A/N: Next update! I hope you guys are enjoying the fiction thus far. Our villain was finally named and his accomplice is going to be coming fairly soon. Review and read on! Happy reading, dearies!
Chapter Four: Talk It Out
"So dear I love him, that with him all deaths I could endure,
without him live no life."
~John Milton
Rumplestiltskin walked quietly through the archway into the kitchen. He wasn't ready for another tiff with her as it usually resulted in hurt feelings, but if he left it alone, it may become worse than that. They had promised that they would be truthful with one another- brutally so if the occasion called for it. He said that he would try; he promised that he would and he would keep to his word. Belle was worth it.
Belle leaned against one of the polished counters in the kitchen, her tea cup still in her hand as she studied it. She spun it slowly from finger to finger and swiped at the rim since all the tea was drained from it.
"Planning on putting a chip in that one, too?" he asked from the archway.
"Why don't you ever tell me the important things?" she asked in a low voice and then looked at him. He instantly lost his smirk. Her eyes held confusion, frustration, anger, but most of all pain. She put the cup on the counter and turned completely toward him, "Why do you always leave out exactly what is needed to be told? You promised…"
"I am trying, Belle. I really am," he sighed and the slope in his shoulders told her that he was telling her the truth.
"We keep going around in this circle," she asked softly, her own shoulders dropping.
"I didn't want to worry you," he answered truthfully.
"Worry me?" she asked and her expression deepened, "I have been worried, anyway, Rum! That evil thing out there was trying to get you to pay up on what I thought was an unknown payment. It could have been anything!"
"It had nothing to do with you."
"Nothing to do with…" she let out a sad chuckle from anger and gritted her teeth before she continued, "Your soul?!"
He looked away from her, "He won't take it."
"Yet you still ask James to protect me? That doesn't sound like confidence," she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I won't let him take you," he turned back to her then, "I need to know that you are safe. I know what he will do to you. The tortures that await you and the slow- and it will be slow- years of pain and agony before he would let you die. If he let you die. He would break your spirit and your soul, Belle. Just because of your association with me… I won't let that happen. Not again."
She stepped forward and ducked to make him look at her, "I don't want you to prepare for me to have to go into hiding or to be protected. That's preparing for your death, because I know that's the only reason why you would not be able to protect me."
He held one of her wrists gently and frowned, "Promise me that you would survive."
"Rumple, don't…" she warned against his words.
"That you would run, swift and fast," he continued even as she shook her head, "Promise me that you would be safe. No matter what would happen to me, you would be safe."
"I don't run, you know this," she tried to hold his hand that held her wrist, "Not anymore. I did that once, and it was nearly forever. I am so tired of running; especially from you. From us. I don't need to and I shouldn't. I won't do it again. We are finally trying, Rumple. We're finally listening to one another. Learning each other. That speaks more than anything else. I will not leave you to fight by yourself. I would rather die."
"Why do you have to be so stubborn about this?" he asked and broke away from her gentle touch. He began to pace, even with the cane, "What if he did manage to get a grip over me? Found some kind of magic out there and made me his puppet? As much as I don't want to believe that it could happen, it can. I wouldn't be able to control myself, I would hurt you. He would make me hurt you."
"No, I don't believe that," she shook her head.
"Believe it, Belle. He may not have a lot of power in this world, but he does have power. You need to promise me that you would run," he pointed to her, "You would find Charming and get away."
"No, I won't promise something like that," she pursed her lips.
"You need to."
"Can't you understand that I can't?" she asked and walked swiftly up to him so he couldn't back away from her. She put both of her hands on his chest and looked into his eyes with tenderness, "Rum, you would never hurt me. I know this. I just don't understand why you don't."
"Because I have hurt you before by my own doing," he reasoned. He leaned forward, thankful for her presence and supported his forehead against hers. He breathed her in for a moment and then looked at his hands with shame, "With his influence it would be so much worse."
Belle only lifted one hand to his face where she ran a hand through his hair slowly. She believed that the devil named Chernabog would do so if he had a chance. She also knew that Rumplestiltskin wouldn't give him that chance.
"… he has made me part of what I am," he whispered and felt so defeated. He sank out from her gentle embrace and into one of the chairs by the table, "If he took control, the last of my humanity, the last of what little light is left in the darkness… will be wiped out. He will kill me, give the power to another, and they will take you. In the most horrible of ways. I am a dangerous man to love, Belle. I never want you to have to pay the price for my wickedness."
She sighed and closed her eyes. After a moment she pushed on and walked the step to him in the chair. She put a hand on his shoulder and then knelt before him, to look up into his face, "As I always say… do the brave thing and bravery will follow. I know we are fragile right now. I know that we have both been a bit unfair to the other. But I also know that this is true love, Rumplestiltskin. True love is never smooth, or easy."
He smiled slightly at her words and quickly swiped a hand through the hair around her face. His brave, brave Belle.
"I won't give up on you," she whispered and held the hand that wasn't pushing her hair back, "Not forever. I will walk away, but I will always come back. I promised you forever and forever is what you are getting. We just have some work to do. We have to learn each other the right way this time."
"You are the bravest soul I have ever known," he said quietly as if it was a secret between the two of them. He paused from running his hand through her hair and cupped her cheek, "I love you, Belle."
She smiled sadly and held his hand to her cheek, "I love you, too."
"Are you sure I can't make you run?" he asked seriously.
"You try to push me away again, it is only going to make me stick to you stronger," she warned and began to get up from the floor, "I am tired of this on and off. We are dating. We are learning one another all over again. If we have disagreements, we will fight them out like proper couples do. Agreed?"
He smiled as she stood to her full height over him, with hands on her hips and her eyebrows rose as if for him to challenge her. He smirked slightly and nodded his head as he got out of the chair. He looked her over and though he stood over her, she still was staring him down.
"No more running and no more pushing," he agreed and paused, "I will listen… but if you are endangered in anyway, I will keep you safe. In the manner that I believe is-"
"No," she shook her head and put a finger to his lips, "If I am endangered in any way, than it is because I chose to fight beside you. You were saying that you were afraid of him taking the last of your light. Then let me be that light. Let me be that for you."
As her finger dropped and his brows furrowed as a gentle laugh escaped his throat, "You always have been."
"You magic me from your side at any point, I will come running head long into the battlefield after you, you understand?" she asked with a finger pointed at him.
"Yes, dearest," he nodded with a soft glow to his face, "Anything else?"
"Nothing at the moment, but I am still a little steamed at you," she pouted and grabbed her jacket that she had left in the kitchen when making the tea, "I am going to Granny's to find Ruby."
"I thought we were supposed to yell out our frustrations and hurt feelings at one another like any healthy couple," he repeated her earlier agreement. She stopped at the third button and turned to him with an upturned brow. He only stood there with both hands on his cane, "See, I can listen."
"I've yelled at you enough for the day, I think," she smiled back at him while she buttoned the last of her jacket, "Now I need some outside opinions. I am too in love with you to be unbiased."
As she reached the door, he reached out and touched her hand, "Belle."
She turned toward him with a warning look.
"I was thinking. Friday?" he asked and brought his hand back from hers, "Second date?"
She chuckled a little and nodded, "Second date. Pick me up at seven."
"Seven," he opened his door and watched her make her way down the street. He watched for unusual shadows and evil devils, he told himself. Later he would realize that he wanted to keep her in sight for as long as he could.
"Well, hello stranger," Ruby smiled when Belle sauntered into the diner and took a seat at the counter. She looked at Belle and saw that she still had a red tint to her face and smell something akin to amped up hormones on her skin. She coughed and covered her knowing smile, "Have another round with Gold?"
"You can say that," she nodded and pouted up at her new friend, "May I have my favorite, please?"
"Iced tea coming up," Ruby nodded and ran to get it for her friend.
Belle looked around the diner and saw that there were only two other patrons in the late night. From the look of it, Doctor Hopper was at his favorite table going over some files. With many of the citizens of Storybrooke knowing their true selves again, he was pretty busy trying to piece their lives back together with them. Some going through trauma, others going through unknown fear, he had his hands full. Not to mention Geppetto asking every moment he can about why Pinocchio hadn't returned to them, though he knew his boy to be in Storybrooke.
In the very back was Grumpy nursing on a coffee, about to start his third shift in the mines. He and the other dwarves had been working nearly nonstop, trying to find what they could of fairy dust. In a world without magic, Belle wondered if they would find anything at all. She had to hand it to them; the men were persistent and loyal to a fault.
The diner, though cozy, still had some drafts and Belle shivered slightly from the one that passed over her ankles. She thought over what Rumplestiltskin had said about the danger that was here and how it was very much real. How much he worried. So much so that he kept something from her again.
"So," Ruby put the large glass in front of her friend and leaned on the counter, "What did he do this time?"
Belle sighed and let out a breath, "You know that stranger that just came into town?"
"The slick one that has creeper written all over him?" she asked with a nod, "Yeah, we've met."
"His name is Donovan Deus," she said it slowly and quietly as if he was listening. She wouldn't put it past him if he was, "He is trying to get rid of Rum."
"Of who?"
"Gold," Belle sighed and remembered that Ruby didn't have too many, if any, run-ins with Rumplestiltskin back in the Old World. Most of what she knew of him were either rumors, tales of his deeds or her interactions with Mister Gold.
"Why's that?" Ruby asked with a tilt of her head, "I could smell the bad coming off the guy, but to go after Gold… Whew."
"He was the one that pretty much gave Gold his power in the first place. He wants it back. To do that, he needs Gold gone and a new puppet in his place," Belle took a sip of her tea and smiled slightly, "He will ruin this town, Ruby. Easily without Gold in the picture."
"You saying that Gold is saving the town?"
"In a way," Belle shrugged, "He's never been much of a hero. But seeing as we can't leave town, it would be in his best interest to keep it intact."
Ruby agreed, "James know about all this?"
Belle nodded, "And has agreed to help."
"Then, except for the obvious, what does this have to do with you and Gold?" Ruby asked with a finger flicking back and forth as if Gold was sitting right next to her.
"He told James to protect me should anything happen to him where he couldn't do it himself," she said with a nod to emphasis words.
"I would find that somewhat endearing," Ruby said more than a little confused.
"The only way that he wouldn't be able to protect me was if he was dead," Belle said and immediately looked down at her hands on the counter, "He was preparing for the instance of his death, Ruby. His death! He and I are finally getting on the right page and then he prepares himself to be the sacrificial lamb? No. I refuse."
"I'm guessing he asked you to go along with it too, huh?" Ruby smirked as she already knew the answer.
"Of course he did," Belle rolled her eyes and took another sip, "I walked out of the room. We had a talk and a bit of a yelling match afterword. Worked a good portion of things out and decided that when we disagreed on something we would have a good old fashion argument just like any other couple that walked this earth. That stubborn man almost tried to deal me out of it. Put a finger to his lips and just told him no."
Ruby only giggled a little to herself and shook her head, "You are the cutest and probably the bravest thing I have ever seen, Belle."
"Why?" Belle asked with genuine curiosity.
"You are the only thing- much less person- that I have ever seen to bring Mister Gold into a shouting match and not only survive, but win. Not only that, you are the only person that he smiles around- at least genuinely. You got spunk, no sense and a whole lot of heart. No wonder he is in love with you."
"You can see that?" Belle asked with a blush to her cheeks.
"Who can't?" Ruby asked back. She saw Archie's interest peeked at their conversation and smiled winder before she put a hand over Belle's, "Hang in there. You two are working it out. I am actually happy for you. Even if it is Gold. You have been the best thing for him in a very, very long time, Belle. Can't help who you love, right?"
With that, Ruby gave her a quick wink and rounded the counter to go and sit with Archie for the last bit of her break before packing it in for the night. Grumpy left soon afterward and gave her a slow nod in her direction as he left. A smile of recognition bloomed on her face and she nodded back. She wondered if he ever did hold on to that love that he discussed with her in that pub so long ago. Belle shifted her eyes to Ruby and Archie and watched the body language with a bit of amusement.
"I guess you really can't," she smiled and shook her head. She finished her tea and put the money on the counter. She waved back at Ruby as she walked out the door toward her apartment.
"So," Archie said as he heard the door close behind him. His eyes were still on the files in front of him, "Gold and the new librarian, huh?"
"It's still a 'fragile thing' as she puts it," Ruby said with a knowing smile, "but it's love. Did you see them the last time that they were in here? It was surprising and yet, it fit. He is trying for I think the first time in his life."
"Maybe not the first," Archie finally looked up from the paperwork and closed the last file.
"What do you mean?"
"He had a son once," Archie divulged, "Thought he found him, but discovered that was a false lead. He's a broken man. But if what you say is true, she may just be what the doctor ordered."
"Doctor, or cricket?" she raised an eyebrow.
"It remains to be seen," he shrugged and looked at his arms and hands, "I haven't seen any green on me lately. I haven't seen my wings come back in either."
She smirked again and tugged a little on his tie, "You almost done, or do I have to kick you out again?"
"I- I uh… actually," he put the files in his small case to his side and coughed into his hand. She stood up and looked down at him a little more than surprised at his sudden fluster. He took a breath and stood up with his umbrella under one hand, "I was wondering if I could walk you home?"
Ruby's eyebrows shot up just a little at the unexpected offer. She shook her head a little to clear it and smiled softly, "Yeah, sure. Let me just grab my jacket from the back and the keys."
He nodded and picked up his briefcase. He saw her pick up Belle's money and lock it in the cash drawer. The glass was put in the trays to be washed and she picked up her jacket. She met him out front and locked up the diner.
"What brought this on?" she asked as her curiosity shot up.
"I just think that no one should be walking alone with a supposed evil lurking about," he shrugged and looked at the ground embarrassed, "Especially not beautiful women."
Red smirked at his flustered compliment, "Thank you, Jiminy."
He smiled back at her, "My pleasure, Red."