Belle has moved back into Rumple's house, to help take care of Gideon. What does that mean for their relationship?

The Gold Mansion

It had been over three months since Rumpelstiltskin, with Robin and Merlin's help, had rescued Gideon from the clutches of the Black Fairy. Raising the baby in the back of the antiques shop had proved to be impractical, so they transferred to the much larger Gold House, within two weeks of his arrival.

Although they were now estranged, Rumple had no wish to deprive Gideon of his mother's warmth and love. He could see just how much Belle adored their son and the baby was definitely more comforted in her arms. And now, watching her sitting in the large nursing chair, feeding him his bottle, his mind cast back to happier times, when they were still both in love. He still loved her so very much even now, but knowing the nature of his darkness, the Dark One's presence ingrained into his very bones, he knew she'd never fully understand the control that malevolent force had on him, or their mutual, symbiotic need.

And that was one of the reasons, coupled with her actions in losing their child, that he had finally released her from their marriage.

Since Gideon's safe return, Belle had come over daily to help and be with her son, allowing Rumple to continue to have a working life. Several times, during Gideon's more unsettled nights, she'd stayed over in the guest bedroom, helping with midnight feeds and allowing Rumple some semblance of sleep. They'd shared dinner together and drinks. And now, a mutual understanding had grown between them and just over two weeks ago, Rumple had offered a place once again in his home. As he'd explained at the time:

"Belle, I've no wish to keep you and our son apart. You're welcome to live here once again, if you so wish. Or divide your time between here and the library. There's no expectations on my part, and you're still free to come and go as you please. I think it would be in Gideon's interests too."

"Really? I'd love nothing more! You're sure? Do you have any 'conditions'?" She still felt nervous around him, more so after the split, but there was a certain rapprochement between them now.

"Only the ones we discussed when I brought him back. You're free to live your life as you wish, with whomsoever you wish, with the exception of the witch, of course! If you're intending to maintain ANY form of relationship with her, physical or otherwise, my offer is withdrawn."

Belle cringed, embarrassed that he already knew too much about her recent activities. "Rumple, I'm not having a 'relationship' with Zelena! I'm not even sure how you got to know about what happened, but what we had was purely…"

"Physical? Just sex? I'm fully aware of what it was, Belle. And I know that ginger bitch is incapable of normal human emotions, other than self-gratification. You think you know her? That she's changed, like her sister? I can assure you she hasn't. I regard her as a clear and present danger to my son, and I will have her nowhere near him."

Over the last few weeks, she had become even more mortified that he knew, in detail, her recent history. Her lonely nights. Her over-reliance on alcohol. Her relationships, including Will and Ariel. However, since Gideon's arrival and that first night back, he never spoke of it again. It had led to a gradual defrosting of the relationship between them. And now, as she stood, winding their son, she saw the deep, intense glare he was giving her.

"Rumple. I need to tell you something. I asked to meet Merlin this morning. I had some questions. About you."

"Questions about me?"

"Well, not about you, more about the Dark One, specifically. I wanted to understand. To understand why you do what you do!"

"You wanted to know whether my darkness can ever be removed? Whether I can change?"

"Partly, yes. I've known you a long time but sometimes it feels I don't know you at all! I wasn't trying to judge. Heavens, I've done enough of that in the past! I just want to understand what drives the Dark One. What is his objective? His reasoning?"

Rumple looked calmly at her, raising his whisky glass to his lips. "And did the Sorcerer enlighten you?"

"In a way. I certainly learned a few things."

The Earl of Locksley Inn – earlier that day

"Belle, the Dark One isn't a spell and it's a lot more than a curse. It's an entity, neither alive, nor dead. An embodiment of pure evil. It has a character and knowledge. Vast amounts of gained knowledge beyond your comprehension. It cannot be killed or removed merely by true love!"

"So how can we remove it from Rumple? Surely when it left him and latched on to Emma Swan? I remember you saying…"

"Emma herself wanted it removed from her, but even she clung on to it. It was only the battle against Killian Jones, and its transfer to Excalibur that brought her back. She had nothing to do with its release. The moment Killian was killed, Rumpelstiltskin took advantage by transferring all the combined forces back to him. Belle, if he hadn't, the darkness would have transferred to someone else. Someone less experienced in handling it. In a way, Rumple saved many lives that day by his actions!"

"And regained his Dark One powers? Sounds pretty selfish to me, Merlin! He at last had a chance…"

"Belle, the Dark One will exist long after you. It is a necessary counterpart to the light. In the thousands of years it has existed, the vast majority of its hosts have created mayhem, murdered and destroyed countless lives. Only one person, so far, has been able to tame it sufficiently to reduce its threat.

"Rumple?" she sighed. The Sorcerer nodded. "But I would hardly call that taming it!"

"Compared to the others, he's done remarkably well. Though there will always be some regression."

"Is Gideon in any sort of danger from being around him? Not Rumple, but the Dark One within him?"

"While his father is the Dark One's host? None whatsoever. Unless someone else controls the dagger."

"And everyone else? Is Rumple a danger to them?"

"No, provided they don't ask for favours or deals, without expecting some form of payment in return. The Dark One is the deal maker providing the magic, not Rumple."

"So everything stays the same? He can't move on? Improve?"

"By what measure do you mean 'improve'? By your own standards? By those of the Heroes? Personally, I think you all place an unrealistic measure on him, by ignoring the fact his burden is so great. However, with the right motivation he can show compassion, something no Dark One's host has been able to do before."

"Motivation? What sort of motivation?"

"You, Belle. By providing him with a semblance of light. By loving his son. Your son."

"Me? Well, if you hadn't heard, he kicked me out! We're no longer together."

"Yes, I had heard. And the business with the dagger and Snow White recently was poor judgment on your part, Belle. Holding his dagger is a bit like gripping his windpipe. It's painful, debilitating and humiliating. You used it to force him over the town line once, and later to do your bidding. It would be very hard for him to truly trust you after that. Love you, yes, but trust you? Difficult."

Belle was horrified. "How come you know all this?"

"I'm the Sorcerer. Unfortunately, for me, I see a lot. Often, too much!"

"So you think I should just give him another chance? Despite everything?"

"Has he actually asked you to give him another chance? Or is it what you are hoping for?"

"I'm not sure. He said he's forgiven me for losing Gideon. But I'm not so sure. He still seems hurt."

"Understandable. Did you ever actually apologise to him for using his own dagger against him?

"No - but he'd gone too far! He was putting others at risk!"

"Yet you knew the affect it would have on him?" Merlin didn't seem very sympathetic to her dilemma. "The control of the dagger over him is absolute, Belle. You know that Zelena tortured and raped him when she had that control? She caged him like an animal, even refusing to let him attend his own son's funeral. That's how powerful the dagger is! If he were commanded to kill you by someone holding it, he would be unable to refuse."

Her eyes bulged. Raped? She suddenly felt sick. "I…I didn't know that!" she hung her head low.

"You know, Zelena has never apologised for her actions. The very same woman who caused Baelfire's death, who chained Rumple underground and abused him. The woman who disguised herself as Maid Marian just to take Robin and break Regina, before going on to rape him? Belle, I know you think Zelena Mills has changed. In some ways, she has, but that's mainly due to the fact she lost nearly all her magic. But she still has a long way to go. Be extremely careful in any dealings you have with that woman!"

The way he'd said it, Belle felt sure he already knew she'd previously slept with the witch. On multiple occasions.

"I'll bear that in mind," was all she could manage, standing to leave. Belle wasn't exactly sure why she'd asked to speak to Merlin, probably the only person whose magic was at least as powerful as the Dark One's. But his words made her realise that she did at least share some responsibility for recent events. Certainly Gideon's kidnapping. However, she hadn't realised just how profoundly handling his dagger had affected him.

One thing was certain. She would never again go anywhere near Zelena again!

The Gold Mansion - that evening

"Belle, I know some of your future, and while I can give you no details, I can tell you that happier times await both of you. I think it's time to follow your heart and instincts, rather than the wishes of others. I think it still holds love. Be open and honest with him about all things, especially about your feelings and actions since you separated. Don't hold back, because he already has the power to recognise avoidance. Try to listen to him more and react less."

Belle told Rumple what Merlin had said. And about her fears. Her loneliness since they separated. How she had tried to drown her sorrows in booze. In meaningless sex by one-night stands. She didn't leave anything out. Even her briefly contemplating taking her own life. Rumple sat quietly and took it all in. Inside his heart broke for his former love. "I basically assumed my life was over, after I lost Gideon. And you. I'm not proud of what I did, Rumple! I clung on to Will, but I knew the moment he found out Anastasia was alive, whatever we had was over. Then Gilbert. I went off the rails and I'm not proud. Zelena was just sex. I used her, and she used me. We gave each other some sort of relief from the loneliness. I haven't seen her…in that way…since you brought Gideon back."

"Belle, I never wanted that for you. Despite what you may think, I do love you, and I had hoped you would eventually find happiness elsewhere. I knew about your various…encounters, though it is no longer any business of mine, so apart from…her…I do not judge you. In fact, when the mermaid stayed with you, I thought there was a chance for you to properly move on. To someone more worthy."

She sighed sadly, lowering her sleeping son gently into his crib. She felt awkward talking about this with him, but felt it was finally due.

"Ariel met me in the Rabbit Hole. She was very low too. She'd had a big row with her husband. Something to do with Erik fighting with King Triton and Queen Athena. She came down on her parents' side, and it grew from there. She was in a bad way and so was I. We comforted each other, then one thing led to another. She's still married, so it shouldn't have happened. I sort of hoped we could be something more? In a way, so did she but…well, she still felt guilty and finally decided she wanted to save her marriage. I don't blame her. I suppose it did help me learn something about myself."

"That you would ultimately prefer to be with a woman?"

"No. Possibly. I don't know. I also had a few one-night stands with others, men and women, which I'm not proud of. But at the end of it all, I suppose I'm really just looking for something more. A relationship. Otherwise, it's all a bit base, isn't it? To be honest, I haven't had that since…well, you, quite frankly."

"Well, for the record, I think Ariel may well return here some time. My informants tell me she and the prince attempted reconciliation, though she told him about yourself. I gather he told her to leave. However, I do understand. I fact, I feel the same. I've also had a few encounters of my own these last few years."

"You?" That was a surprise! "I don't know why, but I never imagined…"

"Because I'm too old? Too grey? Too evil?" he raised an eyebrow.

"No! It's just that, well, I never imagined you needing anyone! You always seemed to be so independent. Not needing company." Belle's thoughts whirled as she realised he hadn't been pining alone. He's been with someone. People. Women? She couldn't help feeling a little annoyed. But why?

"I can still desire companionship, Belle! I'm not so cold and frigid that I cannot appreciate another soul."

"I guess. Who? How many? Sorry, that was wrong of me. I shouldn't have asked."

"Well, you had the decency to open up to me, so it's only fair. As you know, I travelled to New York on business, and Boston to meet with Henry. I had a few, how did you put it – one-night stands? Nothing serious. I was careful not to get involved with anyone in this town. Well, apart from Miss Carpenter at the Town Hall. And Katja, her assistant."

"Hilary Carpenter? But she's gorgeous! Why would she want a one-night...and Katja? The Fridge from Finland? I've never even seen her smile! But she's still stunning, I grant you. Her legs seem as long as me! Hell, I'm impressed! And a teensy bit jealous, if I'm honest, which I shouldn't be. In fact, Ruby told me Katja plays for the other team!"

"She did, dearie!" Rumple smirked, devilishly. "But now she plays for both teams. As does Miss Carpenter, oddly enough"

Belle tried to process his meaning. "What? Rumple, are you implying Katja and Caroline are together? Or that you had some sort of...threesome?"

Her surprised look pleased him. "Well, if it's good enough for the queen and the outlaw? It was all consenting, I assure you. No magic involved."

Belle's jaw dropped, in astonishment. This was a whole new side to him she'd never seen before.

"You never fail to surprise me! And are you in any other sort of relationship now? Any other Nordic blondes likely to come knocking?"

"Nobody. Like you, these are rather pleasant distractions, but nothing more. Anyway, never mind that. On to more important things. I've received an invitation from my grandson to a Thanksgiving lunch, on Thursday at the Earl of Locksley Inn. I would normally decline, as I find time spent with the royals and the self-absorbed Swan-Mills women to be tedious beyond measure. However, Henry is rather insistent I join him. He organised things along with Locksley, so it should be bearable. Would you like to come with me?"

"ME? You're asking me to join you, at a family event?"

"I am. Belle, whatever we are to each other now, we are Gideon's parents. As I said earlier, I still love you. I want your happiness, even if it can't be with me."

"Rumple…despite everything that's happened, I do still love you too! I know, perhaps even more so after talking to Merlin, that I share a fair amount of responsibility for what happened. Not only that, perhaps he's helped me understand you a little more. I want your happiness too, you know? Though perhaps don't bring too many tall Nordic goddesses home? As I'm only a little lump, I can get awfully jealous sometimes."

He grinned. "Belle, none of them could ever hold a candle to you! You are, and remain, the Beauty to my Beast!"

~oOo~