I don't own Once Upon A Time

It might seem a bit premature, but for all intents and purposes, this is the final chapter. I might do an epilogue someday, though. I hope you enjoy. Thank you so much for reading!

"This is not what I expected." Her voice was flat, all but void of the anger she'd been so demonstrative of moments ago.

"Well, take all the time you need to decide, dearie. In the meantime I'll be auditing your father's estate." At that her eyes did flash.

"Don't you dare push me on this, . I'll give you an answer when I'm ready."

"Of course" He gave her a slight nod, not completely hiding a smirk at the edge of his mouth. "Have a pleasant afternoon, Miss French." He went through the door, closing it softly behind him. The temptation to wait for her to come running after him was there, but he dismissed it. He would have his answer soon enough, one way or another.

Gold sat in a chair in the front room of his shop, a glass of scotch clutched in his hand, aerating. He'd contemplated between going home for the evening, or waiting here under the slight possibility that Belle might come to give him an answer tonight.

The thought that he might be showing her how anxious he was about that told him that he should go on as though he didn't care what she decided. The other thought, though - the one that told him if he went home he wouldn't sleep – that thought made him wonder why should he do that just to show her he didn't care?

He squeezed his eyes shut, pressing the slightly cool glass against his forehead. Fuck, he could use another drink. He tilted his head back, draining the remainder of his cup, and pushed himself up from the chair. He limped slightly to the back room, where he'd left the decanter. He should just bring the whole thing back with him. In all likelihood, it was going to be a long night just between the two of them.

Just as he was about to settle back into his chair, there was a knock at the door. He set the glass on the counter, and walked over to the door, but not too quickly. Not like he was waiting.

On the other side, of course, was Belle.

"Hello, Miss French. Please, do come in." He stepped back, allowing her room to enter.

"Mr. Gold" she nodded to him as she passed, and he pressed the door closed behind her. He made his way back to the counter, lifting the decanter of scotch.

"Would you care for a drink?"

She eyed the bottle warily, but then gave a nod.

"Yes, please."

Gold refilled the glass he'd drained earlier, and handed it to her, watching as she pressed her lips against the rim that had so recently been between his own.

"Well" she took a deep breath "We have a few things to talk about." Gold cleared his throat.

"Indeed. Why don't you step back into my office?" He held out a hand, gesturing to the back room. Belle, however, shook her head.

"I can say what I need to say right here." she nodded her head to his previous seat by the counter. "Why don't you sit down?"

He complied, expectant but slightly curious as well. What exactly was it she wanted to say that he needed to be sitting down? Was she going to turn down his offer, or try to negotiate another? He cleared those thoughts away. She was here now, and that was enough.

She stepped in front of him, and to his shock, knelt down - placing a hand on the top of either thigh. His legs inadvertently jerked, and he sat up straight.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"Giving you my answer." she looked up at him earnestly, and began stroking her hands slowly up and down his legs.

"Miss French, I was very careful with that contract, and I don't recall this being mentioned." He wanted to kick himself - what was he doing, trying to get her to stop what thus far he'd only dreamed about?

"True" she bit her lip, her thumbs moving in circles now and climbing higher up his thighs. "You said you wanted to marry me. But isn't that just a formality? Isn't this what you actually want?" Her thumb brushed over his half hard cock as she gave him a calculating look. He let out a hiss of breath.

"I want you with me. Forever." he growled. Some of the shrewdness left her eyes at that, and she half smiled.

"Forever is an awfully long time."

His hands, which had been clenched around the arms of the chair, shot out and buried themselves in her hair, pulling them together for a kiss. Surprised, she paused in her ministrations, and after a moment she began to return it. When he finally pulled away, she took hold of his wrists, placing his hands back on the chair, and he reluctantly left them there.

"In that case, I have a few questions I want to ask you - if you'll allow it."

He nodded hastily, relaxing back into his seat. She could do anything she wanted at this point. Smiling, she returned her arms to his thighs, leaning forward and licking a long path against the inner seams of his pant legs. He only just managed to hold back a groan. Her hands then reached to his belt, and it put a strain on his will (among other things) to not hasten to help, and leave his hands on the arms of the chair where she'd placed them.

She slowly unfastened his belt, and all Gold could do was watch her, his increasingly ragged breathing one of the louder sounds in the room. Finally she had the belt and button undone, and her hands brushed against the bulge in his pants as she drew the zipper down.

"Belle..." this time he was unable to hold the sound in.

"Now, now, Mr. Gold - I'll be asking the questions here."

"I'm not certain calling your name out in pleasure would qualify as a question." He was surprised he managed to be so articulate, breathless as the statement was. She gave him another half smile, and returned her attentions to his lower half, cupping him through the boxers. He thrust up into her palm, pressing his head back against the chair.

"Regardless, there are things I'd like to know, and I'd appreciate it if you kept the interruptions to a minimum." She looked up at him, and raised an eyebrow when all he did was give her an incredulous stare. Hands at the edge of his boxers, she paused.

"Well?"

"Dearie" he swallowed "by all means continue with your line of questioning."

She nodded, and pulled down the boxers, moving the cloth out of way of his now free manhood. Gold took a deep breath, thankful that he'd drawn the blinds earlier.

"Tell me, Mr. Gold - why do you want to marry me?"

Gold blinked, looking down at her, beautiful hair spilling over her shoulders, perfect mouth only inches away from his throbbing cock, and she wanted him to tell her why he wanted her to marry him?

"I mean..." she trailed one fingertip up the edge of his shaft, brushing the head lightly, and he clenched his teeth "If this is what you wanted you could have asked for it."

Damn, but how did that woman expect him to form answers if this was how the interrogation was to progress?

"You're smart, beautiful - who wouldn't want to marry you?"

She shook her head, leaning back on her heels, and he ached for her nearness.

"No one would normally go to these lengths to secure a marriage proposal."

"I'm not normal."

"I know. And you like to play things close to your chest. But I think I deserve honesty from you, at least this once."

Fuck it, Gold thought. She'd already seen him at his worst.

"I used to watch you walk to work. Always. Weeks before the day our paths crossed. You were kind, and open - I thought if I could hold myself back from my baser instincts for anyone, it would be you. I thought you could save me from myself." he gave a huff of laughter "I was wrong"

"What instincts?"

"I like to keep things, Belle." he stared down at her "I like to own them. Things, and people - I want to know what's mine is mine. You were so beautiful, so clever; I thought, for you, I would try to keep that in check. But obviously, I'm beyond redemption."

Belle leaned forward, suddenly taking his cock in her mouth, swirling her tongue around him as she bobbed her head. The sudden fullness of sensation, when moments ago there had been a complete lack had him moaning, his hands suddenly buried in her hair again. She licked at him a few moments longer, her hands clutched around the waistline of his pants the same way his were in her hair. She drew back again.

"You want to control your instincts with me?" Confused, Gold gave a mute nod. "Then keep your hands on the chair." Once again she moved his hands to the arms of chair, and again he could only nod. "Tell me, Gold - if I don't agree to the terms of your contract, what will you do next? You've already taken everything away from me that you can."

"You have friends." Gold sighed "I own most of the town, and I think you'd be especially adverse to seeing Granny's diner go under, or Dr. Hopper lose his business." Belle looked at him incredulously.

"You'd shut down businesses in Storybrook to blackmail me? I hardly think that would be a financially sound strategy for you."

"Darling, I would turn this place into a ghost town to get to you."

Once again, she returned her warm mouth to his cock, rewarding his frank answer with her own exquisite form of questioning. If leading an honest life was usually this rewarding, Gold would have turned his around years ago. His knuckles turned white as he clutched at the arms of the chair he was seated in.

"And if I left?"

"I'd follow you." he answered quickly. "No matter where you went, I'd ruin you - and anyone you associated with, until you agree to be mine."

"Such influence." she murmured "and control over others - yet who is as who's mercy I wonder?"

Once again she ducked her head, and he howled. Moving one her hands to his shaft she stroked him as her mouth gave the rest of her attention to the tip. He was going to finish, he knew it, like a thirteen year old boy he was going to come after only a few strokes of her hand.

"Belle" she looked up "I'm...going to come." he panted. She sat up, continuing to stroke him, but looking directly into his eyes. His orgasm washed over him, and he threw his head back, but didn't want to break their eye contact. His semen came out onto his pants, staining, but he hardly cared. Belle was at his knees, taming him, just as he'd hoped she would do. He'd just not imagined it to be in this way, more's the pity.

"Maybe I was wrong about you, Gold - perhaps you are a beast." she gave one last squeeze to his softening cock, and he whimpered "But you're my beast."

"Then you're my beauty... my Belle."

"Touch me then, my beast."

Gold instantly complied, releasing his now cramped hands from the arms of the chair, and wrapped them around Belle, pulling her into his lap and kissing her like she was the damsel and he the dragon with his meal. After he was convinced there wasn't a spot in her mouth he hadn't tasted, he leaned back into the chair.

"So is that a yes, then?"

"Yes." she gave a soft laugh "But I would appreciate it if we could at least appear to have a somewhat normal courtship publicly."

"Normal? You think anyone would believe you'd have me after what I've done to you?" He only half believed it himself, even with the warmth of Belle currently occupying his lap.

"You underestimate you're own subterfuge" she scowled "Even if I knew you were behind it, that doesn't mean the general public does. I don't want people to be looking at me with pity."

Gold sighed "Sweetheart, even if you'd agreed to marry me without... encouragement" he smirked "They would still look at you with pity because you're marrying this." he gave an all encompassing gesture to his form.

"Don't you dare put yourself down. If you didn't try so hard to scare everyone away, you'd have women falling all over themselves for you."

"Oh?" He smiled indulgently, his hand resting comfortably at her waist.

"Of course! You're handsome, wealthy, and smart - it's the trifecta of eligibility." she frowned at him as though he were not as smart as she'd originally thought if he hadn't realized this.

"You don't say? Perhaps I was a little too quick to draw up that contract."

"Oh!" Annoyed, she elbowed him in the ribs, causing him to grunt, and scrambled off his lap. He hastily tucked himself away and refastened his pants before standing.

"I should go." Belle stood between him and the door, leaning indecisively between one foot at the other.

"Stay." he wracked his now numb brain for a reason "for tea." Tea, yeah - that was a good one.

"Ok." she agreed readily and Gold went into the back room the start the kettle. He stepped back out to find Belle standing behind the counter just outside the back room.

"It will be a few minutes." he apologized.

"That's fine." she stated, her voice clipped as she looked away. He studied her for a few moments, certain her anger wasn't only over his teasing remark earlier. The flush of her skin and the sudden refusal to meet his gaze told him what he needed to know.

Of course. What a bad beast he'd been. He'd been satisfied but his beauty was still here, burning in front of him.

The thought of having her now, in his shop, was immensely appealing. And this time she would be at his mercy. Gold smiled.

"You know, you're not the only one with questions, my dear."

At that she did turn to look up at him. "What do you mean?"

Gold wrapped an arm around Belle's waist, pulling her to him. He leaned forward and ran his tongue over the edge of her ear, hearing her gasp. He then whispered to her.

"Well, to start with - why is it you want to marry me?"

She brought her hands between them, pressing him away slightly. She was scowling. "I think you outlined all my reasons fairly well in the contract you brought me today."

Gold sighed and pulled away from her in a resemblance of her response to his own answer to the same question earlier.

"Oh no, you can't use my own technique on me."

"And why ever not?" he shrugged.

"Because you're a man and I'm a woman and those mind tricks don't work on us." she stated with a factual tone. Gold smirked.

"Of course not." he agreed "but I imagine when you go home, you'll think about how you had the most feared man in town at your mercy earlier. How hard you made him and how much he wanted you. I imagine you'll take your fingers and put them inside yourself, trying to replicate the feeling of having me inside you." she breathing was hard, and Gold continued "but you don't have to imagine it, Belle. I'm right here, and I want to. In exchange I only think it would be courteous to give me answers to questions as well. After all, I only want to know you better." He raised an eyebrow, awaiting her response.

"...ok." Belle agreed. Doubtlessly she thought she didn't have anything to hide.

We shall see.

Leaning on his good ankle, Gold rather unceremoniously lifted Belle, settling her on the counter. She gasped, her surprise causing her to clutch at him.

"Where were we?" He traced a finger along her neck, and Belle closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation with a certain unfettered look. "Oh yes - Why do you want to marry me?"

Biting her lip with a mischievous smile, she replied.

"Well, you told me that if I married you, you'd restore the library completely as well as my father's business - not to mention the financial perks of being your wife."

Without warning, Gold leaned down suddenly, biting down on the crook of Belle's neck. She gasped, arching against him.

"G-Gold!"

"Let's dispense with the formalities, darling. We're to be wed. Call me Ewan."

"Oh... ok."

He paused, bent over her, waiting. When she didn't speak further he licked over the bite mark he'd left.

"Say it."

"Ewan." she sighed, leaning back.

"That name is for you, only." he pushed her skirt up to her knees. "I am for you, only." He pressed himself against her fully, and she gasped to feel his hardness against her.

"Ewan..." she leaned back, letting his arm support her.

"I don't think you're a shallow person, Belle. I don't think even my threats or the temptation of wealth would make you tie yourself to me if you were set against it. So tell me why you want me." he looked into her eyes, at the vulnerability in them "Please"

She swallowed. "The truth is even before we met I knew who you were" she glanced away, "I mean of course everyone knew who you were, but I was more curious about you instead of a afraid. I'd always hoped to have a reason to speak to you, but you didn't own my apartment and..." she looked back "Well, then one day you spoke to me. And I thought you were clever and interesting and when you..." she swallowed "came to see me at the library, I knew it was more."

He began to kiss down the side of her neck, and moved his hands down to take off the tights she wore under her skirt. She reached her arms around to clutch herself to him, and continued to speak.

"Even after you got angry with me, I thought 'I can handle this. If this is him at his worse I can handle it, because I understand why he's doing it.' I thought your problems matched my problems perfectly." He looked up and she was staring into his eyes, pleadingly.

"And what are your problems, Belle?" he asked in a whisper, as he dropped her tights and underwear to the floor.

"I'm afraid." she whispered "I'm afraid all the time, that I'll do or say the wrong thing, that I'll make the wrong decisions, that I'll end up alone or with the wrong person because of it. But I feel safe with you." She clutched him to her "Because you're so inescapable. It's like fate."

"Fate." he repeated, his voice rough.

"Yes. Please tell me you'll never let go of me." she whispered.

"Belle." he allowed some amusement to color his voice "Now that I have you I'm never letting you go." freeing himself from his pants once again he slid into her, and Belle wrapped her legs tightly around his waist.

"Yes." she gasped, clasping him so tightly that it almost felt that they would indeed become one. "Yes, please."

She began to move her hips to his rhythm, then urged him with her legs and body to move faster, and Gold threw finesse out the window. They both began chasing their mutual climax, eyes locked. Occasionally he would brush his lips over hers, but shortness of breath caused them to keep their kisses brief. After several minutes Gold could feel once again that he would come soon. He moved a hand to where they were joined, this time wanting Belle to come with him. She gave a wordless cry, and Gold could feel her fall apart in his arms at the same time that he did.

They stood there in the silence that was only broken by their panting, and the gurgle of the teapot that was now boiling in the next room. Gold didn't know how his life had gone from chaos to perfection in the span of a single hour, but somehow it seemed impossible that things had ever been any different than they were in that moment.

"Sweetheart" he whispered.

"Yes?" she responded in a breathless voice.

"The tea is ready."

She looked at him through half lidded eyes, and chuckled, pressing her forehead to his.

"Well, you'd better go get it. That's the only reason I stayed after all."

"As you wish." He placed a brief kiss to her forehead, and pushed himself away, restoring their clothes to a certain respectability before retreating to the back.

As he prepared their drinks in the back room his thoughts drifted to the last time he'd married. His bride and his circumstances had both been vastly different from now. Or were they? He paused in his preparations. He'd convinced Milah to marry him for the sake of their unborn child. She'd never loved him, but he'd wanted a family. He was the type of person who used the situation to get what he wanted, no matter the cost.

Just as before.

Belle, however, loved him...

He paused, correcting his thoughts. She'd never said that much. However, she did want him, and that was enough.

For now.

Gold finished placing the cups and teapot on the tray, even adding biscuits for good measure. They had worked up an appetite, after all.

Love. It wasn't something he could force or deal for, and therefore always felt it was out of his reach - but, perhaps, it was finally within it. For the first time in his life he had someone who might be willing to give him the one thing he couldn't buy.

Another feeling blossomed inside him now.

Hope.

Hope for a future with Belle.

Laden with a tea tray and a smile, Gold stepped through the curtain to meet that future.

For the first time.