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Punishment So Sweet

Rumpelstiltskin dragged himself back up to his bedroom, forcing himself to put one foot in front of the other. He needed time to think, time to figure out what he was going to do about his little dearie. Sighing, he flipped open the lid of the box containing her heart, the bright red pulsing organ mocking him with its purity. It wouldn't remain like that for long if she stayed with him. What really could he offer her aside from a lifetime of pain and darkness? She deserved so much more than him. She deserved a husband who could love her and give her a family, one where she didn't have to worry about his enemies knocking down their door to steal her away and use her as leverage.

Belle was curled upon the duvet where he'd left her, her slender arms wrapped tightly about his pillow. She startled upright as the door closed behind him, pushing her tousled hair back away from her brow. "Rumpelstiltskin …"

"Aye, dearie, it's me. Whom else would it be?" he asked, a sad smile adorning his thin lips.

She bit her lip anxiously as he sat down beside her. "Are you alright?"

He nodded, staring down at the box in his hands. "She'll trouble no one any longer."

"You didn't –"

"No, I didn't kill her. I promised you I wouldn't, and I always keep my word." He flinched as her hand lifted to brush the hair back from his brow, his skin tingling from her touch. "I've simply gained a new statue for the garden."

Belle didn't argue with him. He hadn't killed Regina and if she were upset with the end results, it was her own fault for not being more specific in her request. At least as a statue the queen wouldn't be able to harm anyone else, and she could take comfort in that. Now she had more pressing matters to address, seeing as how he didn't look at all happy. Before he'd left her, he'd been affectionate and open, going so far as to allow her into his very mind. Now, he was cold and distant. "Then tell me what's wrong. What happened while you were away? Let me help you."

He snorted disbelievingly. "Oh, like you let me help you?" He huffed out a tired breath and raked a hand through his hair, dropping his gaze to his lap. "It doesn't matter."

"Of course, it matters. I didn't tell you what was wrong, and it hurt you. I'm so sorry … but please don't shut me out. We can get past this, and –"

"I'm sending you home to your father … first thing tomorrow. I can't have my enemies continue to use you against me."

The breath caught in her chest as she gaped at him in horror. "Home? This is my home, Rumpelstiltskin … you are my home. You can't just send me away because you're afraid. I am willing to take the risk a thousand times over just to spend one moment in your arms." She inched closer and wrapped her arms about his neck, pressing her brow to his. "I love you. Don't send me away."

He gently pushed her away with a sad smile. "You don't love me, Belle. You can't love a monster."

"I don't love a monster, Rumpel … I love you."

"Belle …"

She pulled away, scooting back towards the headboard as the color washed out of her face. "You don't … you don't feel the same, do you? You don't want me." She buried her face in her hands. "I'm such a fool, seeing something that wasn't there."

"What?" he squawked, wondering how she'd come to that conclusion. He hadn't exactly been hiding his feelings from her lately. You haven't been exactly forthcoming either, spinner, one of the voices admonished. "Can't you see I'm trying to protect you, woman!"

"So, you do want me?"

He ducked his head sheepishly and nodded. He wasn't expecting a lapful of his little dearie as she crawled onto his leather clad thighs and wrapped herself around him.

"And you love me?" she asked, burying her fingers in his soft curls.

"Don't push it, dearest."

Belle's brows lifted expectantly, hope shining in the depths of her empyreal blue eyes. "Maybe just a wee bit?"

Rumpelstiltskin grunted a vague response and opted for a subject change, taking the coward's way out. He couldn't give her such power over him. Not yet. He reached for the box which had tumbled onto the bed and lifted her heart into his palm.

"Wait!" she cried as he moved to return it to its resting place.

"I would think you'd be wanting it back," he said, a puzzled frown marring his brow.

Belle bit her lip thoughtfully, arching one chestnut brow. "You … um … you hold my heart, which means you have control over me. Since you're so skeptical, why not ask for the truth? You know I wouldn't be able to lie to you … "

The possibilities hit him like a ton of bricks, leaving him gaping. "You … want me to control you? That would be taking away your free will, Belle. I am nothing like Regina. I can't do that to you."

"Just to prove I'm telling you the truth," she insisted. "Please, Master?"

"Stop calling me that!"

"No … it's what you are."

"Not anymore. I've already released you from your deal."

"I don't want to be released."

"Stop bloody arguing with me."

"Then stop trying to be rid of me when you really want me to stay!"

The sorcerer caressed her heart with a fingertip and she instantly relaxed against him. "Fine," he growled, still not liking her plan one little bit. His fingers wrapped gently about the organ and he spoke softly, soothingly. "Do you truly love me?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation, the emotion clear in her unwavering gaze.

His own heart did a flip in his chest at her admission. "Why?" he couldn't help but ask.

She grinned at him, pressing herself closer to his chest and resting her hand over where his heart lay, comforted by the rapid beat. "I love the way you look at me when you think I'm unaware, your quips –"

"I'm not funny."

"Yes, you are; stop arguing," she scolded. "Your smile and the way you laugh when you aren't trying to be the big bad Dark One. It's velvety and rich and makes me feel warm inside. Rumpelstiltskin, there is so much about you that I love, I could sit here all night and share my reasons with you. But one thing remains true … my feelings for you, my love for you, will never waver." A solitary tear rolled over her ashen cheek. "When I was certain I was going to die … the thing I regretted most was that I hadn't told you. That's why I came to you tonight. I couldn't sit by and wait for Regina to crush my heart when I hadn't told you yet how I felt about you."

"You … ah … you really do want this? Me?" he asked, frowning at her. He was still having difficulty believing she could really want him. He glanced down at the vivid red heart in his hand, wondering how long it would be before it became blemished with a bit of his darkness, but he could let her go no easier than he could pull the stars from the sky.

"I do, Rumpel. Don't push me away because you're afraid to take a chance on our love. Please?" She leaned in and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "I know somewhere in your heart, you care for me enough to want to keep me."

His expression was pained as he looked down at her. "Belle, with all my foresight, I cannot see our future. You're too close to me already. What if I can't protect you? What if you find you can't look past the darkness in my soul and decide you've had enough? What if –"

Rumpelstiltskin leaned into her touch as she carded her fingers through his hair. "We shall make our own fate, make our own choices … good or bad. All you have to do is take a chance."

"Yes," he whispered against her lips. He was terrified he would lose her eventually, but after three centuries of darkness, he craved the light, a light only she could bring into his soul. He ravaged her mouth, desperate to show her what he felt in his own heart. His need, his yearning, his love … all hers for the taking.

Belle gasped as he gently thrust her heart back into her chest, her darling spinner much more careful with the task than the queen had been when she had removed it. She watched him carefully as he rested his hand on her chest, chanting softly in an ancient language she didn't recognize, his hand taking on a muted golden glow. She felt warm and so light she feared she could easily float away, wrapped in a golden cloud of tenderness and love.

She sighed in contentment, nuzzling her nose against the hollow of his throat. "What did you do?" she murmured dreamily, her body drifting into a pleasant lassitude.

"I marked your heart. It's almost like a fingerprint for want of a better description. No one will ever be able to remove it again … except me, and I really don't see the need to do so." He took her chin in a firm grip, his eyes narrowing in all seriousness. "However, do not think you will escape your punishment for this little deceit."

Belle bit her lip and tried not to grimace as she squirmed nervously on his lap. "Yes, Master."

"I've told you to stop calling me that."

"Sorry … habit."

He sighed, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course," she answered readily, more than willing to prove it to him if necessary. And knowing him, it would be.

"You realize I have always tried to protect you and will continue to do so?"

"Yes."

"And you are determined to stay with me though our deal is void?"

Belle nodded eagerly, a smile replacing the worried frown on her lips. "Yes."

"You might wish to re-evaluate your decision when I'm done with you," he whispered. "I need to know, Belle … How far are you willing to take this …" He gestured a hand between the two of them. "This … Gods, I don't even know what to call it!"

Belle tried her best not to giggle at his exasperation. "It's a relationship, Rumpel." She pressed her lips to his for a lingering kiss which helped some of the tension ease out of him. "Are you asking if I want to lie with you?"

He gave a jerky nod of his head. "I don't expect it, Belle. I just need to know what you want."

Belle tugged gently on the ends of his hair, silently admonishing him for his lack of faith in his own allure. "I want all of you, Rumpel … in every way. I won't be giving you myself in half measure."