Forget Me Not
Chapter 4
Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to update. Now that I'm back from vacation...here is the next chapter. Enjoy!
It was 7:30. They would be here in 30 minutes. Mr. Gold couldn't even remember the last time he felt this nervous and scared…definitely not since he became "The Dark One". That was so long ago. Yet here he was fidgeting around his house like some kind of suburban house wife about to host a giant dinner party for 50 people. He was constantly checking the clock…7:31…GAHHH, why can't time move just a little faster! Mr. Gold stopped in his kitchen and stared at the little tea set sitting on the table. He picked up the chipped cup…this was Belle's cup. She isn't even going to know who you are, Mr. Gold thought sadly. He set the cup down and sighed…7:40. They would be here in 20 minutes.
At 7:45 Emma and Belle left the diner. As they were getting into the car Belle looked at Emma and saw concern on her face. "Why do you seem so worried Emma? This Mr. Gold helped you get me out, he can't be that bad of a man," she said with a slight smile on her face. Emma looked up at her and Belle could tell that she was having an internal battle inside her head. "What is it Emma? Please tell me," Belle asked, concerned. Emma sighed, "Well, to be honest I have a feeling that Mr. Gold's interest in you goes beyond the injustice of your being locked up for no reason," said Emma. Belle just looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "Do you remember anyone named Mr. Gold? From before you were locked up? Because I'm pretty sure he knows who you are." Belle just looked at Emma and tried to think back into her memory. She remembered a lot of things, but not anyone named Mr. Gold. Belle just shook her head. Emma sighed, "I guess we will find out soon won't we," and she smiled as she turned on the ignition if her car. Belle just smiled back at Emma and buckled her seatbelt as they drove off towards Mr. Gold's home.
It didn't take Emma long to get to Mr. Gold's house. She remembered where he lived from the time she got the call about the break in. She shivered as she thought about that night she arrest Mr. Gold for trying to beat the life out of Mr. French. She wondered for a moment if she should tell Belle about this, but then decided it would be best not to. Emma looked over at Belle as they pulled up to the house. Belle was just sitting there staring at the massive thing with her mouth slightly agape. Emma chuckled, "Yes I know, it is quite big for someone who lives alone isn't it? Mr. Gold has quite the collection and I guess he just needs this much room to store it all." Belle looked over at Emma with her wide eyes, "I guess so," she whispered. "OK, well, here goes nothing. Are you ready to go up there? I'm sure he will understand if not," said Emma, still concerned. "No, I'm ready. Let's go," said Belle and she unbuckled her seatbelt and practically bolted out of the car. Emma had to run up the front porch steps just to catch up with her.
They stood there for a few seconds and then Emma rang the doorbell. It almost seemed like Mr. Gold had been standing behind the door, because it wasn't even five seconds later and the door was swung wide open and he was standing there in front of them. Once Emma got over the shock of having the door fly open so quickly, she realized that Mr. Gold was standing there staring at Belle like a panicked deer caught in headlights. No one said a word. It was as if Belle and Mr. Gold had been sucked into their own little bubble and Emma wasn't even there anymore. "Um…cough…Mr. Gold, is it ok if we come inside or would you prefer us to just stand out here on the porch," asked Emma, a little annoyed. This snapped Mr. Gold and Belle back to reality and before she could stop herself Belle whispered, "Rumpelstiltskin." Belle quickly clamped her hand over her mouth and looked at Emma with wide, scared eyes. It seemed like time just stopped. Belle was looking at Emma. Emma was looking at Belle, and Mr. Gold was shifting his eyes back and forth with his mouth gaping open. Finally Emma came back to reality, "What? Who is Rumpelstiltskin? Belle, are you ok?" Belle tried to smooth out the panicked look on her face, "Yes, hehe, I'm fine. I have no idea what I was saying…don't you ever have those moment where you just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind even if it makes no sense?" Emma gave her a look saying she wasn't quite sure if she should believe her but before she could say anything Mr. Gold interrupted. "Perhaps Miss Belle and I should talk alone," he said to Emma. "Oh no. That is so not going to happen. She stays with me. That was the deal," said Emma. The two continued to glare at each other until Belle finally spoke up, "Actually Emma I would really appreciate it if I could have a few moments alone with Mr. Gold. We have a lot to talk about and a lot of issues to resolve from the past and it is all kind of private. I'm really not comfortable sharing it with anyone yet. I promise it will be ok and you can come back to get me in an hour or so." Emma just looked at Belle, concerned, and then she looked over to Mr. Gold who appeared to be smiling affectionately at Belle. Emma sighed, clearly these two have a lot of issues and it was a lot deeper than she could possibly understand, "Fine. Belle, I'll come back to pick you up in EXACTLY one hour. If you need me to come and get you…," she looked over at Mr. Gold, "for whatever reason, please do not hesitate to call me immediately and I will come get you." She turned back to Belle and Belle just nodded her head, "Thank you Emma," she said. Emma looked at the pair one more time before she turned and walked down the stairs and back to her car.
Belle and Mr. Gold watched Emma pull out of the driveway and down the road before Mr. Gold suggested they take this inside his home. As Mr. Gold led Belle to the living room area Belle looked around. The house was very large and it reminded her of his dark castle…it was even in desperate need of a dusting, this made her smile. Once they were in the living room, Mr. Gold motioned for Belle to sit down in a large, plush chair while he took a seat on the other side of the coffee table on the couch.
It was so quiet that you could hear the clock in the kitchen ticking away. Neither one could even bring themselves to look at the other. Finally Belle sighed. "You look different," she said as she looked over at him. "So…y…you do remember? When you said my name…I wasn't sure…and I…I…I'm so sorry Belle." Mr. Gold looked up at Belle with pleading eyes. He was begging her to forgive him. He looked away from her. He was so ashamed. He will never deserve her forgiveness, but that didn't stop him from desperately wanting her to give it. "You were right about me. You were always right. I'm a coward. I don't deserve anything…especially not you," he whispered. Belle stood up and walked over to sit next to him on the couch. She reached over to stroke some of his hair out of his eyes as he looked up at her. "Rumpelstiltskin. I've had a lot of time to myself. I've tried to forget you, and when that didn't work I tried to be angry with you, and when that didn't work I tried to be disgusted by you, but you know what?" Mr. Gold looked at her, pain clearly written across his face, but he said nothing… "I wasn't able to think any of those things about you. You know why? Because I love you Rumpelstiltskin, and nothing can change that…ever." Then she did something he never thought she would ever do again…she kissed him. It was the gentlest peck on the lips, almost as if she was afraid he was going to push her away again, but he knew that he couldn't even if he wanted to. He loved her too much. That's when Mr. Gold did something Belle wasn't expecting…he kissed her back. As their lips pressed against each other softly, both with their eyes closed, each with a hand slowly caressing the other's cheek, that's when they realized it didn't matter that they were in a land of no magic because it was clear that the magic of true love was boundless. It had crossed the barriers of time and space and brought them back together.
