Thanks everyone for the support even after me being a crappy updater. Homework and life make it hard to keep up. I also took a two week holiday last week which was so amazing. However canceled flights, long layovers, and jet lag- not so amazing. Any who here's the next chapter really hope you like it!

Disclaimer: See first chapter

Belle closed eyes laid her weary body upon the familiar comfort of her bed. However nothing was more comforting than Rumples body next to her. Belle tried to move as close as she could to Rumple's without actually touching him, worried he would leave. She was so close she could feel the heat from his body, and she loved it. She let out a small unheard sigh. She couldn't help but reach over a put a hand in his. He froze making her return her hand.

She had dreamed of lying beside, usually on lonely nights when he would leave the castle for a deal. He left her less and less as time went on. She had always hoped it was because of how close they had grown. Perhaps he didn't want to leave her as much as she didn't want him to go away.

The times that he did leave were hard for her. She would clean the great room wishing he was sitting at his spinning wheel. Even when they weren't talking the steady sound of the creaking of the wheel was soothing. She had grown accustom and even fond of his odd humor and quick wit. She saw what was underneath his power and green wrinkly skin. He was so much more than the beast he claimed to be. While everything he did wasn't acceptable and she couldn't condone them she knew he did it for a reason. She saw a sadness but also a determination in him. She wondered what he was searching for.

Belle had always been a curious person. She dug and searched in every mystery she came across. Rumple was no different. Belle tried to get him to open up, but he kept his armor on. She had come so close to knowing more about him when she returned from town. He was telling her about her son. She saw the sadness riddled within the depths of his dark eyes. She wished she could soothe him show him that he was loved; it was the reason she leaned forward, closing the small distance between them. Her soft lips pressed against his willing her love into him. It had worked, but had dreadful consequences. She had been ripped away from him.

Belle shifted between the sheets until she stilled comfortably. Her breathing got slower and steadier, breathing with a slightly opened mouth. Rumple stared down with her with a small smile. She was beautiful. He indulged himself and slowly reached a green sparkly hand down to her cheek and stroked it careful not to wake her. He moved his hand to her auburn curls stoking the smooth hair. He saw her stop breathing for a second and he was about to panic before her saw her chest rise and fall again. He let out a relieved breath. However he removed his hand letting it rest on top of his lap. He stayed for a good hour before he reluctantly left her room to go down to the Dark Castle's dungeon.

oOo

As soon as she felt his weight lift from the bed she stopped feigning sleep. She sat up looking at the now empty spot where he had sat with a dreamy look on her face. She remembered his hands in her hair, she thought he had caught her when his hands stilled. She willed herself to breathe again. She was disappointed when his hands left her but she was content with him just staying with her. Besides deep down she knew she shouldn't get close to him just to leave; she had to warn her father. Even if she didn't have to save her land from Regina's inevitable darkness, she couldn't stay with Rumple. He would eventually find out that she had lied to him and had been there to break his heart, and then he would hate her. He couldn't forgive her for working for Regina. He had accused her of the very thing when he first kicked her out and know she actually was. She groaned. Her life was so messed up right now and she didn't know how to fix it. She was worried. Regina was going to find out and hurt her father like she threatened, and Rumple would find out and loathe her for betraying him. Both were too painful to think about; she couldn't live with herself if either happened. She knew she had to fix everything; find a way for to save her father and Rumple. It didn't matter what happened to her, no one can save her now. Regina made sure of that.

Thinking of what Regina had done to her, she could feel the effects of the poison. Whatever Rumple had given to her was wearing off. She was getting light headed her fever most likely returning. Her body was beginning to ache, the poison corrupting her organs. She knew what she had to do, so she climbed out of bed with as much grace as her weakening body could.
Belle lit a candle and opened the door of her room, slowly. Her feet padded along the castle floors as she made her way across the castle. There was no sight of Rumple which she was glad for. She couldn't let him catch her. Belle was almost there when she heard a familiar loud sound: the doors of the dungeon cells closing. She had totally forgot about the two guards who had tried to take her away. They were presumably in the dungeon awaiting some dark fate, she wondered what Rumple had planned. However she couldn't think of it at the moment and made her way up the nearly endless stairs to the tower, to where Rumple made all the potions and kept his books on magic. Rumple had warned Belle not to ever go in there except when he was with her, but she was desperate.

She opened the door and looked inside. The room always amazed her. Bottle and tubes of mysterious substance were all over the room along with powders and pestles with mortars. She had seen him make a few potions and it always awed her to see the level of concentration and skill he had. His face would be focused and his hands steady as he measure and mixed.

Scrolls were covered the table but they weren't what she needed. Her eyes scoured the shelves and cupboards for what she was looking for, moving her candle along to see. A green vial sat on one of the highest shelves, she could only see it when standing on her tip toes. It looked exactly like what Regina had given her. It was just what she need. An excited smile would've graced her face if she wasn't in the pain that she was. She set down her candle.

With her hands stretched as far as she could she tried inching the potion closer to the edge. Her feet faltered. The vial was so close, she could almost grab it. She reached a little farther, her fingers triumphantly grasped the small potion. However she just couldn't stand. Her strength failed her. She tumbled to the ground with a loud thud shooting pain through her whole body. When it subsided she realized she still had the vial! She joyously and at the same time frantically uncorked it.

"You know you shouldn't take that on an empty stomach, dearie." Belle nearly jumped. She turned, still on the floor, to face the very maker of the health tonic.

"I uh…, I was-," she stumbled. Her mouth was open but no words were coming out.

"You were going to take that," Rumple said as he pointed a finger to the vial in her hand and stepped closer into the room. "But I can't let you do that." her told her strictly. Belle got worried, her heart raced, she bit her lip.

"Belle that potion is extremely powerful, it's made for deadly illness. It could kill a person in a lesser condition, like you." He told her, his voice soft and caring.

"Oh. I see," she said in short.

"Unless you are seriously sick," he challenged with questioning eyes. He was waiting for an answer. She was trapped. Rumple was walking closer to her. He kneeled down, his face closed to hers, eyes staring and searching her. Her body stiffened. Rumple tilted his eyes and scrunched his eyebrows when she didn't answer.

"Are you?" he asked quietly, fearing her answer. Her heart was beating out of her chest. He was going to find out! He couldn't! She shook her head slowly, swelling the lump in her throat.

"No, I'm not." She told him, trying to sound convincing. She tried a small smile, following a deep breath. He looked at her for a moment before he reached out his hand and stood up. She took his hand and allowed him to help her stand. It was a good thing to because she stumbled on the way up, thankful he was there to keep her upright. He quickly righted her after she fell into his body.

"Sorry," she apologized quietly, staring straight up at him.

"No matter," he replied predictably. He then let out an awkward cough before stepping away.

"Belle, why did you think you needed that potion?" he asked her in a low voice.

"I, I wasn't feeling well…, I feared my fever had returned, and I thought you might have something up her to help…" she trailed off with a slight shrug. She worried he would be mad for breaking one of his few rules; being up there by herself.

"Oh Belle," he said. "Why didn't you call for me? When I sensed someone up here I thought someone had broken in. I was worried when I didn't see you in your room. Please don't do that again." He have her an imploring look.

"I understand," she told him with a nod. Fearfully she made her way closer to the door, she needed to lie down.

"Perhaps you should take this, it should help relive any pain or weak feeling you have," she turned around to see his outstretched hand with different vial in his hand. "But it won't heal you Belle. You would need a specialized potion to do that. " She could tell he was trying to get her to tell him what was wrong with her; fishing for answers. Her mouth fell open a bit.

"Thank you," she took the potion from him. Her lips were almost around the vial when he stopped her.

"You shouldn't take that one on an empty stomach either I am afraid." Rumple strode over to her and let a soft hand fall to her back. "I'm sure we can find something in the kitchen," a crooked smile on his face. She let out a giggle.

"Are you suggesting that we make dinner in the middle of the night?" She questioned with mirth in her eyes. He pretended to think, a finger on his chin.

"Let's call it an early breakfast," he said and then let out a high giggle. She laughed with him as they descended the stairs. The vial was still tightly in her grasp. She need a health potion to counteract the poison, even if it was only for a while.

oOo

He sat her on a stool behind a counter in the kitchen after using his magic to light the room.

"what are doing?" she asked him as he took a few steps around the kitchen.

"I was uh…, going to make you breakfast."

He trolled over to the pantry to grab ingredients, much to her surprise.

"You're making me breakfast?" Belle's astonishment was evident in her voice. He scoffed.

"I'm the Dark One, I can do many things." She gave him a disproving look. She hated when he referred to himself as the Dark One; he said it as if that was all he was. He placed the vegetable and other components on the worktable. He began to chop up the onions. Belle watched with amusement. For some reason seeing him doing mundane acts such as this was strange. She couldn't believe she was watching him now dicing tomatoes as if he did it every day for her. She wondered what a life like that would be like; waking up, feeling a faint warmth on the sheets next to her, where his body had been like a distant fond memory. She would walk downstairs to him with a cup of juice and a breakfast for her. He would walk over to give her the barest touch of his lips in a 'good morning, my darling' kiss. A silly smile graced her face before she reminded herself that it just wasn't possible. She shook her head.

"You know the Dark One would've made me breakfast with a flick of his wrist," she pointed out. "Rumpelstiltskin however, would do it with his own two hands." she smiled proudly watching his hands move to reach for the next ingredient. He looked over to her. Oh how he loved when she smiled at him, but he cursed her hopeful nature. She was so sure that he was a man, but he wasn't and he hadn't been for a while now.

"The dark one and I are one," he told her though it seemed like a routine answer, or something he had talked himself into. This knife once again moved against the chopping block, and she noted with an extra vigor. The self-loathing was evident when he stared down at the table. Most people wouldn't have seen it but she saw how he went silent and his eyes darken. But not the way it did when he got angry. His face was grim and even sad. She pursed her lips, before she let out a breath.

"Perhaps." She admitted. "But I don't believe so." Belle looked away, if she hadn't she would've seen him staring at her in wonder. Rumple tried to return to his task at hand, but his mind wasn't there. He wondered how she could have so much faith in him. After everything he had done how could she not despise him or call him a monster.

About ten used bowls and pan later, an even greater amount of spoon, and fifty towels Rumple presented Belle with a burnt yellow slop with bit of orange, green, and white mixed in. He handed her the plate with a fork. Trying not to laugh at the gloomy mess on the plate Belle took the fork and slowly pushed a small bite in her mouth.

As soon as she tasted it she recoiled at the taste. He had told her it was a cheese, spinach, onions, and peppers omelet, but it definitely was not. Belle with her eyes cringing trying to swallow the bite at least for the sake of the eyes of the awaiting sorcerer. His big eyes bored into her hoping she would like it was the only thing from keeping her from spitting out the eggs. It was quite adorable actually, she decided. She had seen what great lengths he had gone through to make this for her. She could see how badly he wanted her to like it. So she pretended she did. The food made its way past her throat with a pained gulp quickly followed by a discreet cough and sip of water.

"It's delicious," she fibbed, but to her disappoint Rumple frowned. Belle supposed she wasn't convincing enough.

"You're lying," he said pulling away with a accusing and at the same time guilty look. His eyes looked sad and he started to take her plate away. "I can magic you food-," he said almost throwing away his woeful attempt at food.

"No!" she interjected "Rumple," she said less excited with a sweet and what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "I want to eat this, it truly is really good." Belle knew lying was wrong. It was practically the first thing you learn as a kid, but as she looked at the brightening face of her true love she couldn't regret it.

"Really?" he asked with a hopeful grin.

"Yes!" she answered with a laugh. Belle saw him stand a bit straighter and puff out his chest. She then slowly and quite painfully got herself to eat every last bite. It was a bit unnerving as he watched her eat but she didn't have the heart to tell him.

"So why haven't you been making all our meals?" She asked with a laugh. They talk some but it was hard to talk between eating and washing it down with water after every bite. She finished eating and he took her dish, walking over to clean the dish with the wave of his hand. He sat back down across the counter from her. They fell into a silence. They're hands were close together, though they didn't know it. How could they when they're eyes were trained on each other's. Their fingers were unconsciously growing closer. They were so close to touching. Unfortunately they were startled when their hands hit the smooth glass of the vial with a clank.

"Oh," Belle cried with a giggle. "I had forgotten about that." he didn't laugh though, not even a smirk.

"You should take it, if you're not feeling well." He said in a low tone. She looked away but knew his eyes were boring into her head.

"Yes, I should, you're right." he stood away from her, but still watched as the liquid when down her throat. Belle coughed as she finished the vial. She looked over at Rumple who was eyeing her suspiciously. She tensed under his gaze. "I should uh, I should go to bed now." Belle said stiffly.

"Actually I was hoping you wouldn't," Rumple said as he walked into the great room knowing she would follow. Belle frowned.

"Why?"

"The vial is…powerful. It would be better if you put of sleep, just for an hour. That way I can make sure the vial wasn't too strong. You had said it was just a simple fever right?"

Belle bit her lip nervously but nodded 'yes'.

"Alright then, I was going to spin but I can magic you a chair next to me." despite her fear of Regina finding out that she had stayed with Rumple, the fear for her father, and also the worriedness that Rumple would find out that the queen sent her and despise her Belle smiled. She had missed his constant spinning and the steady creak of the wheel. So she sat. She wasn't actually worried about the potion harming her, she was scared it wouldn't help enough.

Rumple spun continually glancing at Belle making sure she was okay. He eventually felt her head slide along her shoulder as she could not delay dreams any longer. A small smile made its way to his face as he gently lifted her up. With delaying steps he brought Belle to her room. He placed her on the bed losing the warm feeling of her body in his arms; cradled to his chest. There was a few stands of auburn hair covering her peaceful face. His fingers brushed them away. As he watching her sleep for a few minutes a temptation grew in his mind. He thought how easy it would be to simply scan her body to find out if she was telling the truth; if it was but a fever a simple three day virus. One hand reached out over her body. It would be so simple. Rumple closed his eyes as he stretched both hands over the sleeping beauty.

Thanks to Guestie, Twyla Mercedes, Christinaisawesome, and im. ; loved your reviews! Also thanks for the follows and favorites. Until next time...:)