Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry it has taken me so long to update. I have been super busy with...well, life. I have been slowly working on this chapter for the last 2 weeks now and it is FINALLY finished! I really appreciate all the support and patience. I know how hard it is to wait to find out what happens. I am REALLY hoping I can start updating faster for you guys. Anyways, I'll shut up now...enjoy!
Forget Me Not
Chapter 5
As Belle and Mr. Gold opened their eyes to break away from the kiss their breathing was heavy and thick with emotions that have been ignored for to many years. They gently leaned their foreheads together and just sat like that, staring into each other's eyes, not saying a word, but smiling.
For Belle, it seemed like time had stopped. She couldn't even remember the last time she was this happy. She looked at Mr. Gold and sighed, "You have no idea how happy I am. I'm glad you found me." Mr. Gold pulled away to look at Belle with a frown. Belle could see the guilt in his eyes. "What's the matter?" she asked. "I thought you were dead. The queen…the queen told me about how you went home to your father and he locked you up in the tower. She said you threw yourself out the window…I thought you were dead," Mr. Gold whispered. He couldn't even look Belle in the eyes. He was useless and worthless. He didn't deserve her. He had been dumb enough to believe the queen. The queen! Only an idiot would believe that wretched woman. But he had. Mr. Gold stood up. This had been a bad idea. She shouldn't have come here, she deserved so much better. As Mr. Gold looked down at Belle she saw the pain and the disgust in his eyes and as he began to walk away from her, Belle made the decision that she wasn't going to let him send her away again. "Wait...Rumpelstiltskin…wait," she said as she stood up. "Please…please don't send me away again. I…I need you." Belle walked over to step in from of Mr. Gold as he stood in the entryway. "Please look at me. I need to see your eyes," she whispered. Mr. Gold lifted his head and looked at Belle. He looked directly into her beautiful blue eyes, she really is such a beauty, he thought. "Please believe me when I say that I love you with all of my heart. I love the way your arms wrapped around me so protectively when I fell off that ladder. I love the way you treated me like a true lady. I love the rose you gave me. I love how you always insisted on using that chipped tea cup. I love how you would let me sit and watch you spin for hours on end in front of the fire. I love how you gave me a library to call my own. I loved cooking for you every night and doing your laundry every day. I love how your skin used to sparkle ever so slightly in the sunlight and I love how I can see every laugh line on your face now. But most of all I love the way that you look at me like you have never seen anything more beautiful in the entire realm. I don't care what you've done Rumpelstiltskin. Everyone deserved to be loved by someone…and that includes you."
Mr. Gold looked into Belle's beautiful eyes and he gently caressed her hands with his thumbs. He just couldn't understand how someone so innocent, so pure could possibly love him. But here she was. Standing right in front of him. In the flesh. Begging him with her eyes to believe her. He knew he didn't deserve her, but he was a selfish man. He really didn't see how he could live with himself if he broke her heart…again. He knew it would happen eventually. But for right now, he could have her. She wanted him to have her. And he just couldn't say no to that. Mr. Gold closed his eyes and sighed, Belle knew she had won. She smiled so bright it could have lit up the night sky. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with all of the passion she could muster, and Mr. Gold, unable to resist her, kissed Belle back. As they stood there in the entryway, arms wrapped tightly around each other, mouths locked together and tongues fighting for dominance, neither one seemed to hear the doorbell, or the knock. In fact, it wasn't until they heard a loud thud and sprang away from each other to see Emma standing across from them with her mouth gaping open, that they even realized they were not alone. The awkward tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Finally, Emma broke the silence, "Ummm…huh…well, I guess you two worked out your issues." Belle gave a nervous chuckle "Hehe, ya….I think we did…at least…I hope we did," she said cautiously as she looked over to Mr. Gold. Mr. Gold just smiled and nodded to Belle, to which Belle smiled back. Emma just stood there watching the exchange, rolling her eyes, "Oh ya, you two have got it BAD," she laughed.
Once all of the tension in the room cleared, Mr. Gold suggested they all move into the kitchen to talk and he would make some tea. As the three sat at the table talking, they quickly realized there were a lot of thing they had to organize. Belle had been removed from society for so long she had no idea how to interact with people. This was going to make it more difficult for her to find work and her own place. There was also the issue of Regina. Emma assured the two that there were absolutely no legal loopholes for Regina to slither through, but she also knew that wouldn't stop her. Regina did like to play dirty after all…but so did Mr. Gold, thought Emma. Emma was slightly worried about where Belle was going to go. Although she was more than welcome to stay at her and Mary Margaret's place, it was making it very crowded and stressful. There was also the issue of money. Belle had none. Not a single penny. Emma had no intention of having Belle stay at the station. She had been locked up long enough. Sleeping in a cot in a cell (even if it was unlocked) was no way to get over the trauma she had been through.
After listening to the discussion for a few minutes Mr. Gold finally chimed in. "Belle will stay here. With me." The two girls were quiet and looked at Mr. Gold. "I don't think that is a very good idea. I don't think you two are ready for that kind of commitment yet," said Emma. Mr. Gold rolled his eyes. "I was referring to the guest cottage next door sheriff. It has been empty for a long time and that way Belle would be able to have her own private space," said Mr. Gold. "If you want it, of course Belle," he said hopefully. "That is very generous of you Mr. Gold, but as Emma pointed out earlier, there is absolutely no way I could afford the rent for a place as nice as that," said Belle, a blush running across her cheeks. "Dearie, it would be rent free, of course," said Mr. Gold gently. This made Belle's blush turn an even darker shade of red, "Oh," she whispered. Belle looked over at Emma. "What do you think Emma? Does that sound like a good idea?" Emma stared at Mr. Gold for a few seconds, trying to read his face. When she looked back at Belle, she smiled. "I think it is a great idea. It will really help you get back on your feet and you'll have a close neighbor you can trust." Belle smiled brightly and looked at Mr. Gold, "Thank you Mr. Gold, I would love to take you up on your offer," she said as she reached her hand across the table for a handshake. Mr. Gold smiled at Belle, "It's a deal," he said and they shook.
"OK. Well, that takes care of part of our problem. Now we need to think about employment. Belle have you ever had a job before?" asked Emma. Belle looked at her hands, "No. Not a real one where you get paid, at least," she said. "OK. Well then, let's start with your skills. What are you good at?" Emma asked. Before Belle could answer Mr. Gold interrupted, "She could work part time at my shop as my assistant." "That's nice of you to offer Mr. Gold, but I think that Belle needs a job where she can be independent and interact with someone besides yourself," said Emma. Mr. Gold just frowned. He wanted Belle all to himself, clearly Emma could see this…smart girl, he thought. Belle sat silently for a moment, thinking. "Well, I'm good at house work, like cooking, cleaning and laundry. I know a lot about books because of all the reading I do. I know how to garden. That's pretty much it Emma. I don't have a whole lot of skills," Belle said sadly. Emma just shook her head and smiled, "No, that's good Belle. I think there are a few jobs in town that might work for you. I know the library was looking for a part time librarian's assistant and I think Granny is looking for some help with running the inn. How about tomorrow, you and I go into town and see what we can find? Sound good to you?" asked Emma. Belle's face lit up, "Yes! That sounds wonderful! Thank you so much Emma!" said Belle. Just as she finished speaking, Belle let out a massive yawn. When Mr. Gold looked over at the clock he saw that it was well after one in the morning. "Ladies, it has gotten quit late and it seems that there is a lot to do tomorrow. I think it would be best if we all retired for the night." Emma looked up at the clock too, "Crap! It is late! We gotta go get some sleep. Are you ready Belle?" "Yes...yawn...I'm ready."
As Belle and Emma got into Emma beaten up yellow bug and drove off, Mr. Gold stood on his porch watching and thinking. It felt absolutely wonderful to have his beautiful Belle back. She was not only back, but she also remembered him. Just as he had never forgotten her, even cursed, she had never forgotten him either. He knew he was going to spend the rest of his life trying his hardest to make up for all the pain he had caused her. He also knew that Regina was going to pay dearly for what she had done both in the land of fairytales and in this magicless land. Her treachery was going to cost her dearly. As he walked back into his house and up the stairs to his bedroom, Mr. Gold smiled as he realized he had a lot of planning to do. This kind of planning would take time, but that was no problem. He had all the time in the world. He was a patient man. And you know what they say, "Beware the fury of a patient man."
