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"How did it start?"

Rumpelstiltskin opened his eyes a bit and turned his head to look at Belle. It had been rather quiet for days, not that either of them minded much. With nothing better to do, Rumpelstiltskin brought Belle to the roof of the castle to see the stars one night. The sky was clear and the moon was full giving them enough light to see Draco sleeping on the ground below. Rumpel was nearly asleep when she spoke. "How did what start, dearie?"

"The deal making. Why not just use your powers to help people for free?"

The Dark One giggled and turned his head to see the stars again."Where's the fun in that?"

Belle looked at him but smiled none the less."I'm being serious, Rum."

"So am I. It never appealed to me at first. Then after a few years of being the Dark One, I realized that people will show you their true colors when you force them to make a choice, so I offer them the things they want most to see what they're willing to do to get it."

"Has anyone ever turned you down?"

"Quite a few people actually. There have been a few people who were smart enough to read my contract first and refused once they read the fine print."

"Good for them."

"Yes, it was. The deals I make tell me a lot about people. Most simply want money or power and will do anything to get it."

"And what did my deal tell you?"

"At first I wasn't sure whether you were very brave or completely crazy. Truth be told I'm still not sure."That earned him an elbow to the side."I'm kidding, dearie. No need to get violent. You know you're the bravest person I know."

She moved her head to rest on his shoulder."And don't you forget it."

He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her."I won't."

"Do you remember your first deal?"

Of course he remembered. He'd never forget it, but he didn't want to tell Belle about that one yet. So, he decided to tell her about his second deal. "Yes. It was years ago, less than year after I'd become the Dark One."

"Tell me about it."

"Are you sure? It didn't end very well, dearie."

"Just tell me. I can handle it."

"Alright. I was new to my powers than and had very little knowledge on how to used them. What remained in the library of the Duke's castle after I burned it down was limited, and I needed to know more. I began traveling from village to village, reading whatever books on magic they had. I'd just left a town one evening when a man stopped me. He said he'd heard I could do magic and asked for a potion that would that would make him the most attractive man in all the lands."

"Is that even possible? Beauty is only skin deep after all, and everyone interprets beauty differently."

"It is possible to improve ones looks through magic but to become the most attractive of all is truly impossible. I knew that then, but the man offered me his sword in exchange. So, I told him that I could make him a potion for the sword and a bit of gold. He agreed and took me back to his home. It was there that I found out that he was a prince that was married but had two mistresses on the side."

"How horrible."

"That's what I thought, but I made him the potion only it had some side effects. It would make every woman who looked him in the eyes want him uncontrollably. He took the potion without a thought, and I took the gold and sword and went on my way."

"Did you ever find out what happened to him?"

"Yes. The potion worked out well for a while. That was until he looked at his mother and sister. Then old women and little girls began to chase him around the kingdom. Eventually he gauged out his own eyes to get rid of the spell and bled to death."

"Wow."was all Belle could say. He'd done all that on his first deal.

"I told you it wasn't pretty. There was one good thing that came out of it though."

"You discovering that you had a knack for deals?"

He chuckled."That, and I got this castle. Apparently no one wanted to live here after what happened, so I took this place as my own."

"You chose to live in the castle that belonged to a man who ripped his own eyes out and died inside it? That's pretty twisted, Rum."

Rumpelstiltskin laughed again and pulled her closer."I never said I was the sanest man. I couldn't be with you by my side."

Belle laughed, and it quickly turned into a yawn."Take me inside then, you maniac."

"As you wish."

TBC

Six days! Here's I sneak peek I found on YouTube for those who haven't seen it. WARNING! Dearies may go temporarily or permanently insane due to wait. watch?v=f9ESI6f8D_0