Hey Guys! Sorry it's been almost two months. I'm going to be honest here, the month of February I had absolutely NO motivation to work on this chapter. And the beginning of March I was too busy before Spring Break. Then during Spring Break my boyfriend was here so yeah, I got distracted lol. But this past week I've been getting some reviews and it motivated me to get back on it, the only problem was that I found a plot hole that I accidently made in my last chapter. I've been trying to figure out a way to make it work now, which took some time. So again, I am so sorry for not updating. I really hope I didn't lose any readers because of my delay. I can't promise I'll be able to update every week, but I will try to not make it 2 months again lol. Keep them comments and reviews coming, I love to hear what my readers are thinking and feeling about the story. Hope you enjoy.

T. G. I. F

Chapter 19

Rumple had eventually fallen asleep by the fire. When he awoke he felt a crick in his neck. He moved his head side to side, hearing a pop before stretching. As he stood up to make himself a cup a tea, he wondered what time it was. He looked at his small clock over the fireplace and saw that it was half past ten. Has Belle already called me? No, I would have still heard her. Perhaps she is still waking up or getting ready. Rumple decides to wait a few more hours in case she slept in. He has his tea then goes out to make a short deal.

When he returns from his deal it is noon. Strange. She's never waited this long unless she was busy helping her father. Maybe I should go check on her. He instantly poofs to her house. The instant he arrives Belle is walking out the front door. Rumple can see her face is very red. Has she been crying? He thinks as he balls his fists.

"Belle." Rumple calls out to her as he waves.

Belle looks up and smiles, "Rumple?" She runs over to him, "What are you doing here?"

He couldn't lie. "I was worried since you hadn't said my name."

"You were worried?" She asked with a small blush.

"Well, uh…" He felt embarrassed for some reason and rubbed his hand against the back of his head, "yeah. But only because you said you would, and I was seeing if you're good on your word." He said to try and cover up his embarrassment.

Belle giggled because she knew he was trying to play off his embarrassment from expressing his worrying. "You know I am Rumple. Just like you are with yours." She put her hand on his arm.

Rumple could tell that something was wrong. Belle was trying to act normal but he knew she had been crying for some reason. "Belle, sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Belle was pleasantly surprised by his attentiveness and the new endearment. She looked down and pulled a strand of hair behind her right ear. "I um, rather not talk about it."

That moment Maurice came out yelling, "Belle! We weren't done with our discussion."

As soon as he sees the Dark One he tenses up. "Rumpelstiltskin. Why on Earth are you here?"

Rumple walks around Belle so that she is behind him (protective Dark One). "I was in the neighborhood and I thought I'd stop by." He said nonchalantly.

"Well please leave us, we were discussing a very important matter."

Belle made an irritated face then turned around, "You mean discuss how you're forcing me to marry someone I hardly know."

In that moment, Rumple's world stopped. When the words hit him, it was like a slap in the face and he became furious. "What?"

"Ye-yes, she is of marrying age now." Maurice stuttered.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "She just turned fifteen yesterday!" Rumple said with a raised voice.

"Well, Gaston has been asking for her hand since she was twelve. Who do you think was the one who sent you that pink dress for your birthday?"

Belle took in a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Papa, you know how much I detest him."

"Well I don't care. He can provide for you."

At this point Belle was in front of Rumple. "But I don't love him. I don't even like him."

"This isn't about whether you love him."

"But you loved Mama!" Belle yelled close to tears.

Maurice went silent. He was visibly struggling with the decision.

Belle walked closer to her father. "Without me you'll be all alone."

He turned away from them. "I'm sorry." he said slowly, "The decision is final. Say goodbye to Mr. Stiltskin and come back in."

Rumple grabbed her hand and Belle jumped a little. She turned around with tears running down her face. She wiped her cheeks before she moved away and said. "Good bye…Rumple."

As he watched her walk back to her house, all he wanted to do was run up to her, hug her, kiss her and tell her everything was going to be alright…but even he didn't believe that. She waved from the doorway then closed the door. Rumple was so mad at Maurice, if Belle didn't love that man he'd be dead. He poofed back to his castle and started pacing the great hall. He was fuming angry. If he had been a teapot, there would be steam coming from his ears.

"No one else can have her. She's mine! How dare he?"

He started throwing the tea cups against the wall, shattering all over the floor.

"She doesn't even like him. She should be with me!"

When he held the chipped cup he stopped and looked at it.

"Oh Belle. My sweet, beautiful, clumsy Belle."

Rumple put the cup back on the table. He then walked over towards his cabinet full of treasures, which happened to have a cane leaning against it. He grabbed hold of it and started wailing on the glass. These treasures meant nothing if he couldn't have his true treasure. Belle.

"Rumple."

He stopped and dropped the cane. "Belle?"

Rumple turned around and saw someone he wasn't expecting, and didn't really want to see at that moment. Cora.

"Hello Rumpelstiltskin." She said with a smile.

"Cora. What an unpleasant surprise. To what do you owe me a visit?" He asked as he wiped off his vest. Now he was in his Dark One, theatrical mode.

"I think you know perfectly well why I'm here."

He did know, he just didn't know it'd be this quickly.

"Indeed…I just didn't think you'd visit the day after it happened. Do you not have a lot going on around your kingdom?" He asked in a mocking tone.

"Of course I do, but it's not just me running it remember?"

"Yes, and how is your poor Henry doing? Last I heard you tried poisoning him…again."

"He's got a strong heart, even after twenty years he's survived every attempt I've made at ending his life." Cora said calmly as if she wasn't talking about trying to murder her husband multiple times.

"Still wanting complete power. You haven't changed a bit."

Cora tilted her head at him. "Oh but you have. You've grown weak. All over the daughter of a baker." (Her voice changed to Belle's when she said the bold words).

Rumple narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm not weak dearie. She gives me strength."

"Oh really?" Cora chuckles while looking around the now messy hall, "More like she is your weakness." She picks up the chipped cup from the table. "Shall we have some tea while we discuss…" She sees his concentration is on the cup, "No tea then?"

He loses his concentration at her question. "What?"

She looks at the cup. "Does this remind you of her?"

He walks over and tries to grab it from her, but she moves it out of reach. "Answer me."

"…Yes, it's my most valued possession, and it's the only thing I'll drink out of." He said in a sarcastic tone to throw her off, even though everything he had said was true.

She lowers it and he quickly grabs it. "Happy?" he vanishes the cup away.

"My word, you're head over heels for her. No wonder you kissed her."

"I only did that to make her happy since it was her birthday." He lied to try and throw her off guard.

"You know, in a way," she sat in a chair. "You cheated on me."

Rumple was taken aback by Cora's response, then it confused him, then quickly angered him. "But you don't love me, and we're not together anymore, so you shouldn't care." He snarled pointing his finger at her.

"But you still love me. I may have broken your heart, as you say it, but deep down you know I will always have a place in your heart. Even if it's just a little bit." She said confidently. He lowered his finger. "You're just lucky our contract is still in tack or you would have lost your powers."

He almost never remembered that their contact even existed. [The contract between him and Cora was the only reason True Love's kiss didn't work on him. They had made this contract after Cora had found out that she was to wed Prince Henry, but their relationship was still going on. The contract stated that they would try to have a child together in the last remaining months of their relationship (which ended up being Regina without Rumple knowing about it), and afterwards if they wanted to have other children it'd have to be with their True Love. At the time they thought they would never find their True Love's so it worked for both their benefits. And if they shared True Love's kiss while the contract was intact it wouldn't break any curses either person was in, including the Dark One curse. The funny thing about the True Love's kiss, it could break any curse, but it couldn't break a contract].

But this contract had been made before Cora had decided to tell Rumple her true feelings, or rather lack of, especially love.

"Even if I have the tiniest bit of love for you still, I love Belle more."

"Belle? So that's her name. She must be beautiful." Cora stood up and walked to the fireplace.

"Yes…she is." Rumple looked down with a small smile on his face.

"I only saw a glimpse of her through those golden plates. You know those plates can show reflections. Their basically golden mirrors."

He knew he'd regret bringing them to the picnic. "So that's how you found out."

Cora turned back to face him. "Oh no, I first found out when the contract shook, then it shook again and again and then that's when I checked at my mirror. I'm surprised you didn't feel it."

Rumple chuckled, "Well unlike you dearie, I don't carry mine around everywhere I go." He suddenly became serious. "I know Henry isn't your True Love, but if you ever were to find yours, then I'd leave you be."

"Well you see," she walked back towards him, "even if you love Belle, she could never love you."

Rumple narrowed his eyes at her. "And why's that?"

"Because," she got near his face, "you're a monster."

He simply smiled from remembering his and Belle's first deal. "No I'm not."

She laughed a little. "In whose eyes? Hers? Look Rumple…"

Rumple got pissed quickly and interrupted her, "Don't call me that, only Belle can."

Cora backed away after his outburst. "Fine Rumpelstiltskin. She doesn't know you like I know you. You and me both know you've killed countless people; innocent ones as well."

His eyes widened in a menacing way. "I might add another to the list soon, and she won't be as innocent as some."

Realizing he meant her she stepped back even more. "You should get that little thought out of your head, because you'll always be a monster. Bye Rum." She poofed away.

"Well that was an adventure." Rumple said sarcastically as he ran his hand through his hair.