Warning: Will eventually contain mature material. Language. Lemons. Some spicy limes. Maybe full-blown things. ~_^

~A.N. - Sorreh about the delay. I had a friend over for a few days and then I was running a fever yesterday. It's pretty much gone, so now I'm back to writing, HAHA!~

A Salvation Called Love

-Chapter 21-

-His Letter-

[Annabelle – The Next Morning]

As soon as I woke up I stretched with a groan, enjoying the feeling of my sore muscles. Last night had been absolutely amazing. I smiled as I remembered how he touched my body, how he'd consumed me. I rolled over slowly and reached out to wrap my arms around Dominic. My hands hit a cold pillow and I instantly sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Dominic?" He wasn't beside me. I looked around the room and frowned. This… this wasn't my room back at the house. "Dominic?"

I slowly scooted out of my bed. I finally realized that this was my dorm room. I was back in Florida. I silently cursed Dominic. I stood up and looked around for my phone. I was going to call that bloody bastard and chew him out, the least he could have done was say goodbye. Not just dump at my college. As I turned back to the bed I spied my phone sitting on the little nightstand beside the bed. When I went to reach for it my hand brushed the envelope and journal that were propped beside it. I frowned and picked both of them up instead of my phone. The envelope had my name written on it in Dominic's handwriting. I slowly sat back down on my bed and slowly turned it over, pulling the flap out from inside. As I pulled the letter out the smell of Dominic's cologne wafted up to me and I closed my eyes, breathing deeply of it. My pulse sped up as I felt my nipples harden. A tightening deep inside me had me squeezing my thighs together to try and relieve it. The smell of him reminded me of what we had done last night. I slowly unfolded the soft parchment and stared down at his beautiful handwriting.

Dear Annabelle,

This is my farewell letter, dear-heart. I know I'm a bastard of a man. I know I'm a hard man to love. But since you've come into my life, even if it had been a plan to destroy me on Regina's part, I'm grateful for the time we've had. I think that now is as good as any to let you go, before I end up hurting you like I know I'm bound to do. I want you to go back to school, finish your senior year and graduate. Walk firmly forward so that when you look back on your life you can smile with pride at having done your best. I believe that I will only hold you back. It will be my joy as a man who finally learned to re-love to watch you become the woman I know you're capable of being. And when you're performing on stage know that I'll be secretly cheering you on. You are so beautiful, like an everlasting red rose. You are my beauty and I am your beast.

Remember the time I said I wasn't a man? I want you to know the truth about me. I want you to think about the truth while you're away. I want you to be able to completely make you decision regarding us knowing everything. For the most part I have changed but I will forever have darkness staining my soul. I am not a man anymore, but something darker. I'm the Dark One. Way before you were born, or reincarnated, I went by the name of Rumplestiltskin. I made shady deals with people, took their most precious things. Magic has a heavy price; I learned that over and over through the hundreds of years I've been the Dark One. You're probably wondering who this Dark One is… who this Rumplestiltskin is that I'm talking about in reference to myself… and to help I've translated my journal, the same journal you tried to read a while back. I hope it will bring light to all that I am. To all that I've done. The horrible beast that I am. I do not deserve your love so I have set you free. Your debt is paid. I hope to never see that beautiful smile again because if I do it might just be the end of me. I might not ever be able to let you go. So, after I send you off, hate me as you will or chose to love me as you will but know I will watch out for you from the shadows. Sort of like a dark guardian.

When you're done reading this letter, dear-heart, please read the journal. Don't rush. Take your time. Make it last the year. I want you to fully understand the thing that I am. Believe, don't believe. I can't make that decision for you. I can only hope you'll understand and make the right choice.

With all my love: Rumplestiltskin

I stared down at his letter for a few minutes after reading it. I could feel tears staining my cheeks but I didn't care. He was such a bastard! Why couldn't he just tell me goodbye himself? I gave a small scream and dumped the letter and journal down on the bed. I reached for my phone and searched for his number. I was going to call him and chew him the hell out. The only problem with that plan was it wasn't in my phone anymore. I frowned and then picked his letter up again. There'd been something else written at the bottom.

P.S. – I know you'll be angry, but my number is no longer in your phone. If I heard your beautiful voice my heart would break. I can't… no, I won't hear you or allow you to see me. Not until after you graduate. It's part of the deal. Bye, dear-heart.

I gently laid the letter down on my legs and stared out into the room. Why? Why couldn't we talk and see each other? I moved his letter from my lap to the nightstand where it had been, still open so that I could see his beautiful handwriting. I then turned and slowly picked up the journal that he'd left for me. The cover was pure leather and engraved on it in gold lettering was Dominic's real name, Rumplestiltskin. I closed my eyes and traced my fingers over the name, memorizing the feel of the curves and lines. "Dominic."

A knock on my door startled me and I stood up, dropping Dominic's journal on the floor. "ANNABELLE! I know you're in there!"

I gave a small sigh and leaned down to pick up the journal. I cradled it against my chest as I walked over to the door to answer. The sun was bright as I cracked it open and squinted as I stared almost eyeball to eyeball with Eva and Larissa. "Yo."

Larissa shoved my door open and her and Eva barged in. "Is that all you're gonna say to us? Yo?"

I rolled my eyes and closed the door behind them. I could now hear all the students running around outside getting their dorms in order. "Are you guys already moved in?"

Larissa plopped down on my bed with a little bounce and looked around. "Not as moved in as you seem. When the hell did you get in?"

I shrugged. "This morning it seems."

Eva arched a brow at me. "This morning it seems? You don't know when you moved in?" She laughed and went to plop down beside Larissa. "Girl, you've lost your mind."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

"Such a bitch as always, Anna! HAHA!" Both of them laughed and high-fived.

"Whatever." I laughed and pulled up one of my chairs. "If anyone's a bitch, Larissa, it's you."

Larissa grinned and gave a small shrug. "Whatever do you mean, Anna?"

Eva snorted and we both rolled our eyes at each other. "Did you finish registering then, seeing that you're already moved in?"

"Yah, I am. I've been registered for a little while now."

Eva grinned and started looking around my room. "Nice." Her attention stopped when she saw the letter still open on the nightstand. She reached out to grab it. "Ohhh? What's this, Anna? A love letter from your mysterious lover?"

I shoved my chair back quickly and grabbed it from her hands, holding it tightly against my chest. "Don't." I backed away from both of them until my backside hit my desk. I slowly slid up to sit on top of it and just stared at them. "Don't touch."

Eva raised her hands in a sign of surrender. "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to pry."

I gave a small sigh. "It's ok I guess. I'm just kinda… touchy this morning."

Eva gave me a smile. "I can understand that, Anna. Must be that time of the month, huh?"

I blushed a little. If they only knew the whole story. It wouldn't kill me to lie a little to them. "Yah, that's it. It's that time." I grinned and pointed a finger at both of them. "And if you're not careful I might bite your head off!"

Eva laughed and Larissa grabbed one of my pillows, chucking it at me. "You'll have to catch me first, you crazy wench!" I rolled off the desk and dodged it.

We all ended up laughing until we were crying. They left after a little while to finish unpacking and I was left by myself again. The happiness I'd momentarily had while Eva and Larissa were here faded quickly. I couldn't laugh anymore. I locked my door, turned off my lights and then walked back over to the bed. I didn't have to go through registration today since Dominic had already done it for me, so I had no reason to leave my room. I curled up into a small ball and hugged his letter to my chest. With my free hand I slowly cracked open the leather journal, the smell of hand pressed, perfumed paper made me smile. He never went cheap, did he? My smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared as I focused on reading the first entry that was written.

I am no man. I am but a coward. The Ogre Wars have started and every village has had to supply their sons and all able-bodied men to the cause. I'm to be one of them. I'm scared. Everything I'm leaving behind is precious to me, far more than fighting in this war. My wife and my home. My soon-to-be-born child. I knew I was too much of a coward to fight but they said they would slaughter the entire village if we didn't come. Today we are heading out to the front lines. I've never seen an Ogre but the stories I've heard made them out as monsters bigger than any man. I didn't want to fight. I didn't know how to fight. I guess if I don't survive then who ever finds this can give it to my wife and child I've been forced to leave behind. Her name is Anice and she is beautiful. She has long black hair and fiery green eyes like none you've seen before. Truth be told I'm not sure how a wool spinner such as myself gained her hand, but the gods must have blessed me with that at least. Not courage. And our son's name will be Baelfire. Yes, I'm sure it's to be a son. I hope I will be able to make my son proud. Maybe I won't be such a coward in this war. Only tomorrow will tell. Only tomorrow.

-Rumplestiltskin-

I fought against the tears that were threatening to run again and I slowly closed the journal. I couldn't see him as a cowardly man. He was too proud and too strong, but every man changes as they grow. So, maybe it was true. Maybe he had been a coward. I could tell he was different now. I gave a small sigh and tucked the journal in against my chest along with his letter. I snuggled into my pillow and allowed sleep to cloak me. My last thoughts were of how much I really loved Dominic, even if he wanted to push me away. "Dominic." I savored his name whispered from my lips before darkness took me completely.