A/N: Thank you to all of the people who voiced your lovely opinions about the length of this fic. I have made my decision and this story will extend to 25 chapters. I have all of them planned out—titles, and plot lines. So, expect more Rumpbelle goodness, because these next 15 chapters are a true assessment of Belle and Mr. Gold's relationship. And DRAMA. LOTS OF DRAMA. Enjoy! REVIEW PWEEESE! *gets on hands and knees* I really really really would like it if you would!

The Impossible Truth

Chapter 11

"Um, Rumpelstiltskin?" Belle asked as she watched Mr. Gold eat his breakfast and read a book the next morning. He looked up from his text and met her gaze. She had a hint of sadness in her eyes, and in her voice. He set his book down and put his forearms on the table, leaning in so that he was paying attention to her.

"What is it, love? Is everything okay?" he asked, watching her eyes dance with confusion. She sighed and looked at him.

"What am I to you?" she asked after a moment. "Or better yet—what are we?" she elaborated. Mr. Gold sat back in his seat and thought about it for a moment. He crossed his arms over his chest and thought of the best way to explain it to her.

"What do you think we are?" he asked in return. Belle sat back like he had and folded her hands in her lap. She didn't make eye contact with him.

"I don't really know. That's why I asked you," she said. "I can only assume that we are more than just housemates…"

"That we are," Mr. Gold replied.

"So…what are we then?" she asked. "I mean…because I do love you."

"And I you dearie," Mr. Gold responded. Belle sighed.

"Is there a real word for it? I just…because…"

"You don't need to say anymore Belle, I understand," Mr. Gold said. "I actually have something for you—and maybe it will help with your thoughts about what we are…come here." Belle got up and approached Mr. Gold. He reached into his pocket and felt around for something. "Hold out your hand, palm down," he instructed as he withdrew his hand from his pocket with something clutched in his hand.

"I found this in an old box, and I remembered exactly why it was there."

"Why?" Belle asked.

"When you worked for me in the Dark Castle, I made this for you—as a sign that you belong to me, as my servant, in case you were to go out to retrieve something for me. But I changed my mind about giving it to you because I didn't know how you would react," he explained as he opened his hand, revealing a small golden ring, woven in a braid like shape. Belle examined it as he put it on her middle finger. It was a gold band, with something that looked like straw weaving in and out of it. The little thing was gorgeous, and she gasped.

"I want to give it to you now as a sign of what you are to me. Not a servant anymore though…as my love," he said. Belle could feel tears pricking the corners of her eyes. He looked up at her. "I want you to wear it, and think about what I am to you…" Belle nodded, biting her lower lip as the ring shone in the light.

"I mean, I wanted to know—and now I'm wearing a ring. I still don't know how to describe what he is to me!" Belle told Mary Margret later that day as they waited in line at the convenience store. Belle wasn't actually going to buy anything—but she had decided to look around, and had run into Mary Margret while there. She looked down at the little gold band on Belle's middle finger.

"You know who you should talk to?" Mary Margret said as she set her few items on the counter.

"Who?"

"Henry Mills," Mary Margret said.

"Henry Mills? Why would I talk to a kid about my love life?" Belle asked skeptically.

"He's a bright kid you know, I teach him for six hours a day. All it's been for the past 6 months is'Mr. Gold and the new girl this' and 'It's weakening! They reunited!' Honestly, I don't even know what he's talking about half the time. But he is bright, go talk to him. I think he's at the playground today—it being Saturday and all." Mary Margret paid for her items. "Just trust that he knows what he's talking about. After all—he IS the Mayor's kid. He has a lot of inside knowledge," she added. "I'll see you later okay?"

"Yeah, see you later. Say hi to David for me!" Belle said as she left the corner store. She made her way towards the forest playground—wondering if Mary Margret was right.

Belle entered the boundaries of the elaborate playground structure. It reminded her of a castle she had seen once—and maybe that was what it was modeled after. Kids played and laughed, chasing each other around and under the covered bridge, they slid down the slide and played pretend. Their parents conversed with each other on the benches that lined the perimeter of the playground. For a Saturday, it looked rather busy. As Belle looked around for this "Henry", Mary Margret had told her about. She notice a familiar bush of blonde hair and a red leather jacket. As her feet made the woodchips below her make crunching noises, the woman sitting on the bench turned and smiled at Belle.

"Hi Rosette," she said. "Fancy seeing you here." Belle nodded and smiled.

"Oh! Hi Emma," Belle said in response to the sheriff's greeting. "Mind if I join you?"

"Nope, go right ahead," Emma said, patting the empty seat next to her. Belle smiled and sat down next to Emma. She rested her hands in her lap while Emma kept her elbows behind her, resting on the back of the bench, letting her hands hang down. "So what brings you here?"

"Oh, I was looking for a Henry Mills? Mary Margret said he might be able to help me with a problem that I have," Belle explained.

"What a coincidence—I'm here for Henry as well," Emma said. "He's my biological son, I like to come and watch him here from time to time."

"Which one is he?" Belle asked, surveying the playground.

"The one on the bridge, with brown hair," Emma said. Henry waved, almost as if on cue. Emma waved back and turned her head to Belle. "He and I are also going to discuss Operation Cobra today; he says he has more info."

"Operation...Cobra?" Belle asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. Emma sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, he's bent on the idea that everyone in the town is under some kind of curse and all of us are fairy tale characters," Emma said with a laugh. "So far he's been pretty accurate, but I'm not convinced. Kid's got a heck of an imagination for his age though."

"That's pretty funny. Who does he think you are?" Belle asked almost jokingly.

"Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter," Emma scoffed as she watched Henry go down the slide. Belle turned her head from Henry to Emma.

"Did Snow White and Prince Charming have a daughter?" Belle asked, confused.

"Apparently so. See, Henry has this book of old stories, and it describes everyone's lives before the curse," Emma explained. Belle nodded, understanding the circumstances now.

"So, who does he think I am?" she asked.

"Belle, from Beauty and the Beast," Emma said with a chuckle. Belle didn't laugh at this. Mary Margret was right—Henry is a bright kid.

"Well he isn't wrong," she muttered almost inaudibly. Emma turned to her.

"What do you mean he isn't wrong?" she asked.

"Well..." Belle started, but Henry came running over.

"Emma!" he said, interrupting Belle.

"What's up kid?" Emma responded.

"I think I know why David and Mary Margret aren't together yet!" he started. Then he noticed Belle sitting next to Emma. "Oh, uh hi," He said to Belle. "You're that girl who escaped from the hospital basement right?"

"I wouldn't say it like that..." Belle said with a grimace.

"So what, you were let out?" Henry asked.

"No, I escaped," Belle said. "It just doesn't sound...pleasing to the ear that way." Henry nodded in understanding.

"So what's your name?" Henry asked.

"I'm Rosette; it's nice to meet you Henry."

"How do you know my name?" he asked. Emma smiled.

"I've heard things about you from Mary Margret," she said. "I actually have a question for you, and i think you might be able to help me with a dilemma I'm having." Henry gripped a book in his arms tighter.

"Oh yeah? What's your question?" he asked.

"That book of yours...who's the beast in the beauty and the beast story?"

"Rumpelstiltskin. Why?" he asked. Belle could tell by the look on his face that he was wondering how she knew about his book.

"If I told you that I was Belle, what would you say?" Henry gasped. A large grin crossed his face and he turned to Emma.

"See Emma, I told you people would start remembering! The curse is weakening, I told you!" he said. Belle laughed. "But…the queen told Rumple that you died! That you jumped off a tower because your father abused you! What really happened? How'd you survive? Where did the evil queen keep you?" Belle gestured with her hands to get Henry to slow down.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down Henry, that's a lot of questions," she said.

"I'm sorry…I just, haven't met someone who actually remembers their life before the curse! This proves it Emma! I'm not crazy!" he said. Emma laughed.

"Kid, there's a reason that Rosette was kept out of society for so long," she said. Belle turned to Emma.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded. Emma grabbed Belle's forearm and dragged her out of Henry's earshot.

"Well…there's no actual proof that this curse actually is in effect, or that it even exists for that matter. Rosette, you don't have to play along for Henry!" Emma hissed in her face.

"But I'm not!" Belle hissed back. "He knows what he's talking about! I know what I'm talking about. I am NOT CRAZY." Emma sighed.

"I never said you were crazy, I just said that there may be a reason behind you being kept in the basement of the hospital for so long. Under the pretense that you WERE crazy," Emma said sternly. "For reasons like this!"

"But I didn't remember these things until just recently!" Belle said. "And not all of my memories have returned either, so I wasn't locked up for that." Emma sighed.

"When did we start trying to figure out why you were locked up? I'm talking about Henry. You're just as bad as he is! Storybrooke is not under any kind of curse. I'm doing this for him, because I missed the first 10 years of his life," Emma said. Belle sighed.

"Well I'm doing this for myself, because I believe him. He has the information I need, and I intend to get it. One way or another," Belle spat—marching back over toward Henry. He smiled as she approached him.

"Is everything okay?" Henry asked.

"Everything is fine Henry," Emma said. Belle turned to see that Emma had joined her by the bench where they were previously sitting.

"Hey Henry, how about I take you out for some ice cream later? Because I really would like to talk to you about this curse," Belle offered. Henry clutched his book closer to his chest and grinned—nodding.

"That would be great! But you have to ask my mom, she doesn't like not knowing where I am," Henry said.

"That shouldn't be an issue. I'm going back to town anyway—so I'll ask her if I see her," Belle said. Henry nodded.

"Sounds good to me, thanks Rosette," Henry said. Belle smiled and nodded, looking at her watch. She gasped and turned to leave.

"Everything okay?" Emma asked.

"Yes, I just didn't realize how late it had gotten," Belle said. "I have to go now, but we'll all have to talk later."

"Okay, bye Rosette!" Henry said happily. Belle smiled at him and she left the playground's boundaries. She began her return to town on the main dirt path, hands shoved in her jean's pockets. She thought about Mr. Gold for a moment, and wondered what he was doing. Most likely making a deal somewhere, Belle thought. She removed one hand from her pocket and examined the ring he had given her that morning. It really was a pretty thing; she wondered why he hadn't given it to her before the curse. She also thought about its location on her middle finger as opposed to her pinky or ring finger. It was almost as if it was made to go there. She took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh, letting her hair fall in front of her face. As she looked forward and saw the entrance to town in her sight, a large hand suddenly clapped over her mouth—and it was covered by some kind of cloth. Her immediate instinct was to breathe, and she inhaled. A sickly sweet aroma filled her nostrils and her throat as she began to feel drowsy. The hand didn't move right away. Belle's eyelids dropped, Chloroform? Was her last rational thought before she closed her eyes and her muscles collapsed on her, everything turning to black.

A/N: HEY! See the review button? I think you should CLICK IT. Like…NOW. Pweeese?