A/N: I have found the time to update, thank the lord. Five pages of bliss, and I have taken into consideration everyone's ideas, and I will be implementing more of them in the following chapters. I've got my fire back for this story. Enjoy! Love, Joanne.

"This is weird," I said quietly under my breath. "He's taking me to his pawn shop…"

I was half walked, half dragged to Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop as Gold, his arm threaded through mine, walked quickly. It was as if he thought an assassin was going to pop out from one of the nearby bushes or shops! I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to anger him, although I wouldn't mind the resulting sex afterward. Although the last punishment had still left me a bit sore, I wouldn't mind him taking me over his knee.

The bell tinkled as we walked inside the dusty, dark shop. "I know the last time you were in here was for-" Gold paused, and smirked. "Rather enjoyable, yet torturous activity. But, this is my little shop. Feel free to look around if you like."

He walked towards the front door, and turned the sign from CLOSED to OPEN. I walked to the glass case over by the antique cash register, peering in at the dusty items beneath. "No offense, but I can barely see the items in this case. And some of these trinkets look like they haven't been touched in years!"

"Such a bold woman you are, Miss Belle," replied Mr. Gold. "You are the only person in town who would ever DARE tell me my shop is filthy."

"Are you going to clean it, then, or shall you await the magical brooms and dustpans from Fantasia to do the work for you?" I asked as I gently brushed a clod of dust from a stuffed antique monkey with cymbals in each hand. I knew I was treading dangerous waters, but I didn't care. "Do you get much business in this shop?"

"I don't mix my business with pleasure, dearie," said Mr. Gold in a dark voice. "And for the record, I make more than enough in this shop."

"If you tidied up the shop you could make so much more," I said as I swept my hand across the wooden counter. "Dear lord! What a lot of dust! If you polished this, cleaned and shined, and let some light in for heaven's sake, a lot more people would come in to buy things. It's so dark and dreary in here. You can barely see what you are looking at."

I walked over towards a filthy window, peering out to the street. "I can barely see out of this window. Do you honestly expect people to be able to see the wonderful, beautiful things you sell through a dirty window?"

"Your mouth, Miss Belle," he said huskily as he turned me around to face him. His lips were on mine in an instant, and before I knew it he had pulled away, leaving me breathless and light headed. "So bold, so beautiful and luscious… If I didn't care about how sore you were from yesterday, I would repeat it right here and now…"

"But, I do see your point." Mr. Gold walked behind the counter to the back room, and came back with some Windex, paper towels, rags, and other cleaning supplies. "Will you help clean the shop up?"

"What will I get out of helping you?" I asked, placing my hands on my hips in semi-defiance.

"Whatever trinket you find in this shop, anything your heart desires is yours," said Mr. Gold. "That is my bargain for your help."

"Deal," I said as I began to spray the glass case with Windex.

"Why on earth are you starting with the case first?" asked Gold as he began to wipe down the counters.

"Windows should be cleaned last," I said with a smile. "Everything else should get cleaned before the windows so that the customers looking through the windows can see the objects for what they really look like, instead of filthy, dusty items…"

She didn't think she could do it, but by the gods, she had to. She had no choice but to leave. Quietly, Belle slipped away into the night, carrying her small bundle of necessities on her back. As spooked as she was of the unknown noises in the forest, she knew she could not turn back. Nothing could change anything that had happened.

Rumplestilzkin slept peaceably in his bed, and awoke early the next morning, knowing that he had an appointment with Cinderella. He rolled over, and felt his arm hit the mattress. He jumped out of bed, and searched for her throughout the castle. He called, screamed, and bellowed her name, but it was no use. Belle had gone.

He screamed in anger, breaking the beloved tea set that held so many memories, memories of when the beauty had just come to the Dark Castle, and had timidly served him tea and accidentally chipped one of the cups. He paused as he held that cup in his hand. No, he would not destroy this cup; it would serve as a reminder as to how chipped and flawed he was to let love enter his heart.

Cora was right, he reasoned, love was weakness. He had loved Milah, and where had that gotten him? She called him a coward, and went straight into the arms of a pirate. She left him and his son, nearly starving, as she went out on sexual rendezvous with Killian Jones, and other men at the tavern she frequented daily.

Love, then and now, got him nowhere.

Despite his anger and rage at Belle's departure, he took a deep breath and exhaled. He had a reputation to uphold. The Dark One was summoned to Cinderella, and he could not show weakness. He was the one with the power, she was the one without it.

With the wave of his hand, he got dressed, and transported himself to Cinderella's garden, where she was eagerly awaiting him. "Dear me, you are looking very lovely if I do say so myself," said Rumplestilzkin as he casually approached her. "And what is it that you have summoned me for?"

Cinderella stood there against the dying rose bush. The garden they were standing in was slowly starting to wither. There was a new plague of locusts that were sweeping over their lands, and even in the garden, there was a crunch of dead locusts beneath their feet. She looked weary for wear, but still remained beautiful. She was dressed in a lovely blue gown that embraced her pregnant belly and complemented her creamy pale skin.

"My people suffer," said Cinderella. "Look, beneath our feet is the pestilence that destroys and consumes our crops! My people are starving, and they look to me as their savior. Our lands are becoming useless and day by day, becoming valueless. I have come to ask for more gold, and to end this plague for the sake of my people."

"But you have already given me your child!" said Rumplestilzkin. "And that was for getting you out of your stepmother's house and into the castle. What can you offer me?"

"The doctor has told me that I am having twins…"

The Dark One's eyes twinkled with impish glee. "Twins?" His hands gently touched Cinderella's belly. "My, my, an offer I can't refuse!"

"I have the contract right here," said Cinderella with an innocent smile. "And a quill for you to sign our deal."

Rumplestilzkin grined, and took a step toward her. "I must warn you, dearie," his voice was darkly impish. There was no joking tone in his voice. "If you are trying to deceive me, you will pay a price for what you have done. And I will not be collecting, the magic will be…"

"Are you going to sign the contract or not?" asked Cinderella politely as she unraveled the contract and handed him the quill. "I am quite certain I know what I am doing, and what I am giving away."

"Very well," said Rumplestilzkin. He hastily took the quill from her hand, and with bold, emphatic strokes, signed his name on the contract. Cinderella then took the signed contract, and rolled it back up.

"GET HIM!"

Rumplestilzkin tried to move, but he was rooted to the spot. He tried to transport himself back to Dark Castle, but it was no use. His eyes, enraged and dark looked upon Cinderella, the Blue Fairy, Prince Thomas, and Grumpy. "You tricked me, dearie," he growled angrily. "But you will see that even though I'm powerless, you will still have to pay for what you have done. You owe me two babies still, dearie."

"I'm only pregnant with one," said Cinderella while Prince Thomas and Grumpy began to tie the immobilized Rumplestilzkin up. "And you cannot hurt me. I've frozen your magic, and you will not be able to hurt anyone anymore!"

"Just you wait!" screamed Rumplestilzkin as they threw him into an open caravan with bars. "YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! MAGIC COMES AT A PRICE, AND YOU WILL PAY, CINDERELLA!"

Grumpy began to hitch up the caravan to the horses. Rumplestilzkin would spend his last moments in the dwarf mines, enclosed in a cell where his magic would be of no use to him.

Suddenly, Cinderella clutched her stomach, overcome with pain. "Thomas! The baby!"

"Sweet Cinderella," said Thomas as he kissed her forehead. "Our daughter is not yet due; we still have months yet."

"Can you please fetch me some water to drink?" asked Cinderella.

"I'll be right back," said Prince Thomas. He kissed her before departing for a nearby well.

Cinderella sat down on a stone bench in the garden, clutching her swollen belly. After doing her breathing exercises, the pain subsided to her relief. "Thomas!" she said with a smile as she got up from the bench. "I'm fine! It was just a little pain, but it's gone now."

But Thomas did not answer her. "Thomas? THOMAS!" Cinderella walked as fast as she could to the well, praying that her prince was there, but he was not. There was nothing, no fragment of clothing, nor jewel left behind. It was as if he had vanished magically.

"WHERE IS THOMAS?!" screamed Cinderella angrily as she walked towards the barred caravan where Rumplestilzkin was contained. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

"PRINCESS!" bellowed Rumplestilzkin, his teeth bared angrily. "I have done NOTHING!"

"Where is he?" Cinderella cried, tears falling down her pale cheeks. "He went to fetch me water, and now he is gone! What have you done?!"

"I AM POWERLESS, REMEMBER?!" spat Rumplestilzkin. "You took away my powers, therefore, I have done nothing. That was the magic that took your precious prince away. I warned you, you were going to pay a price for tricking me, and you failed to heed my warning…"

Cinderella ripped open the door to the caravan, and would have descended upon the Dark One had Grumpy not come to her aid. "No, Cinderella! Don't stoop to his level!"

"He took my love away!" sobbed Cinderella. "He took my Thomas! Thomas is gone!"

"And now you learn, dear princess," hissed Rumplestilzkin bitterly. "That love is fleeting, and never lasts forever…"