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Love is What She Needed

"I just need a few minutes," Isabelle pleads with Gaston. "Just give me ten minutes, and I will gladly eat lunch with you. I promised a friend of mine I would do something." She looks at the time. If she didn't show up soon, it was going to be too late.

"Okay," he says. "But I will be waiting." She pecks him on the cheek and walks off, waiting until far off to check her state in the mirror. Today was the day. She fluffs her hair and sprays a little perfume on. She hears footsteps and walks calmly towards the library, holding her composure. Her stomach flutters with nerves, when had she loved him? The ring shines on her finger with the engagement ring, which she temporally disposes of. Ten more steps, nine more steps. The doors were so close. She looks up at the tall doors and takes a deep breath, regaining her composure. She must be, and act like a woman. The doors open at her command and she steps slowly in, walking through the shelves. Was he here? The books quickly become less important then finding her secret lover. She combs through the dusty place, waiting and watching. His scent lingers, letting her know that he had been here.

"Belle," she hears him whisper. She looks up and notices him posing dramatically on a tall ladder. With a poof he is beside her, and she steps back.

"I am glad you are here," she says. "I could not find you." He stares at her, noticing once more her beautiful figure and her gorgeous hair falling down below her waist in waves. He takes her hand.

"You don't even know what to do," he says quietly. "What Gaston gives you is not a kiss, my dear." She swallows a bit and looks up. He cups the side of her face in his hand, bringing her to make eye contact with him."I will show you what it means to be in love, if you let me." She waits for a quip, or a joke. None comes, and she realizes that he is serious.

"Do you love me, Rumpelstiltskin? Truly?" He closes his eyes, trying to find an answer that wouldn't bind him to her.

"You shall know in time." She knows she shouldn't take the offer, that she shouldn't give her heart to someone who may love another, or doesn't even know what he wants. But her love for him is too strong. No matter how hard she tries, she cannot break away from what many call a beast. "I will not kiss you right now," he says. "But under the moonlight, where you belong." He moves away and disappears before she can reply, leaving her with only his scent and the memory of his chocolate eyes. She slowly walks out to eat lunch with the brute. What does it mean to be in love?

Rumple watches her throughout the day, unannounced to her. She would never know how much he watched her. They hardly ever actually met. But when she looked at him, waiting, her eyes filled with spirit and beauty, but also fear, he couldn't take her. He needed more time. Gaston would just walk her up to her room and start kissing away but that isn't how it works. There is a process that leads up to it. The way Gaston loved her is very unnatural. Almost animal like in nature.

He poofs into her room after she had gone downstairs to wash with the maid. The makeup bothered him, it wasn't her. It changed her beauty into something unnatural, just like her relationships. This time though, he doesn't use much magic. He tries to feel it again, by physically filling her room with roses and sweet scents. He opens the window to allow a soft breeze in and looks into the mirror. He quickly turns away, remembering that he was still a monster. With a flick of his hand, it disappears. Much better.

Hearing her footsteps, he stands away from the door. It opens, and he listens to her gasp, stopping to take it all in. The door slowly closes as she looks to him, tears brimming in her eyes.

"All this," she says. "For me?" He looks down.

"Yes, my love." She sits on her bed and undoes her hear, allowing it to fall back into a natural position. She then walks up to him, and he takes her hand. "Allow me?" he says. She looks at him confused, but nods. He bends a bit and picks her up bridal style as she lays her head on his shoulder. He lays beside her on the bed and takes the freedom to heal the bruises from the day, gently taking her hands and finding a few on her side and face where she had been slapped. She says nothing, but simply watches him work as he silently examines her. "You are truly beautifully," he says, making eye contact with her. She grins, looking away from his body towering above her.

"And you are truly the most gentle man I have ever known." His eyes soften, remembering the horror she had to go through every day. She didn't even expect him to be gentle – she didn't know any better. He pushes away the demons one last time and brings his fingers through her hair.

"I am a monster, Belle. If I am to rough, or strong, you must tell me. If I scratch you or hit you to hard or anything, Isabelle, you must tell me. You are fragile compared to me."

"Rumpelstiltskin, it takes a lot more then you think to hurt me."

"We are going to be up a long time."

"Are we now?" she replies playfully.

"But I need you to know something." He shifts above her on the bed. "You will stay a virgin before marriage. Don't even ask for that." She nods.

"I am not asking for that."

"Well then, beautiful, we have a long way to go."

"I am sure we do," she replies, lifting her hands to his head, and combing her fingers through his hair. "But your taking an awful long time." He places his hand behind her neck and softly rubs his fingers on her soft skin, causing her to intake deeply as she closes her eyes. Take her his mind screams, take her as your own. It is tempting, but wrong. Not even the dark one could force him to take away her precious innocence. He places his other hand behind her neck and lifts her slightly, bending down and kissing her neck. A soft wind blows and with a thought, the window shuts and he kisses her jaw. She breathes deeply, wrapping her arms around his neck and never opening her eyes. Something flows through her, a love, not even that, nearly a lust for him, a need for Rumple to be there. "I will show you," he whispers in her ear. A single tear slides down her face at the pure joy, and peace flowing through her. She wraps her legs around his waist as he loses himself to her, kissing in between her eyes and her nose.

"I am glad we waited," she whispers. "We needed to wait." He opens his eyes slightly and moves his hands behind her head, gently kissing her lips as she lifts her head for more. She shivers and wraps her arms tighter around him as he sits up, leading her into his lap as she kisses him again. Her nails gently move against his shoulders as she lifts herself above him, kissing the back of his neck, wanting to taste him, to know him. Anything, anything to wash everything away. He caresses her side, all while combing through her hair and bending back to kiss her again, until the need had been satisfied. In seconds, everything is different. She giggles slightly as his tongue finds hers and they rub noses. He leads her again back onto the bed, his chest against hers.

"My flower, I missed you dearly." He kisses her again on the neck and ears, making a path up towards her lips.

"I didn't know – " She is silenced as his lips fall against hers. "never knew what love was." He grasps her tighter as he falls beside her, gently brushing her hair out of her face as she lays her head against his chest, still kissing his neck.

"I know, flower. I know." He kisses her forehead and entwines their fingers. There love would never be the same again. He lift himself up, and goes in once more, claiming her lips for himself as she clings to him, unknowingly pleading for all he could give. He kisses her shoulders and wraps his arm around her waist. She relaxes, burying her face into his neck. She would get more then she had ever known. But he would get more then he deserved. The night runs away quickly, and he disappears in a cloud of smoke as she shuts her eyes, exhausted but in love. But it couldn't last for long. Not with the ring, not with the ogres. She would run away again, through marriage, the difference being that she couldn't come back lest she be named a whore and an adulterer. Perhaps one day, the future would make itself clear, and he would never have to leave her again. Please review, dearies! 3