VII

***Temper, Temper, Dearie***

The foundation of the Winter Palace shook violently, dust filtering down from the rafters in the salon where Regina sat having tea with her friends. The queen nearly lost her seat, and Snow shrieked in alarm, looking around for her fiancé. Then she remembered the errand Regina had sent him on. He wouldn't be back for several more hours.

Robin leapt to his feet, his hand upon his bow. "Earthquake? I didn't think this region were prone to such phenomena."

Tinkerbell dabbed at the tea stain on her skirt as she set her cup down and drew the wand from her sleeve. Thankfully, Blue hadn't taken it from her when she'd banished her. "No, I sense Dark Magic," she said, narrowing her eyes, searching out the corners of the room for hidden danger.

Regina cringed as she rose unsteadily to her feet. The castle shook again, and her lover reached out to pull her behind him, to shield her against the coming attack. She smiled with amusement. Did he not remember who she'd been? "Robin, it's fine."

"It is not bloody well fine!" he insisted, urging Snow to join Regina as he nocked an arrow.

"Darling, that isn't going to do any good against the Dark One," she tried to tell him. "Robin? Robin!"

"He won't be able to help you, dearie," Rumpelstiltskin hissed in her ear, his long spell-clever fingers slipping about her pale throat as he pulled her away from her lover. "And neither will all that white magic coursing through you. Tell me, your majesty … do you miss the darkness? Has it truly left you, or is it a struggle to keep it from devouring you?"

Regina yelped in pain as he tossed her away from him and she landed rather abruptly on the hearth rug. She glanced at her friends, frozen in a red haze of magic. It would almost have been comical had she not been facing an angry Dark One. "Of course, it's a struggle! How could it not be after living with it for so long," she hissed, rising to her feet to face him. "But I am not going to give in and ruin everything I've worked so hard for recently. It's difficult to be good when the darkness is just so … easy."

His fingers twitched at his side as he rounded the coffee table and advanced on her. "What did you do to Belle?" he snarled, his eyes flashing furiously.

"What do you mean? I haven't done anything to your little maid, Rumpelstiltskin," she protested, backing away from him.

The Dark One vanished, reappearing behind her, his hand once more closing about her throat. He wouldn't allow her to escape so easily. Her magic was no match for his, especially this white magic she was clinging to.

"Six months ago, I freed her from our deal. I sent her away, yet –" he trilled, "she returned to me of her own free will. Or did she?"

Regina stiffened. The girl must have finally caved and told him of that day on the road. "Is that what this is about?" she asked, turning her head just enough to be able to meet his gaze. Rarely had she ever seen him show such a loss of control over his emotions. "I simply offered the girl some advice, nothing more. I didn't harm her, and I didn't use any magic to influence her."

He turned her about and pressed his face close to hers, looking for evidence of her deceit. "You're lying!"

"Why would I? I have nothing to gain, Rumpel." She struggled against his grip. It wasn't so tight she couldn't breathe, but it was far from comfortable. "I always wondered, though … did she try to kiss you?"

He flung her away from him, unable to bear touching her a moment longer. She reeked of fairies and it befuddled his senses. "That's none of your damn business."

"Hmm, she really seemed like the hero type. I thought surely she'd run home and try to break your curse." She watched the emotions flit across his face as he paced. "So, judging from your reaction, she either tried to kiss you and it didn't work, or she's been protecting you. Which is it?"

I couldn't take something from you which you weren't willing to give. It had to be your choice. Belle's declaration flitted through his mind and he felt some of the darkness recede. Had she truly been trying to protect him? He was still reluctant to answer the queen. "Why did you do it?"

Regina rose and went to the sideboard to pour him a glass of finely aged whiskey, relieved he seemed to be coming down off his rage-induced high. He took it from her gratefully. "I was trying to destroy you, of course," she replied, not afraid to be honest with him. She wasn't that person anymore. The least she could do was offer him honesty.

Rumpelstiltskin snorted and tossed back his drink, reveling in the burn of the alcohol. "As if you could."

"Rumpel, I was filled with hate and a drive to make everyone as miserable as I was. Whether or not you believe it, you tempered my magic. I knew if I ever went too far, you would be there to stop me," she explained. "There were certain lines you wouldn't allow me to cross, and looking back … I'm glad."

"Rubbish! I just couldn't allow you to run amok before you'd cast my curse," he sneered.

"No, I think it's because buried deep down is the man you were before you became the Dark One. I think you're afraid to lose him, because if you do, even if you find your son, he won't welcome you back into his life."

"You know nothing," he hissed, smashing the tumbler against the hearth in his fury. Fucking blabbermouth fairy, he cursed. No one had a right to know his secrets. "You don't get to talk to me about him, Regina!"

"And Belle … she sees him, too; the man you were before ... She sees you, doesn't she?"

He clenched his teeth in vexation, truly seeing how much she'd changed from the witch she'd been. God's teeth, she was right. Belle had always been able to see right through him. Even from the very beginning she'd been able to claw her way past the mask to see the pathetic spinner he'd been before his curse. And yet she still wanted him. She'd risked their blossoming relationship to tell him the truth and he'd fled, ran out on her, and left her in tears because of his fear and anger.

"How badly did you mess up, Rumpel?"

"What are you talking about?" he asked, shooting her another glare.

She chuckled. "Knowing your temper as well as I do, I'm assuming you unleashed it on her and left the poor girl in tears. Am I right?"

He growled low in his throat, refusing to answer.

"Of course, I am. Go home, Rumpel. Talk to her. If she loves you … she'll forgive you."

The crystal vase on the table beside her exploded, showering the carpet with tiny shards. It didn't deter her, however.

"If she loves you, she'll understand. She's worth at least a conversation, isn't she? I have a feeling you love her enough not to want to let her go. Fight for your happiness, Rumpelstiltskin." She watched him stalk towards the door, her mentor having had enough of her advice. "I'll see you Saturday, Rumpel. You and Belle."

Robin lowered his bow as he was released from the Dark One's magic. "What happened?"

Regina shook her head as he tossed the weapon aside and enveloped her in his embrace. "Nothing. Rumpelstiltskin merely needed to blow off some steam."

Snow turned to beat a hasty retreat, needing a moment to shake off the Dark One's lingering magic. "I'll fetch someone to clean up this mess," she said, hurrying from the room.

Tinkerbell shook her head. "Well, I'd hate to see what would've happened had he really been angry."

A/N: IMO it was better for him to confront Regina, about her hand in it, than toss Belle out on her butt. He should be feeling some heavy-duty remorse about now. Next time, Rum goes home to apologize :D