XIV
Belle rolled onto her side, her hands reaching as she stretched the kinks out of her body. She frowned worriedly as she noticed Rumpelstiltskin's absence in their bed, the blankets still smooth on his side. It also made her wonder how she'd gotten there. She clearly remembered falling asleep in the library curled up on the sofa, engrossed in a romance she'd chosen to distract herself while Rumpelstiltskin had busied himself with his latest worry.
After Regina had left the Dark Castle, he'd become increasingly agitated, unable to keep still. He'd tried spinning - to no avail - abandoning the task to pace before the fire. He'd tried sitting quietly to listen to her read to him, her voice usually able to lull him into a relaxed mood, but he'd been unable to enjoy it, mumbling under his breath about plots, schemes and all-around nastiness the queen was capable of wreaking. His afternoon tea hadn't even been able to soothe him. And in all his restlessness, he'd refused to share his concerns with her. She'd left him to his dark mood and sought the sanctuary of her kitchen to make dinner.
He'd been melancholy over dinner, hardly touching his food and staring into the fire, brooding and unresponsive. She had grabbed his hand where it was lying on the arm of his chair and he had started at her touch, his thoughts far away. "Rumpel, why do you let the queen rattle you so?" she asked innocently enough, hoping he'd reveal his pique with her.
His eyes narrowed angrily on her, making her draw her hand back in surprise. "That shouldn't concern you, dearie. But I know her, I trained her. She's up to no good."
Finally, she'd given up and cleared the table before retiring to the library. She'd let him stew in his rage for as long as it took, but she would give him his space before she lost her own temper. It still amazed her she even had a temper. Especially when she felt as though she could direct it at him. She was confident he wouldn't send her away again, confident he loved her, yet also equally confident he would try to talk her into leaving on her own at some point when his inner turmoil convinced him it was the best thing to do.
Belle had just finished her tea when he'd appeared in the library, his arms loaded down with books which had been stashed in the tower room he kept for his more serious spell work. He'd wanted to make sure she didn't have access to them, claiming he didn't need her nosing around where she might get hurt. He had immediately settled on his stool at the work table and begun pouring through the contents. However, she had objected most strenuously, when unable to find his answers in one book, he would toss it over his shoulder to the floor in a mangled heap.
"Rumpel, you're going to ruin them," she'd scolded, picking the text up and cradling it in her lap, her hand caressing the spine to check for damage.
"Belle, you don't seem to grasp the seriousness of this problem!" he'd snapped. "You don't know what that woman is capable of. And it's all my fault. I never should have let her see you. She's evil and smart and lives to bedevil me. She will try to find a way to use you to hurt me." He'd grabbed her upper arms and given her a little shake, his eyes fierce, trying to make her understand. "I won't let her hurt you!"
She'd simply laid her head against his chest and reached up to tug his hair, feeling the anger drain out of him as she'd pressed closer. She was becoming quite adept at diffusing his anger. "I know you won't. You'll figure it out and everything will be fine. But you can't let her rile you. You have to keep a clear head." And for once, he'd actually heeded her advice. He'd drunk the cup of tea she handed him and set about going through his books for an answer, even though it stung a little that he wouldn't allow her to help. She'd returned to the sofa and settled in with her own book, leaving him to his work. Apparently, he'd brought her up to bed, but hadn't joined her.
Belle groaned as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and rose to dress for the day. She hated when he didn't sleep. It meant he was going to be a veritable bear this morning. Oh no! Jefferson's coming today to check on me. She could well imagine Rumpelstiltskin taking out his sour mood on the hatter. She made her way to the kitchen, noting his absence in the Great Hall as she passed. He was, no doubt, still in the library working. Quickly, she prepared a tea tray and ascended the steps to face the beast.
She set the tray down on the table by the sofa and gasped as his hands slipped about her waist, hauling her roughly against his chest. His teeth grazed the curve of her neck as his lips moved to her ear and she had to fight down a fresh wave of desire as he whispered, "I missed you. What took you so long?" Her answer was a low throaty moan. "I love it when you moan for me, sweetheart." Rumpelstiltskin turned her in his arms and claimed her mouth with his for a long moment before stepping back and surveying his handiwork. She swayed in his arms, her eyes heavily-lidded with passion, lips parted and swollen from his kisses, and a rosy blush on her cheeks. "Unfortunately, we have important matters to discuss this morning."
Belle watched him move to the sofa and sit down to fix himself a cup of tea and groaned inwardly at the loss of contact. She fought to get her breathing under control as she sat next to him. "D-Did ... uh ... did you come up with a solution to your Regina dilemma?"
"I believe I did, but my theory has to be tested," he said softly. A grin curled his lips as he took in her struggle to regain her senses, pleased it was his touch which had caused it. "Would you mind terribly fetching that small box from the work table?"
Belle did as he asked and placed the box in his hands, curious to see what was inside. She stared down dumbly as he placed the object in her hands. It was black and pulsing with very little red showing through, in the unmistakable shape of a heart. The breath hitched in her throat as her eyes flew to his face in alarm. "Is this —"
"My heart," he said softly. He could hear Belle's own heartbeat accelerate. "There's no reason to be alarmed, love."
Her voice was filled with awe as her gaze met his. "Rumpel, I'm holding your heart in my hands."
"You always have, Belle, from the moment I saw you. But that's beside the point." He opened his mouth to say more, but his words were cut off as she ran one delicate finger over his heart. Warmth spread through his chest and gooseflesh erupted over his skin. It felt as though she were healing him from the inside out and it left him weak and dazed. He watched her trail her finger over the surface again, the blackness disappearing under the digit and leaving a path of red.
"What happened? Did I hurt you?" she asked worriedly as he took the organ away from her shaking hands. She noticed his eyes were damp, and she reached up to touch his face. But it wasn't pain she'd made him feel, it was love and the emotion was somewhat more than he could bear.
His voice was filled with reverence. "No, you didn't hurt me. I could feel your love, Belle, when you touched my heart just now. I could feel it. I've never felt anything like that before," he croaked, ducking his head sheepishly.
She pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth and brushed the hair away from his eyes. "I love you, Rumpel. I guess you still have a hard time believing it, don't you?"
"I'll never doubt it again. I can promise you that."
"Please tell me you're planning to put it back where it belongs."
His attention snapped back to the task at hand and he grinned wickedly. "Naturally, but first ..." He drew a small vial from inside his vest and held it up to the light, its contents glowing pink. He poured the liquid over his heart and held it closer to her, so she could see the effects. It glowed and pulsed around his heart like it was encased in a shield. "If I'm right, which you know I always am ..." She lifted a perfectly arched brow at him and he giggled. "This potion will ensure it can never again be removed from my chest by anyone other than myself." He waggled his brows playfully at her. "Would you like to put it back where it belongs?"
"What? Me?"
He giggled again. "Squeamish, dearie? You're looking rather green." Rumpelstiltskin grabbed her hand before she could retreat and placed his heart in her palm. She couldn't look away, her eyes wide with fascination and a little fear as he placed her hand to his chest and thrust it inside.
"Gods! This is so wrong," she squealed as she felt him guide his heart back into place.
"You can let go now, Belle."
She jerked her hand back, expecting it to be covered in blood, relieved when it was still pristine and unblemished. "Don't ever do that again, Rumpelstiltskin," she hissed. "You leave your body parts where they belong." She was a little put out by his amusement.
"Wait, we still have to test my theory." He snatched her hand and shoved it back through his chest. He ignored her shrieks of protest and regarded her seriously. "Wrap you hand around it. Do you feel it?"
"Yes," she squeaked nervously, fighting down a wave of panic.
"Now pull," he commanded. He smiled in satisfaction as she pulled with all her strength and the organ remained intact.
"It won't move. Am I doing something wrong?"
"No. The potion worked." He removed her hand from his chest and kissed her fingertips.
"Are you going to explain the purpose of this little experiment?" she asked, shaking her head in confusion. "And what this has to do with Regina?"
He pulled her to nestle into his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pressing her close and letting her warmth seep into his side. "When you take a heart, you have control over it. You can make that person do anything you want. Anything, Belle. Regina is famous for her collection of hearts. She keeps them in a vault at the Winter Palace. If she were to somehow get to you, take your heart ... " his voice trailed off as he shuddered.
"She could command me to harm you," she finished for him, letting his words sink into her.
"I have to protect you, Belle. That's why I tested it on myself, before ... "
"Before you do the same to me." She was suddenly nauseated at the thought of his hand digging into her chest. She knew it was necessary, but she was far from happy about it. "Will it hurt?"
"Do you trust me?" he asked, not realizing until that moment just how much her answer meant to him.
"Of course, I trust you," she muttered irritably, wondering how he could even ask such a stupid question. This was the man she'd chosen to give her heart to, literally it seemed.
His eyes darkened as he pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in his embrace. "I promise you won't feel more than a mild discomfort," he vowed as his lips found the sensitive flesh below her ear, using his teeth and tongue to mark the area. She was stiff in his arms. "Just relax, dear one. Concentrate on what I'm doing with my mouth, not my hands."
Belle slowly began to relax as he left hot open-mouthed kisses along her jaw before moving to her mouth, sucking her bottom lip and delving his tongue inside. She became lost in his kiss, letting his heat seep into her as a fresh wave of desire rolled over her. She arched into his hand as it cupped her breast through the thin fabric of her gown, his thumb teasing the nipple. She didn't feel his hand slip into chest and caress her heart, too lost in the passion he was invoking in her.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" an outraged voice asked from the stairwell which led into the library.
Rumpelstiltskin broke off the kiss and leaned his brow to Belle's for a moment before turning to their visitor, her heart clasped gently in his hand. "Don't you know how to knock, hatter?" he asked dryly. He stared down at her heart, not sparing a glance for his friend. He lovingly caressed the organ, marveling at the brightness and purity which could only belong to the woman he loved.
"Why don't you have some tea, Jefferson," Belle offered a little breathlessly, still consumed with all things Rumpel. "We'll just be a moment."
Jefferson gaped at her incredulously. "Belle, he's holding your heart in his hand. He could crush it and end you, and you're telling me to have tea! What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Rumpelstiltskin cast a scathing glance over his shoulder at the hatter and poured the potion over Belle's heart, watching it glow and encase it in magic. He wrapped his arm about her waist and held her firmly. "Are you ready, sweetheart?" At her hesitant nod, he thrust his hand into her chest and set it gently back into place. "Are you alright?" he asked as she filled her starving lungs with air.
Belle rested her head against his shoulder, her breathing becoming steady as he traced soothing circles on her back and stroked her hair. "Good as new, Rumpel."
"Would one of you tell me what is going on? Please?" Jefferson asked desperately as Belle moved to sit on the sofa and poured him a cup of tea as though Rumpelstiltskin hadn't just ripped her heart from her chest.
"Regina," they chorused. Rumpelstiltskin smiled warmly at her before turning to Jefferson. "Regina paid us an unwelcome visit yesterday and she showed a marked interest to our lovely princess. I had to take precautions to protect Belle."
"Really, Jefferson, you should know Rumpel wouldn't hurt me," she scolded gently.
"I beg to differ, my girl. I witnessed just how much he's capable of hurting you," the hatter scoffed, his eyes shooting daggers at the imp.
Rumpelstiltskin's eyes narrowed menacingly only to soften as Belle took his hand in hers, soothing her thumb over his knuckles. She turned back to Jefferson and met his worried gaze. "It's done, Jefferson. Let it go."
"But —"
"Let it go. We're happy now. Together. You don't have to worry about me anymore," she said gently, her smile blinding.
Jefferson sat back heavily against the sofa cushions and ran a hand through his wild hair. "Who would've thought it? The Dark One and his little princess ... in love." He glared darkly at his friend. "Took you long enough."
Rumpelstiltskin ground his teeth together and smirked at Jefferson. "I ... uh ... thank you, hatter. Thank you for bringing her back to me," he said, the words near choking him.
"I beg your pardon? Was that a thank you? From the Dark One?"
Belle poked him in the chest. "Knock it off, Jeff."
"Classic," Jefferson chortled.
Rumpelstiltskin glared at him. "Snails, Jefferson."
A/n: I just love this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it, too!