Chapter Two

Belle spent the rest of the day at the library sorting books, trying to keep herself busy, when she suddenly started feeling claustrophobic. She needed to get out. She decided to take a walk to the water front. It was bitter out but maybe the cold would numb her pain along with her fingers. She found a spot on a bench facing the water and watched the waves roll in.

What was she going to do once Rumple returned from finding his son? He had made the wrong choice.. again. Could she give him another chance? She still loved him but what would that love cost her?

"Are you alright, miss?" A stranger said as he approached Belle, startling her slightly.

"Oh. Yes. Thank you. I'm sorry, you startled me" Belle said embarrassed.

"It's my fault. I didn't mean to scare you... I just saw you sitting here all alone and then I noticed you were crying"

Belle quickly wiped away the tears that had been streaming down her face. She hadn't even noticed she'd been crying. It was only now that she felt the warmth of her tears on her face.

"May I? The stranger said gesturing to the bench.

"Of course" Belle said making room for him.

"I'm Jason" He said extending his hand.

"Belle" She said happy to meet someone new. With all of the enemies Rumple had in town he was never really comfortable with her making new friends.

"So, Belle. I know it's no of my business but I'm happy to listen if you need to talk"

"I don't want to burden you with my problems" Belle said returning her gaze to the water.

"Talking to a beautiful women with a beautiful view? Believe me, it's no burden." A laugh burst from Belle and she was surprised that it felt so strange.

"Guy problems would be my first guess, but then again, who in their right mind would make you cry?"

"You're very preservative. I caught him... with an ex girdled I guess you could say" Belle said feeling ridiculous sharing her private life with a total stranger.

"Ouch. I was in your situation myself once. But the pain does end. Eventually. If that helps any."

"Thank you. That does help because it's pretty hard right now." Belle said with a sad smile.

"Do you have any idea what you're going to do about it?" Jason said taking in the fresh air.

"He's a complicated man. He battles within himself a lot and I guess his darker side won out this time. I'm not sure where this is heading."

"Well, whoever he is, I can say with confident that he is a fool." Jason said sincerely.

"I better get back to the library, it's getting late" Belle said standing from the bench and smoothing out her coat.

"Oh. Are you a student?" Jason asked also standing.

"No, actually I run the library."

"Really? Now I'll know who to talk to if I turn my library books in late. Good luck, Belle" With those parting words Jason gave her a wave and headed away from the water.

Belle felt lighter on her way back to the library. Admitting what had happened to a stranger was a release of sorts. Like she had been holding her breath since that awful day in Rumple's shop. Maybe now, she could pull herself together and deal with this situation. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could take a deep breath.

Belle was sitting in the library reading when the phone at the front desk begin to ring. Belle signed as she felt her comfortable seat by the window to answer the phone.

"Belle?" Ruby said before Belle even had the chance to say hello. She could tell something was wrong.

"Yeah, Ruby. It's me. What's wrong?" Belled asked with concern.

"It's Mr. Gold. They arrived back from finding Mr. Gold's son."

Belle was confused, "They?"

"Mr. Gold, Emma, Henry and Mr. Gold's son."

Belle didn't know which piece of information to process first. Emma and Henry had gone with Rumple to find his son? Why?

"He came back with them?" She was most surprised that Rumple's son had come back to Storybrooke with them.

"Yes. Belle, something has happened. Hook followed Gold to New York and stabbed him with his hook. It was poison and they had to come back to Storybrooke right away so they could find an antidote." Ruby said quickly.

"What?" Belle couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"That's not all. Cora and Regina have his dagger and they are going to his shop to kill him. Everyone is there. It's going to be bad."

"Belle? Belle?" Ruby had thought she had lost the connection.

"I.. I have to go." Belle let the phone drop without putting it back on the receiver and ran out the door to Rumple's shop.

Belle ran all the way to Rumple's shop. Her lungs were aching from exhaustion, when she rounded the corner and ran right into Regina. Belle was startled and took a few steps back.

"What have you done to him!?" Belle yelled.

"Oh. You again. You should know by know to keep out of Gold's business. Soon enough we will have power over the dark one and then nothing you do will be able to bring out the good in him." Regina said giving Belle a cold stare that she was all too familiar with.

"I won't let you do that. I won't let you harm him!" Belle standing her ground in front of Regina.

"I don't have time for this. I have somewhere to be. Goodbye." Regina said as she waved her hand and Belle disappeared. Regina dusted her hands of and hurried to her Mother's vault to check on her heart.

Belle saw a flash of light and a gust of wind. She was then suddenly on a cold cement floor. She made it to her feet but her eyes hadn't yet adjusted to the dark room. She could make out a small window near the ceiling and pulled back the short curtain. When Belle saw where she had been transported she felt sick to her stomach and panic engulfed her. She was in her old cell in the mental ward. She ran to the door and fruitlessly tried to open it. She began banging on the door and screaming out for help like no other time in her life. She couldn't be here again. Not when Cora and Regina where trying to kill Rumple. She had to get out for Rumple and her own sanity.

She pounded on the door until her fists began to bleed. Exhausted she sunk to the floor and her tears began again. She had no idea how much time had passed when she heard the sound of footsteps coming down the hall but it felt like days. She jumped to her feet and began yelling for help again.

A worried looking orderly opened the door and was startled to see her in the cell.

"How did you get in here, Miss?" He asked concerned, "The part of the ward has been empty for sometime."

"Didn't anyone hear me screaming?" Belle said clearly still shaken.

"The patient's room that is above here swore he heard screaming and insisted that we come down here to see what was going on. We all thought he was just imagining but he refused to take his medication until we came down to check things out. I never thought I would find someone. Do you need some help?"

"No. Thank you. I just need to go" Belle said as she ran out of the cell and up the stairs.

When Belle made it back to Rumple's shop it was locked and seemingly empty. She was at a lost of what to do next. They only option she had was to go back to the library and see if anyone had tried going there.

When she entered the library, she saw Jason sitting reading a book near the front door. She was in such a rush when she left she didn't even stop to lock up the library.

"Jason." Belle said surprised as she fully entered the library.

"Hey Belle. I just came by to get a book... and to see how things where going with your situation."

The exhaustion and stress of the day caught up with Belle and in answer to his question she burst into fresh tears. Jason jumped from the table and took her in his arms. She had no idea where Rumple was. If he was alive or hurt. What had happened to everyone at the shop? She relaxed into the hug, grateful to have someone there at the moment.

"Belle"

Belle turned to the sound of name to see Rumple standing near the front door of the library. Rumple looked weakened and tired. He was disheveled, not in his normal formal attire. He was missing his tie, jacket and his shirt was partly unbuttoned. The look on his face seeing her in the arms of another man was even more saddening. She released her hold on Jason.

"Rumple" Belle said evenly.

"Well I really should get going. I'll make sure to bring this back on time", Jason said picking up the book he had ben reading when Belle walked in.

"Good Luck" Jason said giving her shoulder a squeeze of support and walked out the door.

Rumple and Belle stood in silence for a few moments.

"I didn't have the pleasure of meeting your friend" Rumple said remaining stoic.

"That's Jason and he is just that, a friend." Belle said knowing he was jealous. She could see some of the sadness leave his face when she made it clear to him that she had not moved on.

"I'm so glad you're ok." Belle said taking a few steps closer.

"I'm not so easy to get rid of." Rumple said with a cocky smirk.

"I thought I might have lost you." Belle said quietly continuing towards him.

"You will never lose me as long as you want me" He said closing the distance.

They were now face to face. In that moment she realized that she forgave him. She could forgive him almost anything and in many cases she already had. He was her one True Love and no one said that would be easy. Almost losing him had made that clear.

"Belle..." Rumple began but Belle silenced him with a kiss.

No one said True Love was perfect.

The End.