XII

***Come with Me***

Rumpelstiltskin cursed inwardly as Tinkerbell stepped into his path, a serene smile upon her lovely face. His stomach churned and the demon howled, not at all happy to be so close to the fairy. There was an ethereal quality to her beauty – something she had managed to retain despite her banishment. Still not as enchanting as his Belle, in his opinion. His eyes narrowed, but snarling and snapping at her in the midst of Regina's guests was not how he wanted to end his evening. Unfortunately, she had other ideas.

"Rumpelstiltskin," she greeted, effectively cutting off his route of escape when he moved to step around her.

"Ah, hell. What do you want?" he sneered, leery of her winsome smile.

"Just a brief word. Surely you can spare a moment to discuss the spell Regina is even now giving to your dear Belle?"

That got his attention, his head whipping around to search through the crowd for his little dearie.

"Don't fret, Dark One. Regina won't harm her," Tink assured him.

He turned back to the fairy, his upper lip curling in disgust. "You're so sure of that, are you, dearie? Apparently, you don't know her as well as you'd like to think."

"You're not happy she's changed, but she has. She's happy now. There is no danger to Belle. But the queen's happiness is not what I wished to discuss with you." She reached into the small reticule tied about her wrist and removed what appeared to be a small gold coin, pressing it into his palm.

He knew there was nothing ordinary about the coin, in spite of its appearance. It was humming with fairy magic. "What is it?" he asked simply.

The fairy smiled softly. "You'll need it to find Baelfire. Fairy magic is one of the few magics which will survive in the land where he is. It's because –"

"Because the fae have their fingers in all sorts of pies," he muttered, already bored with her. "What does the coin do?"

Tinkerbell sighed. The Dark One had never been known for his patience with her sisterhood. "It will lead you to him, of course. It contains one of the most powerful locator spells in existence. A single drop of your blood is all that's needed to activate it. It will then lead you to anyone blood related to you, Rumpelstiltskin."

"Blood magic? From a fairy?" he asked, glaring at her. "Rheul Ghorm could have aided in my search centuries ago, and yet she let me waste my time –"

"I don't agree with her, Rumpelstiltskin, but I can see now why she didn't bother with you then."

"What?!"

"You weren't ready."

He was a split second away from losing his temper. "I was ready the second I lost my boy down that bloody portal," he hissed.

She shook her head. "I'm sure you were, but the spell wouldn't have worked. Why should Blue give you false hope? Once you peruse what is necessary for the spell to work, you will understand." She spun on her heel to return to her friends when she saw the queen had once again taken her place next to Robin on the dais. "Good luck!"

Bloody meddlesome mosquitos, he seethed. His right hand clenched into a tight fist to stop himself from cursing her into oblivion. It didn't surprise him Rheul had kept this spell to herself. She was rather selfish unless it suited her purposes to show her generosity. She was a controlling little bug, and he was glad he'd be leaving the realm and wouldn't have to put up with her machinations for much longer. His narrowed gaze searched through the sea of guests for a spot of blue, wondering where his Belle had gotten off to … and whether she was still angry with him. He tucked the coin into the pocket of his waistcoat and set off to find her.

*.*.*

Belle sighed as two very familiar and comforting arms slipped about her waist. She leaned back into her love's embrace, shivering as his lips brushed the shell of her ear. "Are you still angry with me, dear one?" he whispered.

She turned her head slightly so his lips would brush her cheek. "I was never angry with you, Rum … just disappointed, I suppose. No woman wants to hear such things from the man she loves. It's terribly unsettling."

"Belle …" he groaned.

"Rumpel, might we go home now? I'm weary of the crowd. I miss the quiet of the castle where we might be alone." She went willingly when he turned her in his arms to face him. "You're trembling," she observed, studying him carefully.

How could he not when she'd pretty much just admitted to loving him? "Such is your effect on me, Belle," he whispered, trying to remember they were in a ballroom filled with people instead of in the privacy of their home. "Come, let us go. You have the spell?"

She nodded, taking his arm as they proceeded towards the door where they'd collect their cloaks and have their carriage brought around. "Yes, the queen gave it to me just moments ago." At his questioning gaze she added, "Don't worry, Rum, it's safe."

They didn't have to wait long for the carriage. The footmen – seeing who was indeed ready to leave – wasted no time in moving the Dark One's conveyance to the front of the queue. The temperature was frigid, well below freezing, and a light snow had begun to fall. The braziers had been supplied with fresh coal and lit, and a wave of warmth met them as Rumpelstiltskin assisted her into the carriage. He followed, settling himself at her side and covering her with the soft sheep skin blanket he kept there for her comfort.

Still she shivered, burrowing into her ermine-lined velvet cloak. Without a thought for anything but her comfort, he wrapped his arms about her, his hands rubbing gentle circles over her back. He'd never had to worry about the temperature of the weather … not since he'd taken on the curse of the Dark One, but Belle … his precious girl didn't like the cold. She needed warmth, sunlight. Her body craved it. Her soul did as well, if he weren't mistaken. One more reason to wonder why she'd set her affections on him. He breathed a sigh of relief when her shivers abated, and she rested more comfortably against his side.

He discarded the tall collar insert on his jacket and was rewarded by her delighted purr, the sound reverberating against his skin as her lips pressed to his throat. That feeling of peace – unmatched and unparalleled, bordering on bliss which so riled the demon – descended upon him, and he sighed, his arms tightening about her. Gods, how he loved her, he thought, awestruck by her acceptance.

"Belle, dearie … " he breathed against her temple. "I need to … um …" His breath caught as her hand slipped beneath his jacket and glided over the silk of his waistcoat to wrap about his waist. "I need to ask you something," he stammered, sounding a bit breathless even to his own ears.

"You can ask me anything, Rum," she encouraged him, tilting her chin up to meet his heated gaze.

"The spell … the portal …" He had to clear his throat. He could easily get lost in the cerulean depths of her eyes. There was safety and love and warmth and everything he'd ever wanted right there in those pools of blue. "Come with me, Belle. Come with me to find my son."

Her hand trailed up his chest until it rested on the side of his neck, her thumb caressing the dip between his collarbones. "As if I'd let you leave me behind."

He stared down at her in stunned disbelief. "You want to come with me? Belle, there won't be any way to come back. You'll be stuck there with me. What if you change your mind, dearie?"

"Whether or not you believe it, Rumpelstiltskin, you will always be my choice. In all things, you are my choice."

His hand slipped around her nape, his long fingers effectively ruining her coiffure as they delved into her soft locks. "I will try to be worthy of you, my Belle. I promise," he murmured against the corner of her mouth.

"I don't want you to be anything less than what you are … master," she cooed, returning his affection and teasing the corner of his own mouth. Oh, she could get used to this, she thought as fire flooded her veins.

"Belle … " he warned, his body tightening, her touch evoking feelings he hadn't felt in centuries. She was slowly tearing down his walls and he was forced to ask himself if he even wanted them to remain intact.

She watched him closely as his features softened with desire. He'd never been more beautiful to her. She cradled his beloved face in her warm palms and smiled. "I suppose I shouldn't call you that if it irritates you so. Perhaps one day you'll find another more appropriate title for me to call you."

Her words were giving him all sorts of ideas … ideas and hopes he had never dared contemplate. "Perhaps I will, dearest."

A/N: Rum really hates fairies lol. At least he and Belle made up though. Nice to see they didn't let their misunderstanding fester and cause more strife between them, eh? Next time: Rumpel is not at all pleased by the catalyst for the spell. Thankfully, Belle is not worried they can make it work. Thank you all so much for reading!