Okay first of all how fantastic was Belle in Sunday's episode! I am so glad our badass bookworm was there in full force. And that Rumbelle break-up was just the right amount of heartbreaking. Secondly, for the purposes of this fic Robin didn't have to leave Storybrooke. That was sad enough to watch I don't think I can write about it. Anyway here's chapter 6.

Ever since Regina had told them about Rumpelstiltskin's visit everyone had been on high alert. Now that he knew about the dagger Rumple was sure to be plotting a way to discover its location. She and the Charmings sat in the backroom of Granny's trying to come up with a game plan.

"So what did you tell him about the dagger?" Charming asked Regina.

Regina rolled her eyes. How many times did they have to go over this? "Like I said before I only told him that Belle no longer had it. I didn't allude to where it is or who has it now."

"Where did you put it anyway?" said Snow curiously.

"I think it's best that you don't know," answered Regina. "If Rumple suspects that you do he'll try to torture it out of you. Let's just say that it's safe with family."

Snow only nodded in response. It took years but she could finally trust Regina again like she did when she was a little girl. She'd keep the dagger safe. "Okay but I think it's time there we started putting more defenses up. Do you think you and Emma can set up some protective spells around town? At least at some of the more important places."

"Me, yes. Emma may need more practice."

"Well I guess this is perfect time for her to get some experience." Said Charming. "We should definitely put some spells up at each of our houses. We need our homes to be safe."

Regina nodded her in agreement. She promised Belle a safe place from Rumpelstiltskin and she would keep her promise. "We should also do the mayor's office, Granny's and the library. Belle spends a lot of time there and Rumple's sure to come after her."

Across town Belle was sitting at the library reading the storybook. She looked at the detailed drawing of the Yaoguai. That had been her first real adventure. She smiled fondly at the memory. She'd proved those boorish men wrong and saved a life. When she saved Philip from his curse she'd truly felt like a hero. I want that feeling back, she thought sadly.

She felt a soft breeze when the front door opened and Henry entered with a friend. "Hey Belle!"

"Hello Henry," she responded brightly. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Grace." He answered. The young girl waved shyly at her. "We're working on a school project together. We need to make a diorama of the Roman coliseum. Do you have any books on ancient Rome?"

"Of course I do," she said brightly. At least someone was coming in the library. "It should be in the corner between Ancient Greece and the Renaissance. Let me show you."

As Grace went ahead of them Henry looked over at Belle. "So I saw you looking at the book. Is it helping?"

"It is," she smiled at hi. "Don't worry about me Henry. I'll find my way." And for the first time in a while she felt like that was true. Henry had been right that day at the diner. Looking at the book had helped her remember that there was more to her than her time with Rumpelstiltskin. She'd done amazing things without him before. And she will again. She just needed the opportunity. As she helped Henry and Grace look for their books she glanced out the window and realized the opportunity to be heroic was coming sooner rather than later. She could see Rumpelstiltskin headed towards the library.

Her heartbeat sped up and her mind raced at a mile a minute. What was he doing here? How was she going to defend herself against him if he got violent? Would he get violent? She was shaken out her thoughts when Henry touched her shoulder. "Belle are you okay?"

No matter what happened the kids shouldn't be here for it. She turned towards him. "Henry I need you take Grace and take your books and get in the elevator."

"What?"

"Right now Henry. Right now!" she said shoving all the books in his hands. "Come on Grace."

"What's going on?" asked Grace clearly frightened. Belle ushered the kids over to the library elevator.

"Nothing is wrong sweetheart. You just can't be here right now. You can work on your project in the upstairs apartment. Henry you might want to call your mom for help. She… really knows how to handle Roman projects." She said quickly hoping he understood her meaning. She didn't think Rumple would hurt her but it couldn't hurt to have some fire power around.

"Oh okay," said Henry firmly before she sent them up in the elevator. He could tell by the way that Belle practically threw them in the elevator that something was wrong. Once they reached the apartment he pulled out his cell phone and called Regina. "Mom you need to get down to the library now!"

Belle barely had enough time to send the kids upstairs before Rumpelstiltskin enter the library.

"Rumple," she breathed. "What are you doing here?"

She took in his appearance. He looked positively haggard. His suit was wrinkled and he'd barely shaved but that wasn't what scared her. It was his eyes. They weren't just dark they were completely hollow. As if he had no soul at all.

"I thought it was time we had a talk." he said. "I want you to forgive me and come back home. I need you. "

Belle squared her shoulders and stood up straighter. She had to remain strong here. This was the man who had lied to her at every chance. He would never change and she needed to remember that. "Rumple I don't want to talk to you. You are a liar and a coward and you don't deserve my forgiveness."

"Belle…" he begged. "I need you."

"Rumple I have spent too many years focusing on what you need. It's time for me think about what I need now. " She said quickly. "And right now I need for you to leave."

When she rejected him his entire demeanor changed. His back straightened and she could swear his eyes went darker. "Make me." He said menacingly.

"What?" said Belle shocked.

"If you want me to leave," he said stalking towards her. "Make me."

Belle couldn't even speak she was so afraid of him right now. He might have been a man once but right now he was all beast. She backed into a bookcase before she realized there was nowhere else for her to go.

"So you don't have my dagger," he whispered menacingly. "That dagger can control my every action and you GAVE IT AWAY!"

She jumped at his voice. The only other time he'd been this angry was when he'd battered Hook on his ship. He looked completely insane.

"Where is it?" he asked chillingly.

"I don't know." she said jutting out her chin. And that was all he would get out of her. She would die before she told him anything else. For the first time since she met him she couldn't see Rumpelstiltskin, only the Dark One.

"Is there a problem here?"

Both Belle and Rumpelstiltskin turned towards the new voice. It was Grace's father, Jefferson. He looked at the two of them with his blue eyes. Something was definitely wrong here.

"Nothing that concerns you Hatter." spat Rumpelstiltskin. "This is a private conversation so you'd better go."

Jefferson looked at Belle. Despite her effort to hide her fear he could see that she was afraid of the man in front of her. He couldn't leave.

"Well be that as it may I promised my Grace that I would meet her here after school. She's not here yet but I'm sure that she's on her way." He said walking over to a table and taking a seat cheekily. "So if it's all the same to you I think I'll just wait for her right here."

Rumpelstiltskin glared at him. "Hatter…"

"Oh look," said Jefferson staring out the window. "Here comes Regina. Maybe she knows where Grace is?"

Rumple looked out the window and indeed saw the queen, along with the prince and princess, rushing toward the library. He couldn't deal with them right now. Not while his power was still in question. He turned back to Belle.

"We're not finished." He said before smoking out of the room. Belle let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding right when the royal trio rushed into the library. Regina rushed over to the shaken librarian. "Belle are you okay? Where's Henry?"

"I'm fine. I sent Henry upstairs with Grace. They're both okay." As if on cue the elevator opened and out ran Henry and Grace each rushing toward their respective parent.

"Grace are you okay?" asked Jefferson putting an arm around his daughter.

"Yes papa." Answered Grace still a little shaken. "Mrs. Gold sent us upstairs."

"It's Ms. French now." Corrected Belle.

"Well no matter what your last name it seems I owe you thanks." said Jefferson.

"I owe you thanks for staying." Smiled Belle. She was quite thankful for the Hatter's unexpected bravery.

"What happened?" asked Charming.

"Rumpelstiltskin was here." Answered Belle sullenly.

"Where did he go?" asked Snow alarmed.

"I don't know. He smoked out when he saw you coming. He came here to confirm that I didn't have the dagger on me." Said Belle.

"Did he hurt you?" said Regina placing a protective hand on the younger brunette's shoulder. She should've known better than to leave Belle alone with that maniac on the loose.

"I'm fine," Belle assured her. "I've just… I've never seen him look at me like that before."

Charming turned toward Regina. "How soon can you put those spells up Regina because it looks like we're going to need them sooner than we thought?"

"I'll start working on them as soon as we get home. Now that Rumple knows Belle doesn't have the dagger I suspect he'll start coming for us all." Answered the queen grimly.

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