A/N: Haha, alright alright! I got so much reaction from that chapter. Don't hate me xD. I couldn't ignore this bit in the series. Well, technically I could have, but I choose not to. Don't worry my dearies, all shall work out. Perhaps.
You like this story? I'd like to encourage you to go check out my other story Mother's Day. This will be a part of a one shot series in which will -only- come out on holiday's. Each part of this series will be a separate story in its own, it will not be chapters. So, around the holidays look out for those.
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Chapter 26:
Storybrooke Hospital: That Night
The Storybrooke General Hospital did not usually have so much commotion, not since the curse broke. But Belle was rushed into the hospital to ensure she was okay.
Though being in the hospital only confused her. People kept calling her Belle, but her name was Lacey, at least thats what she believed. And she was even more confused that she wasn't very pregnant as she had been. She wanted answers, and she didn't seem to be getting them.
When she was taken to the hospital she was given a full examination before she was allowed to dress herself again. Technically nothing was wrong with her, she was fully physically healthy since she was healed. That was another thing that was odd, seeing Mr. Gold heal her wound, make the pain go away. The magic that surged through her almost felt entirely too intimate, as though the magic were a lover she longed to be with again.
But the hospital would not give her any answers. They'd insisted that she ask her husband, and she intended to. Sitting on the hospital bed, looking down at her lap as she waited for Jefferson to show up. She felt that just seeing him would make her feel better.
"Ma'am. Your husband is here." a nurse called from the door.
Looking up, Lacey nodded. "Send him in please."
The nurse nodded to her before stepping out, saying to someone in the hallway that they could go in. But the man that walked in was most assuredly not her husband.
Rumplestiltskin stepped into the room, looking up at her. "Belle...thank the gods you're alright."
At the sight of him, Lacey stood up and backed away, her back hitting the farthest wall from her. "G-Get away from me! You're not my husband! Where is Jefferson! Nurse!" she yelled, glancing towards the doorway.
Quickly he stepped up to her, gripping his cane as his other hand moved to grasp her shoulder. "Shh, relax, listen to me. There are things you don't know. Things you don't understand."
"Obviously. Like that...whatever that was. Was that magic?" she asked, looking up at his face. "Mr. Gold please I just want my husband. I want to go home."
"I am your husband."
At his words Lacey shook her head, her eyes searching his face. "What? Are you crazy? No...no Jefferson Stan is. Jefferson is my husband and I love him. Please...please stop, I don't know what you want or even what you are, and its scaring me. Please I...I just want my husband..."
Each word she spoke hurt him, clenched at his heart when she denied that he was her husband. She was his entire world, her and their children.
Slowly his hand dropped from her arm, his one hand gripping his cane as he swallowed, nodding a bit. "Jefferson will be here momentarily, I'll see to it."
"T-Thank you Mr. Gold..." she said, looking down a little.
Stepping back before he slowly started to walk away. It killed him to walk away from her, just as much as her words had killed him. He had to remind himself that this was not his Belle, this was Lacey. It almost felt as though Belle died. But she wanted Jefferson, and he still loved her more than anything. So if it was Jefferson she wanted, it would be Jefferson she'd get.
Getting on his phone, he quickly called Jefferson once he got into the waiting room. Explaining quickly that Belle was no longer Belle, that she was Lacey and she wanted him before he hung up.
Taking a seat in one of the chairs, he let out a deep breath and looked down at his lap. Flipping through his phone, he pulled up a picture of Belle sitting on the rocking chair with Elsa as she rocked their daughter. Belle had gone over the town line, Belle was gone. There was no coming back from that, no magic strong enough to break that he believed. His Belle was gone and it made his whole heart ache.
Would he survive losing his True Love? He wasn't sure. And the worst part, it was partially his fault. He'd created this curse for Regina to enact, he'd set this plan in motion, he'd talked her into helping him. If it wasn't for him then his Belle would still be here, they'd be with their first child in the Dark Castle, their home.
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The Dark Castle: A Few Weeks Before Rumplestiltskin's Captured
It was an oddly calm day in the Dark Castle, from their bed they could hear birds chirping outside and see streams of light attempting to peak out through the curtains. It was nearly noon and they were still abed with Belle laid out upon her back, the black silken sheets enveloping her midsection, her legs peaking out of the covers and stopping just enough to cover her breasts.
Rumplestiltskin laid on his stomach next to his wife, his cheek resting on her stomach above the covers with the sheets similarly wrapped around his waist.
Looking up at his wife he gave her a small smile, kissing her stomach overtop of the sheets. She couldn't help but giggle as her fingers moved down to entangle in his hair, gently pulling on it to pull him up. He obliged her and crawled up, resting his hands on either side of her waist as he leaned down to capture her lips with his own.
Slowly she closed her eyes as she let him devour her, letting her head tilt to one side as her fingers ran through his hair, her nails scraping his scalp gently as she slid them down. Running her fingers down over his cheeks and down to rest on either side of his neck before she leaned back from the kiss, smiling up at her husband.
"I suppose we should get out of bed sometime today..." she whispered.
"Why?" he muttered, leaning to bury his head into the side of her neck, laying close to her but being careful not to put too much weight on her. He would be content with never leaving their bedchambers, never leaving her arms.
Taking in a slow breath as he took in her scent, letting his eyes fall closed. He needed her like he needed air to breath, in her arms he felt perfectly content, a feeling he'd never even felt as a human.
Belle giggled as she ran her fingers along the back of his neck and down his bare back. "Because Rumple, we've been in bed all day. Don't we have things to do today?"
"Mm, nothing that cannot wait." he said, placing a small kiss on her collar bone as he looked up at her face.
It still amazed him sometimes that this beautiful woman would want him, would want to be near him all of the time. She'd given him her life, her heart and her body. "How in the world did I get so lucky to have you in my bed.." he whispered slowly, mostly to himself.
But she let out a sigh, shifting to cup his head to make him look at her. "I love you Rumplestiltskin. Don't ever forget that. No matter what happens. If this coming curse tears us apart as I know Regina would love to do, I'll love you."
Slowly he moved to sit up next to her, bringing his hands to run through his hair, gripping it. Sometimes he had a hard time believing she wanted him, but she would just have to convince him. Some part of her love convincing him of her love and commitment.
Belle sat up with him, resting her chin on his shoulder as one arm held the sheets to cover her naked chest, looking at his face. "Rumplestiltskin. Look at me." she commanded. No one commanded the Dark One, but she seemed to be quite capable.
When he turned his head to look at her she gave him a small smile, leaning up to kiss him. Her kiss was soft and gentle, caressing his lips lightly as her eyes closed halfway. When she leaned back, she looked up into his eyes. "Never doubt my love for you. I don't just love you on a superficial level. I love you completely, so completely it's kind of scary. But that cannot go away, no matter what happens."
"What if I fail?"
"I'll still love you. There is nothing you can do to stop that. My feelings just can't go away.."
Slowly Belle shifted so she sat on his lap, straddling his waist and facing him, the sheets getting even more entangled as they moved with her. "What can I do to prove to you it won't go away? No matter who I am in this other world, my heart truly belongs to you.."
Reaching up, he ran his fingers along her bare arms, shaking his head. "I don't think I'll ever truly believe it."
Mischief lit behind Belle's eyes as an idea sparkled within her head. Shifting back to sit more on his legs, she held out one hand. Using her magic, a book appeared in her hand. Resting the book on Rumplestiltskin's lap in-between them, she flipped through a few pages.
He watched her curiously, letting her do as she wanted but he couldn't help but chuckle. "What on earth are you doing?"
"Magic." she said, her eyes never leaving the pages of the book she searched for. Stopping on a page, she read through it before holding her hand up again. Another book appeared within her hand.
Realization of what that book was made his eyes widen as he stared at her. "Belle what are you doing?" he said, reaching out to grab her arms to make her look up at him.
That was the book they'd sealed the kris dagger within.
"Something possibly stupid. But I don't care. Rumplestiltskin, do you trust me?" she asked, her eyes searching his.
As he stared into her ocean blue eyes he only nodded softly. "Yes." he answered. Never had he trusted anyone as he trusted his Belle. He would trust her with his very life, and he did when he gave her that dagger.
When he answered, she leaned to place a soft kiss on his lips before sitting back again. Holding out her hand, a sharp letter opener appeared in it. Pricking her finger and letting blood seep out before she slowly ran her finger along the pages, murmuring words to break the seal.
Once the seal was broken she opened the book, reaching to take the kris dagger out. Looking at Rumplestiltskin's name on the dagger, she ran her finger along it slowly, looking up at him and into his eyes. "Do you love me?"
"Oh Belle, more than words can say. What is it you're doing? Any magic you need with that dagger cannot be good..." he said, letting his eyes fall down to the dagger, the source of his power.
Before she answered she took out her hand, slowly running the blade over her palm, letting the knife bite into her skin and cut through, blood seeping out of the wound. "Binding us. No matter where we go, who we are, we'll recognize each other. Our magic, our bodies, our souls...no matter what." she said, looking up at him as she held up her hurt hand.
His eyes widened a bit as he watched and listened, shaking his head. "Belle you can't do that. You do not want to be bound to me. You might take on part of the darkness..."
"I don't care! The darkness is where you live and if thats where you live its where I want to be. Please do this, I'll be alright. I'm stronger than you know, the Dark Curse won't effect me..." she pleaded, offering him the handle of the knife as she looked up at his face. "You said you trusted me. This spell just makes us closer."
As she spoke he looked from her to the knife, swallowing a bit. Reaching to take the dagger from her, he sliced across his own palm, watching as the blood seeped from his skin. He wasn't convinced this was a good idea, but he did trust her.
Reaching to take the dagger back before she clasped his hand. The cut in her palm was against the cut on his, their blood mixing. Slowly she moved the dagger over their connected palms as she spoke the words of the spell.
Her whole body shuddered as the magic worked, feeling it working. Even he shuddered at the strange tingling. Rumplestiltskin was used to magic, but this magic bound them even further than they had been. He could feel her slight magic tingle through his veins as she could feel his.
It felt oddly intimate as the magic bound them. Even if they wanted to they couldn't take their hands apart from one another.
Slowly she looked up into her husbands eyes, blushing a bit. She was actually blushing at the intimate feeling that ran all the way through her body. His magic seemed to envelop her entire body. But she knew it felt so good.
Once the magic subsided, she tentatively drew her hand back from his, looking down at it. The cut she'd made was healed and a jagged line was all that was left, and that would even heal.
Before she could say anything, Rumplestiltskin took ahold of her face gently, pulling her against him and kissing her lips almost desperately. She was shocked for just a moment before she kissed him back, dropping the dagger onto the bed and moving her hands up to cup his face.
Leaning back from the kiss, she smiled to him as she looked into his eyes. "I love you. Now, no one can tear is apart. I'll always recognize you.."
Reaching up, he brushed her hair out of her face and nodded. "Perhaps. You still might not know me, or I might not know you."
"Yes but I'll always be yours, always." she said, brushing her nose up against his. "I'll be yours until the day I die. This I promise."
"That won't happen." he insisted. "I won't let it. I'll always protect you. Always."
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Storybrooke General Hospital
He felt like he'd failed. He'd failed one of the few people he'd promised he wouldn't. He'd broken a promise he never wanted to break.
Putting his phone away into his jacket pocket, he held up his hand, the same hand he'd cut to bind himself to his Belle. He remembered the smile on her face when she proclaimed her love, the look in her eyes as his magic caressed her so intimately in the spell. That woman held all of him, and she didn't even know it.
"Rumplestiltskin?"
When he heard the voice, he looked up to see Jefferson standing there. Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, he pushed himself to stand up. "Jefferson, good you're here. Belle...she went over the town line. She thinks she's Lacey Stan."
A look of pity crossed Jeffersons face. Even he knew that Belle made Rumplestiltskin a better man, he saw just how much she meant to the sorcerer. "Oh Rumplestiltskin, I'm sorry. So...she thinks we're married?" he asked. He still had his memories when he was married to Lacey, but he knew those were false now.
"Indeed. And she's asking for you. My wife gets what she wants." Rumplestiltskin said. Looking up, meeting Jeffersons eyes. "But make no mistake, she will always be my wife. Tread carefully hatter."
"I won't do anything to hurt her, you know that..." Jefferson said. Taking in a breath as he walked towards the room Belle was in. Looking in, he saw her sitting on the bed. "Be-Lacey..?" he asked.
At the sound of her name, she looked up at Jefferson. Smiling slowly, she stood up and quickly went up to hug him tightly around his waist, hiding her face onto his neck. "Oh Jeff! Thank god! What is going on here?"
Gently Jefferson rubbed her arms as he looked down at her. "It's...complicated. Why don't we get you home okay?"
"No, I want to know whats going on. Why did Mr. Gold say he was my husband? And where is my baby?! Whats going on. The last thing I remember is going to bed.."
Jefferson sighed as he looked down. How would he explain this? Looking back up at her face, he gave her an assuring smile. "It's alright, calm down. It's hard to explain. You um...you had an accident. Forgot. Your baby is okay, a healthy baby girl named Elsa. You left me, Lacey. You fell in love with Mr. Gold. You two were married...you were happy..." he said, attempting to explain it the best he could without lying.
But Belle shook her head, gripping the sides of his shirt. "Why would I leave you? I love you Jeff. I'll always love you."
"Because Gold is Elsa's father. You had an affair with him. You love him, I'd come to terms with that."
She stared at him confused for a moment, shaking her head. "This is crazy. I want to go home, with you, our home."
"Your home is with Mr. Gold.."
"Please Jeff. I don't remember that. I'm scared.." she pleaded, looking up at him.
He let out a sigh and nodded. "Fine, I'll take you back to the house. Elsa...she um, she's at Gold's house." he said. The look on her face told him she was about to argue, but he shook his head. "Sweetling, I cannot take Elsa away from him too. That man might be stubborn and a lot of people might fear him...but he loves you so much. Enough to call me down here when you needed me. I cannot take that little girl away from him, it'll break him."
Stubbornly she pouted and shook her head. "It's Gold we're talking about. He doesn't care about anything."
"That's not true. He loves you, and he loves that little girl. And you're carrying his child now, a few months along I think. I will take you home but I will not take everything from him. I'd come to terms with our divorce Lace."
She sighed slowly and nodded. "Alright..I...I suppose I can see your point. Please just...just take me home." she said.
Jefferson nodded, moving his arm around her shoulders and gently starting to lead her out of the hospital. "Okay. We can get you a nice hot bath and into some clean clothes. I think you left some stuff in our closet." he said.
They walked out of the room, and as they did Rumplestiltskin looked up from his seat, watching as Belle leaned close to Jefferson. She only glanced towards him as she kept walking. It hurt, a lot.
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Jefferson's House
When they got home Jefferson had set Belle up in the bathroom to take a hot bath. And she did, she'd soaked in the hot water for a while.
And while she was in the bathroom Jefferson made something quick to eat. He was never really a cook, so he'd just gotten a turkey sandwich together for Belle. He had absolutely no clue on what to do, what to say to her. He knew she didn't remember her life in the Enchanted Forest. So, would she forever be Lacey? It seemed that way.
All he could do was hope she remembered and attempt to help her.
Lacey had taken a long bath and when she got out she'd changed into one of the nighties she'd left in the dresser of their bedroom. It was a soft baby blue that fell just down below her butt. Looking at herself in the large mirror on the closet door, she sighed. She didn't feel any different, she felt like Lacey. How could she have had an entire life she didn't remember? At least thats what it sounded like to her.
According to Jefferson she was married to Mr. Gold, and Gold was the father of her children. It was an odd thought to her.
Letting out a sigh, Lacey picked up one of her silk robes, slipping it on and starting to walk out of the bedroom and downstairs in search of Jefferson.
Finding him in the kitchen, she walked up behind him and moved her arms around his waist, hugging close to him and resting her cheek against his back. "Oh Jeff..." she murmured lightly.
The feel of her arms made him stiffen, glancing around a bit before he sighed. "Come on lets get some food into you, hm?" he asked. Removing her arms from him, he took the two plates with the turkey sandwiches. Resting them on the kitchen table as he sat down at his, looking up at her.
She walked over, taking her seat and crossing her legs, looking up at him. "You know how crazy this sounds, right? That I left you for Gold?"
"It might sound crazy but its true." he said as he leaned against the table, looking up at her. "You love him, not me. I admit I was angry at first, jealous. But you were so happy with him Lace, I'd never seen you happier..." he said, letting his cursed persona speak. He had felt all those things when she'd left him. He didn't still love her the way he thought he did, but he remembered the feelings.
Gently Lacey reached over to take his hand, gripping it. "Whatever went wrong...we can fix it. We can be happy Jefferson. You and me."
Looking up at her, he gave her a small smile. "You'll remember one day. And you'll resent me for not steering you towards Gold."
"I could never resent you." she said, gripping his hand a little. "I love you."
"No, you don't. I get that you're confused, but I'm telling you the truth. You are always welcome to stay here sweetling, you know that. And you can stay here so long as you need. But we're divorced Lace." he said. Taking his hand back from hers as he sat back. "You can take the master bedroom. That was always more your room than mine anyway.."
"It was our room!" she retorted, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Well it's yours now." he said. Standing up without even touching his food, he took the plate and put it into the fridge before he walked upstairs. He was trying to be the good man here, trying to do the right thing. He didn't want her to get attached to him because he knew what he said was true. If he didn't steer her in the right direction when she realized who she really was she would resent him.
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Late That Night
Lacey was confused. She'd eaten the food, cleaned up the kitchen and then went to lay in her big bed by herself. Laying there, she couldn't completely understand what was going on. How could she love Mr. Gold when she didn't even really know him?
She'd been tossing and turning for hours. Sitting up and reaching to turn on the light and letting out a sigh when she saw it was nearly 4 in the morning. She felt like she was going crazy, she craved to be next to someone, and she assumed that someone was Jefferson.
Pouting as she thought about the options. Deciding to finally get out of bed, she moved to stand up and walked out of the bedroom. Walking down the hall, she stopped to look into the nursery they'd gotten together for their daughter, for Elsa. Her heart sank at the fact that the little girl wasn't in her arms right now, that Jefferson didn't believe Elsa was his. He was the only man she'd ever been with. At least, the only one she ever remembered being with.
Slowly she began to walk past the room and to the guest room she knew Jefferson was staying in. Opening the door quietly she peaked in, looking at him as he slept on the bed there. He looked so innocent and at peace with the world when he slept, he always did.
Stepping into the room, she closed the door behind her and walked up to the bed. Crawling into the bed, she laid down next to him, resting her head on his shoulder carefully as not to wake him, looking up at his face.
Leaning her head up and slowly placing a kiss on his jawline. Closing her eyes halfway, she kissed along his jaw and over his neck. She didn't wake him, he just let out a small breath and a noise as she placed kisses along his neck.
Feeling his arm move around her shoulder, his hand gripped her shoulder a little. His hand was rest just overtop of the magical tattoo of Rumplestiltskin's name on the back of her shoulder. And when his fingers touched it he woke up with the shock sent through his skin.
Gasping, he pulled his hand back and shot up, staring down at her. "Belle! What on earth?" he asked, disoriented.
She pouted, moving to sit on his lap, straddling his waist and resting her hands on his shoulders, pressing him back against the bed. "My name is Lacey. WHO in the world is Belle?!" she asked almost jealous.
"Oh..." he muttered, letting out a sigh and running his fingers through his hair. "Thats right, Lacey...Lace. Okay...Okay I know." he said. Looking up at her, he rest his hands on hers, taking them off his shoulders. "I'm sorry, you startled me is all."
"But who is Belle?"
"You are." he told her plainly, looking up at her face. "I can't explain, you won't believe me. Just...just forget that, okay? What are you doing in here?"
"I want my husband." she said. Taking her hands back, she rest them on his chest and shifted so she sat more in his lap, pressing herself close to him.
He couldn't help but shudder. He was still a man after all. Resting his hands on her hips, he picked her up and pushed her to lay back so he was on top of her. But as soon as she was on her back, he sat up away from her. "No Lace. We're not married anymore. Stop this."
Lacey pouted as she looked up at him, moving to sit up as well. In this persona she remembered a very healthy sex life, and now Jefferson didn't want her. "Jeff come on..."
"No! You come on. Look, we're not married anymore Lace. I've dealt with that. I'm alright with that. But please, we cannot do this." he pleaded.
Crossing her arms across her chest, which was so unlike Belle and so much more something Lacey would do, she rolled her eyes. "Fine. But I will get into my husbands pants thank you very much." she said stubbornly. Standing up, she moved to storm off, slamming the door as she left.
Leaving Jefferson sitting there. Great. He'd have to deal with Lacey coming after him. And he remembered Lacey...remembered how her cursed persona had seduced him when they'd fallen in love, how insistent she'd been in wanting to be with him.
He remembered that, but he didn't have any memories of actual sex with her. He had memories of it happening, but no clear pictures. At least there was that. He was sure Rumplestiltsin would have a heart attack at the idea of him having images of Belle like that.
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Gold's Pawn Shop: A Few Days Later
Rumplestiltskin felt as though he was going insane. He had not actually seen his wife in days, and there was a huge gap within him. He felt as though an entire piece of him were missing. At least if he were going to get Baelfire he would be able to call Belle, would know she waited at home with him.
But now, she lived in the house with Jefferson and wanted nothing to do with him. Thankfully Jefferson had gone through lengths to ensure he still had Elsa. After all, technically Gold's name was on Elsa's birth certificate, he was her legal father, she couldn't just be taken away from him.
Though he knew if his Belle, or rather Lacey, came to him wanting Elsa, he would give her up. While his Belle was gone Lacey still looked like her, and he could not have that sadness within her.
But he did have a sliver of hope that he could get his Belle back. He'd been working on various potions and such to see if he could find a solution to their problem. Perhaps there was a potion he could create to restore Belle's memories. So, he'd been pouring through his magical books, testing out potions and everything he could think of.
Hearing the bell above the door ring from his office in the back where he poured over his books on magic, he huffed a bit. "We're CLOSED!" he announced harshly.
But the curtain opened and in walked Jefferson. Looking at Rumplestiltskin, the latter sighed. "Thank the gods. Have you found anything?"
Looking up, Rumplestiltskin rolled his eyes and went back to his book. "Does it look like I've come up with anything?"
"Hey no need to snap.." Jefferson said. Moving to sit at the chair in front of the desk, leaning against it and looking up at the other man. "You've got to get your wife back. She's driving me crazy..."
Rumplestiltskin shot him another look as he gripped his hand into a tight fist. "What ever is my wife doing to drive you crazy? And don't you forget, hatter, she is MY wife."
The hatter only nodded, holding up his hands. "That she is. But she believes she is mine." he said with a sigh, leaning back in the seat and looking up at the dark sorcerer. "But right now she thinks she is Lacey Stan. And she thinks she loves me and that I'm her husband. I've tried telling her she left me and that she doesn't love me, but she doesn't believe me.."
Holding up one hand when Rumplestiltskin went to interrupt, Jefferson shook his head. "Lacey Stan...well, you might not know our cursed past. But I do. See, when I met Lacey, when I think I met Lacey, she was...troubled, to say the least. It was in high school. She had a reputation you know..." he said, shaking his head as he sighed, trying hard to remember it all. "Well, I don't remember everything, not details because it wasn't real. But I remember falling in love with her and dating her. She was insatiable. Lacey goes after what she wants, and I'm afraid she wants me.." he said.
Seeing the look on Rumplestiltskin's face, Jefferson shook his head. "I swear to you Rumple, I have not laid a hand on her."
"You better not have. I'll see to it that whatever you touch her with will not be attached to your body anymore." he growled, gripping his hands into fists. Rumplestiltskin couldn't help but feel jealous, a jealousy that his Belle wanted Jefferson instead of him.
Jefferson nodded, sitting forward and leaning against the desk, looking at the sorcerer. "I promise you Rumple, I don't want her like that. I want Belle back as much as you do. What can I do to help?"
Rumplestiltskin regarded Jefferson for a moment before he reached to take one of the books he hadn't looked at. Pushing it into Jefferson's hands and looking at the hatters face. "Help me find a way to fix this. There has got to be a way."
Holding onto the book the hatter sighed, shaking his head. "Rumple open your eyes. What if there is no fix? Magic can't fix everything."
"There HAS to be a way!" Rumple snapped, sitting back in his seat, gripping the arms of the chair tightly.
Jefferson thought for a moment before he nodded. "Alright. There is a way. True loves kiss. It's the most powerful magic in all the realms."
"Yes but Belle does not love me like this."
"She can love you. Get up out of this office, go and be with her. Take her to dinner, show her you love her. She has to be shown, not told." Jefferson stated, standing up and resting the book down on the desk. "How did you win her heart the first time?"
Rumpelstiltskin scoffed and shrugged, looking away. "Lets see, I bartered for her life, locked her away in a dungeon, made her clean my home. Stubborn woman fell in love with me.."
But Jefferson shook his head, leaning against the table and looking down at Rumplestiltskin. "Be sweet. Come now, there must be a way to win her over. Why don't you get her some flowers, ask her out on a proper date? Explain to her that you know she doesn't remember, and you're not asking her to, but you're asking her to give you a chance."
Slowly Rumple looked up at Jefferson, shaking his head a bit. "She wouldn't listen. She...she's scared of me."
"Come now, since when has our Belle been truly afraid of anything." he asked, rolling his eyes as he stood up straight. "It's your choice Rumple. Romance her, or continue to sit in this office with your books. Sure, you could find a cure. But you could also lose her even more if there is no cure."
With that, Jefferson stood straight and turned to walk out. "Make the right choice, Rumple! What is it Belle used to say? Do the brave thing and bravery will follow?"
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An Hour Later
Rumplestiltskin had thought long and hard about what Jefferson had said. And in some aspects the hatter was right. He needed to win his wife back the old fashioned way, a way he hadn't gotten when he first was with her.
He needed to court her.
So, he'd gotten some flowers, red roses, and had driven out to Jefferson's estate. Parking out front, he gripped the steering wheel a little as he tried to gather up his courage. He couldn't be a coward here, for once in his life he had to be brave. And he believed he could do it for his wife.
Images of his Belle smiling at him, proclaiming her love to him flashed through his mind. He had to do this for her.
Taking in a deep breath, he pushed to stand up, taking the roses he'd gotten her and walking up to the front door. Reaching, he rang the doorbell as he swallowed. He'd never been so nervous. Of course he hadn't ever truly courted a girl in his life.
It was Belle who opened the door. She opened the door, looking out and seeing Mr. Gold standing there, startling her a little bit. Gently she held the doorknob and nodded to him. "Mr. Gold. How...how can I help her?" she asked. Was he here to tell her that she was supposed to love him some more? She'd gotten enough of that, and she didn't want to be told how to feel.
He gave her a light smile as he took in a breath. "Lacey...I have come here to apologize. It takes a lot for me to admit wrongdoing, but perhaps trying to force you to remember was wrong.."
Lacey nodded slowly, leaning against the door a little as she held the doorknob still. "Oh...oh it's okay. I really do wish I could remember but I just...I just can't." she said, looking down. "I'm sorry."
"No no, don't. You don't need to apologize. But...but I would like a chance. Please Lacey, give me a chance to show you that I do care about you. I'm not asking you to remember, I'm asking to create something new. Somewhere deep inside you I know you feel the same as me. And I'd like a chance to help you realize it." he said slowly, looking up into her beautiful blue eyes.
She regarded him for a minute, chewing on her bottom lip as she looked down at the flowers he held. "Just...what are you asking?"
As he took in a deep breath, he offered her the flowers, looking up at her face. "Lacey Stan. Would you do me the honor of letting me take you out? To dinner?"
After he asked the question she stayed quiet for a moment, leaning against the door and she looked up at his face. It felt like an eternity of silence went between them before Belle spoke.
"Alright. That...sounds lovely." she said, giving him a small smile.
Her answer made him smile as well as he offered her the roses. "Here, these are for you..."
Reaching out, she took the flowers and smiled a bit more, nodding. "Alright. Well um...how about tomorrow night? Around 6?" she asked.
While he would have loved to take her out tonight, he would settle for tomorrow. Nodding a bit as he folded his hands both over his cane, looking up at her face. "That would be perfect. I shall see you tomorrow Lacey."
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A/N: Soo...have I fixed it maybe a little? lol. It's not *completely* fixed, because its not that easy, but hey, I hope ya'll liked it!
It is still finals week, but this is so much more interesting than finals, right? Haha. It's all good, I'll be good for finals. I'm hoping to stick to my regular writing schedule, too. I enjoy writing as taking a break for small bits of time in-between studying. So that works.
As always, Read & Review! Let me know what you guys think.