Chapter Nine

Revelations

A/AN: Thanks for all the reviews and the questions from the last chapter will be posted at the bottom in the A/AN. I hope everyone liked the little "Wolf Hunt" last chapter, and I hope you guys enjoy this little installment as well!

Rumplestiltskin opened his eyes hazily, allowing his vision to clear as distorted colors became clear images. The light in the room was fading, and he surmised it was almost dusk. He wondered how long he'd been unconscious. He tried to move, but he grimaced in pain from his decision realizing it hadn't been a good idea once his left leg began to throb.

"You're awake." a beautiful voice reverberated. He turned his head towards the door to see Belle standing in the doorway holding clean bandages in her hand.

"How long have I been asleep?" he inquired, his voice coming out in a strained whisper.

"Here have some water." Belle ladled some from a pan holding it to his lips. He gulped the liquid down greedily. She compliantly refilled it until he was sustained.

"And to answer your question, about three days. You lost a lot of blood, and the tendons in your leg are most likely damaged. You're most likely going to have to learn to walk again but there's no telling how long that will take." Belle supplied giving him a sympathetic glance.

"Ahh yes another fallacy I'm going to have to live with." he scoffed averting his gaze in the opposite direction.

Belle walked to the opposite side of his bed sitting down. He stared at her beautiful face noticing the darkened circles under her eyes. She looked fatigued, like one who hadn't slept much in days. How long had she been up? Had she been caring for him around the clock? His heart swelled with gratitude for his beautiful Belle. She gently grasped his hand in her own, squeezing it securely.

"You're alive and that's what matters. You may never walk perfectly ever again, but you still have much in which you can be grateful for. You have your son, and I'll be here to help in any way I can." the beauty assured him, tears welling in her eyes.

"Belle…" he softly respired, brushing erratic chestnut curls from her face.

"Rumple I-" but she was cut off when a young boy barreled through the door. He locked eyes with Rumplestiltskin and smiled broadly.

"Papa you're awake!" Baelfire exclaimed throwing his arms around his father exuberantly.

"Be gentle Bae…Your papa is still in a great deal of pain." Belle cautioned causing Bae to relax his hold a bit.

"Papa I'm so glad you're okay!" the boy anguished with relief.

"It's going to take a lot more than an old wolf to get rid of your papa." Rumplestiltskin chortled lightly ruffling his son's unruly mop of hair.

"I'll give you two a moment. I need to go downstairs and get some fresh water, so I can change your bandages." Belle excused herself, exiting the room.

Rumplestiltskin was disappointed to see her go but occupied his discouragement by diverting his attention towards his son.

"What have you been up to while I've been asleep Bae?" he inquired to the nine year old inquisitively.

"I've been keeping up with my studies and doing a little hunting with Graham on the side. He's been teaching me to set my own snares. I caught a rabbit just the other day!" Bae asserted, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he recounted his whole hunting experience.

"How's Belle been doing?" Rumplestiltskin inquired curiously to the boy hoping he would disclose some information.

"Belle has been taking care of you papa. She immediately took charge the night you were attacked. The town healer Esmeralda was summoned, but Belle didn't need her assistance at all. She knew exactly what herbs and plants you would need to heal. She's changed every bandage and tended to all your needs. She's just like Mrs. Potts except she's much younger and a lot prettier." Bae informed him filling his heart with grief. He'd treated her so poorly, yet she'd saved his life-ready to sacrifice herself in the process. He knew not why either. He wasn't deserving of her kindness nor her hospitality.

"I need to apologize to her son. Do you mind giving us a moment alone when she returns?" Rumplestiltskin asked his son.

"Of course papa…You sure wouldn't want to lose her. She's one of a kind. I think she would make a wonderful mother as well. You should-" Rumplestiltskin was surprised at his son's outburst as he held a finger over his lips.

"Let's take this one day at a time okay Bae? I think I should apologize before there are any proposals involved. Don't you?" he chuckled at his son's enthusiasm. He seemed to love Belle just as much as he… He halted the thought immediately, focusing on the boy who shook his head compliantly.

"Of course Papa. I just want you to get better." Bae added, giving his father an affectionate kiss on the cheek.

"Me too…I'll be up and at um before you know it." he smiled, squeezing his hand lightly.

"You take it easy papa." he said before scampering off, probably to convince Graham into taking him on another hunting escapade.

Belle returned moments later with a basin full of lukewarm water. She sat the basin on the nightstand close to his bed. "How do you feel?" she inquired placing her hand gently across his forehead to check for fever.

"I'm just in a lot of pain." he supplied relishing the feeling of of her supple hand on his skin.

"I've been putting a salve made from tealeaves on your wound to help prevent infection. I don't want a fever to set in. I'm going to remove the bandages. You may feel a bit of discomfort. Please let me know if I hurt you." she responded gently with empathy in her big blue eyes, melting his heart in the process.

He nodded watching her undo the soiled bandages. She tossed them aside, dipping a clean washcloth into the warm water, rubbing it gingerly over the exposed skin. Rumplestiltskin winced until she dipped her hand into the cool salve spreading it over his torn ligament. He sighed in relief once she bandaged the wound, propping his leg up with a couple of pillows. She thoroughly washed her hands in a separate basin and dried them.

"Do you need anything else while I'm here?" she inquired giving him a gentle glance, smoothing out her skirts.

He swallowed back his pride, revealing his heart to her, "Yes there's one thing I want to say to you before you go. For what it's worth Belle I'm sorry for the way I treated you while we've been here. I frankly owe you more than an apology and as soon as we return to Albannach I'll give you anything you desire, up to half my kingdom if you wish it." he apologized.

Belle took a deep breath taking her hand in his own before speaking, "And I want to apologize to you as well Rumplestiltskin. I haven't been completely honest with you about myself. I've not always been a peasant." she admitted biting her lip nervously before giving him the full revelation.

"I understand that…You told me you were once a merchant's daughter." he shrugged, staring at her skeptically.

"Wait there's more…" she told him, stepping back a few steps, fastening her gaze on him.

He looked at her dubiously waiting for her to continue, "I'm Belle French the daughter of the former King Maurice and Queen Lucinda of Avonlea. My mother died when I was very young, and my father remarried in time to a tyrant hungry woman named Cora. My father died when I was sixteen, and my stepmother Cora forced me to a life of peasantry. I was fleeing Avonlea the night you found me. I'm sorry for deceiving you, but I had no other choice. I didn't know if I could trust you or not. I'll understand if you never want to see me again but there's something else you must know as well. I care for you Rumplestiltskin unlike I've cared for any other. My feelings for you run deeper than any fleeting emotion. I want to stay with you in Albannach even if I never return to Avonlea. My home will always be with you." she admitted with so much sincerity in her eyes. He felt a thousand emotions course through him at once as he reached out to grab her hand.

"I wouldn't care if you were the farmer's daughter my dear Belle…You'll always have a place here with me, a place to call your home. I made an oath to protect you, and I still stand by that. You've proven yourself more loyal to me than ten brave knights. You're beautiful, brave, and true in every sense of the matter. You have the heart of a true queen, and I would love nothing more than to take you as my wife if you'll have an old monster that is." he answered, his heart exploding in the process.

"I love you Rumplestiltskin!" Belle declared throwing her arms around his neck, burying her face in his tunic, reveling in his scent of sage and pine.

"And I love you my dear Belle…" he confessed wrapping his arms securely around her middle, despite his protesting ligament.

She pulled away a pink flush ripening her cheeks, "What now?" she inquired staring inquisitively into his brown eye.

"We shall wed as soon as I'm all healed up and then I thought after the honeymoon, I will gather my alliances and help you take back your kingdom." he smirked, a twinkle in his eye as he divulged his plot.

"You will help me then?" she questioned him in disbelief.

"Of course dearie…No one has the right to take away something that doesn't belong to them and your dear old stepmother is about to find out just how ruthless I really am." he threatened darkly sending a shiver down her spine.

"Thank you Rumple, but you need your rest. We can discuss all of this later once your strength returns. You should sleep as much as possible. You'll heal faster if you do." Belle said, her heart feeling lighter than it had in years.

"Not so fast dearie." She was about to arise until he grabbed her arm in protest.

"What is it?" Belle inquired.

"I think a goodnight kiss is in due order." he smirked pointing to his lips teasingly.

"And what if I told you I wasn't going to kiss you until our wedding day?" she taunted etching closer to his face.

"I would say you're a pretty bad liar." he purred in his thick brogue, pressing his lips against hers in a hungry kiss. Belle cupped the side of his face gently deepening the kiss causing him to moan in response as he ran his fingers through her chestnut tresses.

"I take it you two made up." a childish voice reverberated from the doorway. They pulled away quickly once they realized they weren't alone, blushing fiercely. They turned away shyly from each other noticing Baelfire had decided to join them.

"Tell Belle goodnight son." Rumplestiltskin said quickly changing the subject.

"Yes I was just leaving!" she laughed nervously, sidestepping beside Bae. She gathered up her things before vacating the room.

"You know what papa…" Bae continued giving his father a small smile.

"What is it Bae?" Rumplestiltskin inquired the reddening in his cheeks dissipating.

"I think Belle can love us…don't you?" he inquired to the older man.

"I do Bae…I certainly do." he smiled feeling his heart swell with unspeakable joy as he thought of the blue eyed beauty wearing a wedding dress in the middle of June. He would have to ask Belle what she thought of having a June wedding.

A/AN: Yay for the happiness! I hope this wasn't too rushed and don't worry! This story is far from over. There's much that still must happen! There's a wedding in our near future but it will be awhile before it happens. I hope everyone was okay with Belle's confession. It just felt right to me! We'll also be checking back with Regina soon!

Daisiella: The next chapter will reveal more about Ruby so just stay tuned!

Morena: There will be more about Ruby soon enough.