Author's Note: As it turns out, closing the deal is going to take about ten days and I've decided not to deny my dearies of the awesomeness of RumBelle, haha. Also, I've hear rumors (from other authors) that FF will possibly or may have all ready started policing stories with too much lemon fluff topped with smut. Should this happen and my account gets deleted, Fear not! For I…have made a tumblr! The link is serene-dysphoria. Now, it will only be activated in the event of an account deletion, k'?


"It's not easy to be Light when you've been Dark. It's almost too much to ask anyone.
-Macon Ravenwood"


Rumpelstiltskin continued knocking on Belle's door, his patience wearing thin. He had felt her hurt when he'd accused her of being a martyr. But in a way it was true. She had given up her life for the safety of her people. Was that not acting as a sacrificial lamb?

Three more knocks and his patience had disappeared. He threw open the door, the darkness in him rising. Belle was sitting on the bed, hugging her knees to her chest.

"Do you truly think this is easy? Do you think this is even possible?" He screamed.

She looked up at him, eyes glassy with unshed tears.

"If there is nothing to be risked then there will nothing be to gain," she threw back at him.

"Have you considered what you're asking of me, dearie? I am the Dark One. There is no chance for even the smallest glimmer in my life, Belle."

Belle stood up and walked to him, cursing her compassion, empathy, and love for the creature in front of her.

"How do you even know that? I have seen true darkness, Rumpelstiltskin. I have seen and felt the truth of souls with no chance for redemption whatsoever. You're not one of them," she said.

Rumpelstiltskin scoffed and pushed her away. His anger had risen to the point where he no longer cared about her feelings.

"You truly believe that," he stated, his voice deadly.

"Yes."

Rumpelstiltskin walked to her and grabbed her wrists as he began flooding her with his memories of his darkest moments and actions.

Belle gasped in pain and began to whimper as she saw the scenes in her head and felt them in her heart.

The young boy who lost his parents. The woman who would lose her only child. The man watching helplessly as his day of reckoning had come.

The intensity of the memories and feelings caused Belle's own power to rise.

"Please, stop…" she whispered, trying to fight off the onslaught of pain.

"You need to be taken out of your charming little fantasy, Belle," Rumpelstiltskin said, grabbing her wrists tighter and continuing to show her the darkness he lived in.

"STOP!" Belle screamed, forcing the darkest part of him away. She fed him her feelings of hope, belief, and courage.

Rumpelstiltskin released her suddenly, overcome with pity for what he had done. Belle collapsed on the floor, crying. The wound over her heart had opened- never had she felt as much pain as she had in those few moments.

Rumpelstiltskin looked down at Belle, disgusted with himself for what he had done. He hated to lose control, especially regarding Belle. She wasn't as jaded as he was, truthfully. But still…

He sighed heavily and kneeled down, placing his hand over her heart to heal the wound. Belle was still crying, even flinching at his touch.

Belle stood quickly, slightly staggering as she did. "I need some air," she said, grabbing her cloak.

Rumpelstiltskin looked after her as she left, speechless.

"And don't worry, Dark One. I have no intentions of leaving or escaping. Because I made you a deal. And unlike you, I have never broken a promise or reneged on a deal," Belle said, looking into his eyes, wanting to hurt him as much as he had hurt her. She saw his eyes weaken with sadness, his face cast down. But hurting him hadn't helped her- the only thing it did was hurt her worse.


Belle walked far from the castle, off the path to it. She was hurt. Incredibly. More than anything, she was confused. He was a maelstrom of emotions and feelings- all directed towards her. He desired her, she knew this. He had given in to his desire and she welcomed it- after all, she desired him as well. She had seen glimmers of light and prayed that they wouldn't fade. It seemed they had, though.

She walked further, not really paying attention to where she was going.

After an hour of walking, she came across a secluded glade. The trees were beautiful, creating a small canopy overhead, strips of sunlight piercing through the gaps. There was a small stream nearby, giving the small glade a sense of ethereal peace- a sense that filled her and caused her to relax.

"This was one of his favorite places," Rumpelstiltskin said, appearing out of nowhere. Belle turned to him, looking around the glade. Belle knew he was speaking of his son.

"I can see why," she replied, removing her cloak to sit on it.

"I'm rather surprised that you've even managed to find this place," Rumpelstiltskin said as he sat down next to Belle, keeping a comfortable distance between them.

"Why is that?"

"After...what happened with Bae, I had the Dark Castle placed near the spot he was the happiest. I'd put up safeguards to keep it...unspoiled. But you, my charming little Belle, seemed to have managed to find a way around them," he chuckled.

Belle couldn't help but smile. "It apparently seems I have a talent to have your lower your guard...at least in regards with me."

Rumpelstiltskin smiled slightly and nodded.

"Do you know what I am?" she asked softly, breaking the peaceful silence.

"...Yes. I do," Rumpelstiltskin replied.

"What am I?"

"Beautiful. Patient, but at the same time, stubborn enough to test the patience of angels. Brave. Intelligent. Loving," he said immediately.

Belle smiled sadly. She knew his words were coming from his heart, but it wasn't the answer she wanted.

"I'm flattered you think I'm all of those, Rumpelstiltskin. But...it's not what I meant."

Rumpelstiltskin sat in silence, shocked that she was unaware of her nature.

"You truly don't know, Belle?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.

"I know very little about...whatever this is. I don't know much and honestly...it frightens me at times."

The Dark One moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her, trying with all his power to rebuild the trust he had broken earlier in his dark rage. Belle rested her head against him, wanting answers.

"Tell me. Have you ever heard of Durere Mâncător?"

"Pain-Eaters? I thought they were only a myth," she replied.

"And how fortunate I am to have the myth in my arms," he said.

"You believe I'm a Pain-Eater?" she asked.

"I know. There's no cause for speculation, dearie. Granted, Pain-Eaters are...extremely rare. For humans to be born with such a powerful magic, it's almost unheard of. But...here you are."

"What do you know?" Belle asked, slightly afraid of hearing the answer.

"You, my lovely Belle, are a creature...a woman of pure light. There is no darkness within you. You have the power to take darkness- the sadness and pain of others away. But where light is strong, darkness can not dwell. It's why you bleed after taking such darkness away from someone. It cannot corrupt you. You have such power within you that...you can feel everything and even cause others to feel what you choose.," Rumpelstiltskin said, pulling her away to face him.

"Listen to me, Belle. You are the anti thesis to me. I am nothing- nothing but a creature of darkness and corruption," he said, cupping her face in her hands.

"There's always a balance, lest the world be thrown into chaos. Darkness cannot exist without light, Rumpelstiltskin. Otherwise we'd never know one from the other," Belle said, tears falling down her face.

Rumpelstiltskin embraced her, feeling her pain. He'd grown to care for her deeply- he could feel himself falling deeper in love with her and it frightened him. His purpose now was to corrupt and destroy all that was pure and light. He couldn't do that to her.

He looked back up to her to speak. belle interrupted him and kissed him, not wanting to hear his words. All she ever wanted at this moment was for him to hold her. For him to have his moments of light.