"You've heard tales of beauty and the beast. How a fair maid falls in love with a monster and sees the beauty of his soul beneath the hideous visage. But you've never heard the tale of the handsome man falling for the monstrous woman and finding joy in her love, because it doesn't happen, not even in a story-teller's tale."
~ Karen Maitland, Company of Liars

Chapter Seven

Mr. Gold and the others were tense as they were watching through the window. They weren't sure how Regina would react when she saw Robin Hood inside her mansion. Would he survive his confrontation with the Evil Queen?

As Belle watched Regina cuddling with Robin Hood's son, she was certain that all would be well. "Look!" she said with excitement as Robin Hood stepped into the room. Regina looked up from the book of fairytales she had been reading to young Roland.

"What in the world are you doing inside my mansion?!" she exclaimed.

"You have my son. I want him back," Robin Hood replied.

"Daddy!" little Roland said happily as he jumped up from Regina's lap. He ran toward his father, his tiny arms outstretched. Lovingly, Robin took the boy into his arms.

"Are you okay, son?" he asked the child.

Roland nodded. "Regina makes great cookies," the boy answered.

Regina frowned. "What do you mean: is he okay? Of course he's okay!"

"You didn't kidnap him?" Robin asked in confusion.

"No!" Regina cried out. "WHY would I do that?"

"Daddy, Regina helped me. I was lost... and she brought me here to her house... and she gave me cookies and milk... and she told me stories about wizards and dragons and knights!" the child stated with excitement.

Robin looked puzzled, but he quickly composed himself. A half smile played upon his lips. "Thank you for rescuing my boy, Regina," he said graciously.

Meanwhile, Belle, Mr. Gold and the others realized that Roland and Robin Hood weren't in any danger. "I bet she's going to give Robin Hood milk and cookies, too," Granny said as they decided to leave the mayor and her true love to get better acquainted.

Belle laughed and her face lit up with joy. "I told you!" she said as she hugged Mr. Gold. "Everything is going to be just fine."

Mr. Gold rolled his eyes. He wasn't quite convinced. After all, he had seen the ugly side of Regina on more than one occasion... but he knew better than to argue with his beautiful Belle and besides, he wanted to get her home. They had other ... more pleasure things they needed to be doing.

"Let's go home, dearie," he said as he gave her THAT look, the one that left her breathless and aching with desire.

"Yes, let's go home," she agreed as she placed her hand into his.

~*~o~*~

Upon returning home, Belle and Mr. Gold headed upstairs, hand in hand. They lay on the bed together. She slipped into his embrace as they started to talk. Very tenderly, Gold caressed strands of dark auburn hair away from Belle's beautiful face. Her blue eyes were sparkling as she basked in the sensation of his soft caress.

"You were wonderful today," she said. "I mean... you've always been wonderful, even in the past when we lived in the Enchanted Forest. I was fascinated with you, right from the start. I knew the moment I met you, that you and I were meant to be together. But today, you showed me just how amazing you truly are. You were ready to do whatever it would take to rescue Roland, but you didn't use your powers and you didn't use your magic. I'm so proud of you, Rumpel. I'm glad you didn't hurt Regina today and you didn't cause her any harm."

She leaned forward and kissed him softly, her lips moving against his. His heart started to swell, along with his cock. It lengthened and throbbed. He wanted nothing more than to make sweet love to his Belle, but there was still a bit more they needed to discuss.

After the kiss ended, he said, "I am proud of you, too. You have so much courage. You always have. You stand up to me and I am not an easy foe."

"You've been impossible!" she said in a gasp. "You locked me in that dungeon. AND you pushed me away the first time we kissed."

"I know... and I deeply regret my actions. I shouldn't have rejected you. You have my heart, Belle. I could never lose you... not now."

"You aren't going to lose me. I am yours forever- remember?"

"Forever," he agreed softly, pulling her closer, so she could feel the steel of his arousal against her thigh.

~*~o~*~

Meanwhile, back at the mayor's mansion, Robin Hood was getting to know Regina. She took him into the kitchen to offer him a plate of cookies and a cold glass of milk. He was nibbling on the cookies as Roland played nearby.

"Roland was right. These cookies are scrumptious," he announced.

She didn't respond. She just stood there, staring at him in awe. She was watching his mouth move as he devoured the tasty treat.

"So... " he began after a somewhat awkward moment of silence where it appeared that Regina may be checking him out. "How exactly was it that you became... The Evil Queen?"

"Ohhh... that..." she said as she looked rather sheepish. "Well, it all started with my mother; she's far more evil than me."

"Really?" Robin Hood asked. He had heard many of the stories of Queen Regina's wrath. How could her mother had been anymore wicked than the Evil Queen?

"Yes... I had fallen in love with a young man named Daniel, but my mother wasn't pleased," Regina explained. "She literally ripped his heart out. After that I became angry and vindictive. I did everything I could to make everyone in the kingdom suffer as I had suffered... and I couldn't bear to see anyone in love. It hurt me to the very core... knowing that I had lost the one I had loved."

"I am sorry,' he said sincerely. "I know how it feels to love someone with all your heart... and I know how it feels to lose them."

"Marian?"

"Yes, Roland's mother. I loved her so much... but she got sick... and I lost her."

"You're lucky, you know... to have him. That's what I want ... happiness... and a child of my own. I had Henry... but he was taken from me, too."

Robin Hood's face softened when he heard about all that Regina had been through. She was suffering greatly. She was in need of love and comfort. "Maybe someday, you can have what it is that you desire," he said softly. His voice was an almost-caress.

"What do you know?" she asked as her voice rose in anger. "I will NEVER have a child... or man to love me!"

He raised his sleeve, baring his arm. He pointed out his tattoo. Regina's eyes widened as she stared at it. Robin Hood? He was the one - her one true love?!

"I can't believe this..." she said in shock.

After a moment, she got her bearings... but she still couldn't believe that Robin Hood, such a handsome guy was standing in her kitchen. He had shown her that tattoo - the lion tattoo, the one belonging to the man who was her one true love. A small smile curled upon Regina's lips. She should have known; she had been drawn to him and Roland all along.

"Would you consider dating me?" Regina asked hopefully.

Roland spoke up and said, "You should date her, Daddy. She makes really good cookies!"

Robin Hood chuckled. "I think I can be persuaded," he said to Regina.

~*~o~*~

Belle and Mr. Gold were caught up in the afterglow of a lengthy lovemaking session. As he held her, she softly caressed his cheek. She was gazing at him with such tenderness, he could not look away. "True love has transformed you... into a good man," she marveled. "I know it can be the same for Regina."

Mr. Gold smirked wickedly. His love did not now just how bad he REALLY was... She did not know his plans for attaining power. As she lay in their bed, he rose from it's surface and walked over to a polished wooden cabinet.

A moment later, he returned, entirely naked, carrying a dagger in his hands. As he knelt upon the floor, Mr. Gold carefully placed the metal object into Belle's hands.

Belle just stared at it in awe. She had not seen the dagger since they had lived within the Enchanted Forest. It's metal was gleaming. It sparkled so bright that it's glow began to sting at Belle's eyes.

"What... what does this mean?" she asked him softly.

A lump grew in her throat. It grew so big until it exploded. Belle feared she'd start to cry.

"Belle ~ my love, will you marry me?"

She was staring at him in disbelief as she gently cradled the dagger. She knew what this meant. He was handing her his power. He was handing her it over to her; his everything.

"Yes... ohhh YES... YES!" she cried happily.

And she couldn't hold them back anymore. The tears started to flow. Ever so tenderly, he brushed them all away. Then he kissed her.

When the kiss had ended, she was crying so hard that she could not speak. She could only stare at him, her blue eyes aglow with all that she could not say. She had no clue what she was getting into when she had promised that she would marry him.

He saw the love and trust shining in the depths of beloved's eyes. Pangs of guilt for a moment made him pause. He couldn't tell her the truth. He couldn't tell her that the dagger he had given her was nothing but a fake. He had no intention of giving up his power. The power and magic; they were his... and he wouldn't give them up for anyone... not even Belle.

His beloved couldn't know the truth - that the real dagger was hidden and it would remain in his possession.