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With a bit of magic, their luggage was sent up to their respective rooms and the small traveling coach was banished to the carriage house until it was needed again. Rumpelstiltskin grinned, still a little dazed by everything he'd experienced on the journey home. He could happily barricade himself behind the stout doors of the dark castle with his precious wife and explore more of the bond between them. Nothing could have ever prepared him for the pure joy he felt when he was connected to Belle's thoughts and feelings … her love. There was no room for doubt and misgivings, not when the proof of her love for him was there for him to feel.

Rumpelstiltskin swung his bride into his arms and carried her up the front steps of the dark castle, thrilled to be home. The Charmings' palace in Longborne – opulent and grand as it was – had left him feeling smothered, and it felt wonderful to be back at the dark castle where he could take a deep breath, to feel the weight of the world lift from his shoulders and simply revel in hearth and home.

Belle giggled as she wrapped her arms around her husband's neck and pressed her brow to his. "I can walk, darling. There's really no need to carry me."

He snorted. "What kind of husband would I be if I didn't carry my bride over the threshold? Did you wish for bad luck to befall us? Fate has finally chosen to smile upon us, and I don't want to invite trouble."

She hummed softly as her smiling lips pressed gently to his. "Pfft," she scoffed. "I think you simply want to shock our guest. There's still a lot of the imp in you …" Belle dropped another kiss to his questing lips. "… for which I am eternally grateful. I always did love your quirky sense of humor."

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head as he continued on towards the great hall. "Such an odd girl I've married."

"Oh, hush. You like it that I'm odd."

"I suppose," he replied with a long suffering sigh. "I doubt you'd have fallen in love with me otherwise. How was I to know when I acquired you that you'd have an affinity towards monsters?"

Her laughter was cut off abruptly at the sound of breaking china, and her head whipped around as Rumpelstiltskin set her on her feet. Wide grey eyes, normally dancing with mischief and mirth, stared back at them in horror, mouth opening and closing, devoid of sound, until he collected himself and frowned darkly.

"What the hell is this?" the hatter's voice boomed, reverberating loudly throughout the room. He marched forward and grabbed Belle's hand, pulling her away from the man at her side. "Have you completely lost your wits, my girl? Bringing a strange paramour to the dark castle! How could you do that to Rum?!"

He raked a hand through his hair, looking as if he were about to pull it out by the roots. "Gods! You know how he gets when he's in a rage, and believe me, Belle, he's going to toss a fine fit when he sees you fawning over some strange man."

"Jefferson –"

The hatter ignored the broken teacup at his feet as he continued his colorful diatribe. "I still can't believe you'd do this to Rum. I am soooo disappointed in you, Belle. Rumpelstiltskin loves you! I know he doesn't show it, being the awkward little imp he is, but, Belle! This is … oh, my gods … we've got to get him out of here," he pointed a waggling finger at the stranger who regarded him with an arched brow and twitching lips.

Belle sighed and leaned a hip against the table, raising a hand to cover her mouth in an effort to hold her laughter at bay.

"Look, I'm really sorry for this, but you don't want to be here when the dark one gets back from whatever deal has called him away," Jefferson said, his voice losing some of the panic it had held now that he'd come up with a plan to fix things. "You need to march back down to the village – or wherever you came from – and forget you ever heard of Belle, the dark castle or Rumpelstiltskin … especially Rumpelstiltskin." Perfect brows drew together above his eyes in a puzzled frown. "Was it a love potion you used on her? That's got to be it … perfectly logical explanation. Don't worry, Belle, Rum will be able to sort you out."

The mage held up a hand to forestall the hatter from tossing him out of his own castle. "What if I don't want to forget her?" he asked calmly without a trace of the amusement he felt at his friends antics.

"Don't w-want … are you mad?!" Jefferson practically shouted, nearly coming apart at the seams. "Do you have any idea what the dark one will do to you when he finds out you've been consorting with his woman?"

"Hey!" Belle admonished, affronted, little good that it did to distract him. Though she had been Rumpelstiltskin's maid, he'd never made her feel as if he owned her. She'd still been her own person with her own agency, and she resented her friend's insinuation.

"So, either you're completely mad or outright stupid," he continued, disturbed by the man's calm in the face of impending catastrophe.

Rumpelstiltskin shot his friend a cheeky smile and sat down in the chair at the head of the table. He didn't miss the angry flush which bloomed on the hatter's face. "I don't think my wife would appreciate it if I left her here alone. Bad form and all. Wouldn't do to upset her. Have you never heard the old saying … happy wife, happy life?"

Jefferson was back to pointing, words failing him.

Belle moved to sit on her husband's lap and gave him a pinch to his side. "Darling, you must desist with the teasing. Poor Jefferson is going to hurt himself."

With a wave of her delicate hand, the hatter's teacup repaired itself and settled onto the table, startling the poor man who jumped back with a small shriek of alarm. "What the blazing …" he stammered, his grey gaze ping-ponging between Belle – who he knew didn't have a magical bone in her entire body – and the innocuous little teacup sitting before him. He felt his stomach roil unpleasantly, and it wouldn't surprise him if his skin had taken on an unhealthy green hue. "How … gods, I'm so confused."

Rumpelstiltskin flourished his elegant hand and conjured a chair for the hatter. It hit Jefferson around the back of the knees, forcing him to sit. The mage narrowed his sable eyes on him. "Are you really so thick you can't recognize me, hatter?" he asked in a tone tinged with amusement.

Jefferson's mouth dropped open with a strong click of his jaw and his eyes widened in stunned surprise. "No …" he breathed in disbelief. "No, it can't be."

The former dark one squeezed his wife's hip affectionately as she chuckled. "Why not?" He was going to draw this out as long as possible at the hatter's expense. His friend had always been a great source of entertainment and companionship before Belle had come along to bring her light to his miserable existence. "Is it really so farfetched to believe my curse couldn't be broken?"

Belle dragged the tea service closer to them without the need to rise from her comfortable position on her husband's lap and prepared them both a cup. "It happened completely by accident. True love's kiss kind of sneaked up on us."

Rumpelstiltskin gave a shrug of his brows. "Quite literally."

Jefferson shook his head as if the world had flipped on its axis. "How does such a phenomenon just sneak up on you? Is it even possible?"

She giggled and spread butter on a warm cranberry scone. "Well, you're looking at the proof, aren't you? It seems Rumpel decided he wanted to kiss me goodnight and broke his curse. I was asleep at the time, mind you. The tantrum he threw this morning was quite spectacular. Sorry you had to miss it."

The hatter raised an exasperated brow before drawling, "Yes, quite." He sat back in his chair and propped his chin upon his hand. "It's about time you two idiots realized what the rest of us could see as clearly as the nose on our faces."

"Pfft," Belle scoffed, "I've known I loved him for months … since last spring when he let me go. I just wasn't sure how he would have reacted if I'd have just blurted out the truth. You know he's not the most trusting soul in the realm. He'd have either run away or flat out denied it was possible and sent me away. No thank you. He needed to come to terms with his feelings in his own time and come to me."

"I'm sitting right here, dearest."

Belle grinned. "Yes, darling, I know. Kind of hard to miss you since I'm sitting upon your lap." She turned her smile on Jefferson when Rumpelstiltskin rolled his eyes. "So, what brings you to the dark castle? Is everything alright … Grace?"

Jefferson huffed out a labored breath, his cheeks puffing out before he squeezed his eyes shut and fought to find a way to begin his tale. It was why he'd sought out his friend in something of a panic. "Grace is fine. I tucked her away upstairs about an hour ago to get some sleep in her room." Or, at least, the room Rumpelstiltskin had gone to such pains to decorate for his surrogate niece.

His friends were instantly on alert, realizing something was terribly wrong if Jefferson had sought sanctuary for himself and his daughter. "What's Regina done now, might I ask?" the mage fairly growled from behind clenched teeth. It was a testament to his anger if the fierce gleam in his sable eyes weren't enough of a clue.

"She wants me to take her to Wonderland. Her royal pain in the ass says the Queen of Hearts has taken something which belongs to her, and she is quite desperate to get it back," the hatter sneered, staring forlornly into his empty cup. "I tried to tell her I've retired from portal jumping, but she doesn't seem to want to take no for an answer."

Belle shot a level look at Rumpelstiltskin, her words for him alone. I thought she banished her mother to Wonderland. Why would she ever want to go there, even if it is to retrieve a trinket? She could have easily sent one of her mercenaries to fetch it instead of wanting to go herself.

He met her eyes with some surprise, having forgotten he'd shared that tale with his Belle when they'd been discussing mirror magic. I doubt she'd have wanted to pop in for a visit with Cora, dearest. If she wanted to go to Wonderland, I'd be willing to bet she'd want to get in and out as quickly as possible … before the witch even knew she was there.

"What did she offer you in return, Jefferson?" Belle asked, setting her cup back on the tray. "Especially if she was as desperate as you say."

The hatter rolled his eyes. "Untold riches, she claimed. She was really quite insistent."

Rumpelstiltskin's gaze raked his friend from top to toe, taking in his shabby appearance. He'd known the man had been struggling for some time, but he refused to ask for help, nor would he accept charity.

"I thought it would be best to see if I could lay low here for a few days until I could figure something out or until her majesty lost interest … whichever came first." His wide grey eyes were pleading as he looked at the pair.

Belle reached over and laid a comforting hand on the hatter's arm. "Of course, you may stay. You're always welcome here, and Grace needs to be protected behind the wards," she assured him. Rumpelstiltskin continuously lamented about how he wished he could help their friend. Now was his chance. "It wouldn't be beneath the queen to resort to abducting your daughter to get what she wants."

Jefferson tilted his head to the side, regarding the former dark one. "You're sure? We won't be in the way?"

Rumpelstiltskin waved a dismissive hand. "I can still turn you into a snail. If you get underfoot, I can find a nice spot for you in the garden," he giggled like the demon of old.

"Rumpel!" Belle admonished.

"That was a quip, dearest. Not serious."

*.*.*

After a light repast of warm bread and butter, cured ham and an assortment of soft cheeses, Belle left her two favorite men to have a brandy before the fire in the great hall, claiming she was going upstairs to unpack and run a bath.

Jefferson snorted as he took in Rumpelstiltskin's reddened cheeks and the way his friend's gaze followed Belle from the hall. "So … married, huh? How'd that happen?" he asked, a wide knowing grin gracing his mouth.

The mage's eyes narrowed. "Not in the usual way, I assure you."

"Come again?"

Rumpelstiltskin shrugged and stared down into the dark liquor he swirled around the snifter loosely clutched in his hand. "It's hard to explain. To be honest, I don't quite understand it. Even after the centuries of study into every known branch of magic imaginable, true love was one I never thought I'd encounter. At least, no other dark one in history had any experience or knowledge of it from which to draw."

Jefferson propped his chin on his hand and gave a lazy shrug. "I would suppose not considering the dark one, in essence, is a demon bent on destruction and carnage. Loads of history books are filled with your predecessors' dark misdeeds." He took a sip of the fine vintage brandy he had the privilege of sharing with his friend, savoring the subtle hint of peach undertones. "And with your foresight, you didn't see how Belle would change your life?"

The sorcerer huffed a laugh and sipped his own drink before answering, giving himself time to think. "No, even with my gift of foresight, I never saw her coming. Perhaps, if I had, I wouldn't have made that deal with her."

"That would have been a tragedy of the highest order," the hatter said, nodding vehemently. "This is why it's never good to know too much about your own future."

Rumpelstiltskin finished his brandy and set the snifter on the table between them before clasping his hands over his middle and staring into the flames crackling in the hearth. "It was little things here and there with Belle. Little things which made me sense she might possess some inherent magical ability, but it wasn't until we were on our way to the Charmings' wedding when I began to suspect it was perhaps a little more. True love had been creeping into our lives for quite a while, and I was clueless."

Jefferson hummed low in his throat as he thought about it. "You really didn't suspect she was in love with you?"

The mage cut his eyes over to his friend. "How could I think such a thing was possible? I was a monster, a cursed fiend. The darkness eating at my soul was so complete, it manifested horribly on my physical appearance. What was to love, hatter?"

He rolled his eyes. "For someone who has lived hundreds of years, you are so blind. So, was there a double ceremony with Snow White and her charming consort?"

The sorcerer's lips curled up into a sneer. "No, hatter, there wasn't a double ceremony. Why are you my friend again?"

"Because you'd be bored to tears without my witty rejoinders?"

Rumpelstiltskin snorted. "I didn't realize how much true love was wrapping around us, Jefferson. Thinking it was a good idea, I gave Belle a ring before we arrived. I wanted her to have a symbol of my protection. In essence, we were married by the magic."

"Oh … wow. Well, I suppose if it could happen to anyone, it would be you. Not regretting it, are you?"

"Do I look crazy to you?"

"Not anymore, now you mention it," Jefferson grinned unrepentantly.

The sorcerer ignored the quip and let his lips curl into a crooked smile. "She was right, though, earlier when she said I had a right tantrum this morning and learned I was no longer the dark one. I thought I'd lost my chance to be reunited with Baelfire. I wasn't expecting to still have magic. It's quite different, but manageable."

"Bet it was quite the shock to find out your little darling has it now, too."

"That might well be the understatement of the year," he chuckled, "and she is so incredibly adept. I've never seen anyone take to it like Belle has. Rheul Ghorm was less than pleased when she found out about our new circumstances. Seems she'd pinned all her hopes on Snow and her shepherd."

Jefferson chortled with glee. "Oh, ho! I would have loved to have seen that."

"Belle was tempted to pull her wings off, I'm sure," Rumpelstiltskin chuckled, joining in with his friend in shared amusement.

The hatter's features were washed clean of mirth as a more dire thought occurred to him. "Rum, I don't want to put a damper on your happiness, but … how is this going to affect the dark curse? I don't like the fact we're all going to be ripped out of the Enchanted Forest, but I know if I lost Grace, I'd do anything to get back to her. You've put so much into it in an effort to get to this land where your son is …"

Rumpelstiltskin's features tightened into lines of worry. "When I look to the future, things are still proceeding as planned. Despite what has happened, very little – if anything – has changed. The only difference is that now when I see bits and pieces of what is to come, my darling Belle is there at my side."

The whisper of her presence tickled at the back of his mind, and a smile graced his lips as he let her in. He knew he more than likely looked like a besotted fool, but he couldn't find it in himself to care. Jefferson wouldn't belittle him because he'd finally found happiness with Belle.

I'm keeping the water hot for you, though I may very well be shriveled like a prune by the time you join me, she chuckled.

I won't be much longer, sweetheart.

"Hey, where'd you go just now?" Jefferson asked curiously as he watched the play of emotions cross Rumpelstiltskin's face. "You just completely drifted off."

The former dark one rose to his feet and stretched the kinks out of his back. "Perhaps I did. The last several days have been quite taxing, and I find myself eager to join my wife. Good night, hatter."

Jefferson grinned devilishly, but nodded. "Good night, Rum … and thanks."

Rumpelstiltskin clapped him on the shoulder and made his way from the hall, leaving his friend to enjoy the quiet solitude and the warmth of his hearth.

*.*.*

The sorcerer transported himself to Belle's suite of rooms, a bit confused to find the door standing open and the space seemingly uninhabited. Moving further into the room, he noticed her desk devoid of books and her wardrobe empty, not even a forgotten scent sachet left to mark her presence. The bathing chamber was equally abandoned. He had to wonder just where his little dearie's things had been moved.

Turning to leave, he caught sight of the full length mirror he'd enchanted with an anti-spying spell where it stood in the corner next to the tall windows. His reflection mocked him as his lip curled up into a sneer. He was no longer the dark one, his appearance free of the unnatural green-gold hue he'd worn for centuries, but he was also no longer the spinner he'd been before he'd taken on the curse.

Lines marked the corners of his eyes and mouth, testament to his years of little sleep, lack of nourishment and worry for his son. Each mark upon his care-worn features told a story, but he felt different than he had when he'd been that poor spinner from the frontlands. Dark one … spinner … Rumpelstiltskin was neither, yet both. He sighed deeply. He was going to have to settle for something in between, for he didn't want to be either.

Rumpelstiltskin sent out a tendril of magic along the link he had with Belle and instantly felt her love wrap tightly around him. If he had to choose between who he wanted to be, he would always choose to simply be hers. She made him want to strive to be the very best version of himself, and he would not disappoint her.

Oh, Rumpel … you're already the best man I've ever known. There is no reason to change. I love every part of you – even the parts that belong to the darkness – I always will.

The former dark one drew in a shuddering breath and swallowed heavily, fighting back the emotion threatening to choke him as he left her vacant rooms and made his way to his own, knowing that was where he would find his beloved wife. He'd never truly used the rooms he'd set aside for himself, unless it was to avail himself of the luxurious bathing chamber, preferring to spend his time in his tower workroom. The mere thought of sharing a bedroom with Belle sent a pleasant shiver tripping down his spine.

It had been centuries since he'd shared his personal space with Milah, and that wasn't something he cared to think about. They'd had a small bed in a curtained area towards the back of their small hovel, one in which she hadn't been willing to join him. More often than not, he would climb onto the pallet where his son slept before the fire, curling around Bae to offer him what protection he could against the cold. It had been better than suffering frostbite from Milah's chilly presence.

Rumpelstiltskin …

He shut down the toxic thoughts running through his mind, focusing on Belle and another surge of love she sent spiraling through their bond. His beloved wife did not take well to his self-deprecating memories. Despite the breaking of his curse, she would not allow him to slip into darkness. Natural darkness innate in every human being to balance their light, yes, but considering his past relationship with the dark one, she wouldn't want to take any chances.

Darling … why are you brooding instead of joining me? I'm sure we could find something much more enjoyable to occupy our time than your current melancholy.

Rumpelstiltskin grinned as he entered his chambers and took in the extra pillows on his bed, the spare wardrobe which usually stood empty with the hem of one of her dresses caught at the bottom and the scent of roses hanging in the air from the vase of blooms on his sitting room tea table. "Make yourself right at home, dearest," he chuckled to himself before venturing towards the door which led into the bathing chamber.

He was assailed with lavender scented steam as he pushed open the door and let his eyes adjust to the low lighting provided by the candles lit in gold-gilded sconces on the wall. The steam filled his lungs as he inhaled sharply and something tightened low in his belly.

"It's about time, my husband," she sing-songed from her place in the tub, a smile upon her rosy lips.

The sorcerer felt his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth as he continued to stare at her. His Belle lounged indolently in the sunken tub, her head tipped back against the rim, a wet cloth covering her closed eyes and tendrils of damp curls plastered against her neck. The water was murky due to the amount of bath salts she'd dumped into the tub, and she looked completely relaxed without a care in the world. He was surprised he had noticed anything else about her considering he couldn't tear his gaze away from where the opaque water lapped at the tops of her breasts.

"Ah … sorry I was … delayed," he forced out through the muddle his brain had become. Gods, she was glorious. His own little sea nymph, naked and awaiting her pleasure in his tub. For once, there was no demon in his head to goad or encourage him to do something he knew was wrong. Belle was his wife and she loved him. There was nothing wrong with this little scenario. Nothing at all.

Except perhaps for his own insecurities preventing him from joining her in the oh-so-inviting bath she'd created for them.

Her sweet smile never faltered. "It is of little matter, darling." She held out her hand invitingly and beckoned him closer. "Come into the tub, Rumpel. I've kept it nice and hot, just as you like it."

He fidgeted nervously, shifting from foot to foot as his thumb rubbed against the fingers of his right hand. "Belle …"

His wife removed the cloth covering her eyes and arched a brow in his direction. There was little he needed to explain. Belle had always been able to see everything he wished to hide. Now that she could feel the demons riding him, he hadn't a prayer.

"Did you not want to bathe?" she asked simply, choosing to tackle the lesser of his fears. "I would think after the wedding and our journey home you'd be dying for a relaxing soak."

Rumpelstiltskin closed his eyes and gnashed his teeth, his tongue seemingly glued to the roof of his mouth. "Sweetheart … gods, I'm terrible at this," he groaned.

Belle bit back a smile, a teasing light entering her cerulean eyes. "Terrible at bathing? I find that difficult to believe, Rumpel … not as fastidious as you've always been with your appearance."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and prayed for patience, his sanity and especially the right words to explain his dilemma. Yes, the right words would be a blessing. "Cease your teasing, minx." He knew his expression was pained when he finally found the courage to meet her eyes. "Look at me, Belle."

She smiled, joy evident in the gesture as she raked her gaze over him from top to toe. That one glance was so filled with heat and hunger, he gulped audibly. "I'm looking, Rum, and I very much like what I see." Her tone was gentle with love and understanding. "I've always loved the way you look, darling … even when you were under the dark one curse."

Belle sent a pulse of what she was feeling through their bond and reveled in his gasp. Do the brave thing, she thought to herself, fondly remembering her mother's words. She rose from the ledge where she'd been sitting, ripples of water lapping at her waist as she moved closer to the edge of the tub where he was standing.

His lips parted, and she could see the way his chest rose and fell, his breathing more labored as his gaze swept over her bare torso, coming to settle on her breasts. She fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest, refusing to deny her husband – her true love – a glimpse of her body. The maiden in her, however, blushed a bright red under his scrutiny.

"So beautiful …" he breathed, so faintly she could have missed it, " … and I'm …" He swept a hand over himself – still clad in his traveling clothes – in disgust.

Her eyes sparkled as they met his. "Perfect. You will never be less than perfect to me, Rumpelstiltskin." Once more she held out her hand to him. "Join me. I will not ask for more than you are willing to give."

The sorcerer brought a hand up to cover his heart. "I could never deny you anything, my lady."

Belle beamed at him for a long moment before she turned her back, giving him the time he needed to disrobe and preserve his modesty. She could feel his trepidation and she would do anything to make him feel more comfortable. His magic lightened the air around them as he rid himself of his clothes and stepped into the tub. Before his curse had broken, dark magic had permeated every corner of the castle, leaving a pall over any who dared tread the halls. She sighed happily, for there was no room for the darkness now to encroach upon the light of their true love.

She shivered as her husband's arms curled about her waist. A gasp of pleasure rushed past her lips as Rumpelstiltskin pressed himself flush with her body, skin to skin. How long had she dreamed of being in his arms this way?

Belle tilted her head to the side as he buried his face against her neck and inhaled deeply, breathing her in. The bond between them opened wider now that they were touching, and she whimpered softly when she tasted the desire he was helpless to hide.

His lips pressed gently to the shell of her ear, his breath playing havoc with her control, and she rubbed her thighs together for want of friction to relieve the pleasant ache he'd awakened within her.

"And what is it you want, my lady wife?" he asked as his nose skimmed along the curve of her jaw.

Belle turned slightly in his arms, her eyes filled with yearning as she caught his own dark gaze. "You, my love … only you."

a/n: Aren't I just awful? Lol. I'm so sorry for the delay. Life got in the way. This wasn't one of my favorite chapters, but I hope y'all enjoyed it regardless. Thanks so much for reading and sticking with me. Remember, reviews are love :D