Author's note: I do not own Once Upon a Time or anything else. Thank you so much for your reviews and alerts! Just a little Belle moment because I love her so, yes I know it's an Emma story we'll get back to the swan princess soon enough, I promise

Peacemaker

Baelfire slept late, all the travel and words with his father had taken a lot out of him. He got dressed and made his way slowly downstairs. Gold was not there but Belle was in the small library going through books. He politely tapped on the door. "Good afternoon" he said as she looked up from her spot on the floor.

"Oh you're up; we thought you'd sleep a whole day. Before you go snooping around for your father he's not here, went to see some nuns about rent. I usually go to the pawn shop or library, but he didn't want you to be alone. Are you hungry? I could fix you a sandwich." She said as Baelfire gave her a hand up.

"Thanks, sometimes I get so wrapped up in reading myself I totally forget lunch" she said with a kind smile.

The two made their way into the kitchen.

"Belle, I'm looking for a certain object of my father's, do you know where he would keep something if he wanted it hidden?" Baelfire asked the girl.

Belle shook her head "no, but he's so secretive sometimes, do you know he won't even kiss me since magic came back into town. He's afraid"

Baelfire gave a little huff sitting at the table "sounds like him, so why not run away then? You aren't bound here are you?" Belle seemed like an intelligent girl that could command her own way in the world.

"Because, I love him" Belle said simply.

Baelfire thought his father must love her too then to keep the temptation around so close.

"In our world I was trapped by a marriage proposal I didn't want. My father sought him out to make a deal to save my kingdom from a great battle. He made a deal with my father. The deal was me so I offered to go freely, because I wanted to be the heroine. I had been looking for adventure and I found it, unfortunately I traded one dungeon for another at first. I hated him, and he hardly spoke a word to me but after several moons something changed in him. Love is layered Bae, I learned there is more than one way to be a hero. It's a long story, I hope one day he can tell you his side."

Belle pulls some tuna sandwiches out the fridge and puts them on the table. She sat down on the other side of the table. "He never forgot you, did you know that? He maybe a coward but he never forgot either of us. He kept a box of your clothes and things just waiting for you to return in his castle. Even in this world. There is an old ball I'm guessing belonged to you. He keeps it in the shop but won't sell it."

"My ball" the Baelfire gave a slight smile "it was my favorite." He had a

moment of realization that his father was a coward and the dark one but could still be saved. "I have to find that dagger. I have to get the darkness out of him. Belle, I want my father back."

"I would look in his cabin or near there. It's on the southwest side by the toll bridge. If something was hidden that's where it would be. That's why you came back?" Belle asked with a gulp.

"I don't want to hurt him, I want to find a way to use its power without.."Baelfire wasn't sure what he was going to do but he thought of someone that could help him.

"Whatever you do Bae, stay away from Regina. Your father is not the dark one

compared to the horrors she has conjured." Belle said hoping he'd heed her word and stay away from the mayor. Regina had only been seen once or twice since the magic came back, but everyone in town feared her still.

Belle thought of fairy tale land "I think we were happy for a moment, and then I met her in the woods. She tricked me knowing where I was heading she said true loves kiss is the most powerful magic it can break any curse. So, I kissed him."

"Did it work?" He had to know if there was another way.

"It was beginning too. But then he pulled away. He knew it was the queen I had ran into, and he thought I was working for her. So I left him with his empty heart and his chipped tea cup. Bae, there is more than one way to be a coward. I should have fought for our love."

"I think that's pretty brave you tried breaking the curse in the first place"

Baelfire said seeing how much of a fierce princess she would have been in their real world. "Well I'm not going to kiss him" Bae said with his father's famous half crooked grin.

Belle laughed "I don't think that will be necessary. Love takes time. One day you won't hate him so much for abandoning you and he won't feel so guilty for doing so. Whatever power or weapon you are looking for just give him a chance." She did not want to lose Rumple after just finding him again.

Baelfire wish he did not know about the dagger but he knew it's what had to be done. "I will look for another way. Thank you, Belle" Baelfire said helping clean the table up.

"You're welcome Bae, and for what it's worth I'm happy your home" Belle smiled picking the dishes up and putting them in the sink.

Home.

The doorbell rang.