Chapter 14: Revenge served sweet and bitter greetings

Regina stared down at the paper lying beneath her lost in thought. Her powers have weakened ever since the inhabitants of Storybrooke got together. Particularly, Rumplestiltskin. His reunion with Belle somehow didn't interfere with his magical abilities. And the result was devastating on her part. But there was one man in town who stayed the longest without remembering his past and he was the key to her rise.

"Regina!"

The deep voice which called out her name pulled her back into reality looking directly in front of her. Standing several feet away from her desk, Gaston stood looking desperate with her business card in hand.

"Ah hello Gaston" she greeted with a familiar smile.

"You helped me to remember…"

"So I did…"

"Can you make her forget?"

"I assume you are speaking about Belle, yes?"

He nodded slowly, standing still and waiting patiently for an answer.

"Well then…" she began pushing her work to the side and setting her fine pen down. She gave him his memory back as part of her latest plan. She could make the brunette beauty forget and she really didn't care if it was going to make Gaston happy. If he somehow manages to romance her it wouldn't affect her plan at all. Hell, she thought about killing her but death seemed too simple and enjoyed to watch her opponents suffer greatly.

"I suppose I can"

He let out a breath of relief, letting his shoulders fall just a bit.

"What will you do?"

"Have I ever told you that I make the most delicious pies?"

He huffed in frustration.

"I do not care about your culinary skills, how will you make her forget?"

"You fool, it is through one of my pies which will erase the memory of your beloved Belle"

His brows lifted in realization staring at the dark queen. Regina clasped her hands together and continued.

"There will be a town fair, a…celebration of a somewhat broken curse…all the pathetic townspeople will attend…"

"And you want me to go?"

"No…no, I'm afraid that will just ruin things…listen carefully, it would do me no good either to attend this fair…and it would look suspicious to have my most trusted friends out there so you will need to do exactly what I tell you prior to this date"

"I'm listening"

"Good...you will visit the diner where Ruby works…speak to the older woman there, she always cooks up a few dishes for the festival…tell her that you would like for her to sell some of your pies"

"And how will Belle get a hold of the right one?"

"I will make a mark on that pie…so you tell her it's specifically for Belle but do not let her reveal the secret admirer"

"You sure it will work?"

"Two days, Gaston, in two days your day will come"

…

"Hello? Belle?"

The curious tone of her beloved captured her attention and she got up from the bed to walk down the stairs. As he neared the stairwell he got a look of a rather stressed looking Belle. Bare feet met his leather covered ones as she stood before him, leaning forward to wrap her arms around his body.

"Are you alright my dear?"

"Yeah…yes I um…I am so sorry, I was going to make something good for us but this pain in my head is just unbearable" she lied, rubbing a hand over her forehead dramatically.

He was taking none of it, lips curling up as he detected a lie. "Belle…"

"I need to find something for it…"

"You need medication for pain that isn't present?"

She hated how he always managed to figure her out when she wanted to forget her problems. Letting her arm fall to the side in defeat she looked at him.

"Okay…you got me Rum…"

"Just Belle…tell me what bothers you"

Letting out a sigh, she paused for a moment avoiding his gaze. She had to prepare for his reaction since it would be hard to try and calm him. Tonight was supposed to be easy especially after their wonderful night out at the restaurant.

"Gab-Gaston…Gaston came this morning"

His expression was filled with concern but changed quickly. He was pissed. His lips sealed into a straight line served as a clue.

"What did he want?" he asked, making every word stand out on its own.

"He uh…he told me that he remembers everything"

His eyebrows bent in anger, teeth showing as the side of his lips rolled up.

"Does he now…everything hmm?"

"Yes…especially you…" Belle added, standing back just a bit to create some space.

"Ah well I hope he remembers how much better life was when I turned the bastard into a rose"

"He wants me…he wants me to forget and go back"

She jumped at the sound of his heavy cane hitting the wall violently. It twisted against the corner before falling to the wood floor.

"I thought I lost you for the longest time Belle, but…I have you now…I have you Belle"

His tone bordered on psychotic making her feel a bit worried about how this was going to bother him in the long run. She threatened for Gaston to leave her be and she hoped that was enough to solve her problem. She had seen Rumplestiltskin's bad side and she didn't want for him to do anything stupid this time. With nothing else to say, he passed her, walking into the living room to sit down. She really wished that none of it happened. She wished that they could have carried on with their usual evening routine without the sour mood. This was something that was biting at him as she could clearly see it on his body by the way he sat down with arms slouched.

Annoyed with the way things were going, Belle turned around moving to the kitchen muttering, "Let me see what there is to make…"

"Belle"

"What?" she stopped in her tracks, sounding irritated.

"Don't worry about dinner"

"Oh…so would you prefer that I starve tonight?"

"No, that is not what I meant dearie" he growled.

"I am going to the kitchen to make something…for myself… since you have chosen to go with an empty stomach". She made her way into the kitchen, crouching down low to a cabinet to take out a medium-sized pot. He made his way over to the room, stretching both arms across the doorway as he peered in glaring at the woman before him.

"If memory serves me correctly, I came home in a good mood so what made you sour?"

"You just had to pry" she grumbled setting the pot on the stove and walking over to the pantry door.

"Oh I'm sorry I thought that's what we normally do"

"Okay, fine, I was in a bad mood…I faked a headache because I wanted tonight to go smooth but that is not going to happen"

"I see…you're upset with me because I threatened to hurt that son of a bitch Gaston is that it Belle…well I've done it before and it never seemed to bother you"

"I have my times…it still bothers me but…"

"But, but, but…but what Belle...you always complained BUT what would YOU really do…do you like being pursued by other men?"

Her eyes opened wide in shock at what he was implying. It stabbed her as well as twisted her nerves. He should know better.

"What? No! no what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Oh drop the act princess"

This was the last straw; he was acting like someone completely different. He was a stranger in the kitchen and she wasn't going to take another word from him.

"No! no you drop it Rumplestiltskin!"

He winced at the use of his full name. It angered him and his hands dug into the old wood.

"What would I do? Well I don't know really…but murder is out of the question…I am not a monster"

The last word picked at him, it took him back to the day she had told him herself that he wasn't a monster. In his rage filled state of mind it felt like she was confirming it.

"And what will you do when he doesn't leave you alone…what will you do when he chooses to hurt you?"

"You don't always need magic to fix your problems…"

"Hmpf…never really heard you complain recently about that…as I recall, you begged for magic"

Belle scowled at his comment, slamming the pantry door shut.

"Seems like you're doing a good job keeping me here already" Belle gave up on cooking and threw down the mitten. She started to walk away in a different direction before Gold marched up to her, pushing her against the counter.

"Aren't I?"

She let out a gasp of surprise, looking up at his face. The deep onyx-like eyes she stared into earlier changed. They carried a bit of lust and desire making her heart beat wild in its cage. His right reached behind her twisting the long brown hair which settled into a pile. Her chin was yanked upwards and his lips were on top of hers in an instant twisting and taking, it was possessive showing how much of a monster he could be. She knew he was acting out on jealousy and concern over her safety but it grew to a point which made her snap which now led to the most amazing kiss. His teeth bit down lightly on her bottom lip, strands of hair covering his eyes as he muttered in a husky breath, "Go on…tell me…I'm a monster…but like I said you're mine"

…

It led to the most amazing kiss and…lol you will find out more in the next chapter! Regina's plan will uncoil and things will get bad. Anyway, keep reading lovely fans. I will try to get the next one out soon.