Chapter Twenty: Neither Dark nor Light

"A man finds love and is satisfied.

A woman finds love and insists on turning it into happiness."

~Robert Brault

Belle took a deep breath as she felt consciousness start to take its hold. She groaned and pushed her face further into the very comfortable pillow she was wrapped around. Then the pillow began to move and grunted a little as something wrapped tighter around her waist. She opened her eyes to the dim light that had made it through the heavy curtains and saw that her head was perched upon a chest. She looked at her hand which was wrapped protectively in a larger one; both perched toward the top of the chest, a steady breath blowing over them.

She smiled at the picture of their mingled hands, rising and dropping on top of his chest. She saw the light red scratches that she made the night before and could only imagine what his back looked like. She shifted her legs a little and felt a little sore. She grimaced, but then immediately smiled. At least he wouldn't be the only one sore. She looked up at his face, and studied it as he was still peaceful and in a deep sleep. Her hand that was still sandwiched between the two of them reached out and traced his nose and then over his top lip. Her trailing fingers were immediately kissed by his lips.

"Good morning," she greeted as his eyes flicked open.

"Indeed it is," he answered back and pulled the hand he already had on his chest for a kiss as well. He watched her as her small smile grew and she lit up the room. She pulled herself up just enough that she could lay half of herself over him and nearly close enough for their noses to touch. She giggled a little as he kissed the tip of her nose. He looked quickly at her neck and saw the love bites that he had left over her pale skin. He smiled with pride and then looked in her eyes, "How do you feel?"

"Wonderful," she answered simply, "A little sore, but no regrets. That's the real question right? If I had any regrets?"

"I only asked how you felt," he smiled at her answer and kissed her lips quickly, "Take it as you will, love."

"Why do you love me so much?" she asked with a tilt of her head and began to trace invisible patterns over his arm and chest, pausing briefly at the marks she left every so often.

"Because I can't think of anything else to do with you," he answered with a smirk.

He combed his hand through her haphazard curls that sat upon her head. Even now, half awake she had a glow to her that couldn't be dimmed. He thought vaguely about the magic that could or could not be running through her and then her own stubborn aura that could out do any darkness. He didn't know how he became so lucky to have her love. He passed his thumb over the still healing cut to her face and still wished that he could do something about it for her. He didn't care if she was covered in scars or scratches as long as she was still his Belle, but he knew that it bothered her.

"You're thinking again," she said softly and kissed his chest where her chin was just sitting.

"Only about you," he smiled again so that she wouldn't ask him specifics, "And I wonder, my dearest, why it is that you are so stubborn about being with me. Why do you love me so much that you would give me your most precious possession?"

She almost gave him back his answer, but thought better of it. Instead she kissed his chin and then his nose before she finally settled on his lips. When she pulled back she looked him in the eyes, "Because you were you for me."

"I'm sorry, love, but I have no idea what that means," he apologized and loved the way that she just seemed to lounge comfortably over his chest and waist. She didn't cover herself in shame or feel uncomfortable with him with just a light blanket covering their bottom halves.

"When everyone else feared the beast that you showed them, when you came home to the dark castle you were you. You weren't trying to make a deal or be fearsome or any of that nonsense. You were you and you did that in front of me," she explained, "You let me in, and in turn I let you in, too. I didn't have a choice other than to fall in love."

"There is always a choice."

She kissed the tip of his chin since it was closest to her, "Then I am glad that I made the right one."

"I love you, too," he rubbed her back and hummed in contentment as his fingertips ran over smooth skin. Her eyes drifted closed though he knew that she didn't fall back to sleep.

Her cheek rubbed against his chest, "I wish that we can just stay here forever."

"I wouldn't love anything more than to spend a whole eternity with you naked in our bed, but…" he made to lean up, but she pushed him back down, "Belle, we have to get up."

"Right now?" she asked with a pout and seemed to use all of her body weight, what little it was, to keep him under her.

"You had a great idea last night," he mentioned and watched one of her eyebrows slope up and a smirk crawl over her face. He flicked her nose playfully, "…About the whole magic. I have a lot of studying and practice to do with it- especially since I cannot touch the light magic portion. If I can control the whole magic without killing myself, we may stand a chance against the devil at hand."

"It might kill you?" she asked with an instant frown.

"I was being a bit dramatic, dearest," he chuckled and hugged her against him.

"You better be," she kissed under his jaw and nuzzled her nose just under his ear, "I don't want to have to beat my way into the afterlife to get you back."

He had discovered over the few hours of her in his arms that he liked the nuzzling and cuddling Belle. Without human contact for so long, it was refreshing to him that she wanted to touch him or be against him constantly. He ran his hand over her shoulders and down the slope of her back.

"That would be a shame," he agreed, "You don't belong in Hell."

"Neither do you," she pushed him at his side and began to pull herself from him, "Come on, then. Let's get started. I think a shower is in order and then I will make breakfast. You start on your studies."

He watched her climb out of bed and headed toward the shower, again not bothering to cover herself. She looked over her shoulder and nodded at him, "Are you coming?"

"Shower together?" he asked and his legs were already moving to the side of the bed.

"I think that it would be the most efficient, don't you?" she asked in an innocent tone that was anything but. She rounded the doorframe to the connected bathroom and Rumplestiltskin hopped out of bed and toward the sound of running water.

"By the way, dearest," he called out to her before he followed her, "We must talk about Miss Lucas talking about our bedroom habits."

She only laughed in response.

The stove was still as stubborn as she remembered and she turned from the kitchen island back to the stove. She kept hearing deep thuds and some glass or porcelain breaking every five minutes. With the last flip of the frying pan she shifted the eggs over the porridge she made a few moments earlier and put the two plates on a platter plate to carry it into the office where Rumplestiltskin was practicing the new magic.

She held the platter tightly in her hands and entered the study. As she entered she felt the sudden need to duck. She bent her knees as a large- and if she remembered correctly- expensive vase smashed against the wall behind her. She looked back at the unfortunate vase that was now in pieces. She lifted her head to look over at Rumplestiltskin who looked back at her with a sorry upon his lips.

"How's it coming?" she asked with a smile and brought over the tray to put it on the desk.

"It's being difficult," he sighed and took a spoonful of porridge, "I have experience and I know how to control it. I just know all these things in dark magic. Whole magic has a bit of light in it… it's fighting against me…"

"Don't give up," she took hold of his hand and kissed him on the cheek, "I believe that you will be able to figure it out. You always find a way."

He welcomed the kiss and flicked his hand to pick up another vase and he changed it immediately into a bouquet of roses. He chuckled and grabbed the bouquet out of the air before he turned to her, "You… are my good luck charm."

She giggled in response and took the bouquet of roses to the desk and began to eat on her porridge and eggs. She hummed a little to herself and looked over the petals of the roses and found them to be made of the same porcelain that the vase was made out of.

"So are you planning on turning all your vases into roses?" she asked and watched as he took a bite out of his egg. He shook his head and flung his arm out to reassemble the vases that were laying in pieces on the ground.

"I am trying my luck with transfiguration and then I will move on to more complex studies," he explained as the vases returned to their rightful place along the walls of the study, "If I ever get past transfiguration."

"Is it just the light magic that is stopping you?" she shifted on the desk, moving the dagger to her other side to get comfortable.

"Yes and no," he shook his head, "Whole magic is a whole different beast than what I trained myself in… or where Chernabog tried to push me toward. It's like learning all over again. I am missing a very vital piece for it to come together again. Once that piece is found, the studies will continue without many problems."

"Starting over has not been a bad thing in my experience," she reminded him and pecked him on his lips before holding a hand out for his bowl. He handed it to her and she put it back on the tray before she turned back to him, "Well, get back to it."

He shook his head in amusement and waited until she was out of sight before he began again. It wasn't the light portion of the magic that was making him wonder. It was the fact that it didn't want to tame itself to work for him until she touched him. It was true that Belle was his light to keep the insurmountable darkness away, but he wasn't sure that she would be all that anxious to know that she may just be the light magic that will complete his training. It was frustrating, especially seeing as every time he brought it to her attention she dismissed it.

Another vase smashed against the ceiling and her groaned. Maybe another talk is in order.

The doorbell rung and Belle ran for the door, still wiping her hands on a dish towel, "I'll get it!"

She opened the door and smiled at the visitor, "Good morning, Doctor Hopper! How can I help you?"

"Just come for a check-in, I suppose," he smiled back and nodded his head during his greeting, "May I?"

"Of course," Belle stepped aside and before Archie could get too far inside, she pushed his head down and ducked herself as a glass pitcher flew over their heads and crashed near the other door. He popped his head up and looked at her with a question in his face. She chuckled anxiously, "He is trying something a little new."

"Ah," Archie says as if he knew. She ushered him in and walked back toward the study with him not too far behind her. She carefully looked around the doorway in case of more flying décor and found him at the side of the room, "Rum."

"Yes, love?" he asked and eyed a large figurine that was precariously levitating in the air. His eyes concentrated on its dips and highs in the air. He held out a hand to her, even though his eyes kept a hold of the object. She quickly came to his side and he was able to place the object back on his desk where it turned into a large desk lamp. He sighed happily and kissed her cheek, "Who was at the door?"

"That would be me," Archie said from the doorway, "I see that you are into different forms of magic now."

"Trying to find an upper hand in a very costly upcoming battle," Rumplestiltskin offered and put his hand around Belle's waist to bring her closer to him, "What can I do for you, dearie?"

"I just wanted to see how things were how you were progressing on the work we've been doing," he focused on the hand that was over Belle's waist with a fond smile, "I can see that you have made improvements."

"Leaps and bounds," Rumplestiltskin nodded and Belle whispered something to him. He nodded and she smiled at Archie before she went out the door and up the stairs. Both men watched her leave, but Archie noted the smile and peacefulness that came over Rumplestiltskin.

"What did she say?" Archie asked.

"She wanted to go clean up the bedroom," he said with a haughty smirk, but didn't elaborate on why it would need cleaning. He walked behind his desk and motioned toward one of the chairs in front of him, "She thought that whatever needed to be discussed between you and I should be between you and I. Doctor- patient privilege and all that… It's in some of the books she reads."

Archie took the seat, "You two are closer."

"Much more so to being whole. I hope that day will come sooner than I had hoped, and it just might. Thank you is in order. Belle has told me that since I have talked to you, I have been able to control that part of me that threatens us all."

"Good to hear."

"So what else have you come to talk to me about?"

"You know that you have Red's and my support in this," Archie started immediately, already prepared.

"I assumed that by the phone call about Hook," Rumplestiltskin nodded his head in agreement. He sat back straight and still a little defensive, yet no need has arisen for it as of yet. He sighed and shook his head as his body relaxed minutely, "You'll have to excuse me. I am not too accustomed with having allies that would defend me."

"Not allies," Archie reminded him and leaned forward in his chair and propped his hands over his umbrella, "… friends."

"With Belle, of course."

"With both of you," Archie stressed and took a deep breath for himself, "You are not liked, I know that. I know that you have a lot to amend for-"

He looked at Rumplestiltskin who held an expression of doubt.

"- if you chose to do so," Archie added but then continued, "Do you know why good always wins, Rumplestiltskin? In the end?"

"It's the way of the world, I suppose," he shrugged, "I never really liked to chose sides unless it benefitted myself or my goals. I like to sit on the fence and see how it plays out. I know that makes me a villain most of the time."

"That's why you never really won," Archie pointed out and Rumplestiltskin lost some of the bite to his smile.

"Then tell me, cricket… why does good always triumph?"

"Because good is fueled by love; the love of partners, of family, of friends," Archie explained and watched as Rumplesitltskin's hands steeple in front of his mouth, "Darkness, malice and evil are all self promoting, greedy and destructive. No ties and no emotion except temporary achievement or pleasure that will melt into emptiness."

"What are you saying?"

"There is evil in you, we all know this, but there is also good in there too."

"How do you know?"

"Because you love Belle and you love your son," Archie said simply, "No man or monster could truly love if he was evil. Red and I are putting our money on the fact that one day your good will triumph over that darkness ingrained in you. We will help and be there to offer it when the time comes, because that is what friends do."

Archie stood up and place his umbrella tight in his hands. He looked at Rumplestiltskin who also stood to walk with him. Both men walked to the front door in silence, but Archie put a solid hand on Rumplestiltskin's shoulder before he turned out the door and walked down the road. Rumplestiltskin stood in his front doorway to stare at the cricket's retreating form in thought. It had been quite a while since someone offered him friendship.

"What was that about?" Belle asked from behind him and peeked her head out to see the last of Archie turn a corner.

"I think that everyone feels the fight brewing," he answered and backed them both in the house before he shut the door, "He wanted me to know what side he is on… and offer his friendship."

"Really?" Belle's eyes widened and she smiled.

"Come now, love. I have more practicing to do," he smiled back at her and kissed her on the forehead as they both went over to the study, "And I think that I may have found my missing piece."

"What is it?" she asked excitedly.

He looked at her in the eyes and raised his eyebrows.

She groaned a little and shook her head, "Rum, I am not magical. I have no abilities."

"I beg to differ. You have the strongest light I have ever seen, even when it is dampened," he pulled her into the study and held out the old book from Regina's home. He looked between her and the book and reminded her, "I would never give the book to anyone I didn't feel was ready for it."

She looked at him unsure and then looked at the book. She looked back up at him, "I have questions before I touch anything that may or may not be magical."

He nodded for her to continue.

"Will I have to deal with anything or anyone like Chernabog?"

"No, this magic- if it is indeed magic- is all yours. Natural," he smiled.

"Okay," she nodded and leaned closer toward him and the book, "If I do this, will I be able to help you?"

"Without question," he said with a rush of breath.

"Be able to fight beside you when the time comes?" she urged.

"As much as I don't like the thought of that situation… yes, you would fight at my side," he said hesitantly.

She took a cleansing breath and put her hands around his where he held the book, "I agree-"

He smiled brightly and took a breath to say something, when she interrupted him.

"- ONLY… to help you. I still don't like magic, Rum. Light, dark or whole. But if it keeps Chernabog from taking over and it helps you to find that thing that stops him, then I will do it."

"You will not regret it," he kissed her quickly and opened the book to the light magic section, "You start reading and I will continue to turn vases into flowers."

She giggled at the statement, but didn't argue as she started reading.

Chernabog sat over the pot of something deep within the catacombs of Regina's family crypt. The sheriff and a few of the dwarves had swept the tombs for them earlier, but had left thinking that it was clear. Chernabog had sectioned off a small portion of the unguarded tunnels and hid with the men there until the 'goodies' were satisfied and finally left. He took a deep breath of the potion in front of him and felt his wings vibrate in apprehension and excitement. This would be able to boost his abilities just enough that he would be able to bring a new force to life.

"Is this going to work?" Hook asked a little annoyed that they were in hiding, biding their time once again.

"It will work," Chernabog smiled dangerously and dipped a root into the batch. The water then turned black and lifted itself from the concoction. It wrapped itself around Chernabog's form and his eyes glowed as the power in him intensified. He let out a relieved gasp and chuckled a little, "I think that the next step is to bring him out of hiding and onto level playing ground."

"Well, then I think it's time for our good luck charm to get to work, then," Hook turned to the corner where Baelfire glared from where he sat on the ground, "What should we dangle him with?"

"Something that will catch both of their attentions," Chernabog said slowly and closed his fist over the last of the remaining potion, "I want the woman, too. She is a big problem and I want her gone… I want them both."