"Seems like all we had is over now you left to rest.
And your tears are dried up now, you just lay without a sound.
Seems like all we had is over now, you left to rest.
And my fears are over now, I can leave with my head down."
Hollywood Undead - "Black Dahlia"
The first few weeks went by slowly for Belle. Red had welcomed her to the camp and when she was introduced, Belle was shocked. She expected to be cursed at, shunned. Instead, she was welcomed with a sense of warmth from these strangers. A young girl even ran to her, hugging her and welcoming her to her new home.
She did the best she was able- she tried. She tried to spend time with people. She tried to wake with a sense of hope. It was never there. Despite being surrounded by people, she was alone.
Red and Jiminy saw this and tried to bring her with them to spend time with the others. Belle would freeze, feafrul to take another step.
By the third week, she had grown quiet and reflective, spending most of her time alone in her tent. That was when Jiminy entered.
"Belle?"
"Yes?" she replied, not facing him.
"Red told me...some of what happened."
Belle sighed and turned to face him.
"I don't believe there was room for misinterpretation, Jiminy. He said, in not so many words, that we- I was nothing to him," Belle quickly changed the words, not wanting anyone to know about her pregnancy.
"Red already told me about the little one. She sensed it when she saw you that day," Jiminy said.
"Damned wolf."
Jiminy laughed and Belle even let out a ghost of a smile.
"Did he know?"
"No. I was going to tell him that day, and I waited because I needed to be sure."
"Madness...what Ruby described to me, it sounds like he'd been drugged."
"Jiminy, who would be foolish enough to drug the Dark One?" Belle asked.
He had become cruel- even moreso than originally. He began to purposely leave negotiations on his end vague in order to receive the better part. This was the price, this was the choice. His cruelty had served him well in the past, until Belle.
Rumplestiltskin shook his head, clearing the memories that clung to the corners of his mind. She was gone. For good. But her absence was noted every day. He considered burning her belongings, setting them on fire to ease away his pain. Yet, he couldn't. Her room stayed the same- the books remained on the tables, the chair at the angle she'd moved it to. Nothing changed. Except him.
He'd become more of a monster. More of a cruel being. Rumplestiltskin fully accepted the pure darkness within him. He was beyond redemption; he knew this. Belle had been nothing more a spectre- a whisper of hope, an echo of light in a place shunned by the Devil himself.
He felt his name being called and disappeared, wondering the deal in the future.
I was Regina who called him.
"Well, Dark One. Considering you broke your end of the deal, I'd greatly appreciate my belongings back," she spoke, her voice darkly chipper.
"You're mistaken, dearie. You asked for a book, I delivered."
"You knew what I wanted, you twisted little imp."
"Ah, Regina. Such lovely pillow talk."
Regina stood and walked to him, her eyes deadly.
"Give them back."
Rumplestiltskin giggled, loving how desperate Regina looked at this moment.
"I can't return what I don't have, Your Majesty. Please, enjoy your book."
He vanished, leaving Regina trembling on the stone floor. She was getting tired of waiting. She needed something to happen now. She thought carefully and smiled, the opal ring on her finger swirling darkly.
"Belle..." a voice in the woods called.
Belle stirred from her sleep, hearing the familiar voice.
"Rumplestiltskin?" she whispered, looking about.
"Please. Belle, come find me."
She bit her lips and felt a sudden sense of trepidation. She wanted to see him, to feel his hands on hers.
She walked towards the edge of her tent, looking around. The camp was dark, the sounds of people shifting in their sleep filling the cold night air.
Carefully, she followed the voice. It hypnotized her, beckoning her to the darkest part of the woods.
"Belle," a voice said, grabbing her hand and snapping her back to reality.
Red grabbed her hand and shook her gently.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked.
"I...I heard him. He was calling me, Red."
"Belle, there's no one here."
Belle looked around, tears forming in her eyes as Red led her back to camp.
Regina looked through the book her mother had left her until she found the spell she needed.
She could see the Pain-Eater following the voice, getting closer and closer. Until the damned wolf came to her.
Screaming, Regina threw the book aside and placed her hands on the table, her nails cutting rivets into the wood.
She knew the Dark One cared for the Pain-Eater, but had dismissed her. She should be easy to catch now, as broken and disillusioned as she was. Almost. The damned guards had attacked sooner than planned, all because three members of the camp decided the body of a woman was more important than listening to the Queen. Now the damned wolf was standing in the way.
She knew this Pain-Eater was the one. She'd studied her closely and her efforts would not be wasted. But time was getting to her. She couldn't wait any longer.
Rumplestiltskin drank deeply of the liquor, relishing the burning in his throat. Anything to take it away. Anything to forget.
He'd thought long and carefully about Belle and realized a cold truth- in a roundabout way, his power did mean more to him, but not as anyone thought. ?He kept his pain hidden well behind the carefree façade of a sorcerer. And it worked wonders. He was feared greatly. He was in control for once. He had the power for once. Until Belle had made the deal.
Drunk, he staggered to her room and stood in the doorway, the emptiness of the room filling him with sorrow.
No. He couldn't love her. Simply because he had no love to give. Not as this monster. He couldn't love her because th last one he loved had left him.
Love was a weakness.
"My orders are clear. Do you understand me, Huntsman?" Regina asked coldly, her eyes on him.
The Huntsman kept his head down, not wanting the Queen to see the hatred in his eyes.
"I asked you a question. I expect an answer."
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Good."
The Huntsman left the chamber, his soul shattering with what he had to do.
"...Forgive me, Red. Forgive me, Jiminy. Forgive me, Belle," he whispered as he mounted his horse.
It was a dark morning at the camp. Rain threatened to fall but didn't stop Red and Jiminy from their duties. When they returned from hunting with several rabbits and boars, they saw the Huntsman at the entrance, waiting patiently.
Red smiled and went to hug him, Jiminy clasping his shoulder in friendship.
"What brings you here?" Jiminy asked.
"Is there a young woman here? I believe Belle is her name?" he asked, his face not betraying the secret he was carrying.
"Why do you ask?" Red questioned.
"I have a message from her father. He's heard that she escaped the Dark One and wishes to make amends."
"How did you hear this?" Jiminy asked.
"Her Majesty had set up a meeting with him, asking for an established trade route between the two regions. She inquired if his daughter had returned yet and told him of Belle's escape. I was sent here as an emissary; King Maurice remembers the friendship between Red and his daughter."
Red thought carefully before speaking. "I need to talk to Belle about this."
"Of course. Should she decide to return home, a carriage will be waiting several miles out of the forest, to the main road."
He quickly turned, his heart filling with tears at his betrayal. There would be no atonement for him. Not this time.
Red ran to Belle and explained the news. Belle's face lit up, fear and happiness flowing throughout her.
"What are you going to do?" Red asked.
"I want to see my father, Red. At least to try to make amends and offer an explanation."
"If that's what you wish. When do you plan on leaving?"
"Soon. I'd like to say good-bye to some people, then I'll leave."
"I'll come with you."
"No, Red. You have duties here and if it's my father in the carriage, I'd like to speak with him alone.