Chapter Sixteen: Fighting Will

"It's hard to defeat a woman in love."

~ Terri Guillements

"Really Archie, I will be fine," Belle groaned as she now sat up and against her pillows as Rumplestiltskin tried to spoon some more jell-o down her throat. She then turned and pointed a finger directly into Rumplestiltskin's face, "And you. You try to force more of that stuff down my throat, I will shove that bowl right back in your face."

"You keep threatening me and I just smile wider glad that you are back," he said back and picked up the spoon with the last of the green substance on it, "You haven't eaten since you fell into that coma. Indulge me a little here, love. One more bite."

She sighed, crossed her arms over her chest, but then opened her mouth and he smiled wider as he spoon fed her the last bit.

He put the bowl to the side and grabbed one of her hands from the cross and kissed the back of it, "Thank you."

She huffed in response and flashed him a small smile. She then looked back at Archie, now Doctor Hopper, as he sat at the other side of her bed with a small notepad in hand. He shook his head at her antics and noticed the way that Rumplestiltskin had opened up to her. He still sat against her wishes with notepad ready to jot down her experience while in the coma.

"Belle," he pushed his glasses up his nose and looked back at her, "You are the only person who has stepped over the border and still have all your memories."

"I am also only the second one," she pointed out, "Maybe I was just lucky and the curse missed me."

"The curse did not miss you," Rumplestiltskin said sadly and flicked his eyes to hers, "I saw you enveloped in it and then collapse. It tried to do its job."

"That's what is so imperative," Archie imposed and scooted closer to the bed, "You may be the way that we can break this hold that this place has on us. Give us an understanding on how we may just find a way back home."

Belle sighed and looked between the two men, wishing that she still had Ruby to back her up. The poor girl went home in the early morning hours after she spent an hour with the now awake Belle. At least Ruby would fight for her case.

"Please Belle," Archie pleaded, "Just tell me what you remember when you were sleeping."

Belle's hand instinctively grasped Rumplestiltskin's tighter and she frowned. She looked down and nodded.

"It started in that damn cell," she spat and Rumplestiltskin knew well of the one she meant- the one that Regina had held her in for twenty-eight years, "I think it was because that's all I knew here. In Storybrooke… then I heard voices. I thought they were delusions…"

Over the next hour she recounted the events of her nightmare that led her out of the darkness. Midway through she struggled with the mention of the clerics and Rumplestiltskin took it upon himself to give her more comfort than just holding her hand. He stopped her briefly, shifted the pillows and crawled in the bed behind her. He laid her back against his chest and wrapped his arms fully around her. Being surrounded by him helped her and she finished her story without another tear shed.

"… and these other voices. The ones that led you to the truth," Archie paused to find the right wording, "Why did you have them if they were from our old lives?"

"Regina never knew that I heard Rumple's voice in my cell when I was lonely," Belle smiled sadly and felt Rumplestiltskin place his face in the crook of her neck and softly place his lips against the skin there, "I always thought that it was my delusions creating the voice. They were really memories. I guess they carried over and it was something that I was used to from this side."

"I wonder where the clerics came from, though," Archie leaned back and tapped his pen on the pad of paper, "I am sure there were none here."

"I know that one," Rumplestiltskin said and rubbed his chin over her shoulder as he re-entered the conversation, "Chernabog."

"He can enter dreams?" Belle asked.

"Curse induced sleep," Rumplestiltskin frowned, "I wouldn't put it past him. He tried to make you think that I was a monster and that you would run from me when you woke up. It would have broken me completely."

"I will never forget the real you," she wrapped a hand around the side of his face and kissed him at the side of his mouth.

"That I can see fully well," he smiled and nuzzled his nose against her skin again. Something was left unsaid by him. He wondered silently about the light that shown brightly against the nightmares. Something that powerful against nightmares sent by Chernabog meant that there was something more than her love for him. It was something magical, something not from him. He also had an inkling that it was what helped her retain her memories.

"Well," Archie stood up, finally feeling a little intrusive on the gestures of intimacy between the two people on the bed in front of him, "I think that will have to do."

"Just might, because now you know all that I do and I don't have any further information," Belle said and pushed her hand back to let it flow through Rumplestiltskin's hair.

"I will tell Whale that you are good to go on my end," Archie smiled at the easiness that she had with the dangerous man wrapped around her, "You should be able to get out within the day."

"Thank goodness, I am tired of being stuck in this bed," she groaned.

"Gold?"

Rumplestiltskin's eyes flicked up to his from behind's Belle's shoulder.

"I do need to go over some more details with you later. Will you be available?"

Gold only closed his eyes in a slight nod and Archie took it as positive. He left out the door and tracked down Whale.

Belle didn't move to let Rumplestiltskin out from behind her and he didn't give any indication that she should. His arms wrapped around her in a hug and she leaned back fully against him, feeling his heartbeat against her back. He would move his face against her soft skin ever so often and she would return the gesture by carding her hand through his hair or hugging one of his arms with hers. As she felt him smile against her shoulder she smiled herself. It was one of the moments that she wanted to last forever.

"Maybe this isn't such a bad bed," she muttered and heard him chuckle behind her.

Doctor Whale walked into the room with chart in hand and looked up to see her totally wrapped up by Gold. He shook his head before he looked back down to the chart, "Well, you are fully cleared. All I need is a signature."

"Give it here," she reached out with both arms and he handed it over. She quickly scribbled her name, unsure of the last name she should use and just jotted down the one that had been given to her here. She pushed it back at the doctor and immediately rolled out of the bed and over Rumplestiltskin.

"Well, so much for that moment," Rumplestiltskin grumbled and slid to the side of the bed. He looked up at Whale, "Be sure to bill me for the expenses."

"Of course," he nodded.

"Until next we meet, Victor," Rumplestiltskin nodded and pulled Belle into his side.

"Should I change?" Belle asked as they walked toward the exit of the hospital. She walked by a door that was marked with tape and recognized it as the one she was trapped behind, "Never mind, I can wait."

Rumplestiltskin quickly shed his jacket and tossed it over her shoulders to make her feel better. She smiled at the gesture and he opened the passenger side of the Cadillac, then quickly got into the driver's side. He turned out of the hospital parking lot and then down the street toward her apartment.

"So…" Belle thought out loud and knew that she had a little bit of time before they would reach the library, "… I was thinking maybe I could learn a little bit."

"You're constantly learning, dearest," he smiled amusedly, "There is no stopping you."

"No, I mean," she huffed and fisted her hands in her lap, "I want to learn how to defend myself."

"Warfare?" he asked with a glace askance and turned down another street, "That is hardly your style."

"James can teach me," she offered.

"You are getting nowhere near a sword," he said in a determined tone.

"I want to be able to protect myself and you if the time comes we are in that damned situation where I might need to," she pouted, "I feel that I could have done more if I had…"

The car stopped and they were outside her front door. He turned completely toward her and touched the side of her face that still had gauze over the gash, "You did all that you could have and much more than others would have. Which reminds me- Never ask to sacrifice yourself again."

"I felt that you were worth it," she locked eyes with him.

He took a deep breath and knew that she wouldn't relent to that argument. He got out of his side and opened her door. He followed her into her apartment and she continued her discussion, soon to upgrade to possible argument.

"Then how do you expect me to stay safe?" she asked as she walked into her bedroom, but kept her door open so she could still converse with him.

"That's what you have me for," he answered and took a seat at the table.

"Not that you aren't incredibly terrifying, Rum…" she began and came out from her bedroom in a fluffy blue robe with matching towel over one arm. She laid his jacket on the kitchen table near him, "… I want to be able to stand on my own on that rare occasion that you aren't able to be there."

He dug into his jacket inner pocket and walked up to her, "Then use this."

She looked down and saw his dagger in his hand. She shook her head and didn't make a move to grab it from him, "No, Rum. I will not hold that or anything else over you. I refuse to."

He smiled warmly at her and held her hand with his free one, "You are the only one that I trust completely, Belle. Heart and soul. You already own my heart. I thought that I might as well give you the rest of me. Keep me safe."

She frowned and looked up at him, "You just had to pull that card, didn't you?"

He stayed still with the dagger balancing in his open palm. She then relented and held out her hand. If this was the way to protect him, then she would take it. She would always protect him as she knew no one else would. He placed it in her grasp and she felt the cold metal and then what felt like it hum against her skin. She jumped a little and looked up at Rumplestiltskin in alarm, "Is that Chernabog?"

"No, that's my magic," he chuckled warmly as something flickered behind his eyes and he kissed her cheek, "It's responding to you."

"Oh," she nodded and pulled the blade against her chest, "That will take some getting used to."

When she looked back up his eyes held something else that was never there before. It was something dark, but kind that until now has been locked away behind other emotions.

He slowly pulled her toward him and put a hand on either side of her face to kiss her. It wasn't a peck and it wasn't small or gentle in any way. She felt his regressed passion as he released his emotions in the one kiss. She pulled her arms around his neck and felt the towel drop to the floor from her arm. She was careful with the dagger so that she wouldn't cut him, but found that her mind was trained on more important things. Her lips worked against his, releasing her own fears and raging emotions as he walked her backwards and against the kitchen table. She moaned against his lips and one of his hands tangled in her hair as the other pushed against her back.

Maybe it was the close call or that he had just given her the part of him that even she had refused to touch, but she couldn't stand to be apart from him. She felt that it was so right and that she wanted the last and final piece that they had both been hesitant to give. Her empty hand curled under his shirt collar and stroked the soft skin there. He then groaned and broke the kiss with a sigh of regret. After he parted they both looked into one another's eyes and noticed the dark pupils.

Her eyes drifted between his and his lips as the passion of the moment was still running hot in her blood. It was the first time that he had kissed her with that kind of fervor and she responded well. She pushed her body up against his as he still stood so close, pinning her between himself and the table. He groaned a little as he tried to reign himself in.

"Belle…" he growled in a way that made goose bumps spread over her skin in pleasure, "… you are making it hard for me to walk out that door."

"I never said you had to," she said in a low voice she never remembered using before.

He looked hard into her eyes in search of any hesitation or soon to be regret, but instead saw sparks of bright blue run through her eyes. He licked his lips with a smile and leaned forward for another kiss when a large vibration set off in his pants pocket. Belle jumped at it and he groaned, this time of annoyance.

"Bloody hell," he growled and pulled back from her to answer the phone. He answered the call, "You have a wonderful sense of timing, insect."

Belle straightened herself out and tried to hide the blush that grew on her face. She knew the workings of men and women and she had shared a bed with this man before. Just not in the aspect that they were heading toward in that moment.

"Okay, I will be there," he ended the conversation and looked at Belle who still looked a little messed from his attentions, especially her lips still swollen by his kisses. He ran a hand through her hair to tame it down a little and looked pained, "I have to talk with the cricket."

"Okay," she nodded still a little breathless, unsure of where to go after something like that.

He took great care and picked up the hand without the dagger still in it and kissed the back of it. He looked into her eyes, the piece of want still prevalent, "We will continue this at a later time."

She only nodded and kissed him quickly, but none too gently. He smirked against her lips and pulled away regretfully. He turned and walked out the door without a look back. He knew if he did he wouldn't leave. Belle noticed for the first time that he didn't have his cane with him and again the magic hummed under her hands in the dagger.

"Of course it would be you," she frowned at the thing and pulled her towel from the floor before she walked into the bathroom for a much needed shower.

Preferably a cold one.

"He will not live past the night!" Hook roared as he entered the large house.

"What is it now?" Chernabog asked lazily and watched Hook from his seat on the couch.

"He has killed half my crew at the tavern!" Hook growled and stepped up to Chernabog, "I will not stand by after this. Awake or not, I am taking her. He will follow and I will kill him."

"It is too early and he is going to be protective," Chernabog said with a nonchalant flare, "I would wait until it is the best moment. If you don't you will only be walking into his trap for you."

Hook didn't answer and knew that Chernabog was not going to help him in his endeavor for the night. He walked briskly back out of the front door and walked toward town.

Chernabog shook his head and saw Baelfire's head lean over the banister to see the disturbance, "Looks like I will need another lackey. You interested, Master Balfire? Or still too fucking righteous?"

Baelfire frowned and stood back from the banister to look out the large windows toward town.

Belle put her hair up as she wondered through the books around her. A tear fell down her cheek and crossed over the stitches that sewed her cheek together. She cringed at the feeling of it under her fingers. She saw it for the first time after her shower. It marred her face and she knew it wouldn't be able to be covered by any kind of makeup. For the first time she felt shallow. How the Hell will Rumplestiltskin be able to look past the mark now that the gauze was off?

"Why such a sad expression, Beauty?" a voice called from the front of the library and she gasped at the suddenness. She turned her head to see Hook sitting on the front desk, "Still unsure of whom you are? Need some help to discover the missing pieces?"

When she stood frozen, he felt that he had the upper hand. She slowly shook herself from the shock and started to come forward in what he mistook as curiosity. He smiled charmingly and began to talk to her as if she was a scared animal in presence of a predator.

"That is quite a scratch you got there," he pointed to the same spot on his own face, "You won't have to worry though. The monster that did it will get his come up pence."

"Oh?" she asked in a light voice that shook with what he assumed was fear.

"I will tell you one thing for certain," he smiled again and seemed to finger something on the other side of him, "He will die knowing that the only woman he ever loved will never love him again. What is a worse fate then that?"

"None that I could think of," she said bitterly and he finally looked her completely over. Her stance was sharp, tuned in to his and ready to stand off. He could of sworn that he could see the energy begin to jump off of her, but shook his head and tried to continue.

"You don't need to be afraid of me, Beauty."

At this sentence she shook her head.

"You," she gritted her teeth and couldn't see past her rage toward the man. She managed to push the man off the desk and had him stumble to the floor. She gripped her desk and breathed heavily through her nose, "You took Baelfire and did this to me. You almost took me away from him!"

He stood a little surprised and shook his head, "How can you remember?"

"There are things stronger than magic," she nearly hissed at him and pushed at him again, "Get out of my library! You will not use me against him again!"

"It doesn't feel like you have much of a choice," he held out a short sword and pointed it toward her. She looked at it as if it was of no matter and then back into his eyes which showed his confusion.

Before he could comprehend her lack of actions, she pulled out a dagger that was against her back and strapped to her belt. She leaned forward and caught him on his left side. He nearly dropped his own sword in surprise and looked at the wound, then to the dagger in her hand.

"He gave it to you?" he asked incredulous.

"Something sharp to protect myself with and so he is always within reach," she explained and held it with both hands, "Two birds with one stone."

"Good idea," he nodded and then slashed forward to knock the dagger from her hands. As he did so, he felt the searing pain of her cut to his side. It was deeper than he had thought. As she went for the dagger again he went for the door. He knew enough that he wouldn't be right to face the crocodile as he was. He would have to wait reluctantly for Chernabog's power.

Belle picked up the dagger and sat against her information desk. She took a deep breath and saw the library door close.

She looked at the dagger, "Rum, I need you."

He suddenly appeared in front of her. He scanned the area and saw the blood smeared on the ground. He knelt down to her instantly and began to check her over, "What happened? Are you hurt?"

"Just shaken," she shook her head and showed him the blade with Hook's blood still on it, "Thank you for this. It came in use."

"Who?" he asked dangerously low.

"Hook," she said and smiled proudly, "I got a good slash in. I think I surprised him enough for him to retreat for now."

He took a deep breath to reign in his temper. He held her face in his hands, "You should have called me earlier!"

"I didn't even think to," she said truthfully, "All I saw was red and anger. He nearly took me away from you and he took Baelfire! No more running, Rum. He has threatened us for the last time!"

Rumplestiltskin took a long pause and looked over her face. He kissed her stitches at the side of her face and wiped some hair from her face, "Okay, love. Next time… please let me fight at your side?"

She couldn't help the warmth that spread through her as she felt his lips on the gash on her face and then move on to her forehead and other cheek. He didn't care about it. It was as if he barely noticed it.

"Okay," she nodded and he hugged her to him. He breathed in her scent and she whispered into his shoulder, "I promise."

He took another breath and pulled away to look into her eyes. There was the same blue electricity and stubbornness that was so quintessential Belle. He pushed his hands through her hair, "I know we haven't even got to that third date, but…"

She saw him struggle and she smiled encouragingly at him.

"Come home… please…"