Chapter four, my readers! I would've posted sooner, but my wifi was being sucky. The company that handles our wifi is terrible. I honestly think a thousand monkeys with typewriters would be more competent.

Hehe, sorry about the complaining. Oh! Once again, thank you for the lovely reviews! They really make my day.

Disclaimer: I don't own OUaT.

Now, roll film!

..

Regina glared at the wall of the dining room, clearly impatient. Rumple was late. She sighed, frustrated.

"My, my," Rumple giggled, appearing on the opposite side of the table and making her jump. "Aren't we impatient?"

"You're late," the queen said, flatly.

"I had a thing," Rumple explained, seemingly thinking that would make everything clear. "So!" he continued, getting up and walking around the room. "What can I do you for?"

"It's…about my daughter," Regina sighed.

"Oh, yes!" the Dark One exclaimed. "How is little Alena?"

"She's fine," Regina answered. "But I didn't summon you here to give her an update." Rumple sat down on the table, ignoring her glare.

"Why did you summon me here?" he asked.

"I need you to answer one question," she replied. "And I want the truth."

"You have my word," Rumple said. "What do you want to know?"

"Where did you find her?" Regina asked. Rumple hesitated, then sighed.

"She was given to me by a queen," he answered. "Her husband had gone dangerously insane, and she didn't think her child would be safe around him." He watched Regina, carefully. It seemed that this was the answer she didn't want to hear.

"It was Queen Belle, wasn't it?" she sighed. "And the father is Gaston the Mad." Rumple nodded, then tilted his head curiously.

"Why do you ask?" he questioned. In response, Regina put a scroll on the table. Rumple scanned the paper, his eyes narrowing. It said that Gaston was looking for the child, and Belle. He looked up at Regina, his eyes stern. "You can't give Alena to him."

"I don't intend to!" she snapped. "He's insane! He'll probably make a worse parent than…well, you know." Rumple nodded, and Regina was a bit relieved. Rumple didn't like it when she mentioned her mother.

"He's incapable of love," the Dark One said. "He only married Queen Belle for political reasons."

"I know," Regina sighed. "But this kingdom is not ready for a war. Especially with my forces spread so thin, fighting Pinocchio's band of rebels." Rumple was a bit stunned. Regina rarely looked so helpless. "Gaston isn't going to stop until he finds Alena, and the ones who took her." Then, Rumple got an idea. He smiled.

"Why assume he's going to find Alena, alive?" he said. Regina stared at him, confused. "I mean, if he were to discover that his 'beloved' daughter had died at the hands of Pinocchio's rebels, he might destroy them for you…or the other way around."

Regina smirked.

….

In the 'kitchen' of the Dark One's castle, Belle was almost finished the new mixture of dog food that Rumpelstiltskin had her working on. Bae, the Dark One's hellhound, waited eagerly as she stirred the pot. When the former queen was done, she poured the food into a large bowl. The hellhound eagerly began to eat.

"There you go, girl," Belle said, smiling. She had to admit, the large dog was growing on her. She didn't see why everyone was so scared of hellhounds. Probably because she was one of the few people that Bae actually liked, and because Bae couldn't kill her if she tried. Maleficent had made sure of that.

"I'm home!" Rumple shouted, suddenly appearing in the room. Belle jumped, then glared at him, while Bae barked and nearly tackled him. He smiled, and scratched his pet behind the ear.

"Was it necessary to scare me have to death?" Belle demanded. The Dark One nodded, happily. Belle rolled her eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me!" Rumple said, in a very over-the-top offended voice. Belle rolled her eyes, again. She had been doing that a lot, lately. That was the worst part of being Rumpelstiltskin's maid. His juvenile behavior. Though, she supposed it was a small price to pay for his protection from that maniac, Gaston.

"When are you gonna let me go out?" she asked. "You know, see the towns and such?"

"When Gaston is dead," he replied, watching Bae go back to eating. "After all, good help is so hard to find these days!"

"He can't kill me," she said. "No one can, anymore." Her voice held a hint of sorrow. Once again, she wished she could curse Maleficent, just as the dark fairy had cursed her.

"Well," Rumple responded. "Immortality doesn't protect you from torture." Belle sighed. "Besides," he continued. "It's so boring out there! In here, you're surrounded by magical items unlike anything you've ever seen!"

"But what about the magic out there?" she said. "In the trees, and the water, and the air?" Rumple thought, for a moment.

"You like books, right?" he asked, suddenly. Belle nodded, somewhat surprised by this seemingly random question. "How would you feel about a…'book room'?"

For the first time in a long time, Belle smiled.

Rumbelle! Surprise! I originally was going to deprive you all of Rumbelle, because I'm a cruel person who revels in the suffering of others. But, I decided to be nice. :D

Also, Regina's daughter's name. I chose it because of her family's penchant for meaningful names, of Hispanic origin. 'Alena' means 'light'. I thought it was somewhat appropriate, her being Regina's 'light', and all.

And Pinocchio is a rebel leader. How's that for adaptional character awesomeness?

Please leave a review! :3