Months have passed since the incident with Elizabeth. Per Rose's request, Rumple kept her alive. Rose may have been upset with her, but she didn't want her to die. Rumple would hope that with time, Rose would forget that she was even in the castle. When that day came, he would do as he pleased with the woman. Since then, he's made an effort to stay home more often. Not only for Rose, but also for Belle. He had the strange feeling to be near her more. He couldn't stand to be away from her for longer than a day, yet at the same time, he was in agony in her presence. He had strong feelings for her and not all of them were bad. She was beautiful, smart, brave, and caring. She wasn't frightened of him and she stood up to him. If it were anyone else, he would've snapped their necks or worse. He couldn't hurt her if he tried. Part of it was because she was Rose's mother and Rose would never forgive him if he did Belle any harm. The other part was his own personal reason.
It was a bright day in the Dark Castle. They had finished eating lunch and Belle read Rose a story in front of the fireplace as she usually did. She was napping peacefully in the den wrapped in her beloved rose blanket. Belle carefully slipped from under the sleeping child and slid a pillow under her head. She quietly slipped out of the room and headed to the Great Hall. She saw that Rumple was spinning at his wheel. He had been there since she went to read to Rose. It was a rare moment where they had some alone time without Rose attached to one of their hip. If she wanted to talk to him, she had to get his attention. She went to the kitchen and started some tea. Once it was finished, she brought it to back to the Great Hall with his favorite tea set with her chipped cup. She still didn't understand why he insisted on using that cup, but she didn't mind. She thought it was sweet in a way. She placed the set down on the table. The sound brought Rumple's attention to her.
"I made tea. I thought you might like some." He gave her an odd look as he stood from his wheel. Belle usually didn't make him tea without him asking her, or rather commanding her. What was she up to?
"Thank you, Belle." He walked over to the table and prepared his tea. As predicted, he used the chipped cup. Belle smiled to herself as she saw this. Rumple noticed her smile and grew curious. What was she smiling about? She rounded the table and pulled herself upon it, something she had done many times before. He didn't seem to mind when she sat on the table, so she continued to do so. She then eyed him curiously.
"Why did you want me here?"
"I thought it was rather obvious. Rose needed a caretaker." She narrowed her eyes in suspicion as he sipped his tea. Of course he would use Rose as an excuse. Whether it may or may not be true, that couldn't be the only reason. He was hiding something and she was going to find out what.
"I think you were lonely. Even with a child to love and care for, any man would be lonely." She was right. Any man would be lonely.
"I'm not a man." He leaned against the table next to her. Belle knew that he saw himself as a monster. She saw him as a man who was flawed. A man that would make a lot of reckless decisions. A man that hurt people and never gave it a second thought. She also saw a man that took in an abandoned child. A man that loved that child more than anything. A man that would go to any and all lengths just to make her happy. Only a man with a heart could do such a thing. He may not have been the perfect man, but he was a man nonetheless. She decided to change to subject.
"So, I've had a couple of months to look around, you know. And upstairs, there's clothing, small. Much different from Rose's clothes. Is it for another child? Was it yours? Or was there a son?" Rumple shuddered. He knew what clothing she was talking about. Even though he was gone, he kept Baelfire's things. He kept everything Baelfire's had since he was a baby. Rumple still thought of his long lost son every now and again. It was the memories of Baelfire that made Rumple want to be a better parent to Rose. When he found his son, he will do better and be a better parent to both of his children. He turned his attention back to Belle.
"There was. Their was a son. I lost him. As I did his mother." Remembering his wife Milah didn't upset him as much. She left him for a pirate. He remembered when she called him a coward. When she said she wished he had fought and died in the Ogre's War. When she told him she never loved him. She left him and Baelfire because she loved a pirate. She was only thinking of herself. From the day Baelfire was born, Rumple always put his son before his own wants and needs. He even went as far as to take the Dark One's powers to save him from having to fight in the Ogre's War. Belle never knew any of that.
"I'm...I'm sorry. So, you were a man once. An ordinary man." He didn't look at her or respond. "If I'm never going to know another person in my whole life, can't I at least know you?"
"Perhaps." He stood and placed his teacup on the table. "Perhaps you just want to learn the monster's weaknesses?"
Belle only smiled at him as he waved his finger in her face. "You're not a monster. You think you're uglier than you are. That's why you cover all the mirrors up, isn't it? Besides, I know that Rose is your biggest weakness. Had I wanted to hurt you, I would've used her to do it."
"Clever girl." There was a loud banging on the door. Rumple excused himself from the room to see who was there. He flicked his wrist and the large doors opened. There stood a tall man brown hair and brown eyes holding out a sword.
"I am Sir Gaston. And you beast have taken..." Before he could continue, Rumple snapped his fingers and the man the surrounded by purple smoke. When the smoke cleared, the man had disappeared and in his place was a single rose. Rumple smiled at his handy work as he picked up the rose and returned to the Great Hall. Belle had gotten down from the table and was looking out the window. She turned her attention to him as he entered the room.
"Who was that?" He wasn't going to tell her that her betrothed came to rescue her. And he certainly wouldn't tell her what he did to him.
"Just an old woman selling flowers." He lifted the rose from behind his back and presented it to her. She gasped in surprise. "Here. If you'll have it."
"Why thank you." She smiled as she accepted the flower. She then curtsied to him and he bowed back in his dramatic way. She giggled as she smelled the rose. She went to put the rose in a vase. Rumple wondered many things of this young woman. She was a royal. She had everything she could've ever asked for and more. All of that was gone because she was stuck in the Dark Castle with him. Why was she so willing to give all of that up so easily?
"You had a life, Belle, before...this. Friends. Family. What made you choose to come here with me?" Belle knew why he asked this. Anyone else would've stayed home with their family and friends and kingdom. No one would volunteer to be the Dark One's slave for any reason. Most people weren't that selfless.
"Heroism. Sacrifice. You know, there aren't a lot of opportunities for women in this land to show what they can do. To see the world. To be heroes. So, when you arrived, that was my chance. I always wanted to be brave. I figured do the brave thing and bravery would follow."
"And is it everything you hoped?" She set the rose, now in a vase, in the center of the table. She then climbed up and sat on it once again.
"Well, uh, I did want to see the world. That part didn't really work out. But I did save my village." She did save her village, including her husband-to-be. He seemed like the handsome knight in shining armor that she would want.
"And what about your...betrothed?" Belle rolled her eyes, remembering Gaston. That was another good thing that came out of her leaving. She wouldn't have to marry him. She didn't hate him, but she didn't love him either. And she couldn't be with someone didn't love.
"It was an arranged marriage. Honestly, I never really cared much for Gaston." He smiled at hearing this. She wasn't in love with the tall, handsome knight. How interesting. "To me love is...love is layered. Love is a mystery to be uncovered. I could never truly give my heart to someone as superficial as he."
Rumple agreed with her. Love, true love, is more than just being with someone. It was about trust, loyalty, honesty, sacrifice and everything in between. His past experience with love didn't have many of those things. His first love hated him and left him. His second love ripped out her own heart for power. Love would hurt sometimes, but it should never hurt in that way. He always tried to keep himself from loving anyone else. That was until Rose came along. He knew the love of a partner and the love of a child. He was hesitant to love her, but it was impossible not to. She had always loved him, so he had no reason not to love her back. Loving a woman had only brought Rumple pain. Both of his past loves betrayed him. If he were to love another, who was to say it wouldn't happen again? Could Belle be the one to break the vicious cycle of love and pain for him? He wouldn't dare find out. She may not see him as a monster or be afraid of him, but she still was stuck with him forever. If he were to express his feelings and she didn't return them, things between them would be awkward. He couldn't risk it. Her voice brought him from his thoughts.
"But, um, you were going to tell me about your son." He was, wasn't he? Could he trust her with the tale of his lost son? It was time to see if he could still fully trust her at all.
"I'll tell you what. I'll make you a deal. Rose's birthday is coming up in the next month. Perhaps you'll like to get her a present. Go to town and find something you think she might like. When you return, I'll share my tale." Rose's birthday? She wondered when that was. Belle had been in the castle for almost five months. Rose was almost five years old, but that wasn't the first thing on Belle' mind.
"Town?" He nodded. She wasn't allowed to leave the castle ever. She's only left once and that was when they were hunting Robin Hood to kill. "You trust me to come back?"
"Oh, no. I trust I'll never see you again." Belle knew why. He was basically letting her go. She could leave and return home to her family. She could see her father and her friends again. She would be free from the Dark One forever. She would no longer be in servitude for him. Did she really want that? She felt that she was close to forming a bond with him. She was falling in love with him. She didn't want to leave him. Before she could respond, a small voice interrupted.
"Mama? Papa?" They looked and saw Rose entering the Great Hall holding her blanket and rubbing her eyes. Rumple stood from his chair.
"Looks like someone's up from their nap. I shall tend to her. In the meantime, you should prepare for your journey." He left her and went over to Rose. He lifted her in his arms. "Did you have a nice nap, flower?"
"Yeah. And I had a funny dream."
"Really? Why don't you tell me all about it." He carried her out of the Great Hall and into the gardens. Belle watched after them. That was another reason she didn't want to leave. Rose would miss her terribly and she would miss Rose. She was her mother now. She couldn't just abandon her, especially when she knew her real mother didn't love her and wished her dead. If she were to leave and never return, Rose would be devastated. She would've lost both of her mothers. She couldn't do that to her. Belle didn't know what to do. Return to her family or stay with her new one? She would have plenty of time to think on her way. She finally jumped from the table and went to prepare for her trip. When she entered her room, she saw a cloak and a small leather pouch sitting on the bed. The pouch was filled with gold coins. It was more than she would need to buy a suitable gift for Rose. It was enough to travel all around the Enchanted Forest if she wanted to. Rumple really didn't think she would come back. He was truly giving her a way out. The only question was would she take it?
"And then candle had the dishes singing and dancing and it was fun." Rumple smiled as Rose spun her tale about her dream of the objects in the castle coming to life and putting on shows. He could only marvel and listen to her creative mind.
"Well, that is a very interesting dream, flower. How do you come up with these things?" She shrugged.
"I dunno." He smiled at her again. "Can we play a game?"
"Of course. Anything you want." She stood up from his lap.
"I'm gonna get Mama and we can play together." Rumple knew that Belle was gone. He felt when she stepped beyond the magic barrier. She left long ago. He took Rose's hand to stop her.
"Uh, sweetheart. Mama's not here." Rose looked at him in confusion. How was she gone if she wasn't allowed to leave the castle?
"Where is she?" Who knows where she was. She could be on her way back to Avolonea. Back to her family. Her real family.
"I sent her to town to get some things."
"When is she coming back?" Rumple held back his emotions. It would break Rose's heart if she knew Belle would probably never come back. Even he didn't know if Belle would return to them. He couldn't bring himself to tell her.
"I'm not sure. She doesn't have magic, so it may take her longer than it would me. She may not be back for some time." It wasn't a lie. She still could come back. If she did, it would be for Rose. She had always gone on and on about how much she loved the child. Perhaps Rose would be the one to bring her back. He could be wrong, but only time would tell.
"Oh. Can we still play?" He smiled once again.
"Of course we can. What do you want to play first?"
As the hours passed, it soon became night and Belle still hadn't returned. Rumple was convinced that she made he choice and wasn't coming back. He gave her enough gold for any previsions she would need. The cloak he gave her had an enchantment that would protect her as long as she had it in her possession. He was actually a bit upset that she didn't return. She had made a place in his heart. He didn't realize it until she was gone. He was now met with something worse he had to deal with: explaining to his daughter that Belle was probably gone forever. He had prepared dinner for the two of them for the night. He would have to get accustomed to doing that again. After dinner and Rose's bath, it was her bedtime. Rumple helped her into her night clothes and tucked her into bed.
"Papa, where's Mama?" He cursed himself. He hoped that she would at least wait until morning to wonder where Belle was. That would've given him more time to figure out a way to break the news to her. He still didn't have it in him to tell her.
"I'm not sure, flower. I told you it may take her a long time. She may not have been able to find what she needed."
"Can't you make it for her?" He couldn't help but smile. He loved how adorably naïve she was sometimes.
"It's not that simple."
"Why?" He couldn't really explain why. He technically sent Belle to find a present for Rose. Rumple could simply conjure up anything she wanted to give her, but even she didn't know what to get her. She didn't even know Rose's birthday was coming up. He simply smiled and kissed her forehead.
"No more questions tonight. Get some sleep. I love you, flower." She yawned.
"I love you, Papa." He stood and exited the room, closing the door behind him. He went up to his tower to think. They were alone now. It was just him and Rose again. Belle had changed a lot in the months she's been there. There seemed to be more light in the Dark Castle. A new flame was ignited in him because of her. He felt a sort of love for her. He cursed himself for allowing himself to love her. Love had only brought him pain and he allowed himself to fall for it's allure. He looked out of the window and looked down at the large gardens below. He remembered when he would work in his tower and he would hear Belle and Rose playing some game Rose came up with. He would miss those sounds. He would miss Rose being happy with a mother. He broke his promise to her. Now that Belle was gone, she would be alone again. He continued to curse himself until he felt a shift in his magic barrier. He looked down and saw someone walking up the path. He recognized the cloak the person was wearing. It was the same one he gave Belle. She came back. She actually came back. Without a second thought, he ran down the stairs down the Great Hall. He sat at his wheel and made himself look busy as she entered. He looked up at her and gave a slight smirk as she approached him.
"Back already? Good. Good thing. Rose was beginning to worry." She gave him a suspicious eye. Was Rose the only one beginning to worry?
"Come on. You're happy I'm back." He looked at her through his wheel.
"I'm not unhappy." He noticed that she had an extra bag with her. "And what's in the bag?"
"Rose's birthday present. That is why you sent me out, right?" He sent her out as a way to see if he could trust her to come back and she did. He knew she probably contemplated returning to her village. Rose had to be the only reason she returned.
"Of course. And what did you find, dearie?" She looked around.
"Is she asleep?"
"I put her down about an hour ago."
"Good." She reached in her bag and pulled out a stuffed white unicorn. "I know Rose dreams about unicorns a lot and I saw this, so I thought it would be perfect for her. What do you think?"
"I think she'll love it. She's been wanting me to get her a real unicorn for a long time. Perhaps this will calm her down for a while." Belle giggled as she reached into the bag again and pulled out a small embroidered patch that was in the shape of a rose.
"I also saw this. I wanted to add this to it. Maybe sew it on with a gold thread." Rumple thought the gift was thoughtful. She really paid attention to Rose's interests. A rose was her favorite flower and not because it was her name. She loved it bright red color, it's unique sweet scent, and the beauty of the flower in general.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Belle." She put the unicorn and the rose back in her bag and placed it on the floor. She walked behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"And I believe you promised me a story."
"Did I?" He almost forgot about the deal they made. He said he would tell her about Baelfire when she returned. He was so worried that she wouldn't return, he forgot about what he would do if she did. She took the thread from his hand and sat on the wheel.
"Tell me about your son." The memory was still painful for him to relive. He let him go. He made a deal with his son and he broke it so he could keep his powers. He allowed his only son to fall through a portal to another world. He was a coward back then and he still was.
"I lost him. There's nothing really to tell." Belle could see the pain and hurt in his eyes. He didn't want to say anymore than that and she wouldn't push it. Whatever happened was painful enough. Having to recall it and tell someone about it would only hurt more. He knew what happened. She didn't need the whole story.
"And before Rose, you loved no one and no one loved you?" Why did she care so much? Why was it so important to her to know who loves him and who he loves? He looked her in the eyes.
"Why did you come back?"
"I wasn't going to, but...something changed my mind." Their faces started to get closer to each other. Their lips brushed against each other and almost pressed together.
"Mama!" They jerked away from each other as they heard the voice. They looked up and saw Rose standing in the doorway. She ran over to them and hugged Belle. "You're back!"
"Yes. I'm sorry I took so long. We're you worried about me?"
"Yes." Belle didn't realize that Rose would worry so much. Then again, she hasn't left her since she got there. It was normal for her to get a little worried. Belle gently stroked her hair.
"I'm sorry, but it's alright now. I'm back and I won't ever leave you again." Rose looked up at her with her hopeful emerald eyes.
"You promise?" Belle looked at Rumple for a moment and smiled as she looked back to the child in her arms.
"I promise." Rose smiled and hugged her again. Belle picked her up and looked back down to Rumple. "I suppose I should put her back to bed."
"Yes. Uh, you should."
"Alright. Good night, Rumple."
"Good night, Belle." She took Rose and brought her back up to her room. Rumple stayed at his wheel and tried to figure out what had just happened. Was Belle about to kiss him? Did she really come back for him as well as Rose? Did she really love him? She couldn't love him. No one could love him, but she was willing to kiss him. It didn't make any sense. Why would a beautiful, smart, and kind woman like her love a cold-hearted and cruel monster like him? It wasn't possible. Was it?