Hello everyone! Thank you so much for those who reviewed the last chapter.

So this is the last chapter! I know I kind of snuck it up on you but I feel that it is time for this story to come to a close. In future I may write a sequel but for the mean time I want to thank everybody who had been following this story and thank you for all your encouragement and positive reviews.

I hope you all enjoy and I apologize for any mistakes.

Chapter Eleven

Belle hadn't even made it out of the building before she was cornered by Mary Margret, Emma, Ruby, Charming and Leroy.

"Please tell me that this is a horrible rumour that Regina has started," Ruby demanded.

"What rumour?" Belle frowned, completely confused.

"That you are Gold new," Emma shuddered. "toy."

"What do you mean by toy?" Belle cried, disgusted by the term.

"Look, are you having sex with him or not?" Leroy grunted.

"Leroy!" Mary Margret admonished. "What he means to say, is we wondering if Regina was right in saying that you are now an item with Mr Gold."

Belle looked around at all them. They were staring at her, leaning in anticipation to hear her answer. Knowing she couldn't keep it a secret for the rest for her life, she decided it was time to tell her friends the truth. After all, they were her friends.

"Yes, Regina is telling the truth," Belle told them. A smile spread across her lips as she felt relief wash through her. "Rumple and I are together."

"Rumple," Leroy grunted with disgust.

"You are actually willingly seeing Gold?" Emma asked, her expression of disbelief.

Belle smile slide from her face. "Yes."

"Why?" David asked. Realising his bluntness he hurriedly continued. "I mean, you are a wonderful woman Belle, you could have anybody."

"And anybody used to use my body as a punching bag," Belle said coldly. She saw, with some grim satisfaction, that they flinched.

"What he means, sweetie," Ruby said. "Is that Gold isn't a great guy."

"How would any of you know," Belle said, looking around at all of them. "You haven't taken the time to know him."

"That's because nobody wants to," Leroy snorted. "He a bigger grump than I am."

"Well maybe if you did get to know him, you would see what I see," Belle said, feeling angry and upset. Angry tears welled in her eyes. She looked over her shoulder and her heart dropped as she saw Gold standing quietly behind them, both hands resting on his cane. "I thought that you would be happy for me that I had found someone who looked after me and actually cared for me."

"Belle," Ruby said. "He's a monster."

"No, he isn't," Belle snapped hotly. She shoulder her way through them, marching straight to up to Gold.

"Perhaps you should listen to…" he began to say but Belle just grabbed his hand and pulled him after her.

"Don't you dare," she growled, not looking at him. She continued to pull him out of the building and waved down a taxi. She yanked him in after her and gave the driver address.

"Belle," Gold said gently.

"Don't," Belle sniffed, staring straight ahead as she tried not to let her tears fall. "If you even dare think that they are right, that you are a monster, I will…I will make you sleep on the couch! I swear, I will."

Gold's lips twitched minutely. "Very well."

They didn't speak again. As soon as they reached the penthouse, Belle was running the bathroom and slamming the door shut behind her. She ran herself a hot bath, pouring bubbles in until they were brimming at the edge. Stripping down to nothing, Belle tied her head into a bun and stepped into the bed, sinking into the bubbles.

She felt some of the tension leave her body but not much. She was still upset by her friend's reactions. She had expected that they wouldn't understand but it still hurt. And to have Gold standing right behind them, telling her that she shouldn't be with him when he already had his doubts about them.

She sunk further into the water and let her tears that she had been holding in since she left the Enchanted Forest. She was so caught up in her tears that she didn't hear the bathroom door open gently and Gold gently tap his way over to her. She only noticed him when he gently wiped her cheeks with his fingers.

She found him perched on the edge of the bath, a glass of wine in his hands. "Please don't cry, my dear."

Belle hiccupped. "You're not a monster," she sniffed and sobbed at the same time. "I love you."

Gold's heart clenched and fluttered at her words. She was beyond anything he deserved and yet here she was, telling him that she loved him.

"and I love you," he said, smiling. Setting the glass down, he wiped away the rest of her tears and pulled her into a kiss.

She cupped his face, pulling him into a deeper kiss, pouring everything she was feeling into it. When she pulled away, she smiled at him, looking happier than she had a moment ago.

Gold picked up the glass and pressed it into her hands. "Drink this. I'm going to order us some food."

"Thank you," Belle said, taking his hand and squeezing it. "I mean it, you know. Despite what everyone says and what you think about yourself. I love you, all of you."

"You are too good for me," Gold said. "But I am a selfish man and I love you."

Belle positively beamed at him and gave him one more kiss before sending him to order dinner. She stayed in the bath until she heard the doorbell ring. She quickly drained the bath, towelled herself dry and quickly changed into some comfortable clothes.

They ate dinner on the couch, watching a movie together until the food was gone. Belle was sprawled along the couch, her head in Gold's lap with his finger gently carding through her hair. He had relaxed her so much that she was practically purring at his touch. Her interest in the moving had been steadily fading as she was lulled to sleep.

"Time for bed, sweetheart," Gold murmured gently to her. "I don't know if I will be able to carry you tonight."

"Mmmm, okay, Rumple," Belle sighed tiredly. She felt Gold aid her to her feet and with an arm wrapped around her waist he led her to the bedroom. She crawled into the bed, snuggling into her pillow, eyes closed. She heard Gold move around until he was finally slipping into bed and pulling her into his arms. As she felt herself succumbing to sleep, she thought she had never felt so loved before.

Belle held Gold's hand as they walked into the Enchanted Forest. Belle's hand tightened as they crossed the lobby, Tink watching their every move. Belle kept her head high as they stepped into the elevator and as soon as the door closed she was leaning into Gold's side.

"Belle," Gold said, hand coming up to rub her back. There was so much being said, with only having to say her name.

"It'll be okay," she said, mostly assuring herself. She turned her head to smile at him. "I love you."

Gold smiled and gently squeezed her hand. "I love you too."

The elevator came to a halt at her floor and with a last smile to Gold she stepped off. As she went to her desk, her smile faded as she saw Ruby, Emma and Mary Margret waiting for her.

"Good morning, Belle," Mary Margret greeted hesitantly when she approached.

"Good morning," Belle nodded curtly.

"Look, we're sorry, okay," Ruby blurted out. "If you want to date Gold, than that's fine. Whatever makes you happy."

"We just think you could do better," Emma said. "But if he makes you happy."

"He does," Belle said firmly. "You don't know him like I do. You allow your judgement to be clouded by rumours. He's not as bad as everyone says. He's the first person who has ever taken care of me."

"We just don't want to see you get hurt," Ruby explained. "We understand that you have had trouble in the past with men and we really don't' want to see you go through that again."

"Yeah," Mary Margret agreed. "We care about you. We're a family here at Enchanted Forest."

Belle finally began to relax, seeing their point of view. "I appreciate it. I do. But you have to trust that I know what I am doing. Gold, he loves me and I love him."

All three women smiled.

"Then we are happy for you. Really," Ruby insisted.

"Thank you," Belle smiled at them all.

"So, tell us," Ruby smirked, leaning forward eagerly. "Is he any good?"

"RUBY!" Belle, Mary Margret and Emma all yelled at the same time.

Gold proudly held Belle's hand as they left for work that evening. He was surprised when Belle met in the lobby with Ruby, the black haired girl giving her a smile. Ruby wished them a good night and flounced away with a swing in her hips.

"Everything worked out?" Gold asked as Belle slipped her hand into his.

"Yes," Belle beamed.

"I'm glad," Gold smiled. "I was thinking, we should go out for dinner tonight."

"That sound lovely," Belle beamed.

In love, happy and free from her controlling father and Gaston, Belle was happy for the first time in a long time and it was all thanks to Gold. He had showed her something nobody had before and treated her like her own person.

She owed him everything and she could see spending the rest of her life with him.

The End

Again, thank you so much for all your support with this story and I hope to see you again soon :) Happy reading everyone :)