"That's the thing about true love, dearie. It can slip through your fingers. It's the most powerful magic in the world, the only magic powerful enough to break any curse. It must be protected at all costs."
~ Rumplestiltskin (Once upon a Time)

Chapter Eight

They decided to get married just outside of Storybrooke near the site of the old wishing well. After they had reunited, it had become one of their favorite and most romantic places. Belle wore a lovely, cream-colored wedding gown with a matching silk hat. It was adorned with tiny roses.

Mr. Gold watched as Belle walked to his side. He couldn't take his eyes off his bride. Her blue eyes sparkled; she looked absolutely stunning.

He wanted to tell her how beautiful she was and how he was so happy to be sharing this moment with her, but he couldn't as Dr. Hopper AKA Jiminy began to speak. "This is my great honor... to officiate this most lovely evening," he said.

Belle gazed at Gold. She took in the sight of him. His dark hair lay perfectly upon his shoulders. He was wearing a dark-blue suit and tie. Her voice trembled as she began to speak.

"Rumplestiltskin, this thing we have; it's never been easy. I've lost you so many times. I've lost you to darkness, to weakness, and to many years of painful separation. But now I realize... I realize that I have not spent my life losing you. I've spent my life finding you," she said.

"Belle, when we met, I wasn't just unloved, and unloving, I was an enemy of love. Love had only brought me pain. My walls were up, but you broke them down. You brought me home. You brought light to my life and chased away all the darkness. And I vow to you, I will never forget the distance between what I was and what I am. I owe more to you than I can ever say. How you can see the man behind the monster, I will never know," he responded.

"That monster's gone. The man beneath him may be flawed, but we all are. And I love you for it. Sometimes the best book has the dustiest jacket. And sometimes the best teacup is chipped," said Belle.

And suddenly, the tears began to flow- his and hers. They mingled when Dr. Hopper told them they were man and wife and that Mr. Gold could kiss his bride. He pulled her close and he kissed her, letting her feel in that kiss just how much he loved her and how ecstatic he was that they were finally back together. As the tears spilled upon their cheeks, their hearts began to mend. So much of the pain and devastation they had endured began to ease as he held her against his chest so closely so that she could feel the beating of his heart.

They pulled apart reluctantly as her father and Dr. Hopper offered their congratulations. "Take good care of my daughter," Moe said as he shook Mr. Gold's hand.

"I will," Mr. Gold promised. "I love her."

His eyes gleamed as he couldn't look away from her. He wanted to steal his beautiful bride away. He had plans for her, elaborate plans of a special get-away at a bed and breakfast where they could dance and cuddle and gladly escape the rest of the world.

As if she could read his mind, Belle said to Dr. Hopper and her father, "We have to go now."

Her new husband took her hand and lead her away, eager to begin their life together.

A few minutes later, they had made it to his car. "Where are we going?" she asked. She had no clue what he had planned for their honeymoon, but she knew it would be grand.

"You're going to love it," he stated as he started the car. A devilish smile played upon his lips, but he wouldn't elaborate upon their destination. He wanted it to be the perfect surprise. He wanted to see his beloved gloriously happy.

"Don't I get a hint?"

"No, not even a hint," he said as he drove away.

"Hmmmm," she said. "The suspense is killing me."

He chuckled slightly, but he refused to budge or give her a single clue about his plans.

As they continued driving, he said, "Our wedding was perfect, but... I miss my son. I wish that Baelfire could have been there with us."

Belle gave him a tender smile as she reached for his hand, giving it a soft squeeze. "I wish that I could have met him."

"He would have loved you."

She saw the tears shimmering in his eyes. How he loved and missed his son. She wished she could take his pain away. She wished that he had never lost his precious Baelfire.

"Ohhh Rumple," was all she could say because there were no words comforting enough. His pain was so deep and so all-consuming. She did not know how to soothe it.

"Belle, there is somewhere I must go... before..."

His words cut-off and she knew. Belle nodded. He needed to go to his son.

~*~o~*~

At the cemetery, he stood at Baelfire's grave, lightly tracing the name upon the stone - Neal Cassidy. He would always know him as Baefire, his precious boy; to save his child, he had become The Dark One.

"Baelfire, I am here... and I..."

His voice began to tremble. His heart hurt and he could barely speak. His loss was far too deep.

He made mistakes and he had lost his boy. He had let the darkness take him so far away from his son.

"I lost you..." he said. "But I have Belle. I have Belle now... and I love her."

He dropped to his knees at the grave as the tears fell from his eyes. He was crying all alone, because he had asked Belle to remain in the car and to wait for him. He knew he'd be emotional. He didn't want her to see him break-down. He didn't want her to see him sobbing at his son's grave.

"Baelfire," he said in a painful moan.

Then as if he were speaking out from beyond the grave, Gold could hear his son's voice calling out to him. "Papa, you are forgiven. I forgive you for the past... and all the mistakes that you made, but I beg of you: don't make them again. Don't let the darkness take you, Papa. You have a second chance now with Belle. Promise me. Promise me you will do what is right."

Rising from his knees, Gold was shaken, but determined. He suddenly knew what he had to do. He couldn't lose Belle. He couldn't lose his beloved; not how he had lost Baelfire. He decided his love for power would never outweigh the love he had for his wife.

He rushed to the car and as he pulled the door open, he started Belle as he quickly landed within his seat. "Belle, I have to talk to you..." he said anxiously.

"What is it?" she asked as she stared into his eyes.

"I switched the daggers," he announced. "The one I gave you- it was fake. I have the real one with all my powers. I've been keeping it hidden; tucked away. I didn't want you to know how much the magic and my power were controlling me. I thought if you knew... I'd lose you..."

"But I realize now," he went on to say. "That I have to tell you the truth, because if I don't, it could destroy us. I could lose you... and I never want to lose you, Belle. You're everything to me... and I love you."

She gave him a little smile. "I knew it all along. I knew the dagger was a fake."

"But I believed in you, Rumpel. I believe in our love. I was waiting for you to tell me the truth..."

"I'm glad you told me," she continued. "We can get through anything together... and now that we have all of that out of the way, can we continue on toward our romantic destination? I am very eager to begin our honeymoon. How about you?"

He was breathless, hearing her words. She was absolutely amazing... in every way. "Yes, dearie," he replied. "Does this mean we'll finally be getting our happily-ever-after?"

"I think it does," she said as he reached across the seats to kiss him. As their lips met, he knew it was true. His one true love was back in his arms. Their love had proved powerful enough to break any curse. They had finally found their forever... and he would never let it go.

THE END