Title: Poisoned! Chapter 3

Author: nicksmom3612

Summery: Rumplestiltskin has been poisoned, and Belle is the only one who can help him!

Authors note: Sorry that it has taken me so long to update, but it took me a while to figure out where I wanted to go with this. I hope you enjoy the results. (So much for a two chapter story! LOL)

Disclaimer: I own neither the show nor the characters. I don't earn any money with this piece. I just do it for fun.

POISONED CHAPTER 3

Belle was looking anxiously at Rumplestiltskin as he drank his fourth cup of the potion that was keeping the poison coursing through his veins at bay for the moment. She watched as he wrinkled his nose at the noxious brew before he forced himself to drink it, smiling at how childlike he was in so many ways. It was one of the things about him that made her love him so much.

In the months that she had lived at The Dark Castle, she had discovered that the 'Dark one' who everyone feared, to the point of being afraid of even uttering his name, was in point of fact more of an overgrown boy looking for mischief, then a monstrous beast. That was not to say that he wasn't extremely dangerous, and certainly had an agenda which even she was not privy to, but on a day to day basis he was mostly looking for fun.

She was also not so naïve as to think that he, even though not fully human anymore, didn't still have the same physical desires of any normal healthy male. Even though he had never once during her stay in his home made any untoward advances to her, she knew from his actions, the looks, the way he would shy away from her, and how, if his arousal was getting the best of him, he would excuse himself from her company ('probably to take a cold bath' she thought with some amusement).

She knew because she felt the same desires and many times found it difficult not to act upon them. He attracted her so strongly that she found herself fantasizing about what it would feel like to have him hold her in his arms, kiss her hard, and then carry her off to his bed. And her dreams… oh her dreams brought a blush to her cheeks just thinking of them. Dreams of the two of them striped naked, limbs entwined, kissing passionately, his strong hands caressing her body,….. Belle was startled out of her reverie by the sound of Rumplestiltskin choking, and she quickly rushed to him and began pounding him on the back until he pushed her away swearing that beating him to death was not the objective.

She huffed that she was just trying to help, but then when she saw how weak the coughing fit had left him, she was back at his side in an instant, worry and fear clearly visible on her beautiful face.

"Rumple please… tell me what to do.. please hurry" Belle pleaded frantically "we can't wait any longer." "No Belle… no we can't," he moaned as the pain in his head stabbed at him again. He took a breath and continued, "the poison is still spreading, I can feel it. You must listen carefully, I don't know how much longer I will be able to stay conscious."

Belle began wiping him with the cool clothes again as he gave her instructions. "Do you know of Lake Nostos Belle?" he began. Belle nodded, everyone in the enchanted forest had heard of Lake Nostos, with it's healing waters, and it's deadly siren watch guard, who had lured many men to their deaths in their quest for the magical water of the lake. "Yes" she said "my father has told me many tales of it, and of the siren who guards it." She looked into his eyes with understanding dawning on her face. "The water from the lake will stop the poison?" she whispered. "I can't be sure, but I think that it will" he paused, "if it doesn't…nothing will" as he spoke the last words his gaze caught hers, and the look in his eyes caused her heart to drop.

Rumplestiltskin watched as her face turned the color of pure white cotton, and she looked for a moment as though she might faint. Finally she shook her head and said harshly "it has to work, I won't accept anything else, do you understand?" He was caught off guard by the anger in her voice, and looked at her as though she had lost her mind, but she continued, glaring dangerously at him "You're not going to tear me away from my home, my family and friends, bring me here, and… and make me fall in love with you, and then die on me!" She was near hysterical now as she took him by the shoulders and shook him, "do you hear me Rumplestiltskin, you're not going to do this to me,… not now." Suddenly she seemed to run out of steam, and let her head fall onto his chest as she sobbing.

Rumplestiltskin pulled her tight to him, and murmured "shush, love,… please don't cry,… I have no intention of deserting you if it is within my power." Belle pulled away just enough to look up at his face, and stopped crying so suddenly it was as if a switch had been flicked off in her brain. Her hands clutching the sheet which was pulled up to his chest, she whispered fiercely "I love you."

In that moment, Rumplestiltskin did something that he rarely ever did, he acted on impulse. He kissed her. Not a quick, chaste, passionless kiss, but a lustful, hard, demanding kiss, one hand on her waist, pulling her towards him, and the other behind her head to hold her still while he forced his way in, his tongue sweeping through her mouth as he swallowed her surprised gasp. At first she was as still as a statue, but only at first. Belle felt a surge of pleasure emanating from her loins and spreading throughout her body and all rational thought ceased. Her hands grasped his head, fingers weaving through his soft curls, and she kissed him back with all of the pent up passion of the past several months pouring out of her. He groaned as he felt her tongue sweep across his bottom lip, and out of pure instinct she bit it causing him to momentarily lose his mind in a haze of desire. He pulled her down until she was laying in his lap, and breaking the kiss, his mouth began trailing down her throat, sucking, biting and licking as he went, the sweet music of her moans and the writhing of her luscious body beneath him causing the normally tightly controlled imp to come completely apart at the seams, his only thought to have her, and have her now. One hand finding her breast, he flicked his thumb across her nipple through the fabric of her dress, causing her to cry out as she gasped for breath. "Rumple" she moaned, "oh god… please", as he continued his mission to kiss every square inch of her body.

"Rumple" she said more urgently, tugging on his hair to raise his head, and look into his eyes. "Rumple" she repeated her breath coming hard, "we can't… not now… there's no time." She watched as her words cut through the lust induced fog which clouded his mind, and he slowly released his grip, trembling, as he allowed her to sit up, and try to recover her senses, as he did the same. "I'm sorry" he said, his voice low and ragged. She cupped his face in her hands "don't be" she whispered, placing a soft kiss on his lips, "I intend to continue this once you're well" She said it with such conviction, like it was already true, that he looked at her, and smiling a rather lecherous smile promised "most definitely dearie"

Belle couldn't stop the blush which came to her pretty cheeks, but then she refocused on the matter at hand. "How do I get the water from lake Nostos?"

Rumplestiltskin let his head fall back onto the pillow. "I will transport you close to the lake, but not too close." he began "there are powerful spells which monitor and protect the shores of the lake. It will not be possible to get the water without the siren knowing" he paused when Belle furrowed her brows in worry, and he reached out to grasp her hand, "don't fret, love, I'm going to provide you with a cloak which will protect and shield you… annnnd…" he drawled, rolling his eyes to look up at the ceiling "I have something which the siren wants very badly for you to bargain with."

Belle listened intently as Rumplestiltskin laid out the plan for her. The cloak that he gave was the most beautiful garment that she had ever seen. Heavy embossed gold fabric with patterns stitched in forest green thread of swirls and circles throughout. The edges, including the hood, were finished with pure gold thread, and the closures were heavy hooks and eyes, also of pure gold. She tried it on and to her delight, as soon as she closed it with the hooks and eyes, it adjusted itself to fit her, cinching in at the waist and shortening to fall just below her ankles. She laughed and looked up at him smiling, but when she saw him double over, and gasp, as another pain shot through his head, her smile faded.

She was at his side instantly, her hands fumbling to pour yet another cup of the foul smelling tea which was slowing the effects of the poison in his system. She watched as he drank it down without the usual obscenities and wrinkling of his nose, evidence that he was getting weaker. The fight was going out of him.

After he had settled down, she tucked the covers back in around him, and said firmly "Rumple, I can't leave you here alone." She met his gaze as he stared at her. "Well I don't think you have a choice love" he said weakly "there isn't anyone that I know of who would be willing to tend me,… other than you." With that he gave her hand a squeeze "thank you love" he whispered and let his head fall back onto the pillow.

Belle bit her lip as she considered weather or not to push the issue. She knew that he trusted no one (and considering that he had just been poisoned she would have to admit that he had good reason), but looking at him laying there, so weak that he could barely lift his head, she knew that she simply could not leave him alone.

"Rumple" she began, and he opened his eyes. "Who do you have in mind?" he sighed, surprising her that he gave in so easy. From his point of view, he didn't have the strength to fight her, especially when he was quite sure that she wouldn't take no for an answer anyway. In his weakened condition it was simply easier just to skip to the end and let her have her way. He had a feeling that that this was a foreshadowing of his future with this stubborn woman…. Not that he really minded.

Belle didn't hesitate, "Red" she said firmly, and he closed his eyes sighing heavily. "You like Red" Belle reminded him. "Yes,…yes I do" he muttered, but I don't think the feeling is mutual." Belle nodded, knowing that he was right, "but she does like me, and I know that if I ask her she will care for you as I would" pausing for a moment, tears filled her eyes "please Rumple.. I simply can't leave you alone" she pleaded.

He smiled, wondering, not for the first time, what on earth she saw in him, but he decided that it was best not to question it, and instead just thank his lucky stars for her.

"Very well" he said, and closing his eyes he summoned the magic, but in his weakened condition, it didn't come easily. Belle watched as he concentrated, his breathing quickening and a slight sheen of sweat popping out on his forehead, and then suddenly Red Riding Hood was standing before them, and Belle knew that if looks could kill, she and Rumplestiltskin would already be pushing up daisies.

I hope you enjoyed! I had intended for this to just be two chapters, but somehow it got out of hand. I am rather liking the results through. I will try to update this weekend. My job requires that I be on call, so I am never really sure about my schedule. Hope you understand.

If you have a minute, please review. It is always nice to know what you are thinking,.

Till next time!