Weeks turned to months and Gaston had grown no closer to trapping a Nymph or Mermaid, no one had ever been stupid enough to attempt to trap a Nymph and most that went near Mermaids ended up drowning at the bottom of the ocean. Gaston had not lost hope though, lost determination, and it had paid off. He'd heard of a spiteful sea witch that knew of a way to force Mermaids to do ones bidding and that witch was his final hope. The Knight had informed the King and less than an hour later set sail to seek her out.

The sea was calm but the threat of a storm perched in the distance, fortunately they sailed west putting yet more ocean between the violent clouds and their ship; The Aquarius. The squawking of Seagulls faded as they left the shallows for the open ocean, land drifting out of sight as though it had never been there to begin with, air salty that one could taste and smell. The Aquarius was a smaller ship, Gaston needed speed and as few witnesses as possible, he wasn't charging into war and so The Aquarius was the only option, men worked hard, their feet pounding the deck as the ship swayed side to side. Occasional shouts sounded as new orders were given to the sailors, the Knight only half listened – needing to be aware of what was going on around him but not really caring for the conversations of common men – as he stared out over the blue-green water.

Gaston hoped they got there soon, Maurice had started to grow impatient for his daughter's return and Gaston felt rather similarly about the throne. Maurice's family had ruled for centuries and it was LeGume's turn.

XXXX

Belle yawned when she awoke, her body stretching with that oddly pleasurable pain before she hopped out of bed to wash and dress then went down to prepare breakfast in the kitchen. Over the last few weeks things had grown peaceful – save for the occasional screams of punished souls – and Belle had grown to enjoy her meals with Lord Rumpelstiltskin. She'd dressed in a simple blue gown a little darker than her eyes, her mother had once owned it and though it wasn't what one would expect a Princess or Queen to wear it had always been one of Colette's and Belle's favourites.

The auburn haired beauty had just finished buttering the last slice of toast when she felt a puff of air behind her and smelt something similar to grass and honey, she'd come to know that scent as Rumple's magic; maybe its inviting sweet fragrance was part of the reason people fell into the world of magic. When he'd first started magically appearing around her she'd jumped but not anymore, he wouldn't hurt her.

"You've already finished." It wasn't a question, just an observation.

"I have." She said as the toast found itself placed on a plate before Belle turned. "And good morning to you too, Rumple."

A nickname that he still found strange coming from the Princess, the way it rolled off her tongue though was delightful. He stepped back when the God realised just how close he was, practically pinning her to the counter top.

"Morning, Dearie." He'd grown comfortable around her again and they'd gone back to how they'd been back when she stayed for tea after bringing her Kingdom's wine; Belle had missed that. "I came to tell you that I've been summoned again, I could be gone some time."

Recently he'd started seeking her out when he'd been summoned, telling her he was leaving softly rather than just vanishing or announcing it abruptly then vanishing, she was grateful for the warning but that did leave her all on her own.

"Oh." Belle deflated. "Will you eat first?"

"No, but I will take a slice with me."

Rumple reached past her to grab a slice of buttery brown toast from the plate, their cheeks so close they nearly brushed against one another and Belle didn't know if it was accidental or he was teasing her; she could feel the heat of him radiating. Once he pulled back the God took a bite.

"Delicious as always." It's just some toast, Belle thought with a small blush. "Jefferson might arrive later, I asked him to acquire something for me a long time ago and he thinks he has found a way. If he does just sit it on the table in the main hall. Don't play around with it." He pointed a finger at her in warning.

"Of course. Will you be back for supper?" Belle was curious not stupid, she knew not to go messing around with potions and magical artefacts lest she be turned into a cat and meow her way through the rest of life.

Well this is very domestic, was Rumple's first thought upon hearing Belle's question. He'd not notice them grow comfortable with each other again but he wasn't going to deny that fact made him happy, Rumple finished his toast before brushing the crumbs away with his golden fingers.

"I should be, I doubt this will take quite that long but the man who summoned me sounds like a moron in all honesty, I'll probably be explaining the deal fifteen or so times." Belle chucked softly and Rumple felt his heart soar knowing he was the one to make her laugh.

"Okay. I'll have dinner waiting for you then." Without thinking Belle leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek, Rumple tensed and found himself in a shocked silence but Belle didn't seem to realise what she'd just done. "I should take Avonlea's offering to the Upperworld."

With that she was gone leaving the God of Death stood there unmoving for a long time, to him it could have been hours but of course it had only been a few seconds. Slowly a clawed hand raise up to brush against his cheek where he could still feel her delicate lips. Rumpelstiltskin refused to think about what that small gesture meant, refused, and so he simply vanished to the man who had summoned him.

It was an hour later and Belle was dusting the library when she realised what had happened, it had been so small that she'd completely missed it. I kissed him! Her lips had only lightly brushed against his scaled cheek but it was indeed a kiss, she'd kissed a God and not just any God, the God of Death!

"My Kyra, that is really one bright blush."

Belle spun around at lightning speed to find Victor stood in the doorway and a teasing smile on his handsome face while Jefferson leaned against the door frame with his arms folded and wore a rather similar grin.

"Don't take Kyra's name in vain."

"Something to tell us, Princess?" The blonde asked in a beguiling tone.

"Oh come on Victor, you don't have to be Eric to know that look." Jefferson pushed off from the door frame and rose to his full height, the man was about half an inch shorter than Victor but she doubted anyone had ever noticed that; Belle was rather good with height since she had very little of her own. "Have you been thinking naughty thoughts?" The Nymph of Travel teased as he wrapped her in a quick hug. "You can tell us."

"What? No!" In all honesty Belle hadn't been thinking when she'd kissed Rumple. She took a deep breath and changed the subject. "I thought the other Gods couldn't get in here, Lord Victor?"

"Oh good Kyra drop the Lord, that was Pan's idea. And yes you're correct the other Gods can't enter the Underworld, I and Regina are the exception. Also, stop changing the subject, Jefferson is right you can tell us. Did something happen between you and Rumple?"

Belle paused long enough for Jefferson's smile to fade to concern.

"... He said he'd been summoned and before he left I... I kissed his cheek." She finally told them.

"That's it?" Victor seemed awfully let down by the confession.

"Oh shush you." Belle was too distracted to think did you just 'shush' a God? "Belle, what did Rumple do after?" The dark-haired man was still close, one arm around her waist comfortingly; Jefferson really was her friend.

"Nothing, just went off to handle a deal." She took a breath. "Do you think I upset him?"

Suddenly Victor snorted in a very un-Godly fashion.

"Trust us, Belle, you'll know when you've upset the most powerful God in creation."

Finally the Princess of Avonlea set down her duster and leaned against the small round table she'd been cleaning, Jefferson and Victor joined her, flanking either side of the young woman. A few months ago she'd been normal Princess Belle and yet there she was, a God on one side and a Nymph on the other as her friends and confidants discussing how she'd kissed the Dark One; not that it had really been anything major.

"What do I do, Jefferson?" She asked softly, Belle had known Jefferson since childhood and the mortal trusted him, valued his opinion.

"Do you want it to happen again? Kiss him properly?"

"I... don't know." Belle folded her hands in her lap and stared at them.

"Belle, I know I'm not Eric but I think it's easy to see you do know." Began Victor. "In our world we don't have as much freedom as mortals, we're expected to be an almighty power and let nothing tarnish that image, it's even more overbearing than being Royalty. So imagine how hard life was for Rumple, he's a God and a Prince. It's just as hard for Jefferson and I, It's frowned on by the others for a God to be with a Nymph, especially a male one, so much so that for a long time I played the flirt, the ladies man. Talk to Rumple."

"Why do you stand by him, Victor? The others don't."

The blonde sighed. "Before Msiddi died, I didn't like him, he was volatile – still is – and I guess since it's my job to heal and his to take life I felt he worked against me. However, when my relationship with Jefferson was discovered he was the only one to stand by us, Jiminy did his best to calm the situation, to speak logically and Regina argued that they were being hypocrites since Ruby and Dorothy are together but Jefferson is a Nymph so that wasn't the point. Rumpelstiltskin was different. Sometimes he didn't even have to speak he could just silence the comments with a glare, Jefferson had always been his one and only friend and he wanted him happy. After that Msiddi died and all the Underworld broke loose." The God of Healing and Medicine took a breath. "To answer your question I stand by him because I know what it's like to have your own kind shun you, and because he did the same for us."

"What did happen to Lady Msiddi?" Belle had been trying to figure that out ever since Rumple had uttered those whispered words I didn't kill my Mother. Belle believed him and from what Victor had just said it sounded as though she'd been right.

"It's not my and Victor's story to tell, ask him."

"Jefferson, I'm not even sure what happened meant anything to him let alone what I want."

"Yeah that's not true." Announced Victor as he stood. "As lovely as this little chat is I have people to heal, children." Without another word the blonde was gone in a puff of silver-green smoke, it smelt nothing like the fresh grass and honey of Rumple's magic.

"He's right, talk to Rumple." With that Jefferson leaned down and pressed a little kiss to the top of her head before turning to leave, he paused. "Oh, that thing Rumple wanted is on the table downstairs."

After that Belle was left alone with her thoughts, did it mean something to the God of Death or had he not even noticed it? If he had noticed was he angry with her? Victor and Jefferson thought not. Belle knew she enjoyed spending time with Rumple, liked his quips and the library he'd given her. As she thought about it there was more and more she liked about the God, his impossibly large brown eyes, the way his skin radiated warmth even on the coldest of days... the leather breeches that left hardly anything to the imagination.

XXXX

Night had fallen leaving torches to light the castle long ago, he'd missed supper by some hours and Belle had just started up the stairs to bed when she heard his wheel squeak, expecting him to be hungry she turned and returned to the main hall.

"Hello Rumple." She smiled as she entered the room. "Would you like your meal? I kept it warm for you in the oven." Belle got no answer though, like he was ignoring her, she went to his side. "Rumple? Are you alright? How was your deal?"

"It was fine, Dearie, and I see Jefferson brought what I asked for." Belle had forgotten about the small fabric wrapped item Jefferson had left there earlier, she'd been busy tending to the gardens but as her blue eyes glanced over to the table she found it was gone. He almost startled her when he began speaking once more. "No need to bring supper, I'm not hungry, Dearie. Just go to bed like you wanted."

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" He barked but Belle wasn't scared of him, if he was going to hurt her he'd have done it long ago.

"No, you're not. Please tell me, I may be able to help." She tried to smile.

"I doubt that very much, Dearie." He spun around on his stool and shot to his feet, even though he wasn't that much taller than her he could still tower over the Princess.

"Well, we won't know that until you tell me, will we? And whom am I going to tell?"

There was silence for a long time and Belle started to worry that kissing his cheek earlier had caused his foul mood. After a moment or two though his shoulders relaxed and Rumple returned to his stool.

"... Near where I was summoned... there was a place."

"And?" She prompted lightly as she perched on the wheel opposite him, it was a little bit lacking in room but she'd survive, a hand rested comfortingly on his thigh.

"There's a large waterfall. There is a legend attached to it that says it falls so deep that it enters the Underworld but that's not true. When Kyra cast my Papa to the realms he landed in Godswood, turned it into the strange moving forest it is now but my Mother, she landed at the base of that waterfall. It is – was – her favourite place. I told you I didn't kill my Mother-"

"And I believe you." Whole heartedly she believed him. "What really happened?" Victor and Jefferson were right, she had to know and only Rumple could tell her. "How did Lady Msiddi die?"

She could tell Rumpelstiltskin wasn't the opening up type and doubted he'd ever spoken about the loss of his mother to anyone. The Gods and everyone she'd ever known said he killed her because he was a monster but looking at him there in the darkness of night she saw a man scarred by the loss of his mother; he'd not killed her, he loved her.

Every bone in the Dark One's body told him to cast the girl to the side and vanish to his tower, to run away like a coward but Belle's eyes were so patient and soft. There was no accusation in her voice, she just wanted to understand and that was how he found himself being brave.

"K... Kyra and her brother Time existed first as you know and she created my father, he was meant to bring life, meant to bring beauty to the world and for a time he did. She moulded my mother later when Time made too many realms for Kyra's light to shine. There they were, the God of Life and the Goddess of Light. When I was born though, death cut life off, the things my father made started dying. He felt I'd taken everything from him, and he resented that I was more powerful because I could end what he'd started. It didn't help that I look like this." He gestured to his skin and long black nails. "Or that as his son I was a Prince, another threat to his power. My Mother loved me though. It only got worse when the other Gods started to appear, growing from Kyra's cast off power. He didn't want to be a Papa he wanted to be omnipotent and so he wanted me dead, if I was gone he wouldn't be challenged. My Mama protected me though, I was just a child and didn't know how to use my power. She truly loved me and managed to keep him at bay for centuries. He got past her once though and then he realised I wouldn't die, you see life can't exist without death nor can death exist without life, that's why I was born. Pan consulted the greatest builders in all the realms to forge a box that could contain me forever, there was a large red stone on the top that he imbued with his magic so as I couldn't ever escape. To do that though-" He cut himself off.

"But he had to get rid of Lady Msiddi first so he could get to you." Belle finished for him.

All was silent for a moment. Silence was a strange thing, wasn't it? It could signify a void of absolute nothingness whether people were present or not and just because it signified nothingness didn't mean there was nothing there; the word was practically a paradox, silence wasn't simply a complete absence of sound, no, it was a body's emotional response for when it didn't quite know what the correct emotional response was. Sometimes it went hand in hand with shock, Silence and Shock the two sons of Sentiment just like Anger and Courage were the daughters of Hope.

"Yes." Rumple nodded solemnly. "I would have been gone so he decided to blame me and keep his throne. He ripped out my Mother's heart and left it at my seat at the table of the High-Gods, Emma sits there now, I wonder what she must thing of it. Does she even know since she'd not been born then?"

"The story says you imprisoned Pan, he's in that box isn't he?"

Belle could feel tears pricking in her eyes for the man before her, after everything he'd suffered through of course he was standoffish and trusted no one. Mortals and Gods alike called him monster but Pan was the true monster.

"He came to me and told me what he'd done like it was something to be proud of!" Rumple snarled. "I was so angry. I don't remember how I got the box from him but I did, I couldn't kill him but I could lock him away forever."

"And since then you've loved no one and no one has loved you." Her heart broke for him. "Then how did you get down here? If he failed why were you banished?" Belle's hand gripped tighter onto his thigh.

"Like they'd believe the God of Death didn't murder someone. Snow and Ruel Ghorm jumped to conclusions that the other happily followed, my mother had been slashed with claws just like my own. The knife by her body was mine, I used that knife to cut the gold threat, it even had my name on it. Victor, Regina, Zelena and Cora believed I hadn't done it, others had their doubts but, you know, get rid of me just to be certain, before I killed anymore Gods."

"That's why Victor and Regina aren't barred from the Underworld." He nodded. "What was it Jefferson brought you? Was it the-?" She left the question open.

"Yes. The other Gods took one of their bloody votes, lead by Snow and her blind justice and Ruel Ghorm's self-importance to replace my family on the throne, of course they thought I did it to be King. Snow and Nolan were appointed Arch-Gods and I got banished down here. Some agreed entirely while the rest just went along with it fearing they'd be banished too. Victor, Regina, Zelena and Cora were outvoted. They used the dagger bearing my name to bind me to Godswood and the Underworld, I'm still too powerful though, I can leave if summoned. That dagger is what keeps me here."

Belle had been right, talking helped but now he'd started Rumpelstiltskin didn't know if he could stop. He'd go to much anger locked away inside himself, so much sorrow and pain but finally it was coming out and for the first time in a long time he felt as though he'd been freed.

"You just want to be free." Belle said softly. "To be able to go to that waterfall everyday. You lost your Mama, your home, everything in a single day."

"Life is not fair, Belle, my Papa made sure of that."

There was quiet for a moment, even the souls that screamed had the decency to hush.

"How do we free you from the dagger then?"

Rumple's head snapped up in shock, no one since Msiddi had truly cared or wanted to help him and yet there was sweet innocent Belle offering aid.

"Why do you care?" The question came out in a confused whisper. "I kidnapped you."

She smiled softly, her blue eyes sparkling. "No you didn't, Rumple. I agreed to stay with you, I agreed to stay with you and now I'm asking to help you. No one should be punished for something they didn't do, especially what happened to Lady Msiddi. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?"

He didn't answer that. "I still don't see why you wish to help, I'm the Dark One remember? A monster."

"You're no such thing." She told him assuredly. "I believe you, I trust you and I... feel safe with you. You're a good man but no one has let you show it and somewhere along the way I think you forgot it."

Just like earlier that day Belle leaned in without thinking and kissed him but this time her lips brushed his own. Everything in Rumple's mind froze and his body took over pulling her into his lap and kissing her with all the passion he could get into a kiss.

XXXX

"Ew kissing!" Alistair squirmed and pulled a face of disgust. Maurice chuckled.

"When adults love each other they kiss, you'll kiss when you grow up."

"No thank you, it's icky."

The King laughed again, he'd missed children being around and their silly phrasing. Thera didn't speak like Alistair either.

"Princess Belle kissed the Dark One? Really?"

"She did, and when I first found out I was not happy. Let's slip over their adult nap time and carry on with the tale." Maurice cleared his throat.

"Their what?" Asked the blonde innocently.

"Your Mother will tell you when you're older."