Chapter 7

Locking himself in his labratory Rumple paced back and forth across the room with his hands rubbing at his temples. He stomped over to the cabinet of potions, he knew how to make the curse, but it wasn't done yet. It needed a few safety precautions. He had stalled the queen all he could. finding Bae had been his reason for getting the evil queen the curse, he didn't care one way or the other for the royals and thier little family spats, treacherous little inbreeders, the lot of them, he thought. But getting to the world his only son had gone to was enough to take the queen up on her offer, of course he had a few conditions of his own. His memory would stay intact as well as his insight on magic and of couse he wasn't sure how well magic worked in this new world. He needed to take some with him when the time came, he could use it to get him and bae back. True love should do it. If Reginia's curse took it away in this world they would be going to, then true love would end it. He took out the vile and swirled it around. He opened it and put alittle on his finger and pressed it to the parchment that the cuse was written on."There" he thought,"just in case, I'm comming Bae" he whispered, "just hang on"

Belle

As Belle ran out of the room, she shut the doors and leaned against them, putting her hand to her heart, trying to catch her breath. "who was that?, oh gods he was going to be mad when he found out". she closed her eyes and steaded her breath " I've got to tell him" she decided.

Soon darkness fell as Belle kept busy cleaning and preparing a meal. She had heard no sign of Rumplestiltskin all day since his exit out of the great hall that morning and she was terrified to go back in there without him. That woman might just come out of the mirror. So she took the tray and went to the west wing. She started up the massive winding staircase. Rumple had told her that she could stay in his room but had not gave her his permission for anything else. Belle recalled the last encounter when she went looking for him, she blushed as she thought about what it had lead too. So she carried the tray in thier room. She waited for a while for him to return but eventually ate her meal as it was beginning to get cold. She curled up in the large chair by the fireplace after dressing in her night gown, if that is what she could call it. and found a blanket to wrap up in. Soon her eyelids grew heavy .

she jumped when her master opened the door. she smiled at him , but Rumple looked grim and worn out as he entered the room and walked over by her and took the chair opposite hers. she poured him some tea and sat back in her chair with her legs up under her and looked him. He just stared at the fire. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while and Belle could feel her lids grow heavy once more. then he spoke. His voice commanded all her attention...

"Before I became the dark one, I was just a man.'he began."the queen's army recreuited all men over the age of 13 to fight in the ogre wars. I had a family then, a wife and a son." "Baefire, he was just 11 when I left." his eyes took on a distant look as if he was watching his life play out before him, Belle listened.

"entire villages were wiped out.I was the only man who survived in my village. When the ogres came for us, I hid.I watched as they tore the men to pieces." rumple never took his eyes off the fire. "I just wanted to get back to my son. We never stood a chance against those monsters. I WAS A COWARD BELLE. I hid, I watched those men die and I did nothing. that night i slipped off and made my way back home, a deserter.I had been gone for 2 years." Belle leaned in to hear him." Bae was 13 now and I needed to get to him before the queen's troops did. I knew i possesed no power to stop them from taking my son except running, so that's what I planned to do. when I returned home, the army was there. they had killled my wife and was preparing to take my Bae with them"Rumplestiltskin's eyes swam with tears that threatened to overflow at the memory of the night he became the dark one. Belle got up from her chair and kneeled beside him, she put her hand on his knee and layed her head on his shoulder. As his tale of killing the dark one and taking on his power continued. Belle's eyes filled with tears that ran down her face unchecked as he told her about how Bae had been lost trying to save rumple from the evil twisted thing the dark power had turned him into."Your not a monster rumplestiltskin" Belle whispered.

" I now have a chance to find him Belle, the evil queen is taking everyone there. I may yet find my son." " EVERYONE?" Belle gasped. " Can't you stop her?" "STOP HER? " Rumple growled, "I'm going to HELP HER." "no" Belle whispered. " I'VE GOT TO GET BAE BACK, BELLE.I will stop at nothing, this WILL work. then we will return home." rumplestiltskin stood and began pacing again, in frount of the fireplace.

" belle, you were not part of the plan I had." He stopped and faced her. "I know what to do, a small alteration" he said. " she will agree I'm sure. you can come with me, everyone will forget who they are but the queen and me." Belle looked at him horrified. she stood up and walked over to rumple and put her hand on his arm. "Please,Don't do this, Don't let her do this to us, There is no guarantee you will ever find your son there." "I WILL find him Belle, and I'll save him and I can protect you from her" rumple said as he drew her close.

Tears fell from Belle's eyes as she layed her head against his dragon scaled jacket. her head spun with his words and she would have fallen to the floor if he hadn't scooped her up and gently layed her on the bed. " don't worry love, i will take care of you"rumple breathed in her ear. He got up to leave and as he did, a small hand reached out and grapped his own."Please, don't leave" she whispered.

Rumple sighed as he looked down at his lovely Belle, "Never" he said as he took off his jacket and boots, then he climbed in the bed next to her and pulled her close. Belle encircled his neck with her arms as he buried his face in her hair trailing hot kisses down her neck, making her shiver. "never.'