They laid contently in the afterglow of their intense lovemaking and Rumplestiltskin wondered how something as wonderful as this – lying here in Belle's warm arms – could exist in such a terrible place. His True Love shifted in his embrace as she tucked her face into his neck, pressing a kiss to his Adam's apple, and he was left in wonderment as he always was at the angel that lay in his arms.

She curled her small body closer into his side, hitching her leg up and wrapping it around his midsection. He reached an arm over and grabbed the sheet he had conjured over them earlier, tossing it across their bodies to give them some decency and warmth. He knew though that no one would find them in such an intimate position; he had placed a spell around the shop just before they made love the first time so he would know if someone was coming to interrupt them. He had become well aware of the fact that most of the people here in the Underworld did not think too kindly of him, especially the likes of Peter Pan, Cora, and Milah, and this made him worry that Belle was in great danger so long as she was here.

He couldn't even begin to count the number of souls that were down here that hadn't crossed paths with the Dark One at least once. They all would most assuredly want his blood and for most of them Belle would suit their needs if they saw or if they knew just how much he loved her. He wouldn't let anyone get to her so long as she was here.

Turning his attention back to Belle, he smiled as he felt the pads of her fingertips gently brushing across the patch of hair running from his chest to his navel. And that was when he saw it. He wasn't quite sure how he hadn't noticed it before, but none the less, here it was before him now, glistening proudly atop the third finger of her left hand, declaring their love and their marriage to everyone.

She still had it.

He thought she would have gotten rid of it the moment she found out about the fake dagger, about his deceit that lead to her banishing him from his home, from his life, and even from his only child's grave. He didn't hold that against her though, she had been devastated and, as always, thinking about what was best for those unworthy Heroes, who never showed her an ounce of appreciate or care, rather than for them.

His thoughts went to the skin of her stomach that was caressing his hip and his searching fingers trailed down her neck and across her breasts until he came to her stomach, gently stroking the skin with the tips of his fingers. Now that he knew the product of their love grew inside of her, he could swear he felt a small bump that wasn't there when they made love earlier. Belle jerked in his arms and giggled at the tickling sensation, causing a smile to grace the feared Dark One's lips. He pressed a kiss to her hair, a tightness developing in his chest at the sheer love he felt for this incredible woman.

"I love you so much, my Belle," he whispered.

She propped herself up on her elbow, an affectionate smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. As she shifted her body against him, he felt her soft curls brush against his hip bone and he groaned loudly, feeling himself twitch under her thigh in pleasure. She laughed, clearly feeling the movement against her skin, tilting her head up for a kiss.

"I love you, too, Rumple," her stunning blue eyes glistened with love and their lips met pleasantly. Bringing a hand up, he tucked her silky, brunette hair behind her ear, brushing his fingers against the skin of her cheek before cupping it in his palm. She carded a hand through his hair, cradling him as they shared several more passionate kisses.

"And our little girl," Rumple added once their lips separated, "I love our little girl, too," he smiled down into her eyes as a lilting laugh escaped from her throat at his sentiment.

"A girl, huh? And how would you know this? Is there something you're not telling me, Rumplestiltskin?" She tried to sound serious but she couldn't hide the teasing in her voice or the smile tugging at her lips as she tried to suppress another laugh.

"I just have a feeling," he stroked his fingers through her hair, "I'll be fine either way, but a girl would be a pleasant change; there's been too many wee lads in this twisted family tree. My boy, Henry, and now the Charming's baby. I would quite rather have a little you running around."

She laughed at that, telling him she'd be fine either way too. She mentioned how sweet it would be to have a little Rumple running around and he couldn't tell if she truly meant it or only said it for his benefit. He didn't want to know, so he didn't ask, instead wrapping her tighter in his arms as they kissed again.

The cot is relatively small so they are forced to huddle together as closely as they can so Rumple isn't shoved into the wall and Belle isn't half hanging over the edge of the mattress, but he doesn't mind. There's only one pillow, so as they shift so they are both lying on their sides to face each other their lips are only scant inches apart and it makes it rather simple to crane his neck and resume kissing his beautiful wife. And just as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed past his lips with her tongue to deepen the kiss, he feels a familiar vibration in the air surrounding the shop and he groaned internally, pulling away, begrudgingly, from Belle as he focused on the shield surrounding the shop. He could sense people's energy, or their essence, if you could call it that. Skilled practitioners of magic had the ability to discern these energies in individuals and so long as they could match the energy to the person, they could sense who was near, something more necessary than one not wielding magic could realize. Rumplestiltskin knew the energies of everyone that accompanied him to the Underworld (or, perhaps more accurately, who made him accompany them).

So when he felt this strange essence outside the shop he was immediately curious and immediately worried. He couldn't put a name, let alone a face, to the energy, so whoever was outside of the shop was more likely than not an enemy of his, and that would make Belle a target.

"Rumple?" Belle was stroking his cheek, searching his eyes for an answer to his sudden reaction. Her accent was laced with worry so he quickly replied.

"Everything's fine, sweetheart. It's just…" he paused, turning his head to the half-open curtain that separated the front of the shop from the back as he studied the energy more closely. Why did it seem familiar? He knew that most people in the Underworld that were here had dealt with him before, but he couldn't place any of them with this energy. He didn't remember every person he crossed paths with, nor their energies, not unless it was vital to him that he remember them for later. So why was this one energy so pertinent in his mind yet he couldn't recall who it belonged to?

"Someone is outside the shop," he finished.

She seemed to have misunderstood because she stood from the bed, a half-amused, half-annoyed look crossing her features. "Who is it now? Emma? Regina? The Charmings? We're not even in Storybrooke and they still manage to interrupt us at the most inconvenient time." She moved to retrieve her clothes and it took quite some effort on Rumplestiltskin's part not to gape at her as she stood before him naked, bending over – Gods, that part killed him – and dressing quickly.

"No, no not the Heroes…someone else."

"Who?" she halted for only a moment, a concerned look crossing her features and no doubt her mind went the same place his did: to the perfect little human growing inside of her. "Do they – do they want to hurt us?" She placed a hand on her stomach and her concern creased her brow even further.

"I don't know," he stood from the cot too and flicked his wrist to magic his finely pressed suit back onto his body. "Hey," he murmured when he saw that her concern hadn't lessened. He wrapped her in his arms, "I won't let anyone hurt you or our child. I promise you."

She smiled at him but it didn't reach her eyes, which were still clouded with an unmistakable amount of concern. Once she was finished dressing, he took ahold of her hand and they cautiously made their way out the front door of the shop, the little bell jingling loudly enough that he felt Belle jump beside him.

"It's alright, my love."

Right as the door swung shut behind them, Rumple could make out the silhouette of a man standing across the otherwise empty street and he moved so his broad body blocked Belle from this intruder. As the reddish haze began to clear, he could make out the man across from him more clearly. He certainly didn't recognize him, but something in the back of his brain kept telling him this man's essence was familiar to him. Just as his eyes roamed over the quiver at the man's back and the bow in his grip – confirming he was a threat to Belle and their child – the man's gaze shifted to Belle's half concealed form and he saw recognition light his face.

"Belle!" he called loudly.

He heard her gasp, moving behind him so she could see the man as well. "…Gaston?!"

Her betrothed, he immediately realized, and now he knew why the energy stood out so strongly to him. He had never much cared for the man, especially when he tried to steal Belle away from him just as soon as he began to fall in love with her.

Belle moved so they stood shoulder to shoulder, "what are you doing here? What – what happened to you?"

"I–" Gaston paused and Rumple felt his gaze momentarily shift in his direction as he observed the man beside his used-to-be-future-bride. He saw when the pieces clicked together and the energy surrounding Gaston began to radiate off of him in waves of anger as he discerned that Mr. Gold was the impish Dark One who made a deal with Lord Maurice for Belle.

"You," Gaston growled and he skillfully drew an arrow from his quiver, fixing it to his bow and aiming it at him. "You're still holding her captive, beast...even in death?"

"He's not holding me captive," Belle spoke up, "We fell in love while I served him and…now we're married… We're True Love." She declared that last part proudly, almost as an after-thought, and he felt a smile tugging at the corner of his lips involuntarily.

But her words seemed to upset him further and he pulled the string back more tautly, "Y-You made her fall in love with you, demon?"

"He's not a demon," his love proclaimed.

"Look around you, Belle! Do you know where you are? Where we are? Have you stopped to wonder how I ended up here? How you did?"

Rumple winced; he hadn't wanted Belle to figure out that particular piece of history. Whether she despised Gaston or not, she would be furious to learn of what he had done. The Dark One was more than pleased, but the man, the humble spinner who was filled with love and had sacrificed his life for his True Love and his son, was sorry for what he'd done.

"I – I came here of my own accord…to be with my husband…but you-" she stopped herself short and he could practically hear the gears turning in her head as she realized her once-betrothed had met his demise.

"Yes. I died," he took a step off of the sidewalk, his bow still aimed at the pair and the pawnbroker didn't like the fact that if Gaston's aim was off by even a hair he could possibly hit Belle. "After you left your father and me, I tracked you down to the Dark One's castle. I was willing to battle him to win you back. But this beast turned me into a rose. His Dark Magic killed me. I haven't moved on yet because I have yet to save you. That's my unfinished business, Belle. Saving you from this demon."

"Why do you look different?" she questioned in a wavering voice and Rumple wrapped an arm around her waist to comfort her. He had a nagging suspicion as to why this man who was Gaston but wasn't at the same time was in a new body and that was mainly the reason for his arm to tighten its hold on Belle.

"You cut me in half, Belle," Gaston murmured and Rumple could see he didn't want Belle to learn the truth of it either. Rather decent of him, Rumplestiltskin thought. Belle tensed against his arm and she gasped and she recalled the rose he had presented to her, the one she took a pair of rusty scissors to, to cut the over-lengthened stem in half (Gaston had been a tall) and place in a small vase on the long dining table.

"Gaston…I – I am so, so sorry, I–"

"I have never held that against you, Belle. The only one at fault is him," Gaston snarled.

He felt her shift away from him as she realized what his actions had wrought and it broke his heart at that prospect. Wanting to do better by her, by their child, by Baelfire, and especially for the man that he was deep down, he dropped his arm away from her and looked at Gaston. He heard the whispers of the Dark One's telling him to forget absurd apologies and shave off the man's hair with a fireball or two but as a new, more-powerful and free host of the Dark One he was able to suppress the whispers and let all of himself speak without its interference.

"For that…I am truly sorry. I was lost in darkness. I had no restraint, no remorse…until Belle," he cast a warm, adoring smile to his wife, his brief flicker of light in an ocean of darkness, "She became my light, she snuffed out the darkness with her pureness and I will forever be grateful of her for saving me."

He looked at her as he spoke and she gazed back at him the whole time, blinking as she processed his words until a smile lit her face and she wrapped her fingers around his.

"Enough of this!" Gaston bellowed. "You're lying. That's what the Dark One does. I will never believe a word you say," his eyes turned to Belle, "I don't know what evil spell he has placed on you, but I will save you this time, Belle. I won't let him hold you against your will any longer." He let loose the arrow and it hurdled towards Rumplestiltskin's chest.

"No!" Belle cried out beside him, but she needn't worry. The power of all the Dark Ones coursing through his veins heightened his senses and he was able to slow down the arrow just enough to clutch the shaft in his hand, the arrowhead only centimeters from his heart.

He released a laugh without even realizing it, feeling the tremendous, new power flowing freely through his veins. He examined the arrow between his fingers for a moment before turning it into dust in his palm, letting it scatter in the wind.

"You're going to regret that, dearie," he spoke as he stepped toward a startled Gaston, who had expected to finally best the imp. Just when he felt the power surge inside of him for the kill, his thoughts drifted to Belle who stood several steps behind him. The thought of his True Love quelled the bloodlust of the Dark One and Rumplestiltskin let her light cleave him from his brief moment of weakness. Now he was happy for a whole new reason. Would it really be as simple as this from now on? Just one thought of Belle and he could remain pure of intentions?

Belle stepped between the two after a second and extended both of her hands in a placating gesture. She urged for him to stop but he had already intended to. "Look, we all have history here…Gaston, please…lower the bow," she pleaded, turning to solely face him, "Rumple is a changed man. He's not the same person we met in my father's war room. I swear to you he means me no harm. He loves me, and I love him. We're going to have a child together." Rumple saw her hand reach towards her stomach and he supposed he was too wrapped up in her sweet words for the moment to notice Gaston's rage reach its zenith.

"You disgusting monster!" and he loosened another arrow in the blink of an eye and Belle was too close. There was more of a chance of her being hit than him. Acting more on instinct than thought he wrapped his arms around Belle, swung her around, and teleported them in a swirl of purple smoke across town to the docks. The moment he released her, he felt a searing pain shooting through his chest and it hurt to breathe. The arrow was embedded deeply within his back and when he glanced down it was also protruding from his chest. If he wasn't the Dark One, he would be dead in minutes.

His little Belle turned around to face him, still scanning the docks to make sure Gaston didn't magic here with them.

"Rumple!" he saw tears spring to her eyes as they roamed over his chest and she brought a hand up to caress his cheek in her palm.

"It's–" if he thought the pain from breathing was bad, than he didn't know how to classify the pain from talking, "– alright…love…Dark One…can't die…s-still hurts." He brought a hand up to his chest and let it hover there, vanishing the arrow before letting a golden wave of magic wash through the wound and stitch everything back together. The only pain remaining was simply the reminder and he was thankful that it was him who had taken the arrow and not Belle.

"Rumplestiltskin…you took an arrow for me…for our baby," she whispered.

"I would have given my life, too...if I needed to…I promised I would keep you both safe and I intend to keep it."

She kissed him roughly and sweetly at the same time and he melted in her embrace on the docks in the Underworld, not caring that he was supposed to be finding a way to save Miss Swan's good-for-nothing pirate.

She pulled away from his lips and gave him the most glorious, breathtaking smile before she pressed her face into his neck and mumbled, "My handsome hero," and he knew exactly what she was referring to. He knew about her most favorite book, the first one she had ever picked up to read. It was the singular story that started her on this life-long journey of finding even more stories to explore. The story itself in her book had been simple, another finely-spun tale of an ordinary man who wins the heart of the princess through his bravery. Knowing that Belle would call him such a thing made his heart swell with joy.

She had never called him her hero…ever.

No one had.

All his life, even as the Dark One, he had been called a coward but now here she was, his True Love, clutching onto him tightly and calling him her hero, their growing child pressed between their bodies as they held each other, and nothing had ever felt better than that single moment. Rumplestiltskin placed a kiss to her hair, murmuring how much he loved her, and he knew things between them were only going to get better from then on.