Belle anxiously paced back and forth in the Great Hall. She was angry at Rumpelstiltskin for what he said, but she was also worried about Rose. What if something had happened to her? What if the people caught her? She tried not to think the worst. She also tried not to think about Rumple. She was furious with him. Even if he was worried for Rose, telling her she was a bad mother was not something to say out of anger. He wasn't going to get away with that. She was trying her best to be a mother and he knew that. He knew she was doing her best. He shouldn't have said that. Belle knew she shouldn't be as angry as she was, but she couldn't help it. Her emotions were running wild. She really didn't know how to feel. She suddenly heard the front doors open. He was back. She hoped he wasn't empty-handed. The Great Hall door opened and she saw him holding Rose in his arms. She sighed in relief and ran over to them.

"Rose!" Rumple put Rose down and she ran into Belle's arms.

"Mama!" Belle hugged her tightly and kissed her.

"Oh, Rose. Are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?" She pulled away from the hug and eagerly checked over the child.

"I'm okay, Mama. Quasi helped me." Belle looked up and noticed the hunchback a few feet behind Rumple. He looked nervous. It was understandable since he was in the Dark Castle, home of the Dark One. He had every right to be on edge. Belle smiled at him.

"Thank you, sir. We owe you a lot."

"It was not a problem, ma'am." Rose tugged on Belle's arm.

"Papa said he can stay with us. Can he?" She looked up to Rumple. Her face was neutral, but he knew she was furious with him. It would be a long time until she would forgive him. She smiled down to Rose.

"If your papa says he can, then he can." She turned her attention to Quasi. "It would be an honor to have you stay with us."

"Thank you for your kindness, miss."

"You can call me Belle." He smiled at her. She was just as kind as Rose. He still didn't understand it since they were both living with the Dark One.

"Thank you, Belle." She nodded to him. Rose jumped up and down excitedly.

"Can I show Quasi my room?" Belle looked over to Rumple again. She tried to keep her voice calm.

"Ask your father." Rose looked over to Rumple.

"Can I, Papa? Please?" After what had happened, he didn't want to let her out of his sight, but he knew he needed to talk to Belle. The longer it waited, the worse it would get.

"Of course, flower, but only your room."

"Okay!" She went over to Quasi and started to pull on his arm. "Come on, Quasi! This way!"

"Alright. I'm coming." She pulled him out of the Great Hall and up the stairs. Once they were gone, Rumple turned his attention to Belle. She looked back to him with her piercing blue eyes full of fiery anger. She turned and went to the kitchen without a word. He really messed up. He followed her.

"Belle, we need to talk about this."

"You said what you felt. I don't think there's anything to talk about." They made it to the kitchen where she had already started on dinner. She started lamb stew since it was Rose's favorite. She also had a fresh loaf of bread baking.

"I know what I said, but I didn't mean it. I was upset and angry. I never meant to hurt you like that. I don't think you're a bad mother at all." She finally turned to face him.

"That's no excuse, Rumple! You know how hard I've been trying to be a good mother for Rose! I love her and I treat her as my own! You know I would never tell you that you were a bad father no matter how angry I am!"

"I know that and it was stupid of me to tell you that you were a bad mother. You're a great mother to Rose. She's been much happier since you came here. She thinks you're a wonderful mother and so do I." She calmed down a bit, but she was still hurt and angry. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"That doesn't make it right, Rumple." He slowly approached her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her forehead and looked into her eyes.

"I know, and I know it'll be a long time until you forgive me. I was in the wrong. I know you only wanted to do something nice for Rose for her birthday. I was beyond worried and took my frustration out on you. I can only try to earn your forgiveness and I hope you can find it in your beautiful heart to do so." She tried to keep a straight face, but her smile failed her. He smiled back at her.

"Don't let this smile fool you, Rumple. I am still very upset with you."

"I know. I'm just glad to see you smile again. I want to enjoy it while it lasts." She uncrossed her arms and slowly snaked them around his neck.

"Well, perhaps it'll stay for the rest of the night since it's still Rose's birthday and I wouldn't want her to know that I'm upset with you. After that, I can't make any promises. It'll be apart of your punishment for upsetting me."

"Not being able to see your beautiful smile everyday? I say that's a bad enough punishment. Can't we leave it at that, love?" His voice was low and husky. It sent shivers down her spine, but she knew he was trying to charm her.

"Nice try, but no. I'll think of something worse later. Until then, let's just make sure Rose enjoys the last of her birthday." She pulled away from him and went over to the stove. He stood where he was for a moment. This woman is going to be the death of me, he thought. Once he recollected himself, he went to help her finish dinner. "So, what do you plan to do about Rose's new abilities?"

"Oh, that. Well, it seems that her birthday present has given her magic."

"And I take it that wasn't on purpose?"

"Of course not. She's only a child. She wouldn't know what to do with that much power."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure. When I made the necklace, I made it so that it would only come off if she removes it willingly. It's supposed to protect her and anyone she cares for. Now that she has it and knows what it can do, I don't think she'll be removing it anytime soon."

"But you're the Dark One and you made it. Can't you remove it?"

"I can't. It's made with True Love, the most powerful magic of all. With that locket as the source of her new magic, she's actually more powerful than me."

"That's a problem."

"Yes. And, even if she removes the locket, she'll still have her powers." Belle was confused by this.

"How is that possible? The locket is the source. Why wouldn't she be powerless without it?"

"It's the way the magic works. A person can have powers without a material source like a locket or amulet. If they were to gain one and wear it, all of their magic would be concentrated into that object. If it were to be removed after a long period of time, they would be powerless without it. In Rose's case, she never had powers to begin with and the locket gave her the power to use magic. Once she uses it for the first time, whether she's wearing the locket or not, she still has her magic. The only difference would be that her magic is stronger with the locket than without."

"So even if she removes the locket, her magic will stay?"

"Yes."

"Is there anyway to...remove her magic?" Rumple remembered the magician's hat that he had. It would strip anyone of their magic, but it would also wipe them from existence. Even if Rose was more powerful than him, he knew she wasn't a threat to him. She was his daughter. She would never hurt him.

"Nothing that won't kill her. I'd like to keep my daughter."

"So, there's really nothing you can do?"

"All I can do is to try to help her keep them under control. We don't need her casting spells all over the place." Belle nodded in understanding. She wanted to ask why he wouldn't teach her how to use her magic, but she knew why. He had dark magic. Since Rose's magic was from True Love, they probably wouldn't mix well. She also remembered when he told her about his past pupils, Cora and Regina. He created monsters. That was the last thing he would want to become of his sweet innocent daughter.

"Well, dinner is just about ready. We should go get Rose and her new friend." They left the kitchen and went up to Rose's room. "I think it was nice of you to offer Quasimodo a place to stay. I can't imagine what he must have went through at that fair."

"Well, he did save Rose's life. I felt it was only appropriate. Of course, it won't be forever. Only until he figures out what he plans to do."

"As long as you don't kick him out before he's ready." He smirked at her.

"Oh, I don't think that will be possible. Knowing Rose, she'll want to keep him around for as long as possible. He is her first friend." She smirked at him.

"I thought I was her first friend." He chuckled.

"Oh, my dear. Let's be honest. She saw you as more than a friend since the moment she saw you. She knew you were her mother, even if you didn't." She thought on this. She remembered when Rose showed her the picture of them before she even got there. She knew she would have a mother. She knew Belle would be her mother. Belle still wondered how. Did Rose truly know about Belle? Or was it just the wish of a child? Either way, Belle was her mother now. They were the family that Rose always wanted. They made it to Rose's room and opened the door. They saw Rose and Quasi sitting on the floor talking. It seemed that Rose was telling him some elaborate story.

"...and then she lost all her powers and we won!" Quasi looked in shock. Whatever story Rose told him must have been a doozy.

"Wow. That was some dream."

"I know!" They finally noticed Rumple and Belle standing in the doorway. "Mama, Papa, you wanna hear the story I told Quasi?"

"It sounds interesting, flower, but it's time for dinner. Perhaps you can tell us then."

"Okay! Come on, Quasi." She stood up and went towards the door, but stopped when she saw that he didn't move from his spot. "Quasi, aren't you coming?"

"I...uh...I think I'll stay here. I wouldn't want to interrupt." Rose was confused by this, but Rumple and Belle knew what was going on. He wasn't accustomed to eating with other people. He was always alone. Frollo had treated him so badly, he was probably afraid to interact with others. Belle spoke to him.

"It's alright, Quasi. You're a guest here and you are more than welcome to join us."

"Yes. No need to be shy, hunchback. You may come along." Rose went over to him and pulled him to stand. She smiled to reassure him that he was welcome. He returned the smile as she pulled him along.