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"Rumpel, will you stop being a baby and just go to the dentist?"

"No, I will no-OW!"

Mr. Gold clutched his jaw in pain again. They'd only been under the effect of the curse for a week when the pain began. He'd attempted to keep it from Belle at first, but the pain had now gotten to the point where it hurt for him to talk.

Like his leg, this injury had happened before he'd become Dark-One. Mr. Gold didn't remember exactly how he'd chipped his tooth only that he had. Dentistry in their world hadn't been a very humane practice. Fear for his good teeth had made Rumpel ignore the pain when it hit for months until he'd become the Dark-One. The magic healed his tooth and gave his teeth their odd coloring as a side effect.

Now, they were in a land without magic. His limp had returned forcing him to use a cane, and the pain from his tooth had returned. Belle had tried numerous times to explain to him that dentists were different in this world, but he refused to listen. She watched him work through the pain for weeks until he could no longer speak without flinching. He had to go to the dentist. Belle knew that he'd never go willingly, so she'd have to do things his way.

"I'll make you a deal, Rumpel. Either you go to the dentist like an adult or I'm never letting you put your lips on me again."

Gold's eyes widened. "What?! Ow!"

"That's right. You can barely talk, Rum, and I'm not going to risk cutting my tongue on your chipped tooth. So, until you get it fixed, you can forget about kissing me and anything that goes with it."

Glaring but unable to speak, he grabbed a note pad and pen off of the table. You're being unreasonable.

"I think my terms are very reasonable. I'm protecting both of us until you man up and go to the dentist."

The two glared at each other, neither willing to relent, until Gold finally cracked. FINE! I'll go to the bloody dentist, but if I come back with missing teeth I'm blaming you.

"I'll take full responsibility for that if it happens. Now come on, your appointment is in fifteen minutes."

"Will you stop sulking?" Belle said, looking up from her book. "Dr. Stevens will be with you in a minute, and we'll be home in a few hours."

Mr. Gold looked at his wife for the first time since entering the dentist's office. "Dr. Stevens? You mean Martin Stevens?"

"Yes. Do you know him?"

Gold's face turned white at the memory and nodded slowly. In their world, Martin Stevens had been known as Orin Scrivello. To put it simply, the man was insane. His methods for healing should have been used for torture. Many of his patients had come to him asking him to undo the work Scrivello had done to them. He'd complied each time for a price of course. After each one, he'd silently thanked his lucky stars that he didn't have to see the man.

"Mr. Gold, Dr. Stevens will see you now."

Gold sent Belle a frantic look. Please don't make me go, Belle. Please don't make me go!

"You'll be fine, love. I'll be right here waiting."

Belle gave him a consoling kiss on the cheek and patted his knee. Terrified, Mr. Gold stood and followed the nurse.

TBC