The Parting of the Ways

In the darkness, the sound of soft conversation and the gentle rhythmic beep of machines was the first thing he became aware of. He forced his eyes to open, startling at the unfamiliar environment before things began to register in his mind; the sharp smell of disinfectant, the starchy scratch of a hospital gown, the familiar lilting voice that he had missed for so long. He tried to say her name but his voice refused to obey, feeling ill-used and weak as he strived once more. Finally, he managed to rasp it passed too dry lips, wondering how long it was since he'd last spoken.

"Belle."

"Get the Doctor," were the first words he heard before her beloved face came into view, her expression both hopeful and anxious, "You're alright darling. You're in the hospital but you're going to be absolutely fine."

Rumpel groaned as she helped him to sit up, frowning at the drip attached to the back of his hand. Belle fluffed the pillows behind him before she reached for a pitcher of water, filling a glass before helping him to drink. The cool water eased the tightness of his throat and let him find his voice once more.

"What happened to me?" he said, taking her hand as she set the glass back on the table beside his bed, taking comfort in her fingers carding through his hair, "I…my curse? It broke?"

Belle shook her head, "Not broken," she said, her voice containing a note of sadness but she pushed it away, "You're still the Dark One but he…the darkness. He's suppressed. You forced him back far enough that he will never be able to return."

Rumpel looked around, taking in the heart monitor and other beeping machines that categorised every moment he breathed, "Why am I in here?"

"Because you're an idiot who didn't eat for four days straight and you lost a lot of blood where Killian stabbed you. Luckily we had an exact blood match in the younger you, though that great attitude of his deserted him when he saw the needle," said Belle with a giggle before her face fell, "You gave me quite a fright out there."

Rumpel managed a weak laugh, followed by a cough from his tortured throat. "You should talk," he said, gripping her hand, "When I saw you lying there…"

"I'm sorry," said Belle, tears springing to her eyes, "But I couldn't tell you. At least now you remember the other side of things."

Rumpel frowned, "The other side of things? I don't understand."

"You have your memories back," said Belle, "The Doctor restored them. He said he could retrieve them and then he did something to make sure the darkness could never take over again. He explained it to me but I didn't understand. I was so hoping that it would work."

"He restored my memories?" said Rumpel, "Of everything?"

Belle smiled weakly, "He tried. He said the only thing he couldn't restore were your memories of being here as your younger self. He said it would be too confusing having two sets of memories of the same event. He said the memories he restored should become clear the minute you try to bring them to mind. You can try if you like? Maybe it will work; think about me being in the Dark Castle with you."

Rumpel frowned but did as she asked, images coming to him that he knew well. Soon new memories started to bleed in and his eyes slammed shut as the onslaught grew in pace and clarity. He felt Belle's hands take tighter hold of his and was glad for the anchor they provided against the maelstrom of emotion.

He knew the terror of seeing her blue with cold on his doorstep, the fear and mistrust when he discovered the dagger, the comfort of her presence as she told him of his future, and then the worry over preserving it when she told him about the angels. He remembered the muted joy of working on their problem together, the need that began to grow as she shared his bed night after night. The terror when he first faced the angel that only increased when he failed to defeat it alone, only to find the spell that would help him, but only at the cost of Belle's life.

He forced his eyes open to look at their joined hands as the memory of their binding came to mind, the makeshift wedding ceremony that gave him the wife he had always dreamed of. Nevertheless, the cost caused his heart to seize in his chest. With the pain came understanding though, the knowledge that the choice had been her own and it lessened some of the grief, especially with her still living and breathing beside him. He brought their joined hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles, lingering over the diamond ring she still wore despite all the trials she had been through.

"I remember," he said, raising his head and meeting her gaze, "Oh Belle, I remember everything."

"And do you understand now?" she said, "Why I did what I did and why I had to keep it from you?"

Rumpel nodded, "Yes I understand," he said, "You were so very brave."

"So were you," said Belle before she released her hands from his grip, "Scoot over a bit."

Rumpel smiled, moving over on the hospital bed as Belle slid onto it beside him, her heels hitting the floor with a thump as she kicked them off. She settled herself at his side, smiling as he wrapped an arm around her.

"So, now you have your memories back," said Belle, "Do you have any questions?"

"Many," said Rumpel, "But none of them as pertinent as the one I'm about to ask."

Belle caught the teasing look on his face and giggled, "And what question is that?"

"When are you going to marry me?" said Rumpel, "Because I might remember our ceremony at the castle but I want to marry you here, without the threat of a curse hanging over us."

"As soon as you're back on your feet you can name the day," said Belle, kissing him, the touch brief. Temptation then overwhelmed any wish to be gentle and she captured his lips once more.

They were both lost in the kiss and failed to hear the door open or the hushed giggle. They did however hear the playful reproach that came from the foot of the bed, Rumpel raising his head in surprise as he recognised the owner of the voice.

"Really, dearie! I leave you for the grand total of ten minutes and you've cast me aside for the older model. My withered old heart can't take it."

"Behave yourself imp," said Belle with a smile, sitting up a little more from the bed but keeping her place in Rumpel's arms.

"You're still here," said Rumpel, looking at his younger counterpart as the sorcerer took up a seat on the chair beside the bed, "I thought you were meant to go back."

"Speak to our time lord friend. The crash landing knackered the TARDIS and I can't go home until it's recovered," said the imp, looking out of place in brocade and leather amidst the clean lines of modern technology.

"You've enjoyed making a nuisance of yourself," said Rose, crossing to the bed and pressing a kiss to Rumpel's cheek, "Good to see you awake, old boy. You look a helluva lot better than you did when we brought you in here."

"I feel better, Flower," he said, "And thank you, for all you did. I remember you being there when I was ill."

"Just returning the favour," said the blonde before she stepped aside, "And now I think the old quack wants a look at you."

"Oi!" said the Doctor, ushering her aside as he pulled the sonic screwdriver from his pocket, "And you call me the rude one. How you feeling, Rum?"

"Like a pincushion," he said, "But well. Thank you for restoring my memories."

The Doctor ran the sonic screwdriver across Rumpel's brow, the device beeping and whirring as it went, "And they're strong, the memories?" he asked, peering at it before giving a satisfied nod as Rumpel answered in the affirmative, "You may get headaches for the next few days but chuck a couple of painkillers and you'll be fine."

"Belle said you did something to the curse," said Rumpel, "My head is so silent. Is he gone for good?"

The Doctor frowned. "Not gone exactly," he said, "But firmly in a place where he'll never be able to get to you again. When I was restoring your memories, I found some of my own work already in place. Seems when I take that one home I assist with dampening his memories of these events. Anyway, long story short, the Dark One was using the damaged neural pathways like his own personal freeway. I set up some substantial roadblocks and rerouted the pathways around him so you got your memories back. In doing so, though, your power has reduced. You can still do magic but it won't be as potent. It was the price for silencing the darkness."

Rumpel smiled, "And one I'm more than willing to pay," he said. "I feel freer than I have in a very long time. Thank you."

"You're very welcome," said the Doctor, "Your powers are still bound to the dagger, which I assure you is safely in Belle's possession and you are still immortal until such time as the curse is passed on. If you wish it, I can try to find some way to break the tether. I make no promises though; it's a powerful symbiosis and I won't try unless I'm sure you won't be harmed."

"Try please Doctor," said Rumpel, "Even if I lose all my magic, I want to be free of it entirely now."

"First bit of sense that's come out of you since I got here," said the imp from his place on the chair, "No idea what you see in him Belle, dearest."

"I see the man who is going to be my husband as soon as I can arrange it," said Belle, shooting him a smile before she turned to the time lord. "Doctor, how long till Rumpel can come home?"

The Doctor shrugged, "Today if he feels well enough," he said, "Physically he's fine and if his memories are intact, he can go as soon as we find a nurse to disconnect him from all the beepers."

"Do you feel up to going home?" said Belle.

"I'd rather sleep in my own bed than here," said Rumpel.

"That's settled then," said Belle, "I'll call Dove and get him to bring a car and some clothes for you. Your car is still in the garage, the entire door needs to be replaced after the angel ripped it off."

"Well, we'll leave you to it," said Rose, "Promised Henry we'd meet him and the others for lunch though I bet he'll be round here in two seconds flat when he finds out you're awake."

Rumpel smiled, "It would be good to see him and…everyone else. They all helped to bring me back."

The imp groaned from his chair, "And doesn't the pirate bloody well know it," he said, "He has not shut up."

"And you haven't stopped threatening to impale him on his own hook," said Belle, "Killian helped a lot and he saved my life, you can be civil."

"Three weeks married and she becomes a nag," he said playfully, "See what you're getting yourself into?"

"Come on before she hits you," said Rose taking the imp's hand and heaving him up from his seat, "Let's leave these two to it. I'm starving."

Calls of goodbye followed the three of them from the room before Belle turned back to Rumpel, seeing the amusement on his face as he shook his head.

"I know I've said it before but having him here is so very strange, even for me," he said.

"I've gotten used to it," she said, "Though it's been very strange seeing him in the house. I asked him, and the Doctor and Rose to stay until the TARDIS is fixed. He helped put the shop straight with Regina too. You guys really did a number on it."

"That box of yours was buried deep," said Rumpel, stroking her hair as she laid her head on his shoulder, "This reminds me of the morning you and I woke up beside the road on the way home from Longbourne. I felt for sure I would wake up to find you a dream."

Belle sighed, slipping her hand underneath the join of the hospital gown he wore and setting her hand over his heart, "I would have happily stayed there for hours that morning," she said, "I felt so happy despite the worry at the back of my mind that time would catch us up."

"We were happy for the brief time we had there, though," said Rumpel, "You, me and Bae. Thank you so much for sending those bracelets; now this is all over I'm going to put mine on and never take it off."

Belle raised her wrist, letting the artificial light dance over the whisky coloured stones in her own bracelet, knowing the man beneath her was smiling at the sight of it.

"Bae was so proud that you had that," said Rumpel, "I think it helped comfort him after you left. He missed you."

"And I missed him…oh hold on," she said, slipping from his grip and hurrying to her bag on the floor beside the chair.

She dug inside and pulled out her phone before climbing in beside Rumpel once more. She held the little device out to him, smiling when he took it.

"I have a little gift for you," she said, "With everything that happened I forgot about it until I charged the battery. Open the photo album."

Rumpel did as he was told; swiping his finger over the screen until he reached the store of pictures Belle had taken. He was glad they were on a bed as the phone slipped from his grip at the image that appeared before him. His hand shook as he hastily retrieved the phone.

"How?" he said incredulously as he looked down at the clear image of his son as a young boy, taken in profile as he sat beside the fire in the cottage they had once shared.

"I took them the day after I arrived. I was looking through my bag to see if there was anything to give me away and I found the phone still had some battery. I made sure it was silent and then I took these," said Belle, swiping her finger over the screen to show image after image of Baelfire, always turned away from the camera and unaware of what was happening, "I wanted to have these for you to keep if I ever got home. I've already loaded them on to your computer and we can get them all printed. This last one is my favourite."

Belle moved her finger once more, revealing the final image she had been able to capture before her phone had given up the ghost. The picture was of Rumpel and Baelfire, both asleep on the cot they shared to allow her the use of Bae's bed. Even in the depths of his ailment, Rumpel had an arm loosely around his son, the little boy resting his head on his father's chest and clutching his waist as he slept.

Belle took hold of Rumpel's trembling hand, trying to keep the image steady for him as she looked up to see the tears on his cheeks. She saw the tease of a smile at his lips and knew that they were happy tears, the image one he could treasure of happier times.

"Of all the things you have done for me…" he began, unable to finish the sentence as he turned his head and pressed his face to her neck, "Thank you, my Belle."

"You're more than welcome, my darling," she said taking the phone from his hand as she looked down at the picture, "Our boy was so handsome, Rumpel. Now we'll always have him with us."

He didn't say anything but Belle felt him move once more and knew he was looking at the picture again, one long finger reaching out to trace the image. She wrapped an arm around him, content to sit for a while and bask in memories as Storybrooke returned to normal.

xxxx

Belle stirred as she felt familiar warm fingers tracing a path up her side, gliding over the silk of her nightgown to her shoulder, and brushing back her hair. Soft lips pressed against the side of her neck. She smiled, knowing Rumpel was aware she had awoken but she remained silent, enjoying his attentions as the cool light of dawn peaked beneath the curtains.

It had been a week since Rumpel had been released from the hospital and it seemed to Belle that they had barely paused for breath. They had decided before they even called for Dove that they had no desire to wait and arrange the large wedding they had previously planned. Instead, they chose to prepare for a quieter affair with a party to follow at Granny's. The second part had been at Belle's insistence but Rumpel had acquiesced without much persuasion. The few arrangements that needed to be made were swiftly handled and the sun rising on them that morning was the same one that would descend when they were man and wife.

Belle thought of three of the guests who would be there to see them married, the surreal notion of Rumpel's younger self attending amusing them both at the oddness of their life. It would be one of the last days the imp would spend with them. The TARDIS was nearly restored after the Doctor's efforts to rebuild the burnt out circuits. It had been three days since it had been able to support life and the Doctor, Rose, and the younger Rumpel had taken to spending their nights there, none of them able to deny the awkwardness of having two incarnations of the same man in one house despite the humour they tried to bring to the situation.

There had been no bad feeling. The younger of the two men always known he would have to relinquish Belle to his older self. The elder was in possession of the memories he had previously been denied and knew that he had shared the life they had had in the Dark Castle.

"What are you thinking about sweetheart?" said Rumpel against her shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her waist, the length of his warm body pressed against her.

"Just, everything," said Belle, turning in his arms to face him before she smiled, "I'm marrying you today…again."

Rumpel laughed, the sound deep as sleep still lingered in his voice, "I get to be the luckiest man in the world twice."

"Twice?" said Belle, catching her bottom lip beneath her teeth as she fought back a grin, "At least three times I'm sure, it will be our wedding night after all."

"I have been such a bad influence on you," said Rumpel, capturing her lips as he rolled her onto her back, "And I'm very proud of the fact."

Belle giggled, "I bet you are," she said, hooking her leg around the back of his thigh as she arched up into him, "Want to show me again what a bad influence you can be?"

She had barely finished the last word before his lips were on hers once more, his body pressing to hers as she wrapped her arms around him. Belle gave herself up to him once more, a whimper escaping her as he dragged the strap of her nightdress down her arm, chasing it with his lips. He traced a teasing path across the soft mound of her breast, Belle feeling the smile on his lips as she shivered at the touch.

The shrill sound of the alarm cut through her moans and she heard him curse as he reached over and gave the offending clock a solid whack, "Bloody thing," he said, before he returned to worrying her collarbone with his teeth.

"You do realise you're going to make me late. I'm meant to be meeting Mary Margaret so she can finish helping me with my dress," said Belle, the fingers she knotted into his hair doing nothing to support her words.

"Very, very late," said Rumpel. "Now if I recall, we discovered something back at the castle that had you making some…interesting noises."

Belle could not suppress her moan as he slipped beneath the heavy covers, realising without any regret that she was going to be more than late for her meeting.

xxxx

By the time Belle found herself outside Mary Margaret's apartment, Storybrooke was fully awake and going about its day as though the previous events had been nothing but a dream. She felt proud that her little town could weather such a storm and then move on with life, the people she shared her life with resilient to a fault. She knocked on the door, bouncing a little on her toes as she waited for someone to answer in an effort to return some feeling to her limbs. The chill of December was biting in on the ocean breeze.

The door finally opened and she smiled in surprise at the face that greeted her, "Hey, what are you doing here?" she said, "Did the Doctor kick you out?"

Rumpel returned her smile, his cursed appearance still looking out of place against the backdrop of Storybrooke, "Henry spent the night on the TARDIS because in his vast and sage like opinion, it is very cool," he said, "I brought him back this morning and Snow insisted that I required feeding. I didn't even get offered tea in the Enchanted Forest."

Belle giggled, "You're incorrigible," she said, heat rushing through her as he took hold of her hands, lacing their fingers together, "It's been quiet in the house without you."

Rumpel's smile turned wicked as he stepped out into the corridor with her, letting the door swing shut behind him, "You know of a few ways to make me shout."

Belle blushed, "Oh I know," she said, "And I've spent the morning doing just that."

"So you've left the older me worn out and well used at home," he said, dropping her hands in favour of wrapping his arms around her waist, "While it makes me insanely jealous that I can't even kiss you right now, I'm definitely looking forward to my future."

Belle rested her forehead to his as she placed her hands on his shoulders, "I don't mean to make you jealous," she said, "You know I love you in every way you've ever been. You're my Rumpel whatever face you happen to be wearing."

"I know," he said, "I just don't like having to share you. Can you postpone the fitting for an hour or so and come for a walk with me?"

Belle nodded, extricating herself from his arms to tap once more on the door and inform Mary Margaret that she would return later on, the woman sounding relieved to hear it as Neal began to fuss within the apartment.

Belle took Rumpel's arm as he led her from the building. She would have been content merely to walk Main Street in conversation with him but she was startled by his request and soon led him away from the bustle of the street. The path was one she had trodden several times before the angels had come to the town, taking Rumpel to the site where his son was buried the morning after his release from Zelena and then accompanying him every day following.

She had already visited twice with Rumpel since her return, but never with his younger self. Now she wondered how long he had harboured the wish to visit their son's grave. She hung back a little as the approached the small tombstone but he took a firmer hold of her hand and she knelt on the ground beside him, glad when he wove a charm to protect them from the December chill. Belle kept silent, stroking her fingers over the back of his hand as she watched him clear away a few fallen leaves before a single red rose appeared. She looked up to see the tear streaks on his green-gold cheeks but it warmed her to see the small, soft smile on his lips.

"Do you remember the day the sheep sent him flying into the mud?" said Rumpel, breaking the silence.

"How could I forget?" said Belle, smiling at the memory, "He was caked head to toe in the stuff."

"I can't remember the last time I laughed as hard," said Rumpel, "That was the day I realised that I was in trouble. I'd fallen in love with you so completely, but it was the first time I realised I desperately wanted you to be Bae's mother as well. I never could have dreamed of all that would come after."

Belle felt her own tears sting her eyes as she laid her cheek on his shoulder. "He loved you," she said softly. "I miss him so much."

"We will all be together again one day," said Rumpel. "I have every faith that the Doctor or even I will find a safe way to break the dagger's thrall and then nature will have its way. After all I've seen in my life, I cannot believe that this mortal world is all that exists."

He brushed the briefest kiss to Belle's hair, the two of them sitting in silence as the world continued to spin. It was only when Belle felt something cold and wet land on her cheek, looking up to see the white flakes fluttering down towards them that she turned her attention to the sorcerer beside her. She reached out and brushed the first few flakes from his hair, frowning as she saw the sorrow on his face.

"Darling, what's wrong?" she said, "Rumpel?"

"It's snowing," he said, unable to hide the tears in his eyes.

"It's not that heavy yet," said Belle, "We can stay with Bae for a while longer."

Rumpel shook his head sadly, "We can't," he said, "The Doctor spoke to me this morning before I left with Henry. He said I had until the snow fell."

Belle gasped as she realised what he was saying, her heart seizing in her chest as she realised the time she had been dreading was now before them, "You're leaving?" she said, "But…but the wedding, you were going to be there."

"Maybe it's best that I'm not," he said with a sigh, "I know he's me but still to see you marry another man… you will make the most beautiful bride, my love."

Belle threw her arms around him, holding on tightly in a hope that something would make a lie of his words, but the shrill ringing from her purse let her know that they were not the only ones to notice the weather. She moved back and pulled out her phone, showing him the caller ID that the Doctor had programmed in before they had headed out to face the angels.

"I can ignore it," she said, "Give us a while longer."

Rumpel shook his head, "We can't delay the inevitable. You might as well tell him we're on our way."

Belle answered the call, keeping a tight hold of his hand as she told the Doctor they would be back shortly. She clung to Rumpel's arm as she watched him say a silent goodbye to his son's grave, keeping hold of him as they began a slow walk back to town. Belle saw the small crowd as they reached Main Street, the TARDIS having moved from its place on the roof to the sidewalk. She clung tighter to Rumpel's arm, slowing her pace as they approached. His hand came up to cover hers, lending her his strength.

"Everyone's come out to make sure I leave," said Rumpel looking down and seeing her frown, "Don't look like that; it was a quip, dearie. Everyone has been civil and there are some I will miss greatly, for the time I am able to miss them."

"I wish you didn't have to forget," said Belle, "All our wonderful memories."

"Which I will remember once again," said Rumpel, nodding to the crowd ahead, which included his elder self, Regina's family, the Charmings, Emma, Killian, and Henry, "We worked so hard to preserve the timeline and now it's time for me to keep my end of the bargain."

"There you are! About bloody time," said the Doctor as he appeared in the TARDIS doorway, "We need to get moving, the dimensional window won't be open too long. You'd best start saying your goodbyes."

"Oh I didn't imagine this would happen in such a rush," said Belle, "Doctor, can I come with you to the castle, just to say goodbye, and then you can bring me back? Please he's going to be all alone again."

The Doctor shook his head, "You're part of events here now," he said, "We'll see him right though, I promise."

Belle turned back to the sorcerer at her side, not caring for her audience, "I don't want you to be on your own again," she said, taking his face in her hands, "You never do well when you're on your own."

"I've got old Sibelius and rumour has it there's a curse on its way and I need to be a part of that," he said, smiling as she managed a laugh. He removed her hands from his cheeks and folded them between his own, "Let me say goodbye to everyone else now. I don't want to have to rush saying goodbye to you."

Belle nodded and let him go, a warm hand taking hers as she watched him move off. She turned, managing a weak smile as she met the warm sable eyes of Rumpel's older self. She allowed him to fold her into his arms, comforting her as she watched the younger man linger over a farewell with his grandson.

"He's going to be alright you know," said Rumpel against her ear, his deeper tones still regaining their familiarity to her ear.

"I know," said Belle, tucking her head beneath his chin, "But you know I want to keep you safe always and I hate that he has to forget."

"I'd live every second over again, regardless of the pain, so long as I got to be with you now," he said.

"Are we interrupting?" came a voice from behind Belle's shoulder, "Just wanted to say goodbye."

Belle turned, smiling at Rose as she held her arms open to her, "Of course not," she said, hugging her tightly, "Thank you Rose, for taking such good care of him when I was gone."

"It was my pleasure," said Rose, "Make sure you keep him out of trouble from now on."

"I will," said Belle, as the younger woman moved to hug Rumpel tightly, the pair of them exchanging softly spoken words. She couldn't help but notice that the look in his eyes came close to one he used to give Baelfire when the boy didn't know he was watching.

"Those two will no doubt talk for hours if I give them a chance," said the Doctor grabbing her attention, "I'm sorry we can't stay for the wedding."

Belle smiled sadly and hugged him, "Just make sure you come back and visit," she said, "I haven't had long to really get to know you and it would mean a lot to Rumpel to see you again."

"We'll come back soon as we are able," said the Doctor, "And don't worry, I'll take care of your sorcerer before the memory potion takes effect."

"Thank you, Doctor," she said letting him go and stepping aside so he could get to Rumpel and Rose.

Her eyes widened as she saw a sight she was sure was never going to come to pass; the feared master of the Dark Castle exchanging words with Captain Hook that were spoken without venom or fire. She was surprised further as she saw the pirate extend a hand, Rumpelstiltskin taking it with little hesitation before he turned his attention to Emma. Belle watched him say goodbye to the sheriff, seeing Baelfire's name on his lips before he reached out once more to ruffle Henry's hair. Emma gestured in her direction and the sorcerer turned, a sad smile on his lips as he met her gaze.

Belle crossed to him, her arms open to embrace him and she was swept up into a tight hug that lifted her off her feet. For once, she didn't mind the rough dragonhide beneath her hands. They embraced silently for a few moments, Belle breathing in his familiar scent and committing to her mind the notes of pine and firewood.

"I love you," said Rumpel against her ear, "Thank you for all you have been and all you will be to me."

"I love you too," said Belle as he set her on her feet but kept her pressed close to him, "And I'm going to miss you."

Rumpel smiled, "You are about to get married and then you are going to build a brand new life. I want you to be far too busy to miss me," he said, "Besides, I'm going to see you soon…well soon in my life span anyway."

Belle nodded weakly, "I will see you in twenty-eight years," she said, forcing back her tears, "I'd give anything to be able to kiss you goodbye."

Rumpel raised a hand, cupping her cheek as his thumb traced her lips, "Save them for you husband," he said, "We're going to make such a life, Belle."

"Rumpel, we need to go," said the Doctor, heading passed him and into the TARDIS.

"Please, not yet," said Belle, pressing herself closer to him even as she heard the time ship's engines start up, "Please don't go yet."

"I must, my love," he said, stepping back and brushing away the tears on her cheeks, "Smile for me; I don't want to leave you in such sorrow."

Belle forced a smile to her lips, finding it more genuine as she saw the answering one on his face.

"There's my girl," he said, taking hold of her hand and pressing a fleeting kiss to the back of it, "I want you to do everything you desire. Drag that stupid new husband into a car first thing tomorrow morning and go off anywhere. Have all the adventures you have ever wanted. I will be at your side through every one."

"Rumpel!" came the Doctor's call from within the ship once more.

Belle raised herself on her toes, pressing a kiss as close to his lips as she dared, "Go on now, before I can't bear to let you," she said, stepping back.

"Just one more thing," said Rumpel with a flourish of his hand, two large wrapped packages appearing in his hands, "One for you and one for him. Wedding gifts but open them beforehand. You'll understand why when you do."

Belle took them, smiling at their names written in his elegant script, "Thank you for everything," she said, feeling an arm come around her shoulders and looking up into the sable eyes of the man she was to marry, "That's from both of us."

"Rumpel, no kidding now, we're about to take off," said Rose, her head appearing around the TARDIS door.

"I'm coming," called the imp before he turned back to the two people before him, "Good luck this evening. Drink too much, eat too much, and I'll leave the rest to you. I guess I'll see this place again in twenty eight years."

"I'll be waiting," promised Belle, glad for the strong arm around her as the imp finally turned from them and stepped into the time ship, the door closing firmly behind him.

Belle bit back her tears as the engines increased in volume and the ship began to fade from view. She felt the presence of several people around her, knowing her family stood at her side. It lessened her grief as all that was left of the TARDIS was the faint noise in the air and the square footprint left in the light dusting of snow where it had once stood.

"Well then," said Regina, breaking the silence, "We have a wedding to prepare for and a bride and groom that need to get ready so move, all of you. I refuse to officiate if anyone is late."

Belle found herself being tugged in the direction of Mary Margaret's apartment, only just managing to press the parcel bearing Rumpel's name into his hands as he was ushered elsewhere. The next time she saw him they would be making their vows.

xxxx

The sound of ancient engines echoed through the equally ancient halls at the Dark Castle. The curtains billowed as the TARDIS materialised in front of the fireplace in the Great Hall, the door clicking open in the silence that followed. Rumpelstiltskin stepped out; setting the bag he carried on the long table. With a wave of his hand, his spinning wheel leapt from the confines and onto its former pedestal, full sized once more.

"I have a feeling, memory loss or no, I'm going to need that," he said to Rose as she stepped up behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"You'll be alright," she said, "You know you get back to her. I do know how you're feeling, though."

The sorcerer smiled as he turned to face her, "Thank you Rose," he said, "I'm sorry if I've made the journey a little miserable."

"Ah, you should see the Doctor when he's got a cob on," said Rose, "You could almost be mistaken for a ray of sunshine in comparison."

"Oi!" came the cry from within the TARDIS, "I am still in earshot you know."

"And?" said Rose as the time lord finally emerged from the ship, "I'd have just as soon said it to your face, love."

The Doctor feigned agony as he pouted, "I give her my hearts and you see how she wounds me," he said before his face turned serious once more, "Are you ready, old friend? We've not got long before we need to get back into the portal, it's destabilising and Rose and I can't risk getting caught this side of it."

Rumpel nodded. "Then I'm ready Doctor," he said with a wave of his hand. A small potion vial appeared in his palm and he looked down on it with disdain, "This is all it will take and everything Belle and I did will be lost to me. Sometimes I hate magic."

"But your memories will be restored," said the Doctor, "And I promise you, they will be happy. I can see time lines like you can see the patterns of the future, and your time line with Belle glows so bright."

Rumpel managed a smile as he wove a small spell over the vial, "My happiness doesn't matter, but I'm glad her future is a good one," he said, holding up the memory potion so it glittered in the pale light from the windows, "I've woven a sleeping charm into the potion. I'll sleep for about an hour. Is that enough time for what you need to do with the sonic thing?"

The Doctor nodded, "Yes. I'll ensure the pathways are fully shut down. I know what to do as I saw the other side of it when I restored them," he said, "When you wake, your time with Belle won't even be a dream. We've arrived back two days after you, Belle, and Grace left and the time line is intact, nothing altered."

"Yes it did," said Rumpel sadly, "For the better but for now, I must forget. Rose, dearie, this must be goodbye."

Rose stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek before she was swept into a hug, "Take care, old boy," she said, "I promise I'll visit soon, the future you anyway."

"Make sure you do," said Rumpel, pulling back and meeting her gaze, "You're hard to read, Rose. I think it's because you travel so far, but take care and be mindful of the ghosts."

"Ghosts?" said Rose, "What ghosts?"

"The rest is veiled," said Rumpel, "But I think you'll know. Take care my dear."

"Rose you'd best wait in the TARDIS," said the Doctor, "We won't have much time after I've finished before we have to leave."

"Of course," she said, leaving Rumpel's side and pressing a kiss to the time lord's cheek, "I'll be waiting."

The door closed behind her with a click and Rumpel smiled at the man he knew would one day be one of his dearest friends.

"She's a fine young woman, your Rose," he said, heading to the chaise beside the TARDIS and sitting down, "We should get this over with before I lose my nerve."

"Lie back then," said the Doctor, "You might as well be comfortable. Sleep well, old friend."

"Farewell Doctor, until we meet again, in whatever fashion," said Rumpel, swinging his legs up onto the chaise and pulling the stopper from the vial, "To your very good health, my friend."

With a shuddering breath, Rumpel brought the vial to his lips, allowing his mind to wander once more onto the woman who had shared his life and his home before he threw back the contents, consciousness leaving him as his memories unravelled like mist in sunlight.

Rumpel woke, blinking away the last of his dreams as he shook his head to relieve the headache that had taken up residence between his eyes. He looked down, seeing Sibelius curled up on his chest, looking every inch the lap cat rather than the scavenger he was. He huffed a laugh and scratched the moggy behind his ragged ear, golden eyes blinking up at his as the cat woke.

"Since when do we take afternoon naps?" he said. "I'm not that old you know. What were we doing beforehand? Lots of help you are; do you have nothing to add to this conversation?"

Sibelius meowed, cocking his shaggy head in question.

"I don't care for you language," said Rumpel, picking the cat up from his chest and setting it on the floor, "Come on, one of us needs to make the dinner and I don't want hairballs in my stew."

Sibelius gave his master a quizzical look as he got to his feet and headed towards the kitchens, wondering why the odd blue box that just left hadn't cause him concern. He swiftly forgot the thought as his mind turned to supper, claws skittering on the wooden floors as he followed the mage.

xxxx

Rumpel sat back, a tumbler of fine whiskey in his hand as he watched his new bride dance with David Nolan, the upbeat music doing little for the Prince's coordination and providing an amusing scene for those who were watching. His Belle handled it with grace, though, smiling happily even as the lumbering prince trod on her toes.

In the rare times Rumpel had allowed himself to envisage his wedding to Belle, she had always been in a gown fitting her station. Something soft and pale to set off her dark hair and bright eyes. The sight before him however, far outweighed any fantasy and he sent a silent thank you to the foresight of his younger self. The packages he had left them with before his departure had been clothes and Rumpel had recognised the stitching as his own when he had opened the one bearing his name. He had laughed at the look on Henry's face, the young man standing as his best man despite being a good few years shy of his majority, when he had come down the stairs at the house. Where his grandson had expected a suit he had been more than a little shocked to see his grandfather clad in brown linen trousers and a cream tunic, a wide leather belt at his waist.

Frontlands clothes, Rumpel had explained. No one in his village had the money to buy new clothes for a wedding so they wore the best they had, though the garments he wore were far finer than his meagre purse could have managed. He had turned more than a few heads when he had arrived at the town hall to await his bride but attention had soon turned to Belle when she had arrived on her father's arm. The fine dresses he had imagined for her had evaporated at the sight of her in elegant long white dress, the cuffs and hem edged with fine golden thread, the same thread woven to strings to lace her bodice and wrap her slim waist. The dress again was a rich mimicry of what she would have worn had they wed in the Frontlands and he had known it had been made by his own hand even before she reached his side. Her loose chestnut curls had been crowned by a wreath of bright red roses and Rumpel knew he would never again see a sight as beautiful as his bride.

Their vows had been naught but a blur, nerves and elation warring with one another and it had only been when they were pronounced man and wife that the world seemed to stop spinning. The wedding party had swiftly decamped to Granny's, and Rumpel was glad they had chosen the setting for their celebration, so many moments of their Storybrooke lives having played out in the diner's walls.

Rumpel turned his head as he felt someone slip into the chair beside him, meeting Regina's smile with one of his own.

"You look disgustingly happy," said the queen, before her smile widened, "I'm happy for you, Rumpel, but is there a reason you're sitting here rather than saving Belle from Charming's two left feet?"

Rumpel laughed as he saw David stumble once more, Belle handing him off to Emma as she took hold of Henry's hands, "I think the last conga rather finished me off," he said dryly, "To be honest, I needed a moment. Just over a week ago, I thought I'd lost her forever and then I nearly lost myself to the darkness. Yet I sit here for the first time in a very long time, with a future."

"Marriage has made you a romantic," said Regina, "But you and Belle have earned this and I hope you have a long and happy life together."

"I hope I can offer you and Robin the same wish soon," said Rumpel, "Our lives are here now and we need to build them."

"I…" began Regina but a familiar grinding, grating sound cut her off.

The dancers rushed to the sides of the room as the TARDIS materialised in front of the doors, two familiar faces appearing round the door when it had settled.

"Sorry to crash the wedding," said the Doctor with a bright smile, "But we were talking and we realised we never gave you a wedding present."

"So I told him we needed to come back and put that right," said Rose, "And there was only one thing good enough."

"The whole of time and space," said the Doctor, "You could visit Nostradamus and trade barbs on predictions? See the Beatles at the Cavern Club on Tuesday, February twenty-first, nineteen sixty-one? Visit the Library of Alexandria?"

Rumpel met his wife's eyes across the room, seeing those bright blue orbs widen with excitement and he knew he had no decision at all to make. He pressed a brief kiss to Regina's cheek before he got to his feet.

"What on earth was that for?" said the queen in confusion.

"Just everything," said Rumpel before he smiled, "Bye."

No one had time to question him as he grabbed Belle's hand, the pair of them running for the open door of the time ship as the ancient engines started up once more. Rumpel paused just before the door closed and conjured a set of keys, chucking them at Henry.

"Watch the shop," he said before the door closed behind him, the TARDIS swiftly fading and whisking them away to the adventures they'd promised to have.