6. Pride.

Regina was sitting in Granny's diner with Henry and Mr. Gold. After the scenario with the pitchforks Gold had been trying to bond with Henry. He'd been letting him come by the store more often and had offered to take him to dinner, Henry had insisted Regina come a long. He was convinced his mother was depressed after losing Robin and Rumple decided he owed the woman who had assisted him so many times, though he didn't like to admit it.

"What are you ordering?" Regina asked Henry.

"A chocolate sundae."

Gold, laughed and Regina scowled at her son, who was seated beside her.

"Maybe after dinner."

"Fine," Henry grumbled.

"Are you all ready to order?" Ruby asked.

"I think so," Regina replied.

The three of them placed their orders and while Gold and Henry began talking about things in the shop, Regina took to watching the customers. The dwarves were all seated at the counter covered in coal, Dr Whale was in a back booth obviously waiting for Ruby to get off work, Granny was cooking tonight and the fairies were paying their bills. That's when the little bell above the door rang and in walked the one person that could set the dark one back on his path of self destruction.

Her eyes were red and puffy like she'd been crying, her hair was a mess of curls and she was wearing one of those printed skirts that were too short for a librarian. She walked directly towards their booth without hesitation and Regina wanted to tell her to stay away, but she didn't.

"Rumple..."

Gold froze and his gaze went to Regina, he could see it on her face who was standing behind him. Slowly he turned his head and looked at his wife, she took a step closer to their booth and on instinct Regina prepared to leave. Gold reached out a hand, catching her wrist to stop her from leaving.

"Stay," He said.

"Rumple, can we talk? Please?" She begged.

"Whatever you've got to say, say it."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left like that."

If he was upset to see her, if he felt anything about her being here, he wasn't showing it. He took a drink of his water without a word, not even acknowledging he heard her speak. Henry glanced at Regina who was still clutching his hand from when she was ready to leave.

"Please, Rumple. Talk to me," Belle cried.

"What exactly do you want me to say dearie?" He finally looked up at her.

"That you forgive me, that we can have a second chance at our life together, that you still want me."

"Still want you? After what you did? After you left me and only left behind a pitiful dear john letter? Who do you think I am? I'm the dark one dearie, I don't forgive." He turned back to his water.

"You forgave Regina," Belle said.

Regina glared at the girl, she could have killed the stupid little thing herself for not only dragging her into this mess but for bringing up all the backstabbing that had went on between her and Gold. He hadn't forgiven Regina, he'd simply realized she made a better friend than enemy.

"Forgave Regina? Well that's slightly different. She's my apprentice, I made her, I trained her. Everything she did was expertly thought out with my teaching and I would have made the same choices had I been in her shoes. Forgive her? No, I just realized I understood her."

Belle had passed the stage where dignity still remained intact and began to sob nearly hysterical, Regina felt slightly bad for her but Gold didn't so much as flinch at the theatrics. He sipped his water calmly while everyone in the diner stared at the duo.

"I love you Rumple, please."

He mad a noise of disbelief and glanced at Henry, who was watching with interest.

"Gold, maybe you two should go somewhere and talk." Regina said.

"Really? I expected you to be on my side in this at least."

"I am on your side, but you're causing a scene."Regina said, low enough nobody could hear but him.

"Grandpa, maybe you should listen to her." Henry tried.

"Once my mind has been made up, that's it. I'm afraid my mind was made up about Belle a long time ago. I don't gravel, I don't beg and I don't go back."

"Rumple..."Belle reached for him.

"Don't touch me, remember your place woman. I am the dark one, I defeated the infamous Pan, I spin straw into gold, I trained the best of the best and you are nothing but a mere librarian."

All eyes in the diner went from him to Belle, waiting for her reaction and the inevitable outburst of tears. She bit her lip and Ruby rushed to her side putting an arm around her.

"Belle, why don't you go home and lie down?" Ruby asked.

"Yes, I supposed that would be best." Belle said softly.

"Walk her home Ruby, I can handle this." Granny offered.

"I'll come along," Dr. Whale stood up.

As the trio exited the diner more than a couple people continued to stare and Regina and Gold. If he noticed he didn't care as he continued his conversation with Henry as if nothing had happened, Regina on the other hand was embarrassed by the scene he'd just caused and the sudden whispering that was going on around them.

"Stealing that poor girls husband just because she can, that's what she's doing." Someone said in a hushed voice.

"Belle was such a nice girl too, he could do better than the likes of Regina that's for sure."

She felt her cheeks flame with anger and humiliation, of course they thought she was sleeping with him. They were together quite often and despite the ups and downs of it, this was her longest relationship. Granny delivered their plates and Regina was the only one who saw the pointed and judgmental look the older woman gave her. It always confused her how people treated her compared to Gold, they may not like him but they had allowed him to become part of the community in a way they hadn't allowed her. Sure she cast the dark curse, but he taught her how.

"You should go and talk to her," Regina said.

"I have nothing to say."

"Gold, she loves you."

"Belle reads too much, she thinks she loves me. She wants to believe she loves me but she doesn't she just wants to be in love. She wants the kind of sick, crazy, love she finds in her books where the bad boy suddenly becomes the angel. This is real life not a book, I'm not going to change and she needs to realize that."

Regina didn't bring it up again and neither did Henry. Henry ate happily and Gold wowed him with stories of their old lives, Regina picked at her food her appetite lost under the stares of the patrons who thought she was a man stealing, home wrecker. A few months ago she would have laughed at their disapproval, but now when she was trying so hard to fit in for Henry it wasn't a thrill anymore.