I do not own "Once Upon a Time."

Chapter 21 - Truth in Fiction

Rumpelstiltskin's prison chambers in the Enchanted Forest, a little over two weeks after being taken . . . .

Belle made her way through the dark corridors, careful to remain hidden under her enchanted cloak. Her encounter with her father and Regina had left her shaken and scared, and she desperately needed to see him. She passed by the guards carefully and turned two more corners until she reached the cage. He was sitting in the corner, balled up with his arms wrapped around his legs, talking to himself like a madman. His clothes were torn, his hair unkempt. Belle fought back tears as she removed her cloak. "Rumple," she whispered quietly. "What have they done to you?" Rumpelstiltskin looked up at her.

"Belle! Oh my Belle!" Rumpelstiltskin said, and he stood up and rushed toward the bars of his cage. He reached through the bars and touched her face. "My beautiful Belle," he said.

"Oh sweetheart – I have to get you out of here," Belle said worriedly.

"No – no I must stay," he said, his voice sounding more high pitched than usual.

"But they're mistreating you. Do they even offer you food?" Belle asked.

"Some," he replied. "It won't be much longer, Belle. But you shouldn't be here – you must protect the castle."

"Regina came to see me. She brought my father. He tried to take me, Rumple. He tried to take me away, he said – Regina convinced him that you had bewitched me, and he tried to take me away from our home. I hid. I used magic and I hid, I didn't know what else to do. I thought you made Regina promise that she wouldn't take me."

"I did. She found a way around that, I see. Belle, you did well. You must be careful – Regina is shrewd and will resort to all kinds of trickery to get what she desires. Be on guard with her at all times. Promise me you will do that."

"I will. I was just so scared – I just needed to see you, I was so frightened."

"No. You were brave. My brave Belle." Rumpelstiltskin reached for her hair and ran his silvery fingers through it. "How I miss brushing your lovely hair, my Belle. How I miss holding you close. Oh, I miss it so much." Belle smiled at him.

"And to think how much you fought me at first when I wanted you to do those things," Belle teased.

"In this new land, when our curses are lifted, I will never tire of holing you, or touching you or – or kissing you. I fear I will want to kiss you until our lips bleed."

"What will our home be like in this land? Will it be like our castle?" Belle asked.

"I don't believe it will, my dear. But it will be beautiful. Different – but beautiful."

"I want our castle. I don't want different," Belle said.

"None of that will matter if we are together. Belle, you must go. Please be very careful as you leave so that no one sees you. And take care around Regina, especially if she is working with your father. I am a prisoner, and you are not my wife so he does have a right to take you away from me now. Don't let him. Please don't let him take you away from me, Belle," Rumpelstiltskin said.

"I won't. I promise, I won't," Belle said.

Rumpelstiltskin gasped for breath as he opened his eyes and jolted awake. "Rumple – Rumple wake up, it's alright," Belle whispered. She held him in her arms and gently ran her fingers through his hair.

"Belle – you're alright. Did she hurt you?" Rumpelstiltskin asked.

"Who?" Belle asked.

"Regina – she was here, she -"

"Yes, she was here, I threw her out, I sat down with you and we talked for a bit and then you fell asleep. That was almost three hours ago," Belle said. "I think you had a nightmare, that's all."

"No – no, it seemed real," Rumpelstiltskin said. Belle helped him sit up a bit. "Regina, she – she went to your father, to convince him to lock you away. Like she went to him after I was taken prisoner. And then she came and took you from me. Belle, we have to get out of here, we're not safe here." He started to move to get out of bed.

"Rumple – you're not going anywhere, you haven't been released yet. Now stop it – and you shouldn't be trying to get up so fast like that, you still have stitches," Belle said. "I'm fine – my father hasn't spoken to me in years, I don't see that changing any time soon, and I doubt Regina will be able to make that happen. You said yourself I have nothing to fear from Regina."

"Belle – you know that I was able to see things that were about to happen, I told you about that. What if I'm still able to do that here?" Rumpelstiltskin asked.

"Sweetheart, your premonitions were never what you thought they were, and they never came to you in dreams, just riddles. And as skilled as you claimed to be, you certainly didn't see me coming," Belle remarked.

"Magic is different here. Maybe they do come in dreams here," Rumpelstiltskin suggested. "And I didn't see you coming because I wasn't looking for you."

"But you found me anyway, didn't you?" Belle teased.

"Indeed I did," he replied, and she leaned over to kiss him. They were still kissing when Emma peeked inside the room.

"You know, next time I come here I need to make sure to bring a tool kit so that I can pry the two of you apart," Emma quipped. Belle and Rumpelstiltskin ended their kiss abruptly.

"Miss Swan – what a surprise," Rumpelstiltskin said in a sarcastic tone of voice.

"Hi Emma – come in, please," Belle said. Emma entered the room.

"You look good, Gold – I mean, for you. I hear you're gonna get sprung from this place soon," Emma said.

"Not soon enough, I'm afraid," Rumpelstiltskin said. "Belle, you did get the security system at the house repaired, right?"

"Of course I did. He's paranoid that Regina is going to try to hurt us," Belle said.

"Why?" Emma asked.

"Because that's what she does. I already told you to never trust her. By the way – you took care of that thing I gave you, right?" Belle asked.

"What thing?" Rumpelstiltskin asked.

"Your stupid dagger is safely locked away, no one can get to it but me. I honestly don't know what the big deal is about that thing," Emma said.

"It just – it's important," Belle replied. "Once Rumple gets out of the hospital I'll take it back."

"I'm sorry – 'Rumple'?" Emma asked.

"I meant – Robert – I -" Belle stammered.

"It's a nickname she has for me. Right love?" Rumpelstiltskin said.

"Right – it's a nickname," Belle said nervously.

"Why? What the hell kind of nickname is Rumple?" Emma asked.

"Do you really want to know every intimate detail of our lives, Miss Swan?" Rumpelstiltskin asked.

"Not really, no," Emma replied.

"Good. Then let it go – or I'll be forced to tell you what it means," he said as he smirked at her.

"Yeah, I'm really not the least bit interested," Emma said as she made a face.

"Emma, would mind staying with him for awhile? I don't want him to be alone, I don't trust Regina, she's trying to use Robert to get to me," Belle said.

"Where are you going?" Rumpelstiltskin asked.

"To see my father," Belle said.

"Belle, that's not a good idea," Rumpelstiltskin said.

"Your father? He lives in Storybrooke? I've never met him," Emma said.

"We don't really speak. But maybe it's time I did something about that," Belle said. "Before – well, before other people try and get involved."

"You know – the two of you have this weird secrecy thing going and it's very aggravating," Emma said. "If you're gonna have me standing guard over you boyfriend I want to know what you're up to, and what Regina has to do with it."

"Regina doesn't like me. And I don't like her," Belle said.

"I got THAT much. What else?" Emma asked.

"Regina may try to use Belle's father to hurt her. She's done it before. That's all you need to know," Rumpelstiltskin said, then he turned to Belle. "And I don't want you going near that man."

"I'm just going to return his van. Maybe if I extend an olive branch – it might prevent other things from happening."

"What van?" Emma asked.

"His work van. He's a florist. I took it some time ago when I called in his debt," Belle said.

"You repo'd your DAD? Who does that?" Emma asked, shocked.

"Well, he was late on his payments," Belle stated. She gave Rumpelstiltskin a kiss on the forehead. "I won't be long, sweetheart."

"Please don't be. And please do be careful. You know what trickery Regina is capable of," Rumpelstiltskin said.

"I will be," Belle said, and she left the room. Emma sat down next to Rumpelstiltskin and stared at him.

"So. Rumple? Really?" she asked.

"Miss Swan, I assure you, whatever you're thinking in regard to Belle's name for me, you are not even remotely close to the true reason behind it."

"I still can't figure the two of you out. As a couple you make no damn sense whatsoever."

"Have you ever considered that perhaps your son Henry's fantasies may, in fact, have some truth to them after all?" he asked.

"What, that you're Beauty and the Beast? You're not tall enough. Or hairy enough. And you're sure as hell no prince," Emma remarked.

"There's always a bit of truth in fiction, Miss Swan. You'd be wise to take heed of that. Especially where Regina Mills is concerned," Rumpelstiltskin said.

Belle entered the Game of Thorns shop, and found Regina there speaking with her father, just as Rumple's dream had predicted. Perhaps it was a coincidence. Or perhaps he was right about having a premonition. She was taking no chances. "What are you doing here?" Belle asked.

"Isabelle. Your father and I were having a talk about you just now," Regina said as she sneered at her.

"Please leave my father alone," Belle said. Regina glared at her as she walked out of the shop. "Hello papa," Belle said. "It's been a long time."

"Yes it has," Moe said.

"I um – I wanted to give you something," Belle said. She reached into her purse and took out a set of keys, then set them on the counter. "You can have your van back."

"I don't have the money to pay you, Isabelle."

"It's alright. I – I'm releasing your debt. Effective immediately."

"Why?" Moe asked.

"I can't do something nice for my father?" Belle asked.

"You don't do nice things unless there's something in it for you, Isabelle. I've learned that all too well."

"Maybe I've changed. Or maybe I want to," Belle suggested.

"You've been seeing that Mr. Gold. Perhaps he's having a positive effect on you."

"You like him, do you?" Belle asked, wondering to herself if he'd feel the same way once the curse breaks.

"Well, I don't dislike him. I heard he was badly hurt and is in the hospital," Moe said.

"He's doing much better. I'm caring for him," Belle said. "Papa - what did Regina want?"

"She said that you – you've been lashing out at her, threatening her. She's worried for you."

"Is she now? Papa – I know you have no reason to trust me at all. But I don't think you should trust Regina Mills, either. I'd like – I'd like for us to try and – mend some fences between us. But you must promise me that you will not listen to anything Regina Mills says to you. She lies, Papa. Anything I've done against Regina is for my protection, and for Robert's. And now for yours."

"She's the mayor, Belle. And you're -"

"The town pariah, yes, I know. I'm very much aware of who I am in this town, and what people think of me and what they say about me. But I'm also your daughter. And I like to think that means something to you," Belle said. "Your van is in the storage unit, number 22, there's a key to the lock on the ring as well." Belle turned around and left without saying another word. She didn't get far when Regina, who had been waiting for her, approached.

"You think you're pretty clever, don't you? He's taught you well," Regina commented.

"Just wanted to avoid a repeat of your foolish attempts to undermine me in our land. It didn't work there and it won't work here," Belle said, as she walked down the street with Regina following next to her.

"He taught you magic, didn't he? That little escape you made all those years ago – you used magic."

"That's not your business." Belle said. "Now go away. Please," Belle said, and she continued to walk away from Regina.

"Right this way, sweetheart," Belle said as she helped Rumpelstiltskin into the house.

"Aren't we going upstairs?" he asked.

"I didn't think you should be maneuvering stairs just yet. I have a surprise for you," Belle said, and she led him back toward the library and opened the door. A king-sized bed was placed in the middle of the room.

"It's – your library. And our bed," Rumpelstiltskin said. "How did you -"

"I purchased it while you were in the hospital. It reminds me of our bed in the castle, don't you think?"

"Yes. Very much," Rumpelstiltskin said, and he made his way to the bed and sat down on the edge, and made a pained face as he did so.

"You alright?" Belle asked.

"Fine," he replied, catching his breath and setting his cane down.

"Let's get you changed into pajamas, you'll be more comfortable." Belle went into the other room to the closet he had been using, took out a pair of pajamas, and brought them into the room. She carefully helped him take off his shirt and put the pajama top on. She starts to reach for the zipper on his pants. "Can you stand for a moment, love?" Rumpelstiltskin stood up carefully, holding on to Belle as he did. She helped him exchange his pants for pajama bottoms, then pulled back the covers on the bed and he carefully eased into bed, with Belle propping several pillows behind him. "How is that?" Belle asked.

"Alright," he said quietly but making a pained face of discomfort. "You're sure the alarm system is working properly?"

"Regina won't get to us. I changed all of the locks, the system is upgraded and we will be fine. You know, I've been thinking about this 'please' thing. Why can't I just go up to her and say 'Regina, would you kindly find the nearest cliff in Storybrooke and please hurl yourself off of it.'?" Belle asked.

"I suppose that might work. Although I thought you frowned upon violence," Rumpelstiltskin said.

"Oh, I do. But Isabelle is a bit neutral on the idea," Belle admitted.

"Sweetheart, I don't want you to darken your heart that way. I'm getting better – you leave Regina to me." Rumpelstiltskin leaned back against the pillows, closed his eyes and sighed a bit.

"You're hurting, aren't you? I'll be right back, sweetheart," Belle darted out of the room, and returned quickly with a glass of water and a prescription bag. She sat down next to him and shifted through several bottles of pills, until she found a specific one. She took two pills from the bottle and offered them to him, along with the water. "Here – you take these."

"I don't want that, Belle. I'm fine."

"You're in pain. These will help the pain," Belle said.

"They make me tired. I'll be sleeping all day if I take those."

"You NEED to be sleeping all day, you just got out of the hospital," Belle insisted. "Dr. Whale said that too much pain isn't good for your recovery, that's why you have medication to help you."

"I've been wanting to tell you but thought I'd wait until I was out of the hospital - Dr. Whale is actually Dr. Frankenstein dear – he's a quack."

"That 'quack' saved your life, he must know something," Belle insisted. "And why on earth is Dr. Frankenstein in this land?"

"Yet another thing that we can thank Regina for. And he knows what the curse wants him to know. YOU could find out more about modern medicine than him by reading some of your books," Rumpelstiltskin said.

"I have been. I've been looking into quite a few medical books since you got hurt, and they all say the same – the best way to recover from a serious injury is rest and monitored pain control. Now are you going to take the pills willingly or not? Because I can call Emma and have her come over and hold you down while I force you to take them, I'm sure she'd be willing to help with that." Rumpelstiltskin glared at her.

"You are a cruel woman, madam," he said, and he grudgingly took the pills and water from her, swallowed the pills, and handed the empty glass back to her. She set it down on the nightstand.

"And YOU are a child, Rumpelstiltskin," she remarked, getting up to leave.

"And just where do you think you're going?" he asked, grabbing her wrist.

"I have a few things to do," Belle said.

"Oh no – they can wait - you have things to do right here," he insisted.

"I do? And what would that be?" Belle asked. Rumpelstiltskin looked to the side of the bed that was empty and patted it with his hand to signal her.

"You know our deal. You know that I don't sleep well without you."

"That was at the Dark Castle, and you were cursed."

"Well, now I'm ill. And if you're going to have me lying in this bed, drug-addled and helpless, then you will be here with me," he insisted. Belle sighed.

"You're hardly helpless. But alright. At least let me get a book."

"Hurry it up then," he said. Belle smiled at him. He was sounding more like Rumple now, and less like Mr. Gold. She liked that. Belle wandered along the stacks of books until she found one that interested her, kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed. She gave him a kiss on the forehead and carefully snuggled up to him.

"How is the pain now?" she asked.

"I don't think that kiss quite did the job. Can I have another, please?" he asked. Belle kissed him again, this time on the cheek.

"Better now?" Belle asked.

"A little, I suppose. Maybe one more kiss." Belle sat up and leaned over him, careful not to put pressure on his upper body and aggravate his injuries, and kissed him on the lips. Rumpelstiltskin put his arm around her and vigorously pulled her close, kissing her deeply and letting his tongue explore her mouth. Belle complied for a moment, then pulled away.

"Be careful. You're still healing and you just got your stitches removed yesterday," Belle said.

"Belle, you do realize that for the first time in over twenty-eight years, we are alone, and you know who you are, and I know who I am, and there is no curse, no magic, and no busybodies and medical staff or Emma Swan coming in and out of the room without warning, right?" he asked, and kissed her again.

"And you do realize that you just took two Percocet and will probably be unconscious within the next thirty minutes," she responded.

"Well that gives us thirty minutes then," he said, pulling her into a kiss once again.

"I believe that I want more than thirty minutes with you, Rumpelstiltskin. And I also want you at your best. Your discharge instructions are limited activity until your check-up next week."

"And you are the one to set those limits, I presume."

"You presume correctly," Belle replied. "Rumple – I almost lost you. I just want you to be well, so that we can have the life we wanted. Please be patient and do what I ask, alright?"

"Alright. I'm sorry," Rumpelstiltskin replied. "I suppose if the situation were reversed I'd be hovering quite a bit as well."

"Am I hovering?" Belle asked.

"Like a mother hen with her chicks. But it's alright – at least I know that you love me now, and you don't just want me for sex," he teased. Belle laughed.

"Well I want that, too. Eventually." she replied, carefully cuddling back up with him. "Rumple – Gordon – Gaston and I, we -"

"Belle, please – I don't want to know," he said.

"It was supposed to be special for us. I'm so sorry," Belle said.

"It will be. You did nothing wrong, Belle. As far as I'm concerned, it never happened. I realize that you can't say the same, but – do try. It will be special for us. And I do still want to marry you. You still wish to wed me, don't you Belle?"

"Of course I do. That was our plan, after we find Baelfire."

"I thought maybe we could wed before that – maybe it would be good for us to already be married before I find him. Then he could see – he could see that I've changed. That I have someone in my life, someone who is good and sweet, and who loves me very, very much."

"You just don't want to bed me until we're married, and you don't want to wait any longer, that's what you want," Belle replied, giggling a bit.

"Alright – there's also that," he admitted. "After having you prance naked in front of me, knowing what it is you have to offer, it's kind of hard not to want to hurry things along." Rumpelstiltskin sighed. "I wish I could offer you the same, but – this is who I am, unfortunately."

"I've seen what you have to offer and there is not a thing wrong with any of it," Belle said.

"Belle – I'm an old man. I'm thin, crippled, I now have a badly scarred body thanks to the lack of magic in this land, and -" Belle sat up and put her fingers gently against Gold's lips.

"Stop it. I think that you are the most handsome man I've ever seen. There is not one thing about you that I would change."

"Are you sure you're not hallucinating? I thought I was the one on Percocet," he teased. Belle smiled at him.

"My eyes work just fine. And I like what I see very much," she said, and she gave him a quick kiss. "I do miss your curly hair though. Maybe we could get you a perm."

"I'd shave my head if it would please you, my dear," he replied.

"I'm just teasing. You will change nothing. You are just who I want you to be." Belle gave him several more soft kisses on his lips, then snuggled with him once again. "How are you feeling? Are you still in pain?"

"Not at all," he replied, his voice starting to sound sleepy. Belle remained quiet, knowing that he needed to rest, and if she kept talking he would do so as well, trying to fight the effects of his medication. She remained cuddled up close to him, taking his hand in hers and occasionally massaging his fingers gently with her fingers. She waited until he had fallen into a relaxed sleep and moved to get up. As she sat up, she gazed upon his face and touched his cheek gently. She didn't care if he wasn't the most handsome man according to the standards of others. She didn't care if he was much older than her, and she didn't care about his infirmities. He was her true love – and he was perfect. They had been apart for far too long. They would never, ever be apart again. Belle put aside all of the mundane activities she had to do, forgot about the book she chose to read, and curled back up next to her love, not wanting to leave his arms for a moment. Right now all she wanted was to be near him - everything else could wait.

Henry Mills bounded into the sheriff's office. "Hey Emma!" he shouted. Emma was busy sorting through some paperwork and she looked up from behind her desk.

"Henry – does Regina know you're here?" Emma asked.

"Nope. I just wanted to see you. What's in here?" he nosily asked as he picked up an ornate box that sat on the edge of Emma's desk.

"Hey, did I say you could touch that? Put it down, it's not even mine," Emma said.

"Whose is it?" Henry asked.

"It belongs to Isabelle French. It was stolen from her and I told her I'd keep it safe until Mr. Gold got out of the hospital, I'm taking it back to her tomorrow," Emma said.

"Cool!" Henry said, and he ignored Emma's request to put it down and opened the box, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Henry – I said NO, it's very expensive and it's a not a toy!" Emma said angrily. Henry stared at the dagger in awe.

"Why does it say that?" Henry asked.

"Say what? It doesn't say anything," Emma said, and she snatched the box away from Henry.

"Yes it does. There's a name engraved on there. Can't you see it? It says Rumpelstiltskin!" Henry insisted.