Reviews and comments are always gratefully appreciated. I do not own "Once Upon a Time."
Chapter 14 - Stolen Hearts
Isabelle and Mr. Gold both looked at one another with puzzlement as they pulled up to Isabelle's house. "I locked the door before I left – why is it open?" Isabelle said. She reached into her purse and pulled out her handgun and slowly went up the steps, Mr. Gold following behind.
"Belle – be careful," Gold said, following her. Isabelle heard a noise coming from inside.
"Don't move," Isabelle said to the figure standing in her living room.
"Drop the gun, it's just me," Emma said, holding up her weapon as well.
"Miss Swan. What are you doing in my home?" Isabelle asked, putting her gun down.
"Your neighbors reported a possible break-in. I came to check it out," Emma said.
"And you didn't bother to call me?" Isabelle asked.
"I called the shop and you weren't there. And I don't have your cell number," Emma said. "Doesn't look like they took too much – mainly stuff from the library."
"What!" Isabelle shouted, clearly upset, and she rushed into the library. "NO! Dammit, no!" Gold and Emma could hear Isabelle shout before they reached the room. "My dagger – Robert, they took my dagger!"
"Your what?" Emma asked.
"It's an art piece that I had above my fireplace mantle – a silver dagger, has to be hundreds of years old, if not more," Isabelle said. Gold's heart practically skipped a beat. Someone had his dagger. It was no use to them here, at this point, with no magic, but – just the fact that it was out and not safe with Belle frightened and worried him.
"Well, they took more than that. They broke into your china cabinet, took a bunch of stuff in there, and from the empty spots on the walls it looks like they took a couple of paintings as well," Emma said.
"Did they go upstairs?" Isabelle asked.
"I don't know, I haven't checked," Emma replied. Isabelle rushed out of the room in a panic.
"Do you have any suspects?" Gold asked.
"Not yet," Emma said. "The hard part will be narrowing the list down – your girlfriend isn't exactly the most popular person in town." Isabelle came back into the room carrying something small in her hand.
"They didn't go up there," Isabelle said. "I want my dagger found – that's all that matters to me." Mr. Gold glanced inside the china cabinet and quickly realized that his chipped cup was missing.
"Belle - my cup is gone," Gold said.
"What cup?" Isabelle asked.
"My cup – the one you put in the cabinet for me."
"Your broken cup? My most treasured piece of art is gone, and you're worried about a ridiculous broken cup?!" she shouted at him.
"That cup is important to me, Belle. You know that," Gold said.
"Just find what belongs to me, Miss Swan. And it better be quick," Isabelle said.
"I'll do my best," Emma said.
"You do better than that," Isabelle replied. Emma rolled her eyes before she walked out the door. Isabelle sat down on the love seat in her library and looked at the item she held in her hand.
"What is that?" Gold asked, sitting down next to her.
"My mother's pendant," Isabelle said. Gold recognized it immediately. It was the pendant that Belle wore in the Dark Castle. And it did belong to her mother. "I thought they might have stolen this as well."
"You don't talk much about your mother. Were you close?" Gold asked.
"She was the only person who believed in me," Isabelle said. "The only person who truly loved me."
"I'm sure she was lovely," Gold said.
"Oh, she was. She was stunningly beautiful, but she never put on airs about it. She never acted like she was better than anyone else. She never gave up on me, not once. Even when no one else believed me, she -" Isabelle began to fight back tears.
"Belle, what happened to your mother?" Gold asked.
"You've probably heard the rumors," Isabelle said, sniffing her tears back and turning away from him.
"I want to hear it from you," Gold said. "I want to know what really happened." Isabelle turned back and looked at him.
"Regina and I used to be friends. She began seeing this boy named Daniel – her father didn't like him. She was going to run away with him. She came up with this idea to start stashing money aside so that they could leave. I told her I would help her. But then I got caught and – well, Regina, she turned on me. She said I was stealing, and I didn't do that. No one believed me – only my mother. My father thought I was lying. Only my mother trusted that I was telling the truth. She said she would try to convince my father about Regina." Isabelle paused for a moment. "One afternoon, my mother was upstairs in my room with me – I was packing a suitcase, she told me it might be best for me to leave for awhile so that she could sort everything out. Someone knocked at the door – it was Regina. My mother went downstairs and had words with her – I was stunned, I'd never heard her angry before. She came back upstairs and told me that everything was going to be alright. Regina wouldn't leave – she was downstairs shouting. My mother told me to ignore her, but I just couldn't let it go. I ran for the stairs to go confront Regina and my mother tried to stop me. She grabbed me when I got to the stairs and – I didn't mean for her to fall. It was an accident, I didn't mean for her to fall. Nobody believed me – Regina said I pushed her and nobody believed me." Isabelle started to cry.
"Oh, Belle – oh sweetheart. I believe you," Gold said, pulling her into a hug. Yes, death was far too good for Regina at this point, Gold decided. She tortured Belle with these horrid false memories for twenty-eight years.
"Regina is a monster. Ever since then, everything she does that goes wrong, she blames on me. She always gets away with it. It's like I'm cursed or something," Isabelle said. Gold was silent for a moment.
"What about Daniel? And the money? What happened with that?" Gold asked.
"Daniel was killed in a car accident a few days after my mother died. I'm surprised Regina didn't find a way to blame that on me as well. I do like to think of that as karma. Not that I wished for Daniel to die, but – if I had to lose the one person that loved me, it was only fair that she did as well. Her father died of a heart attack not too long after – I wouldn't even be surprised if she killed him herself. She told me she would drop the theft charges against me if I left town. So I did. And then I came back and took over her bank. And yes I did it for vengeance – on her and on this entire town. And if that makes me a monster then I guess that is what I am."
"No – no you're not a monster. Regina left you with no one to turn to. That's on her," Gold said.
"Well – Gordon stood by me, but – he's Gordon, it's not like that's a big help. You know you're the first person – ever – that's even wanted to listen to my side of things."
"I believe you Belle. I believe everything you've said is true. Sweetheart, I promise you that things will be better for you in time. I know that makes no sense to you right now – but it will," Gold said as he faced her and took her hands.
"I'm sorry that I teased you about your cup. I'm sure it'll be found," Isabelle said.
"I hope so," Gold said. "Belle – do think Regina could be behind this?"
"Why? What would be the point?"
"It's Regina – why does she do anything she does? I don't think she'd have done it herself, though. She seems to like to have other people do things for her. Who could she have gotten to break into your house?"
"Gordon. I bet he took the dagger. He's been eyeing it for as long as I can remember, I told you that."
"Yes, you did," Gold replied. "Right now though, I think it might be best to wait and see what Emma finds."
"I suppose you're right," Isabelle agreed.
"How about we have our dinner and try and get some rest, alright?" Gold suggested.
"Robert – can I stay downstairs with you tonight? I really don't want to be alone."
"It's your house, Belle, you can stay wherever you like."
"I'll make dinner then," Isabelle said, and she got up and went into the other room. Gold decided that he'd be paying Regina Mills a visit the next day. He'd had it with her games and her tormenting of Belle with these horrible false memories. He was going to put a stop to it, one way or another.
Isabelle fell asleep in Gold's arms on the sofa once again, and that morning she began to toss and turn, awakening Gold. "Belle – hey, wake up, sweetheart, it's alright," Gold said. Isabelle opened her eyes and sat up a bit. "It was just a bad dream, you're alright."
"Were you able to get some sleep?" Isabelle asked.
"Yes," Gold replied. "I like having you here with me." Isabelle snuggled back up with him.
"Robert – If I told you I loved you, would you promise me something?" she asked. Gold's heart began to race. It was really going to happen. Just one kiss, that's all he needed, just one kiss and then everything would change. She would remember. She could help him bring down Regina, she – she could help him help Emma break the curse.
"I – what's that?" Gold asked nervously. Belle looked up at him.
"Promise me you'll never leave me," she said. Gold reached out and touched her face.
"Oh, sweetheart – I promise," he said. Belle moved her lips toward his. They were just about to touch when the doorbell rang. Isabelle stopped her attempt a kiss and got up to answer it, and Gold pondered whether killing the person behind the door would be an option. Probably not – he promised Belle there would be no more killing. He'd settle for maiming though.
"Well, I found your stuff. Someone tossed it in a dumpster outside The Rabbit Hole," Emma said, setting a bag down on the counter. "The rest is in my car."
"Miss Swan – did you ever consider calling?" Gold asked, coming out into the kitchen, still wearing his pajamas.
"I thought you'd want you things back. Why, did I interrupt something?" Emma asked sarcastically.
"You did," Gold replied.
"Yeah, I don't want to know," Emma said.
"This is all you found? What about my dagger?" Isabelle asked while looking through everything.
"Didn't see a dagger, sorry," Emma replied. "Let me go get the rest of the stuff." Emma went outside and came back in with a few paintings. "I did dust for fingerprints – nothing."
"And no one saw anything behind the bar – anyone dumping these things?" Isabelle asked.
"Nope. Look, I'll keep looking for your damn dagger, okay? Do you suspect anyone?" Emma asked.
"Gordon Hunter," Gold chimed in.
"You think he did it?" Emma asked Isabelle.
"It's possible," Isabelle replied. "He hates me and he hates Robert and always admired that dagger and he may have just tried to make it look like a robbery so that he could get to it."
"Well, I'll see what I can find," Emma said. "You guys can go back to – whatever it was that you were doing. Sorry for the interruption." Emma left.
"Your cup is missing," Isabelle said to Gold. "It was probably in the trash and Emma missed it."
"Probably. I'll look for it today, I know you think it's ridiculous but I really want it back," Gold said, although he was confident he wouldn't find it in a trash bin behind a seedy bar. "Belle – before Emma got here, we -"
"I know," Isabelle said. "Robert, I – I'm not sure that I'm ready yet, I'm sorry. I just – I can't bear losing another person that I love. So it's just easier if I don't say it, do you understand?"
"Belle – you're not going to lose me, I'm not going anywhere," Gold said. "Listen – this will make absolutely no sense to you and you'll probably think I sound like I've lost my mind, but – if you will just take a chance – things will be very different than they are now. There will be so many things in your life that don't make sense right now that WILL make sense."
"All that from a kiss?" Isabelle asked.
"Yes," Gold said. "But you have to want it – and you have to admit that you want it." Isabelle was silent for a moment.
"I'm going to go upstairs and get ready for work. Why don't you go look for your chipped cup?" Isabelle asked, and she went upstairs. Gold sighed in despair. This had gone on long enough. It was time to pay Regina a little visit.
Gold showed up at City Hall that morning and headed for the mayor's office. Regina grinned when he walked in the door. "Mr. Gold – what a surprise? Have you considered my offer to come here to work?" Regina asked.
"Hardly," Gold replied, sitting down in front of her desk. "I'm here to talk to you about Isabelle."
"What about her?" Regina asked.
"I want you to stay away from her. She's done nothing to you and you need to leave her alone."
"Oh, she's done plenty to me," Regina said.
"They're all lies and you know it. And I will not stand for it any longer."
"What exactly do you mean?" Regina asked.
"I think you know," Gold replied.
"It's amazing how protective you've become of her. Very touching, actually. Especially given how poorly she treated you until recently. I'll tell you what. I'll leave your boss alone if you do me one little favor," Regina said.
"And what would that be?" Gold asked.
"Tell me your name." Gold began to laugh.
"It's Mr. Gold. Is that all you wanted?"
"I meant your other name."
"As long as I've been in this world, my name has been Robert Gold."
"Perhaps I wasn't clear enough," Regina said, and she reached into her desk drawer, pulled out his chipped cup, and set it on the desk. "Such a fragile little thing – one little slip of my hand and it would shatter to pieces." Gold began to glare at her. "Now – I'll ask you again – what is your name?"
"Rumpelstiltskin," he admitted, growling the name at her. "Now – give me my cup." He reached out for the cup and Regina handed it to him. "You evil witch. Tormenting Belle with false memories that are nightmarish for her and letting the entire town think her a monster."
"I don't know what you're complaining about. I gave Belle comfort and wealth, just like I said I would. And I made sure you were with her the entire time," Regina stated.
"You knew what I meant when I told you what I wanted."
"Well, you know what they say – the devil is always in the details," Regina replied. "It has to be making you crazy, knowing that Belle would never, ever desire a pathetic little man like you."
"You forget, dearie – true love always finds a way. Belle loved me once before when I was deemed unlovable. She will love me again in time."
"We'll see about that."
"Yes, we will. Don't forget who's really in charge here. Stay away from Belle – your majesty." Gold picked up his cup and walked out the door.
Regina's castle in the Enchanted Forest . . . .
Regina greeted her guest at the castle door. "Mr. Gaston – please, come in," she said.
"Your majesty. I'm honored that you called me," Gaston said, bowing to her.
"Are you? Many wouldn't feel that way," Regina said.
"You're protecting what's rightfully yours. I understand that," Gaston said.
"Yes – you had a bit of an incident with the Dark One, didn't you?" Regina asked. "He took something that belonged to you."
"That he did. He took my Belle. He bewitched her. He attempted to kill me, and even knowing this she refused to leave him. If I knew of a way to destroy him I would do it without question."
"Would you now? That's good to know." Regina said. She lunged for Gaston's chest and reached into it, ripping his heart out and holding it in front of him. Gaston gasped and trembled. "This entire town is going to be engulfed in a curse soon. You will be a great asset to me in this new land. And when the time comes, you will do everything I ask – because you will have no choice. Now leave – and if you speak of this to anyone . . ." Regina squeezed his heart a bit, and Gaston fell to the ground, writhing and screaming in pain. "Do we understand one another?" Gaston nodded, too afraid to say a word. "Good. That will be all – for now."
Regina grinned smugly as she sat behind her desk after Mr. Gold left her office. She opened her bottom drawer and removed a sizable box from it, then set it on her desk, picked up her phone, and dialed. "Yes, it's me. Mr. Gold has become an even bigger problem for me than I anticipated. You're going to have to dispose of him for me," Regina said, touching the heart in the box as she spoke to him. "Don't worry about that – you just do the job, and I'll take care of everything else."
Gordon smiled as he hung up the phone. He had been wanting to kill Robert Gold ever since the day he walked in on him with Izzy. He never really cared for the man even before that, but with him out of the way, he could win Izzy back. And with the mayor taking care of all of the incidentals afterward – he wouldn't even have to make it look like an accident. He could make it as painful as he wanted. With the mayor's help on this, Gold would simply just – vanish. Like magic. And in time – Isabelle would forget all about him. Gordon picked up the dagger and smiled.