Her Dark Guard

By: RosexKnight

A nightmare is had and proven wrong with confessions that are made.

Chapter 14

Darkness. Darkness was all she was surrounded by. It must have been late. She could never remember the keep being this dark at all. Perhaps a storm was coming. One with heavy clouds that blocked out the sun and coated everything in darkness.

She couldn't tell which part of the keep exactly she was in. A hallway, but not one that seemed familiar in the dark. She was suddenly unsettled. A foreboding feeling crept up her spine. Something was wrong. She needed to get her bearings. She needed to find-

"Mama!"

Belle stopped in her tracks. The voice was faint, but unmistakable. Her heart pounded, and she fought to keep her breath steady as panic squirmed through her.

"Mama!"

Without a second thought, she was moving, calling out in response, twisting and turning and getting even more lost in the dark passage but it didn't matter because Baelfire's voice was getting stronger.

Finally, she came to a halt as the corridor gave way to a dead end.

"Bae?!" She called, "Baelfire!"

But there was no answer. The air grew still. Belle wrapped her arms around her shoulders, trying to hold herself together as she turned back the way she came, only to come face to face with Graham.

"Lady Belle what's wrong?" He asked, his eyes holding nothing but concern.

Belle took a few breaths, trying to calm herself. "Baelfire was calling. Didn't you hear?"

"No I didn't hear anything." Graham stepped forward, offering her a hand. "Come. You look tired. Let's get you to bed."

The lady took another moment to steady her breath. If Graham hadn't heard anything, then her son was fine. She was stressed, that was all. Too stressed. It was making her hear things and not recognize her own home. Finally, she looked back to Graham and nodded, reaching out to take his outstretched hand.

Suddenly something had stolen her breath, and she found herself shaking all over again. Graham's hand was cold as ice, and touching it alone chilled her to the core. A sob choked in her throat, and she felt tears come unbidden.

"G-Graham?"

All that came in response was a strangled noise from Graham's throat before he fell to her feet. Belle yelped, stumbling back, only to bump into something solid. She turned with wide eyes to see Rumpelstiltskin.

"You're in a fine pickle aren't you dearie?" He gave a sing song tone, a wicked grin on his face.

Belle had seen that look in his eye his magic was around Hordor's throat. "Rumple?"

The imp gave a high-pitched giggle. "But that's what you brought me here for? To un-pickle you."

"We had a deal…"

"Oh I'm aware dearie but do you know what happens when it's over?" Belle shook her head, a lump forming in her throat. Rumpelstiltskin was grinning again, leaning over her. "I'll leave! And I'll make sure you never call upon me again."

"No! You...you can't just-"

"Can and will, dearie."

"But I-"

"Oh dearie me you didn't think I did too did you?"

"But that night-"

"I told you, Belle." He was looming over her now, a spark in his eye that was far too malicious. "I intended to enjoy myself, and I did."

A whimper escaped her as she stumbled back, only for her foot to collide with Graham's body, still in a heap on the floor. She fell backwards, watching as the darkness surrounded her, becoming weightless as she fell deeper and deeper into the lonely abyss, her son's voice all the while calling for her, and she cried back, helpless to do anything more.

Belle awoke with a start. Her room was dim, and for a moment panic overtook her again from the thought of not escaping the dream. But first light was filtering from the window, and slowly her body relaxed. She collapsed back onto her pillows, shivering. She took a few more breaths, calming herself before reaching for the other side of the bed to find it cold.

Cold. Rumpelstiltskin was gone.

Something akin to anger and regret mingled in her gut and she found herself sitting up all over again. Visions of the nightmare flashed. His grin. The malice in his eyes.

The name came before she could stop herself. "Rumple?" No answer. "Rumpelstiltskin." The stillness was practically overwhelming. "Rumpelst-!"

"There's no need to shout."

Belle turned to the doorway. Rumpelstiltskin had appeared, a tray of breakfast in his hands. He tilted his head at her, concern in his eyes. She willed herself to relax. He was there. She was safe.

"Is Bae alright?"

"Of course." He approached easily, setting the tray of eggs and bacon and biscuits before her. "He's still asleep."

Belle nodded, her shoulders finally relaxing. Bad had been nothing more than a nightmare. She ran her fingers through her hair, wiping away the sheen of sweat that remained on her forehead. Rumpelstiltskin didn't press the issue, and seemed to understand as he took his spot beside her on the bed again, his back to the headboard as he lounged above the blankets.

"Sorry." She finally said. "I had a nightmare. You were gone when I woke up. I was...shaken."

In truth she had wanted to be held. Told that it was going to be alright. That was the reason she'd wanted him in her bed last night. With Gaston gone and her nerves frayed in such a way she'd never felt lonelier at nights.

Rumpelstiltskin nodded. "I...thought you might enjoy breakfast."

At this, Belle smiled. "And you?"

"Not hungry."

She smiled as he waved her off. Like him, she relaxed against the headboard. This was familiar. Stolen time alone with him as they discussed things over breakfast and other meals as the imp became prickly and put on a mask of disinterest that Belle saw right through. But there was no talk of far-off places or sword fights or magic or princes. Only silence as she ate her eggs before they got cold. A nervous stillness that seemed sacred to their bond. Seemingly unbreakable until Belle could stand it no longer. After all, this was not how it was supposed to be.

"So what happens today?"

Rumpelstiltskin stiffened beside her, but sighed. "Today you have Graham's ceremony. You don't leave the keep. You keep your wits about you and go about as if it's a normal day."

She turned to him. "And you?"

"I go back to The Dark Castle." He said after a pause. "There's an item there I need to keep you protected, and I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't receive a...visitor."

"The one who killed Graham."

"I believe so."

"Then what?"

"Then I see what she wants."

Belle paused, looking back to her plate of breakfast. Her stomach was in knots. She didn't want to face today. She wanted to stay in bed with her son and shut the world out. "Can we win?"

Rumpelstiltskin gave her a grin "You have me, dearie."

"Do we?" Belle's voice was perhaps too firm, and she sighed at the question in his eyes. "The deal was to simply find the one who killed my husband. Your end is fulfilled."

The Dark One frowned. "And you'd have me leave you and my son alone to face an army with a heart-stealing witch on their side?"

"Of course not!" Belle snapped.

"Then our deal is not finished."

The words were a finality. A dismiss. But there was something niggling at the edge of Belle's mind and she needed to know.

"Why stay at all?"

Rumpelstiltskin looked to her and seemed taken aback by the question, as if surprised she ever brought it up. Hurt flickered in his eyes for a moment, and Belle had to quash the urge to reach out to him.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, his voice gaining an annoyed edge. But it wasn't high-pitched like in her dream. It was still him.

"Why stay at all?" She repeated. "You made good on your end. Why not tell me who killed Gaston and be on your merry way?"

"And leave you in danger? And leave Baelfire in danger? He's my son."

"He's my son." The words were too firm, but Belle's voice cracked nonetheless. "He's my son and has been since the day you left me all those years ago!"

"You were married, Belle. And my end of the deal was done. Why wouldn't I leave?"

"Because you knew how I felt about you then! How I still feel about you!"

"Well then the answer's simple, dearie. I don't feel the same."

This time, it was Belle to recoil, feeling like she'd been punched in the gut. But rage bubbled in her, and her eyes narrowed at him.

"You're lying." He looked away, his lips in a tight line. "You're lying because if you really didn't you wouldn't be sticking around. Wouldn't be making sure my guards were prepared for a dragon attack. Wouldn't have kissed me back that night in the hallway!"

"Enough!"

Rumpelstiltskin was on his feet in a moment, his movement so abrupt he nearly knocked the tray of food over. He paced, and Belle knew he'd been caught in his lie. Was agitated. She couldn't help the pride that welled in her chest.

"And what if I am?" He growled finally. "What difference would that make?"

"All the difference." Belle said. "If you-"

"No." He snapped. "Don't pretend."

"Pretend what?"

"That you could love the beast." His sing-song pitch was back, and her stomach dropped. "You'll leave the moment you realize how foolish your feelings are for some prince you think deserves you."

"What are you talking about?!" Belle snapped. "I fell in love with you all those years ago when the deal was in place! I would have gone with you in an instant if you'd have just asked, married or not! We could have been happy, the three of us, together if you weren't so afraid that someone could love you!"

"Shut up!"

His eyes were turned to her in a glare, but there was no contempt in them. No malice like there had been in her nightmare. Only hurt and scorn, and Belle met it with a glare of her own.

Her nightmare had been wrong. Just the internal feels she felt about why he left her alone. Now, she saw she was wrong. And that filled her with confidence.

"No." This time her voice was calm, unwavering. "Not this time. I'll not sit by and watch as you breeze by once again as if this is all simply a business transaction. No one decides my fate but me, and if you decide to run I'll chase you down myself."

Rumpelstiltskin heaved an exasperated sigh, running his fingers through his hair. "Belle you don't understand. You can't be shackled to a monster like me. You don't deserve that."

"You're not a monster." She shook her head. "Why do you want to run?"

Because everyone had left. Milah, his first wife, before they could have a child, Cora before they had done more than steal a few kisses, and Belle knew nothing of his past, knew nothing of the pitiful spinner with a limp that hid behind the power of The Dark One. Why should she be so different, that she wouldn't run as well?

"Because no one could love me." He said simply.

And then Belle was laughing. A proper laugh that made her throw her head back, as if he'd said something absurd and she'd found nothing else to be as funny. It had happened. The stress had finally made her hysterical. But she shook her head as her giggling subsided, and reached out to him, beckoning him back to the bed.

"You might be a difficult man to love, but I could love you if you'd only let me."

This woman was amazing. Amazing and perfect and completely insufferable. "Belle…"

"Please don't tell me what I do and don't deserve. I've spent my whole life being told that. For once let me choose what I want. She tilted her head at him, a smile playing at her lips. "If you truly don't love or want me, then leave to go about your business now. But if you do, come give me a proper goodbye. We'll figure the rest out later. One thing at a time."

"But Bae…"

"You're his father. It will work out."

"He might hate me."

Belle rolled her eyes, her arm dropping "Rumple are you going to come and kiss me or not?"

Rumpelstiltskin's eyes widened. He began to wring his hands, his eyes looking her over in the bed then flicking to the window and the door, fighting with himself. Wondering if it would be better to flee now or take the risk. Belle watched him, searching him, seeing every bit of uncertainty he had as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, the same way Baelfire did when he was nervous. He was more like his father than anyone knew.

Rumpelstiltskin finally stepped forward, looming over her as he climbed back onto the bed, the tray of food disappearing with a thought. If he was trying to scare her, it backfired, only making her stomach flutter and her cheeks burn.

"Why did you kiss me?" He finally asked.

"Because…" She swallowed, "Because I wanted to. You looked out for Bae. Like a father should…"

"Why did you want me here last night?"

"Because I didn't want to be alone. I wanted to be held and feel safe. I needed you."

Rumpelstiltskin made an odd sound between a growl and a sob as he buried his face in her neck. Her breath caught in her throat, and she fought back a shiver as she felt his breath waft over her neck. His hands fisted in her sheets, and for a moment Belle thought he was shaking.

"Tell me to stop, Belle." His voice finally rasped.

She blinked, her mind taking a moment to catch up. "Why?"

"Because if you don't I won't be able to."

He was giving her an out. Just like before. A way to make him stop and leave and never have this moment again. A pang ran through her chest, and she shook her head.

"I wouldn't mean it."

He made a sound like a dying animal, his lips grazing the spot where her neck met her shoulder and she finally shivered. "Belle…"

There was too much talking, she decided, and it didn't seem to be working. If there was one thing Belle was getting tired of, it was being scared and stressed and worried and here, now, with his lips on her skin it had all evaporated. And she'd be damned if he was going to think she didn't deserve him. She turned, grabbed him with both hands and pulled him into a kiss.

He froze for a moment, just as he had before, but then his brain caught up to him and his lips were moving. molding themselves against her as he gathered her in his arms and held her close. A low noise of desperation came from his throat, and she answered it with one of her own. Her hands moved, clinging to his back and tangling in his hair as his tongue glided over her lips and she opened for him willingly, needing to taste him, needing to show him how much she just felt for him.

When he pulled away, she was breathless, and gave him a grin. "Does this mean Jefferson won't have to lock us in a closet?"

Rumpelstiltskin chuckled, shaking his head as he threw the covers off of her. "I might let him anyway."

She hummed, taking her bottom lips in her perfect teeth and chewing as his hands glided over her hips and waist, feeling her through the silk of her nightgown in all the ways he'd wanted to for countless nights before. Leaning back down he kissed her, a much more tender dance of the lips but with the same desperate longing around the edges. He turned her so that she was lying on her belly, tracing kisses up her neck as his fingers began to work at the back laces of her gown. She shivered again, trying to turn and face him for another kiss, but he held her in place.

"Shhh love just let me take care of you…" He whispered against the shell of her ear.

She let out a disappointed little groan and he chuckled, his fingers tracing every bit of exposed skin on her back and arms as he slid the gown off of her shoulders. Her skin was creamy and perfect and just as soft and warm as he remembered.

"I can't see you…" Belle finally complained as his nail traced down her spine, the words coming out in a wine, her body warming instantly.

"Just feel me." Rumpelstiltskin said, leaning forward to kiss along her exposed shoulders until he felt her relax under his touch. "You deserve so much more than what I can give you…How I'm lucky enough to have you love me I'll never know."

"I love you." Belle sighed. "I've always loved you. I thought I'd forgotten but then you were back and I just-"

"Shhh…" He cooed against the shell of her ear, pressing the front of his body to her back, feeling her against him. It wasn't enough. He wanted to be skin to skin. Needed to be.

"And then you rescued Baelfire and made sure he wouldn't have nightmares and-"

"I was only helping him…" His hands were on her shoulders now, squeezing lightly before trailing back down, grazing the sides of her breasts.

"And I've been so stressed. My nerves feel raw. And I'm just so tired, Rumple. You left and you had to know. I love you."

"Yes…" He breathed against the shell of her ear. "And I love you too."

The words made her moan and Rumpelstiltskin realized he shouldn't have left. Should have stayed. Should have fought for her. But all he could think of was the day she'd see him as a monster. The day she'd leave. She was right. He'd been a coward. But it was alright now. They'd be together. And he'd give her anything she asked.

His hands continued to stroke and caress her, trailing fire wherever they touched. She relaxed under him, only the occasional shiver and moan escaping her. Desire coiled between them, and Rumpelstiltskin shuddered as she arched back to his touch. With a thought his shirt had disappeared, and he leaned into her, pressing himself to her, feeling her soft warmth against his skin as the painful bulge in his pants pressed against her bottom.

Belle's breath caught. "Rumple...I need…"

"What do you need, love?" He whispered against her skin, making her shudder anew.

"You…" She whined, leaning back into him. Once again she tried to turn and face him, but he kept her where she was. "But…"

"You wanted to feel safe." He said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. She turned, their lips brushing. "You have The Dark One curled around you, wanting you, protecting you, what could be safer?"

Belle giggled, but the sound turned into a breathy moan as the gown pulled at her waist disappeared with his trousers, and their bare bodies were flush. He moaned with her, his lips finding hers in an awkward kiss as he cupped her breasts, encouraging her to lift herself on her knees and elbows. She sighed happily into the kiss. She was surrounded by him, the rest of the world falling away, replaced with his touch and voice and scent.

"I should please you…" Rumpelstiltskin's voice was husky as his hands moved on her breasts, kneading them as his thumbs toyed with her nipples, lips trailing pure electricity over her neck and shoulders, making her shiver and keen "Make sure you're satisfied before I take you. Do you realize how hard it was not to take you against the wall that night? How many times I dreamed of you?"

Belle shuddered as he moved against her, feeling him against her. "You did?"

"Always. I spun so much, trying to forget…"

"I couldn't." Belle said breathlessly. "I thought I had but- Ohh Rumple please…"

"What is it you want love?"

"You…! Dammit Rumple it's always been you!"

"I said I should please you…"

"Later! Right now I just need you."

A growl emitted from his throat as he moved against her again. He shifted, using a hand to line himself up with her. For a moment he paused, unsure of himself. His tip met her folds and his head swam with the feel of her wet warmth. His control snapped and in one fluid motion he entered her. She was tight and warm and utterly perfect. Being connected felt like coming home, and he had to wonder how he could have ever left in the first place. Belle deserved this. Deserved to be bedded whenever she pleased, and oh he vowed to be at her neck and call when she did.

Below him, Belle moaned, arching back against him. She felt whole. More whole than she ever had before. She reached back as her body adjusted to him, and his hand met hers. Intertwining their fingers, she panted, and before she could ask Rumpelstiltskin was moving. He pressed open-mouth kisses to her neck, meeting her every moan and whimper and while with one of his own. His teeth found the spot where her shoulder met her neck again, and as he thrust back into her he nipped her, lavving the love-bite with his tongue in apology before sucking and doing it all over again with every movement. He was marking her, Belle realized, and she smiled, making a note to wear something with a high collar.

They moved together, moans mingling, hands clutching as the world melted away and nothing mattered except the way he moved, the moans she made with the spots he hit, and oh it was perfect.

"Rumple…" She whined, and then all but cried out when he reached between them with her free hand and circled her clit with his finger.

She came apart crying his name, and in a few more erratic thrusts he followed her. Their names weaved together against the walls as they shuddered, riding their climaxes out until they were both shaking and panting.

It was with great reluctance that Rumpelstiltskin released her, flopping down to the bed and pulling her against his side.

"I love you." She said, laying her head on his chest, hearing the beat of his heart under her fingertips.

"I love you too." He replied, fingers tracing her shoulders, caressing the tender spot on her neck.

Everyone would know, and the thought brought a smile to his face. He pressed her lips against her hair, humming at her scent of roses and perfection.

"Was that a proper enough goodbye?" He asked.

Belle giggled. "For now…When will you be back?"

"Tonight if not sooner. Then we can figure out where to go from here." He sighed. "I have to go now. Bae will be up soon."

Belle nodded, sitting up to caress his cheek, then brush her lips against his. "Be careful."

"You as well."

And in a cloud of smoke that left her skin tingling with magic he was gone, along with any trace he'd ever been there except the warmth in the bed and his scent on the pillows.