelled, wondering if he could hear her. Surely he would save her from this fate, he loved her and would come for her. But the question was when.
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Storybrooke: Later That Night
Lunch had gone well and the rest of the day had passed in relative quiet and routine. Rumplestiltskin had let Belle take a hot bath while he took care of putting Elsa down for the night. And she'd enjoyed her bath before getting ready for bed.
Sitting at the vanity in their room, it reminded her of one she had in the Dark Castle, and perhaps thats why Rumple had gotten it for her. Looking at herself in the mirror, she brushed her hair a bit, bringing it to one side of her shoulder and slowly rubbing the side of her neck with a sigh.
She heard him come in before she saw him, hearing the soft tap of his cane with his footsteps and she smiled a bit, glancing over at the door as it opened and he stepped in. "Did she fall asleep okay?" she asked.
Looking up at her, he gave her a smile and nodded. "She did. She's fast asleep."
"Good, hopefully she'll stay that way for a few hours." she said, shifting to look back at the vanity, reaching to put her jewelry away in their proper places.
Walking up to her, Rumplestiltskin moved behind her and rested his free hand on her shoulder, rubbing it slowly and looking down at her. Leaning down to kiss the back rim of her ear gently. "Hopefully. It'll give mommy and daddy some alone time." he whispered to her, brushing his nose against her ear, making her shudder.
"S-Some sleep, don't you mean?" she asked, avoiding what she knew he seemed to want. Shifting out from his grasp, she moved to stand up and walked over to their bed. Sitting down on the edge, she slid her feet out of her slippers and shifted to lay in bed, bringing the sheets up and laying on her side, her back to him.
Watching her, he let out a sigh and loosened his tie, walking to his side of the bed. Slipping out of his shoes, then his shirt and pants, draping them over a chair at the other side of the room. He undressed until he was in his boxers, deciding he'd take a shower in the morning. Besides, he didn't plan on actually going to sleep yet.
Moving to sit on the bed, his cane resting against the bedside table and he laid down. Looking at her, he smiled as he saw her. She was always beautiful, and the night gowns she wore to bed almost killed him, especially since he hadn't gotten any in a while. Tonight she wore a baby blue silk nightie that came down just past her ass, the cleavage dipping down enough to tease him. And, oh was it teasing him, driving him crazy.
He knew the doctor had given her the clear to return to normal activities, sex included, and the doctor had said that weeks ago. And he knew he didn't want to push, but his Belle was driving him mad being within arms reach but so out of reach at the same time.
Shifting in the bed closer to her, he moved his arms around her waist, bringing her back against his chest and leaning to slowly kiss along her shoulder, making her sigh a little as she leaned back into his chest. Gently his hand rubbed along her stomach, feeling her skin through the thin fabric of her night dress as he held her back against him.
Placing light kisses up the side of her neck, he took her earlobe into his mouth and sucked on it slowly, closing his eyes. Her skin tasted so amazing still, just as he'd remembered it. His other hand moved up to slowly bring her hair out of the way as he let her earlobe go. Kissing along her hairline and to the back of her neck, his tongue darting out a little over her skin, hearing her audible gasp as he tasted her.
"R-Rumple.." she muttered slowly. Her fingers found his hand on her stomach and stopped it, holding it still as she gripped it and blushing a little. "S-St-Stop Rumple..." she muttered.
He let out a whine when she said that, looking up at her. "Why? You're loving this, I know it. And I miss you, my Belle...please don't turn me away now.." he said. As evidence of his need he pressed his hips up to grind his arousal against her rear, letting her feel his hardening length through their clothing.
Letting her eyes drift closed as she felt him against her, shaking her head and turning it to one side. Opening her eyes again just slightly, looking back at him and shaking her head. "I...I can't."
"Why not?" he asked. Leaning back to continue the assault on her neck with his lips. Kissing slowly along her shoulder and down to the tattoo that branded her as belonging to him. Running his tongue along the letters slowly making her shudder in response.
She was trying to keep a tight hold on logic here. She had to keep telling herself to breath, to ignore what his lips, tongue and hands were doing to her, to ignore the need pooling up slowly inside her belly. "I...I um...I'm tired." she tried to say, blushing at how lame it sounded.
"Indeed?" he asked, not believing her. Gently he moved his hand from hers and let his fingers travel down her stomach. Resting his hand in her inner thigh, slowly he let his fingers travel up, hiking her nightgown up slowly as he moved to cup her core over the thin material of her panties. Pressing his palm up a little to press against her, hearing her let out a moan.
Gently he moved his hand up even further, slipping it down into her panties to move and cup her again without the material in the way. His fingers slid to run along her slick folds, groaning at the feel of how wet she was for him. She was already ready for him, he could tell, and it made him press his hips tighter into her rear to grind against her slowly.
Lightly he slid a finger farther into her folds to find her opening, gently moving one finger inside her, causing her to moan out. Her hands found the sheets they lay underneath and she gripped them tightly as her eyes closed, her mouth opened in a small 'O' at the feel of his fingers on her.
Kissing up her neck and to her ear again, licking the rim slowly. "Appears to me that you're quite ready for me, dearest. What do you want, Belle? I want to hear you say it." he whispered huskily against her ear.
Biting down hard on her bottom lip to suppress a moan as she tilted her head back, feeling him slide a second finger into her walls. He was so good at pleasuring her, he had so much experience and he didn't seem to have forgotten a thing as his fingers started to move in and out of her in just the right angle. His thumb brushed her clit as his fingers moved in and out, curling his fingers to hit a sensitive spot within her canal.
Turning her head to hide it into the pillow, she moaned out, moving her hips a little in time with his fingers which, in turn, also ground herself back and forth against his straining length, causing him to let out his own moan.
"Say it, Belle. Tell me what you want..." he whispered. His movements with his fingers slowed down to an agonizing pace for her. He knew how she liked it, and he was teasing her to get what he wanted.
Chewing on her bottom lip, she let out a whine as he slowed down, shaking her head. "F-Faster..."
"Not what I'm looking for, love, try again." he said. Kissing along her shoulder, his other hand moving to brush the sleeve of her nightgown down a little to kiss along her skin.
She whimpered, shaking her head and blushing. Opening her eyes halfway and glancing back at him. "I...I do want you to go faster though..." she said.
Looking at her, his fingers paused inside of her, keeping two fingers deep inside her walls. Leaning and kissing her lightly, brushing his nose against hers. "I want you so much, my Belle. I can tell you want me. Say it, say you want me inside you."
She blushed at that and shook her head, looking away. Her whole body screamed at her for shaking her head like that. Oh how she wanted his length buried deep inside her, pounding her into the most amazing bliss. But she couldn't, she was embarrassed. Hiding her face against the pillow, biting her bottom lip slowly.
Watching her, he withdrew his fingers and brought his hand up, slowly licking them clean and moaning at her taste. Something was wrong, he could tell. His Belle always begged him to be buried inside her, told her how much she loved it. Oh something was wrong and he'd get to the bottom of it.
Shifting them, he leaned up on one elbow and brought her to lay on her back, making her look up at him. "What is the matter? If you don't tell me I cannot help. Did I...did I hurt you?" he asked. Could he have possibly hurt her by what he was doing? But it'd felt like she was enjoying it. Though he didn't know, she did just have a baby a few months ago. Maybe he was pushing her too fast too soon.
Looking up at him, she blushed and bit her bottom lip, shaking her head. "No no, you didn't hurt me..." she said slowly, looking away.
He sighed, leaning and kissing her softly, leaning up on his elbow just next to her still. "Then please tell me whats the matter. Like I said, I cannot help if you do not let me. And I do want to help, my Belle. If something is hurting you, its hurting me, love."
"I'm fat." she blurted out, her eyes not looking at his still, still looking off to one side, sniffling a little at the idea.
Her sudden words made him sputter a bit and blink. "Excuse me?" he asked. He knew he didn't hear what he thought he heard.
"I'm fat and I'm ugly and I just had a baby and I don't see how you couldn't notice that!" she blurted, tears rimming her eyes a little, still not turning her face to look at him. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment at her declaration, and when she heard his small chuckle, her blush deepened. He was laughing at her? Of course he was.
He did chuckle a bit, shaking his head. Resting one hand on her cheek and bringing her face to force her eyes to meet his. His thumbs moved to wipe away her tears, shaking his head. "Dearest, you are no such thing. Yes, you did have a baby, but you certainly are not fat, and you most certainly are not ugly. Love, if its anyone in this room that is less than desirable and should wonder what is seen in them, its me. You are too beautiful for words, and I love you more than anything in this world, or any world for that matter. You, Elsa and Baelfire take up my whole heart." he assured her, leaning and kissing her softly.
And she kissed him back with a small sniffle, looking up at his face, shaking her head. "But I'm still fat...I haven't lost the baby weight from being pregnant, and its horrible."
Rumplestiltskin shook his head. "I see no fat, dearest. I only see the most beautiful woman in all the realms. And why she choose my bed to share I'll never know, but I'll always be grateful she did." he said, leaning and kissing her again. "And...love, I do believe my desire for you is evident. You've been driving me crazy since you've been off-limits. And when the doctor cleared you for sex...I've been driven even more crazy with the fact that I still didn't have you..." he said.
Leaning slowly, starting to place gentle kisses along the side of her neck. His hands moved down to rest on her sides and run down along the curve of her hip. "And...if you'll allow me to show you, I desire you more and more every day. The fact that you had a baby just makes me happier, Belle. It makes me happier because it was my child you carried, my child you birthed." he said. Kissing slowly up to her ear, nibbling on it gently. "Please let me show you how much I love and desire you. Please, Belle. I am not a man that begs...but I need you more than anything in the world." he whispered against her ear.
It felt like forever since he was with her. Yeah, they'd had sex once while she was pregnant here in Storybrooke, but she wasn't fully his then, she didn't fully remember herself or them. It felt like ages since he'd felt her touch. Those months in that cell had nearly driven him mad with missing her.
She let out a sigh at the feel of his lips traveling down the side of her neck. "Oh Rumple..." she let out as a soft moan, moving her arms around his neck slowly. "You're...you're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you? You still desire me?"
"I'll desire you until the day I die, love. I'll desire only you, in death and beyond." he whispered against her neck, looking up at him. "And...you still desire me? I...I know I look different here. I look more human but...but I'm a cripple again..." he said. He'd always been self conscious, but she'd never been with him while he was human, while he had his bad leg.
Looking up at him, she gave him a soft smile and nodded. "I do. You're all I want, Rumple. All I've ever wanted."
"Even as an old foolish cripple?"
She smiled, shaking her head. "I'll remind you not to speak of the man that I love in that way, Mr. Gold." she teased.
He gave her a smile, but kissed her softly. "You are a strange one, my Belle."
"Strange? Hmm, I don't think so. I think you're incorrect on that one." she said. Rubbing the back of his neck, leaning up and kissing him again a bit deeper, tilting her head to one side as she deepened the kiss, letting her eyes close. It felt so good, being so close to him. And she shifted, moving her legs around his waist so he'd rest in-between her legs on top of her. His elbows moved down to rest on the bed on either side of her to hover just above her a little.
As she leaned back from the kiss, she smiled. "Now shut up and make love to me, Rumple."
"As you wish, my beauty." he said, leaning down to start kissing along her neck, devouring her slowly.
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The Dark Castle: Two Weeks After Belle's Departure
Rumplestiltskin didn't hear her cries, didn't hear her pleas. And, it'd only been two weeks, there was still a week left before he would go after her to ensure she was coming back. With her gone the Dark Castle regained its infamous tone, a dark place that didn't seem to contain much light. Belle was the light of the Dark Castle. Belle was his light.
He didn't have cause to worry about her, not yet. After all he thought she was with her father, safe and sound. But he did miss her more than he ever thought he would. Their bed felt too empty without her cuddled into his side, curled up against him. He hated waking up and not seeing that mass of chestnut curls against the bed at his side. He, Rumplestiltskin, was turning into quite the softie. He needed his beauty with him to feel content, to feel happy. Without her he slipped into the darkness that threatened him.
Sitting at his spinning wheel, hoping to forget her for a moment, to make time fly by faster if possible. Hearing the doors open, he sighed. "Did I invite you?" he asked, looking over and his breath caught in his throat.
Standing there, in front of him, was the witch Zelena in all her green-skinned black dress glory. He'd trained her for a while but ultimately figured she wasn't the one he needed.
"Ah, Zelena...is there something you want? A reason you've come back from Oz?" he asked, turning his attention back to his wheel.
Looking at him through narrowed eyes, Zelena shook her head a little, walking over. Slowly moving her fingers along the wheel to stop it, looking at him. "Just to see if the rumors are true. That the great Rumplestiltskin, the Dark One, has fallen for a human girl without an ounce of magic within her."
"My private affairs are none of your business, dearie." he said, looking up at her.
"Ah, so it is true. A mere girl has tamed the monster." she said, a grin spreading across her lips. "Too bad she's dead now, isn't it?"
Her words caused him to pause and he looked up at her, shaking his head. "She is not dead, Zelena. She's off visiting her father. I am not monstrous enough to keep her from her ailing father."
Zelena shrugged, moving her fingers along the wheel. "Oh her father was not ailing. At least, if its the correct girl I'm thinking of. A Princess Belle from Avonlea?" she asked. Rumplestiltskin kept hisface blank, emotionless as he stared at her.
"Ah, so I'm right." she said when she wasn't corrected. "You see, its news all over the country. Her father drew her there, and when she spouted ideas of love for the Dark One, he thought her soul was damned. And what good father wouldn't want to save his little girl...?" she asked, walking towards the window and running her fingers along the ledge, glancing out them. "He handed her over to the clerics, where they...cleansed...her soul."
Listening to her, he grit his teeth but tried not to show any emotion to the witch beside him. "You're lying."
"Oh am I? I hear her soul was too tainted to be saved in the end.." she said, turning her face to look at him and grinning a little. "You tainted her, Rumplestiltskin. Pity, I hear she was such a nice girl.."
Shaking his head, he stood up, glaring at her. "Get out, Zelena. Now. You are not welcome here. You haven't been for years. Just because you're jealous that I'm not interested in you in any capacity."
Zelena's eyes narrowed as she shot him a look. "Its no matter. I just thought you'd want to know that your little pet has been disposed of."
"And, so help me, if she is really dead and you had anything to do with it Zelena, I'll be after you. You do not want to piss me off, dearie." he said, gripping his hands into fists.
She seemed to smile a little. "Oh, I had not a thing to do with it, Rumple..." she said, grinning and looking at him. "Have a good one, dearie." she said mockingly before she disappeared in a puff of green smoke.
Her words set him off and he walked to his armoire, taking a few things to set a spell to keep anyone from entering the Dark Castle but himself or Belle. Once that was up, he disappeared himself, intendant upon finding out if there were any truth to Zelena's words.
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Storybrooke
Rumplestiltskin moved his lips over the side of her neck, holding her close to him as he slid his hands down to her thighs, hiking her legs up a little more around his waist, pressing into her. Leaning back up onto his knees, he shifted as to alleviate the pain in his injured knee. He really was beginning to hate that. The injury reduced his mobility, and he wasn't liking that right then.
Sliding his hands down and gently pulling her night gown up and off, tossing it to one side before he let his fingers run along her sides. Leaning down, gently he kissed her stomach above her belly button, licking and nipping at her skin a little, causing her to shudder and giggle.
"Rumpleee, that tickles." she said, resting one hand on the back of his neck, running her fingers through his hair and gripping it.
He smiled, licking her skin a little before he sat up, slipping his fingers to hook into her underwear, slowly sliding it down her legs, leaning back in order to do so. Tossing them to one side as he'd done the night gown. Looking down at her, he ran his fingers along her thighs, shaking his head. "You're so beautiful, love..."
Blushing as she looked up at him, squirming a little, letting her legs settle down so he was in-between her thighs still. "I am not..." she muttered, chewing on her bottom lip.
But he nodded. "But you are, dearest. I could never get enough of you. I could have you for a thousand years, and it won't be enough. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.." he said, leaning down to kiss along her stomach upwards.
Closing her eyes halfway, she let out a moan as her own hands moved down to gently push at his boxers. "Mm, Rumplee..."
Placing soft kisses up her stomach, over the middle of her chest in-between her breasts and up the side of her neck. Kissing her ear, nuzzling his nose against it. "What do you want, love?"
"Y-You. I want you, Rumple...I want you inside me, please..." she whispered slowly, her fingers pushing at his boxers.
And he shifted to push his boxers down and off, kicking them to one side, not even sure if they'd left the bed or not, but at that moment he didn't care.
Gently moving his hips to press up against her, pressing his hardened length against her wet core, causing her to take in a breath. He licked her neck just below her ear. "Never doubt how much I desire you, my Belle. I'll always desire you, love you. And I'll always be there for you. No matter what." he told her, leaning back and holding himself above her a little on his elbows, looking down into her blue eyes. "Gods I love you..."
She smiled, looking up at him. Shifting her legs around his waist and pulling him up close to her, shifting to rest her heels against his lower back. "I love you too, Rumplestiltskin. And if you don't forget that, I won't forget how you feel about me either." she promised.
Slowly he shifted to press against her entrance. Pressing his hips forward to push into her, he let out a groan as he felt her wetness surround him, making his fingers grip the sheets a little.
She tilted her head back, her fingers moving through his hair and gripping it slowly, letting out a moan as she felt him sink into her. Her legs gripped him a little as he pushed all the way into her. Feeling him shift on top of her, knowing he was trying to adjust for his knee. So, she shifted them, pushing him back onto his back and sitting up on top of him instead.
Her movement was quick and it shocked him a little as he opened his eyes halfway to look up at her. His hands found her hips, gripping them slowly. "Mm, Belle..." he groaned out in a soft breath.
Looking down at him, she smiled. "Thought I'd help you out, lover." she said, rocking her hips a little, moaning out and causing him to gasp.
"G-Gods..gods I've forgotten how good you feel..." he said, his hands rubbing her hips slowly, urging her to start moving.
But, she didn't move, she just grinned, looking down at him. "Tell me what you want, Rumplestiltskin. They say you're a master at spinning words...spin some words for me. Tell me what you want." she said, running her fingers along his stomach slowly. His reassuring words made her put aside her shyness, made her be a lot more open.
Looking up at her, he let out a small whine. "You're killing me, love.." he said, taking in a deep breath. Leaning up to kiss her gently before he laid back, looking up at her. "I want you to ride me, Belle. I want to feel you move up and down on me. Please, Belle.."
She smiled and slowly started to move her hips up and down, her hands resting on his stomach for leverage as she moved. Closing her eyes and tilting her head back as she moved, her long brown curls bouncing up and down as she moved.
Looking up at her, moaning out slowly as he slid his hands up to cup her breasts, feeling them bounce in his hands. They were definitely a bit bigger than when they'd been together in the Enchanted Forest. He'd have her pregnancy to thank for that, and he knew they were filled with milk. And he couldn't help but be curious, he'd watched her feed their daughter dozens of times the past two months, and his curiosity was getting the better of him.
Slowly he leaned up to sit up a little, feeling her still moving up and down on him. Leaning up, he brought his mouth around one of her nipples, licking it as he brought it in before slowly sucking on her nipple. It made her gasp and moan out, resting one hand on the back of his neck to grip him a little as she continued to bounce up and down on him.
Sucking slowly on her nipple, he moaned deep in his throat as he was rewarded by such a sweet taste. Her milk tasted sweet, almost like strawberries mixed with cream, and it made him shudder. He could get used to this for sure.
Resting her hands on his shoulders, she moaned out louder at the feel of him suckling on her nipple. Of course it didn't excite her when Elsa did it, but when Rumplestiltskin did it, something just stirred inside her. Gripping his shoulders as she moved a bit faster and harder, slowly pushing him back to lay down, her nipple coming out of his mouth with a soft pop.
At first he was disappointed when she broke the connection. But, she shifted, leaning over him and resting her hands on the headboard, gripping it slowly, her breasts just above his head.
Leaning up to close the gap, he took her other nipple into his mouth, slowly sucking on it as he moaned. His hands gripped her thighs, urging her on faster.
Biting her bottom lip, her fingers gripped the headboard tightly as she moved her hips faster and harder on him, riding him faster, feeling his entire length plunge deep within her with each thrust of her hips, causing her to moan out.
She shuddered as she was plunged over the edge with a loud moan as she came, her insides tightening around his length causing him to grip her hips a little. But, he wasn't done yet, she knew it, she could tell. So she continued to move her hips, riding out her climax, tilting her head back. Sitting up, her nipple coming from his mouth with a soft pop again as she sat up so she could continue to move.
Her insides were milking him through her climax, and he gripped her tightly. Pushing to flip her over again so he was on top of her, shifting on his good knee, putting most of his weight on it and his hands at either side of her head, balancing himself. Thrusting hard into her, making her nearly scream out with each thrust.
"R-Rumple! Gods Rumple!" she moaned. Turning her head and biting into the pillow to muffle her moans, not wanting to wake Elsa up. "G-Gods Rumple...gods I'm gunna...I'm gunnaa..." she moaned, shuddering as his harder thrusts in her sensitive folds made her cum again. Whining at the force of it, hiding her face into the pillow and gripping his arms tightly, her nails scraping against his skin.
Gritting his teeth, he hid his face in her chest and moaned out, thrusting hard into her and spilling himself, his fingers gripping onto the sheets for dear life as he held himself fully in her.
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Castle at Avonlea:
Oh was Rumplestiltskin furious and in a panic as he appeared in the main hall of the Castle of Avonlea. Looking around, he stormed through to Maurice's office. No soldier was a match for him, his magic would immobilize anyone that came at him or tried to get in the way of his destination.
Walking into the office, raising his hands to make the doors slam open, coming in to face Maurice, gripping his hands into tight fists, trying to control his anger. Surely Zelena couldn't have been telling the truth. "Where is she?" he demanded instantly.
Maurice sat up a little, looking up at the Dark One, gulping slowly and shaking his head. "W-Who ever are you speaking of, Dark One?" he asked, trying to sound innocent.
But Rumplestiltskin wasn't buying the stupid act. Shaking his head. "You know who I'm speaking of, Belle! MY Belle." he said through gritted teeth, walking up to the desk and resting his hands atop of it, looking at the King. "If any harm has come to her in your care...I promise you this, your pain will be ten times worse. That is a promise."
Gulping slowly, Maurice looked at the angry sorcerer and shook his head. "She's gone."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?"
"You corrupt her!" Maurice blurted out, gripping at the arms of his chair a little. "You and your darkness corrupted her soul. The clerics are busy cleansing her, ensuring her soul will be saved."
Rumplestiltskin knew what the clerics did to cleanse a soul and it only made him angrier. "Where?" he asked, glaring down at the man in front of him.
"It doesn't matter..."
"It does!" Rumplestiltskin nearly yelled, slamming his hands down on the desk. "She's your daughter for gods sake! You'll let the clerics kill her!?"
"YOU killed her, demon. My daughter is already dead." Maurice replied, taking in a breath and sitting back. "So do your worst. I'll die knowing I saved my only daughters soul from you."
Shaking his head, Rumple gripped his hands into fists. "You didn't save her. All you've done is cause her pain. Sending her brother away, making her marry that buffoon Gaston, controlling her. I am going to save her, that I promise you." he said.
Turning to walk out of the room, he didn't turn back to Maurice. Oh he'd deal with the king later, once Belle was safe in his arms.
It took him a while to figure out where they'd taken her. He couldn't feel her presence, but the tower seemed the most guarded, the most impossible to get to, the most coated in a sort of magic. He knew a spell when he saw one, and someone cast a spell to make him not feel her. She had to be there, he knew it.
It was almost impossible to get to, yes, but not for him. The soldiers were pinned to the walls by his magic as he walked up the stairs to the large door at the top of them. Pressing his hands forward, the door slamming open, clerics in the room jumping and yelling about a demon. But, his eyes were drawn to what was happening in the center of the room, rage filling him.
There was his Belle, dressed in a simple white under dress, her body forced in a tub of water faced down, her entire head within the water. Water was often used to "cure" witches of witch craft, to torture women into confessing to using dark magic.
What terrified him was the fact that her movements of fighting were starting to slow, she was running out of air. How long had they held her under there?
Practically growling in anger, it was the first time in a long time he hadn't been able to control the dark magic that coursed through his veins. The so called holy men in the room all gasped as their heads twist, necks snapping and falling around dead, including the man who held Belle's head forward.
And when that man fell to the ground dead, Belle made no moves to get out of the tub, she made no movements at all, really.
Quickly he moved to the tub and pulled her body upwards and out of the water, making sure her head came out. Bringing her away from the tub and laying her down on the ground, brushing her hair from her face as he held her against his chest. "B-Belle...Belle! Open your eyes, love, I'm right here..." he said, shaking her a little bit.
"Belle please..." he whined, sitting down with his back against the tub, holding her in his lap. "Please...don't you do this, don't. I can't loose you too, I can't..." he muttered softly to him. He was supposed to be the Dark One, the most powerful sorcerer in this realm, and he never showed weakness. But now as he sat there holding her, he almost couldn't hide his heart breaking at the idea of losing her.
Gripping her a little, tears welled up in his eyes. Resting one hand on her elbow, using his magic to attempt to heal her, the only thing he believed he could do. "Gods...Belle...my sweet, sweet Belle. Please don't leave me alone." he said, kissing her forehead slowly, his lips staying pressed against her skin, closing his eyes tightly as he gripped her. Her skin felt so cold from the water and droplets of water dribbled down her skin, dripping down on both him and the floor. But, he could care less how wet he was becoming from the water dribbling off her skin.
After a minute, she let out a soft cough, water coming up from her throat. Leaning from his arms to roll onto her stomach, letting out several hard coughs, water expelling itself from her lungs in waves. It felt like she was coughing up the entire tub, her lungs had been completely full with water.
But with her movement, he looked at her with his eyes widened. "Belle!" he yelled. When she was finished coughing, he gently brought her back up into his arms, crushing her against his chest, hugging her tightly around her waist.
As his arms moved around her back, she let out a gasp and a small yell of pain, closing her eyes tightly. "R-Rumple..." she muttered.
Hearing her yell, he leaned back as though she'd slapped him. "Whats wrong?" he asked, looking at her face and his eyes narrowing. "What did they do to you? Tell me, now." he said, his relief and anger mixing at the idea of someone hurting his Belle.
Looking up at him, she just gave him a soft smile. Reaching to rest her hands on the sides of his neck. "I knew you'd come for me...I love you...more than anything in the world..." she said slowly, leaning up to kiss his bottom lip and rest her head against his shoulder.
Carefully he held her close to him, not sure how to hold her and not hurt her. "Please Belle...tell me what they've done.." he asked in a soft whisper.
Shaking her head slowly, her arms moved more around his neck. "I can't. Please just...just take me home, love. Take me home and let me take a warm bath and cuddle with me in our own bed.." she answered, looking up at his face.
Nodding slowly, he kissed her forehead. "Anything you wish, my love." he said, hugging her close to him. Using his magic, they were encased in a puff of smoke that would make them disappear from the room. He didn't use that particular power too often with Belle, but Belle needed to get home, and she needed to do so now.
Reappearing with her in their bedroom in the Dark Castle, he picked her up bridal style and walked towards the tub that magicked in front of them, filling with warm water. He could feel her body shivering against his own, and he knew the water that she'd been forced in had been cold. Stepping up to the tub, he moved to lower her into it, figuring he could help her take her dress off while she was already in the water.
But, she clung to him, refusing to let him go, her arms around his neck gripping at his shirt for dear life as she glanced down in the water, mildly afraid. "G-Get...get in with me...? So...so I...so I don't drown?" she asked, looking up at him, eyes full of fear.
"Oh my Belle...I'll never let you drown. Never." he promised. But her eyes pleaded up at him and made him sigh with a nod. "Alright. I'll get in with you." he said.
Deciding magic was the best way to do this, both of them were instantly naked with a small puff of magic. He held her form against his as he moved to step into the tub with her. Shifting to sit down, he brought her to sit in his lap, her back against his chest.
Sitting down in the tub, he brought her against him, his arms moving around her waist as he sat underneath her, ensuring her she wouldn't slip underneath the water again.
Leaning back against his chest, she let out a sigh, laying her head back against his shoulder and wincing a little as her skin touched his, biting her bottom lip, her face slightly twisted in pain.
Noticing this, he brushed her hair behind her ear. "Whats the matter?" he asked.
She blushed, chewing on her bottom lip. "My...my back..." was all she muttered, looking away almost ashamed.
Leaning back and resting his hands on her shoulders to keep her sitting up, he looked at her back and his eyes widened. There, marring her perfect skin, were large angry lines that were red and looked like they'd bled at some point. Not all of the lines on her back were red and fresh, some were starting to scar over.
"Oh Belle...my Belle...this is my fault...I should have protected you..." he whispered slowly. He knew what people would do to her for being with him. He knew the extent of human ruthlessness, but he'd never expected her own father to let such a thing happen to her.
"Its not your fault Rumple..." she said, turning her head and looking at his face with a small weak smile. Shifting a little on his lap to sit sideways, she laid her side against his chest and cuddled into him, the warm water warming her cold skin. "You came for me...I knew you would. I...I had dreams about you storming in to save me, like a knight in shining armor...my Rumple..." she whispered, running her fingers along the skin of his chest slowly, looking up at him with a smile.
"A knight? Me? Oh Belle, I am no knight. But rest assured, I will always find you. Without you I...I don't think I could bear living myself..." he told her, carefully wrapping his arms around her. Using his magic, he slowly made the fresh marks on her back heal without a single scar. But, a few still remained from the ones that had already healed over. "It is my fault, though. I should have known the extent of the clerics evil. I should have come with you to protect you. I know you probably didn't realize that this is what people would do to you for just being with me...you didn't sign up for this..." he said with a sigh, kissing the top of her head.
But she shook her own head, cuddling into him slowly. "I did though. Rumple I'm not stupid, I know people can be evil, I know people can think horrid things. I'm also not deaf. I hear the things they call me when I go into town. But I couldn't care less. I'm happy. You're happy. Thats all that matters to me." she said, looking up at him slowly. "Finding happiness together trumps anything anyone could do to us. Its not your fault, don't make it that way. You came for me like I knew you would, thats whats important. Has it been three weeks? I'd lost count of the days..." she asked.
He shook his head, sighing as he brought her close to him, rubbing her arm slowly. "No, only two. Someone...came to me and...told me you were dead, that the clerics killed you...and they would have, had I not come..."
Looking up at him, she blinked a bit. "Someone? Who?"
"Thats not important." he said with a smile, looking down at her. "I have you back now. And I'll never let you go."
She gave him a soft smile and nodded. "I would hope you wouldn't." she said, leaning up and kissing him gently, moving one arm around his neck, her other arm around his waist as she cuddled into him in the warm water. Her skin was getting warmer now that she was submerged in the water with him.
"Lets get you to bed.." he suggested and she nodded.
Looking up at him, she bit her bottom lip. "You'll come too?"
"I'll come too." he said with a smile, kissing the top of her head. He wouldn't leave her side for a very long time, that was for sure.
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Storybrooke
Belle laid on top of him, breathing hard, sweat tickling her skin as they both basked in the afterglow of their lovemaking. A small smile was on her lips as she looked up at his face, leaning to kiss him gently as she moved off of him. A small moan came from her lips as she felt him slide out of her with her movement. Laying next to him, she curled up into his side, her arm around his waist and looking up at him with a small smile.
Kissing his shoulder gently, she ran her fingers along his stomach. "I love you..." she whispered.
"And I you." he told her, looking down at her. Gently shifting them so she laid on her side, her back facing him. His fingers moved along her back, feeling the few scars there, a reminder that he'd almost lost her. He'd healed most of the scars from the clerics whips, but not all of them could be healed.
Gently leaning up to spoon against her back, feeling her cool skin against his as he held her close, kissing the back of her shoulder slowly. "You're incredible, love.." he whispered to her.
She smiled and chuckled. "Indeed? I think you're the incredible one." she said, glancing back at him. "You love me, scars, fat and all."
"You are not fat." he said with a small pout. Leaning and kissing her shoulder. "Stop calling yourself such, dearest. You'll never be fat. You're the most beautiful woman in the world. And you love me. That, my dear, makes you incredible."
Cuddling close to him as she yawned a little, resting her hands over his and closing her eyes. "I'll try. So long as you don't call yourself a monster anymore.." she whispered.
Nodding a little, he kissed the back of her ear, holding her up close to his chest. "Deal. And you know, dearie, I don't ever go back on my deals."
She chuckled a little, looking back at him and leaning to kiss him slowly. "I would hope not. The great Rumplestiltskin going back on a deal...how...scandalous." she said, grinning a bit.
"Indeed." he replied, resting his head on the back of her shoulder as he held her close, yawning slowly. "Get some sleep, love. Elsa will be waking up in a few hours." he said, rubbing her stomach slowly.
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A/N: Fin! I know it took me a while to get this, and I apologize again. My updates will be coming a lot slower soon anyway because my classes at college are starting up again in a week, along with working, I'll update when I can. :-). I'm also going to try and go update my other stories before classes start lol.
As always, read and review! :-)..
