Mr. Gold is her life force, a presence so powerful that it grounds her and gives her all the strength in the world, that first taste of blessed water after a lifetime of nothing, and she doesn't know how she would have survived without it, how she would have lived her life had the imp not come to her castle, the threat of war pushing concern to desperation.
She doesn't know how she would have continued on, had he not caught her when she fell off the ladder, had he not stared at her with such tenderness.
She doesn't know, and doesn't want to know, because his hand is in hers, his grip ever unyielding, and his laugh is more like the Rumplestiltskin she knew from back home, high pitched and genuine, and she knows that his laughter, this true laughter that escapes him every now and then, is meant for her and her only.
Bae might hold a place in her love's heart, and rightfully so, but she occupies the other half, takes joy in the fact, and always will. Mr. Gold, the feared pawnbroker, holds her hand as they eat cheeseburgers in his shop, laughing at a joke she remembered from one of her books, a smudge of ketchup at the corner of his mouth, and at the thought of anyone being afraid of him, Lacey erupts into laughter herself, warm and genuine, just like the Belle he knew from back home.
Since Belle's counterpart is most likely 'Lacey', I wanted to write one with them being all fluffy, but based on those set pictures I have a feeling that "fluffy" isn't going to happen anytime soon. Please R&R! Feedback is always appreciated! ;)