Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

In every relationship, there are bad days. Belle and Rumpelstiltskin had a strong relationship, so those bad days were few in number. The ones they had, however, were a bit...explosive.

"Will you drop it already?" Rumpel snapped. "I'm not going to apologize. They deserved what they got."

"You cut off their hands, Rum!"

The Dark-One rolled his eyes. It had been a month since the incident in the cobbler's shop, and Belle had heard it when they returned from two gossiping women. She'd kept silent until they returned home. The second they stepped inside the Dark Castle she'd rounded on him and asked him about it. Seeing no reason to lie, he told her exactly what he'd done in hopes that she'd let it go when she heard the full story. He'd been wrong.

"You act as though that's the worst thing you've heard me to do. At least I let them live."

Belle let out a frustrated growl. "That's not the point!"

Rumpel crossed his arms and leaned against the table. "Then what is the point, dearie? They were harassing a harmless man, and I got rid of them. End of story. You should be happy that I did a good deed free of charge for once."

"And what about the wives of those men who now have handless husbands?"

"I highly doubt that any of them were married, but if they were, I probably did their wives a favor as well. Men like that aren't know for their tenderness."

"Men like you, you mean," she snapped.

His was on her before she could blink. For the first time, Belle felt a sliver of fear at the sight of him. His brown eyes had turned a blazing bronze color, and she could feel his magic crackling in the air around them.

"I may be a lot of things, dearie," he said, his voice practically a growl. "but I am NOTHING like them. I offer people a chance to improve their lives for a price. Men like those soldiers take and take until you have nothing left and when you do, they kick you to the dirt and kill you. I may be a monster, but there are some things even I wouldn't do."

His rage was obvious, but Belle could hear sadness in his voice as well. It was as if he'd experienced the things he'd just said first hand. Then it was clear to her. This much anger of those soldiers was from something else. This was over something personal. She then remembered that he hadn't always been the Dark-One. He'd been just an ordinary man with no magic and no way to fight back against men bigger and more powerful than him.

Rumpelstiltskin waited for Belle to say something only to be startled when she hugged him tightly. He stood there surprised for a moment until he heard her speak into his vest. "You're right. I'm sorry for comparing you to them. You're not a monster."

He returned her hug and kissed her hair. "It's alright, dearie. I won't apologize for what I did, but I am sorry for not telling you sooner."

"It's not what I'd hoped for, but I'll take it," she said with a small laugh. Belle knew that this was the best she was going to get from him. "Just don't do it again."

Rumpel nodded, and she kissed his cheek. "And try to control your temper next time."

A familiar wicked grin appeared on his face. "I can make you no promises except that I will try."

TBC