The rest of the ball was uneventful, and now it is nearing the end. Rumpelstiltskin walks up to Belle and steals her for one last dance, grinning all the while. She's laughing and complaining that he's going to run a hole in her shoes, but he can't bring himself to care. Neither can she, to be honest.

They're both surprised when Milah asks to cut in. Still, Belle acquises after kissing Rumpel firmly on his mouth. "I love you." he calls after her, and she waves her hand in recognition as she goes to sit on her throne beside her father.

Milah is a good enough dancer, nothing like Belle, but good enough. The conversation is tense before she finally cuts to her point. "There is a dragon." she says. "In my hometown. I was brought here to convince you to come and slay it."

Rumpelstiltskin looks at her, surprise evident in his eyes. "A dragon," he repeats. "And you would have me slay it."

"Yes, that's what I did just say." Milah smirks at him.

"I'll talk to Belle." He acquiesced. Milah nodded, and they separated. Rumpelstiltskin makes his way over to Belle, who stands upon his arrival.

He urges her to sit back down, and she does, but in his lap with her head resting against his heart. "Hi." she grins up at him.

"Hello there, beautiful." he returns sweetly, kissing her forehead.

"What did she want?" Belle asks with unmasked jealousy as she leans into his kiss.

"There's apparently a dragon, in her kingdom." Rumpelstiltskin tells Belle, yawning slightly. "She wants me to slay it. ME!"

"Well if there was a dragon near me, I'd want you to slay it." Belle giggles, looking at him flirtatiously.

"And I would in an instant." Rumpel kisses her nose, and she scrunches it. He laughs at the face she's making.

"My dragon slayer." Belle says, giggling as she leans in and pecks his nose in return.

"Oh, you decided to do it Rumpel?" A voice asks, and Rumpelstiltskin looks up to see Milah looking quite excited and pleased with herself.

"I'm sorry, I haven't decided yet. Belle was just teasing me." he said apologetically. "I will let you know before tomorrow night." He promises, and she nods and leaves.

"Look what you did," Rumpel teases Belle, who's pouting. "You made her come over here and get all excited."

Belle shrugs unrepentantly and kisses him right on the mouth. "I don't like her calling you Rumpel." She announces breathlessly.

"Well I don't either, but my full name is quite the mouthful." Rumpelstiltskin points out with a little laugh.

Belle pouts again, comically, and then bursts out laughing. "Still. You're mine, y'know." she says teasingly, kissing him on the corner of his mouth.

"I have been for over four years, m'Belle. I have no intention of stopping any time soon." he promises, and he leans up to touch her cheek.

Belle is quite content with what he says, and leans into his touch. "I love you, Rum." she says quietly.

"I love you too, Belle." he vows, smiling at her gently. "You know you have nothing to worry about, right?"

"Of course I do." Belle says in a small voice. "You're handsome and a Knight and kind and smart and-"

"And yours." Rumpel cuts her off, smirking. "I have been since I set eyes on you, Belle. Calm down." he cheekily smiles at her.

Belle gives him a small smile, and he kisses her until she's beaming. It's going to be alright, his kiss seems to say, I love you.