"True love can break the most powerful curse." ~ Jodi Picoult, Between the Lines

Chapter Four

Belle and Mr. Gold awakened in the afterglow of their passionate embrace. "Good morning," he said as he brushed his lips against hers. "Did you sleep well?"

She kissed him back, hugging him. "Mmmm. I slept so peacefully in your arms," she stated. "I'll make us some breakfast."

"Alright," he agreed, giving her one last kiss.

Belle slipped on one of his shirts, buttoned it up the front, and headed down the staircase. A few moments later, she was standing in the kitchen. As she was looking around, she suddenly realized that making breakfast was going to be no easy task. She had been placed in the mental hospital at a really young age. Never in her life had she been given the opportunity to cook. When she lived at the Dark Castle with Rumpel, she often cooked his meals in the castle's kitchen. Staring at the modern conveniences, the stove, the microwave, and the can opener, Belle had no idea what to do.

She walked over toward the stove, flipping on one of the dials. Automatically, blue flames shot out of the burner. Belle smiled. Maybe cooking wouldn't be so hard after all. At least she could give it a try. She wanted to make a special meal for Rumpel. She truly wanted to please him.

She started looking around the kitchen for some food she might cook. In the refrigerator, she discovered a carton of eggs, a gallon of milk, a tub of margarine, a pound of bacon and some orange juice. "This should work,' she said as she gathered up the food, setting it out on the counter.

As she searched the cupboards, she located a couple of skillets. "Alright, this should work, too," she said as she brought the skillets over to the stove.

She used the skillets to make French toast and bacon. She found a large bowl. She cracked the eggs and added the milk. She mixed the two substances together, then she found a loaf of bread. She dipped the slices into the egg mixture and placed them in the skillet to cook.

Gold walked into the kitchen, taking in the delicious scent of breakfast. "Something smells appetizing," he said.

He was watching as Belle was cooking the bacon. She looked quite sexy in nothing more than his button-up shirt.

As Gold sat down at the table, he noticed how the hem of that shirt was riding up on her buttocks, revealing a great deal of skin. If only he could...

"Rumpel! Get your mind on breakfast!" she chastised.

She walked over to the table, carrying his plate of food. She could not miss the thick protuberance that had grown in his pants. He was unmistakably aroused. He shifted uncomfortably as she looked at him as though he had been a naughty boy.

She gave him a little grin as she returned to the stove, dishing up another plate of food. She brought her plate to the table. She sat across from him as they ate their breakfast together.

"After breakfast I am going to look for Tinker Bell," she announced.

He almost protested, but he bit his tongue. He knew that Belle wouldn't listen to him, but he was worried for her safety. "She usually hangs out at Granny's, a little restaurant on the square," he told her reluctantly.

"Be careful," he warned. "Watch out for Regina... and your father."

"I will be careful," Belle promised, reaching across the table to softly kiss him.

She pulled back from the kiss and suggested, "While I'm out, you should go talk to Charming and Snow."

"I will," he said, but she could sense by his tone that it was the last thing he wanted to do. No doubt he wanted to go to back to the bedroom and make love to her for hours. She was tempted, but then she remembered her goal to help Regina.

After their breakfast, Belle slid into his arms to kiss him. She smiled and said goodbye. Gold promised he would take care of the dishes in her absence. "But before you go, I suggest you go put on some clothes," he said with a chuckle. He was looking her up and down with a passionate gaze and Belle could only blush.

"You're right. I suppose I should," she said with a smirk.

~*~o~*~

About a half hour later, Belle arrived at Granny's. She was wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants she had located in Mr. Gold's dresser. She was a bit self-conscious about her attire, but the clothing was comfortable and clean. It was far better than the hospital gown she usually wore. Rumpel had promised her a shopping trip that evening, so she knew she'd get a wardrobe more to her liking.

She was thinking about Mr. Gold and his passionate lovemaking as she sat down in a booth in the restaurant and was approached by an elderly woman. "Granny!" Belle gasped. She hadn't seen her old friend since the Enchanted Forest. "How are you? And how's Red?"

"Hello, Belle," Granny said with a smile. "I'm great... and Red's doing well, although here in Storybrooke, she goes by Ruby."

"I miss her," Belle said. "I'd love to talk with her... but for now, I was wondering if you've seen Tinker Bell."

"You're in luck," said Granny. "She's sitting right over there. She always comes in for morning coffee and a cinnamon roll."

"Thank you, Granny," Belle said.

She started to get up from the booth to talk to Tinker Bell, but Granny stopped her. She asked, "What would you like to order?"

"I just had breakfast... so I guess I will just have a cup of tea."

"A cup of tea it is then," Granny said.

When Granny walked away to get the tea, Belle went over talk to Tinker Bell. "Hi, Tinker Bell," Belle said. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I am Belle and I need your help with something."

"Please sit down," Tinker Bell said. "What can I do to help?"

Belle took a seat at Tinker Bell's booth. She began to explain the situation, leaving nothing out, including the fact that Regina had locked her up for 28 years in an asylum below the hospital. "Why would she do such a thing?" Tinker Bell asked in a gasp.

"Because she was the Evil Queen... back in the Enchanted Forest. She always does atrocious things. It's what she does," Belle answered.

"Hmmmm. And I think I know why," said Tinker Bell as a specific memory came to mind. "The Evil Queen came to me once, asking for help. You see, back in the Enchanted Forest, she had lost her true love, a young man by the name of Daniel. After losing him, Regina became bitter and evil. She despised true love, because she had lost it. It was taken from her in a horrible way... and as a result, she wanted no one else to bask in True Love's happiness."

"That explains a lot of things," said Belle as she recalled how Regina had threatened her and Mr. Gold.

"I offered to help Regina find True Love after losing Daniel," Tinker Bell went on to explain. "I used my magic to take her to the man - her new true love."

"Did it work?"

"Ohhh yes, it definitely worked. We ended up outside a tavern. When we walked in the door, Regina laid eye on him. But freaked out and ran back out the door. Sadly, she wasn't ready."

"Why not?"

"She was afraid of being hurt again. She was afraid of losing," Tinker Bell stated. "But before Regina ran out, we caught a glimpse of him."

"What did he look like?"

"He had dark hair and he was tall and muscular," Tinker Bell recalled. "Ohhhh... and he had a lion tattoo on his arm."

"Then we must search Storybooke for Regina's true love!" Belle exclaimed. "We need to find him!"

"Why do you want to do this... for Regina? She's done awful things to you. She's done awful things to all of us."

"I am well aware of what she's capable of, but I believe in the power of true love. It can do magical and wondrous things. It's exactly what Regina needs to heal. I believe True Love can break any curse... and once Regina has it again, it will break ourcurse... and then we can all go home."

"I hope you are right," said Tinker Bell, but she wasn't quite convinced. Regina had been evil and wicked an awfully long time. She had hurt a lot of people. She had chosen to reject her true love when Tinker Belle had taken her to him.

"She's caused so much pain," Tinker Bell said sadly.

"Yes, she has," Belle agreed when she thought of Mr. Gold, Snow, Charming, herself, and all of the others that Regina had hurt. "But it's time that the curse was broken. Regina deserves a happy ending, too... We all do."

And for everyone's sake, Belle was determined that Regina would get it.

~*~o~*~

Meanwhile, Mr. Gold was telling Snow and Charming that Belle was alive and well. "She had been locked up by Regina for the past 28 years," he stated. "The Evil Queen is determined to make everyone suffer.'

"We must find a way to defeat her," David AKA Charming said.

Emma spoke up. "That bitch has made all of our lives a living hell," she said. "We must think of strategies to get rid of her. Is there a way that we could send her back to the Enchanted Forest... maybe through some kind of portal?"

"That's a wonderful idea," Snow AKA Mary Margaret agreed. "We wouldn't want her to hurt anyone else."

"Either that or we go through the portal- anything to be rid of Regina," David suggested. "I won't let her hurt my family again. Emma and Henry aren't safe with her around. She's always trying to cause trouble."

David wrapped his arm around Mary Margaret, holding her tight. Emma gazed over at her parents in adoration. They had a love that was incredibly strong. It had been powerful enough to survive Regina's wrath. Because of True Love, her parents had triumphed over Regina.

"I say we just kill her," said Gold. "But Belle won't let me."

He let out a deep, heavy sigh. "In fact... she has this strategy. She wants to find Regina's true love."

Snow scoffed. "Who would want her?" Emma said in a chuckle.

Robin Hood entered the loft. He saw David, Mary Margaret, Emma, and Mr. Gold. They were engaged in a conversation. It sounded serious.

"What's going on?" he questioned.

In that very moment, his tattoo was gleaming upon his arm.

It was formed in the shape of a lion!