Blueeyeddevil06 thank you for being my beta!

Belle woke mid-morning the next day and smiled when she realized where she was. Rumple had come and saved her from her dungeon cell. She didn't know what that meant entirely, but she was sure, at least, that she was free. She had that bit of information and Sophie's announcement that Belle was now a guest at his estate. That meant she was welcome to stay. For now.

She rose from the bed, stretched, and dressed in a pale yellow gown. She then fixed her hair and headed to the kitchen to find something to eat.

She stepped from her room, and Sophie jumped up from a chair, "Follow me to the dining room. I have food warming for you."

"You don't have to feed me," Belle said kindly to her.

"The Dark One told me to serve you breakfast when you woke up." Sophie gave her a kind smile. "I didn't disobey your father. What makes you think I would disobey The Dark One?"

"Thank you." Belle followed her then sat down to eat. She tried to take small lady-like bites, but she quickly gave up on that. She was starving after her time in the dungeon, and Rumple wasn't there to see her eat.

After she'd finished, she asked a question that was worrying her. She was afraid of the answer, so she'd delayed as long as she dared. "Is Rumple being kind to you?"

Sophie looked at her in confusion. "Who?"

"The Dark One's real name is Rumplestiltskin. I call him Rumple for short."

"Huh." She looked at Belle in shock. "I guess it makes sense that he'd have a name. He wasn't born as The Dark One. I just guess I never thought about it." She sat down next to Belle and took her hand. "I don't know if kind is the word I'd use, but he isn't harsh."

"Has he said anything bad to you?" Belle looked at her in concern.

"No!" She quickly reassured her. "I… He is abrupt, but not mean. I haven't done anything to test his patience. It seems that as long as I take good care of you, I won't have any problems with him." She then continued after pausing. "I did knock on his study yesterday and let him know you were settled in and sleeping. He wasn't in the least bit upset that I interrupted him with news of you."

Belle let out a big sigh of relief. "Please let me know if there are any problems. You have been so loyal-"

She was cut off by the doors to the dining room swinging open. Rumple didn't even pretend that he hadn't been listening in. "As long as she does her duty to you, she will have no problems with me. You're already starting to look healthier, and you've eaten. So far, she's done a good job."

He looked at Belle and asked, "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Better. I can't thank you enough for rescuing me." She fought off tears. She didn't want to cry in front of him after he saved her. "I didn't expect that kind of homecoming."

Rumple scowled, "You shouldn't have had to experience that. Your father will pay, of course."

"How?" The worry was evident in her voice.

He tried to ignore the worry. He didn't want it to concern him that she was distressed. He sighed audibly and realized he was fighting a losing battle. He then said, "I stopped holding back the ogres."

He heard her gasp and watched her hand fly to her mouth. Tears welled in her eyes. He then continued. "That was until early this morning. The ogres are no longer attacking the kingdom. Your father met my demands that I sent through neighboring kingdoms. My requirement for saving them from the ogres was that he hand his kingdom over to a neighboring ruler."

She looked at him and the tears in her eyes dried up. "You had mercy on them?"

"No." He then turned to go. "I knew it would upset you if I let the ogres kill the citizens, and it was your father I was furious with. He's no longer king."

"Thank you!" She shouted out before he left the room. "You really are a-"

"Don't say it!" He interrupted. He then left the room and slammed the doors shut.

Sophie looked at Belle and said, "I can't believe The Dark One showed mercy."

"I don't think he did." Belle added, "I think that was an act of love. He did that for me."

"Do you love him?"

"Will you think less of me if I do?"

"No!" Sophie shouted. She then looked apologetic and, in a more sedate voice, added, "Your love just saved countless lives. I think everyone should be grateful to you. It seems like you're the only one that can get through to him. You didn't even have to ask."

Belle looked at her, and happy tears sprang to her eyes. "Maybe he will let himself love me back." She jumped out of her chair. "Oh! I have things to do!"

"What?"

"I need to show him I appreciate his thoughtfulness." She then collapsed in her chair and sighed forlornly. "What do you do to thank The Dark One?"

"Sacrifice an innocent child?" Sophie quipped.

"You always had a dark sense of humor." Belle couldn't keep a straight face and started laughing. She then looked out the window and said. "He has a lot of roses in the gardens. I think I'll collect some in a vase and decorate his desk in the study with them. It's not much, but it's something."

Sophie stood, "I'll get a vase while you cut the flowers."

They both then went off to accomplish their tasks.

While Regina watched Billy follow Henry around, Robin came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "What are you thinking?" He whispered in her ear.

"Foolishness. I'm growing sentimental with age." She replied and leaned into his embrace.

"You've always been sentimental. You were just really good at hiding it for a while. Why don't you tell me what you're thinking."

She sighed, "I thought that I always wanted one child. Henry is all I could ever ask for, and now… Now, something seems right about watching Henry and Billy together."

"He should be our son," Robin stated. "We should talk to Henry, but I suspect he's on board already."

Regina pulled out of his arms and looked at him in shock. "What? Just like that?"

He nodded and said, "I believe in true love. Surely it's not limited to romantic love. Henry already mentioned that having Billy around feels right. It looks like we all agree."

Regina's hand shook. "What if he's afraid of me?"

"Billy!" Robin yelled out, getting Henry and Billy's attention. "What did you think about meeting the Evil Queen?"

Regina hissed quietly, "Subtle."

Billy ran over and smiled up at both of them. "That's she's really pretty and nice. She showed me some magic earlier. Why do people jokingly call her the Evil Queen?"

"She used to be."

Billy looked thoughtful. "That explains Emma and Killian. She was already used to villains really being good."

Henry walked over, smiled at his parents, and nodded. "I agree with what you're thinking."

"How can you possibly know what we're thinking?" Regina asked.

Henry shrugged, "Because he's ours. It's right."

Robin squatted down and looked at Billy, "Would you like to be part of our family? You'd be our son, just like Henry."

Billy looked at Robin with wide eyes. "You really want me?"

He nodded, "We all really do, Billy. You would live here in the palace with us. You wouldn't be a sailor anymore."

"I love the sea." He replied. "But, I'd love a family even more." He hugged Robin and then whispered, "Can I call you dad?"

His eyes misted up, "I would love it if you did."

Regina smiled at her boys. Her family was complete.

Rumple looked at the vase with roses sitting on the desk in his study, and he collapsed in his chair. It seemed ridiculous that flowers did him in. It was such a strange thing to lose to, but lose he did. She had thought to do something for him, and he couldn't remember the last time anyone did something nice for him like that.

He pulled one rose out of the vase and gave in. "I love her." He sighed. He should probably feel better about that admission. "I give up. I can't stay away from her."

He stood and walked briskly to the library. On the way there, he removed the thorns from the stem of the rose. He found her reading, just as he suspected. He walked over and placed the flower in her hair behind her ear. He then took her book, set it down, and pulled her up out of her seat.

"Belle, I love you." He then kissed her passionately. She moaned into his kiss, and he deepened it quickly. When he eventually pulled back, he looked her in the eyes. "I can't be a good man. But, I love you."

Belle caressed his face and saw it was skin toned. "I love you too." She then kissed his cheek. "You've been very good to me."

"That's the problem. I don't know what came over me."

"True love." She replied.

"Villains don't find true love." He countered and pulled her into his arms.

"We'll just have to figure out how to make you no longer a villain."

"I like what I am!"

Belle pulled back enough to look him in the eyes. "No, you don't."

"I don't." He admitted. "I don't know how to be anything else."

"That's what I'm here for. Now is the part where we fight for true love." She kissed him to seal her promise.